Chapter 30: Speak Not of Grass Carp as a Delicacy

South of Xiapi City, the Chen Mansion.

A carriage traveled along the main street and pulled up to the entrance of the Chen residence.

"Military Advisor, we have arrived at the Chen Mansion."

As the carriage slowed to a halt, Chen Dao carefully assisted Li Yi in stepping down. Li Yi stretched his limbs and glanced up at the lintel. Confirming it was indeed the Chen residence, he turned back to offer a reminder.

"You’ve had a long journey, Shuzhi. Don’t forget to bring the items from the carriage."

"Are you referring to these two grass carp, Military Advisor?"

Chen Dao lifted the bamboo basket, gazing at the two lively, jumping fish within, feeling somewhat amused.

"Indeed! These are no ordinary fish. They were caught by the Third General and the Lord himself."

Li Yi smiled as he took the basket, verifying that the fish were still fresh.

"Military Advisor, I do not quite understand. Can we really secure the favor of the Chen clan with just two live fish?"

Chen Dao voiced his inner doubt. In his eyes, the Chen family was a powerful, wealthy clan—what delicacies had they not tasted? Even if they truly wanted to eat sashimi, they certainly wouldn't be lacking for these two.

Li Yi spoke with earnest gravity: "Shuzhi, the world is not merely about fighting and killing; it is about human connections and worldly wisdom. Giving these fish is a gesture of goodwill; it does not mean that just because they accept them, they will necessarily do our bidding."

Throughout history, society has been built upon such connections, functioning through the nuances of human interaction. Much like how hosting a wedding banquet is merely a gesture—the banquet itself is not what decides whether or not you can get married.

Upon reaching the gates of the Chen Mansion, a servant stepped forward to inquire. "Where do you gentlemen hail from? Do you have an invitation card?"

Li Yi replied, "We have come in a hurry today and have no appointment. Just tell them that the military advisor to the Governor of Xuzhou, Liu Bei, has come to pay a visit."

Upon hearing that it was Liu Bei’s military advisor, the gatekeeper immediately understood that Li Yi’s background was not insignificant. He bowed hurriedly and replied, "Understood. Please wait a moment, sir; I shall go and announce your arrival."

"…My thanks."

The servant hurried into the main hall. It was midday, and Chen Deng was currently dining. On the table sat four dishes: a plate of sashimi, a plate of fruit, a plate of vegetables, and a bowl of wheat rice. This was the entirety of Chen Deng’s lunch—a remarkably frugal meal for a man of his status and rank. Having grown accustomed to exotic delicacies, Chen Deng had lost his appetite for the extravagant and held a special fondness only for sashimi. He ate the wheat rice in large mouthfuls, pairing the sashimi with the fruit, finding it incredibly savory and appetizing.

"…Sir, Sir!" The servant stepped forward and bowed. "The military advisor to Governor Liu has come to visit!"

Liu Bei’s military advisor? Chen Deng pondered for a moment, already guessing the intent. "Bring him in at once!"

A moment later, Li Yi walked briskly into the hall. Chen Deng set down his chopsticks and stepped forward to welcome him.

"I have heard of your recent promotion, Master Li. Truly a joyous and congratulatory occasion."

Li Yi returned the bow immediately. "I am but a mediocre talent from the wilderness, unworthy of the title of military advisor; it is not worth mentioning. I have long heard of your lofty character and profound strategic insight, Master Chen. I have long intended to pay my respects, but due to the press of official business, I have been unable to foster a deeper acquaintance. Today, having found some leisure, I have come specifically to pay a visit."

Seeing that Li Yi was well-mannered and showed no signs of the impatience or arrogance often found in those who attain high positions at a young age, Chen Deng was secretly impressed by his composure. He took Li Yi by the hand and led him inside.

"Master Li is too formal. Though we have only met once, I feel as though we are old friends. Let us address each other simply as friends in private."

After seating Li Yi, Chen Deng continued, "My kitchen has just prepared a meal. If you do not find it beneath you, would you care to join me for a bite?"

