Liberi Reader

I learned a lot from our debate today. However, I still maintain my own views about the new reforms...

I'll have to do more research on this.

It's fine. This campus is plenty large enough to accommodate a wealth of different ideas. If my arguments have not convinced you, then you should not force yourself to agree with me just because I'm a teacher.

The students of this academy must focus on real world issues, instead of getting lost in theoretical or ideological musings.

Duoxie.

Good day. Do you need some help?

Hello, how do I get to the archives where the students' files are stored?

You mean the registrar? What do you want with those files?

I'm a new assistant lecturer. The professor wants me to organize the graduates' files.

That's odd...

Which professor?

Professor Jing. She teaches military theory at the college affiliated to the Ministry of War.

She's teaching classes all day today, so she asked me to do this errand for her.

Oh!

What's wrong?

Go straight down here, pass the main building, turn right, and you'll see the Bingshen building. That's it.

You'd better get going... Trust me, you don't want to keep her waiting.

...Duoxie.

Ahem, the first rule of any restaurant is that once you enter the kitchen, the chef's words are law.

If you want to win the contest and meet Mo Bufu, you must follow my instructions to the letter. Do you understand?

Didn't we agree to split the prize money seventy-thirty? Why are you acting like I owe you a favor?

Okay Okay. Enough of that. Didn't you say you wanted to learn a few new recipes anyway?

Have you changed your mind?

No. I want to do this, but I'm no Rhodes Island five-star chef. This competition sounds too difficult for an amateur like me.

Why don't you go instead?

I am the head chef of Savors at Yu's. Participating in this kind of competition would be sullying my good name.

I'm giving you an opportunity here. As my apprentice, you can go show your skills, and wipe that arrogant smirk off Mo Bufu's face.

Wouldn't Xingzhu be a better choice? She's a foodie, you know.

I'm afraid that, as The Wandering Foodie, I'm too well known. It would be inappropriate for me to participate in a food competition.

Enough chitchat. First thing's first. To get you ready for this competition, let me tell you a little about Ding Feng Lou.

I've been hearing about this place since I first set foot in Baizao. What's so special about it?

Remember I told you about the Four Great Restaurants of Baizao, corresponding to the four main branches of Yanese Cuisine, that is, North, South, East, and West?

About four hundred years ago, several chefs arrived in Baizao. They each set up their own restaurants and culinary sects. This marked the founding of the four main branches of Yanese cuisine.

It was the first head chef of Ding Feng Lou who promoted the founding in the first place.

The legendary chef's name has been lost to history. He was the founder of Northern Cuisine, but was also proficient in the other three styles.

The other three chefs were only invited to Baizao after they lost to the Northern Chef in a cooking competition.

With such a storied history, Ding Feng Lou outshined the other three restaurants and became known as the 'number one restaurant in Baizao.'

Who's teaching this class, you or me?

Oh. My apologies!

Hmph, of course, what she said is pretty much accurate. The only thing I'll add is that eventually, the Four Great Restaurants of Baizao started fighting with each other for fame and glory. These squabbles continue to this day, and they're really quite annoying.

I thought Baizao was a place where all these great chefs could learn from each other. If I had known there was going to be all this infighting, I would not have gone...

Not have gone where?

Ahem...!

In any case, what you need to know is that, as the most famous restaurant in Baizao, Ding Feng Lou, and its Chef Selection Competition, has extremely high standards.

Ding Feng Lou has not taken on any new disciples in many years. The only reason they're hosting this competition now is because they suddenly got short-handed right when they needed to start preparing for the Feast of a Hundred Delicacies.

But I've also heard that Chef Mo is advancing in age and still hasn't found an apprentice to take over the business...

The format of the competition is different each time, but there is one requirement that stays constant: each chef has to showcase their best dish.

Wait a second...

If the competition is really that difficult, how can I ever hope to win?

Logic would dictate that an amateur chef with absolutely no culinary experience would have little hope of winning.

However, you have me in your corner. I can teach you a recipe that is easy to cook and is perfect for the occasion—

Longevity noodles.

