Zhenjiang folk circulated a dish called Huanggu Lai, mention the origin of this dish, there is an anecdote.

It is said that in the Qing Dynasty, Emperor Qianlong traveled south to find his father. One day at noon, traveling to the town of Jiangnan Township, feel the mouth in the tongue, belly hungry. Look forward to look after, see there is a village, Zhuang side of a cottage, chimney on the white smoke curls. The heart of the great joy, decided to borrow this home to rest for a while, looking for some food to feed the hungry. Into the door, see this family is very poor, not very furnished, only the peasant woman at home. Qianlong will explain to her intentions. Farmer's wife to see home to a gorgeous clothes official, and surprised and worried. Surprised is that this remote village actually came to the noble guest; worried is that the home is really poor, not much hospitality. The farmer's family was very hospitable, and the farmer's wife invited the guest into the house to wash his face and have tea. The farmer's wife searched the house and found only two pieces of bean curd that the man brought back in the morning. She had to go to the field and pulled a handful of spinach, cut the tofu into small pieces, fried in soybean oil into both sides of the yellow, into the spinach with the burn, and after that, served a big bowl, served to the guests to eat. Qianlong was born in the palace, eat every day is the sea food, that ate the farmhouse small dishes, coupled with hunger in the abdomen, feel more flavorful. Not much effort, a big bowl of tofu all eaten up. Qianlong thought: my appetite has never been so good, although the king of a country, when to enjoy such a blessing today, but I do not know what this dish is made of? So, ask the peasant woman just ate what is the delicacies of the sea? Farmer's wife asked, secretly laugh, which is what the sea food? It was just a common household dish. Tofu fried in oil, outside the golden yellow, inside the alabaster color, spinach green root red, like a parrot's beak. Since the guest asked this question, might as well say a good name for the dish to tell him. Then casually answered: "This dish is 'gold inlaid white jade plate, red beak green parrot brother'." Qianlong heard, very happy. Before leaving, presented a folding fan as a reward, and said that your family, if something urgent, out of this fan, you can turn misfortune into good fortune. Farmer's wife heard this, and do not believe that a paper fan can have what use? But to see the above words and paintings fun, also hung on the wall, do not care about it.

One day, the farmer's husband went to the street to sell firewood, and he did not come home to eat after noon. Farmer's wife anxious, everywhere to inquire, only to know that the man on the street to sell firewood, firewood stretcher slipped off the end of the head of the stretcher will be a pedestrian unintentionally killed, was sent to the Yamen for questioning and sentenced. Farmer's wife heard, anxious as fire, no idea, in the room straight turn, do not know what to do. Suddenly looked up,. See the folding fan, think of the guest's last words, no matter useful or not, try it first. She took the folding fan on the Yamen. But after all, the peasant woman has not seen such a big world, head did not dare to lift, the fan on the head to block half of the face, carefully walked up to the hall. The governor saw, no way, this is the handwriting of the saint ah! Kneel down quickly. He knelt down, the whole hall kneeled down. Farmer's wife did not know exactly, the governor asked: "Where is the emperor?" The farmer's wife realized that her guest was the Emperor. The governor asked, "What is the matter with the imperial aunt (the emperor's sister)?" After the peasant woman explained her husband's business, the governor hurriedly released the farmer and treated him with steed etiquette. From then on, people also called this village for the "attached horse Zhuang", called spinach and tofu soup for the "Imperial Nun vegetable". The village is still in existence today.

Then again, after Qianlong returned to Beijing, one day in the palace steeply recalled this dish, that is, the Imperial Kitchen ordered to make "gold inlaid white jade plate, red beak green parakeet." Can be full of palace chefs do not know how many delicacies to get, this dish has never heard of. The first chef brain did, not right, was killed; the second was killed, killed several chefs in a row. This matter alarmed the prime minister, if not quickly resolved, to kill how many imperial chefs ah! So, hurry to the court, ask Qianlong where he ate this dish? Asked the original reason, the prime minister rushed through the post, overnight trip to the peasant woman received the capital, according to the original get this dish on the table. Qianlong saw,. Turn anger into joy, I want to eat is this dish. But eat, Qianlong feel not previously that kind of flavor, asked why. The prime minister said: "the saint was hungry, feel delicious, now the belly is not hungry, feel tasteless." Qianlong nodded and said, "There is indeed this reason."

To this day, in Zhenjiang folk, as long as people say: "gold, silver, white jade plate, red beak green parrot." It is known as spinach and tofu soup. Because it is a vegetarian soup, spinach, fresh, tender tofu, cool taste beautiful, easy to make, has become a favorite home cooking.