Lin Yao maintained an enthusiastic expression. "Young master, these are our newly introduced perilla drinks—Perilla Chrysanthemum Drink and Perilla Hawthorn Drink."
She pointed at the wooden barrel beside her and continued, "The Perilla Chrysanthemum Drink combines perilla with chrysanthemum, sweetened with a bit of sugar. Chrysanthemum clears heat and reduces internal fire, while perilla relieves surface symptoms and disperses cold. Together, they create a refreshingly sweet and fragrant beverage, perfect for hot summer days."
Then, gesturing toward another barrel, she said, "As for the Perilla Hawthorn Drink, it's made with fresh perilla and hawthorn, slowly simmered over low heat. It has a tangy and sweet flavor. Hawthorn stimulates appetite and aids digestion, while perilla promotes qi flow and soothes the stomach. If you've just eaten something greasy, a bowl of this will surely make you feel refreshed and cleanse the greasiness from your mouth. Both drinks cost two coins per cup if you take the bamboo container, or one coin per bowl without it. Which one would you like to try, young master?"
"Not expensive at all. I'll take everything here," Xu Zhiheng declared with a grand wave, exuding generosity.
Lin Yao's face immediately lit up with joy, while Lin Cheng beside her promptly took bamboo containers from his basket to fill with the drinks.
"However, I don't need the bamboo containers. Paying the price of a bowl just for a container isn't cost-effective," Xu Zhiheng added, turning to his servant. "Jin Yu, go fetch the wooden bucket from home."
Lin Yao had initially thought he was going to haggle again, but instead, he sent his servant to retrieve a wooden bucket. This frugal behavior aligned with his penny-pinching ways she'd observed during their previous encounters.
The servant promptly hurried off upon receiving the order and soon returned, carrying an exquisitely crafted small wooden bucket.
As Lin Yao filled the bucket with drinks, she observed its fine craftsmanship—the body was coated with tung oil, giving it a warm luster, and intricate patterns were carved into the wood. It was clearly a valuable item. If he could afford such refined containers, why was he so stingy?
"I'll charge you fifty coins for all the drinks here, young master. Since you're a regular customer, I'll give you a discount," Lin Yao said to Xu Zhiheng with a smile.
Xu Zhiheng grinned, revealing a set of neat white teeth. "You're quite the businesswoman, little lady." With that, he and his servant each carried a bucket and departed.
With the drinks sold out early today, and the remaining egg pancakes and Lu Zhu Xia Shui also completely sold out, the three siblings packed up their stall two ke earlier than the previous day.
On their way home, Lin Yao mentally calculated the possibilities once the iron griddle arrived—iron griddle fried noodles, iron griddle fried rice, iron griddle fried skewers…
She deeply missed the delicious street food from her previous life, and merely thinking about it made her mouth water. Since none of it existed here, she would create it all, step by step!
Though Lin Yao had many ideas for the iron griddle, she understood that one couldn't become fat with a single bite—progress had to be made gradually. Having just ordered fifty buns from Wang Daye today, preparing Roujiamo tomorrow was the top priority.
After returning home, the three of them took a brief rest before resuming their respective duties.
"Elder brother, please buy more eggs and white flour today," Lin Yao said to Lin Cheng as she tidied up the miscellaneous items brought back from the stall.
Lin Cheng nodded in agreement. "Alright, are we making more egg pancakes?"
"No, this is for the buns we'll prepare tomorrow," Lin Yao replied.
"Got it. I'll buy extra then," Lin Cheng responded before heading out with his carrying pole.
Lin Yao went to the vegetable plot behind the house to check on the transplanted chives and wild onions.
Only a few days after being planted, the chives and wild onions showed little change, but at least they hadn’t wilted. She estimated it wouldn’t be long before they could become self-sufficient.
Next, Lin Yao took Lin Song up the mountain, hoping to try their luck and find some other ingredients.
Suddenly, Lin Yao paused mid-step, spotting a patch of familiar plants.
She hurried over for a closer look and saw that the plants had broad, thick leaves with palmate lobes and smooth edges.
They were konjac leaves!
Konjac was a wonderful thing. In her previous life, Lin Yao had been passionate about weight loss and held konjac products in high regard. Whether it was the tangy and appetizing Mó yù shuǎng or the smooth and delicious konjac tofu, both were among her favorites.
Konjac was rich in dietary fiber, low in calories, and highly satiating. In this era of relative scarcity, if she could develop konjac into a delicacy, it would undoubtedly be an excellent business opportunity.
Lin Yao released Lin Song’s hand, took out a tool from her basket, and began digging up the konjac.
The konjac roots ran deep, so she carefully inserted the shovel into the soil, trying her best not to damage the tubers.
Lin Song crouched nearby, his eyes wide with curiosity and excitement. "Second Sister, can this really be made into something delicious?"
Lin Yao nodded with a smile, her hands still busy. "Of course! When we get home, I’ll make tofu for you—slippery and incredibly tasty."
Hearing this, Lin Song wanted to help.
But Lin Yao stopped him immediately. "Song'er, although this plant is useful, it’s toxic in its raw form. Let Second Sister handle the digging."
Lin Song quickly retracted his hand, nodding repeatedly in understanding.
After quite some effort, the two descended the mountain with a basket full of konjac.
When Lin Yao pushed open the door to their home, Lin Cheng had already returned from town and was cleaning pig offal. His expression suddenly changed when he saw the konjac piled high in Lin Yao’s basket.
"A Yao, why did you dig up this devil’s taro? It’s poisonous! Throw it away quickly!" Lin Cheng said anxiously.
