However, this time the system is completely dead!
Is it because the level is not high enough, and there is a limit on the number of sentences you can speak every day?
It would be nice if there was an instruction manual.
She carried the basket to the kitchen, fearing mice, so she simply placed the peppers in the air. Just as she was about to fetch water for washing, she heard fluttering sounds in the yard and the cry of a hunting falcon. Startled for a moment, she put down the water ladle and walked out, catching sight of a pair of gleaming falcon eyes in the darkness.
There was no bamboo tube tied to the falcon's feet, no jewelry, and no golden medicine.
That's strange. Why did you come here without bringing anything?
You don’t want to eat for free, do you?
As Ye Nuan pondered, the falcon hooked its claws around her sleeve and, flapping its wings, carried her away, seemingly intending to take her to meet someone. Seeing her stir, the falcon simply released its grip and led the way. It was late at night, the village silent and still, the earth slumbering, the moonlight stretching her shadow far out.
It was so quiet that the only sounds were the chirping of insects, the flapping of falcons and her light footsteps. She walked quickly but did not forget to put on her face veil.
The falcon flew all the way to the edge of the pond. The water shimmered coldly in the moonlight. A dry branch stretched out from the northernmost corner of the lake. A man was leaning against the shadow of the tree, waiting silently with his back to the moonlight.
Even from a distance, Ye Nuan could feel his gaze on her. A hunting falcon landed on his shoulder, and he leaped down. His tall, slender figure was immersed in the night, and he walked towards her step by step on the night dew.
He looked handsome and calm, with a natural arrogance.
But he was carrying a broken black gold knife on his back, and the gem on the handle was shining red, which was particularly eye-catching in the night.
What a shining man!
Thinking of this joke, Ye Nuan found it a little funny. Her eyebrows curved unconsciously, and her tone was a little excited: "Why are you here?"
The words were soft, warm, and clear, like the whispers of a woman suddenly catching sight of her beloved. Qi Wuze's eyebrows jumped violently, and he coughed lightly, trying to keep his voice level. "The wound medicine is gone." He handed over a bag, and the medicine bottle inside made a slight clinking sound. Then he added, "There's still some salt in there."
Ye Nuan was slightly stunned and thought to herself: This guy looks rough and casual, but he is actually quite thoughtful.
She suddenly felt annoyed that she had not brought the food over, but remembering that she had food in her own space, she quickly said, "Wait for me." Then she ran back.
"Hey!" Qi Wuze shouted, and she quickly blended into the darkness. In just a moment, she disappeared.
If you ask me to wait, I have to wait!
Qi Wuze slapped the falcon's head away with one palm, and stood alone by the pond, seemingly talking to himself or to the falcon.
"What do you say she does?"
"Go get the red bean cakes?"
I told you not to have these little tricks, because I, the city lord, will definitely not accept it later!
In fact, Ye Nuan turned back after running halfway, and filled the basket in the space with two watermelons, some sweet potatoes, a bunch of green vegetables, spinach, tomatoes, some dried mushrooms, and a large number of red peppers. She ran to Qi Wuze again, panting.
The basket was too big and the things in it were too heavy. She was also thin, and her slender waist seemed to be crushed by the basket. When she got closer, she pushed the basket in front of Qi Wuze.
Qi Wuze subconsciously took it, and the moment he lowered his head, he saw her eyes, moist and glistening beneath her raven-black lashes. Before he could look away, she raised her head, her lashes rising, and her clear eyes met his figure.
"Look, there's watermelon, sweet potato, greens, spinach, tomatoes, mushrooms, and red peppers. This sweet potato can be a staple food, and can be roasted or steamed. You've never seen spinach before, right? It's like cabbage, but don't eat it with tofu, or you'll get a stomachache. This red one is a pepper..."
Ye Nuan explained everything to him, her voice several degrees warmer than the night breeze. As Qi Wuze listened, his ears began to buzz, as if feathers were scratching the tips of his ears. No matter how much he scratched, his neck still felt itchy.
