Shennong's Five Grains

After a long silence, Bai Suzhen said, "Zoo Director, I can admit you're the best, but this name is really too..."

Xiao Qing: "Tacky. Change the name."

Duan Jiaze: "..."

Did he even want this name?!

Seeing that Luya and Yousu were about to start fighting, he had stepped up to take the fall. It was bad enough that these people didn't praise him for his quick thinking, but they actually called him tacky.

Yousu said regretfully, "Zoo Director, you should really reconsider."

Luya: "Jiajia?"

He let out a derisive laugh.

How could he tolerate this? How could a narcissist like Luya have the nerve to laugh at him? The Zoo Director had a temper too!

Duan Jiaze slammed his hand on the table, "I don't care! I'm not changing it, I'm not changing it! It's going to be Jiajia!"

Duan Jiaze, who had been feeling a bit ashamed and hesitant, was now enraged. With the authority of the Zoo Director, he made the final decision, not to be altered.

Everyone else looked at Duan Jiaze with complicated expressions, as if they were looking at a headstrong and benighted ruler.

Yousu said languidly, "I don't know why, but this scene feels a bit familiar."

Duan Jiaze: "..."

......

Duan Jiaze said weakly, "No more talk about the name. This director has already decided. Now let's make arrangements. We only have one room left, so before the new dormitory building is finished, one comrade might have to sleep in an exhibit hall."

As soon as Duan Jiaze finished speaking, he saw everyone reveal a mysterious smile.

Perhaps people like Zhu Feng and Jingwei could wander around outside at night and didn't need a room at all, but that was a different matter from not being assigned one. They were all personages of status; who would go sleep in an exhibit hall?

Duan Jiaze: "Uh... then which two will sleep together?"

As he spoke, he looked towards Bai Suzhen and Xiao Qing.

Xiao Qing: "Zoo Director, don't look at me. I'm a boy now, I can't sleep with my sister."

Duan Jiaze: "..."

Duan Jiaze then looked at Yousu.

Yousu cupped her cute face and said, "Zoo Director, the current room is already small enough."

She had an expression that said, 'I'm already being so considerate by not making you build a Deer Terrace, do you have the heart to make me squeeze in with someone else?'

Duan Jiaze: "..."

Looking around, none of these people were easy to talk to, especially Luya. He didn't even dare to ask him. He could only bully the little bear. Duan Jiaze put his arm around Xiong Siqian, "Little Xiong, I'll squeeze in with you for this period."

Xiong Siqian wanted to refuse, but Duan Jiaze was under Luya's protection, so he didn't dare to refuse either. At least he wasn't being kicked out to sleep in an exhibit hall, and it was the Zoo Director squeezing in with him. So, he nodded aggrievedly.

It really wasn't easy to provide for a bunch of great deities.

Duan Jiaze packed some daily necessities, took them to Xiong Siqian's room, and vacated his own.

After washing up, Duan Jiaze lay on the bed playing with his phone. A while later, Xiong Siqian also came up, and Duan Jiaze immediately felt the whole bed sink.

Although the bed in Xiong Siqian's room was a double bed, Xiong Siqian alone could take up the space of two people. The moment he lay down, Duan Jiaze suddenly felt like he couldn't breathe and could fall off at any moment.

If it weren't for Xiao Qing's history of changing genders back and forth, and Duan Jiaze not wanting things to be awkward in the future, he would have gone to squeeze in with Xiao Qing...

Right now, Duan Jiaze felt a faint regret. "Can you conjure up another bed?"

"Of course." Xiong Siqian's magical arts were quite well-practiced. He pointed a finger, and a single bed sprouted out of thin air in an empty space nearby, like a mushroom.

Duan Jiaze breathed a sigh of relief, went over to lie down, and fell asleep without realizing it.

"His words frightened me into a cold sweat, I turn and blame myself for this mistake..."

