Huo Erniang continued: "There are dozens of kinds of melons produced in Hami. They are green-skinned and green-flesh, as crisp as a pear, as sweet as honey, and taste the best. They are top-grade. There are also round and flat cap-shaped melons with white flesh. Slightly worse. The kind of melon with red and yellow flesh has the weakest taste, which is the kind mentioned in the poem that can be kept for a long time. We call it winter melon. Other types must be eaten as soon as they are picked, otherwise they will go bad. So merchants It’s not like I want any kind of melon.”
Zhu Bai was also interested and asked: "How to collect it."
Huo Erniang said: "If it is a small amount, just clean the ceramic jar or jar, dry it, bake it and let it cool, then wrap the melon with paper, with the skin intact and not fully ripe or overripe, and gently put it into the jar. The jar cannot be squeezed until it is full. Then seal the jar or jar mouth with thick cotton cloth and place it in a cool place. If the merchant keeps it for sale and collects it in large quantities, it must be placed on the ground in a cool, ventilated and dry cellar. Spread dry sand or pad hay, and stack the melons in 2 to 3 layers with their tops facing up. Or build a shelf and put the melons in boxes (baskets) on the shelf. Check them frequently, pick out the rotten melons and throw them away until February. It can also leave 50% to 60% good ones.”
As he was talking, the waiter brought beef ramen and other things.
Zhang Yu took a pair of clean bowls and chopsticks and wanted to test the poison first before giving it to Zhu Bai.
But Zhu Bai brought it over directly and said, "I'm starving to death."
Zhang Yu immediately understood what Zhu Bai meant: this place is trustworthy and there is no need to do such emotionally hurtful actions.
Huo Erniang smiled: "I like this young master so much that I won't delay your meal."
Zhu Bai was already snoring and started eating the noodles: "It's delicious. I haven't eaten such authentic beef ramen for a long time."
Zhang Yu and the others secretly rolled their eyes: When it comes to bragging, you say you are second, but no one dares to say you are first. If you have never been to Mobei, you may not have eaten beef ramen.
Zhu Bai sighed while eating: In the past, the ramen restaurant behind the Agricultural University cost more than ten yuan for a bowl. It was the only choice for poor students like him to satisfy their hunger. Today's delicacies from the mountains and seas make me really miss this one.
After eating and drinking, they gathered in Zhubai's room for a small meeting every day.
Zhang Yu: "Your Highness, didn't you say you wanted to see Wuna Shili? Why are you starting to trade Hetian jade and cantaloupe here again?"
Zhu Bai: "Do the two things together without delay."
Others seemed to understand but couldn't ask anything, so they could only forget it.
Zhu Bai took a good bath and finally no longer looked as gray and gray. The next day I slept until three o'clock in the morning before waking up.
This was the first day since departure that I slept so comfortably and didn’t have to rush. I was so happy.
Zhu Bai got up and washed himself.
Fugui asked: "What does Your Highness want to do today?"
Zhu Bai said: "Let's go to the market. I want to see what new and good things there are here."
To put it bluntly, it is to investigate the source of goods.
Zhang Yu and Mao Xiang said together: "Your Highness, it is best not to go."
Zhang Yu: "In the inn, the situation is basically under control."
Mao Xiang: "There are many people in the market, and this is a place where no one cares. They are all desperadoes and young people. Once there is a disturbance, fifty people are not enough to fight."
Zhang Yu said: "Your Highness, think about the time when you were almost kidnapped by the victims..."
Zhu Bai pursed his lips and tilted his head: "I want to be on guard."
Mao Xiang secretly breathed a sigh of relief: It's okay, I still know how to be afraid.
Zhu Bai said: "Then dress plainly. Don't bring so many people. Anyway, those people will go to the rich if they want to steal or rob."
Mao Xiang's heart was racing: I'm going, kid, do you understand what we say or not.
Fugui said with a smile: "Don't worry, gentlemen, I will always follow your highness. Anyone who dares to move will be killed without mercy."
Zhu Bai said: "Even if there is wealth and honor, what are you afraid of? Besides, I can protect myself."
I dare not say too much, but he is still fine with one against three.
Then he went straight downstairs.
When Huo Erniang saw that Zhu Bai was about to go out, she warned: "It is inevitable that there will be thieves in the market. If you lose something, don't chase it. Just tell me when you come back."
Zhu Bai said: "I know."
Fugui wanted to ask why, but Zhu Bai pulled him out.
Zhang Yu and the others busily ordered the ten most skilled ones, while the others stayed at the inn to rest.
If you hear Zhu Bai's whistle, rush over.
Zhu Bai is right about one thing: the greater the ostentation, the more people will care about you.
So they didn't dare to get close and could only follow Zhu Bai and Fugui from a distance.
Zhu Bai suddenly stopped in front of an old man's stall.
The basket made of red willow contained a strange thing: reddish-brown sticks, long and short.
The long one is two feet long, and the short one is half a foot long. The thick one is as thick as the forearm, while the thin one is only as thick as the wrist.
The key is that the shape is quite special, what does it look like...
Like the one with less wealth.
Fugui, who was looking around, also stared at the thing and asked: "This is..."
The old man grinned, showing his missing teeth, and said: "This is called Cynomorium Cynomorium, also known as the elixir of life. Men take it to nourish the kidneys and yang, strengthen sperm and stop sperm, and women take it to treat infertility and moisturize the intestines. You two are too young." It’s too small to eat.”
Fugui suppressed his blush and said, "Why can't I eat it? I have to eat it. How can I sell it?"
The old man said: "The big one is one denarius, and the small one is two denarii. These things are afraid of iron tools and will turn black when touched by things like kitchen knives, so we can only dig out a lot of sand with a wooden shovel." It’s labor intensive.”
Fugui wanted to pay, then thought about it and asked: "How can there be such a magical thing in the world? I'm afraid you are bullying me because I am young and coaxing me."
The old man snorted: "Do you know what the other name of Guazhou City is? It's called Cynomorium City. The Cynomorium here is the best in the world. You can also eat the best fresh Cynomorium here. , if you go elsewhere, you will only get dry ones. This thing can be harvested in both spring and autumn, but it is best to harvest it in spring when Cynomorium has just emerged or is about to push out of the sand. In autumn, the moisture and medicinal properties are not so strong."
Upon hearing this, Zhu Bai said, "Hey, this is good and this is good. Is there anything you can do?"
The old man took out a big wicker basket from the back: "Yes, this is made of dry food. It can be used to make tea, wine, porridge or soup."
The "sticks" in the basket are yellowish brown and not as beautiful as the fresh ones at all.
Zhang Yu saw that Zhu Bai and the others stayed for a long time without moving to look at them.
When the old man saw Zhang Yu and Mao Xiang, he immediately became more enthusiastic: "Hey, these two gentlemen, come and see our treasure in Suoyang City. If you eat this, your essence and blood will be preserved, and you will have many children."
Zhang Yu, an honest man, suddenly blushed when he heard this sentence.
The key is still in front of Zhu Bai, it is really going to kill him.
Mao Xiang turned his head awkwardly.
Zhu Bai pointed at the basket and winked at Zhang Yu desperately.
Why did this kid buy this?
But if you don't buy it for him, he will have to think of other ways later.
