Chapter 105 (Three Ways to Eat Potatoes)
Dongdong stood there as if struck by lightning, not moving a single muscle.
Yan Qiushu ran back halfway, smiling and hugging him: "Hey, Dongdong, I was just teasing you~ How could Sister Shu not see Dongdong!"
Dongdong pouted and wanted to be angry, tears welling up in her eyes due to grievance, but she felt happy being held like this 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 delicious food for Dongdong later!"
Dong Dong then reluctantly hugged her back: "Really?"
"Of course it's true!" Yan Qiushu said affirmatively: "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 French fries he had eaten more than two months ago, with a salt and pepper flavor. 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 with some fear 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 and 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: "Pingyu has met Aunt Yan."
Xiao Pingsong said in a more naive way, "Hello, Aunt Yan. Uncle asked us to bring the potatoes here. He said that the potatoes that Prince Huai brought over two days ago were a good harvest, and each family got a lot. Your Majesty thought you were still living in the Xiao family, so your share was also sent here. Some was kept in the mansion to taste, and the rest was sent to Manager Yao to ask him to hire people to plant it. The ones you have here are here."
Shen Pingyu nodded his head, and a look of mature satisfaction appeared on his handsome face: "These potatoes are really great. I heard from my uncle that one potato sprout can grow five to eight potatoes, and 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 fruits on one plant?
She still remembered that she had contracted the land and did some research when planting. It was good if one plant produced four or five fruits. Of course, there were also cultivated varieties that could produce up to sixty fruits 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.
It's 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 Waiting's military pay would be withheld, causing chaos inside and outside...
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, so it was very suitable for planting potatoes.
"Manager Gu!" she shouted.
Gu, who had long been curious about this Potato, came over quickly and said with an earnest smile, "Miss, just give me your orders."
Yan Qiushu pointed at the truckload 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 extremely happy. He quickly took out a bag of potatoes and pushed the remaining cart away himself.
Dong Dong looked at the potatoes going 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 happened to be away from Kyoto last time. Although he was given two potatoes later, they were not made by Yan Qiushu. The taste of those made by Master Zou was just average to him.
As a result, when he heard Dongdong describing how delicious the potatoes he had eaten last time were on the way here, he was particularly looking forward to it, but he didn't expect that only a little bit was left.
Yan Qiushu said softly, "There are still so many! This bag is enough to make a lot of things. In two months, the potatoes will have another good harvest~"
Dong Dong 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. They were shared by so many people that each person could only taste a little bit.
But Yan Qiushu couldn't satisfy him completely right away, so she could only rub his head and say, "Let's go make wolf-tooth potatoes first, shall we? Can Dongdong help 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. So he sighed and went to move the potatoes.
Yan Qiushu looked at Wan'er again: "Wan'er, can 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 were busy with their own tasks, forgetting about the loss of potatoes, and 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, which made her happy naturally.
Instead, Xiao Huaiya stood aside, staring at her motionlessly.
Yan Qiushu responded and said with a smile: "Go and light a fire and cook 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 just one dish, wolf tooth potatoes. In addition to this, there are also cumin potatoes and potato cakes. Make a little of each and taste a little of each. Only after eating a full stomach will she feel that the potatoes are not stupid.
These things are not difficult to make. Wolf tooth potatoes and potato pancakes require a iron plate, while cumin potatoes require a frying pan.
Fortunately, there were many children and manpower at this time. Yan Qiushu arranged them one by one, and finally everything went on in an orderly manner. Shen Pingyu brought firewood, the firewood was lit, and the iron plate was set up. On the other side, Dongdong and Xiao Pingsong had washed the potatoes, and Shui Xuan was slicing them.
When cutting, Yan Qiushu remembered that there was no wavy mold at that time, so she could only make it into potato chips temporarily.
Zhao Shuhong helped to cut the silk into shreds, which actually worked faster. A person with skilled knife skills could cut the silk into evenly thick and thin shreds in a short time. These thin shreds were not as soft as the thick shreds. When you picked one up, it hung down softly as if it had no bones.
Put all these ingredients in a bowl, add egg white, some flour, a little shredded carrots and some chopped green onions, as well as seasonings such as pepper, salt, cumin, and Sichuan pepper.
After stirring evenly, place it directly on the oiled iron plate. "Sizzle!" A familiar frying sound is heard, and balls of shredded potatoes are put on. 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 it until both sides are golden brown, and finally sprinkle it 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 and sprinkled chili on some of the dishes and not on others. 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 to 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 then 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 behind the school when she was in school!
I miss you so much!
But it feels like a lifetime ago.
