Chapter 16 Chapter 16 It was hot out, so we barely chatted for a moment before...
It was a hot day, so we didn't chat for a long time before rushing home.
I have lived in this hut for a long time. I added some things today and repaired the thatched roof tomorrow. It really looks brand new.
Song Mian looked around the thatched courtyard and saw that the original dilapidated roofs had been replaced with newly woven thatch, which was clean and tidy and looked very beautiful.
There is a string of bright red peppers and a string of plump garlic hanging under the corridor, which looks very beautiful.
The broken wooden bench in the yard that was missing some parts of its legs was also replaced with a new one. The brand new wooden table was coated with varnish, revealing the original grain and color of the wood.
On it was a narrow-mouthed, round-bellied vase containing a bunch of wild flowers picked from the fields.
There's even a chirping chicken.
"Where did this chicken come from?" Song Mian asked curiously.
Wenlan couldn't help laughing when she talked about this: "Chi Ge'er took a piece of malt sugar and traded it with the children in the village for a chicken and a goose, saying that he wanted to raise them and stew them for his sister."
Song Mian picked up the chick and touched its head, watching it peck at him with its tender yellow beak. It felt itchy and quite interesting.
"So cute." She couldn't help but kissed him.
"How about we get another puppy?" Song Mian said.
Who hasn’t had a pastoral dream? A big fat dog, little chickens, sunset, chimneys, these form a beautiful picture.
"Sure, it can also be used to guard the house." Song Fuxue responded with a smile.
He held the charcoal basin and poured the burnt coal slag in front of the door to form a path. The coal slag was very solid, could not be broken by stepping on it, and did not easily raise dust.
Song Mian looked at the charcoal basin, his face full of thought.
At that time, the coal and charcoal basin were relatively primitive. The coal was mixed with coal soil and burned. The charcoal basin was also a large open basin, shallow and wide, which made it easier to burn, but it really consumed a lot of coal. Wire mesh, brackets, etc. were placed on it according to needs, like the griddle they used to make pies.
She suddenly thought of honeycomb coal and coal stoves. Coal stoves are very coal-saving and every household can afford them, which shows that they are really useful.
Song Mian looked up at the sky. She remembered what a coal stove looked like. It would be even better if she could make one and try it out.
"Dad, where can I get custom-made pottery? I have an idea and want to try it out," she asked.
In the past, they could just give the servants an order and they would get things done, but now, they were both completely in the dark.
Song Fuxue shook her head and smiled: "You might as well ask the neighbors, they know more."
Song Mian gritted his teeth, thinking it was not a good idea to ask about something so vague.
She thought it would be much better to make some rules herself first and then ask others for advice.
Just do it if you want to.
A sturdy ceramic coal stove is difficult to make, but it is very simple to make one out of mud. Song Mian doesn't remember the specific structure, but the conditions required for burning items are just a few: ventilation and oxygen. Overall, it is very similar to an earthen stove.
She first borrowed a shovel from her neighbor. As soon as she heard that they were going to work, Song Xiaoshu and Sun Erya came out with their sleeves rolled up.
"You can't do these rough jobs, let me do it."
He came over with a heroic and confident look on his face. The two of them were confused: "What are you doing?"
Song Mian looked up at the sky, wondering what could have happened to make them rush over. It seemed that they were really good to her.
"Dig some yellow mud. I want to make something out of it."
At that time, Song Xiaoshu was carrying a basket to dig soil. He went there to dig soil to build a mud stove and a kang nearby.
Seeing him go, Song Mian knew that he was reliable, so she went straight home to make honeycomb coal. She was not very good at it, but everything could be made into dough. She simply crushed the coal blocks and coal dust, mixed them together, and then added water and started to knead the dough.
She used her experience in making pies and dough to make honeycomb briquettes.
Pile the crushed coal into a small hill, dig a hole in the middle, pour water in, and start kneading the dough... and the coal.
"What are you doing?" Song Fuxue came over with a confused look on his face and helped stir the coal cakes with a stick.
"Just make some improvements. I think this wastes too much coal." Coal is also very expensive, and they need to save money.
Song Mian replied, feeling that the stick was not satisfying enough. He glanced at his hands, made up his mind, and started to use his hands.
"What are you doing?" Song Fuxue was shocked.
