Di Ming

Chapter 33 Rescue
This bear paw was stewed in honey for five or six hours, starting early in the morning, until it was tender.

Crown Prince Shangchen of Chu murdered his father. King Cheng of Chu demanded that he eat a bear's paw before dying, but his son refused.

Shang Chen's reasoning was: "Bear's paw is hard to cook."

King Cheng certainly didn't really want to eat the bear's paw; he just wanted to use it as a delaying tactic.

Both King Zhou of Shang and Duke Ling of Jin killed the butcher Ding because the bear paws were not cooked properly.

It's clear that bear paws are indeed difficult to cook. Not only do they need to be stewed for a long time, but they also need to be stewed with honey, otherwise they won't be tender even after a day.

The bear paw in front of us is the right forepaw, which is the fattest and most delicious, hence the saying "left forelegant, right for jade".

Because bears have a habit of licking their right paw during hibernation, and the paw they lick is big, fat, sweet and soft, with the essence of their saliva all mixed into their right front paw, how could it not taste good?
That's right, eating bear paws is just like eating bird's nest; you're essentially consuming the animal's saliva.

But Zhu Yin had no right to complain.

Bear's paw is what I desire... I'd rather give up fish for bear's paw. He's never actually eaten one of the Eight Delicacies, despite its great reputation.

Of course, this stewed right forefoot wasn't meant for him to eat alone, nor could he finish it all.

When eating bear paws, the maidservants also served a plate of mixed flour buns.

This plate of mixed-grain steamed buns, which were only eaten by poor Jurchen people, was not meant to be eaten.

It's used to wipe your mouth when eating bear paws.

Because bear paws are made of collagen, which is as sticky as glue, you need to wipe your lips after every bite.

Otherwise, your lips will be stuck together and you won't be able to open your mouth.

Zhu Yin took a small bite, and how to describe the taste?

It's like eating fatty meat, but not as greasy.

It's not exactly delicious, but it's unique, with an indescribable sweetness.

Ning Caiwei clearly preferred to eat more; Zhu Yingang had only taken one bite when she had already finished two mixed grain steamed buns.

Ning Qingchen could only watch helplessly, on the verge of tears.

I can't eat duck!
It's said that this stuff can relax muscles and improve blood circulation, strengthen bones and muscles, and is a highly nourishing food, but babies can't eat it!

Eating it might help you recover.

Zhu Yin took a bite, picked up a mixed flour bun, wiped his lips which were almost stuck together, and smiled like a little adult:
"The bear paws from the old forests outside the pass are really different; they're much better than those inside. If it weren't for Brother Wild Boar Skin, I wouldn't have had this good fortune."

Although Zhu Yin had never eaten bear paws before, he was telling the truth.

Bears still exist in the mountains of Central China, but the quality of their bear paws is far inferior to that of those in Northeast China.

Just like ginseng from the Central Plains is far inferior to ginseng from Northeast China.

Shurhaci laughed and said, "Every year, our Jurchen tribes have to offer bear paws as tribute to the Emperor of the Great Ming Dynasty. Just last year, our Jianzhou Left Guard alone offered ninety-eight pairs."

His smile was somewhat bitter. "Most of the bear paws that the Jurchens hunted were sent as tribute to Beijing, while they themselves ate very little."

Nurhaci quickly laughed and changed the subject, saying, "Since we're in such a good mood today, I'll play the pipa for you!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yin couldn't help but smile.

Historical records such as the "Veritable Records of Manchuria" all mention that Nurhaci enjoyed playing the pipa.

A burly man, holding a pipa, singing and dancing. The scene... wow.

But it is indeed a historical fact.

Nurhaci, while playing the pipa, swayed his hips and sang in Jurchen:
"The tiger leads the way, and I am carried by a great blue horse. A gyrfalcon circles overhead. Brave Baturu, then go forth fearlessly..."

"Master Cuohazhan, he rides the Red Hare, his red face like the sunset in the west... Your servant has arrived..."

Nurhaci had a booming voice and sang with great flair. He played the pipa well, and sang even better.

His dancing is also very captivating.

Far from being the jarring and comical image of a burly man holding a pipa, it possesses a beautiful aesthetic that perfectly blends boldness and gentleness, carrying a sense of desolation amidst its vastness.

It seems to have vividly portrayed the tragic sentiments of the Jurchen people, which lingered over the Changbai Mountains and the Heilongjiang River.