Duan Jiaze was suddenly awakened by the sound of Xiong Siqian singing "Catching and Releasing Cao Cao." He felt like his mind was about to collapse. He saw that Xiong Siqian was wearing headphones, singing along with the old male role in the video, deeply immersed.

Duan Jiaze: "..."

He checked his phone; it was already past one in the morning. But this meant nothing to Xiong Siqian; it wouldn't matter if he didn't sleep for a few days.

Duan Jiaze thought it over, then picked up his blanket and sat up. This was Xiong Siqian's only hobby, and he couldn't sing during the day. 'Forget it,' he thought, 'I'll just go sleep in an exhibit hall myself. I've long been envious of how well the animals live anyway. I'm not like these people with their strange mentalities.'

Duan Jiaze walked out with his blanket. Xiong Siqian was still immersed in the world of opera and paid him no mind.

Cold moonlight spilled over the entire Lingyou Zoo, bringing a faint glimmer to the darkness.

Just as Duan Jiaze was about to turn on his phone's flashlight, he saw the door to Luya's room at one end suddenly open by itself, revealing a brightly lit room. Then came Luya's voice, even colder than the moonlight: "Come in."

Duan Jiaze hesitated for a moment. Feeling his drowsiness grow stronger, he looked at the dark exhibit hall, then walked over to Luya's room, clutching his blanket.

Luya was sitting on his bed watching TV. When Duan Jiaze came in, he didn't even raise his eyes, as if the person wasn't there.

But Duan Jiaze could see that in Luya's room, which originally only had one bed, another bed had appeared. He smiled sheepishly, "Thank you, Daoist Lord."

Luya didn't make a sound, still maintaining that somewhat passive-aggressive demeanor.

However, Duan Jiaze felt he wasn't as deserving of a beating as he had been many times before. Although the Daoist Lord had a sharp tongue, he was actually quite kind-hearted (Xiong Siqian would want to beat someone up if he heard this).

Duan Jiaze climbed onto the bed next to Luya's with his blanket. Because the rooms weren't large, the two beds were less than two meters apart. The volume of Luya's TV was low. Lying in bed, Duan Jiaze drowsily said to Luya, "Thank you, Daoist Lord," and fell asleep.

......

What does it mean to suffer for the sake of face? Duan Jiaze had now profoundly experienced it.

Huang Qi: "...Wh-what?"

He looked at Duan Jiaze strangely.

Duan Jiaze's head was almost buried in his chest. "It's-it's just, we're preparing to open a restaurant called 'Jiajia'..."

Huang Qi said gravely, "Is it... the 'Jia' from Duan Jiaze?"

Duan Jiaze: "...............Yes."

To be fair, the four words "Jiajia Restaurant" weren't that terrible, just a bit tacky, but it was catchy and easy to remember. Besides, their biggest brand was Lingyou; the restaurant was just an add-on. They would rely on the zoo to attract customers to the restaurant, not use the restaurant to attract people to the zoo.

As a native of the Human Realm, Huang Qi wasn't as picky as Luya and the others. On the contrary, he thought the name was very down-to-earth.

However, when he learned that the name came from their Zoo Director's name, he was at a loss for words.

'To be honest, the Zoo Director doesn't seem like that kind of person...'

Duan Jiaze's face was already red. He covered his eyes with his hand, "Stop looking at me! It's all Luya's fault!"

Huang Qi looked at Duan Jiaze with some pity. That made sense. This was a name Luya came up with using his usual way of addressing the Zoo Director, and the Zoo Director actually used it...

Huang Qi suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. Thinking back on past details, he suddenly felt that Xiao Su's idea might have some merit.

Duan Jiaze didn't notice what Huang Qi was thinking and quickly changed the subject: "The Aquarium can be completed next month. Go and contact someone about importing freshwater ornamental fish. Also, about recruiting professional veterinarians, the headhunting company sent over a few resumes. You can help me interview them."

Huang Qi nodded, "Rest assured, Zoo Director."

