Saving System: Calm Down, My Fleeing Host!-Chapter 225: The Charm of Bean Sprouts

Lijiang County is situated among high mountains and hills, with extensive lands for growing fruit trees, sorghum, and wheat, but there are very few fields suitable for rice cultivation, making rice and vegetables scarce commodities here.

Cheng Xiaoxiao had an idea in mind, planning to sell the bean sprout recipe to Old Sir Bai.

So, she went to the guest room where Grandpa Hu was staying to discuss the matter.

After deliberation, they decided to present the bean sprout recipe, but without directly negotiating with Old Sir Bai, as they wanted to keep the initiative in their hands. Thus, a secret plan began to unfold.

During the meal, Cheng Xiaoxiao threw a temper tantrum, complaining that the vegetables here were old and tough and not tasty.

It put Mr. Hu in a tough spot, and he reprimanded his granddaughter a few times before apologizing to Mr. Bai, "My granddaughter is ignorant, please be understanding, Brother Bai."

"No problem, what does Miss Di want to eat? Tomorrow, I’ll have the housekeeper check the morning market to see what’s available."

Cheng Xiaoxiao guessed that the so-called morning market must be akin to a wholesale market.

"Grandpa Bai, Brother Bai already mentioned yesterday that, in this season, all fresh vegetables in Lijiang County are allotted to aristocratic families, and only Baoqing Building sells them on the market."

Bai Qiuyi was momentarily speechless; he did mention this on the street yesterday. How did Miss Di know? Could it be that Second Young Master Di told her? After all, they’re siblings, so it’s not surprising they know.

He was only momentarily taken aback but quickly collected himself, "Those are top-grade green vegetables. Before the break of dawn, merchant ships bring them in, their quantity limited, quite rare, only the government and first-class aristocratic families have access."

Ah! What did he just blurt out!

Wasn’t that admitting their family wasn’t good enough?

Realizing he misspoke, Bai Qiuyi stole a glance at his grandfather seated at the head, whose face was indeed sour. He could only force a smile and say, "But sometimes good vegetables can still be bought at the morning market."

"Then when can I eat them, Grandpa? Yan’er wants to eat boiled pork slices with lots and lots of bean sprouts as a side dish. It must go excellently with rice." Cheng Xiaoxiao looked forward to it, pitifully acting cute towards her thrifty grandpa.

"Nonsense, we are guests and should adapt to the host’s customs. How can we make random demands!"

Just as Mr. Di finished speaking, Hu Eryang’s soft voice sounded, "Grandfather, Yang’er also wants to eat."

Grandpa Hu was momentarily speechless, his look seemingly reprimanding the two troublesome ones.

The Bai Family members, however, were puzzled. What boiled pork slices? What bean sprouts? Why hadn’t they heard of them?

Bai Lian asked curiously, "Uncle Di, what kind of dish is this ’boiled pork slices’ the young master and miss are talking about? What ingredients does it require? Feel free to ask, our Bai Family still has some connections in Lijiang County, and if possible, we’ll find it."

"This..."

Grandpa Hu looked troubled.

"Brother Di, whatever you need, just ask," Mr. Bai interjected, assuming it involved expensive ingredients, assuring them that the Bai Family was not stingy.

"It’s not a problem of ingredients, but it’s related to ingredients."

Mr. Di’s words only deepened the Bai Family’s curiosity.

Cheng Xiaoxiao inwardly found it amusing; Grandpa Hu really was a talent, saying a simple thing but keeping the Bai Family curious.

"What does Brother Di mean?"

"It’s hard to explain. If it’s convenient for Brother Bai, could you lend some tools, and in five days, you can taste the dish." Grandpa Hu continued to keep them guessing.

"That amazing?" 9-year-old Bai Qiuyang said enviously, "Grandpa, your grandson wants to try it too, it sounds delicious."