Nurhaci was a man of imposing appearance. The *Veritable Records of the Qing Dynasty* records him as follows:

"...a tall and imposing figure with large ears, a dignified appearance, a voice like a resounding bell, and a majestic bearing..."

Although it's somewhat exaggerated, it's not entirely outrageous.

Zhu Yin looked at the wild boar hide that had been thrown into it, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

His hero is my enemy.

Shurhaci also stood up and danced the Mangshi dance, the favorite dance of the Jurchens, around his brother. One hand was raised in front of his forehead, the other was raised behind him, and his body moved in curves, like a python dancing.

The older brother played the pipa and sang, while the younger brother danced the Mangshi dance, immediately bringing the atmosphere of the open-air banquet to a climax.

Eidu, Anfeiyanggu, and others stood up, clapping their hands around the two brothers as they did so, shouting:
"Hehe haha ​​hoho..."

As they shouted, they took off their shirts, revealing their chests adorned with wild boar tusks, and began to jump wildly.

Immediately, people started beating octagonal drums, blowing blah blahs (deer whistles) and conch shells, and playing mokuni.

Then, a group of Jurchen men wearing animal-head hats also began to perform the Hundred Beasts Dance.

Finally, another couple started performing a two-person folk dance.

That's right, Errenzhuan originated from the sacrificial songs and dances of the Jurchen people.

The Errenzhuan of this time was different from that of later generations. It had no comedic elements and was instead very mysterious. It was a shamanic dance, and the songs were shamanic tunes.

Instantly, the entire bonfire feast became both lively and filled with a mysterious and primitive atmosphere.

Even Zhu Yin and Ning Caiwei couldn't help but be infected by the music and couldn't resist clapping along.

Ning Qingchen found it amusing and couldn't help but giggle.

This is a song and dance banquet.

Next, someone performed Jurchen wrestling, and the winner was rewarded by Nurhaci with an old wild boar tusk.

Just as the banquet was about to come to a joyous and successful close, a maid suddenly rushed over in a panic.

"Oh dear! Princess Dongguo, something terrible has happened!"

What? Everyone turned around at once, and the singing and dancing immediately stopped.

The banquet ended abruptly.

Everyone returned to the fence, where they saw ten-year-old Dongguo Gege with her mouth wide open, having difficulty breathing, her lips turning blue, and a high fever.

Standing beside her was a shamanic woman dressed in divine robes, her expression solemn yet filled with helplessness.

A group of people surrounded the young patient, anxiously pacing around, but at a loss for what to do.

"Dongguo! Dongguo! Father is here!" Nurhaci held his daughter, who had a persistent high fever, his heart breaking.

"You're still young, don't go see your mother!"

Chu Ying and Dai Shan, the two children, cried out, "Eyun (sister)! Eyun!"

Dongguo Gege is Nurhaci's eldest daughter and currently his only daughter.

In contrast to the Jurchen lower classes who favored late marriage, Jurchen nobles mostly married early, especially noblewomen who married very young.

Historically, Princess Dongguo was to get married the following year, at the young age of eleven.

But now, she is actually going to die.

Could it be the butterfly effect? ​​Zhu Yin and Ning Caiwei exchanged bewildered glances.

Ning Qingchen stared at Dongguo Gege for a while, then wrote words on her sister's palm.

Ning Caiwei nodded, gave Zhu Yin a look, and left with her younger sister in her arms.

Knowing what was going on, Zhu Yin immediately followed.

Ning Caiwei said, "My sister said it's probably acute pneumonia in the child, which is about to cause heart failure and lead to shock and death."

"First administer fever reducers, then give an injection of ceftriaxone..."

“We have this medicine, and you know how to administer injections. We should be able to save her. But we only have this much medicine, and it’s a non-renewable resource; every use is one less.”

"Every single one of these medicines is incredibly precious and can save lives. Should we save them or not?"

Zhu Yin also hesitated.

He shared the same thought as Ning Caiwei: it wasn't that he was unwilling to save people, but rather that this medicine was simply too precious in ancient times.

Moreover, the patient was Nurhaci's daughter, a Manchu princess in history.

If I save Dongguo today, I won't be able to save anyone else in the future.

Both were inclined to save the person, yet both hesitated.

Ning Qingchen had already written something again:
"Rescue!"

"Medicine is made for patients!"

(End of this chapter)