Duan Jiaze thought to himself that he still needed to recruit more employees like Huang Qi who could handle things on their own, but that was easier said than done. Huang Qi had been an accidental find who stumbled upon them himself.

Perhaps only when Lingyou expanded further could it attract such talent. Duan Jiaze felt it might be better to train Liu Bin and the others.

......

Duan Jiaze went to handle the paperwork while having Liu Bin contact a construction team, proceeding with both simultaneously because he was quite confident there would be no issues with the paperwork.

With the help of Linshui Temple and Sun Aiping, Duan Jiaze's dealings with the relevant departments had always been smooth. After the religious exchange forum last time, things went even more smoothly. From top to bottom, no department would give him trouble. He made several trips to the city and successively completed the procedures for increasing the building area, the restaurant's needs, and so on.

In addition, he had to go to Tongxin Village and a few other villages to lease land. This was also very simple. This kind of land transfer was actually very popular. The farmers in the village each had so little land, and many were more willing to go to the city to work. Concentrating the land for a single entity to plant was actually better for everyone.

Duan Jiaze also took the opportunity to discuss the supply of vegetables, fruits, and meat. After his restaurant opened, he would need other food. Duan Jiaze had been buying vegetables and fruits from the families here and felt the quality was very good. Being close also meant they were fresh, so he immediately thought of them.

Finally, Duan Jiaze negotiated with the village and contracted a nearby barren mountain. It didn't matter that the land wasn't fertile; irrigate it with Willow Branch Nectar, and it would immediately become fertile soil.

He first found a time after work to have Xiong Siqian come over. They test-planted a few acres of the Five Grains, using a higher concentration of Willow Branch Nectar. They sprouted in a short while and were harvested immediately.

Duan Jiaze planned to take these Five Grains back for a taste test and also to use when hiring a chef.

As the wheatgrass grew, Duan Jiaze cut it several times. It would grow back in an instant. He filled a basket to take back with him.

When he returned, the construction team Liu Bin had arranged had also arrived and were currently negotiating with Zhu Feng with expressions of doubt.

Liu Bin was also a bit embarrassed. He wasn't a professional and couldn't understand their conversation. The Zoo Director had instructed him that these construction teams should listen to this Mr. Zhu on how to build the houses, and that Mr. Zhu would come to supervise the work every day after he got off work.

But the construction team seemed to have some questions about Mr. Zhu's words, saying he was being mystical and superstitious.

Seeing Duan Jiaze return, Liu Bin also breathed a sigh of relief and asked for Duan Jiaze's opinion.

"Listen to Mr. Zhu. You tell them that we will bear any consequences. They just need to do as they're told," Duan Jiaze said very calmly. When it came to building houses, if he couldn't even trust the Lord of the Blazing Star, who else could he trust?

"Oh, okay." Liu Bin saw Duan Jiaze carrying a basket of wheatgrass and that Big Brother Xiong was holding a bag of rice. He asked curiously, "Zoo Director, what's this for?"

"To test dishes for the new restaurant. I'll make it for you guys to eat tomorrow," Duan Jiaze said. "Alright, you can leave things here to Mr. Zhu. You should get off work soon. You've worked hard these past few days."

......

The next morning, as it was nearing closing time, Duan Jiaze went to the kitchen and took out the wheatgrass and the few bags of Five Grains, preparing for a taste test.

After the monks arrived, there were more hands and more people to feed. The original cook, Xu Chenggong, was replaced by two monks. They both used a large iron wok to cook, otherwise it would be impossible to feed several dozen people.

The two monks' secular names were Liu Xi and Yan Zhen. Yan Zhen was the young monk who had attended New Oriental. They knew that Duan Jiaze also frequently appeared in the kitchen to cook special meals for his friend. However, in the past, he mostly made meat dishes; they had never seen him make whole grains.

