Chapter 105 (Three Ways to Eat Potatoes)
Dongdong stood there as if struck by lightning, motionless.
Yan Qiushu ran back halfway, smiling and hugging him: "Oh, Dongdong, I was just teasing you~ How could Sister Shu not see Dongdong!"
Dongdong pouted, wanting to be angry, tears welling up in her eyes due to grievance, but being held like this, she felt happy and couldn't bear to be angry.
Yan Qiushu chuckled: "Don't be angry, I won't tease you like this in the future, okay? I was wrong, and you will punish me by making something delicious for Dongdong later!"
Dongdong then reluctantly hugged her back: "Really?"
"Of course it's true!" Yan Qiushu affirmed, "Have you had breakfast?"
Seeing him nod, she said, "Then I'll make you some delicious potato snacks later."
"French fries?!" Dongdong's eyes lit up. He still remembered the salt and pepper French fries he had eaten more than two months ago. The taste was still unforgettable to him.
Wan'er also ran over and threw herself into Yan Qiushu's arms, saying happily, "Wan'er wants to eat French fries too!!!"
Yan Qiushu smiled and said, "We have both, but the snacks I'm talking about are not French fries, but wolf-tooth potatoes!"
"Wolf-tooth potatoes?" Wan'er looked at her fearfully and asked cautiously, "Does it look like wolf teeth?"
Yan Qiushu was silent for a moment: "It seems not?"
After talking to the two children for a while, asking about the situation in the mansion and Xiao Huaiqi's health, Yan Qiushu looked at the two older children again. Shen Pingyu was still so polite: "Ping has met Aunt Yan."
Xiao Pingsong said in a more innocent tone, "Hello, Aunt Yan. My uncle asked us to bring the potatoes here. He said that the potatoes that King Huai brought over had a bumper harvest two days ago, and each family got a lot. His Majesty thought you were still living in the Xiao family, so he sent your share along. We kept some for tasting, and sent the rest to Manager Yao to have him hire someone to plant them. Yours is here."
Chen Pingyu nodded his little head, a look of mature satisfaction on his handsome face: "These potatoes are really great. I heard from my uncle that one potato sprout can grow five to eight potatoes. The germination rate is also very high. It won't be long before the people of Da Zhou can eat potatoes!"
Yan Qiushu was shocked when she heard this. Five to eight seeds on one plant?
She still remembered that she had contracted the land and had done some research when planting. It was considered good if one plant had four or five seeds. Of course, there were also cultivated varieties that could produce up to sixty seeds per plant, but they were not yet popular in her time and space.
Perhaps the land chosen by the royal family is the most fertile?
Or maybe this is a golden finger given by the author.
Not outrageous, and the more potatoes like this the better.
Yan Qiushu was naturally very happy to have achieved this, but she couldn't use all the potatoes in this cart for food. Most of them had to be saved for seeds. Potatoes were also very good for military rations. According to the plot, there would be another war next year, and Xiao Huaiting's military pay would be deducted, causing chaos inside and outside the army...
When Yan Qiushu thought of this, she ordered people to divide the potatoes first. It just so happened that the land that had been used to plant strawberries had been cleared, making it very suitable for planting potatoes.
"Manager Gu!" she shouted.
Gu, the steward who had long been curious about this Potato, came over quickly with a warm smile: "Miss, just give me your orders."
Yan Qiushu pointed at the cart of potatoes and said, "Leave one bag to eat and the rest for seeds. I'll tell you how to plant them later, but it's best to ask Manager Yao. I've never actually planted them before..."
Manager Yao was so happy that he quickly took out a bag of potatoes and pushed the remaining cart away himself.
Dongdong looked at the potatoes that were walking away, feeling heartbroken: "Sister Shu, we won't eat them?"
Wan'er, Shen Pingyu and Xiao Pingsong were also a little disappointed, especially Shen Pingyu. He was not in Kyoto last time. Although he was later given two potatoes, they were not made by Yan Qiushu. The ones made by Master Zou tasted just average to him.
This led to him being particularly excited when he heard Dongdong describing how delicious the potatoes he had eaten last time were on the way here, but he didn't expect that there was only a little bit left.
