Inside the Qin Mansion, upon hearing the servant's report, Qin Jin frowned tightly.
"You mean that woman still had the nerve to take people to the estate?"
The servant quickly brought up several tenant farmers who had seen Li Ying during the day. They all talked at once, disorganized, pouring out everything they had seen and heard like beans from a bamboo tube.
"Eldest Young Master, after we got back, the more we thought about it, the more something seemed off. So we dug around too, and this is what's growing in the fields."
A tenant farmer tremblingly held up two potatoes. Qin Jin gave them a disdainful glance but didn't reach out to take them.
"She's just a vulgar country bumpkin who can't be on the elegant stage. Without the protection of our Qin family, she's surely resorted to making a living by digging in the dirt."
Qin Shao snorted proudly. But Qin Jin pondered for a moment and then carefully instructed, "This woman is always full of tricks. Don't underestimate her. You go back and guard the estate. No matter what she says, don't agree to anything. Report back to us immediately!"
The tenant farmers bowed and left. The Qin brothers looked at these potato - like things but really couldn't figure out what use they could possibly have.
Li Ying was calm and composed. After a good night's sleep, she felt refreshed. The next morning, the sweet potato starch that had been drying overnight was already completely dry. She took a handful and put it in a basket. She also packed some potato cakes and roasted sweet potatoes in a food box. After giving a few instructions to Granny Sun and A Man, she excitedly headed straight for the yamen.
The yamen runners were familiar with her. Seeing her like this, they knew she must have prepared some new and delicious food, so they greeted her very warmly.
"Greetings, Your Honor the Magistrate."
Li Ying got straight to the point. She presented the food box directly and bowed politely to the magistrate.
Thanks to the night market in the fishing village, the commercial tax in the town had increased a lot. The magistrate already knew that this Miss Li was a veritable money - making tree. Now seeing her, he was much more polite.
"Miss Li, have you developed some new snacks again? If you want to sell them in the night market, you can just make your own decisions. You don't have to ask me about everything."
He waved his hand casually, looking quite magnanimous. In fact, he was very pleased in his heart. This Miss Li was very thoughtful and reported everything, giving him enough dignity as an official.
Li Ying opened the food box and said with a smile, "Your Honor, what I've brought today is not just night - market snacks. It's also a fortune for you."
This remark made the magistrate slightly stunned.
There were just a few small golden - brown cakes in the food box. Although they did look soft and delicious, they were not as delicate as the wine and dishes Li Ying usually brought.
As for the gray - yellow, twig - like things in the bamboo basket, although no one knew what they were, they really didn't arouse anyone's appetite.
Where on earth did this so - called "fortune" come from?
Li Ying just smiled and didn't say a word. She just invited the magistrate to have a taste first.
The small cakes had the unique aroma of potatoes. They were soft, glutinous and delicate, nothing like the dry and hard black bread of farmers, which was hard to swallow. They were even better than the dry rations made of fine flour by wealthy families!
"Your Honor, these two vegetables are potatoes and sweet potatoes. They are very easy to grow and have a high yield."
"The sweet potato vines can be used as green vegetables, and the underground tubers can replace rice and noodles. After being steamed or boiled, they can be directly used as staple food. They are very filling. They can also be processed into starch. This sweet potato starch is not easy to spoil after being dried and is very easy to store. If it can be widely promoted among the common people..."
Before she could finish speaking, the magistrate's eyes began to sparkle.
Yes, if it was really as she said, he, a low - ranking seventh - grade magistrate, could solve the three - meal problem of the poor people across the country. The emperor would surely reward him handsomely. What else could this be but a fortune!
However, this matter was of great importance and related to his future official career. He couldn't act rashly.
The magistrate took a deep breath and then looked at Li Ying seriously and asked, "Miss Li, it's difficult to satisfy everyone's taste. Although you've praised these potatoes and sweet potatoes to the skies, changing the eating habits of the common people has always been a challenge. Can they really accept them?"
Li Ying had already guessed his concerns. Seeing that it was already noon, the time for lunch, she smiled at the magistrate and calmly made a "please" gesture.
"Your Honor, you might as well come with me to the pier and see for yourself."
Before Li Ying left home, she had already told Granny Sun and A Man to wash all the potatoes she had brought back and stack them neatly in bamboo baskets.
At this moment, Lu Xunguang was guarding the charcoal fire, roasting the potatoes with their skins on until they were soft and slightly charred.
A Man's voice was clear as she shouted, "Don't miss it! Potato buffet! Only two coppers for unlimited servings. Eat until you're full!"
Under the magistrate's stunned gaze, a dockworker who had just finished a serving held his bamboo winnowing basket and asked doubtfully, "Can I really get another serving?"
A Man smiled charmingly. She took a few roasted potatoes from Lu Xunguang's hands, quickly peeled them and cut them into large pieces. "Uncle, help yourself!"
Dozens of small bowls were neatly arranged on the bamboo cart, with all kinds of seasonings.
If you just added salt, pepper and cumin powder, you could taste the original flavor of the roasted potatoes. There was even a hint of sweetness in the burnt aroma.
If you added vinegar and spicy oil, sprinkled with some sweet and crispy pickled radishes, as well as appetizing pickled peppers and pickled beans, each piece of roasted potato would be covered in an attractive red oil. The soft potato puree combined the freshness of the pickled vegetables and the dry fragrance of the crushed peanuts. The taste was rich and the aftertaste was endless.
There was also the seafood sauce made by Li Ying with scallop skirts, tomato and black - pepper sauce, curry and five - spice dry dip... Dozens of seasonings were available for you to mix as you like. Every flavor was appetizing!
The work at the dock was physically demanding, and the dockworkers had huge appetites. A Man filled their bamboo winnowing baskets with roasted potatoes again and again without changing her expression. It even made the dockworkers themselves feel a bit embarrassed.
For just two coppers, they could eat to their hearts' content until they couldn't even stand up straight. There was such a cheap and delicious meal in the world!
"Miss A Man, with the roasted potatoes only costing two coppers, won't Miss Li really lose money with the way we're eating?"
Several dockworkers who were familiar with Li Ying couldn't bear it and tentatively asked. Before A Man could answer, Li Ying pushed through the crowd and spoke first.
"Thank you all for your concern. The so - called 'buffet' means that everyone can eat until they're full. As long as you don't waste food, we welcome you to eat as much as you like!"
The dockworkers cheered. Li Ying then looked at the magistrate with a smile and confidently asked, "Your Honor, are you satisfied with this scene? Can you rest assured now?"
The magistrate also had a serving of roasted potatoes. After careful consideration, he finally nodded seriously.
"Miss Li, having you is truly a blessing for me and also a blessing for the common people! Tell me, how exactly should these potatoes and sweet potatoes be planted? I will surely follow your advice!"
However, Li Ying looked troubled and frankly said, "Your Honor, I've found the sweet potato vines, but for these potatoes, it may take some more effort..."