Chapter 168: Test it out first

"Sister Xiaoya, please speak quickly. I'm all ears!"

Even Shu Yan was stunned. She hadn't expected Zhao Liya and Zhong Jing to actually say this. If there really was a way, it would be a great help to the military camp.

Zhao Liya laughed at his strong reaction and said, "Brother Zhong, don't get too excited. I just have this idea right now and I don't know if it will work. I have to try it myself to find out. I need a few fresh coconuts and two or three porcelain jars of this size. Ordinary quality will do, but they must be airtight and seal the jars tightly."

Zhong Jing said without hesitation: "That's easy. I'll have someone get it for you today. Sister Xiaoya, tell me, what are you planning to do?"

Shu Yan was also confused. It sounded like they were going to make something to eat, but it shouldn't be ordinary food. It was a bit puzzling.

Zhao Liya smiled slightly. "Well, let me keep it a secret for now. If I succeed, I'll tell you. Yeah, I'll tell you even if I can't."

Even if it cannot be done, just tell him and explain the reason, so that Zhong Jing will not have too high expectations about it.

Zhong Jing had no choice but to smile: "Alright, then I'll wait."

Zhao Liya hummed, then continued, "But in this case, it will take several days to verify, so we'll have to stay here for a few more days."

Zhong Jing laughed heartily: "Sure, I couldn't ask for more!"

Zhong Jing was indeed very efficient. The things Zhao Liya needed were delivered after more than an hour.

Zhao Liya was very happy and told Shu Yan the same thing - she still needed Shu Yan's help!

Zhao Liya thought of something - canned food.

Canned fruit.

Canned fruits were very popular in modern times for many years. Although they are not as popular now, they have not disappeared and can still be found on supermarket shelves.

Aren't lychees perfect for canning? If they could be canned and sold to northern and southern China, they could bring in a fortune!

Of course, the premise is that it can be done.

If stored properly, the shelf life will be about two months without any problems. Two months is enough time for sales to spread far away.

Transportation would be a bit more troublesome, so the best option would be to use a ship and go by sea. It would be shipped directly to Jiangnan. From Jiangnan, it would take plenty of time to go north via the canal, and it would not be difficult to ship to the capital.

In order to ensure a long enough shelf life, high-temperature sterilization and sealing are very critical steps. Also, now that they have white sugar, adding some white sugar to canned fruit can also play a role in preservation and extend the shelf life.

First, remove the coconut meat, cut it into small cubes, clean it, and remove any damaged parts. Then, place the coconut meat into a jar, add an appropriate amount of water and sugar, and seal it. Then, place the sealed jar in a steamer and steam it over high heat for about 15 minutes.

This last step is the key step in high temperature sterilization and must be done properly.

Zhao Liya and Shu Yan spent half a day making six cans. To test the optimal sterilization time and the optimal steaming time for optimal flavor, Zhao Liya deliberately ended the steaming at different times after placing the six cans in the oven. This was divided into three time periods: the shortest was 25 minutes, and the remaining four were each increased by 15 minutes.

After steaming, take it out and place it in a cool place.

In this way, the can is made.

Just leave it like this and try opening it in a few days.

Shu Yan rubbed her hands together and said excitedly, "Is that 'canned food' done now?"

"Yeah," Zhao Liya nodded, feeling a bit expectant and nervous. "I did it, but I don't know if it will work. So I don't want to tell Brother Zhong right away, lest he be disappointed if it doesn't work."

Shu Yan said without hesitation: "I think it will work."

"Um?"

"We have done this so carefully and attentively, it will definitely succeed."

Zhao Liya chuckled, "Well, then let's borrow Sister Shu Yan's good words!"

The two looked at each other and smiled.

Although it was not easy to tell Zhong Jing about the canned food, Zhao Liya had something else to say.

There are so many lychee trees that it is not an exaggeration to describe them as "all over the mountains and plains". It would be a pity to leave such a lychee forest lying idle.

Zhao Liya’s advice to Zhong Jing was to raise chickens.

When you raise it, it will be the authentic orchard chicken.

In order to avoid chicken plague as much as possible, you can also enclose several areas as chicken farms.

Zhong Jing felt the suggestion was sound. "Raise it, raise it, we must raise it! Sister Xiaoya, please draw a diagram for us. We'll follow your instructions and decide how big the area should be! Anyway, don't worry, just say whatever you want."

Zhao Liya liked Zhong Jing's straightforwardness and said with a smile, "Then I'll arrange it!"

"OK!"

So, Zhao Liya spent most of the day demarcating two areas and had people fence them off. One was in the valley with a small hillside, and the other was in the flat land and small hillside area across the valley from this area.

We will build a suitable chicken coop that is easy to maintain, spacious, bright and well-ventilated, and we plan to try raising 400 chickens in one place.

The enclosed area is wide enough. If you take good care of the fish, you can gradually expand it.

The soldiers all agreed. Since the lychees were ripe and no one was eating them, they still had chickens to eat! Chickens raised on lychees would definitely taste different and more delicious!

Zhao Liya also asked them to plant 400 acres of corn, which could be used as chicken feed.

There are four hundred acres of sweet potato vines, which is enough to feed the chickens.

Practice makes perfect. Zhong Jing didn't need Zhao Liya to remind him. As soon as he confirmed the matter, he knew to ask someone to buy chicks.

However, Zhao Liya still reminded: Buy chicks, you can also buy some grown chickens. Buying a big pig is meaningless, but buying an adult chicken can lay eggs and hatch chicks.

Even if you don't hatch the eggs and send them to the kitchen, it can still improve your life!

Zhong Jing slapped his head: "Yes!"

Then he added, "We already have pigs and chickens, so why not dig a couple more fish ponds? Xiaoya, sister-in-law, why don't you teach the kitchen guys some simple fish recipes? Then we can all have fish more often."

Zhao Liya and Shu Yan agreed with a smile.

Zhao Liya added, "Raising fish is also good. The fish pond can be dug bigger and you can raise a variety of fish and shrimp. It's just a side job anyway."

Zhong Jing slapped his thigh and said, "Yeah, I think so too!"

Zhao Liya thought to herself, if she comes here again in the future, it will be fun. She can pick fruits, catch chickens, fish, go into the mountains, or - it is also convenient to go to the beach here.

She even started looking forward to it.

(End of this chapter)