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Now, the Beijing Base is even more lively than before Bai Tang left, with competitive exchanges officially kicking off. The base has set up ten arenas in the square at the entrance of the Forbidden City, each featuring unique abilities that come with their own light effects, just as dazzling as magical skills. The battles of Ancient Martial Artists are also exceptionally exciting; although lightness skills have been lost to time, there are still techniques that allow practitioners to leap two to three meters high from a standing position. Bai Tang is thoroughly enjoying the spectacle and even spots many familiar faces, including Tang Minglang, a disciple of the Tang Sect who had once been defeated by her and later fought alongside her back from Magic City to S Province.
"Bai Tang!"
Bai Tang turns around and smiles, "I just saw Tang Minglang and was wondering why you all hadn't come. Turns out you showed up on your own."
The ones calling her are Yuan Mingyi and Tian Yanran, a couple who, like Tang Minglang, represent the S Province Base.
"What brings you to Beijing?" Yuan Mingyi asks, clearly pleased to see Bai Tang. Ever since she sent her child to the Dongshan Sect, they hadn't seen her for a long time at D City Base. They were starting to worry that something might have happened to her.
"I've been spending most of my time at the Beijing Base!" Bai Tang replies, turning to Tian Yanran. "Have you seen your cousin?"
Tian Yanran responds, "I did see him, but he has security duties during the exchange event and doesn't have time to entertain us. He'll see us off when we leave."
It’s not yet appropriate to reveal the existence of Cultivation, so those like Tian Yuan who have truly cultivated are assigned to maintain order and security during the exchange event and are not allowed to participate in the competitions. Yi Qian and Yang Kang have also been given tasks.
"Your brother holds a significant position at the base and has many responsibilities."
"I understand!" Tian Yanran says. "When will you return to City D? You should come by Dongshan Sect then; those kids really miss you!"
Bai Tang laughs, "They miss the candied hawthorn I brought them!"
Tian Yanran and Yuan Mingyi chuckle as well: "It's not just that; it's impressive that you can still find candied hawthorn in this apocalypse!"
Bai Tang replies, "Do you want some candied hawthorn? I’ll take you to get some! There’s a shop at Beijing Base that makes great candied hawthorn, although they use fruits from some mutated plants instead of hawthorn berries. Besides candied hawthorn, they also sell sesame cakes, Taishi cakes, white sachima, jujube pastries, and pea flour cakes—authentic Beijing delicacies. You can take some back as souvenirs when you leave."
Yuan Mingyi sighs: "When the apocalypse first hit, who would have thought we could still enjoy such authentic Beijing pastries!"
Tian Yanran nods in agreement with deep feelings: "Life is getting better and better now, thanks to the weapons and antidotes developed by the research institute. We have more assurance for survival in this apocalypse and no longer face death at every turn like before."
Yuan Mingyi's eyes sparkle: "And mechas! Those high-tech machines suddenly appeared and left me wide-eyed with amazement. I really want to try one! Unfortunately, we're not part of the government; we don't have that privilege!"
To avoid exposing Bai Tang's dealings with aliens, every new product released by the government is attributed to the research institute. Now, in the eyes of the public, the research institute is seen as a high-end savior!
The match between Yuan Mingyi and Tian Yanran has concluded. Upon hearing that Bai Tang was treating, they followed Bai Tang out of the crowd without hesitation. Cheers erupted as the winner was determined on the stage; Tang Minglang had defeated his opponent, leaping down from the platform with two jumps to land beside the three.
"Where are you all going? You didn't invite me!"
On the way back from Magic City to S Province, after several life-and-death situations where they supported each other, Tang Minglang's friendship with the three was incredibly deep. The petty jealousy from their younger years had long since dissipated, and now their bond was solid.
"You didn't invite me, but you followed anyway, right?" Yuan Mingyi rolled his eyes. "Hurry up and move aside; Bai Tang is taking us to eat authentic Beijing food!"
The restaurant Bai Tang chose was called "Jixiangzhai." The owner had been a resident of old Beijing for over three generations and relied on his culinary skills to make a living. Before the apocalypse, traditional cuisine struggled to survive amidst the diverse modern food scene, and the family barely managed to sustain themselves in a shop less than five square meters. After the apocalypse, having experienced food shortages, people found even a single steamed bun delicious, making traditional foods that were already tasty highly sought after. Jixiangzhai offered delicious and affordable dishes, allowing the owner to support his family without having to venture out to hunt zombies.
Jixiangzhai sold thirteen famous delicacies from old Beijing: Doumian cake, Ai Wowo, sugar-coated fruits, ginger strips with fried dough, Sugar Ears, noodle tea, fried dough twists, Sachima, crispy rings, sugar fire cakes, pea flour cakes, and bean paste pancakes. However, due to limited ingredients, several items could not be made. Currently, they only sold Ai Wowo, Sugar Ears, noodle tea, fried dough twists, Sachima, sugar fire cakes, pea flour cakes, and bean paste pancakes. Bai Tang ordered two plates of each item and specifically ordered a skewer of candied hawthorn for each of the three adults out of a mischievous desire to see their reactions while eating it. However, in this post-apocalyptic world where food was precious, no one cared whether it was meant for children or adults; they all eagerly grabbed the candied hawthorn and took big bites until only bamboo skewers remained.
