Chinese Famous Food Stories

Author: Jiang Tiejun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: After the founding of the Song Dynasty, under the diligent governance of several emperors, the country gradually stabilized, production gradually recovered, and commercial activities also flourished day by day. Especially in the Jiangnan water towns, it has always been a place where tourists gather. During times of war, people had no to enjoy the scenery, but as life gradually settled, more and more people came here for leisure. As a result, the number of inns and taverns increased. Especially in places like Hangzhou and Suzhou, there were inns every three steps and taverns every five steps, with fierce competition among them.
This summer, a group of scholars came together to visit West Lake in Hangzhou. Tired from walking and playing, they happened to see a tavern by the lake. It was a three-story building, quite imposing. A large black plaque with golden characters hung at the entrance, reading "Duo Yi Chu" Tavern. The scholars were delighted and said, "Let's see how it manages to be 'the only one'!" As they entered, a waiter greeted them and invited them to go upstairs.
Upon reaching the upper floor, they were greeted by a wall inscribed with many poems. The first thing they noticed was Su Dongpo's verse:
"The water's light is dazzling on a fine day, the mountain's hue is misty in the rain. If you compare West Lake to Xi Shi, it's always beautiful, whether lightly or heavily adorned."
The person in front said, "I didn't expect there to be such a special place here—even Su Dongpo has been here. It’s perfect for us to be here." The others chimed in, "Today, we must have a good time! Though we may not match Su Dongpo, we must compose a fine poem or two. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have come!" Everyone agreed, "Yes, yes."
They found a seat near the window and called the waiter, "Bring us some fine Longjing tea right away!" The waiter brought the tea and asked, "Sir, would you like anything else?" They replied, "Of course, good wine and dishes!" The waiter hurried downstairs to prepare the food and drink.
The scholars sat by the window, gazing at West Lake, and their poetic spirits were aroused. One of them spoke first:
"When lotuses are spent, there’s no cover to hold the rain; chrysanthemums are withered, yet their branches still defy the frost. Remember the best season of the year—it’s the time when tangerines and oranges are ripe."
After he finished, some praised it, while others criticized it, saying it was summer and not yet time to describe autumnal West Lake. Everyone nodded in agreement.
At that moment, the waiter brought the food and drink. The scholars drank, played dice, and the atmosphere was lively. One of them lost a round of dice and was to compose a poem. Standing up, he recited:
"When will the swallows return to West Lake? The lotuses dip their heads in the water. The rain has ceased, but no one crosses the bridge; a small boat pushes through the shade of willows."
As soon as he finished, everyone cheered and raised their glasses to him. The poet felt quite proud and drained his glass in one gulp.
It was very hot, and drinking the wine made it even hotter. One of the scholars called the waiter and instructed, "Bring us something to cool us down. It’s too hot!" The waiter, not wanting to delay, quickly ran downstairs and reported to the manager. The manager listened and ordered the waiter, "Go buy a large watermelon and ask the chef, Master Shao, to make a dish to quench our thirst." The waiter agreed, took the money from the manager, and hurried off.
At the market, the waiter bought a large watermelon, hugged it, and ran back. He was in a hurry and didn’t look where he was going. He tripped over the threshold with a loud "clang," fell forward, and the watermelon in his hands split into many pieces with a "crack."
The waiter scrambled to his feet, looked at the watermelon on the ground, and was dumbfounded. Seeing the trouble he had caused, Master Shao, who was nearby, knew that if the manager saw this, he would either be scolded or have his wages deducted. He said, "Quick, pick it up! Quick!" The two hurriedly gathered the pieces and placed them on the cutting board.
The waiter was sweating profusely and said, "What am I going to do?" Master Shao said, "Don’t worry. I’ll figure something out." The waiter thanked him and left.
Master Shao looked at the broken watermelon on the cutting board and thought for a long time before coming up with an idea. He cut the watermelon into strips, washed them, coated them with flour, squeezed out the moisture, and then sprinkled sugar on them to marinate. He tasted it himself and found the flavor quite good, which gave him some peace of mind.
After a while, the scholars upstairs urged for more dishes. Master Shao asked the waiter to bring up the new dish he had made. The scholars tried it and all agreed it was delicious—cool, refreshing, and satisfying. They asked the waiter, "What’s the name of this dish?" The waiter replied, "I don’t know." They then called Master Shao upstairs. Seeing him, they asked how the dish was made and what it was called. Master Shao said, "I made this dish especially for you, but I haven’t named it yet. If you could honor me with a name, that would be great!"
After some discussion, they decided to call it "White Cloud Watermelon." Master Shao exclaimed, "Excellent!" He never expected that the watermelon, which had been accidentally broken by the waiter, would become such a new dish.
Later, the dish was refined and improved in its preparation. The watermelon strips were coated with sugar syrup and deep-fried in hot oil, making the taste even more delightful, soft, and smooth. It became very popular among the elderly and spread widely, becoming a famous dish in China. P9-11