"I would be honored!"

Li Yi bowed in thanks, then reached for the bamboo basket and placed it gently on the table. "I have heard that you are fond of sashimi, Master Chen, so I specifically caught two grass carp to bring to you. I hope you will not find them inadequate."

At the mention of sashimi, Chen Deng became quite interested. He thought to himself that perhaps Li Yi had truly come just to make friends. After all, they were now colleagues, and it was normal for coworkers to visit and build rapport. Furthermore, Li Yi gave him an impression of being open, straightforward, and dashing, so he lowered his guard.

"To be frank, Ziyu, eating sashimi is a personal hobby of mine, and rarely do I find others to share a meal with. I am delighted to meet a kindred spirit today. However, for sashimi, I usually favor carp; grass carp is not typically known for its exquisite freshness."

Li Yi had anticipated this. Facing such an expert on sashimi, would he have come unprepared? Everything must be tailored to the host's preferences to lower their defenses before slowly making one's move.

He replied immediately, "To be honest, Yuanlong, I consider myself something of a connoisseur. Have you ever heard of 'Sake-Marinated Sashimi'?"

Sake-marinated sashimi? Chen Deng’s eyebrows arched slightly, his interest piqued. "As far as I know, when eating sashimi, one uses onions in the spring and mustard in the autumn. I have truly never heard of sake-marinated sashimi."

Li Yi smiled. "As you said, Master Yuanlong, standard sashimi is often seasoned with onions or mustard, and in some places, shrimp paste. But the sake-marinated sashimi I speak of is prepared using fruit wine and grass carp. This fish was caught in Qinghe Village; the water quality in those rivers is superb, sweet and crisp, no less than mountain spring water. The grass carp produced there has a rich, sweet flesh, unlike common grass carp which are difficult to cleanse of their earthy odor. As for the fruit wine, it possesses a unique, fragrant, and rich flavor. When the two are combined, the fish absorbs the aroma of the fruit, adding a layer of freshness while cutting through the richness. The alcohol in the wine is mellowed by the fish, making it smoother to swallow—it is truly a divine delicacy!"

Li Yi spoke with such conviction, painting a vivid picture of this sake-marinated sashimi. Chen Deng, already a lover of raw fish, felt his appetite stirred and his mouth water.

"I have a vast collection of fine wines in my estate. I shall have someone fetch some fruit wine at once!"

He immediately gave the order for the kitchen to prepare the grass carp and brought out two jars of fruit wine. Before long, the dish was served. Chen Deng, unable to wait, picked up his chopsticks and tasted a slice.

*Hmm!*

Chen Deng’s eyes lit up, filled with disbelief. "…This… this sashimi… the flavor is fresh, the meat is tender, and the fruit aroma is rich. It is truly a rare and exquisite delicacy! I have eaten sashimi my entire life, yet I never imagined there was such a way to prepare it. Master Li, you are truly a man who understands the art of eating!"

Seeing that Chen Deng was gradually taking the bait, Li Yi feigned a sigh. Chen Deng quickly asked why he had let out such a long sigh.

Li Yi explained, "I see that you usually favor river fish, Master Yuanlong. Have you ever tasted sea fish?"

Chen Deng nodded. "Xuzhou borders the sea, and many of our people make their living by fishing. How could I have never tasted sea fish? It is just that sea fish does not seem as fresh as river fish, so I rarely eat it."

Hearing this, Li Yi sighed again. "That is a great pity. I have heard that in the East Sea, there is a fish called the 'Sea Bream.' Its flavor is incredibly fresh, its meat is delicate, and it carries a hint of natural sweetness. People often say, 'If you do not eat the East Sea Bream, you have tasted all of the world's sashimi in vain.' I find it a pity that a gourmand such as yourself has never tasted it."

Having brought the conversation to this point, Chen Deng was moved. He hurriedly asked, "Where can one find it?"

Li Yi smiled and answered with two words: "Guangling!"