Drive to the Tang Dynasty, where supplies are refreshed daily!

Li Wu went to Chang'an City for a while, but he did not find any saltpeter.

So they simply did as Li Lizhi suggested, and gave the letter to Li Shimin, asking him to help them find it.

Li Shimin would certainly not refuse such a thing.

After making inquiries, Li Wu learned that Li Shimin was in the Lizheng Hall, and rushed over immediately.

Upon seeing Li Wu, Li Shimin smiled, "The girl has sent another letter!"

Zhang Anan, who was standing nearby, took the letter from Li Wu and presented it to Li Shimin, saying, "Your Majesty!"

"Hmm!" Li Shimin opened the letter and began to read.

Li Shimin unfolded the letter, and his gaze had just swept over the words "there is a method to make ice in summer" when his fingertips suddenly stopped.

His previously smiling expression froze instantly, followed by an undisguised shock that surged in his eyes, and even his breathing slowed down.

He subconsciously brought the letter closer to his eyes and read it again, word by word, as if to confirm that it was not a mistake.

The method of making ice for winter storage and summer use has been passed down for hundreds of years. No one had ever thought of making ice on the spot in the sweltering heat. This news was more exciting to him than finding rare treasures.

"Is there really such a method?"

Li Shimin muttered to himself, his tone filled with disbelief and barely suppressed joy.

"Xiao Ran brought tomatoes and peppers before, which already benefited people's livelihood. Now he can break the old rule of 'storing in winter and using in summer'. If it can be done, it will not only help relieve the heat, but also greatly help pharmacies store medicine, markets preserve meat, and even border troops store rations!"

His finger traced the letter, quickly landing on the sentence "We need to find saltpeter to help make ice." He raised an eyebrow and turned to look at Zhang Anan beside him.

"Saltpeter? What is that? I seem to have heard of it in the books of alchemists or pharmacies, but I can't remember its specific uses or origins."

Zhang Anan bowed and replied, "Your Majesty's memory is not bad. Saltpeter is indeed a medicinal stone, mostly used in alchemy or to treat boils and ward off foul odors. Pharmacies occasionally have some stored, but not in large quantities."

"In addition, I have heard that there are occasional veins of this stone in the mountains of Hedong and Longyou, but mining is not easy and it is mostly sought out and purchased by alchemists or doctors."

Li Wu, who was not far away, also spoke up: "Your Majesty, the young master needs saltpeter. His Highness asked me to buy some in Chang'an, but I have searched many places and found none. There are very few in pharmacies."

"I'll handle this!"

Li Shimin immediately put down the letter and said decisively, "Now that you know the source, make arrangements immediately! Issue my decree—order the Ministry of Works to immediately contact all pharmacies and alchemy workshops in Chang'an City to purchase all saltpeter, regardless of price."

"The Ministry of Agriculture is hereby ordered to send special personnel to various prefectures in Hedong and Longyou to search for saltpeter veins. If any are found, a batch must be collected and sent back to Kaolao Village immediately without delay!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Zhang Anan turned and walked out of the Lizheng Hall to arrange the era of saltpeter.

Li Wu doesn't need to wait. Li Shimin will send someone to deliver the saltpeter. Once the letter arrives, he can return to Kaolao.

"This lad, making ice in the summer sounds unbelievable, but why do I think it's possible?" Li Shimin handed the letter to Empress Zhangsun.

Empress Zhangsun smiled and said, "Xiao Ran always keeps his word and has never let us down!"

“He never speaks falsehoods,” Empress Zhangsun turned to look at Li Shimin, her eyes full of trust. “If an ordinary person said that ‘ice can be made in summer,’ others would probably think it was ‘a fantasy.’”

“But when it comes to Xiao Ran, the people around him just think, ‘Since he said it, he must have a way,’ after all, he has never used ‘novel gadgets’ to amuse us.”

She sighed softly, her tone tinged with relief: "This child is kind-hearted and truly talented, never hiding anything from others."

"I just don't know how difficult this method is, and I also don't know the exact price of saltpeter," Li Shimin pondered for a moment. "If the method is too difficult, or if the price of saltpeter is high, then it will be difficult to promote this method!"

Empress Zhangsun nodded. “Your Majesty’s concern is true, but the value of this technology is never about whether everyone can afford it immediately, but rather that it opens up a path that has never been before.”

"Even though the cost is high and the method is a bit difficult right now, this ability to make ice in summer is priceless."

“That’s true,” Li Shimin laughed. “This kid, making ice from saltpeter. That’s amazing.”

This was something Li Shimin wouldn't even dare to dream of.

Li Wu returned to Kaolao Village and told Li Lizhi about the situation.

"Okay, thank you for your hard work, Fifth Uncle." Li Lizhi ran to find Xiao Ran.

