Great Qin Emperor

Chapter 6 A Little Invention

When everything is done, helpers have to wash it in the middle of the week, wash the beans, pour them into a copper pot and fry them until they are cooked.Then pour the beans into the stone nest, spread it flat, and cover it with the round stone.Put on a thick pole, wrap it with a strong hemp rope, twist the wheel, and with a creaking sound, the boulder slowly sinks.

Not long after, soybean oil flowed out of the stone hole.Smelling the smell of oil in the air, old man Sun, his wife and a few hired workers kept twitching their noses. It was rare for them to eat oil a few times a year. At first sight of such a strong and fragrant oil scent, their saliva flowed down. .

Looking at the fragrant but still cloudy soybean oil, Old Man Sun and the ancients naturally didn't understand why, and said in amazement: "It's really strange, the water is so fragrant!"

If this is said in modern society, people will not be regarded as idiots, but they will be regarded as crazy. In the Warring States Period, there was no vegetable oil at that time, and it was reasonable to be surprised. Zhou Chong explained with a smile: "Master, this is not water, it is water. The oil can be used for cooking and cooking."

There are many types of vegetable oils for us in modern times, such as soybean oil, corn oil, sesame oil, vegetable oil, chili oil, peanut oil, and so on.According to textual research, the rise of vegetable oil was neither the powerful Qin and Han Dynasties, nor the prosperous Tang Dynasty that made Chinese people proud, but the Song Dynasty that made Chinese people lament and was famous for its weakness.

From the Warring States Period to the Song Dynasty, there was a time difference of more than 1000 years. It is really difficult for old people like Sun to believe that dreams come true. They opened their mouths and asked incredulously, "Really, this can be cooked and eaten. ?”

"If you asked this question in modern society, I wouldn't even bother to answer you." Zhou Chong lamented the difference between ancient and modern times in his heart, and said with a smile, "Master, I won't lie to you. You will have a better life from now on. There is oil to eat every day."

For modern people, eating oil every day is the most basic life, and no one will take it seriously. For the ancients, it was indeed a very happy thing. Old man Sun couldn't close his mouth with a smile. Said: "It's great, my wife, our good days are coming." Look at his joy, as if it's New Year's Eve. (Note: The term "meat eater" in ancient times refers to people who are officials, because only people who are officials can eat meat. This is an infinitely bitter word.)
"Uncle Sun, you are blessed to be old, congratulations!" Several helpers congratulated Old Man Sun with a smile.However, Zhou Chong could tell that there was admiration in their eyes.

As the wheel turned, the boulder sank deeper and deeper, and more and more soybean oil flowed into the barrel, making a tick-tock sound.To old man Sun, this sound was a wonderful movement, the most beautiful sound he had ever heard in his life.

The pulley was not loosened until the oil was no longer coming out, and there was already more than half a barrel.There are so many oils for the first time, and Zhou Chong is still very satisfied with his achievements.Zhou Chong removed the foam on the top, and after the sedimentation was complete, he divided the clarified part into another wooden barrel, and the remaining oil corners could only be used to feed pigs.

The dinner is naturally made with soybean oil. These rough rice and mussels are very fragrant because of the oil. Old man Sun and a few helpers almost swallowed their tongues. This is not only an episode, but also the best for Zhou Chong's work affim.Old man Sun had a warm heart, and when the helpers left, they gave each of them a small can of soybean oil.

In the past few days, Zhou Chong has been busy inside and out, he is indeed very tired, and he slept very soundly this time.It's a pity that the genius Ma Maliang (referring to Liming) was awakened by a burst of talking, and upon hearing it, it was those helpers.

They kept asking old man Sun: "Uncle Sun, where is Master Zhou?"

"He's still sleeping. He's been very tired for the past few days. It's really hard for him." Old man Sun's gratitude to Zhou Chong cannot be described in words.