"Hello, City Lord Qi?" Ye Nuan looked at the perched falcon on his neck, then looked at Qi Wuze who was obviously distracted.
Qi Wuze came back to his senses, grabbed the falcon, and threw it into the lake. The falcon fluttered into the water, then rushed out dripping wet and landed on the dead tree opposite, shaking its feathers and screaming in accusation.
Qi Wuze would never admit that he was distracted. He quickly asked, "Why is there no red bean cake?" After asking, he almost wanted to bite off his tongue and added, "Aya wants to eat."
Ye Nuan then remembered that she had promised a child to make red bean cakes. She said a little embarrassedly, "You came so suddenly, and I didn't prepare anything. How about you come tomorrow?"
"I'm not free tomorrow!" He raised his chin slightly and replied quickly, feeling that he had regained 10%. There was a hint of hidden arrogance in his look.
"...Uh, you don't have to come, Falcon can come." Ye Nuan said understandingly.
The puffed-up and proud look just now seemed to have a hole in it, and was emitting cold air.
"The hunting falcon is also not available!"
Ye Nuan clearly sensed that he seemed unhappy, but she didn't know him very well, so she didn't dare to flatter him. She could only pretend she didn't know and change the subject, "When is Falcon free? Can you bring me some writing brushes, inkstones, and enlightenment books?"
Qi Wuze's attention was indeed diverted, and he asked in confusion: "Do you want enlightenment?" Judging from her words and actions, she did not seem to be uneducated.
"No, it's my younger brother. He's old enough to learn to read, but our village has no writing brushes, inkstones, or books."
Don't the criminals who come to the wilderness all want to have enough food and clothes? But this family also wants to study. Qi Wuze thought of his younger brother who also needs to study, and his head ached. He thought: If only I could get that kid here to teach him together.
But this is Dahuang Village, they shouldn't come here.
"Okay." He picked up the basket and started to leave.
Ye Nuan hurriedly called out to him, her voice somewhat anxious, "City Lord Qi, I only have one basket at home. If it's convenient, could you bring the basket over next time?" If he didn't want to return it, she didn't have to take it. After all, a lifesaver was more important than a basket.
Qi Wuze recalled Gao Zangfeng's gnashing of teeth as he called the woman stingy and refused to let go of the basket. Although he felt a little annoyed, the thought that such a stingy woman was willing to give him the basket dissipated his annoyance.
"Yeah," he answered and took a step forward, then was stopped again.
She finally couldn't bear it anymore and was about to pour out her heart to me like countless other women had done. How should I reject her later? Or should I be polite and think about it again?
"City Lord Qi, is there a saltwater lake in the wasteland?"
Qi Wuze was about to raise the corners of his mouth but then he straightened it. Why was it different from what he imagined? He could only say that she was smarter than anyone else. Was she playing the long game to catch a big fish?
"Saltwater lake?" He thought for a moment and said, "There used to be a saltwater lake ten miles north of Crescent Lake, but it has dried up." There is already little water in the wilderness, and even animals won't drink from a saltwater lake like this one.
"Why are you asking this?"
Ye Nuan had no intention of hiding it from him. Finding the salt lake would require his help, and Luomu City was also short of salt. Only when the two of them became a community of shared interests would he help with all his heart.
"The reason this saltwater lake is salty is mostly because it contains salt. If we can extract it, there will be no shortage of salt in the wasteland in the future."
His eyes lit up instantly, and he put away his scattered emotions and became serious: "Can you refine salt?" He knew that the iron in the iron ore also needed to be refined, but salt had always been transported from the interior. He knew about salt mines, but he never knew that salt could be refined from saltwater lakes.
On the surface, the Creation Pavilion relies on them to take care of its business, but in reality, the Creation Pavilion holds their lifeblood in its hands. Once the Creation Pavilion fails to provide these, they can only go inside the pass and spend more money to buy them, and they will also be treated with contempt and insults by those officials.
