Abandoned the Immortal Cultivator, returned to his hometown to farm and sing

Chapter 1359, Section 1346: Local Specialties

Ping'an Ditch.

Luo Yihang and Qi Ruomu packed their luggage and went to the operations room for their final gathering.

It was also a farewell before the group disbanded.

The messy meeting room had now been cleaned up.

Even after opening the windows to let in fresh air all night, the strong smell of smoke still lingered in the room.

It's already marinated to perfection.

Uncle Li and the experts from all walks of life had also packed their luggage, with large and small bags piled up in the corner, and were chatting together.

"Oh dear, I'm really going to miss it. I have to say, the food here at Xiao Luo's place is really good. I've gained at least five pounds," an expert said leisurely, touching his noticeably rounder cheeks.

His friend, the rather trendy expert, laughed and said, "Is something on your mind? You're eating so little? You've only gained five pounds in more than half a month? I've gained at least ten pounds."

They sound quite proud of it.

"Didn't you two weigh yourselves?" another expert chimed in, adding with a sigh, "I've gained eight pounds and four ounces. Sigh, I'll have to go back and exercise. Gaining weight is like a landslide, but losing it is like pulling silk."

"Where did you weigh yourself? Did you bring a scale?" This trendy expert's focus is different from others.

"There's one right behind the cafeteria, where they prepare the food."

"Isn't that for weighing pigs?"

"Sometimes it's called a potato, and sometimes it's called a person."

"...You've really traveled to a lot of places."

"Of course! Did you guys go to that reservoir down there? It's so comfortable casting a couple of lines, the fish are biting really well, you can catch a lot of fish."

"Oh dear, why didn't you say so sooner? I would have cast my line if there had been a good bite."

"You didn't mention it either. Next time, we'll go together next time you come over."

"It's no fun without using Xiao Luo's bait."

"That thing is really boring, it's pure physical labor, only beginners use that..."

Experts also chat haphazardly in private, saying whatever comes to mind.

Although we are about to part ways, I don't feel sad at all.

Even if there is a little bit, it's just the memory of the food.

Because everyone knows that this matter is not over and will come back soon.

Come on over.

What I did was inspiring and exhilarating.

The hospitality at Ping'an Valley was excellent; the food, drinks, and activities were all great.

The mountain streams, the village scenery, the high mountains, dense forests, and large reservoirs—every step reveals a new vista.

It's like a park when you step outside.

There are also all kinds of fruits sent from all over the country, all of which are the best and freshest. They are placed on the shelf and you can eat them as you please. You have to eat them; you can't refuse.

Good things shouldn't be left to spoil.

Before I knew it, my weight was skyrocketing.

What defines an agricultural leader? Abundant resources.

They're having a great time chatting right now.

Luo Yihang and Qi Ruomu pushed two carts in.

Upon entering, he apologized, "So many days have passed in the blink of an eye. I've been so busy with work that I haven't had a chance to spend much time with everyone. I apologize for the poor hospitality. Please prepare some local specialties so you can take them with you when you leave."

"No, no, Mr. Luo, this is inappropriate. We've been very well treated. It's too much trouble for you to take food and drinks with you."

Everyone quickly declined.

"Besides, this isn't just a little bit..."

Indeed, there were two large trucks, the largest of which was a flatbed truck, piled high with boxes.

"These are really just some local specialties, all homegrown, not worth much," Luo Yihang said, patting the pile of boxes. "Two boxes of candy, two boxes of ice cream, for the kids to snack on; one box of foot bath medicine packets, one box of stewing spices, useful for the whole family; and one box of chili oil, a specialty of Tianhan, great for seasoning cold dishes."

"There's also a case of Xiangjin mulberry wine, which is also produced here, the one we drank before. But this time I got the ladies' flavor, with added lychee, mango, pear, mint and roselle, as well as honey to sweeten it, in two flavors: osmanthus honey and acacia honey. I'll take it with my sister-in-law, it's suitable for her to drink herself or to entertain guests."

"The rest are cooked pork, rabbit, fish, goose and shrimp, and some souvenirs. If I don't feel like cooking, I'll just cut up a plate and add it to the meal."

"It's all just food, a small token of my appreciation."

It really is a local specialty.