Yan Qiushu said softly, "There are still so many! This bag is enough to make a lot of things. In two months, we will have another good potato harvest~"
Dongdong said dejectedly: "But now I can only eat a little bit..."
He still remembered the delicious taste from last time, and even more so, the two potatoes that were shared by so many people, with each person only being able to taste a little bit, and he was reluctant to let them go.
But Yan Qiushu couldn't satisfy him immediately and completely. She could only rub his little head and say, "Let's go make wolf-tooth potatoes first, shall we? Can Dongdong help me carry two potatoes to the kitchen?"
Although Dongdong is a little willful, he is very sensible most of the time and knows what is important for the overall situation. So he sighed sadly and went to move the potatoes.
Yan Qiushu looked at Wan'er again and said, "Wan'er, how about you and Sister Shuiyu go to the field and pick ten red peppers?"
"Okay!" Wan'er walked over with a smile.
Then she said, "Pingyu, go get some of the charcoal that's drying over there. Pingsong, take the remaining potatoes to the kitchen."
"good!"
"no problem!"
The children each did their own thing and forgot about the disappointment of having fewer potatoes. They were all excited.
Their status was different from that of ordinary farm children. The maids and servants never dared to ask them to do anything. They were just served and had to wait for food and drink. Only Yan Qiushu was brave enough to ask them for help, and she was naturally happy.
Instead, Xiao Huaiya stood aside, staring at her motionlessly.
Yan Qiushu reacted and said with a smile: "Go and light a fire and boil the potatoes later."
"Okay!" Xiao Huaiya was also happy and walked over with her skirt lifted.
Zhuo Ning is not here. He has just been transferred back to Kyoto and is very busy. After being delayed for two days, he can't wait to go back.
Yan Qiushu came to the kitchen, looked at the potatoes, thought for a moment, and took out the large iron plate she had prepared.
She didn't plan to make only wolf tooth potatoes. In addition to this, there are also cumin potatoes and potato pancakes. She would make a little of each and taste a little of each. Only in this way would she feel that the potatoes were not stupid after having a full stomach.
These things are not difficult to make. Wolf tooth potatoes and potato pancakes require an iron plate, while cumin potatoes require a frying pan.
Fortunately, there were many children and manpower at the moment. Yan Qiushu arranged everything one by one, and finally everything went on in an orderly manner. Chen Pingyu brought firewood, the fire was lit, and the iron plate was set up. On the other side, Dongdong and Xiao Pingsong had washed the potatoes, and Shui Xian was slicing them.
When cutting, Yan Qiushu remembered that there was no wavy mold at the time, so she could only make potato strips temporarily.
Zhao Shuhong helped to cut the shreds, which actually made the process faster. People with skilled knife skills could cut the shreds into evenly thick shreds in a short time. These shreds were not as soft as the thick shreds. When you picked up one, it hung down limply as if it had no bones.
Put all these things in a bowl, add egg white, some flour, a little shredded carrots and a little chopped green onions, as well as seasonings such as pepper, salt, cumin, and peppercorns.
After stirring evenly, put it directly on the oiled iron plate. "Sizzle!" A familiar frying sound was heard, and balls of shredded potatoes were placed on it. Then use chopsticks to dig a hole in it, and put the remaining egg yolk into the hole. When it is slightly solidified, use a spatula to scoop the bottom, and then use a little force to turn it over.
Fry until both sides are golden brown, and finally sprinkle with red chili powder according to your taste.
“I want spicy food!”
“Not spicy!”
The people waiting for the food sat obediently three meters away and watched eagerly. Yan Qiushu got feedback, some of them sprinkled chili peppers and some did not, and then she gave each of them a small bowl.
I saw golden potatoes placed in the small white bowl. Because they were sprinkled with a lot of seasonings, the color was a little brownish yellow, but some were sprinkled with chili powder, making the overall color reddish brown.
Looking over at the side, the wolf tooth potatoes are almost ready to be served. Put them on a plate, mix them evenly with the seasonings that have been prepared in advance, and add a few to each bowl.
Yan Qiushu felt that this looked too much like the snacks she would buy for five dollars in the back street of the school when she was in school!
I miss it so much!
But it feels like a lifetime ago.
