A Good Landlord in the Tang Dynasty: Starting from the Village Chief

Chapter 63: Making Soup with My Bare Hands and Waiting for You to Taste
Wuji Thatched Cottage,

East Courtyard,

Du Shiniang took the initiative to go to the kitchen to cook a bowl of brown sugar osmanthus chicken head rice for Li Yi.

"First boil the water, then add the brown sugar. This brown sugar was brought from India by the Sogdian merchants and is very rare."

Li Yi looked at the brown sugar that Du Shiniang took out. It was more like purple-red, solidified like stone, and broken like sand.

"This is sucrose made from sugarcane juice, right? We don't have brown sugar in the Central Plains?" Li Yi didn't believe it.

"Yes, both Lingnan and Shu regions grow sugarcane. The juice is squeezed and boiled into sugar, which is called rock honey. However, the rock honey produced in Lingnan is not as good as the frost sugar produced in India. The Chang'an court and aristocratic households all use frost sugar for their cane sugar."

Although the Indian sugarcane sold by the Hu merchants is expensive, its appearance and quality are better than those produced in Lingnan. Therefore, the high-end sugarcane market in the Central Plains is monopolized by the Indian frosted sugar sold by the Hu merchants, and the price is extremely high.

Especially frosted sugar, which is also known as white sugar, but it is not actually white. Anyway, until Li Shimin became emperor and sent Wang Xuance to India, he specially went there to learn the Indian people's sugar-making process and improved the local technology after returning.

"How much is the Tianzhu candy?" Li Yi asked curiously.

"One ounce of top-quality frosting sugar is worth three dou of rice, one ounce of medium-quality frosting sugar is worth two dou of rice, and one ounce of third-quality frosting sugar is worth one dou of rice."

Li Yi suspected he had misheard, "One ounce is equivalent to three dou of rice? Not one pound?"

The expensive salt is only one dou of rice for one jin of salt, and one liang of Indian sugar is exchanged for three dou of rice, and one jin is exchanged for nearly five dan of rice. This Indian guy is making a lot of money.

Making white sugar is not some advanced technology.

"Well, one liang is worth three dou. Since the Sui Dynasty, the western route of the Hexi Corridor has been blocked. It's not easy for Sogdian merchants to get Indian sugar, so the price is naturally high."

“But this is too expensive.”

As we were talking, the water started to boil.
Du Shiniang first scooped a spoonful of boiling water to dissolve the brown sugar in the bowl, and then put it into the pot. He estimated that he had put in two taels.

This is worth six dou of rice.

"Mallet is cheaper. The best kind costs two pieces of silk per pound of malt."

Maltose is maltose, and one pound costs more than 700 yuan. Li Yi still thinks it is expensive.

"In the past, during the peaceful Kaihuang era, a dou of rice cost more than 20 coins, and a pound of malt sugar cost only more than 60 coins," Du Shiniang explained.

Add fresh chicken head rice and osmanthus flowers.

It only takes about three or four minutes to cook.

Du Shiniang first scooped a bowl for Li Yi and said, "Don't cook this chicken head rice for too long. Simmer it for a while so that it will be softer and more glutinous."

Li Yi felt that there was too much sugar.

It’s just about one liter of water and two taels of brown sugar.

But in the eyes of the Tang people, this is a very luxurious way of drinking.
This bowl of brown sugar osmanthus chicken head rice, the chicken head rice was picked from Suzhou, sent to Luoyang by express horse, and then sent to Chang'an. The brown sugar is also Tianzhu sugar sent by Sogdian merchants from the Western Regions.

The only thing that is not that valuable is osmanthus.

Wow, this bowl is worth two dou of rice. The current price of grain in Chang'an is more than a thousand coins.

"Have a taste."

Shi Niang urged him with a smile.

Li Yi stirred it with a spoon and scooped a spoonful to try. It was very sweet. The chicken head rice was quite soft and sticky, but he didn't like it too sweet.
He was in sub-health in his previous life, and later developed diabetes, a disease of affluence, so he dared not eat any sugar.

"It's delicious, but this spoonful is worth a liter of rice. What a luxury."

