Chapter 8 is very hot

Ren Hong smiled and said, "Today is just the simplest method; in fact, there are many more ways to prepare it. For example, you can spread a bit of oil on the dough, sprinkle some chopped green onions, and the baked naan will be crispier and more fragrant. You can even brush it with cow or sheep milk, add some wild herbs, or include meat filling."

"How can one take a bite of something so large?" Xu Fengde expressed his disdain and even imitated Confucius, declaring that he would not eat unless it was cut properly

This old man!

This was built yesterday by Ren Hong, who, after receiving permission from Xu Fengde, brought the apprentices from the Xuanquan site. It is early autumn, and the weather in Dunhuang is extremely hot. After just one day and night, the earth oven inside and out has completely dried and is ready for use

There are night watchmen on the dock wall, and they are eating the leftover baked flatbreads from the afternoon, which can be stored for a long time, easily lasting ten days to half a month

......

"I am not trying to test Xu Shefu's temperature." Luo Xiaogou then brought the red willow basket filled with more than ten naan breads in front of Xu Fengde and smiled, "Xu Shefu, would you like to try some?"

After a busy day, when Ren Hong returned to his residence, it was already the time for "night meal" (between 9:00 PM and 10:30 PM). The sun in the northwest sets late, and it was just getting dark at this hour

The dough is tightly pressed against the walls of the circular pit, and once it is fully adhered, a piece of tanned cowhide is used to cover the top of the pit

The original area of Xuánquánzhì was only a little over 100 acres, not used for growing grains, but solely as vegetable plots, cultivating some scallions, leeks, and sunflowers, in an effort to ensure self-sufficiency in vegetables. Recently, with the increase in the number of travelers passing through Hexi, it has become somewhat insufficient.

However, in Ren Hong's view, the old man is simply greedy, wanting to taste it as soon as it comes out of the oven

Everyone was watching Xu Fengde, and they saw him munching on several pieces one after another. After taking a sip of water, he casually said

Ren Hong patiently explained: "They say that any land that has been planted with sesame in the first year will inevitably have fewer diseases in the following year, the soil will be fertile, and the yield will be high"

Currently, the only oilseed crops available are soybeans and sesame. If we could use Xuánquánzhì as a starting point to widely cultivate sesame, it would allow the white sesame flowers to bloom throughout Hexi

"Various types of sesame?" Xu Fengde squinted his eyes and said, "Why? I do not open a pharmacy at Xuanquan."

Waiting is still waiting, Ren Hong brought a bag of sesame and made another suggestion to Xu Fengde

At the entrance of the Xuánquán, a loud shout immediately echoed

Then Ren Hong and others did not care about anything, merely boasting and chatting idly on the side

Having said this, he turned and left, calling to the people at the Hanging Springs to share the twenty or so baked naan, and left Ren Hong with a parting remark

He has not tried the effects of Ren Hong, but he knows that when someone speaks to you with a mouth full of garlic, it is most likely a postal courier who often travels far away

Sesame has other significant uses, such as oil extraction. In this era, oil primarily comes from the rendering of animal fat, but even domesticated animals are quite lean and yield little fat

At present, the fire in the pit is burning fiercely, with firewood continuously being thrown in, causing the walls of the pit to become scalding hot. Once the open flames have subsided, Xia Dingmao will place the more than twenty dough pieces that have been prepared in advance into the pit.

Is that all there is to it

According to Ren Hong's speculation, Fu Jiezai will arrive in another seven or eight days, and his preparations are still on time

However, even the simplest method of making naan is more delicious and easier to carry than the coarse grain and dried rice used as military rations for Han soldiers

Others have also started eating, and Luo Xiaogou, who had been waiting for a long time, directly grabbed a naan and began to chew on it, eating in a rather unrefined manner, puffing out his cheeks and exclaiming how delicious it was

Upon this reflection, he found himself somewhat hungry, raising his head to look at the sun, realizing that it was time for lunch (from 15:00 to 16:30)

The naan is ready

Xu Fengde was somewhat taken aback. In the past, the novel cooking methods proposed by Ren Hong always required diligent stir-frying in a cast iron pot, with various ingredients added. The dishes were indeed delicious, but they were time-consuming and labor-intensive, and the culinary creations were of considerable value, only suitable for serving officials and esteemed guests. Why was it so simple today

Today, Elder Xia kneaded dough all day and baked naan in the sweltering heat, not uttering a single word of complaint, yet he was truly exhausted. Upon returning, he fell into a deep sleep.

