Chapter 19: A Feast of Earthly Delicacies—The Complete Matsutake Banquet
When Lin Shenlu returned to the inn with An Muxi, the young woman at the front desk was busy with her work while Gu Moning, rubbing her sleepy face, cradled Xuxu as she had just come downstairs.
“Where have you two been?” Gu Moning asked curiously.
An Muxi and Lin Shenlu glanced at each other and shared a smile.
“We went around Erhai Lake,” Lin Shenlu replied with a grin.
“Hey, you two are so romantic…” Gu Moning laughed, paused, and then looked mischievously at Lin Shenlu. “You’re pretty fast, though. Most people take a day or two to circle the lake, but you’re back before noon. A seasoned driver racing ahead, huh?”
“Don’t tease…” Lin Shenlu joked back, “We hurried back to buy matsutake mushrooms with you.”
An Muxi blushed and said softly, “I’ll go upstairs and change clothes first.”
She had gone for a morning run, so there was a light sheen of sweat on her. Without showering, she’d ridden around Erhai Lake. Her clothes had dried in the wind, but the scent still made her uncomfortable.
“Take a bath while you're at it. We’ll be back from shopping soon,” Lin Shenlu said with a smile.
An Muxi nodded gently.
Lin Shenlu remembered the beads of sweat on An Muxi’s cheeks after their morning run, slowly trickling down and gathering at her jaw—drops milky white, almost carrying a sweet fragrance. Lin Shenlu wiped them away with the sleeve of her sweatshirt.
That moment was warm, comforting. She enjoyed it—their conversation and the way they interacted felt so natural, so easy. For a fleeting instant, Lin Shenlu even felt as if she and An Muxi were a couple, truly together. The thought, once born, lingered.
She recalled how An Muxi had nodded obediently when Lin Shenlu suggested she take a bath. It seemed An Muxi was no longer the aloof woman she’d met on the plane. The sense of distance was gradually melting away, and their way of being together grew more pleasant with each day. Surely An Muxi felt the same?
...
Around three in the afternoon, Lin Shenlu and Gu Moning finally returned from outside. Lin Shenlu was in high spirits, carrying a basket of freshly bought matsutake mushrooms. The elderly woman selling them had insisted they were the freshest, and when Lin Shenlu brought them to her nose, their aroma was enchanting.
“Boss Gu, I’ll need the kitchen for a while—when the meal’s ready, we’ll eat together!” Lin Shenlu said, smiling.
“Of course, no problem! I can hardly wait,” Gu Moning replied with a grin.
In her arms, Xuxu piped up in a sweet, childish voice, “Xuxu wants to eat too…”
“What would you like to eat?”
“Eat… eat… eat something delicious…”
...
They had bought far too many matsutake mushrooms. A bold idea formed in Lin Shenlu’s mind: she would prepare a matsutake feast. All the ingredients she’d selected were meant to pair perfectly with the mushrooms.
After washing them, Lin Shenlu began slicing. These were ingredients grown under pine trees more than three thousand meters high in Yunnan—like elves of the forest. Not only highly nutritious, but their unique, rich aroma was intoxicating. The flavor and texture were impossible to cultivate artificially; their rarity made them all the more precious.
Lin Shenlu recalled reading about Yunnan’s matsutake mushrooms. Their flesh was tender and thick, with a texture as smooth and exquisite as abalone. Once cooked, they released a fragrance that blended rose, lavender, and licorice.
As she sliced the mushrooms, Lin Shenlu couldn’t help but secretly salivate.
The first dish!
The traveler Lin Shenlu’s culinary list began with matsutake: the opening course of the feast.
Matsutake sashimi!
In its purest form, showcasing the original flavor of the mushroom, Lin Shenlu sliced the cleaned matsutake into evenly thin slices, served with salt or wasabi—a true delicacy. Fresh and appetizing, matsutake sashimi.
She placed the slices in the fridge for a while to enhance their texture.
The second dish of the matsutake feast—and one Lin Shenlu could scarcely resist making—was butter-seared matsutake. Simple to prepare, needing little seasoning, the natural richness would let anyone taste the gifts of nature.
Looking at her four-millimeter slices, Lin Shenlu began searching for crushed black pepper.
Hmm… she would make a bowl of matsutake rice as well.
And matsutake braised beef.
The fifth dish—matsutake chicken soup!
The sixth—matsutake with dried scallops!
...
Matsutake steamed egg, exquisite!
...
And finally, charcoal-grilled matsutake—the most cherished local method. The intense aroma, coaxed out by the heat, released a mineral fragrance. For those far from nature, a single bite was a treasure.
For two or three hours that afternoon, Lin Shenlu worked in the kitchen, preparing ten dishes for her matsutake banquet. The aroma never ceased.
Many times, Lin Shenlu wanted to sneak a taste, but always restrained herself.
...
“Dinner’s ready!” Lin Shenlu brought out the last dish, the rich matsutake chicken soup. Thankfully, the kitchen’s claypot was large enough; the fragrance filled the hall and astonished the other guests.
The scent of matsutake was everywhere, saturating the entire space. Some guests even wanted to order the same dishes, preferring to try for themselves rather than merely watching others eat. But Chef Lin’s creations were unique—one of a kind.
Lin Shenlu wanted to call An Muxi down for dinner, but realized she still didn’t have her contact information. Going upstairs to call her was inconvenient, so Lin Shenlu went to the front desk, picked up the phone, and dialed An Muxi’s room.
Soon, a lazy voice answered.
“Hmm?”
“It’s me. Time to come down for dinner,” Lin Shenlu’s voice was exceptionally gentle.
She remembered promising An Muxi yesterday that her matsutake dishes were the best. The presentation was perfect—now she hoped the flavors would match.
“All done? I’ll come right down!” An Muxi sounded invigorated, her anticipation clear. The reputation of matsutake was well known, and she hadn’t tasted it yesterday. Tonight’s meal was something she eagerly awaited.
“Alright, hurry down—if it cools, it won’t taste as good…”
...
As evening approached, people wandered the winding S-shaped streets outside. The sunlight slowly faded, a streak of orange-red appeared atop the distant mountains—the sunset was coming.
An Muxi descended the stairs in a beautiful dress, graceful and radiant as she appeared at the staircase. The dress, wrapping her figure, highlighted her elegance and poise.
“Come on, pretty sister! Dinner’s ready!” Xuxu called out, grinning with her spoon in hand.
At that moment, Lin Shenlu’s gaze narrowed to a single line, focused entirely on An Muxi—the center of attention, dazzling, her anticipation rivaling the entire matsutake feast set before them.