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Back at Old Ye’s house, Ye Bajin put down the two large wooden buckets and was about to unload the tables and chairs.
Ye Caiping said, “Don’t unload the tables and chairs, we need to take them out tomorrow.”
“Right. Just tie them to the cart, I’ll come pick you up directly tomorrow.”
After saying that, Ye Bajin drove the ox cart away.
Old Lady Ye came out, her eyes wide with astonishment. “These things… are for tomorrow’s stall?”
“Yes.”
“What are you going to sell?”
“You’ll find out tonight.”
Old Lady Ye felt uneasy. She and Old Man Ye had tried setting up a stall when they were younger, selling porridge and rice noodles, but ended up losing everything.
Ye Daquan and his brothers had also tried it a dozen years ago, learning from others to sell dumplings, but they couldn’t even earn back the cost of the tables and chairs.
In her opinion, their family wasn’t meant to make money like this, their destiny was to simply farm honestly.
Old Lady Ye was disheartened, but she still helped carry the wooden buckets and various ingredients into the house.
Ye Caiping walked into the kitchen and saw Du Shi preparing to put the brown rice in the pot. Starting today, it was the eldest son’s family’s turn to cook.
“Sister-in-law, I’ll cook tonight.” Ye Caiping placed the ingredients on the stove.
Du Shi saw her carrying in all these things and knew there was something delicious coming: “Alright, you cook.”
She took off her apron and eagerly left the kitchen.
Ye Jin’er, her sister, Yan Fang, Du Shi, Wei Shi, and the others all gathered outside, watching her through the window.
Ye Caiping wasn’t afraid of them learning, anyone who tasted it could probably guess how it was made.
But the secret was in the spices and white pepper powder she used. Others couldn’t replicate that.
Ye Caiping first soaked the wood ear mushrooms, noodles, and other ingredients in boiling water.
Then she started making the chili oil.
First, she ground the dried chilies into powder, mixed them with white sesame seeds, and added some of her homemade spice powder.
The lard was heated until it was boiling hot, with a sizzling sound when it was poured over the mixture, the aroma instantly filled the air.
“So fragrant!” Ye Jin’er sniffed deeply.
“This chili oil must be delicious with rice.” Du Shi swallowed hard.
Yan Fang felt distressed: “It’s like you’re using oil for free, of course it’s delicious.”
Ye Caiping began washing the gluten.
“Is this rice flour or wheat flour? Can you wash it like this?” Wei Shi asked.
Ye Caiping said, “This is making gluten, a snack from the North.”
Ye Caiping didn’t know if there was gluten in the North during the Zhou Dynasty, but she was bluffing. After all, information was scarce, and no one knew the real situation.
One pound of flour yielded half a basin of starch water and a fist-sized ball of gluten.
By this time, the wood ear mushrooms and other ingredients had also softened.
With everything ready, she started heating oil in the pot.
When the water boiled, she added the gluten, wood ear mushrooms, yellow pickled vegetables, pork, etc., in turn.
After boiling for a while, she added her special spice powder, then thickened the soup with starch water, and finally added the white pepper.
She sprinkled some chopped green onions on top, and the aroma instantly filled the air.
“My goodness, what’s that smell?” Ye Daquan came in carrying his hoe, exclaiming excitedly.
He was accompanied by Old Man Ye, Ye Erquan, and Ye Yong.
As soon as they entered the house, they smelled a powerful and unique aroma, and their spirits were instantly lifted.
“It’s my mother making something delicious.” Ye Jin’er said with a smile.
Ye Caiping said, “You’re back just in time, let’s eat!”
Yan Fang and Du Shi went into the kitchen and brought out bowls, chopsticks, and a whole pot of spicy soup to the main room.
The weather had turned cold, and although Old Man Ye and the others had been working in the fields all day, so they didn’t have any strong smells on them. They washed their hands and eagerly sat down at the table.
Ye Caiping ladled a bowl of spicy soup for each of them.
Everyone stared at this unprecedented dish, something that looked like porridge yet also like a stew, a wave of curiosity washing over them.
Ye Daquan, unable to contain himself, slurped a large mouthful. “My god… fragrant… hot! Hot!”
“What’s the rush? You’ll burn your tongue! Then how will you eat?” Du shi scolded him.
“Even if it’s burnt, I’ll still eat it. Hiss, what kind of flavor is this? Why is it so fragrant?”
Old Man Ye and the others also took a bite, their eyes widening involuntarily.
