Chapter 63: Taibai Restaurant

Taibai Tavern was established in the first year of Jian'an. Towering four stories high and over ten zhang in height, it stood as the tallest manmade structure within the city. Situated beside the bustling Baling Bridge and the clear waters of the Ying River in the heart of Xu Capital’s most prosperous district, the tavern offered the finest spirits, teas, and the most delectable stir-fried dishes and hotpots found anywhere in the realm.

Since its inception, Taibai Tavern had taken the city by storm; from humble peddlers to noble scions, all regarded dining and drinking within its halls as a mark of distinction. Travelers from north and south flocked here, drawn by its reputation, ordering a pot of fine wine and four plates of local delicacies, gazing out at the sparkling river. The flavors, sights, and aromas blended in perfect harmony, and upon departing Xu Capital, these guests spread tales of Taibai Tavern throughout the Nine Provinces, causing its renown to grow daily.

“This tavern has good wine, good food, and good views, but the name is lacking. ‘Taibai, Taibai’—is it meant to praise a beauty’s fair skin?”
“Ha ha ha!”
At a window-side table on the second floor, a group of wealthy young men laughed raucously, emboldened by drink.

“Ignorant fools!”
A scholar in blue robes at an adjacent table scolded,
“The Book of Songs says: ‘In the east shines the Morning Star, in the west the Evening Star.’ These, Morning and Evening, are Taibai—the planet Venus. If you have not read the Book of Songs, surely you have read the Han Records by Ban Ling-shi. The Han Records declare: ‘When Taibai crosses the heavens, the world is transformed, and the people change their king.’
Now, in these turbulent times of unrest and war, Taibai governs power and authority. Thus, naming this tavern in Xu Capital ‘Taibai’ is both fitting and ingenious. Whoever chose this name must be a genius among men.
You ignorant boors, lacking learning, do not grasp the meaning of Taibai, yet dare feast here and squander its offerings—a true waste!”

The blue-robed scholar lifted his head in admiration, drained his cup of fine wine, exhaled deeply, and declared loudly, “Marvelous!”

“Damn it! Where did this pedantic scholar come from, daring to meddle in our affairs?”
Several young nobles slammed the table, stood with feet on their chairs, and glared at the scholar.

The scholar, calm and unflustered, glanced at them,
“I am savoring fine wine and food, only to be surrounded by louts. My mood soured, I complain—so what?”

“How dare you insult us! Brothers, teach him a lesson!”
The young nobles rolled up their sleeves, ready to strike.

Clang!

The scholar, swift as a shadow, drew a short sword from somewhere, holding it across his chest and fixing them with a cold stare, clearly prepared to spill blood if pressed.

“Hey! You lot!”
Across the room, a burly middle-aged man swept his tiger-like gaze over them,
“This is the tavern of the Sixth General—do you dare make trouble here?”

The young nobles’ faces changed; with a dismissive snort, they returned to their seats.

The scholar clasped his hands respectfully toward the man and sheathed his sword, sitting down.

General Cao Xin, the Sixth General, was a renowned commander in Xu Capital and all of Central Plains. He had fought in the battles of Yan City, Xuzhou, Wancheng, Xinye, and Huainan, winning distinction each time.
In the last three campaigns, his valor was exceptional: at Wancheng, he reversed defeat and saved Cao’s army; at Xinye, he routed eighty thousand troops from Jingzhou and pacified Nanyang; at Huainan, he rescued Chancellor Cao, regrouped the army, and seized Lujiang.
Victory in battle, success in assault—General Cao Xin and his Langya troops were famed across the Central Plains, honored by both civil and military peers.

At the mention of the Sixth General’s name, both sides ceased their quarrel in respectful silence.

Boom—
Crash—

Just as both sides settled, a commotion erupted downstairs.

“A fight’s broken out!”
“There’s a brawl downstairs!”

Someone shouted from the stairwell.

The patrons upstairs paused. Who would dare fight in the Sixth General’s tavern? Intriguing! Everyone rose together and moved downstairs.

“This tavern is lively—Brother Gongming, shall we go see?”
Xiahou Yuan glanced at the floor below.

“What's interesting about a brawl? There’s fighting everywhere on the battlefield; I’m tired of it.”
Xu Huang—Xu Gongming—lifted his wine bowl, drained a fiery spirit, gritted his teeth, and exhaled slowly.

“This wine packs a punch! I used to drink a jar of swill and still fight on the front lines, but two bottles of this and I’m staggering, can barely stand.”
“Haha, exactly! One bottle knocks me flat. My eldest brother says Zhang Fei can gulp three or five bottles at once and still fight on horseback—he’s a veritable wine barrel!”
Xiahou Yuan burst out laughing.

Xu Huang joined in laughter.

Downstairs, the sounds of smashing and shouting grew louder. Xiahou Yuan and Xu Huang frowned; what they had thought a minor scuffle now sounded like someone intended to demolish the tavern.

“Hey, you there—what’s happening below?”
Xiahou Yuan called to a passing waiter.

“Replying to you, sir, it’s the third brother from Liu Yu Province’s household, drunk and refusing to pay. The proprietor offered to waive his bill, but he insists and is beating people.”
The waiter bowed.

Xiahou Yuan and Xu Huang exchanged glances. Zhang Fei—well, the name fits. They finished their food and wine and rose to investigate.

