During the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty, there was a minister of the Ministry of Industry named Liu Nanyuan. At that time, he had a very good official voice. Later, he retired and returned to his hometown of Nanjing to live in the countryside.

Once, the local prefect suddenly visited Liu Mansion. Liu Nanyuan met the prefect surnamed Lin in the flower hall, and after greeting him, he asked him directly: "The old parents are visiting, there must be something to teach, so you might as well tell him directly."

Seeing that Liu Nanyuan's attitude was peaceful and amiable, Lin Zhi County did not go around in circles and said, "I boldly disturbed the eldest person's house because I wanted to ask the eldest person for a menu."

Liu Nanyuan was stunned. When he heard that the prefect said that he wanted to ask him for a menu, he thought that he had heard the wrong words, so he said, "The old man is old and deaf, and he didn't hear the old parents' words clearly just now. Please say it again."

"I want to ask the boss for a menu." The prefect repeated it as expected.

Liu Nanyuan carefully looked at the prefect and saw that he didn't seem to be joking, so he laughed "haha": "The old parents are very interesting to talk about! The old man is not a cook, nor is he a glutton. The home food is all ordinary dishes and vegetables, and at most the picture is fresh. Why do the old parents want to come to the old man's place to ask for a menu? Could it be that he is joking with the old man!" Having said this, he suddenly turned his mind and wanted the prefect to come to the countryside from the county seat.

When Lin Zhi County heard this, he was very frightened and said, "The eldest man must forgive the crime of being abrupt. It is really the eldest man, Li Hao, who was ordered to inspect Jiangnan and visit this county in the near future. In desperation, he had to come and ask the eldest man."

When Liu Nanyuan heard that, he thought that the magistrate wanted to ask him to get a joint. At that time, he said coldly, "This old man retreated to Lin Quan and never asked about other things. If the eldest person wants a joint, he will not say it."

The prefect was uneasy for a long time, and then said, "I dare not, because I heard that the imperial envoy, Lord Li, is very particular about his diet, and he was reprimanded by Lord Li if the local response was not satisfactory. Therefore, all the prefectures and counties along the way specially invited cooks, and all parties searched for precious delicacies to avoid Lord Li's blame. However, under the rule of Binhai Poor County, it was flooded again this summer, and the treasury was empty, but I was afraid that it would slow down Lord Li, so I had no choice but to ask the eldest for a menu, and I dare not be extravagant. As long as Lord Li is palatable, it is good."

Only then did Liu Nanyuan understand the purpose of the prefect's visit. He was the master of Li Hao, and of course he knew the students very well. This Li Hao was very smart. Although he was a teenager, he was very talented at doing things. However, because he was born into a rich family, he liked to talk about things when he was young, and it was more reasonable to be picky about his diet. Thinking of this, he pondered for a moment, and said to Lin Zhixian with a smile, "Don't worry, old parents, I'll just entertain Li Hao for this meal -"

The prefect was really anxious when he heard that, and hurriedly explained: "No, no, don't misunderstand the boss, Lord Li is a business, and it is Xiao Ke's job to take over all things. How dare you shirk? Xiao Ke just asked the boss to give him a menu..."

Liu Nanyuan said very seriously: "Well, since Li Hao is in the county, he must come to see me first. At that time, I will invite the old parents to come over, and I will give the menu to the old parents at that time." After saying that, he waved his hand: "Don't worry, the old parents, please come back. If the imperial envoy is not satisfied, everything will be taken care of by the old man."

Lin Zhi County was too embarrassed to say it again, so he had to go back to the county seat uneasily.

It was only a day later, Li Hao arrived in the county. He was not busy meeting the local officials, so he came to the countryside to see his teacher. The teachers and students have been away for several years, and they are very happy to meet for a while. Liu Nanyuan looked at his student, white-faced and black-bearded, with clear eyebrows and eyes. He looked more and more mature than before, and the response was more and more mature. Seeing that Li Yuan respected him very much, Liu Nanyuan said, "Xianqi has received the favor of the Sage, and now he is in an important position. I am very happy to congratulate him! This time, I sent an imperial tour to the south, and I did not forget to pay a special visit to the old man. The old man is very pleased." Speaking of this, he seemed to think of it and asked: "I think Xianqi came over in a hurry, and he must not have used lunch. It is too late to prepare now. It is better to have a light meal for the time Between you and my teachers and students, Xiangxian will not be offended. "

Li Hao hurriedly said, "Teacher Ende and the students dare not forget it for a while. I am very pleased to see that the teacher is healthy this time. The students who came here in a hurry have not had lunch yet, so they listen to the teacher's arrangement. Just ask the teacher not to be extravagant."

