Ranghe

Ranghe

　　"Ranghe," this local delicacy, is found only in Jingyang within the vast land of the Three Qins and the eight-hundred-li Guanzhong region. "Ranghe," a homophone meaning "soft and tender," is so enticing upon arrival at the dining table — with its steam and aroma — that mischievous children eagerly smack their lips, stick out their tongues, and shout loudly, "Ranghe is here!" as they deftly reach for their chopsticks, unable to hold back the drool already trickling from the corners of their mouths. The adults, amused by their playful behavior, quickly join in savoring the delicious dish.

　　In the Shaanxi dialect, "Jingyang Ranghe" is sometimes referred to as something good being called "chanhuo," and in other places, "ranghe." In Jingyang County, there is a snack called "Ranghe," which is a closely guarded secret recipe passed down through generations in Sheshu Village. Although it's a simple snack, it has a connection to a prominent figure in Shaanxi. During the late Qing Dynasty, in Sheshu Village, there was a young man from the prominent Liu family named Liu Fusheng. He was refined, elegant, and skilled in calligraphy and painting. In his youth, he went alone to Ya'an, Sichuan, to start a business. One day, Liu Fusheng happened to run into Mr. Yu Youren, who was there on official business. As fellow countrymen meeting abroad, the two were moved to tears. They drank together, composed poetry, and painted calligraphy. Liu Fusheng admired Yu Youren’s brilliance, and the elder Yu appreciated Liu’s talent, lamenting that they had not met sooner. Years later, after Yu Youren achieved fame and success, he still remembered Liu Fusheng’s generous hospitality in Ya'an. When he returned to his hometown in Sanyuan, he specifically paid a visit to Liu Fusheng. Overjoyed by the arrival of such an esteemed guest, Liu Fusheng eagerly presented a family-secret delicacy to honor Yu. After tasting it, Yu Youren repeatedly exclaimed, "Ranghe, Ranghe!" From then on, this closely guarded family snack from the Liu family became widely known, and its name was given by Yu Youren himself: "Ranghe."