Chapter Nine, Lu Xiaoji

Hehe, in fact, pork is not a good thing. Sun Simiao, the Medicine King of the Tang Dynasty, warned the world, saying, 'Eating pork for a long time will lead to reduced fertility and exacerbate chronic illnesses. Eating pig meat for a long time will cause the body to feel sore and fatigued.' Li Shizhen also pointed out in his work "Compendium of Materia Medica" that 'Northern pigs have a bland taste, and their broth is clear when boiled. Southern pigs have a strong flavor, and their broth is thick, which is particularly toxic.' Therefore, Mr. Lu has never eaten it. Lu Xiaoji spoke in a pedantic manner, citing classical texts, clearly resembling an old scholar. Southern pigs have a strong flavor, and their broth is thick, which is particularly toxic. Therefore, Mr. Lu has never eaten it. Lu Xiaoji spoke in a pedantic manner, citing classical texts, clearly resembling an old scholar.

On Antique Street, there are scattered stalls selling Dunhuang silk carpets, luminous cups, various aged Buddhist statue sculptures, and replicas of the Mogao Caves murals

To put it this way, taking carnivores as an example, the intestines of a tiger measure 5.4 meters, which is three times its body length, while that of a wolf is 3.5 times. In contrast, for herbivores, a rabbit's intestines are 8 meters long, equivalent to 20 times its body length, and a goat's intestines are 22 times. This is because meat is rich in nutrients but prone to spoilage, leading to shorter and straighter intestines with fewer folds, allowing for the rapid expulsion of toxins. On the other hand, plant fibers are abundant and difficult to digest, necessitating longer intestines to absorb sufficient nutrients. Carnivores need to hunt, are easily excited and impulsive, full of energy and vigor, and possess a spirit of adventure. Herbivores, however, are entirely different; since plants grow in place and do not run away, there is no need to rush, allowing them to think carefully before acting.

Xiao Jian tried one, and indeed it had a thin skin, abundant flesh, and a small pit, with a delicious and refreshing sweetness. It left a lingering fragrance in the mouth, prompting him to praise it endlessly

She returned to the antique stall to make the payment, took away four bronze mirrors, and as she was leaving, she heard the stall owner muttering to himself behind her: "In this day and age, earning a little is better than nothing"

"Are you selling or not? If not, then I'm leaving." Xiao Jian said coldly with a frosty expression.

"Alright, let's wrap it up," Xiao Jian said with a slight smile, taking out his bank savings card and adding, "Come with me to the bank to withdraw some money"

The potato looked at it with a puzzled expression, then wagged its tail and slowly crawled down in front of it

Xiao Jian cast a glance at Uncle Fei, noticing him shake his head

Due to racial differences, humans exhibit certain variations. For instance, Westerners primarily consume meat, with an average height of 1.8 meters and intestines measuring 5.4 meters, which is three times their body length. In contrast, Easterners primarily follow a vegetarian diet, with an average height of 1.7 meters and intestines measuring 8.3 meters, which is five times their body length. Therefore, Westerners, with shorter intestines, tend to enjoy outdoor sports and possess a rugged and combative personality, while Easterners are generally more reserved and rational, with noticeably weaker physical strength. This is explained by Lu Xiaoji.

This type of bronze mirror requires four, priced at one thousand five hundred yuan. Xiao Jian bargained again

Uncle Fei looked around to see that no one was nearby, then walked up to it and whispered: "Uhai Simi Da"

That would be wonderful, I can take you to play at the Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring, and we can also go a bit further to the Yumenguan Pass. Ma Helan happily tugged at Xiao Jian's hand; the Majia Valley is located in the midst of the Gobi Desert, remote and isolated, making it rare to have a girl of similar age as a companion.

The door creaked open, and Lu Xiaoji quietly slipped out of the house, carrying a clay jar filled with lard on his back. Under the cool moonlight, he walked into the vast Gobi Desert

For thousands of years, the soup in the bowl is filled with resentment as deep as the sea and hatred that is hard to quell. If one wishes to know the calamities of war in the world, one need only listen to the sounds of slaughter at midnight. "Every bowl of meat soup we consume is filled with the resentment of the beings that have been slaughtered. In the future, when those who eat meat are reborn into the animal realm due to their karmic deeds, they will face the same fate of being slaughtered," explained Lu Xiaoji.

The potato stood obediently to the side, occasionally wagging its tail, having already been controlled by a curse

Indoors, dinner is ready, and a large plate of dishes is laid out on the table, consisting of pork lard stir-fried chili potato slices, just like last night

Ma Helan dropped the bag of Li Guang apricots and took her leave to return home, as she detested the smell of lard pastries

Uncle Fei felt a surge of joy in his heart and began to chant "Corpse Gu Technique," commanding it with his thoughts to fetch some food.

She then set down the panlong-patterned mirror and casually picked up an ancient copper mirror.