Only then did Lin Yao realize that people here referred to konjac as "devil’s taro" and did not consume it.
This was like selling shoes to a place where no one wore them—a tremendous business opportunity. Of course, pioneering a completely untapped market also posed a significant challenge.
Lin Yao quickly explained, "Brother, I know devil’s taro is toxic, but if processed correctly, it can become a unique food. I learned how to prepare it in a dream, and I promise it will be safe."
Hearing his sister mention that mysterious dream again, Lin Cheng’s heart settled.
Lin Yao first rinsed the konjac thoroughly under clean water, removing any dirt and impurities from the surface.
Then, she took out a stone mortar, cut the konjac into small pieces, placed them inside, and began pounding vigorously.
Lin Song helped by fetching water nearby. Watching his sister work busily, he asked eagerly, "Second Sister, can devil’s taro really turn into something delicious?"
Lin Yao continued pounding as she replied, "Of course! Once it’s ready, you’ll get to taste the first bite."
Her hands never stopped, and before long, the konjac had been ground into a fine paste.
Following the steps from her memory, Lin Yao added an appropriate amount of plant ash water and stirred quickly. As she mixed with a wooden stick, the konjac paste gradually darkened in color and thickened in consistency. Once evenly mixed, she poured the paste into a pot, turned on a low flame, and stirred continuously to prevent it from burning.
A unique aroma gradually emanated from the pot—this was konjac undergoing its detoxification process.
After simmering for two hours, the konjac had finally transformed into a jelly-like consistency.
Lin Yao turned off the fire and waited for the konjac tofu to cool in the pot before carefully scooping it out and placing it in clean water to soak. She instructed Lin Cheng to change the water every quarter of an hour.
After washing her hands, Lin Yao went to the kitchen to prepare the fried eggs needed for tomorrow's stall.
Fried eggs!
One of the great inventions of the 21st century—Lin Yao had long been craving this delicacy. Whether paired with Luosifen or added to various noodle soups, when the fried egg soaked up the broth and was bitten into, both its rich texture and the full-bodied aroma of oil made it irresistible to her.
Lin Yao took out several fresh eggs, cracked them gently, and poured the egg liquid into a large bowl. Picking up chopsticks, she swiftly whisked the mixture. The egg white and yolk quickly blended under her stirring, forming fine bubbles.
Next, Lin Yao added a large spoonful of lard to the wok and turned up the heat to warm the oil. As the temperature rose, the oil began to emit faint wisps of smoke.
Seeing that the oil was hot enough, Lin Yao ladled a spoonful of the egg mixture and slowly poured it into the wok. The moment the egg liquid touched the hot oil, it instantly puffed up, with the egg skin rapidly swelling to form fluffy bubbles.
Gently maneuvering the fried egg with her chopsticks, Lin Yao turned it a few times until it turned an enticing golden brown, its fragrance spreading through the air.
She removed the fried egg, drained the excess oil, and placed it on a plate. One after another, the plate gradually filled with fluffy, crispy fried eggs.
She heated the few steamed buns that Wang Daye had given her before closing the stall, then sliced them open and stuffed them with the fried eggs and Lu Zhu Xia Shui brimming with braising sauce, making five in total.
After that, Lin Yao took out the prepared konjac tofu, sliced it, and mixed it with salt, Zhuyu, and vinegar to create a chilled konjac tofu salad.
By the time she finished these tasks, Lin Yao was already ravenous.
Lin Cheng and Lin Song, having completed their chores in the yard, stepped inside and were greeted by a richer aroma than usual.
Lin Song’s little nose twitched vigorously, and his eyes immediately locked onto the steamed buns on the table. He eagerly ran over, reaching out to grab one.
Lin Yao laughed and lightly swatted his hand away. "Little greedy cat, wash your hands first."
Lin Song giggled, turned, and ran to wash his hands. Lin Cheng shook his head with a smile and followed.
When the two returned after washing up, Lin Yao handed them the prepared steamed buns. "Try these—I came up with a new way to eat them. Let me know how they taste."
Lin Cheng and Lin Song took the buns and bit into them heartily.
With that first bite, the rich aroma of Lu Zhu Xia Shui, the crispiness of the fried egg, and the softness of the steamed bun melded together in their mouths. The deep, savory flavor of Lu Zhu Xia Shui burst forth on their tongues first, with the springy intestines carrying a strong braised aroma. The braising sauce nearly dripped from the corners of their mouths. As the sauce seeped into the fried egg and the steamed bun, every bite was filled with intense flavor, and the rich texture was irresistible.
Immediately after, the fluffy, crispy fried egg offered a completely different texture, its skin crunching audibly under the pressure of their teeth. The inside of the fried egg was tender and smooth, having absorbed the broth from Lu Zhu Xia Shui, making it even more plump and juicy. The outermost layer of the steamed bun balanced out any greasiness, wrapping all the flavors together tightly, making each bite substantial and deeply satisfying.
After finishing the steamed buns, the two noticed the dust-colored konjac tofu nearby. "A Yao, is this made from devil's taro?" Lin Cheng asked.
"Yes, this is called chilled konjac tofu. Try some, Brother," Lin Yao said.
Though Lin Cheng felt somewhat hesitant, he still picked up a bite with his chopsticks. To his surprise, the moment it entered his mouth, he was amazed again. "The texture is so unique, and the flavor is extremely refreshing!" After saying this, he took several more bites.
Seeing that he liked it, Lin Yao felt happy too. It seemed people in this dynasty had a good acceptance of chilled konjac.