The "tu" in "tuhao" (nouveau riche).

Cat-themed items are so expensive, yet they're delivered by the box.

Putting everything else aside, that fragrant mulberry wine, which is for women, is so popular that you can't even buy it if you want to.

It was auctioned at Sotheby's a few days ago and sold for $2188 per bottle.

The news report describes it as a symbol of luxury and aesthetics from the East, with Oriental fruit wines entering the world's mainstream collectible halls and becoming the first choice for consumers who pursue quality and cultural connotation.

They praised it to the skies.

And there were six bottles in this box...

Now we absolutely cannot accept it.

Everyone declined again.

Finally, Uncle Li stood up and told everyone to distribute the items, "Take what you should take. This kid has money, don't be polite with him."

After saying that, he came over first and grabbed a bag.

Pointing at Luo Yihang, he said, "There's some kind of souvenir in here, but they're hiding it in their words without saying it outright. There's definitely something fishy going on."

Luo Yihang rubbed his nose and gave an embarrassed smile.

Uncle Li truly lives up to his reputation as a professional; his ears are incredibly sharp.

Fearing they wouldn't accept it, he deliberately hid behind the cooked food, but he still managed to hear it.

Uncle Li opened the bag and first took out a square sign with a red string tied to the top.

Uncle Li held it in his hand and examined it several times.

He turned around and held it up to show off to the others, "This is a good thing, a peace and safety plaque, made of fragrant stone, just like the one we gave Old John before, a local specialty of Tianhan, not jade."

Let's take precautions first.

Then he turned to Luo Yihang and asked, "You made this yourself, didn't you?"

Luo Yihang nodded.

Uncle Li immediately became happy.

"Xiao Luo carved these himself. He loves making these things and gives them away all over the world. Take them all; they'll keep you safe and sound."

Although Uncle Li was just saying it as a good omen.

But surprisingly, it was quite right.

Luo Yihang is currently overflowing with merit and good fortune, and he can see his radiant state through the aura-gazing method.

Anything he makes by hand must be blessed or consecrated.

Nurturing a house for several years can ward off evil spirits and protect the home.

Giving old John a guillotine would be a huge loss.

Then Uncle Li took out a box from the bag, opened it, and found a seal inside.

White.

"Hmm?" Uncle Li looked at Luo Yihang with suspicion, muttering, "Don't actually get him some jade, will you?"

I picked it up and smelled it, then felt relieved. "Oh, it's still made of fragrant stone. Fragrant stone can be white too?"

Luo Yihang nodded and smiled, "What a coincidence! Last week, the villagers found a piece of white fragrant stone, which ended up in my hands. It's pure white all over, inside and out, so I'm just using it to present to Buddha. I've carved a few auspicious seals with the words 'May you have both fortune and prosperity'."

The phrase "double blessings of fortune and prosperity" refers to the white stag that Luo Yihang carved on the top of the seal.

Everyone present recognized him; it was his white water deer, Xiwa, which roamed freely across the mountain and was a delight to behold.

She's really mischievous, a real little devil in Ping'an Ditch.

At just over two years old, it has grown to the size of a donkey, with two horns sprouting from its head. It wants to touch everything it sees to test its "head" sensation.

The deer symbolizes good fortune, and moreover, it is a rare white deer. The seal is also white, so the auspicious meaning is wonderful.

The "Fu" character is carved on the side of the seal with a circle of bat and cloud patterns, also known as the "Wanfu Liuyun" pattern.

Bats and deer together represent double blessings of fortune and prosperity.

The inscription at the bottom of the seal is in Han Dynasty clerical script, meaning "suitable for official rank, long life, happiness, and nobility," an auspicious phrase, hence the name "auspicious seal."

This isn't just random carving; it's based on unearthed artifacts.

After the "Pretty Cat" anniversary stamp collection event, these auspicious stamps have become very popular. Many cultural and creative companies around the world are using them as materials to make refrigerator magnets, ornaments, postcards, and so on.

This can be considered a time-traveling... major cycle of trends with our ancestors from two thousand years ago.

Auspicious phrases were very popular during the Western Han Dynasty.

Many experts, including Uncle Li, were extremely satisfied with the two souvenirs given by Luo Yihang.

Elegant, truly elegant.

