Spring comes to the desperate place

Chapter 142 Sale

"It's actually delicious!" The shopkeeper was shocked. No one had ever eaten chili peppers before. When Song Dazhuang and the others brought them to him, he thought they were joking. After Song Dazhuang repeatedly assured him that the chili peppers were non-toxic, the shopkeeper thought about trying it. The worst that would happen was that his mouth would get swollen. He didn't expect that the chili peppers in oil were actually delicious, fragrant and spicy, but he said he could tolerate this level of spiciness.

After eating the steamed buns dipped in chili oil, the shopkeeper reached out to touch the other half with garlic chili sauce. Different from the spicy chili oil, the fermented chili sauce has a stronger flavor. After the salty and fragrant taste, it is followed by a pungent spiciness, which is the opposite of the spicy taste of the chili oil.

The shopkeeper was so spicy that his eyes and nose were streaming, but even so, he finished the remaining bun in his hand as if he was bewitched.

Song Dazhuang was afraid that the spicy food would make the person sick, so he quickly took the teacup from the table and poured a cup of milk from the military kettle.

"Come on, boss, have a sip, it will make you less spicy."

When the shopkeeper heard that the milk could relieve the spiciness, he drank it without thinking. Only after he finished drinking it did he realize that what he drank seemed to be cow's milk.

"Hiss~ Is this milk? Hiss~"

Looking at the shopkeeper who was choking with spiciness, Song Dazhuang held back his laughter and said, "Yes, it is milk. Drinking this can relieve the spiciness faster than drinking water."

The shopkeeper couldn't help but stand in awe. How many chili peppers must the man have eaten to find something like milk that can relieve the spiciness? This milk tastes pretty good. I wonder where the other party found it from.

The shopkeeper drank three cups of milk in a row before he felt that his mouth was no longer so spicy, but his mouth was still a little red and swollen.

"Not bad, not bad, your two peppers are really delicious, especially the oil-splashed chili, which has a mellow spicy flavor and a long aftertaste. But the chili sauce is really too spicy, I'm afraid it won't sell well."

Song Chunlin has also thought about this problem. Ancient people relied on ginger and dogwood to eat spicy food. When peppers were first introduced to China, they were only used as medicinal materials and bonsai, just like the current large landscapes, as rare ornamental plants. Because of their spicy properties, no one would want to eat them, so the ancients were not so tolerant of peppers.

Therefore, he positioned the hot sauce as a condiment. Dipping it in steamed buns is the simplest way to eat it. Garlic hot sauce is widely used in modern kitchens. Garlic hot sauce can be used to make steamed dishes, steamed fish heads, steamed vermicelli and enoki mushrooms, and even seafood and oysters, all of which are extremely delicious.

Of course, you can’t find ingredients like enoki mushrooms, vermicelli and seafood now, but the simplest fish head can be easily obtained.

The shopkeeper followed Song Dazhuang's instructions and asked the waiter to buy a bighead carp from the stall. He then asked the cook to clean it up, split the fish head in half and placed them on the largest plate. Song Dazhuang spread the garlic chili sauce evenly on the fish head and, according to Song Chunlin's instructions, put the fish head into the pot to steam it while the water was boiling. After steaming it over high heat for about half an incense stick, Song Dazhuang lifted the lid, poked the fish head with chopsticks, and took it out only when he was sure it was cooked.

The chopped pepper fish head should be cooked with chopped pepper sauce, but the garlic chili sauce is also very fragrant. When serving the dish, Song Dazhuang also splashes a little hot oil on the fish head, which completely stimulates the aroma and makes people around drool.

Song Dazhuang also swallowed his saliva and pretended to be reserved, making a gesture of invitation to the display cabinet.

The shopkeeper was no longer polite and picked up a piece of fish face meat with chopsticks. Fish face meat is the most tender. The shopkeeper took a bite of the fish meat and swallowed it. It tasted so good that he squinted his eyes.

"It's amazing! After being steamed, the spicy garlic sauce has become much milder. When it blends with the fish meat, it is truly the most delicious fish head I have ever eaten!"

Hearing the shopkeeper's praise, Song Dazhuang felt deeply honored.

"Haha, what do you think, shopkeeper? I was right, wasn't I? The dishes made with this hot sauce are to your liking."

The shopkeeper laughed loudly: "It fits perfectly, it fits perfectly."