Du Shiniang smiled. She always felt relaxed when she was with Li Yi.

The little girl Shuying stood aside, feeling so jealous.
My own eldest daughter actually came to cook sweet soup for others with her own hands, and smiled so happily. It's over. My own young lady is really fascinated by this country girl.

"Shuying, serve everyone some brown sugar osmanthus chicken head rice," Du Shiniang called her, but she was still in a daze.

The pot just now can only hold three bowls.

Of course, Li Yi couldn't let the young lady cook here all the time, so he called Xiuzhi to continue cooking. This time, he added more water and cooked a few more bowls.

Guo Erlang, Du Liulang, and Du Sanlang, each of them must have a bowl.

Shi Niang brought about two kilograms of brown sugar and a small bag of osmanthus flowers, which she also gave directly to Li Yi.

What a luxury!
This is what a true aristocratic family is. Their wealth is unfathomable, and their food, clothing, and daily necessities are beyond the reach of ordinary people.

Li Yi drank the sugar water while thinking,

It is not difficult to squeeze and boil sugarcane. With the development of self-media and online merchants in later generations, we have seen many videos on how to make brown sugar using ancient methods, and even how to decolorize and purify white sugar. Anyway, it seems that adding the word "ancient method" can attract a lot of traffic.

There were a lot of sugarcane plants in the southern part of the Tang Dynasty, but what was lacking was the technology for boiling sugar and decolorizing it. The market was somewhat backward, and the Indian sugar from the Hu merchants monopolized the mid-to-high-end market, and they made all the money.

If Li Yi can come up with new technology, what a huge market it will be.

A blue ocean.

As the sun sets,

Li Yi and Du Shiniang were drinking sugar water under the pavilion in the courtyard.

Behind Du Shiniang stood the maid Shuying.

Behind Li Yi stood Ji Sujun and Jin Yusu.
Guo Erlang, who lowered his status, sat next to his wife Du Liulang.
Li Yi actually noticed that Du Shiniang had been looking at the two girls behind him. There was a Luo Sanniang in Li Yi's courtyard before, and she knew through Du Liulang that she was Li Yi's neighbor.

But now, although these two women were maids, they made her look sideways frequently.

"Li Lang hasn't introduced me to the two beauties beside you. You can tell they come from extraordinary backgrounds." Du Shiniang finally couldn't help but speak.

Li Yi smiled slightly, "The one in the green skirt is Yu Lai, and the one in the white skirt is Su Jun."

Du Shiniang was a little dissatisfied with this simple introduction. "Sister in white dress is so elegant,"

Ji said, "I was originally a criminal woman in the Ye Ting Palace, and was given to Alang as a maid by Your Majesty. I don't dare to be called the young lady's sister." Hearing her answer, Du Shiniang was surprised. She was actually a criminal woman in the Ye Ting Palace.

"Is Miss Yu Shu also from the palace?"

"I am originally from Silla. I was previously a servant in the household of Wang Lingshi, the Minister of Revenue. Wang Dalang gave me to Alang."

Another unexpected Silla maid.

Shuying murmured quietly beside him, "With women on both sides, he's so cool. He just became an official, and he's already obsessed with beauty."

Du Shiniang reached out and secretly pinched her to make her shut up.

Du Sanlang drank a bowl of sugar water in a restless mood, remembering Mrs. Guo's instructions in his heart, but Li Yi really didn't flirt with Shi Niang much, and it was obviously Shi Niang who took the initiative to pester Li Yi.

You can't say that someone doesn't keep their promise.

"Shi Niang, it's getting late. We still have fifteen miles to go. Let's set off." Du Sanlang had no choice but to say this.

Du Shiniang was a little reluctant, "Oh, time flies by so fast."

Li Yi stood up to see him off.
Du Shiniang was reluctant to leave, "Oh, I made a new painting to give to Li Lang, I almost forgot." Then she went to the carriage to find the painting and handed it to Li Yi.
"Look back later."

The painting is exquisitely framed, with jade as the axis head, ancient sandalwood as the axis body, silk as the painting, and brocade as the bag.

