Chapter 9, The Great West Inn.

Fei seemed to have figured out his thoughts, so he humbly introduced himself, saying, "Before my retirement, I was also a senior cadre of the Provincial Party Committee. Although I am now idle at home, as a party member, 'life goes on, the struggle continues,' so I often go around to investigate the local public opinion and provide some decision-making basis for the government."

The Xichong bacon hotpot is truly unique. The pot is divided into three layers. The top layer consists of plates of cured sausages, cured beef tongue, and other dishes. The middle layer contains bacon that is half-fat and half-lean, resembling pork ribs, commonly known as "bone rib meat". The bottom layer is filled with fresh vegetables, tofu, vermicelli, and so on, which looks pleasing to the eye and makes one's mouth water before even picking up the chopsticks.

This doesn't seem appropriate... Mr. Fei's face showed some hesitation.

Oh, you're very young and also look very decent. Mr. Fei scrutinized her.

Hmm... At this moment, Fei Shu's nose was already sniffing high, and he seemed to be drooling with anticipation, unable to wait any longer.

There is a bustling street with people coming and going. Finally, I found a secluded small restaurant called "Daxi". As soon as I stepped in, I smelled a strong aroma of spicy and fresh flavors.

At this moment, Lao He picked up a piece of preserved sausage with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth, changing the subject: "Everyone is hungry from the journey, why talk about those old and past things? Let's eat quickly."

Fei Lao chuckled and said, "During the chaos of the late Ming Dynasty, the people were displaced, the farmland was barren, and the hundreds of thousands of soldiers under Zhang Xianzhong's command could not survive on an empty stomach. Therefore, killing people to use as military provisions was not uncommon throughout history."

Since the night when He Zheren killed the Corpse Worm Wei Liuchan, he had already sensed the impending danger. When Secretary Xing and Ke'er came down from Panlong Mountain, the three of them quickly packed up and left Songlintang in a hurry, heading south all the way to Mount Bowang.

Oh, alright. Let's talk while we eat and discuss some issues regarding the country's agriculture. Mr. Fei gladly accepted and moved over to sit across from Secretary Xing. He glanced at the little witch on Ke'er's lap, then picked up his wine glass.

The senior officials of the Provincial Party Committee are much higher in rank than myself, the county party secretary. Secretary Xing respectfully invited: "Mr. Fei, you haven't had dinner yet. If you don't mind, please join me for a meal."

No problem, we are all revolutionary comrades. Comrade Xing used to serve as the secretary of the county committee in a major grain-producing county.

The landlady snorted and turned away, arguing with the diners would affect the restaurant's business.

Secretary Xing frowned slightly, gently comforting Ke'er, and then questioned, "Fei Lao, Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong were both peasant uprisings against feudal rule. How could they bear to massacre, rape, and cannibalize their fellow peasants? This completely contradicts the Marxist theory of class struggle."

Secretary Xing was calculating in his mind that the appearance of this "Old Man Fei" in front of him was majestic, and he estimated that his previous position must have been higher than his own.

Uncle Fei was thinking that as long as he could please K'er, they could all return to the Blue Moon Valley together. Therefore, the most urgent task was to constantly seek to please her.

At this moment, Secretary Xing finally took a close look at the boss lady. He noticed that she had a sturdy frame, rough hands, and a thick skin. Her voice was unusually loud, which was not uncommon among people from Northeast China. However, her head was surprisingly small, as if the proportions were mismatched, making her look unlike a normal person.

