I was watching short videos and historical figures were collectively vomiting blood!

Chapter 26 The Feast of China, the Ancients Are Stirred

Gao Yi was completely confused. Although he didn’t know what Lin Ming was talking about, judging by the expression on his face, he could tell that the 1 minute and 11-second video of “Da Mimi” was not a good thing.

But then… Gao Yi suddenly thought, even the nation’s beloved “Chong Ge” had watched it nine times before stopping, so it must be something great!

“Is there a video? If so, let me have a look too,” Gao Yi said and looked at Lin Ming with some anticipation.

Lin Ming looked at the extremely confused and yet fickle Gao Yi, and smiled. It was just too real.

“Didn’t you say that Da Mimi is your perfect goddess? You’ve been chasing her for years. I should warn you, though—watching this video might ruin the image of your goddess in your mind, but it might also elevate her to another level,” Lin Ming said mysteriously.

The more Lin Ming said this, the more Gao Yi wanted to watch it. So, Lin Ming opened the browser and found the stored link. However, something felt off. The previously saved link suddenly couldn’t be opened.

[Beep! The WanguTong app reminds you: Content unsuitable for children cannot be played.] [Beep! Browser error occurred. Please exit.]

After the message flashed by, the screen blinked and returned to the desktop, with the app crashing. Lin Ming didn’t believe it. What kind of virus software was WanguTong? It was interfering with his phone’s normal apps.

He tried again, but it still didn’t work. In the end, Lin Ming had no choice but to send the link to Gao Yi, along with a reminder.

“Turn the volume down.”

Gao Yi immediately opened the link and seemed to confirm the 5G speed was just fine. Upon opening the link, Gao Yi immediately froze, his mouth hanging open.

“How is it? Still think she’s your goddess?” Lin Ming asked, smiling.

Gao Yi dumbly nodded, staring at the screen without even acknowledging Lin Ming.

“Everyone falls victim to the truth of the ‘Zhenxiang Law,'” Lin Ming remarked, as he was feeling thoughtful when suddenly his phone received a text message.

Looking at the contact name, it was “Mu Bao’er,” and his brow furrowed.

[Lin Ming, I’m giving you ten minutes to think it over. Hurry and add me on QQ. You better be serious about pursuing me, not using these tricks to play hard to get. A real pursuit needs sincerity, do you understand? I’ll say it again, I’m only giving you ten minutes to decide, or you can forget about ever contacting me again…]

To be honest, Lin Ming didn’t even have the mood to finish reading the message. He just pressed the return button and deleted the message, blocking the number.

Lin Ming looked at his bank account balance and then at the flushed, hunched-over, fidgeting Gao Yi.

“I’d rather never hear from her again. I really would,” Lin Ming muttered.

“Even if I have no money, watching a video is way better than being a simp, right?”

Many simps never understand how this works. Close means impolite, distant means resentment, only women and petty people are like that.

Of course, he wasn’t playing games with Mu Qianqian, he simply wasn’t interested in her at all. In his past life, he had spent all his money on her, not even knowing when to stop. And yet, Mu Qianqian was totally fine with it—that was disgusting. After redeeming all his points, Lin Ming began watching videos again.

“The Feast of China!”

A soft melody began to play, and just listening to the background music made one feel the urge to eat. Even before the visuals appeared, the screen was already filled with comments.

[Bullet Screen: I wish I could be born in China in every life, eating the food from every mountain and land.] [Bullet Screen: Holding my stomach, I murmur to myself, being Chinese is just so good!] [Bullet Screen: This video paired with this BGM? It feels like I’m about to charge into battle holding a piece of braised pork!] [Bullet Screen: Don’t know why, but every time I see the sweet and salty tofu pudding arguments, I can’t help but tear up.] [Bullet Screen: The more I watch, the prouder I feel to be Chinese. Food lovers in China are one big family, no matter who you are!] [Bullet Screen: I, Wang Jingze, would rather starve to death than eat a single bite of your food! Wait, on second thought—this is too delicious!] [Bullet Screen: In the comments, people are arguing about whether tofu pudding should be sweet or salty. I just want to say: only children make choices. All Chinese food is good. I want them all!] [Bullet Screen: Don’t eat it! Consider the thickness of your wallet! “A crazy attempt to stop those eating dirt and air from breaking the bank.”] [Only food in China deserves to be called ‘hearty hospitality.’]

After the barrage of comments, the main video began.

[China has a vast population and some of the most diverse natural landscapes in the world—plateaus, mountains, lakes, coastlines… Through the seasons, we will witness the stories behind food and nature.]

…

[The fragrant butter-fried matsutake mushrooms, most commonly found in matsutake-producing regions. The black clay pot melts the butter, and fresh matsutake slices are added. The heat causes the surface moisture to evaporate, releasing the fragrance. High-end ingredients often require the simplest cooking methods.]

…

[Fresh winter bamboo shoots, sliced into inch-long segments, fried in heavy oil with various seasonings, making them a common dish in Jiangsu and Zhejiang. Many people live off bamboo forests and are masters of bamboo shoots.]

…

[Ham must be sliced with a knife. Every part has a different flavor. The best part is near the bone. The 3-year-old Nodu ham can be eaten raw.] [Stir-fried lettuce with ham, selecting evenly fatty and lean ham, and fresh lettuce stir-fried with garlic. This balanced dish is a staple home meal in Nodu.]

…

The visuals, combined with the smooth narration and exquisite shots of food, painted a picture of the beauty of food, showcasing its historical, cultural, geographical, and folkloric significance in detail. It was so mesmerizing that the ancient people were all excited, realizing that food could be this intricate!

Especially for those who lived in times of war or famine, many of them gazed up at the sky, eyes shining, some even kneeling in prayer, hoping that the sky could provide them with some food.

In the Qin dynasty.

Ying Zheng and his ministers watched the array of dishes on the sky screen, their fingers twitching with hunger. Just the sound and visuals alone made their stomachs ache with hunger.

“The finest ingredients often only need the simplest cooking methods,” Ying Zheng muttered.

Out of all the commentary, this was the one sentence he remembered. He felt that this phrase contained the essence and spirit that should be applied to governing the country.

…

Meanwhile, in the Tang dynasty. Li Shimin also remembered this phrase and fell into deep thought.

“The simplest cooking methods… This is actually the ‘大道至简’ (Great Dao is Simple).”

When cooking, it was important to add seasonings according to the food’s characteristics and control the heat.

“Ruling a great nation is like cooking a small dish.”

“To rule a great nation, you must first understand the country’s situation, listen to the people, respect the natural laws, focus on governance, and apply scientific policies.

Cooking a small dish is a trivial matter that still requires heart and effort to do well. Ruling a country, which concerns the future of a nation and the destiny of its people, needs a strong sense of historical mission and responsibility.”

Upon hearing this, Zhangsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, and others all displayed looks of admiration. Their emperor had understood such profound national governance principles from a short food video. Truly, he was an exemplary monarch, a model for future rulers!