Hengsha Scholar’s Pigeon

Hengsha Scholar’s Pigeon

　　    Hengsha Scholar’s Street in Huangpu is one of the area’s tourist attractions, where a story about valuing education and scholarship is passed down.

    The legend says that a scholar surnamed Zhang lived in Hengsha Village. He was well-read and had earned the title of “xiucai” (a scholar who passed the imperial preliminary exam) several years earlier. However, due to his family’s poverty, he couldn’t afford the travel expenses to go to the capital for the higher imperial exams, and thus missed several examination periods. His family relied on his wife, who raised pigeons and sold them to make a living.

    That year, fortune smiled upon them, and after selling some pigeons, his wife had a little money left over. She quickly discussed it with Zhang: “My husband, we can no longer delay your scholarly ambitions. With what little we have, you should go to the capital and take the exams this year.” Overjoyed, Zhang hastily packed and prepared to set off.

    As the departure date drew nearer, his wife grew worried: although they had the travel money, his food supply along the journey was a major concern. Dry rations might get him to the capital, but he was frail to begin with, and traveling half-starved would leave him unfit to take the exams. After much thought, her gaze fell on the pigeons they raised at home—why not prepare some to take along as extra meals? But cooked pigeon would spoil quickly. Then, she hit upon a brilliant idea: marinate the pigeons with soy sauce and other seasonings, then braise them slowly over low heat. This should help them last longer. The experiment worked—the preserved pigeon not only stayed fresh, but also tasted exceptionally delicious.

    Zhang set off for the capital exams happily carrying the delicious pigeon dish his wife made for him. Not only did he succeed and pass the exams, but he returned home in glory, telling everyone that it was his wife’s pigeon that helped him achieve success.

    Thus, Hengsha Scholar’s Pigeon quickly gained fame, and tales grew even more wondrous, claiming that eating it could lead to becoming the top imperial scholar. Becoming the top scholar may have been just a legend, but the pigeon dish indeed turned out crispy on the outside, tender inside, and richly aromatic—greatly loved by diners, and gradually became one of Huangpu’s signature dishes.