Did Li Ying not understand the mind of the Son of Heaven? It was just that Lu Xunguang, the so - called "red - capped merchant", was currently in high favor with the emperor. She must not go against the imperial will at this moment.
She thanked Uncle Pei for his reminder.
Although his kindness towards her might be due to his ability to assess the situation and seek advantages while avoiding disadvantages, there was still some genuine affection. Li Ying could never repay him in this life. All she could do was spare no effort to make different flavors of military rations that were easy to preserve for him.
After seeing Uncle Pei off, Li Ying didn't waste any time. After a brief moment of thought, she made up her mind and got to work.
In her previous life, Yuting Cakes, the "premium dry rations" of Huizhou merchants during their travels, were not prone to spoilage, easy to carry, with a crispy and solid texture, rich aroma, and high nutritional value. They were truly the ancient version of "compressed biscuits".
These Yuting Cakes were derived from the delicate Huizhou wood - carved cake molds. Different patterns carried different meanings.
The Hidden Eight Immortals symbolized that merchants would have smooth sailing and show their unique skills when doing business outside; the leaves represented remembering one's roots and never forgetting one's ancestors; the Two Immortals of Harmony and Union signified a harmonious and happy family.
These delicate patterns carried the merchants' wishes for a better life. They were like replicas of the exquisitely crafted Huizhou wood - carving handicrafts and were worthy of being intangible cultural heritages that had been passed down through the ages.
Such a delicious food exactly met Uncle Pei's requirements.
Li the bamboo craftsman, who had woven so many delicate lanterns, was already well - known far and wide with the fishing village's merchant ships.
He was no longer the shabby and poor craftsman working in a cramped workshop. He had many disciples, all of whom were eager to learn and inherit his superb skills.
With his disciples to help with odd jobs, Li didn't need to do everything himself. In his spare time, he also delved into different skills.
He was naturally dexterous, and his wood - carving skills were masterful. The patterns on the statues and wooden boxes he carved were so lifelike that they were highly sought after by the noble ladies in the capital.
Li Ying sent a pigeon - borne letter. She was absolutely confident that Li the bamboo craftsman and his disciples could handle the cake molds needed for the Yuting Cakes.
She washed her hands, took a basket of shiny black sesame seeds, and put them into a pan to stir - fry.
The sesame seeds burst their thin skins under the high heat, making a "crackling" sound, like the red firecrackers on New Year's Eve or the popping lamp - wicks when lovers sat together by the window.
After the sesame seeds were fully stir - fried to release their fragrant oil and turned slightly golden, they could be finely crushed on a stone mill. Then, they were mixed with stir - fried rice flour and peanut powder, kneaded evenly by hand, and mixed with an appropriate amount of malt syrup. After being kneaded until smooth and uniform, they were rolled into a paste with a rolling pin.
The cake dough was tightly packed into the mold, filling every gap. Then, the mold was quickly and firmly inverted and slapped on the table. The gray - black cake dough was imprinted with vivid patterns, simple and grand.
The prepared Yuting Cakes were then placed in a bamboo steamer and slowly dried over charcoal fire to remove every bit of residual moisture.
The cakes baked in this way could be stored for up to half a year. Each bite was sweet, with the oily fragrance of sesame and the delicate fragrance of rice, leaving an endless aftertaste. They were nutritious and very filling.
If paired with a cup of steaming fragrant tea, it would better neutralize the sweetness of the cakes, and the taste would be even more lingering.
Next, she made a convenient and easy - to - eat "energy bar".
This was very similar to the way Li Ying made the Nine - Dynasty Tribute Gelatin and the gelatin cakes that day.
She selected various wild fruits, hazelnuts, walnuts, pine nuts, and almonds, peeled them all, and baked them until they were golden and crispy.
These wild fruits were mixed with milk powder and preserved fruits, bonded with syrup, and firmly pressed into a brick - like shape. Then, it was cut into small pieces while still hot.
This energy bar was easy to make and easy to preserve. A small piece could provide a sufficient amount of high - quality protein and fat. Uncle Pei just took a bite and his eyes lit up immediately.
"Uncle, this energy bar uses a large amount of sugar to provide the energy needed by the soldiers during their march. I didn't add gelatin, but I added those nut seasonings from the gelatin cakes without hesitation. I think the soldiers will be happy about it."
Li Ying reported softly. Uncle Pei immediately understood her intention.
Who in the capital didn't know about the gelatin cakes?
Although it was not an extremely expensive item, ordinary people couldn't afford to eat it as a snack every day. They would only buy it to satisfy their sweet tooth during festivals at most.
Now, Li Ying made the "energy bar" in this way to supply the soldiers in the army. Although it didn't contain gelatin, the ingredients were all genuine, and it was very similar to the gelatin and yuan - essence cake in appearance. Even though the soldiers knew it was not the luxurious gelatin cake, they would surely believe that the emperor attached great importance to them. They would be extremely grateful and be more dedicated to guarding the border.
He sincerely praised, "Miss Li, your thoughtfulness is really amazing. I am truly impressed."
"Only now do I finally understand what it means for a woman to be as good as a man!"
Hearing his generous praise, Li Ying just smiled faintly on her face without any sign of pride.
She calmly took out a pack of crispy and golden - fried noodles and placed them in front of Uncle Pei.
"Uncle, this is called 'instant noodles'. It has been pre - steamed and deep - fried. When eating, you just need to pour boiling water to soak the noodles until they are soft, and then you can eat them."
The seasoning packets were made by her grinding various spices in advance and carefully adding many dried vegetable shreds.
During the march, if the weather was extremely bad and it was inconvenient to cook, being able to soak a bowl of steaming noodles, drink a couple of sips of hot soup to warm up, and eat a couple of pieces of the dried meat made by Li Ying, the nutrition would be balanced, and this meal would be very satisfying.
Uncle Pei watched in amazement as she seemed to be performing magic, taking out so many novel things he had never heard of or seen before. The smile on his face grew wider.
"Boss Li, I'm really a bit regretful."
"If I hadn't let you go and kept you for myself, would all these wonderful ideas in your mind have been used for me?"
Li Ying knew he was just joking with her and didn't take it to heart.
Uncle Pei then stopped teasing her and happily accepted the items she presented.
"The military rations will be prepared according to your arrangement. I'll thank Miss Li on behalf of the three armies first."
Li Ying modestly saw Uncle Pei out of the mansion gate. Just as he mounted his tall horse, he saw a small sedan chair swaying towards them from the street corner.
It was the carriage of the little princess from Nanyang.
Uncle Pei laughed and said, "Miss Li, your place is really bustling with guests coming and going. It seems no less lively than Lord Lu's place."