C20 There Were Three Dishes in the Restaurant

Ye Chuxue led the group to their quaint family-run tavern in the old streets of Tongshui Ancient Town. The descent from the mountain had taken nearly half an hour.

By the time they arrived, the sun was high in the sky. Zhang Yaozhi stood in the shadow cast by the tavern, contemplating its aged facade. It appeared that Mr. Ye's family wasn't well-off. After all, which commoner wouldn't yearn for wealth? With this in mind, it was all but certain that he would take Ye Chuxue under his wing as a disciple. Clearing his throat, he glanced at Hsu San and inquired,

"Hsu San, are all the gifts ready? We mustn't forget our manners on our first visit."

"Master, how could I possibly forget your instructions? Rest assured, everything is prepared to perfection, and I promise we won't tarnish your reputation," Hsu San replied, hoisting the parcels higher with a smile. Zhang Yaozhi had indeed brought a generous array of gifts: fine silk fabrics from Jiangnan, a jade carving symbolizing good fortune, a small golden toad that beckoned wealth... He even remembered to bring along the assortment of pastries Ye Chuxue had wanted to take home.

Additionally, he had prepared a special brocade box containing ten hefty silver ingots, amounting to a hundred taels—a fortune for the average person. It was quite possible that someone like Mr. Ye, who hailed from the mountains, had never laid eyes on such treasures.

"Uncle, Grandfather Jiang, we've arrived at Zhixian's home," announced Ye Chuxue, pushing open the door and beckoning to those behind before cautiously peeking inside.

He had returned later than usual and moved with a certain trepidation, wary of Mr. Ye's potential ire that might result in a few smacks on his behind.

The main hall was serene, bathed in the warm glow of the midday sun. The aroma of meat wafting from the kitchen suggested that Mr. Ye had indeed prepared the braised pork as anticipated.

"Mr. Ye, Zhixian is back," Ye Chuxue called out softly to the empty room. No sooner had he spoken than Mr. Ye's voice emerged from behind the counter.

"Why are you so late today, and with guests in tow? The meat's nearly ready in the kitchen. Go ahead and serve it up. Grab a few extra bowls and chopsticks—it's not often we have such a bustling atmosphere."

In the dimly lit wooden counter, Mr. Ye had been seated for what felt like an eternity, his hands constantly cradling an abacus, seemingly tallying figures all morning long.

Upon hearing Ye Chuxue's return, Mr. Ye offered a slight smile, refraining from any reprimand. He leisurely stepped out from behind the counter and playfully tapped the youngster's head.

"Alright, Zhixian understands."

Ye Chuxue, relieved to see Mr. Ye wasn't upset, flashed a wide smile, responded with a quick nod, and playfully stuck out his tongue before dashing off to the kitchen to check on his braised pork. Once Ye Chuxue had left, Mr. Ye turned to welcome Zhang Yaozhi and the others.

"Zhixian seldom has guests over. Since you're all here, please have a seat. I wasn't expecting company today, so it's just simple home cooking. I hope it suits your tastes?"

"Not at all, we've imposed on you by dropping in unexpectedly. Please don't mind us. Home cooking is just fine; we're not fussy."

Zhang Yaozhi couldn't help but feel an inexplicable sense of apprehension as he observed the blind young man. In his years of service, he had only felt such a sensation in the presence of high-ranking officials.

Yet this young man, who appeared to have never ventured far from the mountains, and whose eyes were veiled by a cloth strip, seemed to be piercingly observant.

Zhang Yaozhi chalked it up to the sweltering heat playing tricks on his mind. After rubbing his eyes, he instructed Hsu San to set down the gifts.

"This is my first visit, so I've brought a few modest gifts. I hope you'll accept them."

"Thank you, just place them on the table."

Mr. Ye, smiling at Zhang Yaozhi, made no attempt to refuse the offerings. Without inquiring about their nature, he simply gestured to a spot for them to be placed. He then took a clean cloth and began meticulously wiping down the largest table in the room.

