Tales of Chuzhou (Food)

[Food] [Marriage Before Love] [Mr. and Mrs. Smith]

In the forty-first year of Xiangqing, Tan, a neighboring country of the Great Yi, suffered a long drought and food shortages. Its 100,000-strong army invaded Chu Prefecture in Great Yi's western lands. Xiao Yingquan, the Prince of Chu, personally led 5,000 elite guards to the border between the two countries and fought back with all his might. Outnumbered, they were forced to retreat again and again, and the state of Tan soon occupied most of Chu Prefecture's cities.

With reinforcements nowhere in sight, all able-bodied civilians joined the army to defend their homes and country. But the balance of power was tipped against them, so the Prince of Chu submitted a peace petition. In exchange for ten years of tribute, the state of Tan agreed to withdraw from Chu Prefecture, and at last the fighting between the two countries came to an end.

--

A new teacher arrived at Songbai Academy. She wasn't from Chu Prefecture, but had come from the capital of Yi.

There hadn't been a new face in Tuncheng for a long time, so Song Shiqing heard the news from her younger sister, who studied at the academy.

Song Shiqing had already guessed that, given her sister's warm and hospitable nature, it was only a matter of time before she met the new teacher at a restaurant.

Still, when they met for the first time, she couldn't help catching her breath.

What a beautiful person.

Was the capital's climate more nurturing?

Then she absolutely had to visit the capital and see for herself what kind of place it was.

--

Jize Restaurant was one of the finest restaurants in Tuncheng. Even Shen Huaian, who had only just arrived in town, was urged by the head of the academy to give it a try.

As the capital of Great Yi, the capital was naturally far more prosperous than Tuncheng, tucked away in the western lands. Yet in the modest Jize Restaurant, he tasted a hint of the capital.

Was it because he missed home?

Or was heaven telling him, in its mysterious way, that this was where he was meant to make a home?

The person behind all these exquisite dishes turned out to be such a lovely woman.

The saying that one should marry before building a career seemed made for him.

He had traveled from the capital to Chu Prefecture to serve his country, only to meet the person he wanted to spend his life with there.

Born in the capital and buried in Western Chu: that would be the finest fate he could choose for himself.

Theme: The past cannot be reclaimed, so set your sights on the future