Chapter 9 Chapter 9 Salty and Sweet Soy Milk
Ying Zheng was resting in a chair when Wang Changshi carefully handed him a bamboo slip. "Your Majesty, this was just delivered by Envoy Su Chang. It says that before Mr. Zhu left, he had dictated some instructions for maintaining good health. I specifically—" He paused before speaking with difficulty, "Instructing Your Majesty to read it carefully and follow it strictly."
After saying that, he lowered his head deeply.
As a result, his hand felt lighter, and the king took the bamboo slips and began to read them.
After a while, the Royal Attendant heard Ying Zheng's instructions: "From now on, expenses will be calculated according to this." He stood up and said, "Remind me when the time comes."
Wang Changshi quickly agreed, took the bamboo slips and read them, and immediately understood why the king suddenly left the hall.
As mentioned above, this is called exercising the body to allow the Qi and blood to circulate.
He couldn't help but click his tongue, and once again felt more concerned about Zhu Sheng's importance in his mind.
Because of Wang Changshi's special instructions, this evening meal was to be very light.
Ying Zheng: “…”
Suddenly, a palace maid announced that Prince Hu Hai wanted to see him.
Thinking of this young son born in the year of the unification of the six kingdoms, Ying Zheng softened his somewhat stiff brows and said, "Let him in."
After a while, Hu Hai came running in and called out in a lively voice, "Father, I'm here to have dinner with you."
Since Qin Shi Huang took power, his majesty has grown, and all his descendants trembled in fear in his presence. Before Ying Zheng could say anything to express his concern, he could only wave his hand and tell them to go away.
But Hu Hai was different. Especially after his favored heir Fusu became increasingly disobedient to him, Ying Zheng preferred Hu Hai, who was sweet-talking and close to his family.
Such a heartwarming scene of father and son having a meal together was also a rare relaxation for Ying Zheng after a busy day.
He waved.
Hu Hai saw the chair as he approached and asked in surprise, "Father, what is this?"
Ying Zheng did not mention Zhu Dan, but only said: "Sit down and try it."
"Oh." Hu Hai imitated Ying Zheng's behavior, sat down awkwardly, and said bluntly, "Father, this thing is weird."
"You'll get used to it. This is called a chair. I've already asked the Shaofu to prepare it. A batch will be delivered to your palace soon. Kneeling and sitting on it is not good for your health."
"Thank you, father." Hu Hai smiled brightly.
Ying Zheng picked up the chopsticks, and only then did Hu Hai see the extremely light dishes on the table. The only meat was fish?
Hu Hai didn't like fish and frowned, saying, "Father, why don't you eat venison?"
"Evening meals should be light. Deer meat is stimulating and is not suitable." After saying this, Ying Zheng asked Wang Changshi to pour a bowl of mung bean soup for Hu Hai.
Zhu Dan said that mung beans are refreshing and detoxifying, and it is best to eat a bowl of them every day.
Hu Hai, unaware of Ying Zheng's intentions, turned green in the face and shouted, "Father, I don't want bean soup, I want venison."
Ying Zheng frowned and looked at his spoiled little son.
Wang Changshi hurried forward to explain the benefits of mung bean soup, but Hu Hai refused to listen. He only knew that beans were for animals to eat.
His father, the king who always doted on him, actually gave him bean soup? Hu Hai felt wronged and a little panicked, and started to make a scene, half real and half fake.
Ying Zheng's face darkened. How could what Zhu Dan said be false?
Under normal circumstances, he would not have bothered with his youngest son, but Hu Hai's fuss reminded him of the day when Zhu Dan used his magical power to subdue Hu Hai's vicious dog.
"Hu Hai, I heard that you kept a group of vicious dogs in the palace, which injured countless palace maids." Ying Zheng said coldly.
Hu Hai was a man who could read people's expressions. Seeing this, he knew that making a fuss would be useless. He lowered his head and whispered in defense: "Father, they are just slaves."
Yes, they were just some slaves. Ying Zheng knew that most of the female slaves who died in Hu Hai’s palace were from Zhao.
