CHAPTER 113: CHAPTER 113: HARVESTING NAPA CABBAGE, A HUNDRED FLAVORS OF EVERY DISH

After breakfast, everyone had to start working.

The cabbages in the fields were ready to be harvested, and it was time to dig them up and plant a new batch.

Because cabbages are cold-resistant and not very demanding about their growing environment, with a maturation cycle of just about 55 days, one acre out of five was planted with cabbages.

The land had been cultivated into medium-quality soil, and with Pei Shu’er’s modern "Improved Green Miscellaneous No. 3" cabbage seeds and the occasional irrigation with Spiritual Spring Water.

Pei Shu’er estimated the yield of this acre should be 5000 kilograms.

Otherwise, it would be a shame for the heaven-defying Spiritual Spring Water in her space!

The field was densely packed with cabbages.

The people on the Deserted Mountain were amazed when they saw the cabbages.

When would the people in the third house finish eating all these cabbages?

Probably they would eat until they were sick of cabbages and still couldn’t finish them all, right?

The cabbages in other people’s fields had also matured.

However, compared to the massive two-to-three-kilogram heads from the third house, their cabbages were just like small cabbages, only about one to two ounces each.

If they didn’t harvest, it wouldn’t grow any more, and if they harvested, it was too small to look at.

The cabbages they grew were far from enough to eat.

The hoes everyone used to dig cabbages were bought by Pei Shu’er with silver from the government officers.

The officers sold them at very official prices, two taels of silver per hoe.

The first reason for buying hoes was to tell these officers, look, the third house has so many great cabbages, aren’t you officers, who hardly have any food, tempted at all?

Do you not plan to make a bulk purchase from the third house?

Let’s talk about the terms?

A reduction in sentence, or money would be fine.

Pei Shu’er had no intention of having the third house consume all these cabbages by themselves, it was simply not realistic.

Before they could finish eating them, the cabbages would wilt beyond recognition.

Of course, the goal was to maximize benefits.

If they were ordinary cabbages, the officers definitely wouldn’t bother asking about them.

But the cabbages from the third house really moved them.

Pei Shu’er paid and bought a few hoes.

Then she immediately went to the field to dig a wheelbarrow full of cabbages, full to the brim, but only about a dozen heads, because the cabbages were just too big.

She pushed the wheelbarrow to the two officers.

"My Lords, it’s thanks to your care that we’ve been able to survive on the Deserted Mountain. These cabbages are really sweet; take some back to try."

Don’t assume these cabbages were just given away; if the officers all tried them, they would definitely lobby on our behalf.

So this business deal would not incur a loss.

What could be more expensive than something free?

Such excellent cabbages, in a place lacking food and clothing like the border, would definitely be sought after by the soldiers.

The two officers were very pleased, nodding in approval at Pei Shu’er, thinking she was quite sensible.

After they left, Pei Shu’er took advantage of the cover of a few hoes and took several more hoes out from her space to distribute to the third house’s servants.

These hoes were far superior to the ones sold by the officers.

They made digging much easier and allowed more soil to be dug up.

The cabbages had already stopped being watered three days ago; otherwise, they wouldn’t be easy to store once harvested.

Everyone was working in the fields, and under the instructions of Pei Shu’er, Honghua and Yinxing also cooked some sweet potatoes and potatoes, along with some pickled tofu for everyone to eat at midday.

Everyone worked even harder, as the host family was so generous, providing four meals a day!

Didn’t you see the envious red eyes of the other convicts?

The cabbages in the second and fourth houses’ fields were harvested a few days ago. Their cabbages, while quite good compared to others’, are nothing in comparison to the third house’s, which would be self-humiliating.

When they saw the third house’s cabbages being carted into the stone house, the envious eyes of everyone turned to jealousy.

Once the cabbages were harvested, the stone house was piled full.

They had previously borrowed a scale from the officers, and upon weighing, discovered a hefty 6,000 kilograms; the yield per acre was astoundingly high.

Everyone’s eyes were filled with excitement, and Grandpa Yu and Grandma Yu were also very pleased.

"We’ve grown cabbages our whole lives and never seen such lush, high-yield ones."

Honghua nodded repeatedly: "It’s all thanks to Miss’s cabbage seeds and her diligent irrigation."

After stacking the cabbages, it was time for dinner.

The dishes for the evening were mostly cabbage banquets.

There were boiled meat slices with cabbage, sweet potatoes, and potatoes placed on top. Finally, tea oil was heated and poured over chili powder, pepper, and salt sprinkled on top.

The sizzling hot oil brought out the aroma of the chili powder and pepper.

Everyone felt the oil fragrance overflowing, coupled with the sweet and tender feeling of the cabbage.

Biting into it, the flavor was rich and lingering in the mouth.

Vinegar cabbage was a bit simpler, with oil added to the pot along with dried chili. When the cabbage was almost stir-fried, a bit of vinegar was added.

This vinegar was soaked with wild grapes. Pei Shu’er originally wanted to brew wine, but ultimately failed, resulting in vinegar.

This vinegar cabbage was also very appetizing, and after a day of labor, a mouthful of this sweet and sour cabbage was an absolute delight.

There was also wild egg fried cabbage, a dish most loved by children. Of course, as long as it was made by Pei Shu’er, they loved everything.

What’s more, the quality of this cabbage was much better than ordinary cabbage.

Even people used to eating good food had never tasted such delicious cabbage.

If word got out, no one would believe this cabbage was grown in such a barren place.

So tender and sweet, with a bite, besides the cabbage taste, there was even a hint of sweetness.

Everyone kept taking bite after bite.

This simple cabbage actually had so many preparation methods, each with its own unique flavor.

Yan Hengyin was also a bit stunned after tasting this cabbage; the texture was incredibly good.

In the Imperial Palace, even cabbages that had been cooked for two or three hours didn’t have such a texture.

And those cabbages were cooked using such complicated methods, it was almost dizzying.

But this cabbage was different; Pei Shu’er didn’t even pay too much attention, simply stir-frying and adding condiments before serving.

Yan Hengyin glanced at the pile of cabbages in the stone house, realizing it must be the delicious raw materials.

But this was so absurd—could such cabbage be grown on that land? Even in dreams, no one would believe it.

However, admitting that Pei Shu’er’s culinary skills made such delicious cabbage seemed even more unbelievable.

How could a lady have such cooking skills?

He remembered Pei Shu’er once made Cloud Cake for him, her hands covered with blisters, and it tasted awful.

He remembered that he barely took a bite before ordering his servant to throw it away.

And another time she made red bean cake, her hands full of cuts, and the red bean cake she carved was hideous beyond belief.

According to Pei Shu’er, that was the result of her working overnight.

Truly foolish to the extreme, clumsy to the extreme.

So how could such a person with culinary skills make such delicious dishes?