“Word is Zhang Fei is fighting downstairs—shall we go watch?”
On the third floor, Guo Fengxiao addressed Xun You and Zhong Yao across the table.

“No.”
Zhong Yao folded his sleeves and turned up his lip.

“Boring.”
Xun You shook his head with closed eyes.

Guo Fengxiao bit his lip and glared,
“Damn you two—coming to a tavern and not ordering wine, asking only for a pot of tea. There’s excitement downstairs and you won’t go. Why come here at all? Wouldn’t warming the winter at home with a concubine be better?”

“Must one drink to visit a tavern?”
Xun You opened his eyes calmly,
“I heard Taibai Tavern has a new dish—steamed buns, thin-skinned, tender, juicy, and incredibly delicious. My fifth uncle tried one and wept, saying he’d eaten hundreds of dishes but never anything so refined.”

“Exaggeration! Cry over a dish—did he eat too many peppercorns and choke?”
Guo Jia grinned.

Xun You snorted, about to reply, when a waiter approached carrying a steaming basket, calling out “Steamed buns!”

The three watched the basket, marveling at its ethereal aroma and appealing shape.

“Careful, gentlemen, it’s hot!”
The waiter set down the basket, asked if they wished it opened. Xun You nodded.

“Opening the basket!”
The waiter cried, lifting the lid.

A rush of white steam enveloped them, obscuring their view. As it cleared, plump, white, tender buns, the size of a baby’s fist and decorated with delicate pleats, were revealed.

The three exchanged glances and turned to the waiter.

“How do you eat these?”

“Is it like biting into a bread roll? I’ve eaten those.”
Guo Jia said smugly.

“To explain, bread rolls are solid and can be eaten directly. Steamed buns are filled and juicy, prone to scalding the mouth. Eat them carefully—first bite to let the steam escape, then taste the broth and savor its flavor, before eating the bun and filling. We also provide dipping sauce, which adds a unique flavor.”
The waiter explained, gesturing with enthusiasm.

“Too much fuss—just a meal, no need for so much ceremony. Your tavern and its owner love flashy tricks.”
Guo Jia, unable to resist, picked up a bun and followed the waiter’s instructions—biting carefully, blowing to cool, sipping the broth. His eyes lit up.

“This flavor…”

“What is it?”
Xun You and Zhong Yao quickly took buns, biting and closing their eyes.

A surge of novelty flooded their senses—a perfect fusion of bread and meat, the union of agricultural and hunting civilizations, embodied in one humble food. Such simple harmony often moved people most deeply.

Xun You opened his eyes to find Guo Jia wiping his eyes with his sleeve.

“You’re crying?”

“Nonsense, it’s just a stuffed bread roll—nothing special.”
Guo Jia stuffed the bun in his mouth and reached for another.

“Eat slowly—no one’s competing with you. For refined foods, savor each bite.”
Xun You admonished.

“Gongda is right!”
Zhong Yao, eating a bun, reached for another.

Xun You, unwilling to compete, asked the waiter,
“How are these buns made? Would you explain?”

“Certainly, sir. These buns have both skin and filling, each intricate.
To roll the skin so thin, the flour must be extremely fine. We select plump, dry wheat grains, high yield. Using a thousand-pound stone mill, we grind and sift the flour nine times.
For the final sift, we use silk cloth to produce the finest powder, mix with water, ferment, and knead repeatedly to achieve such thin skin.
As for the filling, it’s made from fragrant pork leg from Yanzhou farms, free of any gaminess—ideal for stuffing. We mix it with our tavern’s eight unique spices, stirring again and again…”

The waiter spoke animatedly, cheeks flushed with excitement.
The three listened, dumbfounded.

“All that for a single bun?”
Guo Jia exclaimed.

“Yes, sir, just so. You might think you could make these at home, but even with the best flour, you won’t achieve such thin skin; even with fragrant pork, the filling won’t be so delicious. We offer nineteen varieties, so you’ll never tire of them. Though these buns appear simple, their secrets run deep.”
The waiter replied with pride.

“Nineteen kinds?”
The three were astonished.

“Did these buns originate from the Sixth General’s residence?”
Xun You asked.

It was said that General Cao Xin gathered hundreds of craftsmen at his residence, daily inventing new dishes.
Steamed bread, stir-fry, hotpot, braised dishes, fried chicken—all emerged from his household, then spread across the land via Taibai Tavern.

“Indeed, sir. Our tavern’s three head chefs once assisted in the Sixth General’s kitchen—they are disciples of his chefs.”
The waiter explained.

“Tsk tsk—‘Fine food cannot be too fine, nor minced meat too delicate.’ That scoundrel Cao Ziyu is decadent beyond measure—true extravagance. Surely he eats these buns daily.”
Guo Jia bit his lip, full of envy.

“Wine, women, wealth, pleasure—Sixth General lives as I most admire.”
Xun You sighed.

“These buns are truly delicious.”
Zhong Yao nodded as he ate.

Guo Jia and Xun You glanced at the basket—Zhong Yao had eaten six of the ten. They looked at him with resentment.

“Ha ha, Gongda, Fengxiao, shall we order another basket?”
Zhong Yao burped and laughed.

Boom!

“Good!”
“Fight, fight, fight!”
“General Dian is formidable!”

The ruckus below grew louder, cheers shaking the rafters. The three exchanged glances, curiosity getting the better of them, and rose to join the crowd downstairs.

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