Chapter 201: Shiitake mushroom sauce (1)

The store sold raw sweet potatoes. Since the size of these sweet potatoes was not uniform and as big as the previous roasted sweet potatoes, they were sold three wen for a kilogram.<br /><br />The price of raw sweet potatoes were cheaper than roasted sweet potatoes, which ordinary people could afford.<br /><br />The price of rice sold in this shop was relatively more expensive, at 100 wen per bushel, which was much higher than other rice shops in the county, 60 wen per bushel.<br /><br />But the shopkeeper explained that their rice varieties were different, and they were more fragrant, glutinous, and chewy than ordinary rice.<br /><br />Such high-quality rice would not be purchased by ordinary people. They only seek to fill their stomachs rather than satisfying their taste buds.<br /><br />Different pricing strategies were formulated by Wei Ruo. Sweet potatoes were targeted for commoners with low prices, so that everyone could afford them. If you meet someone who looks pale and thin and looks like he hasn't eaten for a long time, the store would give him a few for free.<br /><br />The sales target of rice was a high-ranking official who pursues a high quality of life. Firstly, the rice she purchased from Huzhou Prefecture was indeed of quality and was worth the price. Secondly, Wei Ruo also needed to consider the base price and transportation costs of these rice, which would naturally increase the price even more.<br /><br />As for the shiitake mushroom sauce, Wei Ruo personally made it.<br /><br /> 

<p style="text-align:center"><img class="alignnone wp-image-4708" src="https://moonlightteatime.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/shiitake-mushroom-sauce-300x231.png" alt="shiitake-mushroom-sauce" />

<strong><span>-shiitake mushroom sauce</span></strong></p>

<span>She and Xiumei together cooked a large pot in the small kitchen of Yingzhu Garden and then filled twenty small clay jars.</span><br /><br /> 

<p style="text-align:center"><img class="alignnone wp-image-4995" src="https://moonlightteatime.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/clay-jars-300x202.png" alt="clay jars" />

<strong><span>-clay jars</span></strong></p>

 <br /><br /><span>Because she didn’t make a lot of it, Wei Ruo did not plan to sell it in the store, but to enjoy it herself and as a gift to others.</span><br /><br /><span>The next day when Wei Ruo went to the Xie Mansion for a lesson, Wei Ruo gave two jars to Mr. Wang, and then two jars of shiitake mushroom sauce to Xie Ying.</span><br /><br /><span>Xie Ying took the two small clay jars that Wei Ruo handed to her and curiously asked, "What is this?"</span><br /><br /><span>"This is shiitake mushroom sauce."</span><br /><br /><span>"Shiitake mushroom sauce? Made with shiitake mushrooms?"</span><br /><br /><span>"Yes," Wei Ruo explained. "Put some lard in the pot, add minced meat and stir-fry until it smells fragrant, then add chopped green onions, ginger, garlic, and diced mushrooms, followed by salt, cooking wine, Sichuan pepper powder, and white sugar. Then stir-fry everything evenly. Finally, add some soy sauce."</span><br /><br /><span>Xie Ying was taken aback. "I don't understand, but it sounds impressive. Can this sauce be eaten right away? I don't know how to cook, but I can certainly eat. Once I taste it, I'll know if it's good or not."</span><br /><br /><span>"It is usually used to mix with rice, vegetables, noodles, and so on. If you eat it right away it can be a bit salty, but it’s definitely edible." Wei Ruo replied.</span><br /><br /><span>“Then there is no problem.”</span><br /><br /><span>Eager to try it, Xie Ying quickly had a maid bring her some chopsticks. She then opened one of the jars, dipped the tip of her chopsticks into the sauce, and put it in her mouth.</span><br /><br /><span>Xie Ying's eyes instantly lit up, “So fragrant, so delicious!”</span><br /><br /><span>Xie Ying genuinely found it delicious. She liked the rich taste of this sauce, which had the aroma of meat, the aroma of shiitake mushrooms, and the rich taste of soy sauce.</span><br /><br /><span>"I'm glad you like it. Once you finish it, I'll get you some more. This sauce is best when fresh. Storing it too long affects its quality, so I'll make new ones for you later." Wei Ruo said.</span><br /><br /><span>Although it could be stored for some time, through cooking with soy sauce, covering it with oil, and sealing it with clay jars, it couldn't be stored as long as modern preservatives and vacuum packaging.</span><br /><br /><span>"Alright. In that case, I'll share a bit with my brother. With only two jars, I wasn't willing to give him any, but if there's more, I can be a little nicer to him!" Xie Ying said.</span><br /><br /><span>"Yeah." Wei Ruo couldn't help but smile. In her opinion, the unique way the Xie siblings interacted with each other was very cute.   </span>