novelaction Chapter 216: Mystery in the Back Mountain
Chapter 216: Mystery in the Back Mountain
Ancient salt was different from modern salt. It was huge, like marble blocks, covered with mottled impurities.
While no one else was looking, a farmer quickly knocked off a block of salt with a small shovel and hid it in his chest. Then he gritted his teeth, lifted the huge block of salt, put it on his back, and walked out with one foot deep and one foot shallow.
The salt blocks are rough and very harsh.
Xie Ling took a casual look and found that the shoulders of every farmer carrying salt were covered with deep red and purple bloodstains.
There was a thin farmer who seemed to be sick or something, and he was staggering and suddenly fell forward. If the huge block of salt hit him, he would probably lose half his life!
The farmer stared with his eyes wide open, filled with fear.
Xie Ling walked quickly and lifted the salt block with her slender wrist, relieving most of the impact.
The farmer stared with his eyes wide open, watching the salt block that was about to hit him slowly fall down. He quickly caught it with his hands and put it on the open space beside him.
A man who seemed to be in charge hurried over and said sternly, "How do you do the work? If it breaks, can you afford the compensation? If you can't do it, get out of here."
The farmer touched his chest with lingering fear and ran away quickly, thinking that it was the appearance of the sea god. He ran to the beach and kowtowed several times.
Xie Ling came to the pit where the salt blocks were piled, picked up a smaller piece and put it into the space before leaving.
When Xie Ling returned, Ru Jieer had already woken up, but she was still a little dizzy, with a pale face, and she lay in Pei's arms without saying a word.
Gu Wei pulled Xie Ling aside and said, "Someone put something in Ru Jie'er's food. I asked Xu Xingzhi to check and it turned out to be someone from the Si family."
Xie Ling narrowed her eyes. "It is indeed them. I have followed Jiang Shaoqing all the way today. He should not have found the original ore of Wushisan yet. We still have a chance."
Gu Wei nodded, "Okay, but the most urgent thing is to sort out the matter of Jinling Lane first."
Xie Ling's eyes were cold, "Just catch the Feng family and the Si family in one fell swoop, and then interrogate the Si family, so that they won't jump up and down and cause trouble for the family again."
"it is good."
After Gu Wei finished speaking, he immediately turned around and looked for Xu Xingzhi, Wu Daqiang and others to come over and discuss with them.
Wu Daqiang: "I will lead the troops to surround the Si and Feng families tomorrow."
Xu Xingzhi: "My spies will stir up conflict between the two families tomorrow. When both sides are hurt, Brother Wu will send out troops."
Gu Wei slapped the table and said, "Okay, then I will be responsible for compiling the crimes of these two families and their backers, and handing them over to Governor Yang, and have him help report them to the capital."
At this time, Governor Yang did not know that another great achievement had fallen upon his lips.
After some more discussion, it was already completely dark, so several people said goodbye.
Xie Ling entered the space to study what the white powder picked up from Jiang Shaoqing was.
Under the cold incandescent light of the medicine warehouse, Xie Ling discovered that the powder was not pure white, but mixed with a hint of gray. It was not clear and more like pot ash.
After studying and analyzing it for a while, Xie Ling finally figured out its composition.
It is pot ash, which contains wood ash, some unknown chemicals, and phenolphthalein.
Phenolphthalein is not natural and can only be artificially refined.
Xie Ling was puzzled: "People in this dynasty already know how to refine chemical substances?"
0188 continued, "Master, I feel that it is more like the wall ash from the alchemy furnace. People in this dynasty are superstitious. Some people would make elixirs to imitate the gods. Maybe it was made by chance when they were making the elixir."
This explanation is much more credible.
Jiang Shaoqing sprinkled this powder on the ground probably to find the raw ore of Wu Shi San, but Xie Ling didn't understand why.
Xie Ling praised 0188, "You are so smart."
0188's display screen immediately blushed with embarrassment, and she said in a soft and cute voice, "Master, Master praises me! I'm so happy!"
Xie Ling found it funny and said, "Just keep an eye on the rolling hills. I'm leaving now."
Everyone has been busy these days, so if Gu Li and the others were to take GunGun out for a walk, Xie Ling was afraid of scaring passers-by, so she directly put GunGun into the space.
There is a lot of space in the room, so he can run anywhere he wants.
Then, Xie Ling put the remaining powder into a bottle, went to the warehouse to get a large iron pot, filled it with the salt blocks she had picked up today, and left the space.
Gu Wei saw Xie Ling holding a piece of salt in an iron pot and was a little confused, "What is this for?"
Xie Ling kept it a secret, "Just wait and see."
The salt block was too hard, and Xie Ling couldn't find a suitable tool, so she simply raised her hand and took out the Emei spike from her hair bun. She poked it a few times and the salt block broke into tiny pieces.