"Haha! Little Lamb is a little foodie too!" Cheng Xiaoxiao joked bluntly, "Don’t worry, the food big sister is talking about will definitely make you want seconds after the first taste."

After interacting for a couple of days, everyone got a bit more familiar. Bai Qiuyang liked playing with Eryang a lot. Although they were just a few days apart in age, he felt he found a kindred spirit and shared the good stuff he had collected with Eryang, filling her room.

It made Hu Yixiu gnash his teeth, looking displeased, as if his sister was being snatched away, sour-faced all day. Although he knew Bai Qiuyang treated his sister like a buddy, his sister wasn’t a boy!

He couldn’t exactly clarify, so he could only fume silently, but Bai Qiuyang was thick-skinned and fearless of a certain someone.

Cheng Xiaoxiao found it all quite amusing.

Serves them right; she wasn’t going to help. Who told them to keep their feelings bottled up, even now not confessing...

At the dining table, Bai Qiuyi pulled out his eldest brother card, "Fifth brother, don’t mess around."

But Bai Qiuyang didn’t buy it, pouting his lips, "But big sister already promised."

"Then Uncle Di, whatever tools you need, just ask the housekeeper to fetch them." Bai Zheng didn’t contradict his son’s words; he too was eager to know!

"Alright." So he asked someone to get pen and ink ready.

Since Mr. Di didn’t explain, they couldn’t dig into it further and could only wait for the results three days later.

So Grandpa Hu had the Bai Family help buy a lot of soybeans, essentially buying up most of the limited soybeans available in the county. Knowing once bean sprouts were introduced, the price of soybeans would surely soar; it was wise to act first.

The Bai Family didn’t understand.

Everyone in their group knew how to sprout beans, so the large courtyard was filled with rows of bean sprouting equipment, drawing the curiosity of the Bai Family’s servants who gathered around to watch.

After one group was chased away by the housekeeper, another group would come.

Only once the bean-filled pots were all moved into the cellar did things settle down.

In these few days, Cheng Xiaoxiao instructed everyone to go to the street in batches to buy daily necessities, as winter was approaching, and they needed to keep escaping, so they couldn’t lack equipment.

This was the best place to resupply, with Housekeeper Bai accompanying them smoothly. If they went to Dingzhou, it would be too easy to attract attention with big actions.

When a large bowl of boiled pork slices was served on the dining table, Cheng Xiaoxiao took a deep breath, her mouth watering constantly. The flavor, enhanced with chili peppers, was different.

Spicy, numbing, delicious, aromatic, with a bright red, oily broth, appetizing at a glance, her hand with chopsticks itching to start.

But why wasn’t anyone calling for dinner?

Her eyes moved from the dish to the front, where Old Sir Bai and the Bai Family were all drawn by the tempting aroma.

Such delicious food wasn’t meant just to be looked at.

Consistently composed yet inwardly shaken, Grandpa Hu couldn’t help but swallow hard too. Following Xiao for this long, he heard a lot, but truly eating something delicious was rare, given that they were constantly on the run, and filling their stomachs was already good enough.

"Grandfather, you can serve the meal now."

The two little ones spoke in unison, both drooling and impatiently stealing the first move from Cheng Xiaoxiao.

"It’s time to eat!" Mr. Bai said awkwardly, glancing at the Bai Family members who looked like they’d never seen such a dish. It was quite embarrassing.

Chili peppers were scarce, so Cheng Xiaoxiao only contributed a bit; the spiciness was nowhere near hot, merely a hint of spicy flavor.

Still, it was perfect, and she hadn’t had anything like it for a long time.

The meat slices were tender, the bean sprouts crunchy, the aroma rich and satisfying~ absolutely satisfying!

If only there was a can of beer to go with it.

Cheng Xiaoxiao indulged in her meal, pleased as could be.

The others weren’t slow either; although they had never tasted something both numbing and spicy, the fresh, crisp, soft, and spicy flavors continuously assaulted their taste buds, making them wish they could swallow their own tongues.