“I’ve never tasted anything like this before.”
“It’s so fragrant, it almost makes my tongue fall off.”
“Mother, what is this?” Ye Jiner’s eyes shone as she looked at Ye Caiping. “Are we selling this today?”
“Yes. This is called Hu La Tang (Spicy Soup).” Ye Caiping also tasted a couple of mouthfuls.
Hmm, today’s broth wasn’t bone broth, it was slightly lacking, but her recipe hadn’t changed, the standard was still there!
Old Man Ye looked at Ye Caiping: “You’re selling this today?”
“Yes, we’re selling it right from the morning. Father, you can add chili peppers to this. Try adding a bit, and also some vinegar.”
Old Man Ye immediately added half a spoonful of chili oil, his eyes shining even brighter.
Ye Daquan, with a hiss and a sigh, ate half a bowl. “This is so delicious, it’s definitely going to sell like hotcakes!”
“Shut up, don’t boast.” Yan Fang glared at him.
In the past, when they sold rice noodles and porridge, Ye Daquan boasted that it would sell like hotcakes, only to end up losing a fortune.
When they brothers sold wontons, Ye Daquan also boasted about it, only to end up losing their pants.
“Of course, Big Brother, you’re a jinx.” Ye Erquan said.
“You’re the jinx, your whole family is a jinx!”
“My whole family is your whole family.”
“Hahaha!”
The whole family was amused by their banter.
The flavor of the Hu La Tang was truly unique, and in no time, the pot was almost empty.
Ye Daquan wanted to refill his bowl, but Ye Erquan quickly protected it. “My son Ye Peng hasn’t eaten yet, save two bowls for him.”
The cassava was still soaking in the river, Ye Peng was guarding it by the riverbank.
Wei shi also felt sorry for her son, so she quickly took out a food box and packed the remaining Hu La Tang, asking Ye Erquan to deliver it.
Both father and son wouldn’t be coming back tonight, they had to watch over it together.
After eating and drinking their fill, Ye Caiping said she would hang the remaining meat and bones in the village well, and then went out.
Actually, she had already put the remaining meat and bones into her space.
After taking a stroll outside, Ye Caiping returned home under the moonlight. Ye Jin’er came out to meet her: “Mother, the village head is here, he’s looking for you.”
Ye Caiping walked into the main room and saw the village head and Old Man Ye talking.
“Village head, you’re looking for me?” Ye Caiping found a place to sit down.
The village head put down his pipe: “I heard from Bajin that you’re going to set up a stall tomorrow.”
“Yes. Oh, we just finished all the Hu La Tang we made, otherwise I would have sent you a bowl.”
“You’re thoughtful.” The village head smiled, but his brow was furrowed with worry. “Bajin told me that when you went to town today, you met two people from Wang Family Village…”
“From what they said, the method of detoxifying cassava has already spread. I think in a couple of days, other village heads or village elders will come looking.”
“You say, should we teach them a bit?”
The village head came to see Ye Caiping because this method was shared by her. Regardless, he needed to get her consent first.
Ye Caiping replied, “If they come asking, then let’s teach them a bit. After all, our village has already learned it, and who knows how many people are thinking of their hometown or relatives and have already taught it out early.”
“If we teach these people uniformly, then this method would genuinely belong to our village. Also, Village Head, this is a major matter regarding food!”
“Cassava isn’t just found in Niutou Mountain; the entire Dashu Town and even the southern regions have it. If everyone knows, it will add another type of food source.”
“So, Village Head, you should inform the county magistrate about how to use cassava.”
The village head’s eyes lit up, and he suddenly stood up. “Right! How did I not think of that? I’ll go to the county town today!”
“Caiping, you’re the real mastermind behind this. Don’t worry, I’ll speak on behalf of you, and I won’t let you suffer any losses.”
Note:
Characters
Other Characters:
Heigou – Ate poisonous roots
Heigou’s mother
Doctor Zhao
Zhao Facai – Neighbor
Village Head Ye- Sometime Ye Lizheng (Lizheng is a title that refers to Village Head/Chief)
Ye Bajin – Village Head’s Son
Fubao – Village Head’s Grandson
Tie Niu and Zhuzi – two women who helped Caiping
Ye Bajin – Son of Ye Lijeng
Liu Decai
Places:
Qinghe Village: FL’s Village
Dashu Town
Li Family Village
Wang Family Village – Neighboring Village of Qinghe Village
Niutou Mountain
Great Zhou Dynasty