Hu Xueyan, a descendant of Huizhou merchants, lived in Hangzhou for a long time, starting as a money broker, until then, the most famous businessman in China was a second-class official. According to the dress code of Qing officials, the second-class official's coat is red, so he is called a red-topped businessman. Hu Xueyan has opened Fukang Qianzhuang and Huqingyutang Chinese Medicine Shop, which has great influence in the whole country and the south of the Yangtze River.

Hu Xueyan likes to eat ham, and Jinhua ham became more famous in Qing Dynasty through the skills of red top merchants. On one occasion, Hu Xueyan was going to Beijing on business, and specially told Jiang Xuefang to prepare 200 first-class hams as gifts for officials. Beijing officials unanimously praised its delicious taste after eating it. From then on, the saying "Jinhua ham comes from Dongyang, Dongyang ham comes from Chiang Kai-shek" quickly became famous in Beijing and was introduced to the emperor through the mouth of officials. An imperial edict made Jinhua Ham famous.

Hu Xueyan has its own pharmacy, which pays more attention to health care in diet. According to Hu Xueyan's request, Khufu's kitchen developed many medicated diets for him, which were gradually spread to the market and formed dishes with southern characteristics. One of the most famous is this bright-eyed fish and rice.

1878, Hangzhou Huqingyutang Chinese Medicine Company opened, and its founder Hu Xueyan invited a group of pharmaceutical workers, one of whom was nicknamed "iron plate seeder". The man is very grateful for his kindness. He is over seventy years old, but he is still blind and has lost his teeth. He works very hard. Colleagues asked him the secret of fitness many times, but they were all turned away.

Hu Xueyan learned about it and decided to invite him to dinner. During the dinner, the "iron plane" bluntly said, "Officer Hu, why did you invite me to drink for no reason?" Hu Xueyan smiled and raised his glass: "The old man is still cutting medicine at this age, and people outside will laugh at me for not respecting the old man ..." "Iron plane" was anxious: "What do you think I look like?" "What is your best defense against old age?" "Iron Plane" said with a smile: "Besides hard work, I like two things: one is to drink chrysanthemum tea and wolfberry tea every day, and the other is to eat fresh fish."

Hu Xueyan asked the chef to tell him the secret recipe, saying: I am miscellaneous every day, how can I make tea and eat fish with thorns every day ... The chef thought about it and said, it is better to combine the two and make fresh fish into minced meat! Xueyan immediately applauded, so this dish was born and named "Mingmu Fish Rice". After continuous improvement, this dish has become the first signature dish of Hangzhou Huqingyutang Medicinal Diet Hall, and was named the first famous dish in Hang Cheng.

As a businessman, Hu Xueyan was lucky enough to wear a yellow jacket, which is rare in the history of China. Therefore, he is called "Red Top Merchant". With a patriotic heart, he helped Zuo to set up westernization, and both officials and businessmen worked together to strengthen the country. But he was not familiar with politics, and finally became a victim of political struggle. Finally, his money ran out and he died sadly. It seems that this "land of fish and rice with a discerning eye" has not made him practice the critical eye of officialdom.

Mingmu fish rice

Material: fresh grass carp 1 strip (about 2000g).

Materials: appropriate amount of peas, Lycium barbarum 10g, chrysanthemum 10g.

Seasoning: oil, salt, monosodium glutamate, starch, etc.

Key points of production:

1. Cut grass carp into diced fish for later use.

2. soak the chrysanthemum in water, and then take it out after the water is thick.

3. Soak Lycium barbarum in water.

4. Pour the diced fish into the heated oil in the pot and stir fry, then add the chrysanthemum juice, and then add the salt and monosodium glutamate.

5. Pour a small amount of glutinous rice flour before cooking to make the food look shiny and not too thick.

Grass carp is rich in unsaturated fatty acids, which is beneficial to blood circulation and is a good food for cardiovascular patients. Grass carp is also rich in selenium, which has anti-aging and beauty effects. For people with weak body and poor appetite, grass and fish are tender but not greasy, which can stimulate appetite and nourish. "Mingmu Fish Rice" is delicious and has the effects of nourishing liver and stomach, nourishing blood and improving eyesight.