She had been away from school for a long time, and now she had been in this time and space for a long time. Everything in the past was far away from her, and potatoes returned to her recipe, but she still could not return to her original world.
Little hands reached out and took their share.
Little Wan'er held the bowl in both hands and was about to eat, but when she saw the look in Sister Shu'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, saying in a soft and adorable voice, "Sister Shu, I'll give it to you. Don't be sad!"
Yan Qiushu's eyes felt sore, and the smile she had tried to raise at the corners of her lips could not be maintained. She pursed her lips, suppressed the bitterness in her heart, and was unable to reply immediately.
Dongdong, who had just taken a bite of the potato pancake that was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, was stunned. Is Sister Shu 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 been in a high position. Now the Xiao family interacts with dignitaries, and many people must 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 a similar idea. Zhao Shuhong thought that she might be in a similar situation as herself, so she was also alone. At this moment, she thought of the past and smiled, "Ah Shu, don't think about the past. People should look forward. If you live a good life now, it is the best way to repay them."
Yan Qiushu sniffed and smiled brightly: "It's okay, I'm fine, but I just thought it would be so hard to get 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, "Mm, it's delicious!"
"Sister Shu, try it!" Wan'er picked up a wolf-tooth potato strip 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 ate 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. Overall, it tasted more crispy and salty: "Well, it's especially delicious, especially the one that Wan'er feeds to Sister Shu. It's the best!"
Wan'er had a potato chip in her mouth, her face red with a smile, and she was extremely happy.
Dong Dong got anxious after hearing this and quickly put his potato chips to her mouth: "You eat mine, mine is better! Spicy..."
Yan Qiushu didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Dongdong was also very competitive in this regard, but this kind of competition was a bit clumsy and a bit fun. She cooperated and opened her mouth to bite off the potato chip.
The potato chips with chili added tasted even more stimulating. She liked spicy food, so she naturally thought it was 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 it was delicious too. Potato pancakes are different from other pancakes in that the edges are rough. Although the potato shreds are soft, they can't really bend as desired. When they are fried, the potato shreds on the edges will curl up.
Therefore, these places are fried to be extra 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 texture. You can also taste the crispy and sweet carrot shreds while chewing.
"Sister Shu, I'll give you this too. It's delicious!" Dongdong offered his delicacy again.
This time Yan Qiushu refused. Looking at the neat row of teeth marks on it, she smiled and said, "You eat it yourself. I'll make small potato cubes!"
"Okay~" Dongdong gave up with regret.
The harvested potatoes are all big ones, and you can only use cumin potatoes, not those that are naturally small.
But the method is still similar.
Cut the potatoes into cubes, boil them and fry them in a pan until the outside becomes 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 Wai Ting, the only one among the people who had a big appetite, had already left, so this amount was more than 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 heaviest seasoning is. It is really crispy and soft at first bite, but when you eat inside, it is soft and sticky!
Yan Qiushu dipped it in some chili powder. The spicy taste made the soft and choking feeling disappear immediately, and it tasted much better.
She ate mouthful after mouthful, occasionally taking a sip of the sweet milk tea, until everyone was satisfied and put down their bowls and chopsticks. She said, "Ping Yu, would you like to stay 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 expression, and looked at Dong Dong, Wan Er and Xiao Pingsong: "What about you three? Are you staying too?"
Dong Dong smiled, 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."
Dong Dong stuck out his tongue and said confidently, "I'm a child!"
Yan Qiushu chuckled and pressed her head with one hand: "Yes, don't worry about the kids. Seven-year-olds shouldn't sit together. Dongdong isn't even six yet, and neither is Wan'er. I'll take care of you tonight. Pingyu, don't be afraid. Pingsong, too. You two brothers should sleep together. This is better."
Shen Pingyu glanced at Dong Dong, but he did not refute Yan Qiushu, an elder, when speaking to her. He just gave her a warning look and nodded, "Yes."
Xiao Pingsong patted his chest and said, "Don't worry, Aunt Yan, I will take good care of brother Pingyu."
Yan Qiushu smiled and waved to them: "What are you worried about? Let's go play some games. There are many people here today. How about playing Eagle Catches Chicken?"
"OK!"
Several children agreed very enthusiastically, but Shen Pingyu was a little hesitant. However, Yan Qiushu pulled him to an empty space covered with green grass, and he fell silent and participated in the game silently.
With familiar children around, Yan Qiushu felt very relaxed and had extra 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, not 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 a quilt for Dongdong and put the pillow in place, but when she lifted the pillow, there were a few little rabbits and butterflies underneath that looked like they were woven out of grass.
Dong Dong, 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, is this something my uncle made for you? How come it's hidden under your pillow? Has he been to your room, too?"
Yan Qiushu: “……?”