Chapter 434:I Won’t Ask You About It Anymore
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Anything was fine so long as it did not need to shave its fur.
Xiaobai lay down like a master again. It looked at Gu Zhongxun with shifty eyes.
The medicine that Gu Zhongxun prescribed for Xiaobai was a common heatstroke medicine. It was produced in the workshop. Xiaobai ate two according to the child’s dosage and drank some salt water. Bai Wutong brought it back and settled it in the coolest place in the villa area. It had to rest well that day and take another medicine at night.
When they heard that Xiaobai was sick, Cui Muzhi and Lan Jingbai came to visit and even brought Xiaobai delicious beef.
Xiaobai smelled the beef and instantly changed from its lazy appearance. It ran excitedly to Cui Muzhi and Lan Jingbai and sat in front of them, waiting to be fed.
Its wife and children also followed. Faced with a group of furry animals, Cui Muzhi rubbed left and right lovingly. Soon, the beef jerky in his hand was gone.
As soon as the beef jerky was gone, Xiaobai gave Cui Muzhi a cold and heartless look and slipped away with his wife and children.
Cui Muzhi said happily, “Xiaobai is so heartless.”
Lan Jingbai chuckled. “Yes.”
Bai Wutong took out the iced watermelons from the well to entertain them. Xiaobai led the entire family over and sniffed the watermelon. He stuck out his tongue and licked it before nudging Bai Wutong’s leg with his head.
Bai Wutong stroked its head and instructed the servants, “Prepare some for them. Not too much.”
After all, wolves were carnivorous. They could eat some fruits, but they would have diarrhea if they ate too much.
Cui Muzhi ate the watermelon and sighed. “It’s sweet and cold. It will definitely taste better when made into a crispy mountain!”
Cui Muzhi was studying at Qinghe Academy. At the same time, he opened a dessert shop. When he had nothing to do, he liked to invent new products. Every time he came to Bai Wutong’s place, he would always receive some pointers and inspiration.
Bai Wutong smiled and said, “You can make it.”
Cui Muzhi said, “Without ice stored in advance, we can only wait until next year.”
When the ancient people used ice, most of them had to build an icehouse first and store the ice in winter. Then they would use it in summer. They did not know how to use saltpeter, so they could only turn water into ice.
Wherever Bai Wutong went, the temperature would be controlled to an appropriate range. If it was too cold, she would be worried about catching a cold and affecting the child in her stomach.
Cold food was rarely seen in her usual diet. Watermelons were considered cold and she could only eat a small piece.
After all, she had been poisoned previously. Her child might be weak at birth, so she paid special attention to her diet. It was already past summer, so she did not care about using ice.
Bai Wutong suddenly smiled. She had always wanted everyone to invent a refrigerator and icehouse so that they could better store food, but she had forgotten to teach everyone to use saltpeter to make ice. It was true that pregnancy made one stupid for three years.
Bai Wutong said, “Without ice, we can make ice.”
‘Making ice?’
Cui Muzhi blurted out curiously, “How do we make it?”
If he could make ice, wouldn’t he be able to survive the weather?
Bai Wutong smiled and said, “I also read about it in a book. Whether it works or not, we still have to experiment. Go and prepare some purified saltpeter.”
Saltpeter was usually used to make gunpowder. How could it be used to make ice?
Cui Muzhi was really too curious. He immediately stood up. “I’ll go now.” He was afraid that Bai Wutong would forget to teach him when she got busy later.
Saltpeter was often used to make black gunpowder, fuses, glass, fireworks, and so on. It was very common in Carefree City. After a while, Cui Muzhi bought pure saltpeter.
Bai Wutong also prepared a jar and a container larger than a jar to fill the jar and container with water at the same time.
Then, she placed the jar in a large container and kept putting the saltpeter in the container. After a while, the water in the jar gradually froze and emitted shocking cold air.
Cui Lingren and Lan Jingbai were both shocked by the magical scene.
Knowing that all the water in the jar had frozen, they were still in a daze for a long time.
Bai Wutong ordered someone to take out the jar and pour the ice into the glass. The crystal clear ice shone under the sunlight. It was beautiful and resplendent, symbolizing extraordinary intelligence.
The ice that should have been stored in winter was actually made so easily by Bai Wutong.
Bai Wutong smiled and said, “You can make crispy mountains now.”
Cui Muzhi was pleasantly surprised. “Yes, I can make crispy mountains and add ice to the sour plum soup.”
Bai Wutong nodded. “Yes.”
After the saltpeter was melted in water, it could also be extracted and reused by cooling the crystal or evaporating the crystal.
Bai Wutong tried the evaporation crystal method. This was relatively simple. It just so happened that the laboratory on the second floor could operate it.
Not long after, the crystallized saltpeter appeared in everyone’s line of sight again.
Cui Muzhi’s eyes widened. The consumption of saltpeter each time was too little. Compared to digging a cellar to store ice, it was convenient and fast. The cost was also low. It was simply a huge profit.
Cui Muzhi asked secretly, “Great Empress, can I use this method to make ice?”
Bai Wutong smiled and said, “Of course you can. Others will know too.”
Making ice with saltpeter relied on an important chemical principle. It was a classic example that had to be added to the textbooks.
Cui Muzhi did not plan to use it to earn money. He was already satisfied that Bai Wutong could let him use this method to make ice.
After Cui Muzhi and Lan Jingbai left, Xiaobai leaned over. Bai Wutong took out two ice cubes for it. Xiaobai took a bite and the cold sensation pierced into the tip of its teeth. Xiaobai spat it out again and widened its eyes in vigilance.
Its comical appearance was abnormally cute. Bai Wutong smiled. “It can be eaten.”
Xiaobai took another step forward and licked the ice with its tongue. It was cold and like water. Xiaobai’s eyes lit up and it started biting.
The wolf cubs also came over to ask for ice. Their gazes melted one’s heart.
Bai Wutong stroked their heads. She gave each wolf an ice cube.
Cui Muzhi returned and quickly made many flavors of crispy mountains with ice.
Unlike the single-flavored crispy mountain, he added a large amount of cream and fresh fruits to the crispy mountain. In the end, he poured special jam on it and poured fruit tea. It was bright and had a strange shape. At a glance, it made one’s appetite increase.
Cui Muzhi would let Lan Jingbai try every flavor.
It was the season for mangoes to ripen. The rich mango fragrance was mixed with grapes, lemon juice, and mint. Cui Muzhi said expectantly, “Hurry up and try this crispy mountain. There are mangoes that Huang Zhong just sent over. This fruit is very delicious. I think you should like it too.”
Lan Jingbai used Cui Muzhi’s special glass fork spoon to put it into his mouth. The mango was sweet and delicious, and the ice melted in his mouth. The lemon and mint were refreshing and not too strong, and the combination of sweet and sour fruit jam was delicious.
Lan Jingbai said affirmatively, “It’s delicious.”
His evaluation of every crispy mountain was three words. It was delicious!
Cui Muzhi smiled and sighed. “Can’t you say more? For example, which one tastes better!”
Lan Jingbai did not have high expectations for food. When he met Cui Muzhi’s expectant gaze, he thought for a moment. “The food you make is very delicious. I like it very much.”
It was the same as not answering. Cui Muzhi’s ears turned red and he looked proud. “Hmph, forget it. I won’t ask you again if it’s so easy to feed you..”