No saltpeter has been found to bring back yet.

"There's no rush, there's plenty of time later." Xiao Ran also needed to study it.

"Young master, why can saltpeter make ice?" Li Lizhi was also eager to know the answer.

Xiao Ran nodded. "It's actually very simple."

Xiao Ran had already figured it out; it was completely effortless.

"The saltpeter will 'dissolve' when it comes into contact with water, just like salt dissolves in soup."

"But when it melts, it doesn't do it quietly like salt; instead, it 'steals' the heat from the surroundings."

"What if we take two basins, a small basin filled with water that needs to freeze, and a large basin filled with some water and saltpeter, and then put the small basin inside the large basin? Guess what would happen?"

Li Lizhi blinked, and following his words, thought, "Could it be that the saltpeter would steal the heat from the basin?"

“That’s right!” Xiao Ran nodded and smiled. “When the saltpeter melts in the basin, it will steal all the heat from the water in the basin, making the water in the basin extremely cold, colder than well water in winter, and even cold enough to freeze your hands.”

"In this way, the water in the small basin is enveloped by the cool air from the large basin, and it will gradually become colder and colder. When it gets cold enough, it will freeze into ice as hard as a stone, just like the water in a river in winter. This is how saltpeter can make ice."

Fearing that Li Lizhi might not understand, he added, "Moreover, this saltpeter won't be wasted. After it dissolves in water, we can pour the water into a pot and boil it slowly. Once the water evaporates, the saltpeter will turn back into individual grains, which can be used again next time."

"Just like when we sun-dry salt, the water evaporates and the salt comes out. Saltpeter is the same – it can be used repeatedly without always having to find new saltpeter."

After listening, Li Lizhi clapped her hands in sudden realization: "So that's how it is! I thought it would be more complicated, it's just that saltpeter is even better at 'heating'!"

“That makes sense.” Xiao Ran stood up. “We don’t need to pay attention to those convoluted explanations. Just remember that ‘salt water dissolves in water and can steal away heat, so that water will freeze when it gets cold.’”

"Once the saltpeter arrives, we'll make it on the spot, and you'll understand even better then."

It's very simple, but it's amazing.

Li Lizhi understood that the costs were nothing more than labor and saltpeter.

The main issue is the price of saltpeter, but Li Lizhi doesn't know the exact price yet.

I had never paid attention to this kind of thing before.

This means the quantity will not be too large.

The previous method was difficult because of storage, but now the production volume is not large.

Xiao Ran returned to the cave and removed the solar panels from the RV.

There are also RV batteries.

I've tried it before; the items in the RV itself don't refresh, only the items inside the RV do.

These things cannot be refreshed indefinitely.

We moved out the solar panels and batteries, along with the refrigerator.

Seeing these things, Li Lizhi and the others looked on with curiosity.

Xiao Ran always manages to pull out all sorts of strange and unusual things from his room.

Just as strange as Xiao Ran.

The little princess looked at the refrigerator, reached out and touched it, "Little Pouch~ what's this?"

"This is a refrigerator!" Xiao Ran opened the refrigerator, but unfortunately there was nothing inside.

It was autumn before, and Xiao Ran didn't put out ice cream or anything like that.

There's no way to refresh it after that.

"Is there ice inside?" Princess Yuzhang noticed.

"Yes, this can also make ice, but the quantity is limited."

A group of people gathered around.

Knowing what Li Lizhi wanted to ask, Xiao Ran said, "This kind of thing is unique and has very strict conditions."

"Brother, help me put these on the roof," Xiao Ran said, pointing to the solar panels.

"Okay!" Zhang Dalang ran back.

"Young master, what is this?" Zhang Jinhe touched the solar panel.

"This generates electricity. The cameras and projectors needed electricity, and this generates electricity just by being exposed to the sun."

"This is amazing." It was a waste to leave the refrigerator in the cave in the summer, so Xiao Ran simply took it out and used it.

"Young master, what is the main function of this refrigerator?" Li Li asked.

"Freezing things, storing things that spoil easily, like meat which spoils easily in the summer, will prevent them from spoiling."

"Can we still drink iced water?" Xiao Yu asked with a smile.

"Yes, that's what I mean." Xiao Ran looked at Zhang Erya, "Second Aunt, cook some porridge, and I'll make some popsicles for everyone to try."

"Okay!" Zhang Erya went to the kitchen to prepare, and Xiao Yu quickly followed.

Upon hearing that help was needed, Cheng Chumo and Qin Huaidao also rushed over.

Soon the group set up the solar panel, and Xiao Ran also put the refrigerator in the kitchen.

It would be such a waste not to use it.

I just don't know how long it will last.