Longevity noodles? Why would they serve longevity noodles at the Feast of a Hundred Delicacies?

The reigning True Lung's birthday just happens to coincide with the Mid-Autumn Festival, so every year, they serve longevity noodles at the Feast.

But it's such a simple dish. Is it really appropriate for a major competition like this?

Who told you that simple dishes can't show great skills?

Just watch and learn.

Didn't you say you knew how to cook?!

The instant noodles are already pre-made! How should I know how to knead flour into dough?

You really are a hopeless case!

You haven't really even taught me anything yet...

How can I teach you anything? You managed to break three bowls just while kneading the dough! I can't risk you breaking anything else here!

Aiyo... aiyo...

Be careful... These bowls are expensive... We can't afford to buy new ones—

*sigh*

Why are there no records at all?

What is going on?

Gu Quan, an ethnic Yanese born and raised in Victoria, returned to Yan in 1074. In 1076, he was admitted to Baizao Academy. After completing his studies, he joined the Ministry of Rites...

These are the only records left for the deceased in that case.

They should have files for all mandarins who graduated from the Imperial Academy and went to work in the Six Ministries of the court… but why can't I find him in the system?

Gu Quan, what did you...?

Professor, I was just trying to confirm that with you. I didn't mean to ask you to come here in person...

She said she's a new assistant professor? Why haven't I ever heard of her before?

The person who came here seemed to know you very well, so I didn't...

How many times have I told you? The Academy's personnel files are confidential! Keep that in mind!

Forget it. I'll go handle this myself.

Oh no!

Hmm?

......

Qingyan, you're a bit too old to be playing hide-and-seek, aren't you?

J-Jing...

Has the Judicial Review Office come to our school to apprehend some culprit?

The Office is investigating a case, so I've come here to collect a few old case files. Please, Jing... Professor Jing... Please cooperate.

Alright then. If you're here on official business, show me your official documentation.

I rushed so quickly to get here that I left it back at my office.

Really? Well then I'll just place a call in to the head of the Office.

Wait... wait a moment!

Professor, are you okay?

Should I call security?

*sigh*

(gives a pleading look)

......

No. I forgot that I asked some other professor here to collect some materials for me.

I'm sorry for wasting your time.

It's not a problem! Goodbye, professor!

Alright. Now it's just the two of us.

Xie... Xiexie.

*sigh* Qingyan...

I have always thought that you were a well-mannered and trustworthy girl. Every time I mentioned you to Le, I told him to follow your example.

And look at you now—What are you doing here? A deputy minister from the Judicial Review Office, sneaking around like this?

I'm conducting an investigation...

What kind of case requires this secrecy? What kind of case can't go through the normal process?

A cold case... the deceased was once a student at the Baizao Academy, but I just searched the personnel files and found no record of him.

The Academy has a record of every student. This person you speak of, how do you know they once studied here?

I saw it in the files at the Judicial Review Office.

The Judicial Review Office collects its files directly from the Ministry of Rites. However, the Ministry's files do not match up with the Academy's. Someone made a mistake somewhere.

Is there a chance that someone altered the Academy's files?

How could that possibly have happened?

The Academy is one of the Yanese government's most important talent pipelines. Once a student's information is entered into the system, it is archived under strict supervision.

No one has the authority to modify this data, unless...

Unless what...?

No. That's impossible.

Enough of this nonsense. You'd better leave now.

It's almost mealtime. Pretty soon, lots of students will be crowding these halls. If anyone else sees you here...

Also, please don't go doing something like this again.

Mealtime...

We need to go back to Baizao to investigate. Why are you looking at all these travel guides?

These places... I've seen them in my dad's letters.

Humble Garden, Virtue Bookstore... oh and when he was studying here, there was a Shangshu Diner near the main entrance. He said they have the best twice-cooked pork in town!

Now that I'm visiting Baizao, I want to visit all the places he mentioned to me.

Say, is there a restaurant near campus called the Shangshu Diner?