When he listened to Jia Wei's report before, his attention was all on the fact that Zhu Dan actually had divine power, and he felt that the disciples of the gods were indeed kind-hearted.
Ying Zheng no longer cared about the humiliation he suffered in Zhao State in his childhood, but he never took them seriously. But now, he said to Wang Changshi: "Replace all the female slaves in Hu Hai's palace with armored guards."
Wang Changshi was stunned for a moment before responding.
So, even the king’s most beloved youngest son has to give in to Zhu Sheng?
Ying Zheng calmly said to Hu Hai, "Since you enjoy hunting, let them play with you. It will be more enjoyable. But you must hold on to the dog leash tightly and don't let go until you have had enough fun."
Hu Hai took a step back in fear, tripped over his chair and fell to the ground, curling up into a ball and screaming, "Father, it hurts so much!"
Ying Zheng did not help him, but picked up the mung bean soup and started drinking it.
He had no intention of walking his son around like a dog, it was just that hunting was like this, the strong ate the weak.
As the son of Ying Zheng, Hu Hai should not just think about tormenting some weak female slaves.
Without Ying Zheng's order, Wang Changshi did not dare to help.
The palace was eerily quiet, and gradually, Hu Hai's screams became quieter.
In order to fit the desk, the chair was actually not very high. Hu Hai only felt a little pain at the beginning, but the rest of the time was more of a show.
Seeing that Ying Zheng was unmoved, he could only sob and say, "Father, I know I was wrong. I will never allow a vicious dog to hurt people again."
Ying Zheng looked at Wang Changshi and said, "Tell the Shaofu to select a group of armored guards to send Hu Hai back."
"promise."
"This mung bean soup is good. Reward her with ten gold coins and a jar of candy." Ying Zheng tasted the pure sweetness in the mung bean soup and knew that it was Su who brought the candy given by Zhu Dan. Naturally, he would not take it for nothing.
Ying Zheng had already had his evening meal in the Xianyang Palace, but Zhu Dan had not yet. The housekeeper of the villa prepared dinner too early as usual, and it was no longer in good shape after being heated several times.
It was almost dark when the order finally arrived, and the housekeeper immediately asked him to redo it.
Unexpectedly, Zhu Dan ran to the kitchen.
When the housekeeper received the news and rushed over, he saw Zhu Dan directing Master Mengqi to carry the salt bags and pour them into the pottery jar, saying, "Don't be stingy, pour all of this in."
"This..." The butler was dumbfounded.
That bag of salt weighs at least ten pounds. Should we pour it all in?
Is this soup still edible?
Just by looking at it, the butler felt a strong bitter and salty taste in his mouth.
The housekeeper was puzzled, and Fusu couldn't understand it either.
He remembered that after buying the beans, Zhu Dan immediately ran to the pharmacy to buy gypsum.
The clerk said no, and she was still in disbelief, muttering, "Isn't plaster bought at the pharmacy? How come there is no plaster?"
As a result, he turned around and went back to the grain store and bought a lot of salt.
Fusu felt that the salt was enough for them to eat for ten years.
But now—"Are you going to eat all the salt you bought in one meal?"
"Eat?" Zhu Dan realized that everyone had misunderstood. "I'm not eating it. I'm cooking salt. Um, filter out the mud and other impurities, add in wood ash, and it looks like the brine for making tofu."
Of course, not too much brine is needed, but Zhu Dan really doesn't want to force himself to eat dishes made with mud salt.
"Who told me the pharmacy doesn't have gypsum? I can only use brine to make tofu." Zhu Dan smiled helplessly.
Knowing that Zhu Dan did not want to eat salt but to make something new, Fusu was speechless. When he came, his father told him to listen to Zhu Dan in everything.
Bring it to a boil over high heat, and the mud salt will dissolve. Zhu Dan then asks someone to filter it with linen. After several times, the brine has become relatively pure.
Zhu Dan did not use spiritual power from beginning to end. Spiritual power is a shortcut, but no one else can use it except her.
Then add wood ash water to the salt water, stirring while adding.
