Mo Yuan, Bai Qian, Ye Hua

Part 39

Wedding Preparations. Part 3.

Much of the final week was focused in and around Kunlun Mountain.   Large areas of the lower valleys were prepared for the tents that would house their numerous guests, that numbered in the hundreds,  and though The Ghost Clan was forbidden, Bai Qian insisted an invitation be sent to Yan Zhi, though she had politely declined.  Though Bai Qian understood, she was hurt, the Princess had been a friend, one of the few female friends she had, and she desperately wanted to match make between her and Zhi Lan.  She knew how much in love they were with each other, and it was probably the only chance she would get to make it happen for them.

The Disciples were also kept busy with the large amount of produce that would be needed, though much of it came from Qing Qiu.  Hunters had already been sent out for the meat in the Far North, and fresh fruit of all kinds, fish and shellfish were gathered from the West Sea.   

It was during the preparation of the food that Cheng Bao entered with Chang Shans Urn.  Placing it on the shelf so he could also participate in the menu preparations, the Disciples stopped in their tracks.  They had all been drinking Zhe Yans wine, so filling their cups, they raised it up at his urn and drank heartily.  There was no sadness, only remembrance for the disciple whose sole duty was cooking and catering, and had he still been alive, the wedding would have been his most successful function to date.

"Ho Chang Shan."  Zhi Lan called out into the air above him.  "What do you think of my pastries?" he asked out loud, while holding up a sad looking pastry cup that would be best given to Mo Yuans Cranes than placed on a wedding table. 

Looking at him,  his seniors took in his forlorn pastry attempt and suddenly the whole kitchen erupted into laughter.  "Be very thankful he is not here." yelled Die Feng.  "He would skin you alive if he saw that." as the laughter continued.

"Talking of skins." called out Huan Gui.  "Don't throw them out." he reminded them, as he placed a large platter of beautifully crafted Lotus Flowers he had made from the skins of the fruit.  Then spraying his creations with a mixture of lemon, salt and rosemary, he placed them in the cooler boxes for safe keeping.  They would in a few days colour slightly which would give the hue of the Lotus Flowers a more realistic coloring.

Just arrived were fine china clam bowls and matching plates from the East Sea, as well as solid silver handled ivory chopsticks, that would accompany the seafood course of Clams, Halibut, Trout, Sea Bass, Salmon, Lobster and Crayfish entrees.  

The main menu would consist of Pork, Venison, Chicken, Lamb, Beef, rice dishes, spring rolls, noodle dishes, and multitudes of salads and vegetables, served on fine china Dragon boat platters.

The desserts would consist of a selection of tart pies, jellies, custards, cakes, sweet soups, sago, fried rice creams, sweet red bean soup and sweet buns, biscuits and a large variety of fruit platters.

Also being created was a giant ice sculpture that was a gift from the snow clans of the south.  The base of the sculpture was 25 cubic meters squared and the sculpture itself was a replica of  Kunlun Mountains Grand Hall,  its archways and nearby Lotus Pond which would hold several of Huan Guis Lotus Flower creations.  And to top it off, A Dragon and his Fox will Rest across the highest pinnacle of the Grand Hall.   It would be truly magnificent and a sculpture will go down in memory as the finest ever to be created.  It would also be the center piece of the food tables, which will be seen by all.

The final preparation for the dinner was the placement of the guests which was Die Fengs task and it was causing him a major headache.  With so many high ranking guests, he would no doubt offend many of them, but being such a small area, he was struggling with it.  In the end, he brought in his friend Bai Zhen to help him.