Ren Hong and Xia Dingmao lived in a small, narrow house, which had very little furniture. There was a couch on each side and a small table in the middle, on which sat a delicate brass lamp. In this year, oil was precious, and candles could not be easily lit, leaving the surroundings in a dim gloom

Ren Hong swallowed the last piece of naan and said with a smile, "This item, if not made with eggs and flour, and without sesame, is actually quite inexpensive, and the method of baking is simple"

Xu Fengde looked at the golden roasted naan on the plate, swallowed hard, and picked up a piece to put in his mouth

There are no two foods in the world that pair as well as garlic and noodles

After all, the dumpling soup of this era is not the same as noodles; it is merely a boiled flatbread made from dead dough, similar to the later versions of soaked bread. Without a rich lamb soup to accompany it, it is indeed quite difficult to swallow

So fragrant

Although in the past, Xu Seifu intended for Junzi to remain at Xuanquan Zhi, since Junzi has already made up his mind to leave, he also hopes that you can fulfill his wish

Garlic, also known as Hu Suan, is an exotic species brought back from the Western Regions by Zhang Qian. At present, it is primarily used as a medicinal material

The entrance is filled with a rich aroma of wheat, a crispy crust, and the delightful chewiness of perfectly roasted sesame, which is surprisingly fragrant and satisfying

Xia Dingmao turned his head and scolded him, "Little dog, the new food just out of the oven should be tasted by the elders, have you forgotten? You deserve to be burned!"

... ...

Naan is not actually an invention of Ren Hong; its direct ancestor is called "Hu Bing," which has long existed and is the staple food of the oasis city-states in the current Western Regions

Ren Hong could not fall asleep. He had laid two layers of wheat straw on the bed, and added a layer of rush mat, yet it was still somewhat hard. He tossed and turned, thinking about the events of the day.

In Xuánquánzhì, there are a total of 27 rooms, of which 15 are designated for accommodating and providing meals for travelers. After excluding the kitchen, office, and the warehouse for storing documents, the remaining few rooms must be shared among more than 30 people, which is evidently impossible

Xu Fengde still had doubts: "Is this sesame a medicine? Can it be placed together with the cake?"

Just wait a moment. Ren Hongxin was full of confidence; the baked naan is the most authentic delicacy from the Western Regions. In his previous life, when he traveled in the Western Regions, he ate it almost every day and had witnessed the preparation countless times. Today, he would make the simplest version, without brushing oil or re-baking.

Are you intending to present this item to that Fu Jiezai?

Because a bit of salt was added to the noodles, there is a subtle salty flavor, and after swallowing, there is a sense of satiety and satisfaction

Ren Hong's correct way to eat naan is to slowly tear it apart with his hands and share it with Xia Dingmao

I recently inquired about the people engaged in farming in Xiefu County.

How?

Xu Sefu speaks harshly, yet he has always been concerned about managing the Hanging Spring well. He has consistently shown care for everyone in the establishment, including Junzi, who is no exception. After all, Xu Sefu has watched Junzi grow up.

Putao refers to grapes. In the later periods of the Western Regions, there were not only grape naan, but it was as if everything could be made into naan.

That taste, one cannot describe how tangy and refreshing it is; for someone trying it for the first time, they would probably be in tears from the spiciness

Although in this day and age, ordinary people only have two meals a day, there are exceptions. The border guards on night duty and the couriers traveling overnight have the right to a supplementary meal, thus it has become a custom

Upon careful consideration, sesame, garlic, fava beans, coriander, cucumber, pomegranate, walnut, and grape were all gradually introduced after the excavation of the Western Regions...! ... Therefore, it can be said that Zhang Qian, the Marquis of Bo Wang, is truly a historical benefactor of the great culinary nation, a national hero!

Quickly open the door! A message from the prefecture has arrived!

Indeed, in the Northwest, the consumption of garlic by the people is distinguished only by the difference between 0 times and countless times

Ren Hong silently noted these words in his heart and secretly vowed: "Even if I leave this place, I will never forget Xuanquan Zhi, nor will I forget the people here"

Ren Hongzeng persistently persuaded the Hu merchant, who was stranded at the Xuanquan site, to teach him the method of making traditional Hu cakes. He was still at the most basic stage of burying the cakes beside a simple fire, using very coarse flour, and in terms of taste, his cakes were completely overshadowed by the naan they had just made.

Little Dog Luo was so tempted that his saliva was about to drip down. Unable to resist for a moment, he reached out to grab it, but as soon as he touched it, he cried out

Xia Dingmao sighed again, saying: "More than ten years ago, I brought Junzi to Dunhuang, and we settled at Xuanquan, thanks to the hospitality of Xu Seifu. I initially thought this place was a harsh and cold frontier, filled with ruthless and wicked people, but to my surprise, most of those I encountered were kind-hearted individuals"

Chef Xia Dingmao also believes that this item has an excellent taste: "It surpasses soup pancakes and steamed pancakes, and can be compared to the braised pancakes and hand-rolled fish taught by the gentlemen."

