Chapter Nine, A Group of Foodies

However, the usual business is just so-so, neither too hot nor too cold, barely maintaining itself

I see that Sanlang does not resemble what you described at all; he looks like someone who has lived in the deep mountains with the old monk for many years, not partaking in worldly affairs. Instead, he appears to be a traveling merchant, well-versed and experienced from wandering across the south and north.

Just a few plates of cooked meat, along with some fried beans and boiled bamboo shoots, yet both tables of guests exclaimed that today the old man was extravagant

Household registration status is extremely important. Without household registration, one is considered an illegal resident, and if encountered by authorities, one could easily be arrested. However, with a household registration, one can receive land allocation, which also implies the obligation to pay taxes and perform labor duties for the state, especially for males who have reached the age of twenty-one and are considered adults.

However, a group of big men cooking is certainly not very impressive

Before falling asleep, Zhang Chao was surprised that although this rice wine tasted both sour and mild, he did not expect its aftereffect to be quite strong

Are you a monk

The court conducts a household registration review every three years, and the local officials, such as village heads, are responsible for managing and identifying any omissions. The court imposes strict penalties on those who conceal their household registrations, particularly for adult males. If they intentionally fail to report, even the officials involved will face corporal punishment, with the maximum penalty being one year of forced labor.

Once the household registration is taken care of, I will ask someone to speak to Sanlang about the marriage proposal" said the old man, his face beaming with joy

Ke Wu looked at Zhang Chao, who was sound asleep, and said to his father

These soldiers not only are not picky, but each of them has a good appetite. The soldiers from the old man's team, having enjoyed a free lunch hosted by the old man, are therefore very unreserved.

The ten tables in the shop quickly filled up, and Zhang Chao, along with Ke Wu and the others, set up four more tables under the awning outside the shop.

The old man has no son, so he adopts a son, and this is regarded as a biological son. This is a matter of great importance, as there are no clan relatives here, thus the fellow villagers serve as witnesses.

Until the very end, the eyelids could no longer be lifted, and sleep took over.

This time the reward is quite generous, just right to introduce a good match for Sanlang

Although the wine is not particularly pleasant to drink, it is not strong enough to intoxicate Zhang Chao. Having become accustomed to the wines of later generations, this wine is quite similar to beer. Zhang Chao frequently raised his glass to toast, which made everyone feel that this young man was very polite. Despite just having come down from the mountain and returned to secular life, his manners were still commendable.

Under normal circumstances, more than 10 wen for a doumi is considered normal

"Sanlang, it's time to eat together." Ke Shan called out to Zhang Chao. Most of the soldiers who were on duty had already eaten and left, and now they finally had the opportunity to have their meal.

Renovate the new cave dwelling, install a heated kang bed, build a new-style stove, and open a noodle shop

In Bailu Township, there are hardly a few restaurants, and the noodle shop run by Ke Qiniang primarily relies on the business from the soldiers of the Cavalry Command. The Cavalry Command has consistently maintained a presence of over a hundred personnel in the camp, and the soldiers stationed there bring their own provisions for training and duty, taking turns to cook their meals.

After a hearty meal and drinks, Liu Dui-tou and the other squad leaders each departed, leaving only Ke Wu and the other local militia members from the village.

However, for these men, having the opportunity to eat heartily is truly a rare chance and an extremely happy occasion, so they will naturally not hold back

However, everyone was drinking very happily

It used to be, but it is no longer the case

However, everyone was enjoying their meal with great enthusiasm. With no room left at the table, they simply held their large bowls and squatted outside in the snow to eat, making a delightful mess while appearing to have a hearty appetite.

Fifty wen for a bowl of plain noodles is indeed expensive. However, Zhang Chao also understands that as the Tang Dynasty gradually stabilizes the world, the order of the realm will gradually be restored, and production will begin to recover, leading to a decline in various prices.

Zhang Tieqiang pondered for a long time before finally uttering this sentence

These people are indeed something; when they say they will treat, they go all out.

With wine and meat, complemented by soup pancakes, everyone feels that it is very sumptuous

The young lady Lian'er stood a little farther away, secretly observing Zhang Chao, but did not approach. The two sisters seemed to be somewhat curious about Zhang Chao, yet also a bit shy.

There were even some captains and squad leaders hosting guests here

Usually at home, I drink thin porridge and eat wild vegetable dumplings. Now, I have soup pancakes made with white flour to enjoy. In the middle of winter, hot soup pancakes are simply delightful

Therefore, occasionally everyone would go to a small restaurant outside for a meal. Ke Qiniang's husband was previously a soldier in the Chari Bureau, and later, with the help of her father, they managed to take care of the business. As a result, this small restaurant was able to sustain itself, allowing Ke Qiniang's family of three to live here

This child is quite good

However, Zhang Chao is not in a hurry to talk about getting married.