If only they could extract their own salt...
"I can look for it in the wasteland." The wasteland is so vast, and there are many places I haven't been to, such as the shady side of Luomu Mountain, the heart of Xueshen Mountain, and the Desert City...
After learning that the salt lake had dried up, Ye Nuan felt a little sorry, but she also thought that there was likely more than one salt lake in this area, so there was still hope for salt production. She said, "Can you take me to see the dried-up salt lake sometime?" Maybe there would be a well salt mine nearby.
Qi Wuze thought for a moment and said, "You can go when you have the medicine prepared."
Ye Nuan wanted to say that tomorrow would be enough, but she still said, "Why don't you go when I go to pick up stones?"
Qi Wuze seemed puzzled: "Why do we have to pick up stones?" Judging from the dishes she brought and her cooking skills, there was no need to take any more risks.
"I'm not picking up rocks, I'm just trying to cover up my tracks."
Just like he didn't want others to know about his interactions with people from Dahuang Village? This realization made Qi Wuze feel a little uncomfortable, and then he felt that he was being too harsh.
"So when are you going to pick up the stones?"
"Not sure." She shook her head. She'd been busy clearing wasteland and planting crops lately. Her family had run out of salt, and many villagers were probably about to run out of it too. They'd definitely be picking up rocks when the time came. Village Chief Jin was probably waiting.
"How about this, you ask the falcon to come often, and I'll let you know when it's time to go?" She said this with some anticipation in her tone. In this era when communication is inconvenient, this is the only way. She was really worried that she wouldn't be able to find anyone when the salt supply was cut off.
Her eyes were pure black, and when she looked at someone seriously, she looked particularly focused and seductive. Qi Wuze's face tightened when she looked at him. He felt a little uncomfortable at first, and he turned his head away first, surprisingly without any of his usual frivolousness, and said in a muffled voice, "Okay."
They were both silent for a moment. He simply picked up the basket and walked towards the back of the mountain. After taking two steps, someone behind him called out again, "City Lord Qi."
The voice was as soft and warm as the night, climbing up his neck along the back of his feet, stirring up a layer of goose bumps. He was inexplicably irritated and turned around suddenly with a big movement, his voice mixed with anger: "What's wrong again!" The voice was annoying and sounded like a ghost.
Ye Nuan's eyelashes trembled slightly, a little surprised by his reaction, and then she returned to her usual gentleness, "I just want to remind you that the taste of that chili is a bit strong. It can be used as a condiment or fried on its own. If you are not used to it, don't throw it away..."
The voice was so soft, twice as soft as the water at his feet. Qi Wuze found that since some time ago, he could not concentrate when she spoke in this voice. Only the lingering tone echoed in his ears.
This perception was not good. He stood five steps away from her like a firecracker. After she finished speaking, he asked with a cold face, "Is it like the smell on your body?" It's not that he hated Ye Nuan's words, but he just felt uncomfortable all over.
Ye Nuan was stunned, then lowered her head and sniffed her sleeve.
What a strong smell!
She had eaten spicy hot pot and hadn't had time to wash up when she hurried out. She felt a little dazed for a moment, and her face under her veil was slightly hot. She bowed to Qi Wuze, turned around and left without saying a word.
His slender body disappeared into the night in the blink of an eye. Qi Wuze's erect hair finally smoothed down. He turned his head and whistled at the falcon still flapping on the tree branch. The falcon fluttered its wings and landed on his shoulder.
He sneered, stroked the bird's head, and scolded it with a smile: "Don't be so noisy next time, or I'll pluck out all your feathers."
He had broad shoulders and a big body, and he carried the basket in a very professional manner. As he walked, he picked up a bright red pepper, looked at it in the moonlight, and then put it to his nose to smell it.
The smell didn't seem to be similar to the smell on her body.
Qi Wuze went all the way back to the City Lord's Mansion, put the watermelon in Qi Ya's room, asked the housekeeper to put away the rest of the dishes and take them to the kitchen tomorrow, and then fell asleep.
