Chapter 363: Chapter 363: Gastrodia Stewed Chicken

Cao Xianjun had contracted four gullies in Medicine King Valley and developed over 3,300 acres of forest land. Following the natural contours of the slopes, he planted more than three hundred types of herbs, turning the area into a vital base for the Taibai Seven Herbs.

Panlong Seven was a particular specialty here, and all of it was fully matured.

Cao Xianjun enthusiastically invited the two to a log cabin in the woods on the hillside. "Don’t bother picking the herbs yourselves. I have ready-made Panlong Seven Tablets from Panlong Pharmaceutical right here. You can just take these!"

Wang Baimu looked at Li Xu, a question in his eyes.

After all, the purpose of this trip was to gather herbs, so it was only natural to respect Li Xu’s opinion.

Li Xu shook his head slightly and politely declined, "Teacher Cao, thank you for your kind offer. It’s just that the formula I’ve concocted is slightly different from the Panlong Seven Tablets on the market, and its effects might be a bit better. So, I’ll still have to trouble you to prepare some herbs for me according to my list."

Upon hearing this, Cao Xianjun’s brow twitched almost imperceptibly.

He had been toiling in Medicine King Valley for decades, during which time he had seen countless herb gatherers and traditional Chinese medicine experts. He had also heard of all sorts of secret formulas and folk remedies.

The Panlong Seven Tablets on the market were a classic formula, refined countless times, with a universally acclaimed efficacy. ’And this young man claims his own concoction is more effective?’

Although he was inwardly dismissive, he maintained a friendly smile. "Oh? Is Doctor Li truly that confident? Very well, just tell me what you need. If I have it here, I won’t be stingy."

Li Xu didn’t bother explaining. He took out a pen and paper from his bag and, with a few quick strokes, jotted down a list of herbs: Panlong Seven, Red Flower, myrrh, Bamboo Root Seven, valerian, Shenjin Grass, Achyranthes bidentata, Danshen... These were the core ingredients of his optimized Panlong Seven Tablets formula.

Of course, he didn’t write down the specific quantities.

The formula was top secret and could not be leaked.

Cao Xianjun took the list and glanced over it.

The ingredients differed somewhat from the Panlong Seven Tablets formula he was familiar with, and the quantities, in particular, seemed very deliberate.

However, he remained unconvinced, merely nodding. "Alright, no problem. I have all these herbs here, and they’re all top-quality."

He led Li Xu and Wang Baimu to the herb storeroom.

As soon as they entered, a rich aroma of herbs washed over them. All sorts of medicinal ingredients were piled high, sorted by category, neat and orderly.

Cao Xianjun pointed to a pile of tuberous roots and announced proudly, "This is our Medicine King Valley’s Panlong Seven. They’re all old roots, grown for over five years. See? This rhizome is as big as a piece of ginger, and it’s all coiled up. Doesn’t it look like a lurking dragon? These are premium-grade specimens I harvested and set aside. They’re incredibly potent."

Li Xu took a piece of Panlong Seven and observed it carefully.

Sure enough, the rhizome was thick and sturdy, its surface covered in fine lines. It felt heavy in his hand and emitted a unique herbal aroma.

He nodded in satisfaction, then checked the other herbs one by one.

Cao Xianjun was also efficient, preparing the herbs according to the quantities on the list without hesitation.

Once the herbs were ready, Cao Xianjun warmly invited the two to stay for a meal. "Old Wang, Doctor Li, these mountain roads are treacherous. You crossed two mountains to get here from the village. It’s already afternoon—you must not have had lunch yet, right? If you head back now, it’ll be dark by the time you reach the village. Why don’t you just stay the night? We can have a proper drink together."

Wang Baimu glanced at the sky. He realized that if they headed back now, they would likely be traveling in the dark.

After asking for Li Xu’s opinion, he readily agreed.

He took out his phone, called his wife, and told her he wouldn’t be coming home that night.

"Perfect, I’ve got something good right here."

As he spoke, Wang Baimu took a wild pheasant he had caught that morning from a cloth bag and handed it to Cao Xianjun. "Old Cao, take a look. This mountain fowl is as wild as they come. Let’s have ourselves a feast tonight."

