Chapter 474 Beyond His Expectation
"Yes!" Li Chengqian felt a little embarrassed when he saw Su Ying staring at him with burning eyes.
"Okay then! I'll wait for your news!"
"Um, Lord Xiao Su, you don't want to make donkey-hide gelatin, do you?" Li Chengqian asked.
"?" Su Ying was very surprised. This prince was no simple man. He could guess what happened just by looking at a piece of donkey skin.
I couldn't help but feel curious, "I guess so! How did Your Highness guess that?"
"If it is made of leather shoes, cowhide should be the best. Donkey hide is used specially. Apart from donkey-hide gelatin, I can't think of anything else." Li Chengqian didn't find it difficult to guess.
Speaking of Dong'e Ejiao, Su Ying suddenly realized why Li Chengqian could guess it, because his father did something.
Donkey-hide gelatin originated in the State of Qi during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period (note: now Acheng Town, Yanggu County).
At that time, cowhide was the main source of leather, and the glue made from the thousand-year-old Ajing water was the most effective.
Acheng was under the jurisdiction of Dong'e County at that time, hence the name Dong'e Ejiao.
During the Western Han Dynasty, Zhang Qian was sent on a diplomatic mission to the Western Regions and donkeys were introduced to the Central Plains.
Donkey hide is better for making glue than cow hide. In addition, cow hide is mainly used to make leather armor, bows and arrows and other military supplies. Therefore, the source of donkey hide has gradually shifted from cow hide to donkey hide.
Since the Han Dynasty, donkey-hide gelatin has been a royal tribute.
For this reason, Li Chengqian's father granted the thousand-year-old Ajing an official title, and only opened the well to draw water as tribute every winter solstice.
Later, successive dynasties followed suit and officially sealed the ancient well.
During the Song and Ming dynasties, donkey hide gelatin officially became the standard, made from water from the Ajing well and black donkey hide.
In the eighth year of Hongwu, Dong'a County was officially moved to today's Pingyin County. After liberation in 1949, Dong'a County was moved to Tongcheng, which is today's Dong'a County.
After several changes, three donkey-hide gelatin factories emerged.
In 1950, Pingyin County built the first state-owned donkey-hide gelatin factory, "Fu Brand" donkey-hide gelatin.
In 1952, a donkey-hide gelatin factory was built in the present Dong'e County, producing "Dong'e" donkey-hide gelatin.
In 1956, a donkey-hide gelatin factory was built in Acheng Town, Yanggu, producing "Gu'ajing" donkey-hide gelatin.
The country has abolished the old rule that donkey-hide gelatin must be boiled with water from the ancient A well. Now there are more than 80 brands of donkey-hide gelatin on the market.
"Do you really know how to make donkey-hide gelatin?" Li Chengqian looked at Su Ying.
"Uh, Your Highness, do you have ready-made donkey-hide gelatin? This would save us from having to boil it with donkey skin, which is too cumbersome." Su Ying realized that she had taken a detour.
"Yes, not much, just one box. Is that enough?" Li Chengqian was quite generous.
"That's enough, that's enough. Just give me two pieces." Su Ying said hurriedly.
"What are you doing?" Li Chengqian asked again.
"Uh, donkey-hide gelatin paste, also known as donkey-hide gelatin cake.
In the cold winter, eating donkey-hide gelatin cakes can enhance the body's immunity, replenish the body with sufficient energy, and be a gift to the Queen to nourish the body and replenish qi and blood."
Su Ying admitted that she remembered the anxiety that flashed in Li Chengqian's eyes when Qingque happily accepted the task, and asked again, "Do you want to learn?"
"Yes!" Li Chengqian replied immediately.
"How about I teach you and use those two pieces of donkey-hide gelatin as tuition?" Su Ying negotiated a deal with the prince.
"Can!"
"Half a pound of donkey-hide gelatin, half a pound of rice wine, three ounces of walnut kernels, three ounces of red dates, three ounces of black sesame seeds, one ounce of wolfberry, a few dried rose petals, and two ounces of rock sugar.
Crush the donkey-hide gelatin and soak it in rice wine for twelve hours.
Remove the core of the red dates and cut them into small pieces. Stir-fry the walnut kernels and chop them. Wash and drain the wolfberries and black sesame seeds.
Pour the soaked donkey-hide gelatin and rice wine into the pot, bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat, stirring constantly, until the donkey-hide gelatin is completely melted.
Add rock sugar, simmer over low heat, and stir until the rock sugar is completely melted.
