Chapter 68 Chicken Coop Town

After getting off the boat, Xu Qing bought a fast horse, asked for the approximate direction, and then rode to Guangzhou on his own.

When he reached land, he breathed a sigh of relief, and his five senses became alert and active again.

He has a good sense of direction. When he went to Juxialou to become a disciple, he knew the general direction and ran there by himself.

Xu Qing walked for nearly a month before he arrived at a small town near Guangzhou called Jiwo Town.

Xu Qing was deeply impressed by the name. In the original work, this place was a nationally famous chicken distribution center, with chicken breeds from all over the country gathered here, as well as the legendary spiritual bird - the black-bone chicken.

There are many types of black-bone chickens, including white-haired black-bone chickens, black-haired black-bone chickens, spotted-haired black-bone chickens, as well as those with white meat and black bones, and those with both black meat and bones. The most precious and rare of them is called the five-black chicken, which has black feathers, black skin, black meat, black bones, and black internal organs, hence the name "five-black".

The five-black chicken is known as the "treasure among chickens". It is not only a precious food ingredient, but also a valuable Chinese medicinal ingredient.

The Five Black Chicken was extremely rare at that time. It was a magical beast that only existed in legends and few people had ever seen it.

Xu Qing came to Jiwo Town just to see the legendary black-bone chicken and kill one to taste it.

Jiwo Town is not small, so Xu Qing simply went to the chicken market and asked the locals about the black-bone chicken.

"Silky chicken? What is that?"

"A chicken that is completely black, even its skin, flesh and internal organs are black? Hahaha, little brother, you are such a joker. There is no such chicken in the world."

"Silky chicken? I've never heard of it. Go away, kid, and don't disturb me while I'm doing business."

"Heiyulou, what is that place? There is no restaurant called Heiyulou in our Jiwo Town."

Xu Qing asked around, but everyone said they didn't know, had never seen it, and that there was no such thing at all.

That’s strange, could it be that the plot has changed?

Xu Qing felt very sorry. It was such a good chicken, but it was a pity that he couldn't eat it anymore.

At this moment, someone suddenly patted his shoulder. A young man stood beside him with a gentle face and a look of surprise. He asked, "Little brother, I heard you are looking for black-bone chicken?"

Xu Qing nodded and said, "Yes, do you know where to find black-bone chicken?"

This question made the young man open up, as if he had been holding these words in his heart for a long time but had never told anyone about them.

The young man said, "I don't know much about it either, but I occasionally heard someone mention that someone in Hubei had seen this legendary magical bird. It is said that its entire body is pitch black, not only its feathers, but also its eyes, comb, claws, and even its internal organs are black. It is like a black spirit, moving freely in the woods. How wonderful it would be if I were lucky enough to see such a magical bird!"

The young man said this with a look of longing on his face.

After he finished speaking, he sighed regretfully, "Jiwo Town is the most famous chicken distribution center in the country. Almost all kinds of chickens from all over the country can be found here. Even rare birds that ordinary people rarely see are raised in the town. This is what the people in the town are most proud of. But unfortunately, there is no legendary spiritual bird here. This is a huge gap that Jiwo Town cannot fill."

Suddenly, someone said, "Because black-bone chickens don't exist. They are just stories made up by the ancients. Kurou, don't always cling to legends. Be realistic. If you desperately pursue something that doesn't exist, you will get nothing in the end."

Hearing this, the enthusiasm on the young man's face faded a lot. He turned around calmly, clasped his fists and said, "Elder Shen."

Xu Qing turned his head and saw a gray-haired old man opposite him. Although his face was old, he was vigorous and energetic, with bright eyes. He was intimidating without being angry, and it was obvious that he had been in a high position for many years. Elder Shen asked, "Kuro, what do you think of my previous proposal?"

The young man named Kurou said helplessly: "Elder, please give me more time."

Elder Shen snorted coldly, "You'd better throw away those unrealistic fantasies of yours as soon as possible. You have great talent and superb skills. You will have no worries about wealth and honor if you follow me in the future. If you are lucky, I can even recommend you to serve in the palace. Chasing after something that does not exist will only waste your talent and the painstaking efforts of Yangquan Restaurant in cultivating you. Think about it carefully."

These words made Ku Rou's body tremble uncontrollably. He had nothing to say and could only bow deeply to hide the resentment on his face.

Seeing him like this, Elder Shen sighed, said no more, and turned away.

When Xu Qing heard Elder Shen call out Ku Rou's name and also heard that he was the chef of Yangquan Restaurant, he was sure that the young man in front of him was the one who bred the five black chickens.

But it seems that he came a little early. Now there is no trace of the Five Black Chickens. Even Kurou himself is not sure whether the Five Black Chickens really exist.

After Elder Shen left, Ku Rou breathed a sigh of relief, patted Xu Qing on the shoulder and said, "Little brother, it's fate that we meet. I'll treat you to a meal. I know a restaurant nearby that tastes really good! I guarantee you'll eat so much that you'll swallow your tongue. By the way, little brother, where did you hear about black-bone chicken?"

As soon as Kurou said a few words, the topic turned back to the black-bone chicken.

Xu Qing muttered to himself, I knew it from you.

Xu Qing could only say vaguely: "I heard it from others..."

Ku Rou asked enthusiastically: "Then tell me in detail what that person said. Is it true that even the internal organs of the black-bone chicken are black? It must be very beautiful! It is said that the black-bone chicken is all black, without even a single stray hair. It must be very beautiful! I really want to see it..."

Ku Rou took Xu Qing and they talked along the way.

It was basically Ku Rou who was talking, with Xu Qing occasionally joining in.

Ku Rou talked about the legend of black-bone chicken, the medicinal effects of black-bone chicken recorded in ancient books, common chicken dishes, chicken breeding, and the impact of Guangzhou's climate on chicken breeding.

His knowledge and enthusiasm burst out continuously, like a spring gushing out from the ground. Once it breaks through the confinement of the surface, it will erupt unstoppably.

At this time, Xu Qing also understood why the legendary spiritual bird, the black-bone chicken, was successfully raised by Ku Rou.

His passion, the knowledge he has accumulated, his whole body and soul, are all for the black-bone chicken.

He invested everything he had in it, like a burning candle, burning everything just for that one light.

Only such people can break through all obstacles, let the legendary spirit bird come to the world, turn the legend into reality, and turn it into a bright color that can never be erased from the world.

Unfortunately, Ku Rou eventually burned herself out, and suffered from public blame and curses during her lifetime, and she didn't even live to see the day when the black-bone chicken was recognized by the world.

This beautiful story did not have a happy ending.

Xu Qing sighed in his heart, and suddenly saw Ku Rou in front of him stop. He pointed at the restaurant and said, "We're here."

Xu Qing looked up and saw four large characters written in a flamboyant style on the plaque above his head: Yangquan Restaurant.

(End of this chapter)