"Haha, good eye, it's rare to see this, this is quite an exquisite mirror adorned with a pattern of multiple beasts..." the vendor quickly said

As Xiao Jian ate his meal, he curiously probed, "Since pork is so undesirable, why do you still render lard?"

At this moment, the sound of knocking on the door was heard; it turned out to be Ma Helan, who had come early in the morning to see Xiao Jian off

Eighteen hundred

After breakfast, Xiao Jian and Ma Helan held hands, while Uncle Fei and Tudou followed behind, all heading towards the urban area of Dunhuang

Uncle Fei snorted in dissatisfaction from the side

"Xiao Jian, wait for me, I will go buy you some of the best Li Guang apricots here," said Ma Helan as she ran to a nearby fruit stall

Only with it can one master the 'Broken Tile Technique' Uncle Fei whispered

Lu Xiaoji smiled kindly and said, "In nature, whether humans consume meat is not determined by religious beliefs, but by the evolution of their own intestines."

"Five thousand yuan." The vendor scoffed dismissively.

Uncle Fei shook his head

Where is the person? Xiao Jian found it quite interesting

Xiao Jian shook his head

The vendor enthusiastically introduced, "The pan-ch'i patterned mirror in your hand is indeed a Shangfang mirror, belonging to the Imperial Household of the Ministry of Revenue. It features a three-stringed knob, a round base, and is adorned with a serpent-dragon pattern. Between the four rope patterns, there are engraved seal script inscriptions: 'May the longing for each other never cease, sorrowful thoughts, gazing back at wishes, my lord, do not be displeased.' I cannot imagine how many noble lords and ladies have used this mirror in the past; it truly evokes a deep sense of nostalgia for ancient times." The vendor spoke with such fervor that spittle flew from his mouth.

What a beautiful legend! Xiao Jian exclaimed

"How much is this bronze mirror?" Xiao Jian did not respond to him

one thousand six

Xiao Jian stopped in front of a stall selling feng shui items, where various sizes and shapes of golden toads, Pi Xiu, and antique-style bronze mirrors were displayed.

The stall owner scrutinized Xiao Jian carefully and impatiently asked, "Little girl, are you really going to buy the bronze mirror or just browsing for fun? These antiques are quite expensive, so if you are not going to buy, could you please not cause a disturbance here?"

"Master, why must it be this unsightly copper mirror?" Xiao Jian asked, puzzled and confused.

The Shazhou Market on Yangguan East Road in Dunhuang City is not very crowded during the day, but it is said to be quite lively at night, referred to as the "Dunhuang Night Market." The street is lined with Tang-style architecture that exudes an ancient charm. It not only offers local specialty snacks such as donkey meat noodles, Dunhuang lamb offal, and grilled lamb chops, but also features local fruits like Li Guang apricots, Ming Mountain jujubes, and rosy pears.

At dusk, Xiao Jian and Ma Helan, who had spent the entire day exploring Dunhuang, returned exhausted to Teacher Lu's home

Xiao Jian was puzzled: "Then why do we still need to eat lard pastry?"

There are still so many things to say

"Teacher Lu, why do you always eat lard pastry instead of meat?" Xiao Jian asked him curiously

"Five hundred." Xiao Jian had seen his mother bargaining when she bought clothes, and he told her that cutting the price down by 90% was definitely the right approach.

Dunhuang City is located at the westernmost end of the Hexi Corridor, with a long and rich historical culture. The Silk Road during the Han Dynasty started from Chang'an, passed through the Hexi Corridor to reach Dunhuang, and then exited through the Yumenguan and Yangguan Passes. It divided into two routes, the southern and northern Silk Roads, along the northern foothills of the Kunlun Mountains and the southern foothills of the Tianshan Mountains, ultimately reaching ancient Rome in Europe. Since ancient times, the convergence of Central Plains culture, Buddhist culture, and cultures from West Asia and Central Asia has made Dunhuang a "great metropolis where Hu and Rong intersect." Surrounded by desert and Gobi, it is also known as the "Gobi Oasis." Since ancient times, the convergence of Central Plains culture, Buddhist culture, and cultures from West Asia and Central Asia has made Dunhuang a "great metropolis where Hu and Rong intersect." Surrounded by desert and Gobi, it is also known as the "Gobi Oasis."

The night is deep, the moonlight is like water, and all is silent.

Sister Ma, I won't be leaving for the time being... Xiao Jian mentioned this matter.

"What is this for?" Xiao Jian asked in confusion

The stall owner widened his eyes: "This was unearthed from the Han Dynasty..."

The ancients said, "All meats are nourishing, except for pork, which makes one excessively fat, obstructs the blood vessels, and weakens the muscles and bones, resulting from the deficiency of the flesh." It is merely a pity to discard the leftover lard after rendering the pork fat at home, so it is consumed. " Lu Xiaoji said as he picked up his bowl of rice and placed a piece into his mouth

***

Potato suddenly got up and ran back home, taking advantage of Old Man Ma's inattention, jumped onto the stove and stole a large piece of juicy cooked lamb, then returned to Uncle Fei's side like a streak of smoke.

