Chapter 116

Ming Chunxi pointed to a fertilizer fermentation powder worth 3999 Star Coins: "This is it, purely plant-based fermentation, no meat required, it should be fine."

Qing Mengzhu: "I've seen this one before, but it requires a lot of Spirit Pearl Dregs during fermentation—"

Qing Mengzhu hesitated. "We're just growing some vegetables, isn't using Spirit Pearl Dregs too extravagant?"

Qing Mengzhu had already seen this when she was looking at fertilizer; the Spirit Pearl Dregs is currently on sale for 999 Star Coins a bag.

Using this fertilizer fermentation powder, one bag of Spirit Pearl Dregs is needed to ferment 100 kilograms of fertilizer, and the cost alone would be as high as tens of thousands of Star Coins to ferment 1,000 kilograms of fertilizer.

That's too expensive! What right do these tiny green vegetables have to use such expensive fertilizer?

Ming Chunxi had a different opinion. "Fertilizer is too expensive. We can use less, dilute it with water, and break even. Fertilizer containing Spirit Pearl Dregs works very well. We discovered this when we were using pond water before. Just a little bit can significantly improve the quality of crops."

Qing Mengzhu with heartache, "It's useful, but it's also really expensive."

Ming Chunxi: "We can be selective about which crops to use it on, using more on high-value crops and less on low-value crops. In any case, having this batch of fertilizer on hand will give us a lot more confidence in our planting."

Qing Mengzhu thought about it and agreed, "Then let's buy this fertilizer fermentation powder."

After saying that, Qing Mengzhu sighed, "Star Coins really don't last long."

He finally understood what it meant to "earn money like picking up soil with a needle, and spend money like flowing sand." Star Coins are hard to earn, but they really do go through the motions quickly.

He had previously wanted to buy skill books.

Author's Note:

There will be 88 small red envelopes given away in this chapter. See you at 10 PM tonight!

Chapter 116

Qing Mengzhu and the others quickly bought fertilizer fermentation powder.

This fertilizer is made from pure plant fermentation and does not require any meat. It is best to choose plants of slightly better quality.

Qing Mengzhu and the others then used bamboo shoots, tomatoes, bamboo leaves, and purple clover, etc., to chop them up with a high-powered grass shredder, then added a large amount of sugar, Spirit Pearl Dregs powder, and then mixed in fertilizer fermentation powder to ferment.

Zhao Hexi was amazed by how elaborately they had prepared it. "Is this really not some kind of sauce? It smells so good!"

Qing Mengzhu: "That's really not it."

Zhao Hexi was somewhat incredulous. "Are fertilizers made so meticulously these days?"

Qing Mengzhu: "Not all fertilizers are the same; our fertilizer is particularly refined."

It's easy to understand why fertilizer made from a large amount of fresh vegetables and fermented Spirit Pearl Dregs would smell better.

Qing Mengzhu thought for a moment, then went to get a plastic sheet to cover the fertilizer fermentation tank and tied it securely.

This fertilizer smells really good; we need to prevent small animals from stealing it.

They have wild otters, red foxes, wild boars, and the like here; they're all omnivores and could very well steal the fertilizer.

Although there were surveillance cameras on the wall, the animals had eaten all the fertilizer, so they couldn't claim compensation.

Qing Mengzhu smiled and wiped her hands clean, "Are you free later? Why don't you stay for dinner?"

Zhao Hexi: "It's nothing! What are we having for dinner?"

Qing Mengzhu: "Braised pork ribs with radish, and a steamed fish and two stir-fried dishes, please."

Zhao Hexi knew everything about his family, and upon hearing this, asked, "Was it Little Otter who helped catch the fish again?"

Qing Mengzhu: "Yes, when I came back this afternoon, it was waiting for me outside with a fish in its mouth. It's a pity I forgot to take a picture, otherwise I would have shown you the photo, so you could see how proud it looked."

Zhao Hexi touched her chest, slumped back on the small stool, and sighed, "Stop talking, I'm getting jealous."

Qing Mengzhu smiled and went upstairs to cut ribs.

They now have a dryer, so many things can be dried directly in the dryer instead of being left to air dry on the roof.

Currently, the rooftop is mainly used for drying sausages, cured pork, and cured pork ribs, as well as two cured fish.

