Nausicaä showed no stage fright when faced with a crowd of merchants surrounding her counter.
"Thank you all for your support of the new Valley of the Wind product. However, our caravan has limited capacity, and we can only carry a limited number of samples. Each person is limited to purchasing one barrel."
"Customers interested in signing large-scale orders are requested to queue in an orderly manner to speak with Elder Trudeau and sign a deposit certified by the International Confederation of Wizards."
She gestured to Trudeau, who was already holding up his ledgers and contracts, eager to get started.
"Furthermore, as mentioned earlier, the Blessed Crops ' products brought by Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind this time include more than just grape juice. Please take a look and see if there are any items you like."
During her presentation, some of the impulsive merchants who wanted to buy in bulk calmed down a little, but the eagerness in their eyes did not diminish.
Soon, people started buying small samples of grape juice or inquiring about the prices of various vegetables.
However, due to factors such as transportation and preservation, vegetables are far less popular than grape juice.
Nausicaä nodded inwardly as she watched the line quickly forming around Elder Trudeau, her ruby earrings swaying beneath her snow-white earlobes.
The second objective of this trip, to establish the reputation of Valley of the Wind and earn enough funds to exchange for industrial products, should also be achieved soon.
Through her psychic abilities, she could also vaguely discern the thoughts of businessmen.
Some people buy the goods to verify their quality, but many others intend to take them home as seeds to grow themselves.
She simply smiled and didn't say anything more.
Without the Erdtree's Favor and ripening process, it would be impossible to grow Blessed Crops; their little scheme is destined to fail.
Just then, a businessman came to the other side of the booth and asked curiously, "Excuse me, what's in this wooden barrel?"
Everyone's attention then shifted to another stand of the same size as the grape juice, where there was also a wooden barrel with a label that read "soybean oil".
People can't help but wonder, what is soybean oil?
In the countries of the Sea of Corruption, besides various animal fats, olive oil is the only commonly used vegetable oil.
Olive oil was a luxury item comparable to wine, and only nobles and top-tier wealthy merchants could afford to enjoy it.
Olive trees are difficult to cultivate in Liquid Field; clean land is required to produce olive oil, and the yield is even rarer than that of wine.
"Could it be... a new type of olive oil brand name?"
The desert is already short of supplies, so many merchants will call out any name they can think of to create hype and sell at high prices.
For example, Muhadi's " Fruit Vine Wine" is just a regular wine with a different name.
Nausicaä explained, "This is a brand new cooking oil produced in the Valley of the Wind. There will be a brief demonstration later."
A completely new type of oil?
Her words piqued everyone's interest; if it could be as good and cheap as grape juice, it would definitely be a huge business opportunity.
The audience didn't have to wait long before the two villagers who had been sent to rent kitchenware returned with a brand-new, sturdy iron pan, a portable camping stove, and a small bag of charcoal.
"Elder, the rent for the cookware and stove is fifty silver snake coins, charcoal is extra, and the deposit is one Gold Snake Coin, totaling—" Before the valley dweller could finish speaking, Trudeau's facial muscles twitched.
"Fifty taels of silver for this pot and this broken stove? That brat Haideng doesn't even bother to rob us!"
Trudeau angry he stomped his feet, exclaiming that Haideng was inhuman.
But he could only complain a little; business was the priority, and this "investment" couldn't be avoided.
Soon, heat the oil in a wok.
Under the curious gaze of the crowd, Trudeau opened the wooden bucket and used a long-handled wooden ladle to scoop out the clear, pale golden oil and pour it into the iron pot.
When heated, the oil produces small ripples and does not emit thick smoke or a pungent odor like inferior oil.
Meanwhile, two other farm women from the Valley of the Wind were already busy at the chopping board next to them.
They skillfully peeled and shredded the potatoes and onions, then placed them in a ceramic bowl, sprinkled with fine salt and a little black pepper, and tossed them lightly to marinate.
Next, flour made from Enhui wheat was mixed with water to form a slightly thick batter.
After marinating for a while, the farmer's wife thoroughly mixed the slightly watery vegetable shreds with the batter, then skillfully scooped up a lump with both hands, shaped it slightly, and formed it into a palm-sized, evenly thick round cake.
Sizzle--!
The vegetable pancakes slid into the hot oil, and a pleasant sizzling sound suddenly rang out, spreading the aroma of oil and the smell of fried batter.