She had been away from school for a long time, and had been in this time and space for a long time. Everything in the past was far away from her, and potatoes had returned to her diet, but she still could not return to her original world.
Little hands reached out and took their share.
Little cotton-padded jacket Wan'er held the bowl in both hands and was about to eat, but when she saw the look in her sister Ashu's eyes, she felt very sad, so she walked behind the charcoal stove and tugged at her sleeve.
Yan Qiushu came back to her senses and smiled: "What's wrong?"
Wan'er held the bowl high and brought it to her, her soft and cute voice saying, "Sister Shu, I'll give it to you. Don't be sad!"
Yan Qiushu's eyes felt sore, and the smile that she had tried to raise at the corners of her lips could not be maintained. She pursed her lips, endured the bitterness in her heart, and was unable to respond immediately.
Dongdong, who was enjoying his meal, just took a bite of the potato pancake that was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, and was stunned. Is Sister Ashu sad?
He hurried over on his short legs and reluctantly handed over his food: "Sister Shu, I'll give you mine too. Don't be sad. Did someone bully you? I... I'll let Brother Pingsong teach him a lesson!"
Xiao Pingsong nodded vigorously at the side: "Yes, I am very strong. Yesterday, the teacher said that I learned martial arts well. He can't teach me anymore and needs to change teachers."
Shen Pingyu swallowed the food in his mouth and said seriously: "Aunt Yan, I can't fight, but I can write articles to let people scold him. Tell me who it is?! Did the guests say something about you?"
Since ancient times, merchants have held a high status. Now the Xiao family only interacts with dignitaries, and many people will definitely look down on this. Moreover, she is engaged to her own uncle, which will definitely make many people dislike her.
Xiao Huaiya, Shui Yu, Zhao Shuhong and others also looked at her worriedly, but they were not sure why. Shui Yu felt that she had guessed something and looked in the direction of the backyard.
The Sixth Young Master passed away this morning. Are you reluctant to let him go, young lady?
Xiao Huaiya had similar thoughts. Zhao Shuhong, on the other hand, felt that she might be in a similar situation as herself, so she was also alone. Now she was thinking of the past, so she smiled and said, "A Shu, don't think about the past. People should look forward. If you live a good life now, that is the best way to repay them."
Yan Qiushu sniffed and smiled brightly: "It's okay, I'm fine. It's just that it's so difficult to have such delicious potatoes with only a little bit!"
Shen Pingyu frowned slightly, as if he didn't believe it, but then he believed it. Dongdong, Wan'er and Pingsong were much simpler. When they heard this, they nodded and said, "Yeah, it's delicious!"
"Sister Shu, try this!" Wan'er picked up a piece of wolf-tooth potato chips and put it to Yan Qiushu's mouth: "It's delicious~"
Yan Qiushu opened her mouth to take it. The wolf-tooth potato strips she was eating had a little chopped green onion on them. There was no chili powder, only the delicious cumin and pepper salt flavor. The texture was a little powdery on the outside and a little crispy on the inside. The overall taste was more crispy and salty. "Mm, it's especially delicious, especially the ones Wan'er feeds to Sister Shu. They are the best!"
Wan'er was holding a potato chip in her mouth, her face red with smiles, and she was extremely happy.
Dongdong got anxious after hearing this and quickly put his potato chips to her mouth: "You eat mine, mine is better! Spicy..."
Yan Qiushu was at a loss for words. Dongdong was also very competitive in this regard, but this kind of competition was a bit clumsy and fun. She cooperated and opened her mouth to bite off the potato chip.
The potato chips with chili peppers tasted even more pungent. She liked spicy food, so she naturally thought they were delicious. However, Yan Qiushu still said, "Wow, Dongdong's is delicious too!"
Dongdong smiled with satisfaction and took a big bite of another potato pancake. He thought this one was delicious too. There is one difference between potato pancakes and other pancakes. That is, the edges of the potato pancakes are frizzy. Although the potato shreds are soft, they cannot really be bent at will. When they are fried, the edges of the potato shreds will curl up.
Therefore, these places are fried to be extremely crispy, but the inside is fluffy when eaten. It is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The key is that egg yolk is put in the small hole in the middle, which gives it another soft taste. You can also taste the crispy and sweet shredded carrots while chewing.