Among these dishes, Bai Tang's favorites were Ai Wowo, noodle tea, and sugar fire cakes. Ai Wowo is made from glutinous rice that is washed and soaked before being steamed in a bamboo basket. After cooling down and being kneaded together, it is shaped into round discs filled with peach kernels, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, green plums, golden cake pieces, and sugar. In Li Guangting's book "Rural Proverbs Explained" from the Qing Dynasty mentions an emperor who loved this dish so much that when he wanted it he would command: "Imperial Ai Wowo." Later this food spread among commoners who could not dare use the word "imperial," so they simply called it Ai Wowo. Ai Wowo has a long history; Liu Ruoyu's "Notes on Drinking" from the Ming Dynasty states: "Using glutinous rice with sesame as a cold cake and filling it makes it a wowo; this is what ancient 'not falling apart' refers to."
Sugar fire cakes are baked goods with added sugar while noodle tea is made from rice flour mixed with sesame paste, fragrant oil, Sichuan peppercorns, and salt. Noodle tea is typically sold in Beijing during the afternoon. There is a poem that goes: "Awakening from midday dreams with hot noodle tea; dried ginger and sesame paste must be added." Noodle tea resembles the method of making oil tea in S Province; an appropriate amount of rice flour is poured into a pot and mixed with cold water to form a batter which is then heated while constantly stirring. When the noodle tea becomes thick enough to pour easily from the pot, it can be removed from heat. Finally, sesame paste is poured over the noodle tea in a bowl followed by a sprinkle of Sichuan pepper salt—this completes an authentic bowl of old Beijing-style noodle tea.
Tang Minglang sipped his noodle tea but missed oil tea: "It's a pity there’s no oil tea sold at S Province Base!"
"Aren't you living in your Tang Family Fortress? When did you run off to S Province Base?" Bai Tang asked while holding an Ai Wowo.
"Now that all sects have emerged from hiding, how could our Tang family remain an exception? If we don’t step out soon enough not only will our talented disciples lose resources to other sects but our status and reputation will also fall behind those who have already emerged," Tang Minglang pointed at Yuan Mingyi. "Their Dongshan Sect came out earlier than our Tang Family Fortress!"
Yuan Mingyi smiled and said: "It's not that we wanted to emerge first; it's because of Uncle Chu's request."
It is well known that Chu Wencong works for the government; he certainly considers both sides.
"With Uncle Chu's connections, our Dongshan Sect quickly established itself at the base." Although there were few members in Dongshan Sect, each one was an elite capable of extraordinary abilities; naturally the base would do its best to recruit them. Especially after noticing that they had adopted so many children, the base leaders had an even better impression of Dongshan Sect. What are children? In the apocalypse they are burdens but also hope. Dongshan Sect does not fear burdens; they provide hope for humanity—a quality worthy of respect.
"Bai Tang, don't you have a follower? Why haven't I seen him?" Yuan Mingyi asked curiously about Karen after hearing about him from Tian Yuan.
Bai Tang pouted: "He went off to date."
Tian Yanran asked in confusion, "Isn't he your boyfriend?"
Bai Tang rolled her eyes, "Don't listen to your cousin's nonsense. Karen Adrian and I are just simple companions. Now that there are women pursuing him, I don't want to ruin their fate."
Yuan Mingyi replied, "Although you speak with righteous indignation, why do I feel a hint of jealousy in your tone?"
"You have a hearing problem!" Bai Tang said expressionlessly. "He and I are from two different worlds; we could never be a couple."
Perhaps she had once fantasized about being with Karen Adrian, just like Oscar and Andre in "Versailles Rose." Unfortunately, Karen Adrian's reaction told her she was dreaming. The plot could only exist in fiction; she wasn't some universally adored treasure, and saving a handsome guy wouldn't make him fall for her. For so long, she had tested the waters, but the results were always disappointing. "Since you have no feelings for me, I'll let it go," she thought. Bai Tang had her own pride; she didn't need this man (even though he was the only one she had ever truly cared about). With her abilities and longevity far surpassing that of ordinary people, and the ability to traverse multiple worlds, if she truly sought love, she could surely find a better man than him! Hmph, with such great conditions, why hang herself on one tree?
"Are you really not a couple?" Yuan Mingyi still seemed skeptical.
Bai Tang grew impatient. "I told you many times already—no, we are not!"
Yuan Mingyi chuckled awkwardly and changed the subject. "If you're not a couple, then fine. By the way, I heard you took on a disciple who even has a grand-student now. I heard they are very powerful. When will you introduce them to us?"
"They're currently on a mission. Come over to my house for dinner tonight; I'll introduce them to you!" With the change of topic, Bai Tang's mood improved a bit.
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