Chapter 273 Harvest

Jiang Huan's performance of a variety of instant noodle transformations in the imperial kitchen was quite a spectacle, and the enticing aroma wafted far and wide on the wind.

Before long, a small head peeked in furtively, sniffing the air.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! What delicious food are you making again? This smells like instant noodles, but it's different, it smells even better!"

Mingzhu leaned closer with sparkling eyes, her gaze widening as she saw the fried noodles, mixed noodles, and the small hot pot on the table.

"Wow, there are so many ways to eat instant noodles! Is soaking them in hot water just the simplest way?!"

Jiang Huan smiled and served her a small bowl of freshly cooked fried noodles: "That's why Chinese cuisine is so profound and extensive. Here, you can enjoy it too."

Mingzhu took it, not caring that it was hot, blew on it twice and slurped it up, her eyes widening instantly.

"Oh my god, this tastes even better and has a better chewy texture than when it's soaked! Your Majesty, how did you come up with this? It's so delicious!"

She finished the small bowl of fried noodles in no time, licked her lips with lingering satisfaction, and then turned her gaze to the hot pot that was still bubbling and steaming, her eyes filled with longing.

"Your Highness, could you sell me some of these noodles too? I sometimes have the palace maids make them for me when I crave them."

Mingzhu tugged at Jiang Huan's sleeve, shaking it excitedly.

Jiang Huan was amused by her greedy look: "Okay, you're my first customer, I'll give you a discount."

Mingzhu exclaimed excitedly, "Great! Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Finally, Mingzhu left happily, carrying several packets of instant noodles and a small jar of sauce, as if she had found a treasure.

Huo Lin watched from the side, a smile playing on his lips.

The things she makes are naturally good.

Mingzhu, that girl, is never absent when it comes to food.

After Jiang Huan finished her work, Huo Lin quietly instructed Wang Degui: "Go and have Zhuangji Workshop send me a batch of instant noodles as well, and put them in my private treasury."

Wang Degui watched from the side, hesitant to speak, but finally couldn't help but whisper to advise, "Your Majesty, your body is of utmost importance. This... this is fine to try occasionally, but if you eat it often, I'm afraid it will not be good for your health. You should mainly eat the carefully prepared meals from the Imperial Kitchen."

Upon hearing this, Huo Lin raised his chin slightly and glanced over.

"Am I indulging in gluttony? I am showing my appreciation for Consort Zhuang's hard work in developing new products, and I am personally supporting her as a form of encouragement. Do you understand?"

Wang Degui: "...This servant understands."

As long as the Emperor is happy.

He silently complained, but seeing the emperor's expression that clearly said he wanted to eat, he could only obediently do as he was told.

Soon, Zhuangji Workshop's instant noodles quietly appeared on the shelves of shops in Beijing.

At first, people were curious about the hard flatbread and sauce jars, but through word of mouth, especially the recommendations of Princess Mingzhu and some people who had tried it, this novel, delicious and versatile food quickly became popular.

For a time, supply couldn't meet demand, and Xie Yunzhi had to work overtime to calculate production capacity and optimize processes, experiencing both pain and joy.

While a craze for instant noodles was sweeping through Beijing, the distant border regions had already entered a harsh winter where water could freeze instantly.

The cold wind howled, swirling up the snow on the ground and pelting it against the armor of the soldiers guarding the border, its chill penetrating to the bone.

Inside the tent, even with a brazier lit, it was difficult to completely dispel the pervasive chill.

The food was monotonous, consisting mostly of hard, dry rations and cured meat that could be stored for a long time; even a bowl of hot noodle soup was a luxury.

A young general named Zhao Feng was transferred from the capital at the beginning of the year.

He carefully took out several pieces of instant noodles wrapped tightly in oil paper and a small earthenware jar from his luggage, and carried them to the commander's tent like precious treasures.

"General! General! Please try this!"

With an excited look on his face, Zhao Feng lowered his voice and said, "This is a good thing that I brought from the capital. It's called instant noodles. It's said that it was invented by Consort Zhuang in the palace."

The commander was frowning at the map when he heard this. He looked up and saw the unassuming flatbread in Zhao Feng's hand, looking somewhat puzzled.

"instant noodles?"

"Yes!" Zhao Feng nodded vigorously, quickly set up a small pot, poured in water and brought it to a boil, then broke up the dough and scooped in a small spoonful of rich sauce.

"Please wait, it will be ready soon!"

Soon, a rich and enticing aroma filled the cold tent.

The general involuntarily sniffed, his hunger pangs being fully aroused.

Zhao Feng ladled the cooked noodles into a rough porcelain bowl and presented it to the general: "General, please eat it while it's hot!"

The general looked at the steaming food in the bowl, the noodles stretched out, and then at Zhao Feng's expectant eyes, and felt a warmth in his heart.

He took the bowl, took a bite, and found the noodles to be chewy and the soup to be flavorful and delicious—an unimaginable delicacy in this harsh and cold place.

A warm sensation slid down my esophagus into my stomach, as if even some of the chill in my body had been dispelled.

"Great! That's really great!"

The general couldn't help but praise it and ate a few more bites.

"It's truly amazing that Consort Zhuang could develop such delicious and easy-to-carry military rations! She's been a great help!"

Zhao Feng chuckled and scratched his head: "Yeah, General, these noodles keep well, and the sauce lasts a long time too. You can just add hot water and it's ready to eat. The taste is pretty good too. If the brothers could have a bowl of hot noodles like this after patrolling, that would be so satisfying!"

Soon, this novel food called instant noodles quietly spread throughout the border military camps.

Although the quantity is limited, it can only be tried occasionally.

But it brings more than just culinary satisfaction; it also provides a rare comfort in the midst of cold and loneliness.

Many soldiers saved their own portion for wounded comrades or brothers returning from guard duty.

A small piece of flatbread conveys the deep friendship between comrades.

Meanwhile, in the carefully cultivated experimental field at Weiyang Palace, a completely different scene unfolded.

Although it is already winter, some crops in the fields with simple greenhouses are already showing signs of ripening.

Jiang Huan and He Ling squatted at the edge of the field, looking at the crops in front of them, which they had poured countless efforts into, with great excitement.

He Ling pointed to a patch of lush green plants, laden with red and green fruits that gleamed enticingly in the dim light of the greenhouse.

"Your Majesty, our tomatoes are a success! Look at the top, the color! Oh my god, I want to pick one and taste it right now. I miss that taste so much!"

Her voice trembled with excitement.

Jiang Huan was beside her, intently watering the watermelon patch.

"It's not just tomatoes, we've even grown big, round watermelons! Judging by this momentum, we'll have a bumper harvest soon!"