Oh," Xiao Jian said, seemingly understanding but not quite, "my mother always advises me to be vegetarian, saying it can accumulate virtue and do good deeds

The vendor sighed and pointed diagonally across: "There, the bank is right there, go and take it yourself."

Intestines? Xiao Jian was even more puzzled at this moment, and even Uncle Fei perked up his ears.

Quickly buy the four-sided nine-inch bronze mirror" Uncle Fei glanced around and then hurriedly said to Xiao Jian.

This is a replica of a translucent mirror from the Western Han Dynasty. Although it appears unremarkable on the surface, when light shines on the mirror, the patterns on the back of the mirror are reflected onto the wall opposite, which the ancients referred to as a 'phantom mirror.' Fei Shu explained that Ge Hong of the Eastern Jin Dynasty practiced 'mirror techniques' and specifically required the use of this type of mirror.

At this moment, Ma Helan ran back holding a bag of golden yellow apricots: "Xiao Jian, you must try these; they are the most famous Li Guang apricots from our area, and you definitely can't find them elsewhere."

"Hey, young lady, your family must be into antique collecting, right? Haha, it must be, otherwise how could you have such a keen eye? This is a recently unearthed Han Dynasty bronze mirror, extremely rare; there are only a few of these in all of Dunhuang." The vendor's gaze was fixed on Xiao Jian as he began to flatter.

He happily devoured the lamb, feeling that the taste was absolutely wonderful

Then I understand, Chinese people should primarily focus on a vegetarian diet, with appropriate supplementation of some meat. Xiao Jian put a piece of lard pastry into his mouth

"What is there to rent? It's just sitting there empty anyway, so anyone can live there." Teacher Lu chuckled, resolutely deciding not to charge any fees

Xiao Jian turned around and went to the bank, withdrew 10,000 yuan from the card, counted out 1,700 yuan, and put the remaining amount into his pocket

What a clever girl. Lu Xiaoji chuckled.

The yellow puppy named "Potato" that came yesterday also arrived

Xiao Jian picked up another inconspicuous copper mirror, and this time Uncle Fei nodded in approval

Uncle Fei felt somewhat nauseated upon seeing that the breakfast consisted of lard and flaky noodle soup, so he walked out of the courtyard alone

There is a legend about this apricot, Ma Helan said with a slight smile. It is said that during the Western Han Dynasty, General Li Guang passed through here while on a campaign in the south. On a scorching summer day, the soldiers were parched and suffering. Suddenly, a strange fragrance wafted through the air, and two pieces of colorful silk floated down from the clouds. Li Guang drew his arrow and shot one of the silks, which fell to the ground and transformed into a bountiful apricot grove. The crowd rushed to eat, but found the fruit bitter as gall, prompting Li Guang to angrily cut down the apricot grove. The next morning, however, the apricot grove was once again lush with branches and leaves, heavy with golden apricots. Li Guang tasted one and found it extremely fragrant and sweet, invigorating the soldiers who eagerly picked and ate the fruit. It turned out that the two pieces of colorful silk were actually the Sweet Apricot Fairy and the Bitter Apricot Fairy, sent by the Queen Mother of the West to save Li Guang. However, they were too busy playing and inadvertently angered Li Guang, resulting in the Bitter Apricot Fairy being shot down. Late at night, the Sweet Apricot Fairy used her magical powers to graft sweet apricot branches onto the stump of the bitter apricot tree, ultimately yielding fragrant and sweet yellow apricots. Therefore, the local people of Dunhuang refer to them as 'Li Guang Apricots'.

How much is this bronze mirror? Xiao Jian then reached out to pick up a bronze mirror covered in green rust

"Hmm," Lu Xiaoji nodded, "Have you heard of the 'Poem on Refraining from Killing and Releasing Life' by the Song Dynasty monk Yuan Yun?"

The next morning, during breakfast, Xiao Jian proposed to Teacher Lu that he wanted to stay in Dunhuang for a while and wished to rent his old, dilapidated house.

Sigh, today is the first day of business, consider yourself lucky, I will sell it to you. The vendor said dejectedly, appearing very helpless

Uncle Fei felt delighted; the "Corpse Gu Technique" was truly remarkable. It seemed that in the future, he could freely roam the animal kingdom without fear of those carnivorous beasts.

The vendor: "One thousand seven."

***

Is this true? Xiao Jian was startled

Lard is indeed the best remedy for detoxification and intestinal lubrication. Even in the case of accidental ingestion of highly toxic pufferfish, there is generally no antidote available. However, if one consumes one liter of lard immediately afterward, their life will be spared