131 Sweet Embryo
◎The white oat grains absorb the fermented sweet syrup◎
Although Song Jinyi did not lose her composure like Li He, she was also shocked by the number and took a deep breath.
She calmed herself down and asked, "Normally, this horse would be worth at most thirty taels of silver. You've more than doubled the price. Is there something special about this horse?"
The horse dealer laughed and said, "Madam, you are from another country, right? This horse is a genuine Western Region horse. Even now, it is very expensive. You can still buy a good horse with your money. In the future, it may be worth every penny!"
"Why do you say that?" Song Jinyi's heart tightened and she asked.
"Everyone's saying things aren't peaceful in the north," the horse dealer lowered his voice. "I heard the Xirong troops have been hanging around the border lately, and they've been clashing with our garrisons from time to time."
Song Jinyi said: "This is nothing but groundless speculation. Besides, Jinzhou is not the most western province. There are Ganzhou and Shazhou provinces blocking us. Even if a war really breaks out, it won't be our turn to suffer first.
"This price increase is really unreasonable." Song Jinyi crossed her arms, with an expression of understanding. "Seventy taels is really too high. I sincerely want to buy a horse to travel. If you are willing to reduce the price by a few percent, this deal can be done."
The horse dealer shook his head and said, "Ouch!" "I'll reduce the price by five taels at most, to sixty-five taels." Seeing that she was still dissatisfied, he paused and added, "This is the price in the horse market these days. If you don't believe me, feel free to ask somewhere else."
Seeing the other party's firm attitude, Song Jinyi knew that it was useless to say more, so she stopped talking on the spot, pulled Li He and turned to go to other stalls.
I asked three or four places in a row, and either the price they quoted was higher than this one, or they said, "The horses are sold out and I'm just keeping them for myself."
The two asked for a long time, their mouths dry and their tongues parched, but they still couldn't come up with a suitable price. Li He couldn't stand it anymore and said to Song Jinyi, "Sister Jinyi, we haven't had breakfast this morning.
"It's already noon, why don't you have lunch first? I'm so hungry and thirsty, I can't stand it any longer!"
Song Jinyi also felt dry in the mouth. The air in Hexi County was too dry. She had said a lot of words and her throat was dry. So she asked Old Man Chen to take them to an authentic local restaurant for dinner.
Old man Chen led Song Jinyi and Li He into an alley with familiarity. The restaurant at the end was steaming, and the wooden sign was greasy from the smoke. As soon as they arrived at the door, they smelled a crispy aroma mixed with the fragrance of meat.
The waiter in a gray cloth shorts came forward with a smile when he saw the man, "Sir, please come in!"
Although Old Man Chen was a local, he was dining with Song Jinyi, so it was inconvenient for him to order food. He just drank tea and observed the situation.
Song Jinyi asked, "What local dishes do you have?"
"That's a lot!" The waiter said loudly, counting on his fingers, "Baked buns, big plate chicken, hand-pulled lamb, spicy lamb trotters..."
"Baked buns?" Li He's eyes lit up when he heard the name of the dish. He leaned forward and asked curiously, "I've only had steamed buns before, but this is the first time I've heard of baked buns. How are they baked? Do they bake over a fire like pancakes?"
The waiter smiled when he heard this: "Sir, is this your first time seeing this? It's okay, many people from other places are curious. I'll take you to the back hall to have a look. Our oven for baking buns is quite exquisite!"
As he spoke, he led people to the back hall.
When they walked to the back kitchen, Song Jinyi and Li He caught a glimpse of a half-person-high adobe stove standing in the corner. The stove walls were burning red, and there was an iron rack on the stove mouth. Several buns with dough on them were placed on it. As the waiter turned them over, the skin gradually turned brown and the aroma of meat became more and more intense.
"Look, this is our special baking method. We bake it in a clay oven. The crust is so crispy that it falls apart, and the inside is filled with diced meat with a mixture of fat and lean meat, mixed with chopped onions. It's so fragrant and fresh!"
Old Man Chen, who came later, couldn't help swallowing his saliva when he smelled the smell and said to Song Jinyi, "Madam, these baked buns are the best ones baked by his family. You might as well try them."
"Then give me six baked buns first." Song Jinyi saw that the baked buns were really good. Two per person, and when they were finished, they could order more if they liked.
The group returned to the front lobby, and the waiter quickly brought out the steaming buns. He added with a smile, "Sir, toasted buns tend to become dry if you eat too many of them. How about a bowl of our mutton soup?"
"That soup is made with the bones of a lamb we just slaughtered this morning. It's very fresh. Just sprinkle some salt and chopped green onions on it, and it's the perfect way to relieve the greasiness!"
When Li He heard the word "mutton soup", he frowned and said bluntly, "Mutton soup has a strong smell. I'm afraid we can't get used to it..."
"Sir, you don't know this!" The waiter listened attentively, smiled and waved his hand, "The sheep in our Hexi County are different from those in other places. They are all raised on the grasslands eating alkaline grass. The meat is very tender and has no smell of mutton!