It's a good omen.

May you be promoted, become wealthy, enjoy good fortune, be happy all day long, and live a long life.

They've got all the good things in the world.

But when Uncle Li took out the last two items, his expression changed.

"Stop messing around, take it back, you can't keep it."

The last two items were two bottles of perfume.

One bottle is orange, and the other is golden; both are packaged in colorful glass bottles.

It includes four art forms: glass art, inside painting art, quicksand art, and bird-and-insect seal script.

A grain of sand contains a world—high-class, luxurious, and beautiful.

He is truly a master of both Eastern aesthetics and Eastern technology.

It's just a bottle.

This thing looks so familiar.

Although I've never seen these two colors before, they are the perfumes of Drunkard.

A single bottle is priced at $7999.

A bottle of perfume can buy a car.

The ultimate luxury. It has to be said, luxury goods are incredibly profitable.

"Take it away, take it away, you're making us make a mistake," Uncle Li refused again.

"This is different. These two types aren't for sale; they don't have a market price. Besides, don't you know the cost of my stuff...?"

"Why would you make something if you're not selling it?" Uncle Li was indeed led away.

Luo Yihang picked up the orange bottle. "This bottle is called Qinglu Shuxiang, inspired by Qu Yuan's 'Ode to the Orange,' which says, 'The noble tree of the emperor, the orange is the best.' The top note is the scent of Chenggu kumquat; the middle note is the scent of Dongting tangerine peel, which is spicy and sweet; and the base note is the scent of cypress and pine smoke. Overall, it means a gentleman."

"The top notes of this fragrance, the fresh kumquat, correspond to the youthful ambition, like Qu Yuan's clear and pure heart when he first went up the Yuan River in his early years; the middle notes of Dongting tangerine peel, the calm and blue waves of the lake, are just like the gentle and refined gentleman after experiencing the world; the base notes of pine and cypress are deep and resonant, echoing the tenacity of 'though I die nine times, I will not regret it'."

"Perfect for gentlemen like you. Spraying it on the pages of a book during morning reading is the perfect way to do it."

Luo Yihang's Drunken Guest perfume is unique in that it can change one's temperament, which is why it can be sold at such a high price.

This "Clear Dew and Sparse Fragrance" product is actually using the imagery of dew to subtly praise the experts.

Experts are human too. They were delighted after hearing this; such flattery is really pleasing to the ear.

Only Uncle Li was unmoved by reason, saying, "Everyone's on their phones these days, who still reads books?"

His words resonated with many, and the trendy guy chimed in, "Our books are all huge, each one weighs several pounds. Holding them is like holding a dumbbell, and laying them on the table makes your neck hurt."

Luo Yihang laughed and said, "Then spray it on your kid's textbook, so they can memorize a couple more formulas."

"It really has this effect?" Several experts perked up.

Luo Yihang shrugged. "I don't know, let's take it back and try it out."

As he spoke, he picked up another golden bottle.

"This tea is named Osmanthus in the Moon, which is inspired by Bai Juyi's poem 'Searching for osmanthus in the moonlit mountain temple, watching the tide from the pavilion.' The top notes are like golden osmanthus picked in the morning dew; the middle notes are a bamboo fragrance with a caramel-like sweetness; and the base notes are made with Yunwu Xianhao tea, where the aroma of tea and osmanthus are combined to create a unique tea flavor."

"On Mid-Autumn Festival night, spraying the fragrance of osmanthus on your clothes blends with the moonlight, evoking the leisurely feeling of Bai Juyi 'searching for osmanthus'; when brewing tea in the afternoon, the fragrance of bamboo intertwines with the aroma of tea, resembling the warmth of 'Osmanthus-scented Biluochun'; before going to bed, spraying a little on your pillow, the fragrance of osmanthus, bamboo, tea and sandalwood lingers, like the elegance of Li Qingzhao 'smelling osmanthus on her pillow'."

"The overall effect is like the gentle rain of Mid-Autumn Festival, with both the warmth of everyday life and the elegance of poetry."

"Most suitable for your wife who loves life and has a gentle heart."

This was yet another string of flattery, and it was directly slapped on the heads of the ladies of each household, leaving them no choice but to accept it.