After sending the carriage to the big soapberry tree outside the courtyard, Li Yi watched the carriage go away. He returned to the courtyard, took out the painting from the brocade bag, opened the scroll,

On the silk is a self-portrait of Du Shiniang.

An innocent lady comes to life on the paper, lively, cute, pure and flawless.

Qiaoxiaoqianxi, beautiful eyes look forward to Xi.

Li Yi was momentarily distracted.

Everyone has a love for beauty.
Shaking his head, Li Yi put away the painting.

If he had not just emerged from the siege and was exhausted, he might have bravely charged forward.

forget it,
I don't want to get involved in that messy water. It's too tiring.

On the Shenheyuan, Du Shiniang sat in the carriage, her hand on her chin, lost in thought.

Shuying was watching the quarrel from the side.
Men are afraid of sighing and women are afraid of holding their chins. Although this girl holding her chins looks good, it also means that she is moved.

"Shi Niang, the old lady will never agree with you and Li Dalang, so don't be stubborn."

Du Shiniang held her chin in her hand and was in a daze.

"Shuying, I seem to be sick."

"Ah, my lady, you are not feeling well. Go home and ask a doctor to see you."

"On the way here, I was full of anticipation. When we met, I was overjoyed. When we parted, I was reluctant to leave. I've only been away for a short while, but I'm already filled with longing. Shuying, do you think I'm sick?"

Shuying didn't expect that she was so sick. She pouted angrily, "My wife is indeed sick, and it's not a mild illness. It's lovesickness."

"Really? Am I in love with Li Lang?"

Fifteen-year-old Du Shiniang was not sure if she was in love. She had never had this experience before, and this feeling became deeper with each meeting with Li Yi.

Until now, she has been unable to calm down.

Shuying was indignant, "It's all because of that Li Yi. He was a Taoist priest for the past sixteen years, and he learned all sorts of evil ways and magic. Otherwise, how could you, Shi Niang, be so completely captivated by him that you can't extricate yourself?

Doesn't he know that men and women should keep their distance?"

Du Shiniang laughed.
"Really? The more I spend time with him, the more I'm drawn to him. I've never met anyone as carefree and humorous as Li Lang before. None of those young masters from aristocratic families can compare to Li Lang."

Shuying shook his head, thinking that his wife had gone crazy.

This is a peach blossom disease.

"Madam, please wake up. I don't think Li Yi has that kind of feelings towards you. He treats his servants and even the neighboring village girls the same way he treats you. He smiles and is gentle with you."

Du Shiniang sighed, "Really? No way? How could it be the same?"

Along the way,

Du Shiniang held her chin, laughing foolishly for a while, then frowning and sighing.

The carriage returned to Duqu.

After entering the mansion, Du Sanlang went straight to see Mrs. Guo and reported truthfully about what happened when Shi Niang met Li Yi today.

"Shi Niang seems to have fallen into this trap. Li Yi should draw a clear line between himself and Shi Niang instead of being so distant. This is playing hard to get," Guo was angry.
"Madam, there is one more thing. Li Yi has once again resigned from the position His Majesty has bestowed upon him."

"He really resigned from his position as a proofreader in the Ministry of Secretaries?"

"I really resigned. I now accept the title of Lord of Shallow Water County."

Upon hearing this news, Mrs. Guo snorted, "A man like that is even less worthy of Shi Niang. From now on, Shi Niang cannot go to Luojiabao anymore, and they are not allowed to exchange letters anymore."

"I'm afraid Shi Niang won't agree."

"Then send Shi Niang to Luoyang and let her father and mother take care of her. If that doesn't work, tell her father that Shi Niang and Wei Erlang's marriage is finalized."

"As for this Li Yi, since he doesn't take our Jingzhao Du family seriously, there is no need to be polite to him." Mrs. Guo was angry and decided to punish Li Yi a little to let him know what the Jingzhao Du family is.

Jingzhao Du Shi could have won over Li Yi and been polite to him before, but since he refused the toast, don't blame Du Shi for being rude.

Li Yi, a mere man with no foundation, dares to offend the Jingzhao Du family.

(End of this chapter)