Because of this commotion, the already crowded Valley of the Wind exhibition area attracted even more passersby to stop and watch.
Among them were representatives from other countries that also possess small amounts of clean land and engage in agricultural production, such as Waji Valley and Valley of Sand, who also came with the purpose of purchasing grain.
Gazing at the bubbling golden oil in the pot, someone murmured in admiration, " The Valley of the Wind is indeed wealthy—despite having so much grain levied by Tolmekia, they can still afford to cook food on the spot with olive oil to entertain their guests? This pot of olive oil must sell for at least a gold coin!"
Immediately, someone nearby retorted with an air of expertise, "This doesn't taste quite right. Besides, olive oil is extremely sensitive to high temperatures and prolonged frying. It not only ruins its flavor but also produces a bitter taste. Only an ignorant nouveau riche would waste such a good thing."
A few moments later, the potato pancakes in the pan were fried to a golden brown on both sides, and the onion slices at the edges had caramelized, showing an enticing deep golden spot.
Regardless of people's previous opinions, at this moment, a clear sound of swallowing saliva could be heard around the booth; many people had come here without having breakfast, looking for business opportunities.
The farmer used a slotted spoon to scoop up the pancakes, drain the oil, and place them on clean, pre-prepared parchment paper.
"This is a golden and silver double-thread cake made with soybean oil," Nausicaä said at the opportune moment.
Several villagers immediately picked up trays filled with golden cakes and walked towards the surrounding crowd, generously distributing them.
This is also a recipe that Beruto reproduced according to Mu En's guidance; the elder shows signs of becoming a culinary master.
The onlookers took the still slightly hot pieces of bread and eagerly put them into their mouths.
Click.
The first bite reveals a crispy outer layer that crumbles easily, while the inside is soft and chewy. The salty and savory flavor of the pepper and salt blends perfectly with the natural sweetness of the vegetables, and the heat carries a rich aroma that hits your taste buds.
"This is so delicious!"
"Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, savory and delicious—I've never eaten potatoes prepared this way before!"
"It's even more delicious than those fancy but impractical desserts at the royal banquet!"
Exclamations of praise rose and fell; almost everyone was amazed by this simple yet incredibly delicious fried snack.
Some people even lingered in front of the booth, shamelessly waiting for the next batch of potato pancakes to be fried, just so they could have another bite.
Fried foods have completely conquered the taste buds of the residents of the border countries.
Attentive observers noticed that the golden oil in the pot remained clear and bright even after continuous frying, without any signs of turning black or producing cloudy foam.
The bread they tasted didn't have the unpleasant bitterness they had expected; instead, it had an aroma they had never tasted before, completely different from olive oil.
Nausicaä took in everyone's reactions, then gently covered her mouth with her hand, a smile appearing on her face.
"Our Valley of the Wind specialty soybean oil is not only heat-resistant, making it suitable for frying and stir-frying, but it is also rich in nutrients, in no way inferior to olive oil."
She then dropped the price information. "Most importantly, it costs only five silver snake coins to buy a bucket like this."
She pointed to the rather large wooden barrel next to her.
Five silver coins? That's impossible!
"A small jug of olive oil costs ten silver coins, so such a large barrel would cost at least three Gold Snake Coin!"
The news caused an even greater sensation than the recent pricing announcement of the grape juice.
Five silver coins for a barrel meant that most ordinary families could afford this high-quality cooking oil.
The market potential behind this is unimaginable!
Where did Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind get all these high-quality, incredibly cheap goods?
What they didn't know was that, with the help of the Erdtree, the Valley of the Wind only needed ordinary vegetable seeds plus one gold coin to buy several tons of nutrient solution, and could produce these crops, known as rare treasures, indefinitely.
The villagers responsible for receiving the guests were immediately surrounded by a surging crowd, several times more frantic than when they had rushed to buy grape juice. They all wanted to be the first to get their hands on the soybean oil.
The scene was bustling with activity, and the Valley of the Valley of the Wind's booth became the most dazzling focus in the entire "National Exhibition Area".
Just then, a slightly immature but composed young male voice rang out clearly. "Princess Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, may I ask you to step aside and discuss an important matter?"
"I am Asbel, the prince of the Industrial Kingdom of Pejite."