Liu Nanyuan smiled and said, "It's very good for Xianqi to say that, but you can't get anything out of the backcountry. Besides, your wife went to visit relatives the day before yesterday, and no one at home cooked. It's good that Xianqi doesn't mind being simple and slow."

Li Hao repeatedly said, "Whatever, whatever!"

Liu Nanyuan immediately ordered the bottom to prepare food. Then he calmly asked Li Hao about the capital and the people along the way. Liu Nanyuan was very happy, and unknowingly two hours passed, and it was already two or three o'clock in the afternoon. Li Hao's stomach was so hungry that he was "cooing," but no food came. But he was too embarrassed to urge, his eyes just looked at the teacher, as if motioning.

After a long while, Liu Nanyuan seemed to remember the meal and shouted angrily, "How can you not do things like this, you are hungry!"

Li Hao could only even say that it didn't matter, it didn't matter. Liu Nanyuan pulled away again, and Li Hao could only endure his hunger and only agreed.

After nearly half an hour, Liu Nanyuan remembered the matter of eating again and said, "Yo yo, this old man is confused, he only cares about talking happily with Xianqi, and forgets to eat. It's nothing more at the bottom.

The servant reported: "In a hurry, everything is bought now, and it will take some time to correct it."

Liu Nanyuan said angrily, "Didn't you just order the potluck? Hurry up and correct it!"

The servant had just gone down, but at this time, a message came to the local Lin Zhi County to pay homage. Liu Nanyuan frowned and said, "Please!" He turned to Li Hao and said, "I'm afraid I'm here to greet you, so let's go see him together." Pulling Li Hao to the living room, Liu Nanyuan introduced Li Hao to Lin Zhi County, and Lin Zhi County could not help but have some courtesy. At this time, Li Hao was only bitter, and after five hours of hunger, he felt dizzy and weak, and all he wanted was to eat. The prefect didn't come early, but he had to cope with it reluctantly. This lasted for another half an hour;

Liu Nanyuan smiled inward when he saw it, and winked at the prefect: "The old parents must not have eaten here, so it is better to have a meal here."

Lin Zhi County politely said, "I'm disturbing the boss."

Liu Nanyuan said, "What do you say about the potluck at home?" He called down to start the meal. This time, the meal came quickly. When the meal was served, Li Hao looked at it and couldn't make a sound. It turned out that there was only a bowl of rice in front of each of the three, including a large bowl of green vegetable tofu soup, plus two plates of pickled vegetables. I saw that Liu Nanyuan had already raised his chopsticks and said to Li Hao and Linzhi County, "This is my daily diet. Although it is simple, it is also full of belly. Compared to ordinary people, it is already in the sky and earth. Xianqi and his parents will stop thinking that it is simple and slow, and they will suffer in a hurry."

Li Hao was extremely hungry at this time, and he didn't care to say anything, but he could only continue to say, "Very good! Very good!". Holding up the rice bowl, he quickly grabbed a bowl of rice, and Liu Nanyuan saw that he ordered the bottom to add more rice to the distinguished guest, and Li Hao really ate another bowl.

Liu Nanyuan looked at Li Hao with a smile and asked, "How does it taste?"

Li Hao smiled awkwardly and said, "Hungry or not, I only have the experience today."

After dinner, the three talked about local politics. Seeing that it was getting late, Li Hao offered his farewell: "I wanted to listen to the teacher's teachings more, but I was on duty, so I had to leave."

As he spoke, he took out a page of paper from his sleeve and handed it to Li Hao, saying, "I heard that Xian Qi came to the south this time, and there were many foods in the counties along the way to deal with your scolding. Lin Zhi County was worried, so he asked the old man for advice on the banquet menu.

Li Hao's face was flushed, he pushed away the menu handed over by the teacher, and the lower seat bowed deeply and said sincerely, "I just had a hungry meal, so that the students can understand the teacher's painstaking efforts. From now on, I will restrain myself everywhere, and the teacher will rest assured. - - The teacher doesn't have to sing a play anymore, otherwise it will make the students more uneasy."

Liu Nanyuan laughed and said, "I don't think this old man can hide from Xianqi ." After saying that, he pulled Li Hao up and sat down again, and said very seriously: "People are good, and it is understandable to pay attention to home food, but people who are officials are different." Don't say what they pay attention to, they only need to have a little preference.

Li Hao took a seat again, bowed to Liu Nanyuan and said, "Teacher's words of gold and jade, the dai pot is empowered, and the students have remembered it in their hearts!"

Liu Nanyuan nodded and picked up the menu on the table: "You don't want to read it? Then I'll tear it up on behalf of Xianqi!Just as he was about to tear it up, Li Hao grabbed it and said, "Leave it as a souvenir for the students, and be vigilant in good times!"He immediately hid it in his sleeve.

Liu Nanyuan's menu warned students that it would become a good story in the future.