Chapter 236: The Fermentation Was A Success
“Don’t even think about tricking your way through. Your punishment is no delicious strawberries today.”
Upon hearing there were no strawberries, Pearl’s ears drooped, and her fluffy head continuously nudged Qin Wanwan’s palm.
Although she didn’t get to eat strawberries in the end, she did get to eat a sweet, sour, and crumbly tomato.
A small plot of land in the backyard was reclaimed for planting tomatoes, and many had already ripened.
The tomatoes, as big as an adult’s fist, were all perfectly formed, similar in size. The ripe tomatoes looked bright red and appetizing.
Both Ox and Little Ox loved them, and Pearl would often sneak into the backyard to steal them when no one was looking.
But every time she was discovered, she would be driven away.
After all, oxen have large appetites, and if they were allowed to eat without restraint, there would be nothing left for other people and animals.
The tomatoes produced by the system tasted very good; they could even be eaten directly as fruit.
When used in cooking, whether stir-fried with eggs, added to soup, or simply mixed with a little white sugar and served cold, they were very popular.
Tomatoes were not yet common in this era. After Xie Chong ate them, he asked Wanwan for some seeds and then distributed them to have people plant them.
He didn’t ask for too many of them. After all, tomatoes have many seeds, and only one mu of land is needed. When they ripen this year, they will be sold cheaply at the market to promote them. If farmers find them good, they will naturally keep the seeds to plant themselves.
“Aunt Zhang, the preserved eggs and salted eggs are ready. We’ll eat them today.”
Aunt Zhang naturally had no objections.
She brought out some preserved eggs and salted eggs. The salted eggs were simply cut open, and Aunt Zhang was stunned by the oil that flowed out.
“How come there’s oil inside this?”
Qin Wanwan ate half of it: “It’s delicious. Aunt Zhang, you should try some quickly.”
Aunt Zhang also ate the remaining half of the salted egg and her eyes immediately lit up.
The eggs from the military camp were already delicious, and these salted eggs had even more flavor.
“This will definitely be delicious with rice wine.”
Qin Wanwan nodded.
Salted eggs can be eaten after being steamed and cut, but preserved eggs are a bit more complicated.
Preserved eggs don’t need to be steamed or boiled. After cleaning the mud coating them, peel off the shells.
The dark purple color made them look a bit ominous, and the smell was also quite strange.
However, the preserved eggs also had snowflake-like patterns on them, making them look quite beautiful.
Overall, they looked both ugly and beautiful, very strange.
Aunt Zhang’s expression was greatly conflicted: “Can… can these be eaten?”
Ke Ke: “You haven’t seen enough! These can’t be eaten directly. They need to be served cold. Go pick some green peppers, roast them in the stove, then mash them and mix them with the preserved eggs to eat cold. It’s delicious.”
Qin Wanwan nodded: “Mmm, delicious.”
She was a little foodie, and apart from things that were bitter, she could eat all other foods with great enjoyment.
Aunt Zhang prepared the preserved eggs cold according to Ke Ke’s method. After taking a bite, although the taste was a bit strange, it was indeed strangely delicious.
After Qin Wanwan took a bite, she happily held her small bowl and ate it with rice.
When Xie Chong returned and tasted these two new foods, he quite liked the preserved eggs.
A lot of preserved eggs were made that time, and he immediately decided to take some to the military camp to try.
Preserved eggs need to be served cold. Some people might like to eat them raw, but it’s likely only a small portion.
So it’s not very suitable for the main dining hall.
As for the salted eggs, they only need to be cooked or steamed, and one can be given to each soldier. They taste good whether eaten with steamed buns or porridge.
If the number of eggs isn’t enough for everyone at once, distribute them in batches.
Xie Chong was also trying his best to provide his soldiers with good food.
After the preserved eggs and salted eggs were prepared, Qin Wanwan didn’t worry about them anymore, as long as there was food to eat when she wanted it.
Xie Chong brought the preserved eggs and salted eggs to the military camp. After eating with a few of his confidant subordinates, everyone accepted these two new foods well.
The salted eggs received unanimous praise.
However, some people liked the preserved eggs, while others did not.
“General, can these two types of eggs be transported for long distances?”
The military advisor who had previously advised Xie Chong on selling soap pointed out the crucial point.
Xie Chong: “They can be transported with layers of straw padding.”
There would definitely be some loss, but as long as they were properly padded with straw and stored well, most of them would be fine.
The military advisor’s eyes immediately lit up.
“They can be sold!”
Xie Chong: “Preserved eggs can be sold, but salted eggs must be supplied to the soldiers first.”
The military advisor stroked his beard and nodded: “That is natural.”
This was also what they, as subordinates, liked most about General Xie.
If it were other greedy superiors, they would only think about hoarding silver for themselves, living like greedy beasts and completely disregarding the lives and deaths of those below them.
General Xie was different; when there was something good, his first thought was always of his soldiers.
Not seeking credit, not greedy for wealth, and good to his subordinates.
For such a superior with strong personal charisma, his subordinates naturally became more willing to follow him.
Of course, among so many people, there would always be some ungrateful and despicable scoundrels.
Those were only a very small portion of people.
While the military camp was busily making salted eggs and preserved eggs, Qin Wanwan had already set her sights on her wine.
Winemaking takes a long time, and it was almost time now.
Although it was the first time brewing wine, the ingredients used were good, and everyone was very careful during the brewing process. More than twenty large jars, taller than Qin Wanwan, had only two spoiled batches. The rest were successful.
When the jars were opened, the aroma of wine was intoxicating, even making Little Fatty dizzy.
It wasn’t an exaggeration; she was genuinely dizzy.
The wine brewed according to the winemaking method in the book was very strong. They opened all the jars at once, and the aroma permeated the entire basement, extremely potent. Even smelling the aroma made Qin Wanwan, a novice who had never drunk alcohol, feel drowsy.
Her originally snow-white little face was flushed red.
“I’m… I’m so dizzy.”
Little Milk Bun staggered as she walked, and Wolf Fang, seeing this, quickly scooped her up and rushed out of the basement.
Once outside, a gust of wind blew, and Qin Wanwan patted and rubbed her little face.
Her nose twitched.
“It smells so good, I wonder if it tastes good.”
Qin Wanwan’s big eyes rolled around; she wanted to drink it.
At the entrance of the basement, Pearl, Little Fox, and the others also poked their heads out to smell.
“Wolf Fang, can we have a little bit of wine?” Little Qilin cleverly knew to pull an accomplice.
Wolf Fang shook his head.
Aunt Zhang and Lu He also advised: “Miss, absolutely not. Children cannot touch alcohol.”
“Nonsense! Everyone says children in the border regions are trained to drink from a young age and are very powerful drinkers.”
That was the real nonsense. Alcohol was expensive; ordinary commoners wouldn’t give their children that stuff.
But Qin Wanwan just wanted to drink.
She had a premonition that once Daddy returned, she really wouldn’t be able to drink anymore.
In the end, they couldn’t resist the little milk bun who could act spoiled with her milky, soft, and mellow voice.
Aunt Zhang went to scoop a little wine.
Qin Wanwan held the small wine cup and took a small sip, then her beautiful features wrinkled into a mess from the spiciness. She stuck out her tongue, and her eyes welled up with tears.
“Why does it smell so good, but taste not so good?”
It wasn’t as good as rice wine at all!
Rice wine was sweet, but this was spicy!