At this time, Zhu Dan was very nervous, not knowing whether this method would work or whether the steps were correct.
Until he felt the movement of the alchemy furnace again.
Spiritual power has increased! Zhu Dan's eyes lit up. There were actually eight strands. This wasn't tofu, it was just a semi-finished brine!
Logically speaking, this wasn't a new invention—she was absolutely certain that the spiritual power wasn't brought on by boiling salt!
"Hahaha, I knew I could definitely rely on tofu to gather enough luck to make the elixir." Zhu Dan couldn't help but put his hands on his hips and laughed.
With the good luck coming in, Zhu Dan immediately became full of confidence in this jar of brine. This was a certification from heaven.
After carefully putting the brine away, the housekeeper said dinner was ready.
Zhu Dan was indeed hungry, but she remembered that the soy milk had not been cooked yet, so she quickly asked someone to cook it.
Should I get some more tofu pudding? This thought flashed through Zhu Dan's mind, and he shook his head. Forget it, it's too late. I'll have tofu pudding for breakfast tomorrow morning.
When the raw soy milk boiled, it gave off a strange smell. Xiang Lichun originally wrinkled his nose in disgust, but gradually, a rich aroma wafted out.
Xiang Liyuan never went into the kitchen, but when he smelled the smell, he walked in unconsciously: "What a unique fragrance!"
Zhu Dan was very proud: "Beans are a very useful food ingredient. They can be made into tofu and used to extract oil. There are many ways to eat them. Don't think that only poor people and slaves are worthy of eating them."
Fusu, Xiangliyuan and the other three who had never eaten bean rice: "..."
Xiang Lichun, on the other hand, was thick-skinned and chuckled, "The bean paste is ready, right? Can we drink it now?"
"Okay, but I have to add something else." Zhu Dan's eyes rolled, revealing an expression of enjoying the show.
The soy milk in the ceramic pot was poured out and divided into two parts, half with salt and the other half with sugar.
Zhu Dan did not use spiritual power to evolve, everything is original.
After stirring thoroughly, she looked at everyone and raised her eyebrows: "Try it, which one do you like better?"
The debate over salty and sweet soy milk has existed since ancient times, so which one would these ancient people before the Common Era prefer?
Record this and provide a historical argument for the salty or sweet parties in the future. Look, everyone likes salty/sweet soy milk, so we salty/sweet parties are the best.
Zhu Dan thought about it and couldn't help laughing.
Although everyone thought her smile was strange, the soy milk was indeed fragrant. Xiang Lichun was the first one who couldn't help it and poured himself a cup of sweet soy milk.
He likes sweet things.
Others also chose sweet ones
Zhu Dan was a little surprised: "Don't just drink the sweet one, you can also try the salty one. Only after tasting both can you decide which one you like better."
Xiang Lichun looked at Zhu Dan as if he were a fool, but he still poured a cup of salty soy milk, took a few sips, and nodded: "Not bad."
Zhu Dan looked at him with sparkling eyes and asked, "So which one do you prefer?"
"Sweet soy milk, of course." He said without hesitation.
Zhu Dan was stunned for a moment and looked at the others.
They all said sweet soy milk.
"Why? Don't you like salty soy milk?"
"Salty soy milk is delicious, but sweet soy milk is better." Gongsun Liu, who knew Zhu Dan best, spoke the truth, "Senior Sister, yummy soy milk is so rare."
Zhu Dan: “…”
She suddenly realized that this was the case.
The so-called salty-sweet dispute only occurs when sugar is abundant and everyone is tired of it.
In the Qin Dynasty, where sugar was scarce, salty taste could not compare to sweetness.
"Does Daqin have sugarcane?" Zhu Dan suddenly asked.
Everyone looked confused: "What is sugarcane?" Zhu Dan: "..."
It turns out that there was no sugarcane in the Qin Dynasty, and the only sweet thing they ate was malt sugar!
Our Great Qin is really too miserable, Zhu Dan thought, it's a good thing that she is here, she will definitely find sugarcane and beets, so that everyone can not only eat as much sugar as they want, but also will not be so ignorant.
