Chapter 298: Official Ji, Try It?

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Herlyee Translations

“Experiment?” Eldest Brother Shen scratched his head, his honest face full of confusion.

“Don’t we have sweet cane at home? We can try’ it first and think of a way to extract sugar from the sweet cane. Then, we can add it into the pastry and try

it. ‘
“That’s right!” Eldest Brother Shen hurriedly patted his head. “Why didn’t I think of that?”

Ji Zhao looked at him in a daze and asked with concern, “Brother, doesn’t your head hurt?”

The slap that Brother Shen had given him on the head just now was indeed a little heavy.

“It’s okay.”

Eldest Brother Shen grinned at her.

…..
After breakfast, Eldest Brother Shen went to his own field to bring a bundle of sweet cane.

Ji Zhao thought for a moment and made a simple plan.

“Actually, I’ve read some books related to crops before.” Shen Yao walked to her side and said softly, “There are only three ways to extract sugar from sweet cane. They are squeezing, seeping, and grinding.”

“That’s right!” Ji Zhao snapped her fingers in agreement. Then, she rubbed her chin thoughtfully. “l wonder what method is used to purify the sugar?’

“Didn’t you already have an idea just now?” Shen Yao tapped the tip of her nose dotingly. “It’s only the experimental stage now. Why can’t we try every method? Only by comparing can we choose the best method!”

“That’s right!” Ji Zhao’s eyes lit up instantly. She looked at Shen Yao with admiration and admiration. “My husband is still the best!”

Shen Yao’s smile deepened after being praised by her.

After spending two days and a series of comparisons, Ji Zhao discovered that the sugar extracted from the sweet cane through squeezing was purer. After tasting some pastries made with this sugar cane, Eldest Brother Shen immediately decided to open a sugar factory.

Ji Zhao and Shen Yao helped to choose a location and buy related equipment until the end of June when the Prosperous Sugar Factory officially opened.

The weather during this period of time was getting hotter and hotter.

County Magistrate Ji had also begun to buy food on a large scale. Although the price he offered was 10% lower than in previous years, it was already much better than other provinces and counties.

After July, cracks appeared in the fields of several villages in Dingyuan County.

The night of the first day of July was destined to be an unusual night.

The locusts had passed through!

Three days ago, Ji Zhao and Shen Yao came up with an excuse to tell everyone to lock their doors and windows and not go out. Hence, when the locusts passed by, the villagers of Pomegranate Village and Shanghe Village locked their doors and windows in advance.

Even so, many families were affected.

After all, the places where the locusts passed through was barren!

On the third day, the locust plague became more and more serious, and Ji Ting’an became more and more anxious.

However, he remembered what Ji Zhao had said before and specially instructed a group of bailiffs to capture the locusts.

This time, there were tens of thousands of locusts passing through Dingyuan County. In just five days, the bailiffs had caught a full 300 catties of locusts!

It was not until the tenth of July that the sky full of locusts finally stopped.

Ji Zhao and her husband were also invited to the county office by Ji Ting’an.

“Thanks to your previous suggestion, the locust plague in Dingyuan County is much better than other places.” Ji Ting’an stood in front of the two of them and bowed from the bottom of his heart.

“Official Ji, please get up!” Shen Yao hurriedly held his sleeve and turned his body to avoid his bow.

“No, you can accept my bow,” Ji Ting’an said firmly. “If you hadn’t discovered some clues in the Great Jing History in advance, the situation in Dingyuan County would have been even more serious!”

“Official Ji, it’s everyone’s duty to protect their territory! Ji Zhao smiled and said, “As the citizens of the Great Jing Dynasty, it’s our duty to contribute our own strength when the country needs it!”

Hearing this, Ji Ting’an was so touched that his eyes turned red. “Madam Shen is indeed not inferior to men!”

“However, Official Ji, although the number of locusts has decreased, we still can’t relax,” Ji Zhao said seriously. “After all, the locusts’ reproduction ability is really too strong! Therefore, we have to take precautions during this period of time.”

“I understand.” Ji Ting’an nodded slightly. “By the way, Madam Shen, why did you ask me to arrange for people to catch those locusts?”

“Actually, locusts can also be eaten.” Ji Zhao smiled faintly. “The reason why I reminded you to catch those locusts is very simple. We can have a taste of locusts.”

Ji Ting’an widened his eyes in surprise. “Locusts… can be eaten?”

He had never heard of it before!

‘When I make the fried locusts, Official Ji, you’ll know how delicious this dish

Ji Zhao chuckled and explained, “Actually, locusts are quite common. Have you heard of grasshoppers?”

“I have.” Ji Ting’an nodded slightly.

“Actually, locusts are grasshoppers, but their scientific name is locusts. Moreover, once a swarm of grasshoppers appears, we will turn call them locusts.”

Ji Ting’an was enlightened. “Is that so?”

“Actually, deep-fried grasshoppers are a particularly delicious dish, and the cooking method is not difficult. However, this dish is more refined in the ingredients of oil, and the best is peanut oil.” Ji Zhao explained with a smile,

“Official Ji, will you wait with my husband for a moment? I’ll go to the kitchen now to make a deep-fried grasshopper for you to try?”

Ji Ting’an subconsciously wanted to refuse, but after thinking about it, he felt that this was a good idea.

If the locusts could be eaten, they might be able to solve some other problems.

Because Ji Zhao had instructed him in advance, Ji Ting’an had already gotten someone to prepare some locusts.

She placed the fresh grasshoppers in the basin two days in advance and waited for them to drain the feces. Then, she placed them in a pot of boiling water and boiled them to death. Then, she removed their heads, navels, wings, and internal organs. Finally, she poured the treated locusts into a pot filled with salt water. She boiled them over a small fire and drained the water.

Seeing this scene, Ji Ting’an was a little surprised. He felt that no matter who dealt with such ugly locusts, the scene should be ugly. However, Ji Zhao was extremely elegant before making a move.

Ji Ting’an did not expect that one day, he would put the words ‘locust’ and ‘elegant’ in one sentence.

“Ah Tao, the oil pot is already 400/0 hot.” Shen Yao picked up a pair of chopsticks and placed them in the pot. After feeling the temperature of the oil, he said softly.

“Okay!’

Ji Zhao smiled and poured the processed locusts into the oil pot.

Sizzle!

A sizzling sound came from the oil pot, and the air was filled with a rich fragrance.

Subsequently, Ji Zhao fished out the fried locusts and added some spices to them. Then, she plated them and handed them to Ji Ting’an.. With a faint smile, she said, “Official Ji, would you like to try them?”