"Sister Ashu, this is for you too, it's delicious!" Dongdong presented his delicacy again.
This time Yan Qiushu refused. Looking at the neat row of teeth marks on the potato, she smiled and said, "You eat it yourself, and I'll make some small potato wedges!"
"Okay~" Dongdong gave up regretfully.
The harvested potatoes are all big, and only cumin potatoes can be used, instead of those that are naturally small.
But the method is similar.
Cut the potatoes into dice, boil them and fry them in a pan until the outer layer is hard and slightly yellow. Then you can take them out and put them back into the pan, add cumin and other seasonings and stir-fry.
Three pieces per person is not a lot, but when you add up the three snacks, it’s still quite a lot.
Xiao Huaiting, the only one with a big taste here, had already left, so this amount was enough for them to eat.
Yan Qiushu was the first to taste it. She inserted chopsticks into the cumin potatoes and brought them to her mouth. She took a bite of the pointed part first, which pulled off the crispy outer shell of other parts, revealing the tender yellow potato flesh inside.
The outer skin is also where the seasoning is heaviest. It is really crispy and soft, but when you get to the inside, it is soft and sticky!
Yan Qiushu dipped it in some chili powder. The spicy taste made the soft powder and the choking feeling in the throat disappear immediately, and the taste increased a lot.
She ate mouthful after mouthful, occasionally taking a sip of sweet milk tea, until everyone was satisfied and put down their bowls and chopsticks. She said, "Pingyu, are you staying tonight?"
Shen Pingyu pursed his lips and smiled: “If it doesn’t disturb Aunt Yan’s reception, then Pingyu will stay.”
"Don't disturb me, don't disturb me. There are not many customers." Yan Qiushu said happily. She doesn't have customers every day. Three waves a month is enough.
She didn't notice Shen Pingyu's sympathetic look, and then looked at Dongdong, Wan'er and Xiao Pingsong: "What about you three? Stay too?"
Dongdong chuckled, hugged Yan Qiushu's waist, and said happily: "I want to sleep with Sister Shu!"
Wan'er also quickly hugged her other side: "Wan'er wants it too!"
The serious young man Shen Pingyu frowned: "Dongdong, you are a man."
Dongdong stuck out his tongue and said confidently, "I'm a child!"
Yan Qiushu chuckled and pressed a head with one hand: "Yes, it's okay for children. Seven-year-olds don't sit together. Dongdong is not even six yet, and Wan'er is also not yet six. Then I will take you to sleep tonight. Pingyu, don't be afraid. Pingsong, too. You two brothers should sleep together. It's better this way."
Shen Pingyu glanced at Dongdong, but when speaking to Yan Qiushu, an elder, he still did not refute. He just gave her a slight warning with his eyes, and then nodded: "Yes."
Xiao Pingsong patted his chest and said, "Aunt Yan, don't worry. I will take good care of my brother Pingyu."
Yan Qiushu smiled and waved to them: "What are you worried about? Let's go play a game. There are many people here today, how about playing Eagle Catches Chicken?"
"OK!"
Several children agreed enthusiastically, but Chen Pingyu was a little hesitant in agreeing. However, Yan Qiushu pulled him and brought him to an empty space covered with green grass. He then kept silent and participated in the game silently.
With familiar children around, Yan Qiushu felt very relaxed and had a lot of fun. It was not until it got dark that the group returned to their rooms to rest.
Dongdong slept on the couch, Wan'er and Yan Qiushu slept on the bed.
Otherwise her bed wouldn't be able to accommodate three people, even if two of them were children.
But Wan'er doesn't want to sleep with Dongdong, so this is the only way.
Yan Qiushu made the quilt for Dongdong and put the pillow in place, but when she picked up the pillow, there were a few little rabbits and butterflies underneath that looked like they were woven out of grass.
Dongdong, who was lying on the bed, had his eyes light up. He quickly took the little rabbit and stared at it for a few seconds before exclaiming, "Wow! Sister Shu, was this made by my uncle? How did he hide it under your pillow? Has he been to your room before?"
Yan Qiushu: “…?”
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