Add red dates, walnut kernels, wolfberries, and black sesame seeds, simmer over low heat, and stir until all the ingredients are completely mixed together and form a paste.
Pour into the mold, spread it flat, sprinkle with rose petals, and place it outdoors to cool until solidified.
Cut into appropriate-sized pieces and consume immediately. Two pieces a day is enough, but do not consume too much."
Seeing Li Chengqian's somewhat helpless expression, he patted his head and thought, how can someone who has never cooked make it?
"Go back and soak the donkey-hide gelatin in half a pound of rice wine. I will teach you in a day." Su Ying was understanding.
"Thank you, Lord Su!" Li Chengqian bowed and expressed his gratitude with a humble attitude.
"Your Highness is too polite!" Su Ying hurriedly returned the greeting.
After exiting the side door of Chengtian Gate, lanterns were lit on both sides of the palace road.
"Your Highness!" An East Palace guard stepped forward.
"Use my carriage to take Lord Su back to the Su Mansion in Guangdefang!" Li Chengqian acted like a crown prince, with a kingly aura.
"yes!"
"Your Highness, there is no need. I can go back home on my own!" Su Ying said politely.
It was dark outside, and the roads were patrolled by the Jinwu Guards. He couldn't find the way back home at all.
"Master Su, there is no need to refuse. It is freezing cold, so take my carriage and go back early!" Li Chengqian insisted.
"What about you?" A cold wind blew on the palace road.
"The Eastern Palace is at Yanxi Gate, only two or three hundred steps away, and we'll be there in a moment. Sir Su, don't delay and return home early."
After Li Chengqian finished speaking, he made a gesture of invitation.
"Thank you, Your Highness!" Su Ying couldn't refuse any longer and got on the prince's carriage.
There was a charcoal brazier burning at the bottom of the spacious carriage, and you could feel the warmth as soon as you got in.
The carriage passed through the imperial city from Chengtian Gate, headed west from Zhuque Gate, reached the area between Taipingfang and Yanshoufang, and then headed south along the street.
Enter from the northeast gate of Guangdefang and stop at Su Mansion next to Jingzhao Prefecture.
Su Bucheng and his two sons were looking out the door when they saw a carriage approaching from afar.
When he got closer, he saw the Eastern Palace mark on the carriage and bowed hurriedly.
"Father, brother, why did you come out!" Su Ying lifted the car curtain and got out.
"Seeing that you haven't come back yet, I've been waiting at the door!" Su Bucheng tied the cloak in his hand on Su Ying.
"Thank you for your hard work, gentlemen. Take this to drink!" Su Boyan stuffed money bags into the guards' pockets.
"You're welcome, sir!" The guards smiled.
The guards around the emperor and the crown prince are all sons of noble families, and they don't care about such trivial matters.
The Su family is enjoying the emperor's favor, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince gave up his carriage to take Lord Su.
It doesn't matter if I have to make the hard journey, I will just follow orders.
The Su family was very considerate and not arrogant. They were polite and even gave them money for wine, which made them feel very face.
"Where are the children? Are they settled?" Su Ying asked with concern.
They were summoned halfway, and with so many children, luggage, sugarcane, and the children who were originally boarding at home, the Su Mansion definitely could not accommodate them.
"Don't worry. I rented a house nearby the day before yesterday. I have settled in and have servants to take care of my daily life." Su Bucheng replied.
"Thank you, father!" Su Ying thanked him.
"What are you thanking me for? You and I are father and daughter. We haven't seen each other for a year and a half, and we've become estranged!" Su Bucheng felt a little sour.
The men in the family were not at home, so the eldest daughter was responsible for taking care of the family. In a blink of an eye, the eldest daughter came of age, but she didn't even have a coming-of-age ceremony.
"Father, is there any suitable barren hill outside Chang'an City? I want to use it to grow sugarcane." Su Ying said as they walked.
"You'll know when you go to the Chang'an County Office tomorrow." Su Bucheng knew that he brought so much not to eat or sell.
"Father, please find a reliable village head. I don't have time to take care of it. The emperor has appointed me as the director of the Firearms Research and Development Bureau.
I originally thought of buying a barren hill outside the city to grow sugarcane and live a carefree life, but I'm afraid I won't be able to do that in the next few years," Su Ying said.
"Yeah!" Su Bucheng was not surprised at all.
The eldest daughter wrote to him about her plan, but he knew that the emperor would not let such a talent go unused.
He thought he would be assigned to the Sinong Temple or the Ministry of Works, but he was unexpectedly assigned to the Ministry of Weapons.
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