Chapter 4: Success or failure depends on today

The samurai completed the inspection, leaving behind a portion, while the rest withdrew.

The mere technique of stir-frying scallions in oil is a culinary method that did not exist in the Spring and Autumn period. As Wei Xiang stared in astonishment, he caught a whiff of a fragrance he had never encountered before

The rest are warriors

Lü Wu still underestimated the ambition and vision of the great nobles of this era

In this case, it indicates that the Lü family itself lacks talent, and the sudden emergence of new things can only be attributed to outsiders.

Lü Wu then explained why iron is used to manufacture pots, articulating it in the most contemporary language possible, while also discussing some principles of heat exposure, heat conduction, and heat generation

Firstly, it is now the Spring and Autumn period, and there is not a single remarkable person who is not famous, each possessing a profound background.

For example, a person who is well-versed in cooking and gastronomy, named "Yi", later came to be known as Yi Ya

Very real

Common people lack furniture, and they simply hold items for carrying food, eating anywhere they please

The Golden Crow is the sun

Based on the vegetables available from the Lü family, along with some items that are currently considered staple foods but are actually ingredients, a variety of small dishes were stir-fried

The current variety of vegetables is extremely limited, including types such as sunflower, chives, scallions, garlic chives, smartweed, sorrel, ginger, purslane, garlic, watercress, mustard, bayberry, turnip, water lily, and wild mustard

Without needing to be reminded by his grandmother, Lü Wu, who designed this matter, was already filled with anticipation for this meeting, so how could he possibly not take it seriously

Lu Wu claimed that the knowledge was derived from his own research, and Wei Xiang immediately believed him

In spring and autumn, there are certainly utensils, and many utensils have their specific purposes

What do people eat nowadays

Minister Wei stood up, bowed respectfully, and said: "Martial arts, did you receive instruction from a renowned master?"

The one who has arrived is Wei Xiang, a direct descendant of the Wei family, and he is the son of Lü Qi

However, the Wei family has not yet truly risen to prominence and does not qualify as one of the top aristocrats of the Jin state

Even before the birth of Li Er (Laozi), Kong Qiu sought inspiration from some of Laozi's works to establish Confucianism, which is indeed noteworthy

He is unaware that Minister Wei is referred to as the foremost talent of the State of Jin

It is evident how significant the disparity is between the minor nobility and the major nobility, as even a Wei family scion who has already been expelled can command such solemnity from the matriarch

The old Lu family is affiliated with the Wei family, and Lu Wu is aware of this

The current system in place is the meal-sharing system

Knowledge is never acquired without reason; it is certainly the result of accumulation and subsequent instruction

On a certain morning

The Wei family certainly possesses the capability to investigate who has recently visited the Lü family, and even to ascertain the identities of any strangers within the fief.

In other words, Wei appeared to be very anxious

Lu Wu, however, knew that Yu Che was checking whether there were any ambushes in the residence. He felt offended, and his displeasure was evident on his face

Yu Che found various reasons to walk around the Lü residence, as if he had finished observing something. Without any apology, he said to Lü Wu: "Is it really like this?"

The nobles sit separately at their own tables and do not gather together

This is quite reasonable; being literate and possessing other skills made one a talent during the Spring and Autumn period

Upon closer observation of Lü Wu, Minister Wei could discern that he had been diligently training his body. His pair of eyes was very spirited and lively.

Even the imperial hand can be a vassal, which indicates that not just anyone can be a charioteer now

There is no particularly complex reason

Without mentioning the various ways to use utensils, Minister Wei picked up some dishes with chopsticks and began to chew them in his mouth

Firstly, Lü Wu is a noble, and he certainly knows how to read and write, which inherently places him above others in terms of knowledge

Lu Wu prepared a variety of versatile plates and bowls, and additionally included tableware with modern characteristics; however, due to the absence of metalworkers in the Lu family, all items were made of wood

This "tooth" is a heartfelt admiration for someone who is exceptionally skilled in cooking

In addition to stir-frying dishes (some made with lean meat), Lü Wu also prepared steamed crabs, stir-fried shrimp, stir-fried shrimp meat, stewed soft-shelled turtle, among other dishes

Lu Wu, on the other hand, looked at Minister Wei with an expectant gaze, awaiting a response

Lü Wu said: "I have offered a substantial reward for the book, but to no avail; I have had a fondness for contemplation since childhood, and by chance, while examining the illumination of weapons by the golden crow, I arrived at this theory"

Lü Wu can fabricate countless lies to explain why he knows so much

The four types mentioned above are widely used

Minister Wei looked at the numerous dishes laid out on the table, then raised his head to glance at Lu Wu across from him, exclaiming before eating: "Wu, this is a feast for the eyes."

In fact, many of the future hundred schools of thought have not yet emerged.

That was a large contingent of over 1,000 people, with five war chariots alone, one of which was the vehicle of Prime Minister Wei

After all, the internal strife among the nobles of the Jin state has always been bloody

As the host, Lu Wu took out fresh dining utensils and naturally demonstrated their use himself

Prime Minister Wei does not understand the purposes of various types of tableware

Lü Wu, however, paid no attention to Yu Che's probing, merely maintaining an expression of displeasure, yet he did not neglect the hospitality that was to be extended.

Next, the Lü family has fallen into decline. As the actual heir who has not yet undergone the crown ceremony (and is still the only one), one might think from the perspective of the Wei Prime Minister that Lü Wu is trying every means to revive the family.

General Lü invited Minister Wei into the room. After they took their respective seats, he said: "The family is going through difficult times, and the hospitality is lacking; please do not take offense."