Cao Xianjun’s eyes lit up. He took the pheasant, weighed it in his hands, and exclaimed in pleasant surprise, "Well now, this is one plump bird! Perfect. I have some top-quality Gastrodia here. We’ll make Gastrodia-stewed chicken and give you two a real nourishing meal."

Gastrodia-stewed chicken was a long-renowned nourishing delicacy in the Qinling region.

Gastrodia’s properties are sweet and neutral. It enters the liver meridian and is effective at calming internal wind to stop spasms, pacifying the liver to subdue yang, and dispelling wind to clear the collaterals. It is an excellent remedy for dizziness, vertigo, numbness in the limbs, and rheumatic pain.

When stewed with nourishing mountain fowl, it not only enhances the tonic effect of the medicated dish but also allows Gastrodia’s properties to permeate the meat. This creates a perfect fusion of food and medicine where each enhances the other.

Cao Xianjun’s wife helped out at his side, quickly cleaning and preparing the pheasant until it was spotless.

Cao Xianjun took charge of the cooking himself. He placed the chopped pheasant into a clay pot, added water, and brought it to a boil over high heat before skimming off the foam. Then, he added sliced Gastrodia, chunks of ginger, red dates, and other ingredients before turning the heat down to low for a slow simmer.

The clay pot bubbled away on the stove, steam swirling in the air. The combined aroma of herbs and chicken gradually filled the room, whetting their appetites.

After simmering for more than an hour, the chicken became so tender it was falling off the bone. The medicinal properties of the Gastrodia had fully infused into the broth, which had turned a milky white yet remained crystal clear.

"Come, come, Doctor Li, Old Wang, try this Gastrodia-stewed chicken."

Cao Xianjun ladled out two large bowls of the broth, added a few pieces of chicken to each, and urged them on enthusiastically.

Li Xu took a sip. The chicken broth was rich and savory, with the faint, clean fragrance of Gastrodia. It was smooth on the palate, warming his stomach and his entire body.

The chicken was so tender that it separated from the bone with the slightest pressure. The meat itself was firm, with a distinctly wild flavor.

He couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration, "Teacher Cao, your cooking skills are incredible. This soup isn’t just delicious—it makes my whole body feel relaxed."

Wang Baimu also ate with great relish, nodding repeatedly. "This is the stuff. Gastrodia-stewed chicken is best in the winter. It wards off the cold, warms you up, and even replenishes your qi."

In addition to the Gastrodia-stewed chicken, Cao Xianjun also brought out several authentic farmhouse side dishes. They were all made with vegetables grown and wild delicacies foraged in Medicine King Valley, and their flavors were simple yet rich.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Cao Xianjun brought out his homemade medicinal wine.

This wine was infused with various herbs unique to the Qinling Mountains. It was the color of amber and gave off a rich, medicinal aroma.

The three of them exchanged toasts, chatting about interesting tales from the mountains and the cultivation of medicinal herbs, especially the Gastrodia-stewed chicken they had just enjoyed.

"Although we produce Gastrodia here, it’s not as good as the kind from Sichuan."

"Back in the last century, when Nixon visited China, one of the dishes at the state banquet was Gastrodia-stewed chicken. It was meticulously prepared using premium-grade wild Gastrodia."

"During the banquet, Nixon couldn’t stop praising the dish. He even joked, ’It’s so delicious, I’m tempted to eat the steam pot it was cooked in!’"

"One of our great leaders said: ’I believe that Dragon Country cuisine and traditional Chinese medicine are two of this country’s greatest contributions to the world.’"

"Ever since then, Dragon Country’s Gastrodia has been famous all over the world."

Li Xu nodded. He knew the story as well.

And as Cao Xianjun had said, it was true that Gastrodia from Sichuan was more famous.

This was mainly determined by Gastrodia’s growing habits.

Gastrodia thrives in cool, humid environments and is sensitive to frost, drought, high temperatures, and standing water.

Although Medicine King Valley was cool and didn’t suffer from standing water, its location on the northern slopes of the Qinling Mountains made the winters too cold for the herb to survive easily.

Sichuan, on the other hand, was indeed warm and humid. Its high mountain areas were also quite cool, and it received more rainfall. Free from frost and drought, it was the ideal environment for Gastrodia to grow.