Traveling back to ancient times to get rich

Chapter 405 Searching for Favorite Food

Today is the second day since her daughter-in-law, Gu Wenxuan, married into the Gu family of the Western Regions. Sunlight streamed through the windows, filling the room with warmth and softness. Yageli sat by the window in a cheerful mood. She had specially ordered a lunch prepared that blended the flavors of the Western Regions and the Great Xia Dynasty, hoping that this delicious meal would make her daughter-in-law from the Great Xia feel the warmth of home.

"Your Majesty, the whole roasted lamb is ready!" The head chef's voice suddenly broke through Yageli's thoughts. She slowly turned around, her gaze falling on the roasting rack carried by two guards. The whole lamb was roasted to a golden-brown sheen, gleaming enticingly in the residual heat of the charcoal fire, its skin so crisp it seemed to sizzle. The rich aroma of cumin and spices filled the air, making one's mouth water.

Ya Geli nodded in satisfaction, then turned her gaze to the steamed egg custard beside her. The delicate, creamy egg custard, adorned with tender mushrooms, was a clear, vibrant work of art. This dish was one of the most popular dishes in the Great Xia Dynasty, renowned for its smooth texture and rich nutritional value.

Looking at the carefully prepared feast, Yage Li was filled with anticipation. She believed that Gu Wenxuan would definitely enjoy the dishes and feel her care and love.

Inside the dining hall, Gu Wenxuan, dressed in the attire of the Great Xia Dynasty, looked even more graceful in the fiery red silk, which accentuated her striking features. As a daughter of a prominent family in Great Xia, she had learned martial arts from her brothers since childhood, possessing a forthright and carefree personality, and had never cared much about food and clothing. Now, gazing at the table laden with delicacies, a warm feeling welled up within her; how could she not understand her mother-in-law's thoughtfulness?

Ouyang Lie sat beside Gu Wenxuan, his gaze never leaving his wife. He watched as Gu Wenxuan picked up her silver chopsticks, first taking a small piece of roasted whole lamb and putting it in her mouth, chewing it slowly before nodding slightly; then she tasted a bite of steamed egg custard, the corners of her lips unconsciously turning up in a smile. Seeing this, Ouyang Lie felt slightly relieved, yet he keenly noticed that although his wife was trying every dish, she didn't seem to particularly like any of them.

"Wenxuan, do you not really like these dishes?" Ouyang Lie asked softly, his eyes full of concern. "Which one do you like? I'll have Song Qingjia help me buy it." Song Qingjia was a famous merchant caravan in the Western Regions, traveling between the Western Regions and the Great Xia, and was able to source rare ingredients from all over the world.

Gu Wenxuan slowly put down her chopsticks, her movements elegant and natural. She slightly raised her head, her gaze meeting Ouyang Lie's. Her eyebrows curved, and a warm smile, like the spring sun, graced her lips, bringing joy to all who beheld her.

“These dishes are all very delicious,” Gu Wenxuan said softly. “However, I have practiced martial arts since I was a child, so I don’t have many special requirements for food. When I was a child, I often went hunting in the mountains with my brothers. Sometimes when I was extremely hungry, even just eating cold steamed buns would taste incredibly sweet.” Her tone was relaxed and casual, as if this was not a difficult experience, but an interesting memory.

Ya Geli listened quietly to Gu Wenxuan's story, a pang of heartache rising in her heart. In the Western Regions, women were mostly confined to their chambers, and Gu Wenxuan's forthright, uninhibited, and unpretentious personality was truly rare. She sighed softly and said gently, "What a silly child. Now that you've married into the Gu family, you no longer need to endure those hardships. If there's anything you want to eat in the future, just tell me, and I'll definitely make it for you."

The atmosphere in the dining room was warm and harmonious. Gu Wenxuan looked at her mother-in-law and husband, her heart filled with emotion. She knew that this lunch, a fusion of flavors from both regions, was more than just a meal; it was a symbol of her mother-in-law and husband's acceptance and love for her. However, what she didn't know was that behind these delicious dishes lay the painstaking efforts of the Gu family's business group.

It turned out that upon learning of Gu Wenxuan's impending marriage into the Gu family, the managers of the Gu family's business group began making secret preparations. They dispatched capable individuals to various parts of the Great Xia Dynasty, hiring renowned local chefs at great expense to meticulously record the recipes for each of the Great Xia's signature dishes. At the same time, they scoured the Western Regions for the finest ingredients, striving to recreate the most authentic Great Xia flavors in the Western Regions.

"Your Majesty, would you like to try this sweet and sour pork ribs again and see if it suits your taste?" A palace maid carefully brought over a new dish. Gu Wenxuan took it, and saw that the pork ribs were bright red in color, with a fragrant aroma of sweet and sour. She took a bite, and found the meat tender and juicy, with a perfect balance of sweet and sour—just the taste she remembered from the streets of Daxia.

"Delicious!" Gu Wenxuan couldn't help but exclaim. "I never expected to be able to eat such authentic Daxia cuisine in the Western Regions."

Upon hearing this, the palace maid smiled with relief: "It's good that Her Majesty the Empress likes it. In order to make this dish, we specially transported fragrant vinegar from Daxia and experimented many times according to the local method."

Gu Wenxuan then realized that behind every dish lay the hard work of everyone. She turned to look at Ouyang Lie, her eyes filled with gratitude: "Thank you, Mother, and everyone who contributed to this meal."

Ouyang Lie held Gu Wenxuan's hand and said gently, "We are husband and wife, there is no need for thanks. I only hope that you can live comfortably in the Western Regions and not miss home."

In the days that followed, the dining hall became a place where Gu Wenxuan felt warmth. The Empress Dowager, Ya Ge Li, would often have the imperial chefs prepare a variety of dishes, including both Western Region specialties and Da Xia home-style dishes. Gu Wenxuan gradually integrated into life in the Western Regions. She would learn Western Region embroidery from the Empress Dowager and the two imperial concubines, and she would also teach the palace maids Da Xia boxing techniques.

One day, Ouyang Lie returned home and mysteriously pulled Gu Wenxuan to the dining hall. On the table was a dish he had never seen before, golden in color and exuding a wonderful aroma.

"Try this." Ouyang Lie looked at Gu Wenxuan expectantly.

Gu Wenxuan picked up a piece and put it in her mouth. It was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, sweet but not cloying—it was actually a specialty dessert of Daxia—sugar-coated glutinous rice cake. She looked at Ouyang Lie in surprise: "How did you know I like this?"

Ouyang Lie smiled and said, "The other day when you talked about your childhood, your eyes were full of nostalgia, so I guessed that you must miss the taste of your hometown. I had someone ask the children of Daxia what they liked the most, and I guessed that this sugar-coated glutinous rice cake is your favorite."

Gu Wenxuan was deeply moved, her eyes slightly reddening. In this foreign land, having such a considerate husband and mother-in-law was a blessing indeed.

Time flows on, and the stories in the dining hall continue. Every meal, every dish, carries deep affection and love, witnessing Gu Wenxuan's life in the Western Regions and the fusion of Western Region and Great Xia cultures. These warm memories will forever be etched in Gu Wenxuan's heart, becoming the most precious treasure in her life.