"This grain smells so fragrant!" Liu Xi grew up in the countryside and used to run all over the fields as a child. He could tell it was excellent with just one sniff. Looking closer, every grain was plump. The rice even had a crystal-clear, lustrous feel. He didn't know what variety it was.

Yan Zhen, on the other hand, didn't feel much. Wasn't it just the smell of grain? He did think the wheatgrass looked pretty good, though.

Duan Jiaze smiled without a word, feeling a little expectant himself. He used a cup to measure out the Five Grains in proportion, mixed them together, and soaked them for a few minutes. The lustrous white rice, orange-yellow foxtail millet, golden millet, light-brown wheat, and plump soybeans mixed together. The color combination was pleasing to the eye. There wasn't a single bad or flat one among them, as if they had been specially selected.

The so-called Five Grains, called "rice, broomcorn millet, foxtail millet, wheat, and soybean" in ancient times, corresponded to these five foods. They were selected from various wild grasses by Shennong, who taught the Human Race to cultivate them. They have been the staple food of the Human Race for thousands of years since.

Modern humans most commonly consume rice, wheat, and beans, and have cultivated various varieties. For example, with rice, there's japonica and indica; some have a soft and chewy texture, while others are loose and not sticky, and they also vary in shape and color.

As for these ones planted by Shennong, Duan Jiaze didn't know what variety they were or what they would taste like. He secretly called them Shennong Rice, Shennong Beans, and so on in his heart.

After rinsing, he put them into a rice cooker, added more water, and started making porridge.

While the porridge was cooking, Duan Jiaze washed the wheatgrass. Although it had been set aside for a night, it was still fresh and dewy, as if it had just been cut from the field.

After chopping the wheatgrass, he put it into a blender, added some plain water, hesitated for a moment, then cut a slice of lemon and put it in as well, and started blending. The wheatgrass and lemon were ground together, turning into a very tempting green color.

It was a pity he didn't have a soy milk maker. Duan Jiaze originally wanted to make soy milk, which tasted better.

After juicing the wheat, Duan Jiaze filtered out the pulp, put the juice into a glass bottle, poured a glass, and took a sip.

The taste of fresh green grass filled his mouth. It was very sweet yet refreshing, with a hint of lemon's tartness. The smooth juice contained fine fibers, but it wasn't coarse at all.

In reality, wheatgrass juice without fruit is quite average. Duan Jiaze had only added a slice of lemon, but it had a unique fresh fragrance, both sweet and delicate, no worse than many drinks Duan Jiaze had tried, and even more flavorful.

......

The employees of Lingyou sat in the restaurant converted from an unused exhibit hall, waiting for lunch. As the number of tourists gradually increased, they had to adopt a system of eating in shifts. Right now, they were all discussing the construction of the new buildings in the zoo, as it was directly related to them.

It was said that an office building, a dormitory, and a restaurant were to be built. Needless to say about the office building, according to Huang Qi, the dormitory would be provided for employees to live in, for just a symbolic amount of rent and utility fees. The restaurant would also have employee meals.

"The Zoo Director is so generous, all the exhibit halls are so high-end, and the animals eat especially well. Do you think he'll hire some super awesome chefs? We'll be in for a treat then!"

Someone else said gloomily, "Who can be sure what state the Zoo Director will be in? Don't just think about how well the animals live, take a look at the old office building."

"..."

That was also true. The Zoo Director's state was really unstable, generous one moment and stingy the next.

Liu Bin said, "I got off work late yesterday and saw the Zoo Director bring back some ingredients. He said they were for the restaurant to sell, and he was going to test-cook them today..."

As Liu Bin was speaking, he saw Duan Jiaze walk in with a glass bottle. "Hey, here he comes."

Duan Jiaze placed the glass bottle on the table and said, "Wheatgrass juice."

The crowd stared at the bottle of wheatgrass juice. A strange silence fell. After all, what Liu Bin had just said made them think Duan Jiaze had brought back some signature specialty dish. They didn't expect it to be just wheatgrass juice.