The old man previously had two sons, so he now adopts Zhang Chao as his son and calls him Sanlang.

At least three jin-sized bowls, each of these individuals must consume at least three large bowls. A few food enthusiasts even managed to eat five large bowls, and one person was simply a bottomless pit, consuming seven bowls without stopping. This made Zhang Chao quite worried for this individual, wondering if he might overeat. Although the noodles were less and the soup was plentiful, the stomach was indeed quite large

A bowl costs no less than fifty wen. Nowadays, the price of grain in Guanzhong remains high, so even a very simple noodle soup is quite expensive, after all, a dou of rice costs five hundred wen. Ke Qiniang feels sorry for her father, but since he has spoken, she refrains from saying more.

Upon arriving in the Tang Dynasty, Zhang Chao did not have any grand ambitions at the moment; he was only thinking about how to make his own life a bit more comfortable and to ensure that his father could also live more comfortably.

However, today is different; many of the soldiers who were dispatched have returned to receive their rewards, having obtained quite a number of gifts. Each of them is in high spirits, making it a rare occasion for them to come to the shop and indulge in a lavish celebration.

Yes, my name is Zhang Chao, you can call me brother

Sanlang, please offer a toast to everyone

Today, the old man is very happy, his face glowing with joy, and the scar that runs across his left eye is also shimmering with a purple hue. "I plan to invite the village headman, as well as the generals, lieutenants from the cavalry, and various brigade leaders and team leaders to my home for a feast tomorrow. Tomorrow, everyone will witness as I officially take Sanlang as my son"

The two tables inside have been set with sliced cooked food, along with the rice wine that has been brought in

The reward received by the old man can be converted to over 2,000 jin of millet, which is indeed a substantial amount during this time of high grain prices. However, at noon today, he also spent quite a bit on hosting guests, with everyone consuming several thousand coins. Fortunately, the noodle shop belongs to Seventh Sister, so if we only consider the cost price, it actually saved quite a bit.

It is indeed somewhat overly simplistic

Esteemed uncles, I am the younger generation, and I shall begin with this as a gesture of respect

Old Zhang did not care about these matters, but Miss Ke Qi felt a bit heartbroken

This wine is sourced from a shop in the countryside. Although it is not a renowned wine like Xinfeng, it is not inexpensive either, and can be considered of a certain quality, with a price significantly higher than that of grain. A group of palace guards seldom has the opportunity to drink wine.

Zhang Chao was wiping the table, while the youngest daughter of Qi Niangzi, Lan'er, was staring at the short hair under his hat.

Zhang Chao stood up with a smile, holding a full glass of wine, and offered a toast to everyone

Today is a rare occasion of such joy, as long as it brings happiness to everyone

These men are indeed not picky when it comes to food

Father looked at Zhang Chao, who was sleeping with his head on the table, feeling a bit surprised

Zhang Chao is not the kind of person who solely focuses on the land for its yield; while the land is indeed fundamental, running a store is far more profitable.

Having arranged a banquet, I just happened to ask the village head to assist in registering Sanlang's household.

With a slight hint of intoxication, Zhang Chao began to describe his future plans to his father and Qiniang, growing more and more excited as he spoke, sharing a multitude of ideas in one breath

Zhang Chao drained the cup in one gulp, and as the wine went down his throat, he only felt a rush accompanied by a hint of sourness. The taste of this wine was truly peculiar, with an extremely poor mouthfeel

After being busy for nearly half an hour, I finally managed to see off most of the customers who were eating noodles

Zhang Chao even had a preliminary plan in mind to renovate this small noodle shop. It is located near a military camp, which is actually a good position. If he could innovate and introduce some new ideas, it should still be possible to make a profit

The business at the store is exceptionally good today, with bowls of millet porridge, steamed pancakes, fried pancakes, and bowls of soup pancakes.

Historical records indicate that by the fourth year of the Zhenguan era, the country experienced several consecutive years of abundant harvests. At that time, the price of grain fell significantly, with a dou of rice costing as little as two wen, representing a decline of more than two hundred times compared to the current prices

In Zhang Chao's view, the food at Ke Qiniang's shop is quite simple, with almost no seasonings. It is just like what his father makes in the morning, with only a bit of mutton fat and green onions added, nothing more. There are no enticing toppings, no braising sauce, let alone fried eggs, vegetables, or mushrooms.

Usually, people might come to buy a flatbread, but today at least they should order two bowls of soup.

"Are you now Uncle Zhang's son?" the young girl asked again

Now that I have this money and grain, I should first build two new cellars. One will be for my father to live in, and later I will bring in Qiniang to live with him. The remaining two rooms will be for myself and for Lian Niang and Lan Niang to share.