Some people have recalled that they were too busy with work and spent little time with their families, and felt they owed their wives a lot.

Some people thought that if their wives got this perfume, they would be so happy. It's the legendary "Drunken Master" perfume, and it's a new, unreleased product. They would definitely show it off to their girlfriends for half a month.

These past two weeks have been much better.

Even Uncle Li is thinking about his daughter...

"Moreover, this set is a limited edition, with only 108 bottles made. Each bottle is numbered, and you can choose your favorite number."

“My mom, my wife, and my third aunt are numbers one, two, and three. Su Jing, Shi Qin, Wen Ying, Shi Juan, Qiu Yan, Xiao Zhao, and Ke Shaotong are numbers four through ten.”

“Wang Shaopeng took number 66, and Lao Qi took number 88. Those two are just ordinary people.”

"Little Twenty Cucumbers is leaving; number 93 is leaving because his girlfriend's birthday is September 3rd..."

Everything else was irrelevant; the twenty cucumbers caused a burst of laughter.

During a casual chat, it was mentioned that Luo Yihang used twenty cucumbers to make Ling Tongjie, Qi Ruomu's junior brother, work.

Poor Ling Tongjie, he was even plucked by the passing goose, and all he got was one and a half cucumbers, and that half cucumber still had the bottom part attached.

"Others release limited editions of 99 or 999, why are you making 108? Is this the Water Margin? Are you arranging them according to the heroes?" Uncle Li was ruining the atmosphere again.

He was experiencing an allergic reaction.

"Han Gui, the city tree of Tianhan. These 108 bottles of Yuezhong Guixiang are made from the osmanthus blossoms of the twin osmanthus trees guarding the tomb of Zhuge Liang. The Prime Minister's death anniversary is the eighth day of the tenth month."

When people in the Han Dynasty spoke of a prime minister, they did not include his surname; only Zhuge Liang was referred to as such, as this was a unique title.

Upon hearing this, Uncle Li pointed at Luo Yihang and teased, "You little rascal, are you planning to empty your pockets?"

Luo Yihang smiled and said, "The Prime Minister is very famous overseas. If we want our products to go global, we can borrow his fame. I'm sure he won't have any objections. If you like it, then go ahead and film it. I have no objections."

Of course I like this simple life.

Their favorite period is the Three Kingdoms period, and every year on the eighth day of the tenth lunar month, they hold a lottery to sell double osmanthus seeds guarding the tomb of Zhuge Liang.

Fifty-four seeds are issued each year, and hundreds of thousands of people sign up for the lottery, resulting in at least thirty thousand small prizes.

Whenever a lucky person manages to snag one, the locals treat it like a holiday, welcoming them from the airport and sending them off along the way.

Therefore, every year, Tianhan attracts hundreds of thousands of Japanese and Korean tourists who wander around places such as the Tomb of Marquis Wuhou, the Tomb of Ma Chao, Dingjun Mountain, the "Boiling Water" left by Cao Cao, and the "Feifeng Mountain" cliff inscription written by Zhang Fei, the fiefdom of Zhang Fei in Xixiang.

Then I became obsessed with Tianhan cuisine and went to Jiweilou to queue up in long lines.

This new perfume from Drunkard is a limited edition and carries so much meaning.

And... and they even got involved with Sotheby's.

Mansour's brother-in-law, who is also his uncle, is Sheikh.

The generational hierarchy within the UAE royal family is very messed up.

The gift they presented last time was a 38.4% stake in Sotheby's auction house, making them a major shareholder.

Organizing a special auction is just a matter of a few words.

Moreover, Mansour's used car re-export trading company has already started up, and the first batch of goods, a full nine thousand vehicles, has been shipped out.

It is said that this deal could earn 400 million US dollars.

No wonder even trillionaires are involved in the used car business; being a middleman is really lucrative.

However, this money should be earned by the rightful owner. Not everyone has the channels to smuggle goods into sanctioned countries; there are serious implications involved.

Luo Yihang only recently learned that over the years, the seedlings of Qiuyan No. 9, which had been sold to Yemen in several batches, amounted to 50,000 mu, and all of them were sold through this channel.

As a result, the Yemeni famine has been largely ignored in recent years.

Even the reports mostly focused on malnutrition, no longer mentioning anyone starving to death.

