Chapter 64: Making Condensed Milk
"Nonsense! How can a woman run a business?"
As expected, Gu Lang strongly disagreed with this matter.
Gu Feixue was not discouraged:
"But Dad, if I don't do business, will I just marry anyone I choose in the future? Women can't serve as officials or fight in wars. Are they destined to be married?"
Gu Lang looked shocked. He didn't expect Gu Feixue to have such thoughts.
Wang on the side was also thoughtful. Although she had no regrets about marrying Gu Lang, many of the young ladies in the capital were unhappy after getting married.
If a woman has no ability, her marriage is naturally out of her control. It would be fine for an ordinary woman, but how could Xue'er marry casually?
Their Gu family has lost its power. If Xue'er gets married and her husband's family doesn't treat her well, how can she, as his mother, not be sad?
Thinking of this, Wang was persuaded by Gu Feixue.
"Dad, have you ever thought about what to do if someone wants to forcibly seize my daughter and force her to marry me in the future?"
Although Gu Feixue felt extremely shameless when she said this, in the eyes of everyone present, it was a very possible thing to happen.
Especially since the Gu family fell into decline, Gu Feixue, who was only seven years old, could already vaguely predict her future appearance from her eyebrows and eyes.
When he grows up, he will inevitably be targeted by tigers, leopards, jackals and wolves. How will the Gu family resist then?
If Gu Feixue had a way to make money now, the Gu family might be able to protect themselves and not just anyone could marry her.
Gu Lang and Wang knew that they were old and naturally could not think of any way to make money, but if Xue'er could protect herself, how could they stop her?
Seeing the hesitation in Gu Lang and Wang's eyes, Gu Feixue continued:
"And, Dad and Mom, I'm still in private school, so I don't show up in public. I'll just make things and let you sell them. And when I grow up, I'll wear a veil regardless of my appearance. What do you think?"
These words completely put Gu Lang and the others at ease.
Then Wang asked with some confusion: "Xue'er, what exactly do you mean by making money?"
Hearing this, Gu Feixue looked at the two cows tied to the tree in the courtyard, grazing, and a smile flashed in her eyes:
"This profitable business is milk."
Gu Tingchuan immediately looked embarrassed when he heard this. He has never liked drinking milk. In the past, all the milk in the Gu Mansion was sent to Gu Feixue's yard.
Although the others didn't react as strongly as Gu Tingchuan, they were obviously very confused. Apart from Gu Sang and Gu Da who looked expectant, no one was optimistic.
Gu Feixue's unwillingness to admit defeat was instantly aroused, and she immediately uttered a harsh word:
"Just wait and see, this milk can be drunk in more ways than just cooking. Once I make the food, you won't even want to eat meat."
When Wang heard Gu Feixue's childish words, she covered her mouth with her hands and laughed.
"Okay, then Xue'er will make it and let Mom and Dad see what kind of food it is that Xue'er praised it so highly."
So after dinner, Gu Feixue took Gu Sang and Gu Da with her to collect two full buckets of milk from cows, until the wooden barrels at home could no longer hold them.
Lactating cows tend to engorgement if they haven't been milked for a long time. Gu Feixue decided to buy more barrels tomorrow.
Put the milk in a large pot in the kitchen and boil it. After boiling, she will start making the first dairy product, which is condensed milk.
She wanted to show these people that milk could not only be drunk, but also made into condensed milk and eaten with steamed buns.
What Gu Feixue wants to reproduce this time is the golden steamed buns that were indispensable for eating hot pot in her previous life.
The golden fried crispy buns are coated with sweet and milky condensed milk.
Ah! That taste is something that even a god wouldn’t be able to change.
It was cooked for half an hour. After making sure that the milk was cooked thoroughly, Gu Feixue added sugar into the pot.
White sugar wasn’t expensive in this era, it just had a slightly yellowish tint, but making condensed milk wasn’t picky, as most condensed milk was also slightly yellowish anyway.
First, add two spoons of sugar and simmer over medium heat.
After that, Gu Feixue would put a spoonful of sugar into the pot every once in a while.
Although it uses less sugar, the condensed milk is meant to be a side dish and eaten with other things, not a staple food, so there is no need to worry about it being too sweet.
The originally thin white milk in the pot evaporates under the action of sugar and fire and gradually turns slightly yellow.
The smell of milk in the kitchen became even stronger.
The sweet aroma of thick milk mixed with sugar lingered in the kitchen, causing Wang, who was busy making winter clothes in the house, to sniff it a few more times.
"What is this sweet smell?"
When everyone arrived at the kitchen door and waited eagerly, Gu Feixue inside did not come out immediately.
She took some steamed buns she had bought in the main city today, put some oil in the pan, fried the buns until they were golden and crispy, then placed them on a plate and served them out.
When the people outside the door saw that the plate that Gu Feixue brought out was filled with fried buns, they immediately looked confused.
"Xue'er, that thing that smells so milky, is that the food you made?"
Gu Tingchuan never thought that milk could emit such a sweet aroma. Isn't it a little fishy even when cooked?
However, Gu Tingchuan didn't know that the fishy smell of milk can be removed by adding sugar. Condensed milk with sugar not only does not have any fishy smell, but also brings out the essence of milk.
"This is the food I made. Let's call it condensed milk. Let me show you how to make it."
After saying that, Gu Feixue took a golden bun from the plate and dipped it in the condensed milk in the small bowl.
In an instant, the rich aroma of milk lingered on the golden bun, and then Gu Feixue took a bite.
The sweet but not greasy milky aroma instantly filled Gu Feixue's mouth. The crispy golden buns and the fragrant condensed milk instantly captured Gu Feixue's heart.
Seeing Gu Feixue enjoying her meal so much, her eyes seemed to be about to close.
Gu Tingchuan was not shy either. He reached out and took a golden bun, and tried to eat it according to Gu Feixue's appearance.
Then everyone saw Gu Tingchuan looking at the bitten golden bun in his hand with a face full of surprise. Just as he swallowed the food in his mouth, he looked at everyone in great surprise and said:
"It's even more delicious than delicacies from land and sea. Is this actually made with steamed buns?"
Afterwards, everyone in the Gu family tried it, and the whole plate of golden buns was quickly shared and eaten up.
When Gu Feixue finished one and wanted to eat another, she found that there was no steamed bun left on the plate.
Even the small bowl of condensed milk was held by Gu Da and he was ready to lick it clean.
Gu Feixue stopped him immediately and said:
"Although this is delicious, don't overeat. It contains a lot of sugar, and eating too much will make you fat."
When Gu Da heard the word "get fat", he immediately gave up. After all, he wanted to learn from Uncle Dali and couldn't get fat.
"How is it? Can this food be sold for money?"
Before Wang could speak, Gu Lang also looked surprised:
"Even the imperial kitchen might not be able to make this, so it's naturally worth the money."
Gu Lang used to be a first-rank official, so he had naturally participated in palace banquets. The fact that he could give this evaluation showed that Gu Feixue's dish was indeed desirable.
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