Song Mian wiped the sweat off his face with his arm and sighed: "You'll know when you get out."
If possible, you can make some molds and use them by pressing them.
But now she had nothing, so she made a round lump of coal by rubbing it with her hands, and then poked a few holes in it with a wooden stick.
Song Zhuo took a closer look and tilted his head: "What is this?"
Song Chi poked it with his finger, leaving a fingerprint, and then shyly retracted it.
"Well, it's broken."
Song Mian shook his head and laughed: "It's okay."
Once you've made the first one, the second one will be easy. Make them about the same size and use the first one as a guide when you poke the holes.
Five pieces were made quickly.
Song Mian put it on the open ground to dry. She was a little uncertain and thought that in such a hot day, one or two days should be enough.
As soon as the honeycomb coal was made, Song Xiaoshu and Sun Erya came back carrying a basket of loess.
Song Mian started kneading the dough again... and the soil.
She thought about it and added some wheat straw to increase its toughness so that it would not go bad as soon as it was made.
She went back specifically to see what the earthen stove looked like, and then began to pound mud and paste mud to make a coal stove based on the coal stove she remembered.
Fortunately, I had experience in making pies, so playing with mud was quite easy for me.
Song Xiaoshu and Sun Erya stared at her in amazement, not understanding what she was doing.
First, press the loess into a big cake, then roll it into a barrel, add a base, and leave air vents. Song Mian repairs it according to his memory.
"This?" Song Fuxue saw her keep looking back at the stove, and slowly figured out what was going on.
"Are you making a simple stove?" he asked.
Song Mian nodded and said with a smile, "It's almost the same idea, but it can only be used to burn coal. I feel that by gathering the fire together, the area exposed to the air will be smaller, which should save a lot of coal. I want to try it."
As soon as she finished speaking, Sun Erya's face was full of admiration: "Mianmian is so amazing!"
She couldn't think of these.
Song Mian smiled shyly: "It's just an idea, I don't know the ending."
She was hoping to get better.
Song Fuxue looked at the clay stove she made and then at the coal cakes with holes she made. He found them interesting.
"I think it can work." He nodded affirmatively.
"Let's try it after it dries." Song Mian replied.
Several people looked at the lump of mud lying there, all of them a little confused, but good things just have a different aura. Song Zhenge also came over to take a look, looking very interested.
Several people were gathered together chatting. Song Mian slapped her head and suddenly remembered that she had agreed with her father last night to teach them how to make pan-fried dumplings.
"Erya, Brother Xiaoshu, come to my house for dinner tonight. I will teach you how to make pan-fried dumplings. If you can learn, our two families can join forces to start a breakfast business." Song Mian said with a smile.
Sun Erya's eyes lit up instantly. She had long wanted to learn something and sell breakfast, but she grew up in the village and had little experience and no knowledge of business. With Song Mian's guidance, she learned to sell peaches and had money in her hands. She always wanted to make more money. She had watched Song Mian making pies for two days and learned it a long time ago. Although she didn't want to steal the business, she also hoped that Song Mian could give her some pointers.
"Thank you so much. If this thing succeeds, I will give you 30% of the profits." Sun Erya was so happy.
If the other party is willing to help her, she should give something back.
She jumped three feet high, a little bit unbelievable, and wanted to hug Song Mian and kiss him twice.
"We are all neighbors, there is no need to be polite." Song Mian smiled with his lips curved.
Not only did Aunt Zhao's family help them so much, but they were also large and powerful, and they were very kind. Building good relationships with them was a great support.
Song Xiaoshu also bowed repeatedly, overjoyed. He even felt that 30% profit was a bit low.
"Go back and rest first. I'll call you when it's time for dinner."
After Song Mian finished speaking, he saw them go home and went to the kitchen to make the dough rise with the old dough.
At this time, there is no yeast, so we use the old dough left at home. It is still very useful, but the process is relatively long. We must first break the old dough into pieces and soak it, then add a little flour and let it rise first as a starter, and then put in the required amount of flour. This is the real fermentation.
After preparing the noodles, he returned to his hut with peace of mind.
Life in Daliang Dynasty was getting better and better, and she was full of motivation. If the coal stove worked, she would go to the pottery place to customize a few coal stoves, so that she could use them at home and when selling pies.