Because he installed a rain shelter on his roof, he could remotely lower it whenever there was any noise, so the cured meats drying on the roof never got wet and dried beautifully.

The outer skin of these cured meats has been dried and hardened, turning golden. The lean meat is dried to a deep red and oily color, while the fat has become translucent. The fat clings to the ends of the cured meat, like golden and round amber, making them look very tempting.

They would cut off pieces of cured pork every few days to eat, stir-frying it, steaming it, making claypot rice with it, and every way of cooking it was delicious.

Zhao Hexi had eaten it before, which made her even more eager to try it.

When Ming Chunxi returned, dinner was almost ready, and the whole courtyard was filled with its rich aroma.

Qing Mengzhu called out to Ming Chunxi, "Chunxi, wash your hands. It's time to prepare dinner."

Ming Chunxi: "Why are you up so early today?"

Qing Mengzhu: "You're back early, so you can start cooking early too. Let's eat in the yard today; pork rib hot pot tastes best when cooked over an open flame."

Ming Chunxi looked around the yard and saw the firewood piled up in the center. She then understood its purpose. "Good."

The three of them soon ate their meal in the courtyard.

Although the weather was cold, a simple stove had been built, and the campfire crackled and popped as they sat around it, eating piping hot ribs or radishes directly from the pot, so they didn't feel particularly cold.

The cured pork ribs and radish stew were simmering in the soup pot, and a rich aroma wafted up.

Qing Mengzhu picked up a piece of radish that had been stewed until it was almost translucent, put it in the bowl, and blew on it. "This radish is the most comforting."

Zhao Hexi: "I must say, your radishes are really delicious, so sweet and refreshing. Stewed with flavorful cured pork ribs, the taste is absolutely amazing."

Qing Mengzhu: "Yes, these ingredients need to complement each other; they make the food taste better when paired together. If the ingredients aren't paired well, the flavor can easily become bland or overly salty."

Zhao Hexi rolled the radish in the bowl of dipping sauce, blowing on it and saying, "It's so delicious! Now I understand why everyone's boiling radishes in the streets during winter. Well-cooked radishes really taste great. It's a pity there weren't enough left."

Qing Mengzhu: "That's quite a lot. There's still half a room left in the storeroom. I estimate we won't be able to finish eating it all by spring."

Zhao Hexi: "If we can't finish it, we'll feed it to the goose? Hazelnuts and ducks would probably eat it too. Speaking of which, goose stew with radish is quite a famous dish."

Qing Mengzhu: "That's fine too. Goose stew with radish should be delicious. In a couple of days, when we go down to the pond to dig for lotus roots, we can try goose stew with lotus root then."

Zhao Hexi was somewhat surprised. "Your family is finally going to dig lotus roots?"

Qing Mengzhu: "Let's dig a little and try it. Once my high-pressure water gun arrives, we'll go dig."

Zhao Hexi: "I thought you weren't going to dig them up anymore and were going to keep them for lotus seed."

Qing Mengzhu: "How could that be? Even if you're making lotus root seeds, you need lotus sprouts. The large lotus roots that have already grown can't be used. It's best to dig them up and use them for something else."

Zhao Hexi said, "Okay, call me when you're digging for lotus roots, I'll come dig with you!"

Ever since Zhao Hexi tasted the lotus seeds from Qing Mengzhu's family, he had been looking forward to their lotus roots.

Lotus seeds are so delicious, the lotus root must taste amazing too. I just wonder how delicious it will be once it's actually dug up?

It was unrealistic for Qing Mengzhu to manage the lotus roots from two large ponds by herself alone.

Zhao Hexi suggested digging for lotus roots together, which suited his wishes perfectly.

He happened to buy three high-pressure water guns when he bought them, so he, Ming Chunxi, and Zhao Hexi formed a successful lotus root digging trio.

Qing Mengzhu specially chose a Sunday to dig lotus roots.

Ming Chunxi doesn't have to work on Sunday, so we can enjoy the fun of digging lotus roots together.

The day they dug lotus roots, the sky was a dazzling blue, the sun was warm, and the wind was gentle; it wasn't cold at all.

Many people came to watch, all curious about what his lotus roots looked like.

After all, his lotus seeds are so expensive, and the lotus roots have been growing for so long. Everyone wants to know what the lotus roots look like, and whether they can plant some next year.