Chapter 447 - 217: Wouldn’t That Make Ming a Clown?

Chapter 447: Chapter 217: Wouldn’t That Make Ming a Clown?

"Miss Duan, Teacher Song, you’re too kind." Zhou Yan didn’t rush to sit down. He glanced at Song Changhe first.

"Go on, sit. You worked hard to make this whole table of food." Song Changhe gave a slight nod.

"It was no trouble. I’m just happy everyone can enjoy the meal." Once Zhou Yan was sure the elder wasn’t about to pull a weapon on him, he finally smiled and took a seat.

The Eight Immortals table was very large. They sat side-by-side, but with plenty of space between them, so it didn’t feel crowded or awkward at all.

’Teacher Song really is something else,’ ’poised and graceful, with the bearing of someone from a prominent family.’

The chopsticks had touched all the dishes on the table, but no one had really started eating yet.

In the end, this table of respectable people had been waiting for him, the chef, to join them.

"Try this Huo Xiang Carp," Zhou Yan said with a smile. "It’s wild carp from the river. The texture is much better than the farmed kind."

He had bought them at the market early this morning. He’d happened upon two wild carps, each weighing nearly a pound, of excellent quality, and snatched them up on the spot.

At his words, everyone murmured in agreement, their eyes all falling on the Huo Xiang Carp.

A broth, glossy red like agate, covered the two large carp. It was a collision of colors from the chopped pickled peppers, ginger, long beans, and huo xiang.

The colors were absolutely beautiful!

The sour and spicy aroma, mingling with the scent of huo xiang, wafted up, incredibly enticing.

"I’m not usually a big fan of fish, but today I really want to see what the difference is between wild and farmed carp." Duan Yu Yan was the first to reach out with her chopsticks. She took a piece of meat from the fish’s belly, coated it in the broth, and put it in her mouth. After carefully nibbling on it, she spit out two small bones and said in pleasant surprise, "This is delicious! The meat is so tender! And incredibly fresh! The smell of the huo xiang is a little intense, but the taste is addictive! The pickled pepper and ginger flavors are so rich, and I can’t taste any fishiness at all."

"Let me try." Song Wanqing followed suit, placing a piece of fish in her bowl. She too nibbled on it carefully, and her expression immediately brightened.

After spitting out the bones, she shoveled in a mouthful of rice and nodded. "It’s so fresh! This Huo Xiang Carp is the perfect dish to eat with rice! After the fish is gone, the leftover broth would be amazing with noodles tomorrow."

"That’s high praise," Zhou Yan chuckled.

Getting someone from Sichuan to save your broth for noodles was arguably the highest praise a dish could receive.

"This fish is simply fantastic. Never mind how fresh it is, the flavor is extraordinary. The taste of the huo xiang really stands out. Delicious." Song Changhe also nodded again and again.

He wasn’t particularly picky about food, but when he came across something truly delicious, he could certainly tell the difference.

"If you like it, eat up. Don’t be polite," Mrs. Qiu said. This was one of the very few dinner parties she had hosted since the founding of the People’s Republic of China. If Zhou Yan hadn’t been willing to come over and cook, and if Duan Yu Yan hadn’t been so thick-skinned, she probably wouldn’t have even considered it.

Everyone smiled in agreement and began to eat in earnest.

For the most part, Zhou Yan listened to Song Changhe and Wang Yu chat about the old days. Both had participated in the entire War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, though their paths had been different.

Wang Yu had mostly been behind enemy lines, responsible for purchasing and transporting supplies, while Song Changhe had been fighting on the front lines, battling his way across more than half of China and taking part in many fierce conflicts.

Zhou Yan listened for a while. A few of the campaigns Mr. Song had participated in were the same ones his own grandfather had fought in.

’To make it back from the battlefield alive, his fate must be strong.’

Song Wanqing would occasionally chat with him for a bit. She never mentioned Ming by name, but every sentence was about him.

Reading between the lines, Zhou Yan could sense her admiration for Ming.

Then he looked over at Song Changhe, whose gaze was gradually sharpening, making Zhou Yan feel a little restless.

’Wait, that’s not right.’

’Ming’s the one who should be nervous. Why am I taking the heat for him?’ Once he figured that out, he immediately relaxed.

’I’m already here, and I finally have a chance to meet Elder Song.’ It wouldn’t be like Zhou Yan not to take the opportunity to ask a few direct questions.

Zhou Yan smiled and said, "Elder Song, hearing about you bravely fighting on the battlefield gets my blood pumping. My brother told me that you’re also a grandmaster of the Spear Dao within Emei Martial Arts. I’ve admired you for a long time, so why don’t you take on any disciples?"

’You don’t hit a smiling face, and it’s hard to be harsh on the person who just fed you.’ Zhou Yan had stacked all the buffs in his favor today.

If he walked out this door today, he definitely wouldn’t dare to ask the question so directly.

Song Changhe looked at him and smiled knowingly. "Who says I don’t take disciples? I just haven’t met a suitable one. If you’re willing to become my student, I can pass on everything I know about the Emei Spear Technique to you."

Zhou Yan: ?

’Wouldn’t that make Ming a total joke?’

’He made three pilgrimages and couldn’t even get a meeting.’

’And he was won over just because I cooked one meal?’

Zhou Yan wanted to laugh but felt it would be rude.

At the side, Song Wanqing was also stunned. She had been worried that Zhou Yan’s question would displease her grandfather, but his response had completely thrown her for a loop.

’Didn’t he say he wouldn’t take any disciples? Zhou Ming can’t even get a meeting, but all Zhou Yan has to do is agree?’

’What a double standard!’

"You have a great eye, sir. All of us brothers in the Zhou Family are built solid, top to bottom. We’re definitely prime material for martial arts." Zhou Yan took the opening and ran with it, smiling as he said, "I’m actually the worst of the bunch. At my age, you can’t expect me to be doing horse stances, backbends, and somersaults anymore. But I have an older brother who’s practiced martial arts since he was a kid. He even won a national Witchcraft championship. I think he’d be a great fit. How about I have him come see you another day?"

"You’re not going to learn? Then forget it. I’m not interested in anyone else at the moment." Song Changhe picked up his cup, took a sip of wine, and looked at Zhou Yan. "For a martial artist, one’s character is more important than talent. You have an excellent character. No matter what field you go into, you’ll be able to make something of yourself."

Zhou Yan sighed internally. ’Things are never that simple.’ It looked like Ming would still have to go through Teacher Song. He was out of ideas.