Huh? You want Shangshu food?

The place you're talking about closed more than thirty years ago. How would you possibly know about it?

More than thirty years ago? Are you sure?

Yes. It closed in 1065 when I was in school. How could I forget?

Lots of students used to go eat there, because it was near campus and served tasty, affordable food.

But then, in 1065, there was a terrible Catastrophe in Shangshu, and the restaurant owner had to return home to deal with the aftermath. The students even made donations to help with the rescue effort.

A man who was born and raised in Victoria and did not come to Yan until 1074... how could he know about the place?

Unless...

Unless he had visited Yan before, or maybe he wasn't born and raised in Victoria after all? Maybe he was a native Yanese?

What are you mumbling about?

If Gu Quan's Ministry of Rites records were modified, but he was indeed a student at the Academy, well then, there would definitely be something worth digging up in the Academy's files.

What year was Blaze born? If we work back from there...

Does this system have the records of students enrolled between 1052 and 1062?

You...

Help me just this once. It's extremely important...

Thousands of students graduate each year. You want to look through ten years of records at once? Do you know how long that will take?

The person in question worked for the Ministry of Rites. He probably studied at an affiliated college. That may help narrow the search a bit.

If the person you are looking for was not a high-ranking mandarin, you may want to start looking at files after 1055.

That year, the Academy was restructured. It became a true public education institution, instead of just serving as a talent pipeline for the government. The enrollment figures shot up.

I see... Duoxie!

Go. You only have two hours.

Found you...

...Gu Sheng.

Male, born in Langyi in 1037, accepted into Baizao Academy in 1055. He was assigned to the Education Department administered by the Ministry of Rites... and was among the first batch of students to enroll after the school was restructured.

Top marks in all subjects... Wait. He didn't graduate?

This file was last updated in... 1062?

This is a missing persons file?

So he was already a family man when he was in Baizao... and all three of them disappeared...

1062... Is there something special about 1062?

Blaze... I need to confirm something...

You were born in 1062, in Victoria, right?

Yes. From as far back as I can remember, I lived in Victoria.

I asked you where you were born!

How am I supposed to remember that?

Gu Quan... Gu Sheng...

Qingyan, your time is almost up. You should get going.

What did he say?

No good. The dough still won't do. Let's try again.

But that's already my twentieth batch!

Don't worry, you have been practicing all day, and you're starting to iron out the issues with your technique. Success is not far away.

I'm really sorry. You don't need to stay here with me through all this.

It's not a problem!

You've been helping me so much, I guess you must also be interested in the outcome of all of this, huh?

Alright. Just wait here a minute. This time I'm sure I'll do it, and I'll whip you up a big, nice bowl of noodles for dinner.

Did you... have something else you wanted to say to me just now?

What?

N-Never mind...

To be fair, the recipe the Young Chef gave you was indeed simple enough. He probably didn't expect that your biggest difficulty would be kneading the dough.

Look at you defending him!

I'm sorry...

I'm doing all I can do. It's hard. When I work, my body temperature rises, and the dough starts to dry out in just a few seconds.

I add more water to the flour, and then more flour to the water, and then more flour and water... The dough that was originally the size of my fist is now almost as big as my head!

The situation with your rising body temperature is certainly unique...

Anyway, you need to think positively: so long as you learn to knead the dough, making the longevity noodles will be no problem at all!

Speaking of which, for someone who has never cooked before, you certainly have some impressive knife skills.

Well, back at Rhodes Island, elite operators like me perform surgery on ourselves in emergency situations.

I guess there's not much difference between using a scalpel and a kitchen knife, assuming you're not using it like the Young Chef does when he chops vegetables.

I can even use the skills I learned from stitching my own wounds to mend my own clothes.

I wouldn't have thought your job would be this dangerous.

Hmph, not a big deal if you have the time to practice.

The more I think about it, the angrier I get. Can't he just have more patience with me?

Hey! Look! I think you're getting the hang of it. The amount of force is just right. Keep it up!