The next day, at noon, Qi Ya sat down at the table. He usually didn't eat much unless the Ye family's food was available.
Soon, the chef and his servants filed in, and the white porcelain plates were placed on the table. The dishes were fresh and tender, but there was a faint, pungent smell in the air. Qi Wuze frowned and asked, "What are these dishes?"
Every cook is eager to try new dishes. The head chef, having grown up through the City Lord's repeated torture, now had a bright red face as he introduced the dish in a resounding voice: "Stir-fried greens with chili peppers, stir-fried sweet potatoes with chili peppers, stir-fried spinach with chili peppers, stir-fried tomatoes with chili peppers, stir-fried mushrooms with chili peppers, stir-fried chili peppers."
Qi Wuze's face turned black: "Why are there only chili peppers?" And what the hell is stir-fried chili peppers?
The chef looked innocent: "Didn't the city lord say, 'Especially the chili pepper, focus on it?'" Isn't that enough? This is a dish that I've painstakingly researched and developed.
Although he had never seen tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and peppers, it did not prevent him from performing well.
Qi Wuze: He did say that, but he emphasized that not every dish uses chili peppers. Why is the fried sweet potato with chili peppers served whole and not cut into pieces?
Before he could even start, Qi Ya had already picked up a bright red chili pepper and stuffed it into his mouth. Qi Wuze stared at his brother's face, which remained expressionless. But after a moment, his eyes turned red, and his usually cold and emotionless eyes became misty. Then his nose turned red, and then his face began to redden.
But he remained very calm. He chewed and chewed until he swallowed the food in his mouth. Then he continued to pick up food with an expressionless face. He just drank cup after cup of water, and the sweat on his forehead kept coming out.
Qi Wuze was suspicious: The taste is very strong, how strong can it be?
He picked up a piece of food with chopsticks and put it in his mouth. The spicy and pungent taste made his throat feel like it was about to split open, and his features wrinkled unconsciously. Just as he was about to curse, Gao Zangfeng rushed in and shouted, "City Lord, didn't you say you wanted me to eat chili peppers? Where are the chili peppers?"
Qi Wuze was uncomfortable with the spiciness and didn't want to talk for a while. He raised his chin to signal him to look at the table. The table was full of red, which was particularly eye-catching. Seeing Qi Ya's tearful face, Gao Zangfeng became excited.
"It's so delicious that Aya even cried because of it." This is strange, it's the first time.
Gao Zangfeng has always been careless and doesn't care about eating. He just stuffs his mouth with chopsticks. Then he feels like he has eaten a stove of fire in his mouth. As long as he opens his mouth, he can imitate the fire-breathing man performing on the street.
Qi Wuze finally recovered and ordered, "No waste!"
Gao Zangfeng covered his mouth, his entire face twitching, and then, under the pressure of their city lord, he swallowed it forcefully. He then gulped down a mouthful of water and shouted at the top of his lungs, "City lord, this isn't a dish, it's a knife. It's more choking than the strongest liquor."
"But, if you're a man, you should drink the strongest liquor and eat the strongest food. It's exciting! Isn't that right, City Lord?"
Gao Zangfeng laughed, his dark face showing that it was all natural.
Can Qi Wuze say no? No, because he is a man!
So, you and I took a bite, clearing the plates like we were at a drinking contest. The chef burst into tears; he was still as skilled as ever, his dishes still appreciated. Then, in the evening, he cooked another table full of chili peppers. City Lord Qi, clutching his still-aching stomach, asked with a dark face, "How much more?"
The chef thought the city lord was worried that he had finished eating, so he quickly said, "City lord, please feel free to eat. You brought a lot this time. If you eat this way, you will have enough for at least three days."
Qi Wuze stared blankly at the chef, who was smiling brightly, his teeth gleaming. His stomach ached, his legs ached, and his head hurt even more. He finally understood what Ye Nuan's gentle voice sounded like. It was like the chili pepper in front of him, bright red on the outside, but like a knife in the mouth, piercing every pore of his body and making him tremble.