"If you don't believe me, try ordering two bowls first."
Old Man Chen followed suit, saying, "You two ladies are from the east. The mutton out there really can't compare to the mutton here. You'll know the difference after just one bite."
Song Jinyi nodded. She had heard in her previous life that the mutton raised on the grassland had no fishy smell, but instead had a sweet taste. Moreover, the best meat was the one that was slaughtered on the same day, which was extremely fresh.
Furthermore, as a chef, being able to taste delicacies from all over the world is a great blessing in her life.
With the mentality of trying it out, she said, "Then I'll have three bowls of mutton soup."
In less than half an incense stick's time, the waiter arrived with a tray. The mutton soup was steaming, the broth clear and bright, with snow-white mutton slices floating in the broth, sprinkled with a handful of emerald green chopped green onions. The appearance alone was enough to whet your appetite.
Li He hesitantly scooped a spoonful of soup, blew it cool, and took a sip. Her eyes widened instantly: "It's actually not smelly at all! And this soup is so fresh, not greasy at all!"
She took another bite of the toasted bun. The crust was so crispy that it made a "crunch" sound. The diced lamb mixed with chopped onions inside was oily but not greasy, and full of meaty aroma.
The two complement each other.
Song Jinyi also tasted the mutton soup and found it fresh and mellow. The mutton melted in her mouth. There was no unnecessary seasoning to cover it up, which instead highlighted the freshness of the ingredients themselves.
She couldn't help but nod. "It's indeed a taste you can't get anywhere else. It's a pity that transportation conditions are limited, and it's difficult to transport this meat to us that day."
Old man Chen chewed his bun and said, "My wife runs a restaurant. If you like the mutton here, you can open a shop here."
Although Song Jinyi felt that this matter was undoubtedly a fantasy for her, she did not want to offend the other party during the meal, so she said a few random words and let the matter go.
******
After dinner, the sun was a little cooler, so Song Jinyi and Li He walked along the road to the horse market while digesting their food.
As soon as I turned the corner, I heard a "Whoa!" shout and a fully loaded cart rushed from the side. The wheels rolled over the soft yellow soil, splashing a cloud of dust.
When Li He looked over, she was blinded by the yellow sand and didn't react. Fortunately, Song Jinyi was quick-eyed and quick-handed, pulling her arm and dodging half a step to the side of the road. The cart stopped just brushing the corners of their clothes.
The man on the shaft suddenly pulled the reins, repeatedly saying "I'm sorry." As he spoke, he got off the cart. After seeing Song Jinyi's face clearly, he was suddenly stunned: "Manager Song? Madam Li? Why are you here?"
Song Jinyi felt that the man's voice was familiar when he spoke just now. When she looked carefully, wasn't it Chen Ming?
This place is located in the west, the climate is dry, and the sun is more scorching than in the south. He is much darker than before, and his body is stronger than before. There are some grass debris on his face. When he meets an old friend, he has a silly smile on his face and looks energetic.
Come to think of it, I'm living a pretty good life.
Li He also recognized him and said happily, "Brother Chen? It's really you! I didn't expect to see you here."
After a long separation, the three of them said some farewell words.
Chen Ming had come out to work, so it was inconvenient for him to stay longer, so he said he would meet again later to reminisce about the past.
Song Jinyi looked at Chen Ming pulling a cart of fodder and asked casually.
"It's a long story. Since I came to Hexi County last year and was assigned to Jinzhou, after clearing the wasteland, the court allocated me four acres of land. Even if I were alone, it would only take a month or so to plant it and harvest the crops in the autumn.
"I have nothing to do anyway, so I came to town to help people haul fodder. I deliver fodder to many stalls in the horse market."
Upon hearing this, Li He said confidently, "Then Brother Chen must know someone who sells horses in the horse market. Do you know which one sells horses at the lowest price?"
"You want to buy horses?" Chen Ming frowned. "You've come at the wrong time. The price of horses has been changing every day lately. They're even more expensive than gold."
"That's right!" Li He sighed and complained, "I thought horses in Hexi County would be cheaper than in the capital, so I went through all the trouble to come here to buy them. Who knew they'd be even more expensive than in the capital!"
Chen Ming got on the carriage and drove off, leaving behind a lingering sound: "Don't worry, I know the owner of a horse shop. I'll go over and give him some fodder and ask for you..."
In the evening, Chen Ming arrived as promised.
He said to Song Jinyi, "Among the customers I deliver fodder to, there is a family named Zhao. This shopkeeper Zhao is usually a very good person and treats us, who do hard work, well.
"Things have been going badly lately. He's been wanting to clear out his cargo and take his family east. I've already told him about my wife's situation. How about fifty taels a horse?"
This price was much lower than what Song Jinyi had estimated. Her brows relaxed, and she said "OK", smiling as she expressed her gratitude to Chen Ming.
Chen Ming quickly waved his hand and said, "Manager Song and my brother have done me a great favor. This little thing is nothing."