Unfortunately, the refrigerator on the RV is not big; it's too small for so many people.

After putting their things away, Xiao Ran and Li Lizhi strolled to the back mountain to look at the tea trees.

Although there is no explicit relationship now, they both understand each other's feelings.

Others know it too.

"Fifth Sister, are you curious about the origin of these things of mine?"

Li Lizhi nodded. "Of course I'm curious."

But neither Li Lizhi nor the others asked.

At first, I believed that Xiao Ran came from the Western Regions, but as all sorts of strange things appeared, this claim became completely unbelievable.

These things didn't exist in the Tang Dynasty, let alone anywhere else.

“I come from a very far away place, so far away that I can’t go back now!” Xiao Ran said helplessly.

"Young master, would you like to go back?"

Xiao Ran shook his head. "I don't want to. There's nothing worth staying for there. Compared to that, the Tang Dynasty is much more interesting."

"I used to like to travel around and go fishing."

"Later on, I spent less and less time fishing because I discovered that there were many things more interesting than fishing."

Li Lizhi smiled, feeling very happy.

I know Xiao Ran was telling the truth; he probably hadn't told anyone else before.

"Let's go, I'll take you somewhere!"

"Okay!" The two returned from the back of the mountain.

The tea plantation is also managed by someone, and the trees planted before have a high survival rate.

Princess Yuzhang originally wanted to find Xiao Ran, but when she saw Li Lizhi and Xiao Ran go to the room, she did not follow them.

Xiao Yu, who was on the other side, also saw this and smiled meaningfully.

Zhang Jinhe, who was standing next to him, also smiled.

"In broad daylight, it shouldn't be that bad!" Princess Yuzhang grinned mischievously.

Zhang Jinhe and Xiao Yu smiled but didn't say anything.

Zhang Jinhe didn't know Li Lizhi's true identity, but Xiao Yu did.

He dared not speak ill of Li Lizhi behind her back.

Li Lizhi was a little excited and a little expectant as she entered the room.

Li Lizhi knew about the construction of these rooms.

When Li Lizhi first met Xiao Ran, this place was a mountain valley with no rooms.

Therefore, Li Lizhi felt that the problem was not that the room was special, but that there must be something else going on.

Xiao Ran pushed open a door.

"Huh!" Li Lizhi had never seen this door before.

“Second Aunt and the others don’t know either,” Xiao Ran said.

Upon entering, Li Lizhi discovered it was a warehouse.

This is where we put things; when other people bring too many things, we put them here.

Others also know about this place.

But Xiao Ran didn't stop and kept walking forward.

They stopped in front of the cave and pushed open an inconspicuous door.

"There's more here? Isn't that the mountain wall behind us?" Li Lizhi pointed.

"To be precise, this is a cave, as everyone in Kaolao Village should know." Xiao Ran went into the cave, with Li Lizhi following closely behind.

Li Lizhi truly didn't know, because the first time Li Lizhi came to the pool, Xiao Ran had hidden the cave.

Inside the cave, Li Lizhi saw a large white creature.

Li Lizhi didn't recognize the RV.

Now Li Lizhi understands why the house is here.

Many people couldn't see this before; it wasn't a good place to build a house.

I feel that Xiao Ran could have chosen a better location; there are many places in Kaolao Village where houses can be built.

There's no need to build it here.

Many people previously thought it was a pond, and that Xiao Ran liked to fish.

Now Li Lizhi realized, "Young master built this house here for this?"

"Yes, this big guy is hard to hide, but luckily there's a cave here, so we put it here."

Li Lizhi was very happy, since Xiao Ran had told her all this.

It's impossible to say anything without absolute trust.

"This is a motorhome; I came here in this." Xiao Ran opened the door. "Fifth Sister, come on in and have a look."

“Okay!” Li Lizhi wasn’t worried about the other people’s issues. She knew what kind of person Xiao Ran was after spending so much time with him.

Li Lizhi was utterly shocked when she got into the car.

It felt like a home; although it wasn't spacious, it had everything you needed.

“Here.” Li Lizhi didn’t know how to describe it.

"It's just a home, it's very small, but the advantage is that it's portable."

Li Lizhi was both surprised and delighted.

Xiao Ran then introduced Li Lizhi to him.

"This is where we eat and rest; the area in the back is where we sleep."

Li Lizhi was even more shocked after hearing this; the utilization rate of this space was frighteningly high.

It has the feel of being small but complete!

"Young master, besides you, am I the only one who knows about this place?" Li Lizhi asked with great joy.

“I brought her here when Sizi was sick.”

"Hmph! Looks like the rhinoceros is more important!"

Having never seen Li Lizhi like this before, Xiao Ran couldn't help but laugh. (End of Chapter)