Chapter 136 Fried locusts, the first generation of non-staple food is born!
On this day, Zhu Han was refining lard in the kitchen of the Yamen.
"Sir, you have to think of a way quickly!"
Xi Zhicai hurriedly broke into the kitchen and saw Zhu Han still making food there leisurely. He was so angry that he almost went crazy.
"What's wrong? We successfully resisted the locust plague, and the crops in the fields were saved. Everyone in the city is happy these days. Why are you the only one with a sad face? Who has offended you again?"
Zhu Han put down the spatula and asked in confusion.
"Didn't you offend me?"
Xi Zhicai rolled his eyes and reported: "In the past few days, we have purchased more than a million locusts. When people in other counties saw that we purchased locusts, they went into the mountains and forests to find locusts for you, sir!"
"What do I mean? Isn't this a good thing?"
Zhu Han folded his hands and said in confusion: "In this way, the people will no longer be afraid of the locust plague, many crops will be saved, and this year will be a bumper harvest! Isn't it good?"
"Okay, great! The better they are, the faster we will eat dirt!"
Xi Zhicai rolled his eyes and counted on his fingers: "A pound of locusts costs ten cents, forty or fifty locusts make up one pound. Do you know how many pounds of locusts we have purchased in the past few days?"
"Fifty people have a catty, one million is twenty thousand catties, one catty is ten cents, twenty thousand catties is two hundred thousand cents, which is twenty gold? Not much? How come we are like bankrupt when we get here?
Same thing!"
Zhu Han did some calculations and asked in confusion: "Is there no money in the treasury again? Even if there is no money, twenty gold can still be allocated, right? We can owe anyone money, but only
We can’t owe anything to the people! It’s not easy for them either. We have to give as much as we should give! We can’t discount it. This is my bottom line!”
"Am I talking about the locusts in our county? I'm talking about the locusts in the entire Jizhou. The news that we purchased the locusts has spread. Now people from the surrounding counties and villages are going to catch them.
The locusts are gone! This morning alone, our Yamen collected more than 3,000 kilograms of locusts from the people of Guangzong, and they were only the first batch. It can be seen that more people will come later! Even if we open a breeding farm,
How many chickens and ducks must be raised to eat up these bugs? Moreover, in order to facilitate transportation, the bugs sent by the people are basically dead. The weather is getting hotter and hotter, and they cannot be stored for long! I can follow
Tell me! If these dead bugs cause various diseases! I will directly order these dead bugs to be burned. Then don’t blame me for not cooperating with you!"
Xi Zhicai glanced at the oil residue in the pot that was about to burn, and reminded: "Bo Yun, what are you doing? It's all burnt!"
"Oh! I'm already busy talking to you! My bastard!"
Only then did Zhu Han come to his senses. He quickly turned around and used a funnel to fish out the oil residue in the pot, and then removed the firewood to let the oil cool down. Otherwise, the temperature would be so high that the locusts would be fried to a crisp.
"Sir, what are you doing refining oil? Just let your servants do such a small thing!"
Xi Zhicai persuaded with some resentment: "You are the dignified leader of the county. Your eyes should be on the governance of Jingxian County, instead of being like a cook who stays in the kitchen all day. This is nothing."
What's the matter? If others know about it, they will spread rumors that the county magistrate of our county is a drunkard who only knows how to eat and drink! This will also be detrimental to our future development!"
"What's wrong with only eating and drinking? What's wrong?"
What Zhu Han didn't like to hear the most was Xi Zhicai's words, which were always on the line. As soon as he got angry, he turned around and asked: "What's wrong with me, I can only eat and drink? Who doesn't eat? Who doesn't eat?"
Are you still a human being? As long as the money comes from the right sources, will I be a hindrance to you by eating and drinking all day long?"
"How many people are still hungry in our county! Isn't it bad for you to do this, sir?"
After countless experiences and lessons, Xi Zhicai immediately gave in and changed direction once he discovered that Zhu Han was trying to get into trouble.
"Hmph! But you are right! There are still many people in Jing County who are hungry. It is really not a good idea for us to do this, but..." Zhu Han walked aside, lifted the lid of a wooden basin, and smiled
Said: "I'm not just here for my own appetite today. Didn't I tell you before? Locusts are a good thing. As long as they are fried, they are fragrant, crispy and delicious. They are not only good for rice, but also good for wine.
, plus this thing contains a variety of things that are beneficial to our human body, it will definitely be the main player in the non-staple foods we sell to the outside world in the future!"
"Sir, do you really want to eat locusts?"
Looking at the locusts crawling around in the wooden basin, Xi Zhicai suddenly felt a chill and said with a tangled face: "Why don't we expand a few more breeding farms, these bugs can always be digested!"
"Do you think I had to do this because I was afraid of waste?"
Zhu Han rolled his eyes and said with a smile: "Young man, although you are full of knowledge, I admit that I can't compare with you, but when it comes to food and drink, I can beat you a few blocks! Don't cry and beg me for help later.
You eat it!”
"I would beg you to feed me locusts?"
