CHAPTER 114: CHAPTER 114: IT’S JUST CABBAGE—IS THAT REALLY SUCH A BIG DEAL?

After dinner, Pei Shu’er and the others began preparing to pickle the cabbage.

The cabbages were good, but Pei Shu’er couldn’t bear to eat just cabbage all the time.

So, they could try several methods of pickling cabbage.

First, they would make sour cabbage.

Everyone washed the cabbage, cut off the roots, and removed the old leaves. They cut the large heads into eight pieces each.

Yinxing blanched the sliced cabbage in boiling water for a minute, then took it out and cooled it in cold water.

He then handed it to Granny Zhang, who layered the cabbage alternately in a large stone jar.

They pressed it with heavy stones and poured in clear water and a bit of rice soup, submerging the cabbage by 1 centimeter.

This would promote fermentation.

Once there was a strong sour aroma in the jar, it was ready to eat.

They made about five large stone jars of sour cabbage, roughly around 100 kilograms.

Next was the spicy cabbage, which Pei Shu’er particularly liked.

They peeled the old leaves, washed and cut each leaf into four pieces, and soaked them in saltwater for a few hours, then took them out to dry.

They planted some chili peppers in their fields too, which were now turning red.

Pei Shu’er picked a few kilograms back and, together with garlic and ginger, boiled them into a spicy sauce, filling the whole room with an aromatic spiciness.

Yinxing brought in the sun-dried cabbage, and together with Pei Shu’er and Red Flower Zhang, they spread the spicy sauce between the cabbage layers.

Then they packed it into small-mouthed jars, which were bought by Pei Shu’er for the government officers, buying a total of five.

She buried the mouth of the jars underground, padding the sides with grass, leaving 20% above ground, covered securely with grass.

After 20 days, the spicy cabbage would be ready.

After pickling 300 jin of spicy cabbage, the yard was still piled with cabbages.

Half of these cabbages were subject to a tax.

So, with 3000 kilograms left, Pei Shu’er thought about eating cabbage every meal and suddenly felt like 3000 kilograms was a daunting number.

However, the two government officers, probably too delighted, took the wheelbarrow full of cabbage and left.

Pei Shu’er now only hoped the government officers would come quickly to take away the taxed portion from the yard.

Then perhaps they could also discuss reducing sentences or getting some silver.

Upon receiving the cabbage, the government officers’ emotions were constantly fluctuating.

Such good cabbage, nowhere in the entire Dayan could it be found, not even half as big on the black soil.

The fact that it was grown on the Deserted Mountain was beyond belief.

Moreover, the cabbage looked fresh and vibrant, and up close, it emitted a refreshing cabbage fragrance.

Fire Head Army Xiao Wu picked up a cabbage and hefted it, wow, it was quite heavy.

It must weigh about three kilograms.

He tore off a leaf to taste, raising an eyebrow in surprise.

This cabbage looked fresh, and tasted even fresher when eaten.

The cabbage stalk was sweet with a slight crispiness, and a bite released a mouthful of cabbage juice.

The green leafy part of the cabbage also had a rich vegetable flavor.

He could already imagine how popular this delicious cabbage would be if made into a dish.

The government officer grinned at Xiao Wu, "How about we cook some to taste later?"

Xiao Zhang, looking somewhat innocent, asked, "Should we cook some for the other brothers too?"

This statement resulted in two government officers giving him a stern look, and Xiao Wu even tapped Xiao Zhang’s head.

"What are you thinking? This cabbage may look plentiful, but it’s not enough for everyone to eat."

"With twenty thousand soldiers, each won’t even get a mouthful, not to mention quenching anyone’s appetite; it would just serve to whet it more."

With this, Xiao Zhang suddenly understood and nodded, oh, so that was it?

The two government officers exchanged a glance with Xiao Wu, a tacit understanding in their eyes.

The shortage was one reason, but the most important one was: such delicious cabbage, of course, should be saved for themselves!

They had no intention of reporting it.

Xiao Wu believed, if the two government officers could cook and had kitchenware, they wouldn’t have brought it to the Fire Head Army; they would surely have cooked and eaten it themselves.

Xiao Wu asked, "Would one cabbage be enough for us?"

The government officer nodded, "Yes, this cabbage is precious, let’s eat sparingly. Otherwise, once it’s gone, it’s gone."

So Xiao Wu and Xiao Zhang made one stir-fried cabbage and one vinegar-flavored cabbage.

When served with sparse rice porridge so thin you could see the bottom of the bowl, the cabbage was quickly finished.

They picked at the bits left on the plate and vigorously sucked on their chopsticks.

This cabbage was too sweet, too crisp, too delicious.

Eating it raw had a unique flavor, and stir-fried, it was even better.

Then they continued to eat their thin porridge, casting longing glances at the fresh cabbages in the corner.

One government officer cleared his throat and suggested, "It’s uncomfortable to stop mid-meal; we haven’t had a full meal in a while, so why not..."

Xiao Wu nodded in agreement, "We were just three-tenths full; how about stir-frying two more cabbages now?"

This suggestion received unanimous approval from the other three.

During Xiao Wu and Xiao Zhang’s cooking break.

The two government officers kept glancing at the kitchen, their nostrils twitching, salivating.

When the cabbage was brought out, the two officers keenly noticed that there was much less.

Looking at the oil sheen on the two’s mouths suggested they had eaten quite a bit while cooking!

Excessive! But it was awkward to bring it up.

The four were enjoying their meal when a households commander walked in at the door.

Seeing the four not on duty and gathered around eating, he couldn’t help but look displeased.

The four heard the footsteps, turned their heads, and saw Households Commander Zhang standing there, sternly watching them.

"What are you doing?"

Xiao Zhang was pale with fear, and the two other government officers momentarily forgot to speak.

Xiao Wu, after a brief pause, smiled and handed a pair of chopsticks to Households Commander Zhang.

"Sir, didn’t a few cabbages just come from the Deserted Mountain? We’re trying them out to see how they taste. If they’re good, we should report for procurement."

Upon hearing the word procurement, Households Commander Zhang’s eyes showed mockery; there were no military paychecks now, what procurement?

Households Commander Zhang didn’t want to move, but Xiao Wu saw this as a problem; he needed to make the commander complicit.

Xiao Wu quickly said, "Sir, try this cabbage; it might be the best I’ve ever had in my life."

Xiao Zhang and the two government officers echoed in agreement.

"Indeed, this cabbage’s taste is superb."

Households Commander Zhang was unimpressed.

Never seen the world, it’s just a cabbage, what’s the big deal?

However, he was genuinely hungry; it had been a long time since any grain had been transported.

Everyone was living on wild vegetables and tree roots, occasionally managing to have some thin porridge.

He picked up the chopsticks, grabbed some, and put it in his mouth. At first, it was just the aroma of the seasoning and the rich cabbage flavor.

But once he bit into it, the cabbage’s juices burst forth, filling his mouth with a refreshing sweetness, crispy and sweet, making it hard to stop eating.

His eyes widened in surprise, and before he could speak, his chopsticks had already sought out more on the plate.

The other four swallowed hard, but with such a disparity in status, they dared not join at the table to compete for food.

They could only swallow hard and watch the cabbage longingly.

In their hearts, they silently hoped.

There was so much cabbage; surely the commander would leave them some?