If his family were not criminals and there were not so many restrictions, she could even sell coal stoves, which are very practical daily necessities, and fill Qinghe Town with them to make a lot of money.
However, Emperor Shunde only has six years to live, and she will be twenty years old by then, which is just the right age.
Song Mian gradually got used to life in ancient times.
She lay on the bed and took out the money box hidden in the wall. She counted the coins one by one. The slightly cool coins felt thin in her palms. They were not heavy, but they made her particularly happy.
The money she saved before was used to tear cloth to make clothes. My aunt was busy all day long. She wanted to keep the money she saved this time to buy things she needed for winter.
We need to buy a lot of cotton and make quilts, which are quite expensive. However, this is the first year when it is quite pitiful as we have nothing at home. It will be easier in the future.
After Song Mian counted the copper coins, he put the money box back.
She lay there for a while but couldn't fall asleep, so she just stared blankly with her eyes open. Without air conditioning, mobile phone, or library, she became a useless person.
A rotten salted fish.
Tired after a long day, she finally fell asleep. When she woke up, the sun had already set.
The sunset glows all over the sky, shining on people and adding some beautiful colors.
Song Mian stretched.
After she bent down and walked out of the hut, her first reaction was to check whether the coal stove she had been drying had dried out and cracked. Fortunately, there was wheat straw inside, so it looked okay.
"This coal looks half dry."
She pinched it with her hand out of curiosity.
Song Chi also pinched it with his hands.
"It's not easy to pinch." He puffed his cheeks and looked at his blackened fingers with some disgust.
She stretched herself and saw Wenlan cooking. She hurried over to help and asked with a smile, "What are you cooking tonight?"
In fact, they always eat the same things: tomatoes, beans, eggplants, celery, cucumbers, etc., and they change the way they eat them. Occasionally she buys some meat. It is a very homely and comfortable life.
"Make a cucumber salad, and stir-fry some eggplant and braised beans."
Wenlan replied with a smile. The scabs on her face were already peeling off. She knew that she would have scars on her face. She felt a little regretful, but more relieved. The beautiful widow of a criminal was very dangerous, but according to physiognomy, she drew a line from the brow bone to the corner of the mouth. Such a disfigurement would bring bad luck to her husband, and most people would not dare to touch it.
Song Mian nodded.
She took the shovel and motioned for her to rest for a while.
People who go out to make money are very busy and tired, but people at home may not be idle.
Washing clothes and cooking sound simple, but those tedious tasks are very energy-consuming and tiring. There are also the elderly and children to take care of, which requires a lot of worry.
Even Song Zhenge was not idle. He was responsible for repairing the roof of his house. He had to cut the thatch, dry the thatch, and ask the old people how to weave the thatch. It was all very tiring.
Everyone is working quietly for the family.
Song Mian thought that he should buy some candy tomorrow and ask Wenlan to make some snacks. Eating some desserts would make him feel much better.
Their identities are shackles, but also a relief.
Since there is no future anyway, I might as well live a relaxed and comfortable life.
"The clothes for you and your second uncle are ready. Since you two are going out to meet people, I made yours first. Try them on before going to bed. If there is anything inappropriate, change it now." Wenlan said with a smile.
"Thank you for your hard work, aunt." Song Mian replied with a smile.
Wenlan quickly said that it was not hard, as both her and her mother depended on the second wife for support. She felt guilty and always wanted to do more.
"Go call Grandma Zhao, Sun Erya, and Song Xiaoshu to come for dinner." Song Mian instructed Song Zhuo.
She wanted to call all the Song family members over, but her small kitchen could not cook for so many people.
There are about 20 people in the neighbor's house, young and old.
She felt tired just thinking about cooking for so many people.
As soon as she finished speaking, Song Zhuo hurried out to call for help. He was the only one at home who had nothing to do. Apart from teaching Song Chi to read, there were no children to play with him. He had no interest in the games that the village children liked to play.
In just a few days, he became much calmer.
Song Mian felt a little distressed, but Song Fuxue said that it was good this way, to be more calm, think twice before doing anything, and not panic when encountering problems in the future.
"Uncle, go to Grandma Liu's house and get some tender tofu." Song Mian said with a smile.