It felt bad, but it was new!
So why would she plant this thing?
Ye Nuan also wanted to know why she gave this weird thing to Xiao Hu to eat!
Xiaohu was young, and he drank water desperately while eating chili peppers. He suddenly wet the bed in the middle of the night, which had never happened before! It was only when Su Shi felt something was wrong the more she slept that she realized it, and she felt sticky and uncomfortable on her body.
She hurriedly got up, found some clothes for Ye Xiaohu to change into, and then stuffed him into Ye Nuan's quilt. After drinking enough water, Ye Xiaohu urinated on Ye Nuan's bed without hesitation. Before dawn, the mother and daughter shivered while hugging the wet quilt, while the culprit was actually sleeping soundly.
In the darkness, Su Shi was sitting there when her stomach suddenly started to hurt. After enduring it for a while, she finally ran outside to squat in the toilet, running back and forth several times. When it finally stopped, the sky in the east was already turning pale. Seeing Su Shi's pale face, Ye Nuan hurried to boil some water.
After the water boiled, she added a few more drops of spiritual spring water to warm her mother. Her stomach was actually aching, probably because her body had never tasted chili peppers before. But how could she give up something as delicious as chili peppers so easily? She should not eat too much at once in the future; it would only get better if she took it little by little.
In modern times, she is someone who eats rice with chili sauce and can swallow chili powder raw without changing her expression.
Since Su was not feeling well, the task of washing clothes and quilts naturally fell on her. When she wanted to get the basket to carry the clothes, she remembered that the basket was given to Qi Wuze. She could only carry the heavy wooden basin to the pond to wash the two quilts and clothes.
The women in the village were surprised and puzzled when they saw her coming. They asked, "Goddess, I saw your mother washing the quilt just yesterday. Why is she washing it again today?"
Before Ye Nuan could answer, someone next to her said, "That must be because the goddess' skin is too delicate. She can't stand sleeping on the same quilt as the previous night. She needs to wash it every day."
"Goddess, let me help you wash."
"Yeah, how can a goddess wash these things? Let me do it."
"I'll do it."
The people by the pond were almost fighting, all vying to help her wash the clothes. Ye Nuan, who hadn't slept well the previous night, was given a headache by the noise. In the end, she had no choice but to divide the clothes and quilts equally.
The women started talking at once while washing clothes.
"Goddess, please tell me how to eat the chili peppers yesterday."
"Yes, the food in your house is so delicious that we are all greedy."
Ye Nuan sat on a rock beside the pond, her usually calm face wrinkled for a rare moment, and she said tentatively: "This thing has a strong smell. You saw Aunt Tao's expression yesterday. How about we make the seasoning first and only eat a little bit a day?" She was worried that the villagers who couldn't stand the spicy food would suffer from diarrhea.
How can the pepper seeds provided by the space be so spicy? If I had green peppers or sweet peppers, I could use them as a transition first.
However, whether it is spicy or not varies from person to person. Although the taste is very pungent at first, some people like it very much, such as Gao Zangfeng, Qi Ya, and Ye Xiaohu. Of course, there are also many people who can't accept the taste, but as every household starts to add chili to their dishes, people are getting more and more accustomed to the taste.
In addition to being spicy and pungent, it can also taste sweet, fresh and refreshing!
Chili sauce, chili powder, chili oil, tiger skin green peppers, garlic chili, these delicious dishes gradually occupied the dining tables of the people in Dahuang Village.
The food is spicy, making the meal more delicious!
Su had been a bit scared after the stomachache, but then she saw her daughter and son eat spicy food every meal, with a can of chili sauce readily available on the table. Over time, she gradually accepted it.
In order to completely change her impression of chili peppers, Ye Nuan plans to make her signature dish, stir-fried pork with green peppers.