A helper surnamed Pu said very anxiously: "Uncle Sun, can I trouble you to wake up Master Zhou. Uncle Sun, I know this matter is difficult for you, but this matter is very important to me."

"Pu Feng, what's your matter, tell me, and I'll help you make up your mind." Old man Sun still didn't want to disturb Zhou Chong, and wanted to take the matter over.

Pu Feng was stunned for a moment, then shook his head and said, "Uncle Sun, it's not that I don't want to talk about it, it's just that I have to trouble Master Zhou with this matter."

Old man Sun still refused. At this moment, Zhou Chong walked out wearing a pair of shoes, dressed while walking, yawned, and asked, "Brother Pu, what do you want from me?"

Pu Feng blushed a little, looking very embarrassed, and said: "Master Zhou, good morning." His greeting sound was very blunt, and the greeting voices of the other helpers were like him, not natural enough.

"Being courteous to others, you must ask for something! You can tell that it's not good by looking at your embarrassed looks." Zhou Chong thought in his heart, but his eyes were fixed on the bags at their feet, and he asked, "Well, can you help me?" I will definitely help."

Pu Feng and his fellow peasants didn't understand the second half of Zhou Chong's skillful words, that is, don't help if you can't help, and said happily: "Yes, yes, Master Zhou will definitely be able to help. "

"I haven't agreed yet, you guys decided for me, it's too presumptuous." Zhou Chong criticized their performance in his heart, and said with a smile: "Brother Park, you haven't said anything serious yet."

Pu Feng sorted out his thoughts, and then said: "Master Zhou, Uncle Sun gave me half a can of oil last night, I took it home, the mother-in-law put some in when cooking, and my puppy ate too much Three bowls of rice. This dog is really not a thing, I fell asleep in the middle of the night, got up and drank the oil." (Note: The thing about drinking oil is not fiction, I did it when I was young. What's more unfortunate is that I My cousin actually drank the kerosene used for lighting, and he can only move with his mouth open: Ha... he couldn’t hold his breath.)
"It's true, your family can't survive, and you even have dogs and cats, and you don't need a rope to tie them down." Zhou Chong was very disapproving in his heart, and was about to point out his mistake when old man Sun sighed. , Said: "This is also hard for the child, and he can't eat fat or meat a few times a year."

If old man Sun hadn't sighed, Zhou Chong must have made a big joke, and he was a little glad that he didn't speak quickly.Looking at the bags under Pu Feng's feet, if they realized something, they hurriedly shied away: "I want to help with this matter, but I can't."

Pu Feng's face suddenly became ugly, and he said in a begging tone: "Master Zhou, this matter is a bit embarrassing. I want to change some oil and go back to let the puppy relieve his hunger. We are like changing tofu. A catty of beans is exchanged for a catty of oil."

Zhou Chong had already guessed that they were going to change the oil, so he wasn't surprised at all.If he really traded a catty for a catty, he would be at a loss. He shook his head and said, "Brother Park, you have also seen that we have such a big bag of beans to produce such a little oil. I'm afraid it won't work."

This is also the reason, Pu Feng patted his head, very embarrassed: "What should I do? Master Zhou, tell me. You can change it as you say." As long as he can change the oil, he will be fine, so he doesn't care about other things. of.

Several other helpers also said: "Master Zhou, as long as you can change it, you can do anything. You don't have enough manpower. We will help you without wages."

According to Zhou Chong's plan, a few more squeezes would be enough for old man Sun and his wife to feed for a year, and then he could walk away.Although he came to the unfamiliar state of Qin, Zhou Chong believes that with his own knowledge, he can go to the city to make some small inventions and creations. He dare not imagine a rich life, and a safe and stable life will not be a problem. Strong in the country.

If this matter is agreed, it will take a while longer, which will be very bad for my future, but looking at Pu Feng and the others' expecting eyes, although they don't have the benevolence of a saint, they are not yet sympathetic to Zhou Chong , It's really embarrassing.

(End of this chapter)