Song Zhenge responded and went out with the pottery bowl.
When Song Zhuo arrived at his neighbor's house, he saw them having dinner.
He was startled for a moment, then said gently, "My sister asked me to call Grandma Zhao, my sister-in-law, and Brother Xiaoshu to come eat."
There were two large tables in the yard, and they were all full. When they saw Song Zhuo coming, they all smiled and invited him in to have a bowl of food.
Song Zhuo quickly declined.
Aunt Zhao didn't hesitate and drank the porridge in her bowl in one gulp. Then she wiped her mouth and stood up: "Let's go."
Seeing her do this, Sun Erya and Song Xiaoshu followed suit and drank the porridge as well.
The four of them walked back together.
When Aunt Zhao arrived, Song Mian was kneading the dough. She smiled and said, "The first part is to let the dough rise and knead it. You are more familiar with these than I am, so I won't show off my skills. The second part is what we need to do. It's actually quite simple. It just requires a few tricks. You will learn it once you see it."
Song Mian called Song Fuxue to help her prepare the charcoal brazier, and she began to prepare the stuffing.
"I thought that if it is to be delicious and affordable, this minced meat tofu is a good choice. Chop the pork belly into fine minced meat, add appropriate seasonings, and then cut the tofu into dices as big as the tip of your little finger. Stir it gently. This tofu is cheap, but it tastes very fragrant when soaked in gravy." Song Mian explained as he made it.
"It's even easier to wrap it, just like making dumplings. My pleating skills are poor, so you can just watch."
A small dough as big as a date was pressed into a thin sheet, filled with stuffing, and then carefully wrapped up. Song Mian was indeed not very good at wrapping, but after making pie dough for so long, he was pretty good at it.
After wrapping a row of noodles and putting them on the chopping board to rest, she went to fiddle with the griddle.
Scrub it clean and then apply oil.
"The pan-fried buns are delicious. The dough is soft and tender, and the filling is full when you bite into it. It's very fragrant. The bottom is fried crispy but not hard. It tastes crispy and has a wheat flavor."
Song Mian explained, his hands moving without stopping, explaining as he did so: "Fry the buns that have been fermented for a while. When the bottom is about to take shape, add water to cover one-third of the buns. Then cover them with a lid. Wait until the water is dried up and fry until they sizzle and smell fragrant. Then you can sprinkle them with sesame seeds and green onions and serve."
Although the fried buns are not folded beautifully, they are plump and white and squeezed together. The moment you lift the lid of the pot, the rich fragrance accompanied by hot steam hits you in the face, making your mouth water instantly.
"Grandma Zhao, sister-in-law, you two should try this. These pan-fried dumplings are mostly meat-vegetarian combinations. They can be all meat or all vegetarian. You can figure out what fillings will sell well. These dumplings can be made with any filling that can be used for steamed buns. They are even more fragrant and come out of the pan faster. As long as you have good skills and use honest ingredients, you will definitely have no trouble selling them."
Song Mian handed the pan-fried dumplings to them to try.
"Wow, I can really get the filling in one bite, and the rich gravy is so delicious." The freshly-made pan-fried buns were very hot, but some things have a magic that makes people chew and swallow them even though they are burning.
Song Mian gave one to everyone and made a new pot.
She was busy waiting and saw that Song Fuxue hadn't eaten yet. He picked up the food with chopsticks and fed it to her. Seeing that she refused, he shook his head gently, indicating not to disturb others.
Song Mian ate it.
She curved her lips into a smile.
Don’t call him “wild dad” anymore. He is my real dad and he loves his daughter very much.
It was worth it that she jumped into the well to save him as soon as she came here.
The remaining pot was not shared, but placed in a basket and served on the table with the dishes that Wenlan had just cooked.
"Today my mother made stewed eggplant and green beans, it looks delicious." Song Chi loves the food she cooks and is very supportive.
After he finished speaking, he still held up his little head and said softly: "Sister's cooking is the best. It tastes just like Sister's."
Song Mian pinched his little face and chuckled, "You're already a master of keeping things simple at such a young age. What will you be like when you grow up?"
Wenlan asked what it meant, and Song Mian made a fair and impartial gesture to her. Everyone understood instantly and burst into laughter.
That's kind of true.
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