Others also picked up their chopsticks to eat fish. People in Dajing usually pan-fry fish, and there is no steamed fish like in Song Dazhuang. At first, everyone was willing to swallow the fish even if it tasted bad. As a result, the fish smelled fragrant before it was even out of the pot. When you tasted it again, the fish meat was tender and smooth, with a spicy garlic flavor, which eliminated most of the fishy smell of the fish head, leaving only the delicious taste. Even people who can't eat spicy food were tempted by the delicious taste and kept eating.

The shopkeeper wanted to take another bite, but found that there were only fish bones left on the plate. He was so angry that he blew his beard and glared, but on second thought, he grabbed Song Dazhuang's hand and took all the garlic chili sauce and oil-splashed chili that Song Dazhuang brought, letting Song Dazhuang set the price.

Song Dazhuang priced a jar of hot sauce at five hundred wen. A jar of hot sauce weighs about six liang. This price is indeed a bit inflated, but things are valuable because they are rare. Now only the Song family has this kind of hot sauce, so the higher price is reasonable. Song Dazhuang is selling on consignment, and the shopkeeper takes 30% of the commission, and the accounts are settled on a monthly basis.

The shopkeeper also bought ten jars for himself, intending to keep them for later consumption. Song Dazhuang only brought twenty-five jars of the two kinds of hot sauce, for a total of fifty jars. The shopkeeper bought twenty jars for himself, and the remaining thirty jars were all placed in the most conspicuous place on the counter.

After Song Dazhuang unloaded the things, he left the carriage here and went to the market with a backpack and money in his pocket. Recently, needlework and other things at home were running low, so he bought some to take back.

First, he went to the cloth shop he often went to, selected a few pieces of coarse linen, and bought some needles and thread. After paying the bill, he was about to leave when he suddenly heard the customers in the cloth shop chatting about the capital city and the marquis's mansion.

Song Dazhuang subconsciously leaned over to listen, but what he heard was shocking, as the two people were actually talking about the Yongyi Marquis Mansion!

Isn't the Yongyi Marquis's Mansion the Gu Fengyue family? Song Dazhuang was completely unable to move now, so he just stood beside the two people, listening carefully to what they were saying.

"Wasn't the Marquis of Yongyi conferred by the late emperor himself? Your Majesty really dares to revoke their title?"

The man was somewhat disdainful: "So what if the late emperor conferred the title on him personally? He still deserted from the battlefield. The city of Hutu was massacred that year. If the old marquis had not fled, but stayed in the city, how could he have been massacred based on his ability? Humph, I think their whole family should be arrested and thrown into prison. They even had the nerve to bring him back in such a grand manner a while ago. Tsk tsk, they are not afraid of being stabbed in the back."

Others were a little bit unconvinced: "No way, the old marquis is a victorious general who has fought on the battlefield for many years, how could he possibly escape from the battlefield?"

"He didn't flee from the battlefield, so why did he die outside Hutu City instead of being burned to ashes inside the city with his wife? Humph, I think the Gu family is completely finished."

"The Gu family has been in the capital for many years. It's not that easy to destroy them. Aren't those wealthy families well-established? How can they be destroyed so easily?"

"Hey, no matter how great the family background is, can't the emperor just say anything? I told you not to be too proud, and now, is this your retribution?"

After they finished talking, the two of them took the things they had chosen and went to pay the bill, leaving Song Dazhuang alone, standing there, his whole body as stiff as if he was frozen.

The waiter looked at him as if he had been acupunctured, and could not help but step forward and call him several times. Song Dazhuang then woke up as if from a dream, and hurried back with the things he had bought.

Running all the way home, Song Dazhuang immediately grabbed Song Chunlin who was playing with his younger brothers and sisters. Song Chunlin was carried to the study by his father with a confused look on his face. Song Dazhuang was so anxious that he didn't even put down the backpack on his body, and eagerly asked Song Chunlin to use space to explore.

After listening to what Song Dazhuang said, Song Chunlin also became serious. He released his mental power. Now his mental power was strong enough to easily cover the entire sky above the capital.

The gate of the Marquis' Mansion was closed and the house was quiet. Song Chunlin found that there were fewer servants in the mansion. Gu Fengyun was rarely seen at home leisurely drinking tea. Gu Fengyue did not go to the army to serve, but was idle at home and rotten.

Song Chunlin was no fool. He could tell at a glance that the two of them had been put in solitary confinement as a punishment by the emperor. It seemed that the problem this time was indeed very serious.

Song Chunlin looked at the anxious Song Dazhuang and tried to comfort his father first.

