After lunch, Xiao Nianzhi followed the cook Aunt Qin to the kitchen.
There are not many servants in the Xiao Mansion. Uncle Qin, the housekeeper, and Aunt Qin, the cook, are a couple. Uncle Zheng, the coachman, has to farm outside the city when he has nothing to do.
The Xiao family has dozens of acres of land and several shops. Otherwise, Xiao Siye's salary alone may not be able to support the family.
After all, I have accumulated some wealth after coming to the capital for so many years.
In addition to these servants, there are also two maids who do daily chores in the house.
There are walnuts that can’t talk, and jujube that talk a lot.
Da Zao, who talks a lot, always helps Aunt Qin whenever she has nothing to do.
Seeing Xiao Nianzhi following Walnut to the kitchen, Dazao hurriedly stepped forward to salute, and then observed secretly.
When she was cleaning up the study, she heard from the two young masters that the food made by the new eldest girl was very delicious, and she wondered if they would have a chance to taste it.
Xiao Nianzhi said hello again before lunch, asking him to leave watermelons, peaches, and jujubes, and his strong curiosity was aroused.
However, she behaved herself and didn't ask any more questions, and just looked at her quietly.
Xiao Nianzhi didn't rush to get ice as soon as he came over. Instead, he boiled the milk that was delivered in the morning and put it aside to cool.
Then cut out the watermelon pulp, then take out the gauze, wash it, and put the cut pulp in it.
There is no juicer, so I can only use gauze to squeeze out the watermelon juice.
Fortunately, if squeezed like this, there are no watermelon seeds and fiber, and the taste is also very good.
The squeezed watermelon juice was temporarily put into the wooden basin, and Xiao Nianzhi went to get the peaches again.
Wash the peach skin with coarse salt several times to make sure it is clean, then cut the skin and boil it in water, add sugar and stir, then take out the skin and add the white jelly that Xiao Nianzhi took out from the delicious kitchen.<
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She took out the white jelly in advance and packed it in oil paper.
Now I took a small bag and put it into the peach juice that had been boiled to a tender pink color.
Stir while putting it aside until the white jelly and the pink peach juice are completely blended, and then remove the pot.
The fire in the stove will cook watermelon juice for a while, so it cannot be extinguished for the time being.
The peach flesh that was cut into small pieces before is also put in now.
Then, Xiao Nianzhi went to make watermelon juice.
After both are cooked, set them aside to cool down, and then Xiao Nianzhi is ready to make more moves.
Saltpeter makes ice!
The two kinds of juice after adding white jelly need to be refrigerated so that they will be better shaped and taste more silky and refreshing.
So, we still need ice!
Xiao Siye is busy and can't take care of Xiao Nianzhi, but Xiao Zhou and Xiao Qing are not here!
Although the two of them were reading, their hearts were itching.
I heard from Dazao that Xiao Nianzhi was busy in the kitchen. I had only heard that his craftsmanship was good, but Xiao Zhou, who had never tasted it, couldn't sit still.
Xiao Qing, who had never heard or smelled it, only heard a few words mentioned by her second brother, and was moved.
Xiao Qing read for a while. He originally felt sleepy in the afternoon, but now that it's hot and his heart is wild, he can't read at all. Instead of being so unproductive, he might as well go play for a while.
Thinking of this, he asked tentatively: "How about we take a rest first?"
Xiao Zhou's self-discipline is pretty good, and he thinks he can still watch.
But if the efficiency is not high...
Thinking of this, Xiao Zhou sighed helplessly: "Okay, let's go and have a look."
The two of them quickly and quietly went to the kitchen.
Xiao Nianzhi is currently making preparations.
Ice made from saltpeter is actually not suitable for direct consumption.
However, this is not without solutions.
Xiao Nianzhi made a matryoshka move.
She first cleaned a large wooden basin used for daily vegetable washing, and put the well water that had just been brought up into it. Then she floated a small basin on top and put the well water in it.
After a while, Xiao Nianzhi can put saltpeter powder into the big basin.
After such operations, the water in the large basin will most likely not freeze, and the temperature will at most drop, but it can be used to hold things down.
The water in the small basin will form ice crystals due to chemical reactions. Because it is separated from the saltpeter, it is edible!
They couldn't understand the walnuts, but they moved quickly with their hands and feet, washing the basin or carrying water.
Anyway, no one is idle.
However, they are full of energy.
Because...
Curious!
They really want to know what the big girl is doing!
After Xiao Zhou and Xiao Qing came over, they didn't bother them, they just stepped aside and watched quietly.
After the preparations were completed, Xiao Nianzhi began to try adding saltpeter powder to the large basin.
When saltpeter powder melts in water, it absorbs a lot of heat.
Using it to make ice is based on this principle.
Although it is hot today, the water drawn from the deep well is actually quite cool.
Coupled with saltpeter, the ice making speed is quite fast.
However, the amount of saltpeter required is also very large, and the final product cannot actually be regarded as a complete ice cube, but can only be regarded as ice liquefaction or ice crystals.
The water temperature in the big basin has only dropped, so the ice can be used for a while, but the water in the small basin has slowly precipitated ice crystals.
Xiao Zhou and Xiao Qing watched this process happen with their own eyes. You must know that in recent years, many people have been rummaging through various orphans and ancient books in order to recover what it was that could make ice in the past!
But, what do they see now???
Xiao Nianzhi, their new sister, actually made ice!
Xiao Zhou's pupils were really shaken, and his first reaction was to go see Xiao Nianzhi. He saw that the little girl was still calm and serious, adding saltpeter powder to it.
With just one glance, Xiao Zhou knew that Xiao Nianzhi should be aware of the fact that saltpeter can make ice, and may have even tried it before.
Thinking of this possibility, Xiao Zhou couldn't help but take a breath.
However, he was older and had a flexible mind, so he understood it quickly.
Why did Xiao Nianzhi know it but never show it before?
Because, I can’t keep it.
Many people have not yet recovered this ancient skill. It is really known that Xiao Nianzhi can recover it. Fortunately, if he meets a good person, he will at least protect her.
But if you meet a bad person...
In order to take the credit and keep this secret, it is possible that Xiao Nianzhi’s family will be killed directly!
The reason why Xiao Nianzhi took it out now was because she felt that their family should be able to save it.
Although Xiao Siye's official rank is not high, he has many classmates, and he has many close friends in the court with colleagues of high rank.
In addition, Xiao Nianzhi now has a master to take care of her, Aunt Yu.
The Xiao family can't be saved, but Aunt Yu can!
Therefore, Xiao Nianzhi can take it out with confidence.
The little girl looks innocent, but she also has some exquisite thoughts.
Xiao Zhou was originally quite worried about Xiao Nianzhi because of what Zhou Yuxing had caused before, but now it seems that he can feel a little more relieved.
Compared with his calmness, Xiao Qing was young. After seeing Bing, he couldn't control himself and almost jumped up. His mouth was almost knotted with excitement: "...Bing Bing Bing Bing Bing Bing!"
