CHAPTER 135: CHAPTER 135: TALKING WITH SMART PEOPLE IS JUST EASIER

The next day during a break from work, the exiles all gathered around Pei Shu’er, asking about new ways to cook corn.

They knew Pei Shu’er was knowledgeable and clever; she had previously shared with everyone methods for cooking potatoes, cabbage, and greens.

"You can peel the corn kernels off and stir-fry them with a little oil. If you’re too lazy to stir-fry, just boil and eat them, they’re delicious too."

As for other ways to prepare corn kernels, it wasn’t that she was keeping secrets; it was just too much trouble to make.

Everyone already didn’t have enough time each day for farming, where would they find the time to sit by the mill and grind for hours?

She simply got tired of eating boiled corn and taught the people in the kitchen how to make it.

This way, if she wanted to eat it, she could have someone prepare it.

...

When Tang Zan went to the military camp, everyone curiously gathered around, wondering what new food he had brought this time.

After all, even though they couldn’t eat it, everyone enjoyed watching the new recruit eat, and it helped them enjoy their own meals.

They all thought he was just an ordinary civilian like Lin Zhi. Little did they know he was the ruthless Young Master Tang Zan; they wouldn’t dare crowd around him watching him eat if they knew.

When everyone saw the light yellow corn juice, they couldn’t help but raise their eyebrows.

"What’s that?"

Tang Zan’s lips curved slightly. "My wife made corn juice."

At that moment, Zhang Feng walked in, laughing heartily.

"Last time I went to the Deserted Mountain and talked to your wife about corn juice. She said she’d share some with me when she made it; this one must be mine, right?"

Tang Zan glanced at Zhang Feng reluctantly and opened the thermos. Inside were two bowls of corn juice.

He gestured toward Zhang Feng with his lips, very reluctantly.

Zhang Feng raised an eyebrow, his eyes filled with delight.

Before Tang Zan could regret it, Zhang Feng quickly grabbed a bowl of corn juice, poured it into his own bowl, and drank it up in gulps.

After drinking it, he smacked his lips as if savoring it.

Zhang Feng remarked, "How can this corn juice be so rich and flavorful?"

Tang Zan lowered his head to drink his corn juice, unwilling to talk.

Zhang Feng smirked mischievously, "Well, anyway, I’m heading to the Deserted Mountain soon, so I’ll just ask her myself when I’m there."

Upon hearing this, Tang Zan’s face soured even more.

"Suit yourself."

Zhang Feng, having made the Young Master lose face, felt quite pleased and laughed as he walked toward the door.

Coincidentally, he had run out of fermented bean curd, so he planned to ask for some more from Pei Shu’er when he got there.

He heard that her spicy fermented cabbage and pickled vegetables were also delicious and didn’t want to miss out.

A fortnight later, he headed to the Deserted Mountain with the procurement team and several government officers for tax collection.

In the past, he couldn’t be bothered to go.

But now, he always wanted to visit the Deserted Mountain to have a look.

The crops there grew so well; it was the best scenery in the entire Gulan Mountain Range.

He thought, seeing it gave him hope.

Besides, every time he went, there were always benefits.

He could also exchange recipes with Pei Shu’er and then make the dishes for everyone back at the camp.

Even General Zhao had nothing but praise.

This time they were there to collect corn; once it’s harvested, next would be soybeans and green beans.

The corn had already matured; if they took it now and ground it into cornmeal, cooking it for everyone could sustain them for a while.

It wasn’t that they didn’t want to use tender corn, but it wasn’t filling, and people could easily overeat it, potentially leading to food shortages.

To save on food, they really racked their brains.

However, compared to last year, things were already much better.

Last year at this time, everyone was digging for roots to eat, and the soldiers’ meager plots of land yielded little to nothing, with some plants not even sprouting.

Unlike now, on the Deserted Mountain, where the germination rate was astonishingly high and the yield per acre was unbelievably high.

The Third Household’s corn yield per acre reached 900 kilograms, far higher than before.

But since this corn could be used as a staple food, it was different.

Other families also achieved 600 kilograms per acre.

Even the fields of the Huang Li Ma families that were previously chased away saw their crops double.

People actually started eating the corn while it was still tender, and even shared some with the government officers.

The officers would light a fire on the mountain and roast the corn over it, filling the hillside with the fragrance of corn.

And because they roasted corn with the exiles, the officers stationed on the Deserted Mountain got along better with the exiles.

It was also why no one mentioned the issue of "stealing" corn anymore.

Besides, these officers were only there to guard everyone for a year.

Once the year ended, most of these exiles settled down and became residents of Gulan Mountain, so they wouldn’t need guarding anymore.

The time is almost up now, so there’s no need to be as strict as before.

After collecting taxes, Zhang Feng shamelessly asked Pei Shu’er for a full five kilograms of fermented bean curd, and he also asked her for the corn juice recipe.

Pei Shu’er didn’t hold back any secrets; she not only shared the recipe but also harvested a large sack of tender corn from a slightly later-planted field for Zhang Feng to take back.

Zhang Feng laughed, "By the way, I heard you were pickling spicy and sour cabbage earlier?"

Pei Shu’er smiled, "They’ve already been packed, along with some pickled vegetables, all divided into three tubs."

Zhang Feng was delighted. See, talking to someone smart saves so much trouble.

Because Pei Shu’er was considerate and kind, what was initially the tough job of tax collection had now become a coveted task.

Zhang Feng silently resolved that no one should compete with him for the job of collecting taxes in the future; he wanted to handle it personally.

Afterwards, Pei Shu’er also shared many corn recipes with Zhang Feng, which made his eyes light up.

"I’ll make it as soon as I get back!"

After returning, Zhang Feng followed Pei Shu’er’s instructions to make corn juice, and not only drank it himself but also shared it with several Commanders to foster camaraderie.

Before that, he even brought a large bowl of corn juice to General Zhao.

General Zhao eyed the pale yellow liquid, "What is this?"

Zhang Feng smiled, "Why don’t you taste it first, General?"

General Zhao took a small sip and then raised an eyebrow.

"Something so delightful, I’ve never had it before. What’s it made from?"

Zhang Feng laughed, "It’s made from corn juice."

General Zhao nodded, downed the corn juice in one gulp, then looked up at Zhang Feng and raised his bowl.

Zhang Feng knowingly brought another bowl for General Zhao.

With that, General Zhao was satisfied.

"Why haven’t I seen you make this before?"

Zhang Feng chuckled, "The Miss Pei from Tang Family’s Third Household taught me."

General Zhao raised an eyebrow; he had heard about this Miss Pei many times. She was at the forefront of increasing production and always seemed to come up with intriguing recipes.

Even the fermented bean curd.

Thinking of the fermented bean curd, General Zhao’s mouth watered uncontrollably.

"Is there any more fermented bean curd?"

Zhang Feng was reluctant to share, but he still smiled and brought some over. As he handed it to General Zhao, he instinctively pulled it back slightly.

General Zhao glanced at him, and only then did Zhang Feng hand over the fermented bean curd.

While they were handling the fermented bean curd, the Third Household was busy making popcorn.

It was only when Pei Shu’er saw the dry corn kernels did she remember that they could be used to make popcorn!