Have you heard of the massacre of Zhang Xianzhong in the late Ming Dynasty? This person was a native of northern Shaanxi, tall in stature, with a wax-yellow complexion, and a lower jaw resembling that of a tiger. Therefore, he was nicknamed "Yellow Tiger". His infamous title as the "King of Killers" spread far and wide. His army used the method of seducing soldiers' loyalty by indulging in the wives and daughters of others. Sometimes, he would even bind husbands and wives face to face, forcing the husband to witness his wife being violated, or forcing fathers to violate their daughters and sons to violate their mothers, and then behead them all together. Sometimes, he would order people to strip pregnant women naked, and he and his subordinates would drink and bet on the gender of the fetus in the pregnant woman's belly, and then cut open the pregnant woman's belly to check. He would even bind husbands and wives face to face, forcing the husband to witness his wife being violated, or forcing fathers to violate their daughters and sons to violate their mothers, and then behead them all together. Sometimes, he would order people to strip pregnant women naked, and he and his subordinates would drink and bet on the gender of the fetus in the pregnant woman's belly, and then cut open the pregnant woman's belly to check. He would also boil people in large pots of oil and throw in cleaned children to cook as a delicacy. Warhorses were fed with rice and beans soaked in human blood, which was said to make the horses exceptionally strong. During the siege and conquest of cities, he often forced large groups of women to drive naked to the city walls to insult the defending soldiers. Those who were attractive would be gang-raped until they were on the verge of death, and then their heads would be cut off and their bodies buried upside down in the ground, with their lower bodies facing up, claiming that it could suppress artillery fire. In the sixth year of the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, Sichuan had a population of over three million, but by the beginning of the Qing Dynasty, there were only over eighty thousand people left. The brutality of Zhang Xianzhong's massacre in Sichuan can be seen from this, to the extent that in the early Qing Dynasty, it was necessary to "fill Sichuan with people from Huguang" and start large-scale migration to Sichuan. Mr. Fei sighed deeply. During the siege and conquest of cities, he often forced large groups of women to drive naked to the city walls to insult the defending soldiers. Those who were attractive would be gang-raped until they were on the verge of death, and then their heads would be cut off and their bodies buried upside down in the ground, with their lower bodies facing up, claiming that it could suppress artillery fire. In the sixth year of the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, Sichuan had a population of over three million, but by the beginning of the Qing Dynasty, there were only over eighty thousand people left. The brutality of Zhang Xianzhong's massacre in Sichuan can be seen from this, to the extent that in the early Qing Dynasty, it was necessary to "fill Sichuan with people from Huguang" and start large-scale migration to Sichuan. Mr. Fei sighed deeply.

Although He Zheren is nearly seventy years old, his footwork is extraordinary, which is related to his practice of the special techniques of the Bimo people. As for Secretary Xing, he is a host of the Routu Man tribe, while Ke'er is a ghost, so naturally they are even more exceptional.

Having retired for many years, it's not worth mentioning, hehe. Lao He quickly took over the conversation, worried that Secretary Xing would blurt out everything.

This guest, you have been deceived by the Qing Dynasty. In fact, the butcher of Sichuan was not Zhang Xianzhong, but the Qing army. It was only because the Dashing Kingdom's army resisted fiercely that the Qing army became furious and launched a brutal massacre, resulting in a thousand miles of desolation and widespread starvation in Sichuan. Later, in order to cover up the truth, they falsely accused Zhang Xianzhong. The shopkeeper behind the counter couldn't help but get angry and stepped forward to refute.

Oh, this boss is quite interesting. After tasting the bacon hotpot in the small shop, it will be even more enjoyable. The boss lady said with a smile.

"Hmm," Mr. Fei took a piece of pig lung and put it in his mouth, making a sound as he chewed. "So agricultural issues are very important. As long as the Chinese farmers are not starving, they will not cause trouble. The fundamental way to improve food crops is through fertilizers. Look at the increasing use of fertilizers in recent years, and the worsening situation of soil compaction. If this vicious cycle continues, the food supply for 1.2 billion people will indeed become a problem."

Fei Lao smiled faintly and said, "Secretary Xing, do you think pigs are intelligent animals? They know not to eat their own kind. But what about us humans? Throughout history, cannibalism has been all too common, which is truly shameful."

Well, it has a decorative style reminiscent of the past feudal society. Although it looks a bit rough, it also reflects the real life of the working people at that time. Secretary Xing began to criticize it as soon as he sat down.

Ker quietly tugged at Secretary Xing's lapel and said, "Sir, is what Mr. Fei said true? It's simply terrifying."

Several people may not know that the tradition of Xichong La Rou Hotpot dates back to the period of the emperors, was popular during the Han and Tang dynasties, reached its peak during the Song and Qing dynasties, and has a long history. In the first year of the Qing Tongzhi reign, Xichong's instructor Liu Hongdian wrote a poem praising the hotpot, saying "Happy to meet good guests and enjoy the hotpot, also happy with the abundance of chicken and pork flavors." La Rou Hotpot is made by mixing various kinds of preserved meat with seasonal vegetables and an appropriate amount of meat broth. The hotpot contains both meat and vegetables, and is famous for the "Four Bowl Hotpot", "Seven Bowl Hotpot", and "Nine Bowl Hotpot", which have been renowned in our Sichuan region for a long time." A passionate elderly man who had just sat down at the table next to them praised. In the first year of the Qing Tongzhi reign, Xichong's instructor Liu Hongdian wrote a poem praising the hotpot, saying "Happy to meet good guests and enjoy the hotpot, also happy with the abundance of chicken and pork flavors." La Rou Hotpot is made by mixing various kinds of preserved meat with seasonal vegetables and an appropriate amount of meat broth. The hotpot contains both meat and vegetables, and is famous for the "Four Bowl Hotpot", "Seven Bowl Hotpot", and "Nine Bowl Hotpot", which have been renowned in our Sichuan region for a long time."

