Chapter 97: Can You Make So Many Things?

August 9, 2023Ai Hrist

Because of offering the method of making ice, the Emperor gave Xiao Hanzheng a hundred taels of gold.

It looked like nothing much, but it represents a kind of honor.

Mo Qingling came to Xiaxi Village with the imperial decree and gold, and the villagers in the whole village were very excited.

In this era, the concept of clan was very strong. Except for a few narrow-minded people, most people were happy if a clan member can make a difference.

The patriarch was also very happy and brought several elders to congratulate him.

Xiao Hanzheng put the reward gold in the house and came out to entertain Mo Qingling and others.

If it was not urgently needed, this kind of reward gold was generally not used.

Mo Qingling found many differences in Xiaxi Village this time.

There were many stalls at the entrance of the village, and many people were coming and going from the county.

If he doesn’t know anything, he would think Xiaxi Village was a lively town.

Then he saw several workshops built by the Xiao family. After asking, he found out that they were built by the Xiao Family for making mosquito coils.

Some people came to buy sugar especially.

Of course, many people came for the saltpeter.

Since the recipe for making ice was made public, the whole of Daliang has been looking for saltpeter mines, but because of their limited skills, they have found limited numbers.

Xiaxi Village has a ready-made saltpeter mine that can be mined, so it becomes a hot bun.

There was even a rich family in Fucheng who was thinking of occupying this saltpeter mine.

He was the one who stopped it.

This was the place under his jurisdiction, and other families or people were not allowed to extend their hands in there.

He grew up in the capital. This time he came to Nanxi County, it was his first time traveling so far.

Along the way, he saw the poverty that was very different from the prosperity of the capital.

Originally, he came for the iron mines, but now he wanted to do something for the common people.

Looking at Xiao Hanzheng’s flowing and graceful manner, he made tea that he had never seen before.

Mo Qingling felt that he might have underestimated the couple before.

After taking a sip, it was very refreshing and sweet, better than the tea he drank in the past.

“What kind of tea is this?”

Xiao Hanzheng smiled and said: “This is the kung fu tea my wife learned.”

Mo Qingling took another sip, “It’s very good.”

Xiao Hanzheng said generously: “If your lord likes it, you can let the people around you learn it, and if you want to drink it, you can make it yourself.”

His little wife said that some things were added to the current tea, which loses the taste it should have. It would be good if Kung Fu tea can be passed on.

Mo Qingling likes the taste of this light tea drink: “Okay, thank you very much!”

After sitting and chatting for a while, he asked: “I heard that you have a good relationship with the Bai family. Why didn’t you cooperate with the mosquito coils?”

If they cooperate with the Bai family, the Xiao family can save a lot of trouble.

And he felt that the profit should not be less than selling it in bulk.

Xiao Hanzheng guessed that he would ask this question, and said truthfully: “My wife doesn’t just want to make money, but wants to use mosquito coils and other things to drive the development of the entire village…”

He told him what his little wife told him, how to revitalize the stagnant water in Xiaxi Village.

Mo Qingling heard this kind of remark for the first time, and couldn’t help thinking deeply.

The more he thought about it, the more wonderful it becomes.

This method was not only applicable to Xiaxi Village but also to the entire Nanxi County.

He thought for a while and asked: “Where is your wife? Can you ask her to come out and say a few words?”

Xiao Hanzheng got up, “Please wait a moment, my lord, I’ll call my lady over right now.”

Shi Qingluo was arranging shipments at the workshop.

She felt that she should train a few helpers well, otherwise, she would be too tired.

Just as she was thinking, she heard Xiao Hanzheng call: “My lady, County Magistrate Mo wants to see you.”

Shi Qingluo temporarily put down her work and went out: “Why does he want to see me?”

Xiao Hanzheng said: “I told him that you want to revitalize Xiaxi Village, maybe he wants to talk to you about the development of Nanxi County.”

Shi Qinglou nodded: “Then we can have a chat.”

If Nanxi County developed well, it will bring great benefits to Xiaxi Village.

After walking into the room, Shi Qingluo bowed to Mo Qingling, “This lady greet the magistrate.”

Mo Qingling raised his hand: “You may excuse, please sit down!”

Shi Qingluo was not restrained and sat not far away.

The patriarch and the others didn’t say anything, obviously, they had already approved Shi Qingluo in their hearts.

If it was other women, they will find fault in women showing up in public.

Mo Qingling didn’t have much contact with Shi Qingluo, but he generally felt that she was a straightforward person.

So he didn’t go around the bush, and asked straight to the point: “What do you think Nanxi County should do if it wants to revitalize itself?”

Shi Qinglou replied with a smile: “Develop according to local conditions.”

Mo Qingling pondered these words and thought they made sense.

“How do you adapt to local conditions?”

Shi Qingluo thought for a while and said: “Let me make an analogy. Nanxi County grows a lot of sesame seeds. If you sell sesame seeds alone, the profit is limited.”

“But if you made it into other things, not only can the price go up, but it can also become a special product of Nanxi County.”

“Such as sesame, sesame paste, sesame, and so on.”

“When you mention sesame seeds in the future, people in Daliang may think of Nanxi County first.”

She paused and continued: “For example, the mosquito coils we make are called Nanxi mosquito coils. When we mention mosquito coils in the future, everyone is aware that Nanxi County is the place where mosquito coils appear.”

“If you want to make sesame seeds a brand of the county, you can call it Nanxi sesame oil and Nanxi sesame paste.”

In this era, sesame seeds were mostly used to make cakes and squeeze oil.

She asked around in the county town, sesame paste doesn’t exist yet.

Daliang’s current food culture was relatively simple. Most of the dishes were boiled and roasted, and there were very few stir-fried dishes.

There was no such thing as fried sauce noodles.

So it should be good to make sesame paste.

Mo Qingling listened to it completely. He knew Nanxi County before, so he also knew that there were many people growing sesame plants here, both white and black.

But he didn’t expect that sesame seeds could make so many things.

Not to mention him, even the patriarch and the others were taken aback.

They thought to themselves, Xiao Hanzheng’s wife was really powerful. Not only he was blessed after marrying her, but the whole village was also blessed.

Mo Qingling asked curiously: “What is sesame paste? How does it taste?”

Shi Qingluo replied: “The sauce made of sesame tastes very good, especially for dipping mutton.”

Speaking of which, she even wants to eat instant-boiled mutton.

Daliang’s staple food was mutton, chicken, and duck. They relatively eat little pork.

Although Mo Qingling was asking a question, his tone was affirmative: “You can do it?”

Shi Qinglou nodded: “Yes!”

She said again: “Tomorrow I will buy some sesame seeds and make it. After I am done, I will send some to the lord to taste.”

By the way, she can eat instant mutton.

Mo Qingling smiled and nodded, “Then, I will trouble you.”

“You mentioned the sesame paste and sesame oil together before, can you make it together?”

If it can be done, it can add a lot of characteristics to Nanxi County, and it can also drive the local economy.

Shi Qinglou nodded generously: “No problem, when it’s done, I’ll ask my husband to send it to your lord.”

It was indeed good to be friends with Mo Qingling.