Stir-fried pork with green peppers - one of the simplest home-cooked dishes, but also one that tests the most cooking skills.
Thousands of people can make a thousand flavors, but if it is done well, it smells delicious!
After hearing her description, Su still had some expectations.
She used pork front leg, which has a delicate texture and a perfect balance of fat and lean, perfect for stir-fried pork and green peppers. Her cuts were crisp and clear, separating the meat in the blink of an eye, and the slices were so thin they were almost transparent.
If you want the fried meat to be tender, you have to marinate it first. Meat marinated with salt will release water and become old, so she uses egg white and soy sauce to mix them evenly and then cuts the washed green peppers diagonally.
Heat the pan without oil, put the green pepper into the iron pan and stir-fry over low heat, add a little salt, wait until the pepper gradually softens and the skin becomes tiger skin-like, and emits a burnt aroma, then serve.
Next is to stir-fry the meat. When the oil is half hot, quickly add the fat and stir-fry. When the meat aroma comes out, pour in the marinated meat slices and continue to stir-fry. The scallions and ginger will enhance the flavor. When the meat slices begin to change color, add the green peppers and stir-fry evenly.
Add salt and sugar to enhance the flavor, and stir-fry over high heat. The green peppers are more fragrant than spicy, not pungent and crisp, and the meat is tender and juicy.
A dish of stir-fried pork with green peppers was quickly served. The aroma of the meat, mixed with the aroma of the peppers and the spicy flavor, penetrated the nose directly. The hot air was steaming and whetted the appetite. Ye Nuan wiped her hands and called to Su: "Mom, try it."
The kitchen is filled with the rich aroma of vegetables. The soy sauce is stir-fried until it turns a caramel color and evenly wraps every piece of meat and green pepper. The appearance alone is mouth-watering.
Ye Nuan handed her the chopsticks. She swallowed and took them, picking up a piece of meat first. The sauce dripped down the tender slices of meat onto the plate, and the soft and springy meat filled her mouth with the savory sauce and the spicy meaty aroma.
The spiciness is balanced by the freshness and fragrance, creating an indescribable deliciousness.
So delicious!
Ye Xiaohu jumped hard on the stove, "Mom, Mom, I want one too!"
Su picked up a piece for him. He chewed it until his cheeks were bulging and there was gravy at the corners of his mouth. It was so delicious!
He wanted to eat more, but Su stopped him and said, "Take the bowls and chopsticks and eat at the table." He immediately took the bowls and chopsticks for three people along with the rice spoon to the main hall, put them down, and ran back to follow Su who was serving the dishes.
Mrs. Su looked at her son, who was jumping around, and said with disdain, "Your brother has become a greedy cat. He won't be able to find a wife in the future."
Ye Nuan followed behind with the food and said with a smile: "People who know how to eat are usually good at cooking and caring for others. Maybe Xiaohu will marry a virtuous and beautiful wife in the future, so don't worry about it."
"If he dares to treat my wife badly in the future, I will definitely break his legs!"
Ye Nuan smiled even more happily: "Yes, yes, I will help you fight!"
He had no idea that if he wasn't careful in the future he would face Ye Xiaohu in mixed doubles, and he was still thinking about his flesh.
As soon as the three of them sat down, Feng Dazhu arrived carrying water. It was midday, and his forehead was covered in sweat. Ye Nuan stood up and said, "Brother Feng, you can bring the water later. Come and take a rest."
Feng Dazhu poured the water into the water tank and came out again with the empty bucket. The smell of the fried pork with peppers made his stomach growl. He swallowed twice and said embarrassedly: "Goddess, just call me Dazhu from now on. It's okay, I'm not hot."
He was still glancing inside, but Ye Nuan didn't have the habit of politely inviting people to dinner.
"Goddess, everyone asked me, will you go with us to pick up stones tomorrow?" With Ye Nuan's ability, she didn't need to go at all, but they still hoped that she would go. With her there, they could ensure that the wild beasts would not attack.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
