What do you mean by four dishes and one soup?

It means that in addition to appetizers, there are eight dishes and one soup for dinner.

Example: four dishes and one soup.

Source:

There is a saying in Nanjing that after Zhu Yuanzhang became emperor, the life of ordinary people was not easy, but the dignitaries lived a luxurious life. Zhu Yuanzhang doesn't like it very much. In this way, the Ming Dynasty will also perish, and he is determined to rectify this extravagant wind.

It coincided with the queen's birthday, and passers-by came to celebrate her birthday. After everyone was seated, Zhu Yuanzhang ordered the serving: the first dish was fried radish; The second course is fried leeks; Three roads and two bowls of vegetables; The last course is chopped green onion tofu soup. Confused, Zhu Yuanzhang explained, "Radish is in the street, and pharmacies have no business", "leeks are green, and they are stable and secure for a long time", "Two bowls of vegetables are as fragrant as two bowls of vegetables, and the breeze is as cool as the prime minister", "Onions and tofu are as white as the sun and the moon".

The minister knew Zhu Yuanzhang's intention after listening. Zhu Yuanzhang announced in public: "In the future, all ministers will treat you, and you can only have four dishes and one soup at most. This time, the Queen's birthday party is an example. Any violator will be severely punished. "

Since then, the rule of "four dishes and one soup" has spread from the imperial court to the people and become a model of modern clean government.