Chapter 509 - 503_1
The servant first opened the two boxes containing eggplants and green beans. In such weather, as long as vegetables are well preserved, they are not likely to spoil, just like how vegetables are stored in cold storage nowadays, which is essentially a freshness conservation technique. Therefore, when they opened the boxes, although the vegetables lacked the dewy freshness they had when Lin Yue had just picked them in the warm greenhouse, they were still very fresh. Haishi had been careful in transporting them without any damage, almost as if they had been just picked from the ground.
The Marchioness of Zhenbei, upon seeing the two large crates of eggplants and green beans, had her look of disdain lessen considerably. However, it also wasn’t considered too rare, as the greenhouses of large households also contained vegetables, mainly greens, with fruit-bearing ones like green beans and eggplants being less common. This was because, even if planted, the seedlings might survive but bearing fruit was difficult. The fact that Lin Yue’s household could produce fruits was due to their use of artificial pollination, a concept and technique not yet present in this era.
Xiaojin, upon seeing the eggplants and green beans in the wooden boxes, felt relieved. Not to mention the other goods, just these eggplants and green beans alone were worth quite a bit of silver in this fruit-scarce winter, not to mention the two large boxes full. Even their own farm might not have half as much as here. Zhao Erhu’s family, being farm owners, certainly had some methods for growing vegetables.
The next box they opened contained cucumbers, followed by a large wooden box of plump lotus roots. Xiaojin’s joy grew as he looked on, not expecting Zhao Erhu to be so generous. These were all fine goods. Putting cucumbers aside, the chunks of plump lotus roots were not even available in his own Marquis of Zhenbei’s household, and he wondered how Zhao Erhu’s family managed to preserve them until this time.
"Princely Heir, look at these. These are big boxes of lotus roots. Didn’t you just say a few days ago you were tired of eating the same old greens? Now, Zhao Erhu’s family has sent them to you. Look at this lotus root, it’s so fresh, and the quality is exceptional. Whether you stir-fry it or use it to make soup, or any other culinary method, you can have it however you want. After all, with so much of it and also these eggplants, green beans, and cucumbers, you’ll have much more variety when you dine, hahaha."
Xiaojin said proudly, and although that was what he thought inwardly, blurting it out so boastfully was nothing short of showing off. The implications of his words were clearly, ’Look at how good these things are, and still, some people dare call them trivial, when you can’t even get your hands on them normally, making you envious, so envious!’
Feng Lingling had a simple mind and didn’t quite catch the meaning behind Xiaojin’s words. Seeing so many fresh fruits and vegetables, she really did become a bit envious and wanted to have someone bring them over so the kitchen could prepare them for her. Meanwhile, the Marchioness of Zhenbei and her son had a somewhat grim expression. They weren’t as shortsighted as Feng Lingling to be dazzled by a few fresh vegetables and fruit, regretting that they hadn’t gotten a clear picture of the situation. They had originally come to ridicule and mock the Princely Heir of the Marquis of Zhenbei, but instead, they had been humiliated themselves. Xiaojin’s openly mocking words seemed so transparent, with every sentence cutting deep, clearly contradicting what they had just said. Such brazen pride was simply intolerable.