Chapter 97: Not seeking merit, but avoiding mistakes

"Is this kudzu vermicelli?" County Magistrate Hu picked up the translucent vermicelli and looked at it carefully.

"Yes, sir, please try it and see how it tastes." Su Ying said.

When County Magistrate Hu put the meat into his mouth, it was soft and sticky, and his mouth was full of the aroma of gravy.

Today I braised another wild rabbit, stewing it with kudzu starch strips, which absorbed the aroma of meat and seasonings.

"Well, it's delicious!" County Magistrate Hu nodded continuously.

He picked up another dark brown cold vermicelli and said, "This should be fern root vermicelli!"

"Yes!" Su Ying nodded.

The cold dish made of fern root vermicelli, with the addition of onion, ginger, garlic, hot pepper, salt and soy sauce, is full of spicy flavor.

It would be even more perfect with vinegar and peppercorns. The spicy and sour taste of fern root powder is very appetizing.

County Magistrate Hu tasted it carefully and found that the fern root powder was not as soft as the kudzu root powder. It was a bit chewy and had a different taste.

"Vermicelli can be used in cooking. It can be served cold, braised, or stewed in soup. It can also be eaten as noodles." Su Ying introduced.

"Well, not bad, not bad! Come, try it!" Seeing that everyone was looking at him, County Magistrate Hu hurriedly invited everyone to start eating.

The village elders raised their chopsticks and started eating the vermicelli.

"Good! Good! Good!" After taking a few bites, the village elders kept saying it was good, but they couldn't put their chopsticks down anymore, and everyone's eyes were wet.

"If it's delicious, eat more!" County Magistrate Hu looked at everyone, "Just talking without picking up your chopsticks? I won't be polite!"

"Eat! Eat! Eat!" Old man Yang wiped his face and shouted to the village elders.

Finally, the results are achieved. It is foreseeable that in the near future, we will no longer have to endure hunger and can fill our stomachs with confidence.

Not many people make vermicelli, but after seeing the true appearance of vermicelli, everyone has a better idea of ​​what it is like.

During the meal, Su Ying explained in detail how to make vermicelli.

"Do you understand?" County Magistrate Hu asked the legal advisor and the household clerk.

The two nodded, "Sir, I understand, but we have to try it when we get back."

"It's okay. I packed some for you. You can try it first, and the rest will be used for teaching." Su Ying took out two large bags, each weighing more than ten pounds.

"Thank you!" County Magistrate Hu was not polite and admired Su Ying's meticulousness and thoughtfulness.

After the meal, the villagers poured out the residual water in the jar, closed the jar, and poured clean water into it again to muddy the starch. Everyone was in high spirits.

The vermicelli drying on the two bamboo poles are so real, they are the fruits of their labor and are good things to sell for money!

The rhizomes look inconspicuous and worthless, but when they are made into food, they are still beyond the reach of ordinary people.

County Magistrate Hu and his companions said goodbye.

"Father, I'll take the dried vermicelli with me. You go back first and have Lao Mo pick out a Jiangdong plow. I'll need it!" Hu Erlang handed the honey Su Ying had given him to his father.

County Magistrate Hu casually accepted the honey without giving it much thought.

Su Bucheng looked at Hu Erlang as if he had realized something, but said nothing.

This place was secluded and remote, so Su Bucheng and Old Man Yang escorted them all the way to the official road.

"Mr. Su, I can't imagine that there will be a day when the people of Wu County will not suffer from hunger.

If vermicelli noodles sell well and become a specialty of Wu County, and the people become wealthy, will Wu County then be as bustling and prosperous as the provincial capital, with merchants flocking to it?"

County Magistrate Hu was full of confidence at this moment.

"If done well, it will be better than the provincial government!" Su Bucheng was very calm.

In the eyes of County Magistrate Hu, the provincial capital was prosperous and bustling, but Su Bucheng, who had seen the prosperity of Chang'an, felt that the provincial capital was deserted and even a little desolate.

"Really?" County Magistrate Hu was just talking nonsense, but he didn't expect Su Bucheng to think more than him.

"Of course! If you seize the opportunity, not only will Wu County become prosperous, but you will also be able to rise to prominence and have a successful career!" Su Bucheng said shockingly.

