CHAPTER 55: CHAPTER 55: MAKING SHAVED ICE

The weather is getting hotter and hotter, and quite a few people are eating ice, especially since this ice melts quickly, so few people have their servants take it home. They all come to the restaurant to eat.

After Xiao Ding’s introduction, Jiang Hu and the others realized that eating ice wasn’t expensive at all: A bowl of ice shavings with dried fruit syrup costs only two copper coins.

Of course, that’s relative. For those truly short of money, two copper coins aren’t something everyone is willing to spend.

Especially since once you’ve eaten the ice shavings, it’s gone. You’re only cool for a short time, and after that, it’s still just as hot, so the vast majority of people are reluctant to spend on it.

As for the popsicle that Dawa was eyeing, it costs one copper coin each and is made with a little sugar in cold boiled water, tasting sweet.

Hearing Xiao Ding’s introduction, Jiang Hu was very surprised: "You can make this ice yourself?"

Xiao Ding raised his eyebrows and said excitedly, "It’s actually quite easy to make ice, it just takes some time."

Just at that moment, they arrived at the backyard. A strong man was fetching water from a well. Upon seeing Xiao Ding leading the group in and recognizing who it was, his eyes lit up: "Brother Jiang is here. What dishes did you bring today?"

Jiang Hu said sheepishly, "Sorry, Master Zhang, today I brought my wife and children to town, so I didn’t bring any dishes."

Master Zhang is also the head chef at Tongfu Restaurant.

Disappointment immediately appeared on Master Zhang’s face, but he nodded nonetheless: "No problem, it’s rare for you to bring your wife and kids to town. You can send the dishes tomorrow."

It’s just a pity that we won’t have them to eat at noon.

"Master Zhang, Brother Jiang’s kids want to eat ice. The shopkeeper asked me to bring them to the kitchen to have their pick. Do we have plenty of ice today?"

"Plenty of it, go ahead with your work. Anyway, we’re not busy right now. I’ll take Brother Jiang and his wife and nephews to choose."

While the adults were talking, Xiao Mi was looking around, leaning against her father’s shoulder, using his big head to block out the sun, so she could see more clearly.

In the backyard, there were many wooden frames, each with a rather shallow, wide, large basin on it, containing water, and not much of it. In such scorching heat, it would quickly dry out.

Seeing this, Xiao Mi started pondering. Earlier, Xiao Ding said the ice was homemade and very simple to make.

After thinking it over, in this hot weather, it seemed that only nitre could be used to make ice, right?

Could it be that people here quickly discovered how to use nitre to make ice?

From the looks of it, the ice made from nitre wasn’t for direct consumption, as nitre has a slight toxicity, and eating too much isn’t good.

And these dried-up basins should be the water left after the ice made from nitre melts. If she remembers correctly, ice made from nitre can be reused.

Sure enough, as Xiao Mi was musing, Master Zhang was explaining while leading Jiang Hu and his family into an adjacent room.

As soon as the door opened, a chilly sensation rushed out, and Master Zhang was just talking about the issue of nitre.

"...although this stuff can be rented from the county office every year, it must be returned in full before autumn, and the loss cannot exceed ten percent, or you’ll be accused of treason."

"On top of that, only long-established stores with impeccable reputation can rent it. Before renting ice-making stones, all the workers in the store have their family background checked for three generations. Only after passing can they rent."

Jiang Hu clicked his tongue: "That’s so difficult, it must be expensive, right?"

Master Zhang shook his head: "The rent is actually cheap. Ten pounds of ice-making stones only cost one silver piece for the whole summer. When business is good, you can earn it back in a few days. It’s just that the renting process is complicated. You have to start preparing right after the spring begins."

Xiao Mi pouted, well, of course, nitre is not only for making ice. Nitre is also a material for making gunpowder, so of course, it has to be closely monitored.

After Master Zhang explained, they arrived in front of a large table in the house, upon which lay many wooden basins, all looking specially made, square and packed closely together.

Xiao Mi thought, there should be nitre-made ice in these basins, with small bamboo tubes inserted in the middle, about four centimeters in diameter. Pour in some syrup, place a chopstick in the center, and once frozen, it can be taken out and eaten directly.

There were also dual-layered wooden basins; some were filled with ice both inside and outside, while others were half ice, half water inside.

"The ice made from ice-making stones can’t be eaten directly. So it’s done this way, with boiled and cooled water; if it’s really cool outside, the water will freeze quickly."

Master Zhang took a thick cloth from the side and held a piece of ice through it: "These popsicles aren’t much to eat, just plain water with sugar. I’ll make you all a bowl of ice shavings each, take them outside to eat, it’s more comfortable outside. It’s too cold here."

Originally, this place is off-limits to idlers, but Master Zhang took it upon himself to give Jiang Hu and his family a broader view, to open their eyes.

Jiang Hu quickly said, "Thank you, Master Zhang."

’Achoo!’

Ernie, who had been curiously looking around, suddenly sneezed.

Master Zhang slapped the chopping board: "Ah, I forgot, it’s too cold in here. Children shouldn’t stay too long, and your sister-in-law too, having given birth not long ago, she’s weak. Sister-in-law, take the children outside first, lest they catch a cold."

Jiang Hu quickly turned around: "Then I’ll head out too, Xiao Mi..."

"No!" Xiao Mi was anxious, shouting not to leave and craning her neck, trying to snuggle closer to Master Zhang.

Master Zhang was startled: "Little Lucky Star can talk?"

Regarding the ’Lucky Star’ saying, everyone in Xiangma Town knows about it, and people at Tongfu Restaurant definitely know.

But speaking, Xiao Mi only started recently, and word hasn’t spread yet.

Jiang Hu hurriedly cradled Xiao Mi in his arms lest she fell, stopping in his tracks and signaling Second Aunt to take Tie Dan and Ernie out first. Dawa didn’t want to leave either, but he didn’t find it too cold, so he stayed.

"She can say a few simple words now, one word at a time, but nothing else yet."

Master Zhang looked at Xiao Mi in surprise and smiled: "That’s pretty impressive. If I remember correctly, she’s only five months old, truly a Lucky Star."

He then started bustling about, considering how cold it indeed was inside and since he didn’t wear warm clothes when he came in. He had to quickly finish making the ice shavings and then head out.

Making ice shavings was actually easy. He pressed on a large piece of ice with a clean cloth in one hand and used a knife to chop it up swiftly into fine shavings, just like cutting vegetables.

Xiao Mi watched for a while and then diverted her gaze, starting to observe the room’s surroundings.

The walls of the room were lined with cotton cloth, leaving only a window for lighting, effectively preventing the coolness inside from escaping and blocking out the high temperatures outside.

Beside the chopping board was a variety of dried nuts: raisins, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, peanuts, almonds, hazelnuts, pine nuts, and more. Additionally, there were two covered jars, the contents unknown.

Master Zhang quickly prepared four bowls of ice shavings, adding a bit of each type of nut and then opened one of the jars.

"This one contains honey, and the other is a sugar syrup we boiled earlier. You came at the right time; this honey just arrived yesterday, we didn’t have it before. It’s something you come by only if you’re lucky."