But after a moment, everyone still poured a little to try. Many had drunk wheatgrass juice before and drank it without hesitation. Then, a chorus of exclamations arose.

"...What fruit did you add? It's so sweet and refreshing, the texture is so different."

"So fragrant, it's really so fragrant!"

"Zoo Director, what kind of blender did you use? Even my vacuum blender can't produce this texture."

"Did you add honey? It doesn't taste like that either. My god, this is delicious!"

"I don't know why but I feel so comfortable wherever the wheatgrass juice flows TAT. My stomach was feeling a bit upset today."

The employees and volunteers, who were still feeling a bit awkward, were conquered in an instant. Because there were many of them, each person only got a little from the bottle. Now they felt it wasn't enough and asked Duan Jiaze if there was more.

"There are still some ingredients left. Someone come and help me juice them, and while you're at it, bring over the five-grain porridge I made," Duan Jiaze said.

Xiao Su stood up very enthusiastically, "I'll go! Wow, the Zoo Director has even prepared natural, healthy food. Not bad, it suits our place very well."

......

Yan Zhen and Liu Xi had dishes simmering in the large wok, but they themselves were squatting next to the rice cooker, drooling profusely.

"How come the Zoo Director's porridge smells so strangely fragrant? When you said it was fragrant before, I didn't feel it much, but now that it's cooking, I feel it's really too tempting." It was already close to noon, and Yan Zhen could only feel his stomach rumbling.

It was the aroma of grains, but it was more enticing than ordinary grains, whetting their appetites. Nothing else was added, it was purely their own flavor, yet it surpassed itself. A pot of dishes with various seasonings was emitting its fragrance right next to them, but they couldn't help but squat here waiting for the porridge.

Liu Xi also swallowed hard. He hadn't expected the grains to become even more fragrant when cooked. Where on earth did the Zoo Director get his grain?

This was just them cooked together into porridge. If they were made into rice, bread, pastries, or stir-fried dishes... what would that taste like? Liu Xi couldn't help but wipe the non-existent saliva from his chin.

Duan Jiaze came in with Xiao Su and took a look. "Hey, another ten minutes of cooking and it'll be done. We just finished juicing all the wheatgrass over here."

Xiao Su also smelled the unique fragrance of grain faintly wafting from the rice cooker. "My god, I'm starving!"

This porridge reminded her of the bamboo shoots in the zoo. They looked like ordinary bamboo shoots and tasted like bamboo shoots, but that flavor was simply brought to an extreme she had never tasted before.

After the two of them finished juicing the remaining wheatgrass, the five-grain porridge was also about done. Duan Jiaze opened the rice cooker. Amidst the billowing steam, a pot of porridge, mainly jade-white and pale yellow, appeared before their eyes. The colors were saturated, the grains were plump, and it was quite thick, looking as if a filter had been applied.

The rich aroma was fully released. Duan Jiaze heard the stomachs of four people rumble "gugu" at the same time.

"I'll have a few bites first to tide me over..." Duan Jiaze muttered. He really couldn't wait to take the whole pot to the canteen. The four people busy in the kitchen each served themselves a small bowl and eagerly began to taste it.

Duan Jiaze blew on it to cool it down a bit and scooped a spoonful into his mouth. He felt the texture was sticky and smooth, without the slightest hint of coarseness. The five grains were mixed together, yet each was distinct. It was extremely easy to chew, and the aroma of the grain spread in his mouth, rich but not greasy, with a natural sweetness and fresh fragrance that awakened the most primal hunger.

Swallowing it, it slid down his throat, and he could almost feel it warming his stomach, satisfying his body.

Duan Jiaze had never thought that plain grains without any additions could be so delicious, so satisfying. This was no longer the ancient era where there was nothing good to eat.

Duan Jiaze: "I really... know nothing about Shennong!"

He was utterly convinced. In the face of Shennong's Five Grains, what did a tacky restaurant name even matter?