County Magistrate Hu looked at Su Bucheng steadily and said, "Mr. Su, please don't make fun of me. I know I have no ability.

The county magistrate served for two dynasties, but Wu County remained as poor as ever.

This time I don’t seek to achieve anything meritorious, but I do seek to avoid mistakes!”

"Your Excellency is kind-hearted and a rare good official, but you just lack the right opportunity! Now the opportunity is right in front of you, Your Excellency must seize it and not miss it!" Su Bucheng's words had hidden meaning.

"Mr. Su, please teach me!" County Magistrate Hu bowed deeply to Su Bucheng. "This will not only benefit the people of Wu County, but also help me get promoted! I am deeply grateful!"

I dare not think about becoming a successful person, but being transferred to a prosperous place and becoming a county magistrate is enough for my life.

"Sir, not only do you need the Jiangdong plow, I think the governor of the prefecture also needs it!" Su Bucheng stopped talking.

"Ah!" County Magistrate Hu was stunned for a moment before he realized what was happening. "Thank you, Mr. Su, for your advice!"

"I dare not!" Su Bucheng said modestly, "The Jiangdong plow that your son asked you to prepare is probably for this."

"Erlang" County Magistrate Hu slapped his head and remembered what Hu Erlang said.

Alas, Mr. Su has seen it, why didn’t I think of it?

Seeing that County Magistrate Hu was eager to ask for advice, Su Bucheng spoke out the thought that had been weighing on his mind, "Sir, there is actually one more thing you can try."

"What's the matter?" County Magistrate Hu said humbly.

"Make friends with the Li people!" Su Bucheng said slowly.

"Make friends with the Li people?" County Magistrate Hu's voice was a little loud. This was totally beyond his expectation.

The Li people are difficult to deal with, so if you can avoid provoking them, then do so. Su Bucheng asked him to deal with the Li people. Isn't this stirring up a hornet's nest?

The official arrived and within three words, the two sides started fighting!

"Yes! To make friends with the Li people, you can start by teaching them how to make vermicelli and ask them to send people to learn it.

In the future, we will let them learn every new skill, such as tea oil making and beekeeping.

I believe that as they learn and gain more survival skills, they will gradually let down their guard against the Han people and gradually interact with them.”

Su Bucheng told the story slowly.

After listening to this, County Magistrate Hu thought quietly and considered the feasibility of this matter.

Su Bucheng said nothing more and let County Magistrate Hu make his own decision.

After walking for more than an hour, they arrived at the official road. Zhang San, Li Si and a yamen runner were waiting by the roadside, looking forward to it.

"Mr. Su!" Zhang San greeted Su Bucheng warmly when he saw him.

"Is business good? I didn't run into you at the market yesterday!" Su Bucheng replied with a smile.

"I'm fine! I just got a job delivering water jars to a grocery store the other day. It's not busy farming season, so there's no one to farm at home. I took the job early yesterday and went back to the county town."

Zhang San felt very close to Su Bucheng when he saw him, as they had suffered hardships together.

"Mr. Su!" The bailiff squeezed over to greet him.

"Captain Niu is here too!" Su Bucheng replied indifferently.

This yamen runner was none other than Niu Er, who had acted arrogantly that day.

Su Bucheng is not blind and he saw it a long time ago.

"I'm sorry for the offense I caused you that day. Please forgive me, Mr. Su!" Niu Er clasped his fists towards Su Bucheng.

This time he was convinced, and the county magistrate went to Huanggou Village in person. The two walked side by side with a close attitude.

Yamen runners like Niu Er are very good at changing their attitude according to the situation, so they naturally apologized sincerely.

"Captain Niu, you are too serious. You are carrying out official duties. We are in a hurry, so misunderstandings are inevitable. It has nothing to do with Captain Niu!"

Su Bucheng said some polite words and the matter was over.

Zhang San and Li Si took County Magistrate Hu and others back to the county town.

"Thank you, Mr. Su. You may go back now!" County Magistrate Hu bowed to Su Bucheng.

"Goodbye, sir!" Su Bucheng also raised his hand and bowed.