"Dad, the Gu brothers are fine for now. They are all staying at home. Don't worry. Doesn't the emperor trust Lord Gu the most? I think the two brothers are doing well. They can eat and sleep well. I guess they have already thought of a plan. We are close to the Gu family and didn't receive any news this time. Maybe this is also a way for them to protect our family?"

"Ah, you didn't tell us, to protect us?"

Song Chunlin nodded: "Yes, the old marquis is a man of steel, he would definitely not do such a thing as running away from the battlefield. I believe you know this better than me. Moreover, the old marquis was clearly seriously injured and was urgently sent out of Hutu City. I think as long as they grasp this point, they can clear the old marquis's grievances. The two brothers are more familiar with officialdom affairs than we are. What we have to do now is to wait and see, stay at home and live our lives well, and try not to cause trouble for them."

Song Dazhuang felt more at ease when he thought of this: "Indeed, we are just ordinary farmers. It is best for us not to show up. But your second uncle, Uncle Lu and Uncle Fu are still in our house. What if they come to arrest us? Chunlin, can you find a way to hide them first?"

Song Chunlin thought so too. Lu Ming, Fu Nian and even Song Dahe were among the guards who had participated in escorting the old marquis. If the court really came to ask for someone, they certainly could not refuse.

"Second Uncle's brain is already in great shape. Although Uncle Fu and Uncle Lu are disabled, they are not stupid either. They know what to say and what not to say. Besides, we have a clear conscience. If we hide, it will probably arouse suspicion. It is better to be open and aboveboard. Once others investigate, everything will be clear. We just need to inform Second Uncle and the others."

Song Dazhuang had found his backbone at this time, so he put down the backpack and went to explain the situation to Song Dahao, Fu Nian, Lu Ming and others.

After hearing the whole story, the three of them gritted their teeth in hatred.

"These people are so ungrateful! Have they forgotten how they got all these years of peace and quiet? Da Sima has killed countless enemies on the battlefield throughout his life. Even when he was seriously injured, he refused to leave the battlefield. If Madam hadn't knocked him out, he would definitely not have gone with us."

"Yes, in order to pacify the border, the Grand Marshal suffered numerous injuries, and just because he was seriously injured and had to retreat from the battlefield, he was slandered by these villains. They are empty-mouthed, and they follow those people without knowing anything, and they don't even let the dead go. That dog emperor has the nerve to imprison the Marquis. Bah, who the hell is he? When we followed the Grand Marshal to fight on the battlefield, he was still a baby!"

Hearing Lu Ming scolding the emperor, Fu Nian turned pale and shouted: "Shut up, Brother Lu, be careful there are ears on the other side of the wall."

Lu Ming was still a little unconvinced. Among the three people, he had followed Da Sima for the longest time and therefore had the deepest feelings for him. In his heart, Da Sima was a hero-like figure. How could he tolerate others insulting him like this!

Fu Nian looked at Lu Ming, who had a fierce look on his face and was about to fight someone, and helplessly held his hand and stroked his hair.

"Brother Lu, justice is in the hearts of the people. Once we investigate what happened to Da Sima, we will know the whole story. Those people framed Da Sima just to deal with the Yongyi Marquis's Mansion. As long as the Marquis stays calm, the Marquis' Mansion will be fine."

Song Chunlin also quickly interjected, "Yes, yes, the Marquis is stable. Although his health is not very good, his brain is working well, and he has always been valued by His Majesty. You have seen such a big thing, and the emperor only punished them by confining them at home. This is already a very good result. I believe that the Marquis must have his own plans. What we have to do is to abide by the law and not cause trouble for them."

When everyone heard this, they thought it made a lot of sense. Song Daha's eyes were always on Song Chunlin. Song Chunlin was not a fool, so of course he noticed it, but since Song Daha didn't say anything, he wouldn't explain too much.

Fu Nian said slowly, "When the Marquis said he would reward the three of us, I knew this would be difficult, but I didn't expect those people would actually frame the Grand Marshal for this. Well, the crops in the fields are about to be harvested, so let's finish this matter first."

"Brother Song, if the existence of Brother Lu and I will cause trouble to your family, you can also hand us over. Brother Lu and I will not blame you."

Song Dazhuang's face darkened: "What are you talking about? Am I that kind of person? Besides, my brother is the old marquis you are escorting together. If you really want to hand him over, I will be the first one to hand him over."

Song Dahe, who was caught in the crossfire: "???"

However, Song Daha did not refute, because the three of them were grasshoppers tied to the same rope. They would prosper together and suffer together. Anyway, no matter what happened, they would not be able to escape. It would be better for them to stay where they are and focus on harvesting the crops in the fields first.