Even if the current Prime Minister Wei only displays intelligence without the reputation of being the foremost talent of the Jin state, his intellect and thinking should have already developed to a certain scale

The relationship lacking certain seasonings and condiments may not seem impressive from a modern perspective, and the taste is certainly quite ordinary.

Various nobles also seized this opportunity to strike against their rival nobles, committing murders and then pinning the blame on the remnants of the Zhao clan

In the midst of chaos in the country, the Prime Minister of Wei initially intended to explain, spoke a few words, then paused and changed the subject, saying: "Why does Wu use bad gold to make pots, when bad gold is rejected by all noble families?"

It not only serves as a testament to one's identity but also expresses respect towards the host family

This Wei family retainer calls himself Yu Che. (His name is Che, and he is the charioteer for a prominent figure of the Wei family)

The grandmother appeared very cautious towards the Wei family, even when members of the Wei clan who had already "separated" arrived

That is to say, one will not eat food from the same plate.

Half a month may seem like a long time for modern individuals, yet in this era where everything seems to be moving slowly, it can be considered quite efficient.

On that day, Lu Wu guided the craftsmen in forging a pot, both to prepare some dishes for today and as part of demonstrating his own value

There are not many tricks that Lu Wu can manage

For instance, receiving guidance from a celestial being in a dream, or being favored by the heavens and receiving enlightenment, or encountering a highly skilled teacher

A retainer of the Wei family first arrived at the Lü residence, remaining silent until he encountered Lü Wucai, at which point he conveyed the message that Prime Minister Wei was just behind and would be arriving shortly

Lü Qi is the son of Wei Shou. After the division of the family, he is referred to as the Lü family, but the two families are still as close as one family.

The decay of the Lü family is evident and cannot be attributed to a short period; it has developed over a long duration.

The grandmother, who rarely ventured out of her own room, personally directed the servants in a thorough cleaning of the household

At this time, Confucius has not yet been born, there is no Confucianism, and naturally, there is no Mencius, so it is impossible to proclaim that a gentleman should stay away from the kitchen.

It is common for a person who wishes to revitalize their family to spare no effort in their endeavors

Moreover, books are essentially bamboo slips

At the age of over 10, Wei Xiangyue received strict education in terms of speech and behavior, reflecting the demeanor expected of a noble.

The aftermath of the Zhao family's extermination continues to exert its influence, as the loyal warriors of the Zhao family repeatedly assassinate the nobles involved in the massacre.

Therefore, fabricating an exceptionally capable teacher is the least favorable choice

Any book that contains a set of bamboo slips, regardless of what is recorded on them, will be regarded as a treasure

He returned to his own territory, and half a month later, the Wei family sent someone.

Even for the nobility, the food they consume is merely prepared with more kitchen utensils, resulting in a monotonous and tedious experience in terms of both the method of consumption and the taste.

This is also quite an aristocratic approach

The terms "immortal" and "heavenly deity" would be a rather good expression, and one would find it impossible to locate any evidence to support it

A group of approximately one hundred members of the Wei family has arrived

an excellent teacher

Lu Wu felt somewhat uneasy under the gaze and stood up to say, "Why not? I will personally take charge of the kitchen and prepare it for tasting."

If it were not for the fact that the agreed meeting time was only a brief three days, Lü Wu would have reason to believe that his grandmother would have acted even more extravagantly

Now that the house has been tidied up, it is still not enough. The path leading to the home has been cleared of weeds and various debris by the servants, and new soil has been brought in to cover it all over again

Such as daggers and hand knives used for cutting meat (not merely decorative items), chopsticks, and various types of spoons

This is witnessing the decline of a family

Minister Wei savored the moment carefully; it did not seem like a business discussion, but rather he inquired about some knowledge mentioned by Lu Wu.

When discussing serious matters, it is only natural to "enter the hall and step into the room" to show respect

Yu Che, however, changed the subject and began to talk about the new and interesting things he had seen in the inner courtyard, probing whether the Lu family had recently recruited any talented individuals.

The Wei minister that Lu Wu saw was a handsome young man, yet there were no signs of having been pampered in luxury.

I want to buy books now, but I simply cannot find any to purchase

Lu Wu was not modest and gestured for Wei Xiang to take another look at the dining utensils

Approximately one hour later, a larger group arrived

Prime Minister Wei placed greater emphasis on some viewpoints and knowledge presented by Lü Wu that he had not heard before. However, since Lü Wu had already avoided the topic, he followed him to the kitchen, wanting to see how to cook using an iron pot

Lü Wu fully recognized what it meant to be a great noble and understood that the Wei family was still influenced by the downfall of the Zhao family, worrying about the safety of his own direct lineage when venturing out

"Wu, the Wei family is my ally." The grandmother said with great earnestness, "Wu, you must seize this opportunity"

For example, Lü Qi's son still bears the surname "Wei".

However

They did not enter the Lu residence, but instead divided into several teams to begin patrolling the surrounding area, or rather, conducting a risk assessment

Lu Wu personally welcomed the Wei Prime Minister, leading him into the courtyard, but wisely stopped in the open pavilion, waiting for the warriors of the Wei family to inspect each of the rooms.

Prime Minister Wei did not come directly

He dispatched his own vassals to inform Lü Wu in advance, agreeing on a specific time for their arrival

It is entirely reasonable to have stumbled upon some new knowledge by chance

Some things that were not understood, Minister Wei would repeatedly ask questions until he fully comprehended, then he would display an expression of sudden realization