That counts as doing a good deed...

"However, the limited edition of 108 bottles is not only because of the Prime Minister, but also because it represents a complete time cycle, including twelve months, twenty-four solar terms, and seventy-two pentads, which totals 108."

Luo Yihang gave another reason.

This is the more important reason.

The term "Hou" refers to a supplementary calendar system used in ancient times to guide agricultural activities.

A year consists of 24 solar terms, totaling 72 pentads. Five days are called a pentad, three pentads are called a qi, six qi are called a shi, and four shi are called a year.

Each pentad corresponds to a phenological phenomenon, known as a "pentad response".

Among them, plant phenology should include the sprouting of plant buds, flowering, and fruiting; animal phenology should include the initial vibration, initial call, mating, and migration of animals; and abiotic phenology should include the initial freezing, thawing, and the first sound of thunder.

The sequential changes of the seventy-two pentads reflect the general situation of phenological and climatic changes throughout the year.

There's a lot more to it than meets the eye; it encompasses everything from astronomy and meteorology to phenology.

What does it mean to be a civilization with five thousand years of history?

Eastern luxury goods must contain a wealth of cultural symbols.

It's about creating a cognitive barrier; that's what luxury goods are all about.

Let those foreigners see it, and learn from it.

Learn how to act cool when you go out.
-
Luo Yihang's gifts were truly appreciated by all the experts.

When we parted at the airport, we were carrying lots of bags and packages, with gifts outnumbering our luggage.

They all shook hands with Luo Yihang warmly to say goodbye, promising to come again if they needed anything next time.

Uncle Li was the same; he also swindled Luo Yihang out of several bottles of Qingmu Zui.

He didn't promise to come back; there's no need for a promise. He'll be back in a couple of days.

His elder brother, the old man Pang who cultivated a small vegetable patch with lush weeds and sparse bean sprouts, is still recuperating in Ping'an Ditch.

Besides taking care of some business, Uncle Li is also bringing several other comrades to visit him on this trip back home.

We saw the experts off.

Luo Yihang and Qi Ruomu went back to Ping'an Gou again.

Waiting for Ke Shaotong to come and pick up the things.

Ke Shaotong took the gold leaf from Napoleon's coronation crown.

It was said that it would be sent to Paris and then handed over to Delphine to be donated to the French government.

This leaf is nothing to us; it's just an artifact.

But in the eyes of the French, that is glory, a national treasure.

If Delphine can bring this leaf back, her reputation will surely soar.

And it wasn't given away for free.

Accompanying Ke Shaotong were a group of cultural relics experts, negotiation experts, and several designers.

This gold leaf should at least be exchanged for a few national treasures.

The Shang Dynasty bronze elephant-shaped vessel, the Shang Dynasty bronze tripod with three sheep patterns, the Western Zhou Dynasty bronze gui vessel, the Hejiacun hoard of the flying apsaras gold comb, the silver salt platform in the underground palace of Famen Temple, the silver pot in the Dingmao Bridge hoard, Tang Dynasty paintings from the Dunhuang Mogao Caves, Tang Dynasty rubbings of the "Preface to the Orchid Pavilion" and the "Classic of Tea"...

These are all alternatives.

Meanwhile, the various brands under the Sunset Alliance will also design a batch of clothing and jewelry with the theme of golden laurel leaves, and hold a large-scale themed show at the Louvre.

It was Mansour's brother-in-law and uncle who got the job; he also owns the Louvre's operating company.

In short, they made the most of this leaf.

Let's thank Mr. John for his gift.

Old John was also pitiful.

That day, after meeting Luo Yihang, I was given a lot of frights.

It simply vanished.

Upon investigation, it was later discovered that after leaving Nanhu Park, he didn't even return to his hotel; he went straight to the airport.

I took the next available flight to Southeast Asia.

He only took his "friend," the butler, with him when he left.

None of the foreigners at the hotel were brought along.

It's clear that he ran incredibly fast.

Is it really necessary? It's not like I'm going to eat him...
-
Then Ke Shaotong left.

Luo Yihang and Qi Ruomu should leave now.

My luggage was packed in the morning, thrown into the car, and we headed straight southwest.

Tongzi, Guizhou.

(End of this chapter)