Gu Wei looked at it with some heartache, "This is the Emei Thorn made of thousand-year-old black iron..."
Xie Ling said without even looking up: "Go wash it, I'm going to the kitchen now."
Gu Wei obediently picked up the Emei Thorn on the ground, washed it clean in a basin of water, and quickly ran to find Xie Ling.
Gao Wanhua and Wu Zhengqing were playing at Gu's house. When they saw Xie Ling's actions, they hurried over to watch the fun.
Xie Ling placed the iron pot on the stove, added clean water into the pot and stirred it constantly.
After all the salt was dissolved in the water, I found a piece of gauze and cotton, filtered the salt water, and removed all the foam and impurities in the salt water.
After filtering it clean and making sure there is no impurity, put it into a large iron pot, light the fire and stir it.
This process was very strenuous, and Gu Wei, Gao Wanhua and Wu Zhengqing took turns to do it.
As the fire grew stronger and the salt water continued to boil, snow-white crystals began to appear on the wall of the iron pot. Under the candlelight, the crystal clear white crystals seemed to glow.
Everyone was afraid to breathe, and stared at the snow-white solid with their eyes open.
The water in the pot is getting less and less, and the crystals are increasing.
After a while, all the water was boiled away, leaving only a layer of snow-white crystals in the pot.
Wu Zhengqing stretched out his hand, eyes widening, "What is that?"
Gao Wanhua's eyes became twice as big as before, "Can I eat it?"
Gu Wei figured out what it was, and said excitedly, "A Ling, is this... salt?"
The last word can be said in a low voice.
Xie Ling glanced at him and said, "You haven't read much of the chemistry book, have you?"
Gu Wei nodded somewhat embarrassedly.
It’s not that he doesn’t want to watch it, it’s mainly because he can’t understand it.
The rest was fine, but chemistry was all letters and he really couldn't understand them.
I originally wanted to study under Xie Ling, but I’ve been too busy lately so I’ve put it off.
Gao Wanhua and Wu Zhengqing didn't understand what the two were talking about in terms of chemistry, and were completely stunned when Gu Wei said that this thing was salt.
They had seen salt. Even before they were exiled, the best salt in their family's kitchen was brown. Later, when they were exiled, the conditions were poor and the salt they bought was even gray-brown.
How can salt be so strong as to surpass frost and snow?
After obtaining Xie Ling's consent, the two stretched out their fingers to taste a little, and their eyes widened.
It really is salt, it is salty and tastes great!
Gao Wanhua has been able to use an abacus since she was a child. She is very smart and has already seen the commercial value of this salt. She is very excited. "If this thing can be put on the market, we will definitely make a lot of money! It's a great harvest!"
Then, he didn't forget to flatter her, "Xie Ling, you are so awesome!"
Xie Ling curled her lips, "That's exactly what I was thinking. Let's give it a name."
If you want to sell, you have to put up a sign.
Gu Wei thought for a moment and said, "As white as snow, why not call it Snow Salt?"
Xie Ling clapped her hands, "What a good name."
Gao Wanhua and Wu Zhengqing also realized the importance of this thing, and they hurriedly swore not to reveal a single word.
Xie Ling naturally trusted them. After thinking for a while, she said, "Are you willing to take on this task?"
"Huh? Us?"
The two asked in unison.
Xie Ling nodded, "I'm afraid you two don't have enough manpower... How about this, go and call Shi Shaowen and Fengjian Qingli."
Their cheeks felt hot instantly.
Gao Wanhua and Shi Shaowen have been flirting with each other for a long time.
Fengjian Qingli and Wu Zhengqing were spotted practicing martial arts together by Xie Ling last time, and they seem to have a very close relationship.
It is hard not to wonder whether Xie Ling deliberately brought them together.
Although they were shy, they both hurried to call for help.
Soon, the four of them were standing in the small dining room.
Fengjian Qingli and Shi Shaowen were a little puzzled.
Shi Shaowen arrived in a hurry and had not yet washed the mud off his hands. Gao Wanhua took a basin of water for him to wash his hands.
Xie Ling pointed at the salt in the iron pot and said, "As you can see, this is the salt I improved. I want to put it on the market. Please help me."
Fengjian Qingli and Shi Shaowen were not fools, so they naturally knew the value of the snow salt. Besides being shocked, they were also touched by the trust they received.
Xie Ling wasn't asking them for help at all; she was simply giving them an opportunity!
Especially Fengjian Qingli, after coming to Sinan County, she did nothing except helping Liao Qizhui. She ate white rice at Gu's house every day, and she felt embarrassed to eat it herself.
Therefore, the two did not refuse.
Feng Jian Qingli cupped his hands, "I will do my best."