Ker stretched out her chopsticks and picked up a piece of red and white streaked preserved meat to feed Xiao Wu. Unexpectedly, Xiao Wu shook its head and instead, its mouth arched onto the table, pulling out a fresh green lettuce. With a few "crunch" sounds, it chewed and swallowed it.

Wow, it's really fragrant. Ke'er couldn't stop praising.

This is my lover," Secretary Xing pointed to Ke'er.

Secretary Xing turned around. The man was dressed in a dark blue Zhongshan suit, with a large steel pen in the pocket of his jacket. He had a ruddy complexion, full of vitality, and his temples were gray and white, like a senior veteran cadre.

What would the three of you like to eat? The owner's wife in the shop greeted them with a smile on her face. "We are the most authentic Xichong cured meat hot pot restaurant here, with a long history. Don't be fooled by the small size of the shop, most of our customers are repeat customers from all over the country. The taste is absolutely authentic, you will know it with just one bite."

This Mr. Lao He is from Langzhong... Secretary Xing continued to introduce.

Uncle Fei was listening on the side with great satisfaction, thinking to himself, "The 'Chicken Coop Plan' seems to be gradually showing results. But now I have lost all my skills, and this old braggart exudes the smell of decay from within. Danger is imminent, and a warning must be issued.

"Comrade," Secretary Xing couldn't help but show respect when he saw the situation, "May I ask, are you..."

These two are..." His gaze kindly turned towards Lao He and Ke Er.

"Cooking human flesh?" Secretary Xing was taken aback.

"Hehe," the man laughed heartily, "My surname is Fei, and I am a retired cadre. You can just call me Old Fei."

At this moment, Uncle Fei squinted his two small pig-like eyes and vigilantly stared at Old Fei, thinking that this was probably another corpse insect. That strange and elusive odor could not escape his keen nose.

Secretary Xing nodded and expressed agreement: "Indeed, although chemical fertilizers can increase yields in the short term, in the long run, we still rely on organic fertilizers such as pig manure. Every farmer raises pigs, so the source of manure is extensive."

Shortly after, the wax meat hotpot was served, steaming hot and spicy, with a tantalizing aroma.

Secretary Xing, recently some prestigious old cadres in Beijing have written a letter calling for the improvement of the living conditions of pigs. They propose to strictly control the birth rate of Chinese people while making efforts to breed pigs, and put forward the slogan "Good family planning, raising boars and sows for retirement", forming a pig-raising power with socialist characteristics. They also want to fully implement painless injection slaughter in slaughterhouses, which is a great thing that is both humane and beneficial to the country and the people. Such a good idea can only be thought of by us old comrades," said Fei with emotion.

Uncle Fei took advantage of people's inattention to stretch out his front hoof into Ke'er's arms and dipped it into the soy sauce dish. Then, the pig's nose gently nudged open her palm and wrote two words in it: "尸虫".

The boss's words are correct. Throughout history, ruling classes have always deliberately concealed their terrifying acts of slaughtering the people, and instead shifted the blame onto the oppressed working people who resisted them.

Mr. Fei sneered and said, "Madam, your shop is named 'Daxi'. Is it related to Zhang Xianzhong's 'Daxi Kingdom'? No wonder you keep defending him."

Fei Lao's gaze swept over the bamboo basket at Lao He's feet, inside of which lay a brown earthenware jar.

On the walls around, there are crude landscape paintings, dark Eight Immortals tables, long wooden benches, coarse porcelain bowls and chopsticks, which also give off an antique charm.

Despite leaving in a hurry and rushing through the night, K'er, who still has a childlike heart, is still full of enthusiasm. Her pet pig, Xiao Wu, is very obedient, snuggling up to her feet and running happily at times, while at other times turning back to gaze at K'er, truly endearing.

A few days later, at dusk, they arrived at Duofu Town within the territory of Xichong.

Ker forgot that Xiao Wu doesn't eat pork." Ker giggled.