I... haven't even... had any dinner yet!

Hold onto that anger! Fold the dough over and continue kneading. Right. You can get even angrier if you want!

No. I can't get any angrier... boy the noodles he makes sure are delicious!

I'm spent—

Ugh... Why is cooking even more exhausting than combat training?

I understand this is really hard for you...

I don't want to deal with that pipsqueak anymore! Can I be your apprentice instead? You're a gourmand. You must know how to cook, right?

Spare me the compliments... I am nothing close to him when it comes to cooking.

And you know, it's funny that I've never actually eaten longevity noodles before.

They are just noodles, right? You've tried so many different restaurants. How could you have never eaten longevity noodles before?

I've been to many restaurants that serve longevity noodles, but it only makes sense to eat them on your birthday!

I celebrate every birthday at home. They don't allow me to go out on my birthday.

Okay, but even if you celebrate your birthdays at home, your mom or dad never made you a bowl of longevity noodles?

Actually, I've never met my parents...

Oh, I'm sorry...

Although I have never seen my parents, I still have other family members. Every year, on my birthday, my family holds a big banquet for me.

At banquets like that, I don't think they care much about longevity noodles.

However, I've always been a little afraid of birthdays...

Isn't it nice that other people remember your birthday?

I can't really explain it. I always feel that every time I have a birthday party, I will be surrounded by a lot of people who want me to laugh, and also to cry.

But it doesn't seem to matter whether I'm there or not...

Enough talk about me. You're from Victoria. Do they eat longevity noodles there?

I grew up in Victoria, but my parents are both Yanese, at least, by blood.

When I was little, every year, on my birthday, my mom would make me a bowl of longevity noodles. The taste was nothing special. It was just regular old home cooking.

After I left home and could no longer eat my mom's home cooking, I even forgot what it was like to celebrate a birthday.

That is, until that night...

The seasoning packet, the vegetable packet... and I'll add two sausages, hehe... why are the lights off in the cafeteria?

Hey! What are you guys doing here? You scared me!

Shhh, keep your voice down.

It's late. What are you doing in the cafeteria at this hour?

Ace... why do you look all serious? There's not another urgent mission, is there?

What are you holding there? Instant noodles?

I stayed too long at the training ground this afternoon and didn't have enough for dinner!

What? Now that I'm an elite operator, I can't eat instant noodles anymore?

The captain isn't scolding you for eating junk food. He's saying...

Today is your birthday, and you're eating instant noodles?

My birthday...?

But didn't Dr. Kal'tsit say—

That's why I told you to lower your voice.

So long as we don't make too much noise, even if she hears us, she'll pretend not to hear, yes?

I even suspect that she deliberately arranged for our fieldwork breaks to overlap, just so we could throw you a birthday party.

Think of it as her way of giving you a birthday blessing... even if it's hard to imagine.

Blaze, you are one of us, a part of Rhodes Island. You are not alone.

I... you... thank you all so much!

Alright. It's already midnight. Happy birthday, Blaze!

Happy birthday, Big Cat!

Happy Birthday.

Happy birthday! Also, Amiya isn't on the ship right now, but she asked me to pass on the birthday wishes. She hopes you stay happy and healthy!

Aww... Bunny...

So, are you planning to come blow out the candles and cut the cake, or are you going back to your instant noodles?

That was the first time so many people celebrated my birthday with me. That bowl of instant noodles became my longevity noodles.

Everyone knew how much I wanted to have a birthday party, but that day, not a single person actually came out and said, 'I knew you wanted this'.

They acted like... it was just another one of my many, many birthdays.

I liked the 'nothing special' feeling of it.

......

Now you're making me jealous...

Oh, right! You said you've never had longevity noodles. Well, let me whip up some for you!

But... you haven't even learned how to knead the dough yet...

I don't know how to knead noodles, but I do know how to cook ready-made noodles. I'll go ask Jiang for some dried noodles that I can simply boil.

Wait... handmade noodles... ready-made noodles...

Maybe it really will work, after all!