So hot, so hot

If what you say is true, it is indeed worth a try

Today, the frugal Xu Fengde understood Ren Hong's intentions after hearing him compare the baked naan with the military rations commonly consumed by the Han soldiers

Ren Hong forgot who this famous person's words were, but it was definitely not Lu Xun

This indicates that this substance has the effect of increasing soil fertility and controlling pests. Is the steward not planning to cultivate an additional hundred acres of new land by the side of the Xuanquan stream? It would be advisable to first plant sesame as a trial

Seeing Xu Fengde showing some leniency, Ren Hong was quite pleased. The price of sesame is not cheap; if he could plant dozens of acres each year, there would be no need to worry about the sesame required for the baked naan at Xuanquan.

Coca-Cola is indeed Coca-Cola, but it is too dry, which is not very good for my old teeth

It is unclear how much time has passed, but it was probably after the rooster had crowed twice that he was startled awake by the sound of urgent hoofbeats

The steward Xu Fengde walked out of the Hanging Spring Pavilion with his hands behind his back, and outside it was bustling with activity

However, before Ren Hong could elaborate on his plan, Xu Fengde yawned and said to him, "There is no need to explain in detail to me; save those words to make a good impression in front of Mr. Fu."

Regarding garlic, Xu Fengde initially refused, until he could not resist the strong recommendation of Xia Dingmao and tried it once

As the crowd dispersed like the remnants of clouds in the wind, after finishing three pieces of naan, Xu Fengde called Ren Hong over and said

I would like to see what you can accomplish

As the night deepened, Ren Hong's eyelids began to droop, and he fell into a deep sleep on the couch

After Ren Hong made a comparison using garlic, Xu Fengde had nothing more to say. He shook his head and returned to the shadow at the entrance of Xuanquan Zhi, where he had someone lay out a mat and sat waiting for Ren Hong's masterpiece

As for vegetable oil, peanuts are still found in the distant Americas, and the rapeseed flowers that bloom along the shores of Qinghai Lake in later generations are also an introduced species. Ren Hong has yet to see them and is unaware if they have been introduced to the Central Plains.

At this moment, Xu Fengde's nose twitched

Since you have been given full authority to handle this matter, I shall not concern myself with anything!

The physicians of the Central Plains believe that this substance can open the five organs, reach all orifices, dispel cold and dampness, and ward off evil. Moreover, the postal messengers traveling along the Silk Road often carry a pouch of garlic with them, and in the event of heatstroke, they chew a clove of garlic mixed with water.

From then on, it became uncontrollable. Nowadays, Xu Fengde is already able to skillfully peel several cloves of garlic before every meal, peeling while waiting for the noodles to be cooked.

Thus, within the Xuanquan Station, only the steward Xu Fengde had a separate room, while the ordinary apprentices and soldiers had to squeeze together to sleep on a large communal bed, and the minor officials like Ren Hong had to share rooms two by two

Ren Hong also heard it, the fragrant aroma of the fully cooked wheat flour, as well as the rich scent released after the sesame is roasted

In this way, in a few years, Ren Hong may be able to drink sesame oil, and even dip lamb in sesame paste...

This delegation of power is indeed thorough, leaving Ren Hong somewhat stunned, yet it was Xia Dingmao who spoke to him

Garlic is indispensable when it comes to eating noodles.

Ren Hong then took out the knife he carried with him and cut the large piece of naan into smaller portions, presenting them to Xu Fengde

Ren Hong, please explain, this item is indeed delicious, but what does it have to do with entertaining Fu Jiezhi and allowing Xuanquan to obtain the best of this year's offerings from the entire county

I dare to inform the miser

In the open space outside the Xuanquan site, there is an additional square earthen stove, four feet high, constructed of blue bricks. It has a large belly and a small opening, resembling an inverted water tank. The exterior is coated with clay mixed with sheep wool, and there is a ventilation opening at the bottom

However, it was observed that the baked naan had undergone the roasting process, with all moisture removed, the sugars degraded, resulting in a deep yellow color, and a rich aroma of wheat wafting through the air

At least in Dunhuang County, Ren Hong was the first person to incorporate garlic into dishes. The garlic cloves were crushed and added to hot oil for stir-frying, enhancing the flavor whether for vegetables or meat dishes.

Even when the bread is freshly baked, the temperature of the tandoor remains scorching hot. Shading Mao, drenched in sweat, holds the fire tongs and pulls out the naan one by one, while the kitchen assistant, a small dog, stands by with a basket to catch them.

Xu Fengde leaned over to take a look and saw that on the flat, round yellow dough, some black sesame seeds had been sprinkled on the surface, and in accordance with Ren Hong's request, the edges of the naan had been pinched and ventilation holes had been made.

Ren Hongdao: "A few months ago, didn't the miser say that garlic is a medicine, spicy and unpalatable, and refused to eat it? How is it now?"

He gazed at the tandoor, clapped his hands, and laughed