Chapter 542 - Chapter 542: Pork Jerky
Chapter 542: Pork Jerky
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Su Binglan only knew a few things about the Great Desolate Region. As for the exact situation, perhaps she would only know after going there. Even so, she had to go for Luo Jin’an.
She said, “You don’t have to dissuade me, Father and Mother. I must go. You don’t have to worry about me, okay? I’ll be sure to be safe. Brother Ruozhu has many people around him, so he’ll arrange for them to protect me.”
Su Binglan knew her parents would be uneasy if she went alone. They also did not know about the assassins’ who attacked a few days ago.
Even though she told her parents Lan Ruozhu’s people would protect her, she would not bring her Shadow Guards. Instead, she planned to bring Lin Zheng with her.
She wanted to leave the Shadow Guards with Lan Ruozhu to protect him. She would only feel at ease if enough people were protecting her brother.
Su Wenzhe and the others also discovered Su Binglan was going to the border province when they woke up. They tried dissuading her, but it was useless.
She had to go, no matter what.
Therefore, everyone supported her and only helped her pack her things. Su Binglan did not say where Luo Jin’an was because she did not want her family to worry.
Lan Ruozhu’s heart tightened when he heard Su Binglan was going to the Great Desolate Region. However, he could guess she wanted to go there because of Wei Jin’an.
‘Perhaps I can call him Luo Jin’an now since they’re the same person.’
He knew it was pointless to try and dissuade his sister regarding Luo Jin’an. It was just like when Lan Ruobing cared for Wei Jin’an. Therefore, Lan Ruozhu could only support his sister’s decision.
Then he planned to task more people to protect Su Binglan along her journey.
After breakfast, Su Binglan continued packing and preparing for her journey. She first kneaded some dough and realized she wanted to make compressed crackers. After all, those kinds of crackers could be useful in critical moments. Not only did she make compressed crackers, but she also made food suitable for preservation. After kneading the dough, she made pork jerky.
Everyone was protective of cows in this era, so she could not make beef jerky. Since that was the case, she opted to make pork jerky instead. After all, jerky was known for its long storage life.
Su Binglan also went to the embroidery shop and told them to make a batch of down jackets, duvets, sweaters, hats, and scarves. She planned to bring these things to the border since they might be helpful.
Soon after, she went to Su Fengchen and Miao Zhizhi’s place, but Su Fengchen was not home. Miao Zhizhi said, “Binglan, you’re here. It’s cold outside. Quick, come in.”
Su Binglan did not see Su Fengchen, so she asked, “Where’s Uncle Fengchen?” “Oh, Fengchen went to your Uncle Zhengde’s house for breakfast. They’re discussing building our cured meat store.”
Su Binglan nodded.
“Binglan,” Miao Zhizhi asked, “Do you need Fengchen for something? I can go to Cousin Zhengde’s house to look for him.”
According to seniority, Miao Zhizhi had to call Su Zhengde her cousin, while Su Binglan had to call him Uncle Zhengde.
Su Binglan said, “It’s okay, Aunt Zhizhi. I just wanted to buy dry-aged sausages from you and Uncle Zhengde.”
She insisted on paying for her order, even though Su Fengchen and Miao Zhizhi had given her shares. After all, she wanted to make it easier for her aunt and uncle to do their accounts.
Su Binglan knew dry-aged sausages were delicious and easier to store. They also went well with rice and steamed buns. Hence, she wanted to bring them to the border.
“Dry-aged sausages?” Miao Zhizhi and her husband had only made cured meats and did not know what dry-aged sausages were. Miao Zhizhi was puzzled. “What’s a dry-aged sausage, Binglan?”
She suspected they might be just as delicious as cured meats. Therefore, she looked at Su Binglan expectantly, eager to know what dry-aged sausages were.
All she could think of at that moment was eating. Miao Zhizhi did not expect dry-aged food to be like cured meats. She just thought it must be something delicious she could eat. She did not doubt that the delicacies her niece developed would be delicious.
“It’s also a type of food. How about this? I’ll teach Grandpa, Grandma, and you how to make it first. Then you can teach Uncle Fengchen when he returns.”
Miao Zhizhi nodded eagerly. “All right.”
People would still go to Su Fengchen and Miao Zhizhi to buy food even if Su Teng Market was not open. Miao Zhizhi had also hired someone from the village who knew how to do accounts and look after the shop.
She followed Su Binglan’s instructions and wrote the price beside each item so no one would bargain. If anyone came to buy her products, she could charge them accordingly. It would also make things easier for the worker watching the shop.
Su Fengchen and Miao Zhizhi could relax a little more since they had someone to watch the shop and people to help them make cured meat, grilled chickens, and roast ducks.
Su Fengchen had hired these people, paying them monthly salaries and bonuses. Everyone worked hard and was busy on the west side of the house while Su Binglan and Miao Zhizhi were in the main hall.
Old Master Su and Old Madam Su also cooked in the main hall. The older couple was delighted when they saw Su Binglan.
Su Binglan smiled sweetly, saying, “Hello, Grandpa and Grandma.
“Hello, Binglan.” Old Madam Su could not even be bothered to light the fire. She got up and pulled Su Binglan over. “Our beautiful granddaughter is here again. ”
Old Madam Su was proud of her granddaughter.
Su Binglan smiled and chatted with her for a while before getting to the point. The older couple supported their granddaughter. Of course, they also wanted to try the dry-aged sausages Su Binglan mentioned. They already knew it would be delicious.
Soon after, Su Binglan started preparing the sausages. The family had plenty of pork at home since Su Fengchen and Miao Zhizhi ran their business there. Su Binglan used their pork and seasonings to make the sausages.
Then she taught the other three how to make dry-aged sausages. She prepared the seasoning, then went to another room to choose a piece of pork to use.
She brought it back to the cutting board and cut it into small cubes with a knife. Old Master Su, Old Madam Su, and Miao Zhizhi observed her actions. They could quickly remember the steps since they often cooked at home, unlike when they first started making grilled chicken and roast duck.
They did not even know about seasoning in the past. However, things had changed, and they understood more about cooking and prepping.
After cutting the pork, Su Binglan added her prepared seasoning and stirred the mixture. After stirring them together evenly, she poured some homemade braised soy sauce.
She had made the red braised soy sauce herself for her own use. She and her family would not pass these recipes to outsiders, as they differed from those bought in markets.
Although many came to inquire about what condiments the Su family used for cooking and wanted to buy them, the Su family did not intend to sell them for the time being.
After all, the key to all the Su family’s delicacies was their seasoning. One could only master taste and flavor only by mastering seasoning. Nonetheless, the Su family did not have to worry about others learning their cooking methods.
Even if someone learned their cooking methods, they would not master the seasoning, so their food would taste different from the Su family’s. No one knew how the family made their delicacies..