Plain Moya

Plain Moya

　　It is said that when Liu Bei served as the county magistrate in Pingyuan, he cared about the people's livelihood and paid close attention to their hardships. One afternoon, with some free time, Liu Bei went out incognito from the government office. Accompanied by Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, he walked through the streets to observe the lives of the common people. When they reached a street on the northwestern side of the town, they saw shops lined up one after another — taverns, workshops, and various stalls — everything imaginable. Every household was bustling with business, full of vitality, giving off an air of prosperity. As the three of them walked and talked, the sun began to set. They then entered a tavern. After the dishes were served, the three men drank and discussed the affairs of the nation. At that moment, an elderly woman sitting nearby, seeing that these three had lofty ideals and stood for justice, took a liking to them. So she brought them a dish. Though they thanked her (by then they were already quite full, but out of politeness, each had a bite), they found it increasingly delicious and unknowingly finished the entire dish. They then asked what the dish was called. The old lady replied, “Oh, it doesn’t have a special name. It’s just something my husband and I, living together and running this small shop, came up with over time. Everyone seems to like it.” The three of them spoke in unison, “Then let’s call it ‘Moya’!” And so the dish got its name, which has been passed down to this day. Characteristics: tender, soft, and melt-in-your-mouth