Xi Zhicai was stunned when he heard this, pointed at his nose and laughed and cursed: "You are simply insulting my character!"
"Haha, you kid, just be tough! You'll feel better later! It's a pity, there is no chili. If there were chili, the taste would be better!"
Zhu Han glanced at the pitiful condiments on the stove and sighed: "I don't know where these chili peppers are found. I don't believe there is no place where chili peppers grow in such a large Han Dynasty?"
Ever since Zhu Han became the county magistrate, he spent his own money to hire a few people to go south to Shu to look for chili peppers for him. Although he has eaten them in different ways in the past few months, his taste has indeed faded away.
Birds come, Zhu Han also read books about chili peppers in his previous life. He knew that chili peppers were first discovered in America and were not native to Asia. They were introduced later. However, Zhu Han did not believe in evil. He did not believe in Yang Yang.
In the land of China, such a small chili pepper will not be found. Maybe the local people do not know the uses of chili peppers, which makes chili peppers less famous. If chili peppers cannot be found, Zhu Han also decided to use chili peppers in the future.
When his power was able to influence some things, he sent people to the Americas to get some chili peppers. For this reason, he did not hesitate to launch a war. Of course, this is a story for later, let’s not mention it for now, but Zhu Han’s idea is still there
Ten years later, it was really verified that he really launched a war for chili peppers, which was nicknamed the "War for Chili Peppers!" by later generations.
"Chili pepper? What is that? Zanthoxylum bungeanum? Or dogwood?"
Xi Zhi was confused and asked subconsciously. Anyway, in his opinion, as long as it is a new vocabulary that comes out of Zhu Han's mouth, it must be a good thing, although he doesn't know where Zhu Han heard it.
But that didn't stop him from gaining more knowledge.
"What peppercorns? Cornus officinalis? Chili peppers are chili peppers. There are many types of chili peppers, including long, thin, red, and green. They are pungent in the mouth and can be used as seasonings or medicines. Let me tell you! Whether they are fried,
It can be stewed, stir-fried, or boiled. Just put a little chili pepper in it, and the texture will be amazing! It’s as happy as a god!”
As a true southwesterner, chili pepper is definitely a must-have food for every meal. Zhu Han even missed his previous life a little. He said intoxicatedly: "You don't know, chili pepper can refresh you and keep out the cold. Just rely on it to
These two points are absolutely indispensable in the army!"
"Have you eaten, sir?"
Xi Zhicai swallowed hard and asked.
"Of course I have eaten them before, especially the millet peppers soaked in soy sauce, tsk tsk, eat them with rice, a few of them can eat up a big bowl of rice!"
Not to mention Xi Zhicai, even Zhu Han was aroused and couldn't help but swallow his saliva.
"Since you have eaten it, let's send someone to the local area to get it for you! I can also see the wonderful use of this thing!"
Xi Zhicai said enviously: "And the soy sauce, let's get it too!"
"Ah? What did I just say?"
Zhu Han suddenly reacted and quickly started pretending to be dumbfounded. He asked with a stupid look on his face: "What did I just say? Have I eaten it? Never eaten it? How could I have eaten that kind of thing?"
?”
"Sir, if you act like this, we won't be able to continue talking!"
Xi Zhicai rolled his eyes. Every time he talked about this kind of topic, Zhu Han would be like this. No matter how Xi Zhicai made innuendo, he just pretended to be stupid. Except when he couldn't pretend anymore, he would say it was God.
People ask dreams, whether it is the Eight Immortals table, or the various novel training equipment in the military camp behind, or the charcoal grilled fish and now the fried locusts, Zhu Han always has a reason to muddle through, Xi Zhicai has experienced a lot.
, and there will be no more stalking.
"If we can't continue talking, then let's stop talking! Okay, the oil in my pot has almost cooled down. Zhicai, you add more fire, and I'll pour the locusts in and fry them!"
Zhu Han obviously didn't want to have too much entanglement with Xi Zhicai on this matter. Could he still say that he was resurrected through a corpse or that he could not travel through time? If he dared to say this, then Xi Zhicai would definitely believe that he was a
madman.
After the first frying, the unique aroma of locusts began to float in the kitchen. Xi Zhicai was a little surprised and thought to himself, judging from the aroma alone, the fried locusts would definitely not be too unpalatable.
Then Zhu Han began to stir-fry the ingredients. There was not much seasoning, just some pepper, salt and a little wine. As Zhu Han continued to stir-fry, the aroma of the ingredients became more intense, and even Xi Zhicai couldn't help but swallow it.
He was drooling and kept glancing towards the pot.
In fact, fried locusts don’t need too much seasoning. Just add a little salt, chili pepper and Sichuan peppercorns, and the taste will be unique and convince many people. But who knows that Zhu Han is an authentic foodie! Without conditions
He can find ways to create opportunities under any circumstances, let alone in this kitchen. He can't do anything wrong to his stomach.
After a while of stirring, the crispy and fragrant fried locusts were officially out of the pot. Zhu Han quickly picked up one and threw it into his mouth. Then he closed his eyes slightly and said with enjoyment: "Yes, this is the taste!"