226 Higher Rice Yield
Everyone listened attentively when Su Binglan spoke in great detail. She wanted them to remember her instructions. “Next, we must evenly apply the sugar water onto the chicken. Grandpa, put some oil in the pan and heat it.”
Old Master Su was in charge of the fire, so he quickly did as his granddaughter said. Su Binglan looked at the oil and said, “When the oil is almost at a boil, put in the chicken and fry it until golden brown. Then remove it and…”
She looked at the fried chicken and removed it to drain the oil. Old Madam Su took a deep breath and said, “It smells so good! That’s all we need to do?”
Su Fengchen looked at the spices and said, “Mother, those are useless. There must be other steps.”
Only then did Old Madam Su notice the seasonings. “Oh, the fragrance distracted me. How do I use these spices?”
Su Binglan said smilingly, “Don’t worry, Grandma. We’ll use them later.” She added water to the pot and put in the chicken and the spices she had prepared.
“First, we use high heat to boil it and then increase the heat to braise it. However, it will take longer to braise the chicken. I would say about four hours.”
Su Binglan wanted her grandparents to watch as she told them to fish out the chicken when it was ready. The elderly couple needed to pay attention to keeping the chicken intact whenever they scooped it out.
Old Madam Su said, “I can smell how good the chicken is just by cooking it.”
Su Binglan was in a good mood because her grandmother was supportive. “Are you hungry, Grandma?”
“I’m not hungry because I had a big lunch, but the chicken smells delicious. People will be willing to buy this dish just by smelling it. If we decide to sell it, of course.”
Many wealthy people lived in town. Moreover, the Mooncake Festival was near, and many would buy things like these as gifts. Some were willing to spend money, but whatever they bought had to be good.
Old Madam Su believed many would buy the grilled chicken and roast duck if they were delicious enough.
Afterward, Su Binglan taught everyone how to make a roast duck. For that, one would need to refrigerate the duck carcass for a long time. One could not eat it unless it stayed in the fridge overnight. However, the family remembered Su Binglan’s instructions.
Immediately after, Su Binglan taught her uncle how to make duck blood vermicelli soup. This way, he could make it for his parents whenever possible.
After that, Su Binglan told him the primary purpose of her visit—wanting to buy eggs from him.
“Do you need duck eggs, Binglan?” Su Fengchen thought of buying them from the surrounding villages if his niece needed eggs.
Su Binglan explained, “The Mooncake Festival is almost here, Uncle Fengchen. The mooncakes we ate in the past were too simple, so I’m planning to make them with different fillings. They would be delicious with egg yolks, so I thought of buying eggs from you.
“I know it’ll cost you three coins each if you bought them from the villagers, so I will pay you four.”
When Su Binglan said that, Old Master Su, Old Madam Su, and Su Fengchen’s expressions changed.
Old Madam Su said thoughtfully, “T-That doesn’t make sense, Binglan. Three coins per egg are at market price, and we will charge you the same way if you buy them from Fengchen.
“I know you care for Fengchen’s business, but we can’t allow you to do that. He’ll need to keep relying on you to do well in his future business too.”
Old Madam Su knew she could not take advantage of these things to do long-term business. She could not bully her family members either.
Su Fengchen was also insistent. “Binglan, the eggs we buy from others cost three coins each, so we will only charge you as such.”
However, Su Binglan knew she could cover costs if she used the eggs to make mooncakes, especially if she bought them from her uncle. Although she wanted to do that to help her uncle’s business, it would also save time.
She thought of an idea under her uncle’s insistence. “I won’t argue with you, Uncle Fengchen. I will pay you three coins for each egg, but I will also give you a commission.”
“Binglan, there’s no need,” Su Fengchen still refused.
“Listen to me, Uncle Fengchen. You would go on errands to buy the eggs, which saves me trouble. No matter what, I’d still have to pay someone to run that errand if you refuse. In that case, I’d feel more at ease if I paid you to do it, right?”
The two finally concluded their deal after a while. Su Binglan would still pay her uncle three coins each for eggs and an additional errand fee as a bonus.
Afterward, Su Binglan and her mother took two baskets of eggs each and returned home. They could use them to make many mooncakes.
However, Old Madam Su wanted them to stay for dinner. “We’ve already made the vermicelli, so let’s eat together.”
Su Binglan said smilingly, “I won’t argue with that, but I need to prepare dinner at home tonight. I promise to return tomorrow and join you all.”
On the way home, Shen Qiuhua said, “You’re feeling sorry for your grandparents, aren’t you?”
Su Binglan explained, “Grandpa and Grandma would want to call dad and the others over if she wants us to have dinner at her place. With so many people eating their food, they might run out and start eating dry food again.
“I know how frugal grandma and grandpa are. They couldn’t even bear to eat the buns you sent them last time. They only ate them all when I went there to eat. I know they won’t feel at ease if we give them more.
“Besides, they’ve invited us to eat with them too many times. It wouldn’t make sense if we didn’t call Uncle Fengzhi and his family too.”
Shen Qiuhua understood what her daughter meant. “You’re so thoughtful, Binglan.”
It was already late when the mother and daughter reached home. Su Fengmao and Luo Jin’an also returned from the fields when Shen Qiuhua said, “Are you relieved now that you’ve gone to the fields?”
Su Fengmao said happily, “The paddies in our fields are growing very well. We have more rice than the other villagers, and everyone wants to know how we do it.”
Shen Qiuhua was thrilled when she heard that. “R-Really?!” After all, it had been long since she went to the fields.
“Of course, it’s true. You can ask Jin’an if you don’t believe me,” Su Fengmao said smugly.
Shen Qiuhua looked at her son-in-law. Luo Jin’an said softly, “Indeed, our paddies are growing very well. The villagers even asked us how we grow them and if the seeds are good.”
Shen Qiuhua’s smile became brighter when she heard that. “It seems we will have a bumper harvest this year!”
Then Luo Jin’an looked at his wife. Su Binglan thought her husband’s eyes always looked intimidating as if he had discovered something about her.
When Luo Jin’an went to water the fields during the drought, Su Binglan added spiritual spring water into the buckets. After all, the spiritual spring water would allow the crops to grow better.
Of course, the spiritual spring water was out of its natural environment and could not change the crops’ growth rate. Things would only overgrow in Su Binglan’s pocket dimension.
She wanted to raise the rice yield so her family could give some to the villagers. Then the villagers would have enough for themselves in the coming year, and no one would starve. She could not bear to see a low yield.