When Li He heard him mention the two "brothers", he couldn't help but think of another person. His face changed slightly and he left the table on the pretext of feeling unwell.
Chen Ming realized that he had said something wrong, so he lowered his head, picked up the food silently, and said nothing more.
The atmosphere suddenly turned cold.
When Old Man Chen, who was passing by the inn, saw Song Jinyi, he sat down on a stool and asked about the horse purchase. When he learned that the horse had been purchased, he said some words of congratulations.
Song Jinyi saw what he was here for and said without hesitation, "Since you're here, why don't you eat together?" Then she asked the waiter to add two more dishes.
After dinner, Chen Ming agreed to take Song Jinyi and the others to find the horse seller, Manager Zhao, the next morning, and then said goodbye and left.
When Old Man Chen saw them leave, he picked up some food and asked Song Jinyi, "Madam Song, do you know Mr. Chen?"
"He used to work for me. He's an honest, hardworking man who can endure hardships and handle things. If he hadn't insisted on leaving, I wouldn't have wanted to part with such a good guy."
"That Chen Tian is indeed a good worker. The first time he came to the city to look for work, I found it for him. Whether it's long-term or short-term work, he's very good and no customer is dissatisfied.
"That kid was supposed to be something big, with a tough look in his eyes..." He paused, his movements slowing down as he picked up the food. "It's a shame he had such an unpromising brother, and he's really messed up his path."
She had wanted to ask Chen Ming about his most important brother, but he hadn't mentioned it. He was there just now, so she couldn't ask any more questions. Now that she saw that Old Man Chen also knew the truth, she pressed the issue, "His brother is indeed a mess...but what happened?"
"The two brothers came to town together. Unlike Chen Tian, Chen Ming was a lazy man who refused to do any work. Later, he became a bad boy, not only cheating on the street, but also stealing.
"He was caught red-handed." He lowered his voice with some emotion, "He was pinned down in an alley and beaten to death."
There was silence for a moment.
Old Man Chen continued, "Chen Ming froze there, as if he had lost his soul. Everyone, considering his good nature and how well they usually got along, took turns trying to persuade him and offered him some hot porridge and soup, and he slowly came to his senses."
After listening to this, Song Jinyi turned around and looked in the direction where Chen Ming left. There was no one there. Jinzhou City was not as crowded and bustling as Shengjing. At this hour, there were only a few people on the street. On the way he left, the swaying lanterns were like fireflies, illuminating a sense of loneliness.
******
Vertical day.
Song Jinyi got up early thinking about buying a horse, packed up quickly, and went downstairs to have breakfast with Li He.
Song Jinyi ordered two Hu Bings and saw a bowl of clear white soup on the table next to her. She called the servant to ask about it and learned that it was a sweet soup unique to Hexi County.
Song Jinyi also ordered two bowls.
The white oat grains have absorbed the sweet pulp after fermentation. They are sweet at first, mixed with a light aroma of wine and spread on the tip of the tongue. They are soft and chewy with a hint of elasticity. The cool taste slides down the throat, and the aftertaste still retains the mellow aroma of the grains themselves, making people unable to help but take one mouthful after another.
Li He rolled her tongue, savoring the unique aroma, and asked Song Jinyi, "Sister Jinyi, this sweet rice cake tastes a bit sour and has a wine-like aroma. Is it made using the same method as winemaking?"
Before Song Jinyi could answer, the sharp-eared waiter next to her said, "Madam, you are amazing! You can tell the secret with just one taste.
"It's true that they use the same method as winemaking, but the method for making this sweet oatmeal is a bit more elaborate. First, the oats need to be cleaned and soaked until they swell. Then, they need to be steamed. Once warm, add the sweet wine yeast and mix thoroughly. Then, seal it in a ceramic jar away from light and let it ferment for a day.
"When the aroma of wine wafts from the jar, scoop it out, brew it with cold boiled water, and sprinkle a little white sugar on it, and it's ready."
After breakfast, the two of them headed for the horse market. After about half an hour, Song Jinyi couldn't help but slow down, feeling hesitant. Although Jinzhou wasn't very populous, after a stroll yesterday, it was quite lively.
After walking for a while, all the shops that were open during the day were closed. The pedestrians on the road walked hurriedly, without any of the leisure on their faces. Their steps were hurried, as if they were being chased by some ferocious beast.
The air was filled with the smell of dust and a faint noise coming from afar. An inexplicable uneasiness wrapped around their hearts like a vine. The two looked at each other and were about to find a passerby to ask when they suddenly heard a hurried shout from behind them.
"Madam Song! Why are you still here?"
When I turned around, it was Chen Ming. His clothes were covered in dust, his forehead was beaded with sweat, and his expression was even more anxious than the people on the street.
Before Song Jinyi could ask for clarification, she heard Chen Ming's panicked voice: "Hurry up and leave! The Western Rong and Wusun are invading! Yesterday at Yanxing Pass in the northern border, for some reason, the garrison was completely silent.
"They've taken two cities in one night and are now approaching Jinzhou! If we don't leave now, we'll be stuck!"
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