Chapter 360 - Chapter 360: Producing Oil
Chapter 360: Producing Oil
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Shen Qiuhua recalled the past when she spoke of such things. She remembered how tough things were back then since the family could not afford to waste even a drop of oil.
She was only willing to use more oil now that her family’s conditions had improved. However, the oil they had produced from the roasted peanuts was insufficient, so they could not cook.
In other words, the family was only willing to use the oil they harvested and would not buy it because of how expensive it was. No one was willing to spend on oil and would save as much money as possible.
Shen Qiuhua would peel peanut kernels in the past and keep a portion to use as seeds for the following year. Then she used the rest to roast and make peanut oil.
She typically stored the peanut oil she produced in a large jar and kept it for a year because the family had to wait to harvest more peanuts the following year before making more oil.
The family’s peanut oil production would be insufficient if there was a drought, and their oil would not last long. Therefore, in the past, they would avoid using oil if they could.
Su Binglan was preparing to make the dough and paused when she heard her mother’s words. “I almost forgot about that, Mother. Is the oil in town expensive?”
Although her family’s conditions had improved, and she had earned quite a lot of money, she did not want to spend money so quickly.
After all, the people of that era had grown accustomed to being frugal, and Su Binglan did not want to break that habit. She had to maintain that good habit because making desserts also required oil.
“Indeed, it’s pricey,” Shen Qiuhua sighed, “Especially because we can only produce a limited amount of oil from roasted peanuts. We have just enough to last a year and typically make our own instead of buying because it’s not worth it. ”
After some thought, Su Binglan said, “Then let’s not buy it first. We should save whatever we have left and find another way to produce more oil.”
Peanuts were not the only thing people could use to extract oil. They could use many other things. so Su Binglan decided to go to the back of the mountain to check things out. She knew there must be many more resources in the mountain.
“All right, I’ll listen to you, Binglan.” Shen Qiuhua’s furrowed brows relaxed when she heard her daughter’s words. She knew how capable her daughter was and that she might be able to produce more oil.
Therefore, she was more willing to use the oil as she poured a small jar into the pot. When she did that, the rich peanut fragrance wafted through the air.
Su Binglan could smell it as she scooped the noodles into the pot. Meanwhile,
Su Wenxiu took a deep breath as he lit the fire. He said, “It smells so good!”
Su Binglan could not help but sigh. ‘Peanut oil is so fragrant.’
The peanut oil from that era was unlike the processed oil from modern times, but pure natural peanut oil. The oil from that era did not go through processing procedures, making its fragrance more delicious.
Su Wenxiu boiled the water until it was hot enough while Su Binglan started to knead the dough. She used salt water to knead the dough but had to be precise with her measurements, so she did it slowly.
She used primarily spiritual spring water to pull the dough apart. After kneading the dough, she rolled it into a small ball and let it sit to keep it fresh. Afterward, she would apply oil to keep it fresh for longer.
Then she pulled the dough, twisted it, and placed it on the chopping board for patting, repeating the process. Her actions made Shen Qiuhua and Su Wenxiu curious.
“That’s what ramen looks like?” Su Wenxiu asked as he watched from the sidelines. The mother-son duo could not wait to try it.
Su Binglan explained as she tried a strand of noodles, “Yes, noodles made with this process are called ramen. It’s different from regular noodles. Still, we must be careful with ramen since it easily breaks in the middle.”
She controlled her strength while pulling the dough. Even Shen Qiuhua found it quite magical. “Oh, I see the noodles getting slimmer.”
“I can make it finer, too,” Su Binglan said.
Su Wenxiu and Shen Qiuhua remained on the sidelines, staring blankly. In the past, Shen Qiuhua used a rolling pin to make the dough thinner and cut it into fine pieces before making noodles.
It was her first time hearing that she could pull the dough by hand, which she found very magical. The noodles were thin, but there were no breaks in the middle.
Su Binglan said while pulling the noodles, “By the way, do we still have pig bones, Mother?”
“Yes, we have plenty.”
Su Binglan nodded, then turned to Su Wenxiu. “Second Brother, continue
watching the fire while mother puts the pig bones into the pot, then add ginger, chilies, scallions, and peppers. The broth will be fragrant when we cook it this way.”
Shen Qiuhua and Su Wenxiu nodded.
Su Wenzhe and Liu Yinyin brought Luo Jin’an, Su Xuexuan, and Su Xuehai home when evening came. Su Wenwu was still busy at the hotpot restaurant in town, so he typically did not have dinner at home.
Meanwhile, Su Fengmao was settling the goods outside the tofu factory since more people had ordered their products.
Whenever it was time to hand over their products, he would be in charge of shipping, registering the handover, and collecting payment. He would be busier if they sold more products.
Nonetheless, Su Fengmao was busy and could not make it home for dinner.
Su Wenzhe immediately caught a whiff of a delicious aroma as soon as he entered the house. “It smells so good! What did you make this time, Little Sister?”
He and his wife looked forward to going home for dinner every night because they knew they could eat delicious food. Su Binglan could still make something tasty even with the simplest ingredients.
Su Wenzhe sped up the moment he entered the house. He quickly approached the pot and looked at its contents. He was stunned. “Are you making noodles? Why does it smell more fragrant than usual?”
If it were noodles, he would not have thought it was fresh. After all, regular noodles did not smell like that.
“Do I think the noodles are extra fragrant because I’m hungry?”
Liu Yinyin echoed, “The noodles Binglan makes should be different. Of course, it’s extra fragrant. Still, I know Binglan’s food is always the best.”
She admired Su Binglan the most and would be her biggest fan.
Then Su Xuexuan and Su Xuehai happily called out to Su Binglan, “Aunt
Binglan, Aunt Binglan!”
Su Binglan said smilingly, “You two can play on the brick bed first. We’ll eat these noodles in a while.”
She looked up and saw her husband as she laughed. She heaved a sigh of relief when she saw he was okay. After discovering Luo Jin’an’s true identity, she started worrying about him more.
She feared that the people from the capital would hurt Luo Jin’an if they knew he was still alive.
Su Wenxiu explained while enthusiastically gesturing, “This is ramen. It’s different from regular noodles. Little Sister pulled it by hand and made it very thin.”
Su Wenzhe was in disbelief. “You can do that? Won’t the noodles break?”
“Of course not,” Su Wenxiu said, “Little Sister made it herself, so, of course, it’s holding together well..”