Shi Shaowen looked serious and said, "I will definitely live up to your trust."
Xie Ling nodded, "Okay. You can use this salt to market it first. Marketing means to promote it and let people know how good snow salt is."
As for the salt refining, Xie Ling planned to wait until the Feng and Si families were completely defeated before doing anything else.
She is quite envious of that salt factory.
The four of them nodded quickly.
Gu Wei patted Feng Jianqingli on the shoulder and asked, "How do you understand the Beijiang government affairs that I asked you to learn about before?"
Feng Jian Qingli nodded, "Almost all of them have been mastered."
Gu Wei curled his lips, "Okay, come to the county government tomorrow to take up your post, follow Xu Xingzhi, and ask him if you don't know anything."
Feng Jianqingli was obviously overwhelmed by joy and couldn't speak clearly, "Me?"
Gu Wei said sternly, "You are a rare talent. I didn't use you a few days ago because what your grandfather taught you were things from many years ago. I want you to understand the current situation in Beijiang and the current government affairs of the court so that you won't be out of touch with them."
Fengjian Qingli is a young man after all, his eyes are sparkling and his handsome face is full of excitement.
Xie Ling curled her lips, "Two jobs, come on."
Feng Jian Qingli scratched his head and said, "Okay."
Shi Shaowen, Wu Zhengqing and others were sincerely happy for Fengjian Qingli.
Fengjian Qingli's ability is obvious to everyone. He knows a lot about writing, arithmetic, and even astronomy and geography.
Whenever there are difficulties that need to be dealt with, he always has more ideas than others.
Several people discussed the marketing methods of salt.
Fengjian Qingli was indeed very smart and came up with several good ideas, all of which were adopted by Xie Ling.
As we were talking, it started to rain heavily outside. The raindrops hit the windows, making a loud noise.
It was too late today and it started raining heavily again, so Xie Ling asked Gu Wei to sleep with Fengjian Qingli and Shi Shaowen.
He pulled Wu Zhengqing and Gao Wanhua into his room and took a hot bath, just when everyone was getting ready to go to bed.
A rapid voice sounded.
"The hill in the back garden collapsed! There are so many dead bodies!"
Xie Ling immediately stood up and looked out the window with sharp eyes.
Wu Zhengqing and Gao Wanhua were also awakened and sat up.
"what happened?"
"I thought I heard some dead body, landslide?"
The rain was still falling outside, the sky and the earth were connected as one, the moonlight was as dangerous as thick ink, and the whole world was filled with the sound of rain.
Xie Ling picked up the umbrella at the foot of the bed and said, "You guys go to sleep first, I'll go check it out."
The two refused, "We'll go with you."
Xie Ling shook her head, "One person is enough. There's no point in having more people."
As he spoke, he opened the door and walked into the heavy rain holding a large oil-paper umbrella.
As soon as I walked to the gate of the yard, I saw Gu Wei in the distance, also holding an umbrella.
The two of them walked to a place and hurried to the back garden.
At this time, many people were already standing in the back garden because of what Liao Qizhu shouted.
Jiangxue, Pei, and Song were standing not far away with umbrellas in their hands. The rain was so heavy that most of their shoulders were soaked.
Except for Jiangxue, the Pei and Song families all had fear on their faces, and their hands were gripping the umbrella ribs so tightly that they turned white.
When Pei saw Gu Wei, she seemed to have found her backbone and pulled him over immediately, "Shi Jing, look!"
After pulling Gu Wei away, she saw Xie Ling who had been walking behind Gu Wei. Because she was too petite, she was completely blocked by Gu Wei and she didn't notice her at first.
Pei frowned and said with some worry, "Why did Ah Ling come with you? Go back to sleep now. We are here to help you."
Song also looked anxious. She pinched Xie Ling's shoulders to see if she was cold, then said, "You are a child, go back and sleep well. We will take care of things here."
This book treats Xie Ling as a child.
Xie Ling laughed, "It's okay, mother-in-law and sister-in-law, I'm not afraid, I'm really not afraid!"
The two wanted to take Xie Ling away.
Xie Ling poked her head out and finally saw the scene clearly.
It is indeed a bit creepy... for ordinary people, but it is different for Xie Ling.
The outermost wall of the garden had been washed away by the mudslide, and trees, stones, and mud were scattered all over the ground. The ground where people were standing was filled with yellow muddy water, mud, and gravel.
The most terrifying thing is that there are many bones mixed in the mud and sand. The color of the bones is glaring in the yellow mud and very creepy.
"I go!"
There was a sudden cry from behind, and everyone turned around quickly.
They are Gao Wanhua, Wu Zhengqing, Fengjian Qingli and Shi Shaowen.
Gu Wei and Xie Ling asked them to have a good sleep, but they were worried and came anyway.