Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Feast Before the Slaughter

“Slaughter Feast!”

Mo Dun took it upon himself to cook a meal as a reward, using the fragrant rice brought back from Chang’an to make a steaming pot that was so aromatic it made mouths water just from the scent.

As if drawn by the aroma before the meal even began, Li Yi and several of the village elders arrived together.

“What a wonderful smell!” Uncle Wang, with his one arm, was sniffing the air from afar.

“All right, let’s eat!” Mo Dun called out, directing Tie An and Zi Yi to bring the dishes to the table.

Seeing Mo Dun cooking in person surprised Li Yi and the others, but none of them said anything. In the past few years, Mohist Village had been so poor that there was barely enough to eat; who cared for the Confucian saying that a gentleman keeps away from the kitchen?

Braised pork, pork belly with preserved vegetables, sweet and sour pork, slaughter feast dishes, and several seasonal green vegetables made up the menu. Though not many in variety, each dish was served in generous portions, two large bowls apiece. With a bowl of steaming white rice before every seat, everyone’s appetite was thoroughly whetted.

A large round table sat in the center of the main hall. Present were Chef Yu, Uncle Fu, Li Yi, Mo Dun, Uncle Wang with his one arm, Yu Er—now recovered from his injuries—Li Xin, Tie An, Old Zhang, the village’s sole physician Doctor Hua, and the only village tutor, Master Li. Each took their places.

Doctor Hua claimed descent from the legendary physician Hua Tuo, though he had previously served as a military doctor in the Divine Crafts Battalion. Mo Dun suspected this was self-aggrandizement to raise his stature, but Doctor Hua’s medical skills were indeed impressive. For years, villagers relied on him for their ailments, and he nearly always cured them, often at a loss or even free for the poorest families. The income from treating outsiders barely sustained him.

As for Master Li, Mo Dun’s impression of him was formidable—he had been Mo Dun’s childhood tutor and had rapped his knuckles more times than he could count. Li Xin, Yu Er, Tie An, and the rest all sat upright and proper at his presence.

With Mo Dun and Zi Yi taking their seats, there were thirteen people in all.

“A roundtable conference, thirteen knights,” Mo Dun thought with secret pride.

Everyone present understood the significance of Mo Dun’s invitation—this was the future backbone of Mohist Village. Only Zi Yi seemed oblivious, staring at the pork belly with preserved vegetables, drooling with anticipation.

“Let’s eat!” Mo Dun said, not bothering to hide his impatience. He was first to pick up his chopsticks, taking a piece of braised pork to signal the others to start.

“Hooray!” Zi Yi cheered, chopsticks darting out like lightning. Yu Er and Li Xin were not to be outdone, joining in at once.

“Haha, the young folk have hearty appetites. Brothers, let’s not hold back either!” Uncle Fu, who had watched Zi Yi grow up, laughed as he made peace with a jovial kick under the table.

Chef Yu and Li Yi, faces red with embarrassment, glared at their sons before hastily reaching for food themselves, lest the gluttons devour everything.

Once everyone began, there was no stopping. Even Master Li, usually so mindful of decorum, joined in the scramble for dishes.

“That’s mine!” Doctor Hua shouted at Li Yi.

“Finders keepers!” Li Yi retorted shamelessly.

In the next instant, Uncle Wang with his one arm snatched the morsel right from under their noses. Missing an arm did nothing to dull his speed at the table.

Old Zhang and Master Li, silent as ever, kept their chopsticks moving.

Soon, the table was a scene of utter chaos, but each person was replete after the meal.

“With this skill, young master, you’d be a top chef in Chang’an. You’ve nearly put me to shame,” Chef Yu said with a satisfied burp.

“Nonsense! You only know how to cook fish, and even then, just barely. The rest of your dishes are mediocre at best!” Master Li scoffed, still sour about the meat Chef Yu had snatched from him.

“Exactly!” the other elders chimed in, and before long, the old men were bickering with one another.

Soon, the table was cleared, and everyone returned to their seats.

Mo Dun surveyed the group and spoke, “Uncles, elders, brothers, the reason I’ve gathered you together today is that after the New Year, I’ll be leaving for the Imperial Academy. The future development of Mohist Village will rely on all of you working together.”

“Don’t worry, young master. We old bones will safeguard Mohist Village for you,” Li Yi promised. The other elders nodded in agreement. They knew how hard-won the village’s current prosperity was and had no wish to see it fall back into poverty and hardship.

“Rest assured, young master. Just give us the word and we’ll get it done. If any of the young ones don’t obey, I’ll slap them straight!” Chef Yu declared, making Yu Er wish he could crawl under the table.

“Very well! Let me share my plans for Mohist Village next year,” Mo Dun paused, and everyone instantly perked up, their faith in their remarkable young master absolute.

“We must continue with the live fish business,” Mo Dun said, turning to Chef Yu.

Chef Yu nodded. The live fish business was currently Mohist Village’s main source of income and would not be neglected.

“But the secret method for keeping fish alive will soon be made public. When that happens, our business may become much harder,” Yu Er said, worried.

Chef Yu shot him an exasperated glare. “What’s there to fear? Mohist Village already has five fish shops in Chang’an and has cornered the market, not to mention our connections with other villages. As long as we secure our supply, who can outwork us?”

“Uncle Yu is absolutely right!” Mo Dun agreed. “However, we can’t rely on other villages for our supply. Our ten fish ponds aren’t enough. But upstream from Mohist Village is an excellent spot for fish farming!”

“You mean Stone Turtle Lake?” Chef Yu’s eyes lit up.

Mo Dun nodded, “Stone Turtle Lake is perfect for experimenting with our artificial fish-farming method. It will also secure Mohist Village’s dominance in the live fish market.”

No one lived upstream at Stone Turtle Lake, and its lower reaches bordered Mohist Village’s territory, making it theoretically part of their domain. In the past, the villagers had considered fishing there, but the water was too deep and fishing too difficult, so the idea was abandoned. Now, with artificial fish farming, it was the perfect opportunity—a heaven-sent blessing for the village.

“Exactly!” Li Yi exclaimed, slapping his thigh. He’d feared the public revelation of the live fish technique would hurt their business, but now he saw there was nothing to worry about—it would only grow stronger.

The others were visibly delighted as well. Their young master had not disappointed them; at this rate, Mohist Village would never be poor again.

“From now on, Li Xin will be in charge of transporting fish for the village,” Mo Dun instructed, turning to Li Xin.

“Thank you, young master!” Li Xin stood and answered steadily.

“The live fish business in Chang’an will be Yu Er’s responsibility,” Mo Dun announced unexpectedly, leaving Yu Er standing awkwardly in confusion.

“But, wasn’t my father in charge before?” Yu Er looked hopeful, yet anxious not to anger his father.

The others also looked at Mo Dun in puzzlement, not understanding the reason for this decision.