Zhang Yaozhi paused for a moment, realization dawning on him. Of course, the man before him was blind and couldn't see the value of the gifts. Perhaps he assumed they were nothing more than ordinary vegetables. It looked like any serious discussions would have to wait until they were gathered around the dining table.

In the grand hall, Zhang Yaozhi and the others had taken their seats at a long wooden table, where three steaming dishes freshly prepared by Ye Chuxue awaited them.

A clay bowl brimmed with steaming braised pork, its glossy, reddish hue releasing an enticing aroma. This was a flavor achieved only through slow-cooking in a clay pot over a low flame all morning long.

Beside it, a small dish of freshly cooked greens appeared simple and oil-free, yet a subtle meaty scent hinted at their preparation with pork fat to temper any bitterness.

The final dish was a bowl of pristine fish soup, made with delicate, nearly boneless fish from the Tongshui River, renowned for its exquisite taste when used in soups.

Shortly after the dishes were served, Ye Chuxue emerged from the kitchen carrying a small wooden bucket of rice. The steam from the firewood-steamed rice misted up Ye Chuxue's face, flushing his cheeks a rosy hue that only added to his charm.

"Mr. Ye, Zhixian is here to refill the bowls," he said sweetly.

Ye Chuxue carefully filled each bowl with a generous helping of rice before setting the bowls and chopsticks before everyone. Then, the youngster clutched his own bowl and climbed onto a stool, eyeing the braised pork with eager anticipation.

"Now that everything is served, let's eat," he announced.

Ye Chuxue added a piece of the succulent braised pork to his bowl and invited the others to begin. Zhang Yaozhi, unfazed by the simplicity of the home-cooked meal, savored each bite from his bowl. After a spoonful of rice, he turned to Mr. Ye with a smile, "Young man, there's a matter I'd like to discuss with you, concerning Zhixian..."

"Let's eat first. The meat won't taste as good once it cools," Mr. Ye interjected, tapping the clay bowl with his slender ebony chopsticks as a gentle reminder.

Zhang Yaozhi paused, taken aback by the interruption. He realized that in the presence of this mountain youth, he was always on the back foot. As he was about to respond, Jiang Ning, who had been quietly enjoying the fish soup, gave a soft cough and suggested, "Zhixian, we can discuss it after the meal."

"Let's not talk while eating; we can discuss matters after the meal," suggested Yaozhi with a hint of urgency in his voice.

"You're right, teacher. I was a bit too eager," replied the student, nodding in agreement.

Zhang Yaozhi frowned slightly but offered Jiang Ning a smile. He remained silent, focusing on his meal with careful attention.

At the dining table, Zhang Yaozhi covertly observed Mr. Ye. The way this young man from the mountains ate was as refined as Ye Chuxue's. It was possible that Ye Chuxue had learned from him. Despite being blind, his movements were indistinguishable from those of a sighted person, and he seemed to face no difficulties whatsoever.

What could his story be? Zhang Yaozhi sighed internally, his mind cycling through various speculations, yet he couldn't come to any conclusion.

The meal felt unusually long, but eventually, Ye Chuxue set down his bowl. He wiped away the grains of rice from his lips and said sweetly, "Zhixian has finished eating and is off to nap. Uncle, you can chat with Mr. Ye now."

"Off you go, but remember to cover up well. You don't want to catch a cold," Mr. Ye said softly, ruffling Ye Chuxue's hair. With the youngster away from the table, Zhang Yaozhi seized the opportunity to initiate a conversation. He set aside his utensils and addressed Mr. Ye.

"Mr. Ye, now that we're done eating, may we have a chat?"

Upon hearing Zhang Yaozhi's request, Mr. Ye looked up with a smile and inquired, "Are you sure you've had enough? Would you like another serving of rice?"

"Thank you, I'm quite satisfied," Zhang Yaozhi replied.

"Well, if you're full, then I must ask you to leave. Pork is quite expensive here in the mountains, and our small establishment can't afford to host you for another meal."

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