, going back for another bucket, he heard a sound coming from it as well.This time it's two crucian carp and one grass carp, each weighing four or five catties!That's strange!Li Laosi's heart pounded....The village head, Li Yong and Liu the bodyguard, as well as Zhao Uncle who had just returned from Baihuayuan, were all having dinner at Li's house.

Tao Hong also made an extra dish of mashed potatoes with minced meat.

The potatoes are sliced and steamed until cooked through, then mashed into a smooth paste. In a large porcelain bowl, the mashed potato is piled into a volcano shape.

Then stir-fry the minced meat until cooked, add broth, scallions, ginger, soy sauce, sugar and salt to season. Add cornstarch slurry for thickness, then pour it over the mashed potatoes and sprinkle with a mix of green and red pepper flakes for color.

A spoonful of this mixed with rice, and one bite, the aroma, it's simply indescribable.

The elderly men ate two large bowls of rice each before they had room to speak.

The village head said with a smile, "Even when I'm old and have no teeth left, I won't be afraid of starving to death! This potato is simply delicious!"

"That's right, especially when it's mixed with rice, I could eat a whole bowl! When you're hungry, just fill your stomach!" Uncle Zhao said, scooping up another large spoonful of mashed potatoes.

Li Laer then said, "We harvested so much from the fields, a few more won't make a difference. The uncles like it, so I'll make more for them in the future."

"That can't be done!" The village head and Zhao Shu and the others all spoke in unison to object.

The village head put down his rice bowl and said, "We need to keep some for planting. We'll plant more next year. This year, we can't just eat whatever we want! Let's all have one meal to satisfy our hunger, but the rest needs to be stored away. None of it should be eaten anymore."

Li Laoer was helpless and quickly nodded in agreement, "Good, good, definitely won't eat them. I'll save them to plant."

The village head was worried again, asking, “Grandfather, where are we going to store so many potatoes They spoil if they get too cold or too hot! What if they rot, that would be a waste of good food!”

Li Laer and his niece had already discussed this matter, so he said to the uncle: "Uncle, Zhengjiazhuang also planted a lot. Originally, Fu Niuer was going to send a batch to Xianke Lai, but now let's just send these from our village!

"

"Firstly, we are closer to the city. Secondly, there is a large cellar at Zhengjiazhuang, which is convenient for storage. Next spring, we can just take potatoes from there to plant."

"Good idea! It's just a bit of hard work for them." The village head was pleased and added, "It's so far away. They always help us, but we never get a chance to return the favor."

Li Lao'er smiled and said, "No need to rush, uncle. There will be plenty of opportunities in the future."

Everyone chatted and laughed, ate their fill, then dispersed.

Early the next day, several vehicles from the village left in three trips, delivering all the potatoes to Xiankelai.

Jia Huan, by himself in the restaurant for so long, had also become more shrewd over time.

He took the potato in a very ostentatious way, allowing people to directly pass through the front hall and carry it to the backyard.

Seeing this, diners would naturally ask.

"Boss Xiao Li, what good things has Suijin Beach produced again"

"Indeed, Mr. Li, good things shouldn't be kept hidden. We are all old customers."

Jia Huan smiled and bowed, saying, "Let me be frank with you all, this is potato grown in our village. It was just harvested and brought here."

“Tomorrow, our building will be introducing several new dishes using these potatoes as ingredients. If you have some free time, be sure to come and try something new.”

"Oh my, potatoes can be harvested already We planted some at home too, I thought we had another month to wait!"

"My house has planted it too!"

My family didn't manage to get any seeds, but we didn't plant any anyway.

There was a buzz of excited chatter as everyone gathered, eager to try the new dishes at Xian Kelei. They were all curious how Xian Kelei managed to turn potatoes into flowers!

Because, no matter how many families have planted potatoes now, these potatoes were originally brought back from the south by Li's family and then cultivated as the first crop in partnership with Liu's family.

When it comes to how to eat, no one knows better than the Li family.

Therefore, because of these dozen or so trucks of potatoes, both inside and outside the Xindu area, a potato craze was sparked, and Xianke Lai once again became wildly popular!

The villagers brought the potatoes to the city. In the afternoon, when the women had nothing to do, they carried hoes and baskets, throngs of them pouring into the potato fields, continuing...to pick potatoes.

Some potatoes are shyer and like to hide deeper in the soil.

There are also some who like to live apart from others, dwelling a few feet away from the edge of the rice paddies.

Women were unwilling to part with them because they couldn't bear the thought of them being frozen solid by the approaching autumn and winter.

So, they decided to find the mischievous potato, bring it home, and then put it in a pot to warm it up thoroughly...

In the cornfield not far away, the cornstalks had already turned a grayish-green, just waiting for the autumn wind to blow and change into yellow coats.

Occasionally, a mischievous and shameless corn cob, breaking through the leaves' embrace, would peek out to bask in the sun. It would sway its long whiskers, curiously surveying this novel world.

The mischievous boys from the schoolyard went home after class. Unable to find their mother, they threw their backpacks and ran to the field to join in the fun.

Whenever they found a potato, the mischievous boys would cheer.

When the Lord arrived with his personal guards, escorting over a dozen carriages carrying more than a hundred wounded soldiers, he saw the bustle in the field from afar and couldn't help but smile.

The lord said to the wounded soldiers, "You guys are really lucky. You've caught up with the village harvesting potatoes. You'll have potato stew for dinner tonight!"

A young wounded soldier spoke up, "My Lord, is the potato that high-yielding auspicious food"

"Indeed!" The Marquis nodded. "This thing can replace both food and vegetables. This year, it's been widely planted everywhere. In two years, no one in Tianwu will go hungry."

Everyone felt novel and stretched their necks to look.

The marquis tapped his horsewhip against the carriage's axle and pointed to the nearby village: "Let's take a look there first. The villagers will build houses for you."

"A house, they really built us a house!" One wounded soldier cried out, the rest of them were also excited, even disregarding their injuries, scrambling to their feet wanting to get a better look.

They originally thought this was a kind lie the Marquis told them so they wouldn't fall into decadence, but who would have thought it was actually true!

Soon, the convoy drew closer, turning onto a main road. Before reaching the archway, the village head arrived with the villagers to greet them.

And the women and children in the fields also hurried over.

The lord dismounted his horse and, bowing to the village head, said, "Uncle, I have brought all the wounded brothers here. From now on, I entrust them to you!"

The village head quickly helped the Marquis up and said in a flustered voice, "Marquis, you can't say that! These young brothers are heroes who protect our peace and prosperity. Now they are injured and their lives are in danger. Shouldn't we lend a hand Don't talk like that, it's too impersonal!"

“Yes, Lord Hou, we are all family.”

"After this, the village will be lively! We're so happy we can hardly contain ourselves."

The villagers also responded enthusiastically, their faces beaming with genuine warmth. The sight almost brought tears to the wounded soldiers' eyes.

They were disabled and shunned by their families, who refused to let them return home.

Unexpectedly, it was in this strange place, from these unfamiliar villagers, that I received the long-awaited warmth.

If they died to protect their fellow countrymen like this, then their sacrifice... would also be worthwhile!rd were already full of villagers.Li Lao'er brought two younger brothers to talk with everyone and drink tea.Li Lao'er was quite knowledgeable and well-read. He spoke and acted more smoothly than the...