Fusu then said, "The sweet foods I usually eat include tuojiang in addition to yi."
"Tuojiang?" This word seemed familiar. Zhu Dan realized that this was syrup made from sugarcane.
Okay, there’s no need to worry about sugarcane seeds, but when it comes to beets, her face turns pale. Zhu Dan has only heard of them but has never seen them. Even if there are really beets growing in front of her, she might just walk past them without even looking.
Forget it, Daqin is short of too many seeds. No matter what kind of seeds they are, there is meaning in collecting them. Beets can always be found. Zhu Dan sighed and took his time.
While everyone was having a sumptuous dinner, Hu Hai was sent back to the palace in a dejected mood.
He threw himself into Hu Ji's arms in grievance: "Mother, I made father angry."
"Don't cry, my son." Hu Ji coaxed him distressedly, "What happened?"
Hu Hai told the story in a disjointed manner, and said bitterly, "Father has never blamed me for these things before. It must be Fusu who said something."
Hu Ji also knew about Fusu's exile, and her face turned pale. "My son, you must do whatever your father says. Don't offend the king like Fusu did, or his fate will be yours."
"I know." Hu Hai showed a gloating look, "I'm not as stupid as Fusu."
He had always been jealous of Fusu because he was his father's most favored son, and now he was exiled.
Haha, even though he had just been punished by his father, Hu Hai was extremely happy.
"By the way, when will the teacher come back?" Hu Hai complained, "That Wang Changshi! When the teacher comes back, there will be no place for him by father's side!"
He still remembered that he fell down and Wang Changshi was watching him laugh.
The teacher must drive him away.
Hu Ji also hoped that her son's teacher Zhao Zhongche would come back soon. With him around, her son rarely angered the king. The most obvious thing was that if he were here today, he would definitely help to turn the situation around.
Unfortunately, Hu Ji said worriedly, "Mr. Zhao was sent by the king to capture Lu Sheng and others, and there has been no news yet."
*
"Today is the third day." While washing up early in the morning, Zhu Dan used the water in the ceramic basin as a mirror and combed her hair.
When she reached the courtyard, Gongsun Liu had already gotten up and was leaning over the large vat where the beans were soaking, stirring them with her hands. Upon hearing the noise, she immediately waved to her and said curiously, "Senior Sister, these beans have swelled."
"Of course they will grow." Zhu Dan walked over, "These beans are full of water."
She glanced at Xiang Lichun and Xiang Liyuan, who were also fiddling with beans, and clapped her hands: "Don't just stand there like an idiot. Get to work."
They both: “…”
They knew Fusu, and were also told by the Shaofu not to tell Zhu Dan his true identity.
Thinking that even Prince Fusu was ordered by Zhu Dan to grind the mill, he resigned himself to his fate and stepped forward.
"Where's Monkie? Hasn't he woken up yet?" Zhu Dan asked the uneasy-looking housekeeper again.
"Here." A strange voice came from behind.
Zhu Dan turned around and saw that Monk still had a smile on his face, but his walking posture was a little stiff.
She immediately realized that she had strained the muscle while working yesterday.
He couldn't help but glance at the housekeeper. Forget it, they were members of the Meng family after all, and they lived in his yard. It would be inappropriate to keep an eye on him and order him around.
"Don't worry, you won't be asked to work today." Before Fusu could breathe a sigh of relief, he heard Zhu Dan say, "Come with me to the city gate to sell tofu today."
Fusu: “…”
He said helplessly, "You want to sell tofu, but you can't do that at the city gate. Qin law stipulates that trading can only take place in the city."
"Oh." Zhu Dan remembered that the laws of the Qin Dynasty did cover a lot of things.
She thought it would be better to put it at the city gate so that people coming in and out could see it and it would be convenient for publicity. But it’s also good like this because there are people in charge of it, and at least there won’t be the phenomenon of random placement like in later generations.
Zhu Dan also has a bit of obsessive-compulsive disorder and doesn't like messy things.
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