Around the stove they gathered to cook and cheer; a hundred flavors melted in the little pot.
Li Ping'an picked up a few slices of lamb, dipped them in sesame paste, and ate them with relish.
Grasshopper's dipping sauce was simply sesame oil and minced garlic.
"Zi Fang, do you think the Turtle God here is a legitimate deity?"
Zi Fang said, "There are many gods like this within Great Sui. When Great Sui's national strength was at its height,
"Whether mountain gods or river gods, they all needed official recognition before they could attain divine status."
Li Ping'an picked up several more slices of lamb.
Zi Fang continued, "But now that Great Sui has weakened, there are more of these illegitimate gods.
"Great Sui lacks the power to govern them, so as long as they don't cause too much trouble, it leaves them be."
Li Ping'an nodded in agreement and fished out another heaping chopstickful.
Zi Fang said, "In some places, they have indeed benefited the people, but some have lost all restraint. As time passes, they start doing things that cross the line."
"Exactly! You hit the nail right on the head."
Li Ping'an stuffed the meat on his plate into his mouth.
Hearing Li Ping'an's praise,
Zi Fang's face lit up, and he immediately launched into an endless stream of words.
Li Ping'an nodded and voiced his agreement while he and Grasshopper waved their chopsticks, fishing about in the copper pot without pause.
Zi Fang poured out all his views in one go.
Seeing how heartily Li Ping'an and the others were eating,
he felt hungry himself and was just about to eat something.
He looked down into the pot.
(⊙o⊙)...
"Where did those big plates of meat go?"
With their bellies full of food and