Time flies, and it's the end of February in a blink of an eye. Today, Guo arranged a job for Wu Yong and Cheng Zhao to pick elm pods.

Speaking of elm pods, Wu Yong first thought of a proverb in later generations: In the spring of March, the wheat seedlings are fresh, and the boy carries a basket to pick elm money.

This elm pod is actually the seed of the elm tree, because it resembles the ancient string of hemp money, also known as elm money.

The newly-born elm pod is crispy, sweet and soft, fragrant and refreshing, and because it is homophonic with "surplus money", the countrymen like to plant elm trees in front of the house and behind the house, and ask for a good fortune.

Wu Yong in his previous life, he had been living in the countryside when he was a child, and every year in the third month of the lunar calendar, he ate a lot of this elm pod. Eat it cold and raw, steamed and eaten wrapped in noodles, fried and eaten, boiled porridge and so on.

He didn't expect that there was a custom of eating elm pods in the Han Dynasty, but he was very curious, at this time, many people did not know the method of flour, and how they ate this elm pod.

So when he was picking, he asked Cheng Zhao this question.

Without admitting it, Cheng Zhao actually laughed and said: "How else can you eat, eat it raw!" When we go back in a while, we will wash the freshly picked elm pods, add salt, sauce, aged vinegar, chopped green onions, coriander, etc., and mix them well, and it will be served with soup and rice, which is delicious. ”

"What else?" Wu Yong continued to ask.

Cheng Zhao tilted his head and thought for a moment, then licked the corners of his mouth and said, "When grandmother is cooking rice porridge or wheat rice, she will grab a handful of elm pods and put them in it, which tastes smooth and fragrant, this is your favorite food." ”

Speaking of this, Cheng Zhao suddenly chuckled, pointed at Wu Yong and said, "Have you forgotten that at this time last year, you had a stomach fuss for a few days because you ate too much elm pod wheat rice." ”

Wu Yong was sweating and hurriedly changed the topic: "Why hasn't this locust tree bloomed yet?" I also want to get some locust flowers to eat! ”

In Wu Yong's memories from later generations, when the elm pods were growing, it was also the time to eat the flowers of the locust tree. However, he passed by the locust trees just now, but he did not find any signs of flowering, which made him a little strange.

When Cheng Zhao heard Wu Yong say this, he immediately exclaimed, pointed at him and said: "You, why don't you have a long memory, last year, you were poisoned because you ate this acacia flower, and your face was swollen for several days, but your grandmother was in a hurry." ”

After speaking, she glared at Wu Yong viciously with her eyes, and said angrily: "If I find out that you eat this acacia flower again, I will never pay attention to you in the future." ”

Wu Yong heard Cheng Zhao say this, and almost slipped his foot and fell from the tree, he searched in the memory of his predecessor, and really found these related troubles.

Eat more elm pods because he hadn't eaten green leafy vegetables for a long time at that time, and when he saw the refreshing and verdant elm money, he couldn't help but eat more.

And eating the locust flower was because he felt that the locust flower tasted sweet, so he couldn't help but eat a few bites raw, who knew that it was really poisoned.

Through the comparison in his memory, Wu Yong discovered that there is a big difference between the current acacia flowers and the later ones.

First of all, the color is different, the locust flowers at this time are yellow, while the edible locust flowers in later generations are white.

The second is the flowering period, the flowering period of the locust at this time is in June and July of the lunar calendar, which is in summer, and the edible locust flowering period in later generations is in March and April. The flowering period is so different, it is definitely not the same variety.

He had been entangled in why the people of the Han Dynasty didn't eat acacia flowers just now, it turned out to be poisonous! He is not a stupid person like the original body now, poisonous things, even if he is given to eat, he will not dare to eat them!

In this way, Wu Yong repeatedly promised not to eat locust tree flowers in the future, which made Cheng Zhao laugh with him again.

The two of them were busy for a while, and then they filled the two bamboo baskets with fresh elm pods, and then one of them carried one basket and returned home.

At this time, Guo Shi saw them come in and wanted to take the bamboo basket, but was stopped by Wu Yong and said: "Mother just look at it, today I will make a steamed dish of elm pods, and everyone will eat it and say that it is good." ”

Guo is very confident in Wu Yong's cooking skills, and if someone in the world says that she is better at cooking than her son, she is the first not to believe it.

Therefore, for Wu Yong wanting to make a new way to eat elm pods, she not only did not stop it, but also showed a rather expectant look.

For Wu Yong, the method of steaming vegetables with Yuqian is very simple.

First, wash the elm money, drain the water, and put it in a clay pot; Then add salt, crack in a few eggs, mix well, then add dry flour and stir well.

Add an appropriate amount of water to the pot, instruct Cheng Zhao to burn the fire, wait for the water to boil, put on the grate, spread a layer of wet gauze on it, and then put all the mixed elm pods on the gauze and steam.

Taking advantage of the steaming time, Wu Yong adjusted another sauce. Mix well with garlic, salt, aged vinegar, sauce, dogwood juice and sesame oil.

In about a quarter of an hour, the elm pods were steamed. Wu Yong took out a bowl, poured a spoonful of the seasoned sauce, and then handed it to Guo Shi with a smile and said, "Mother, taste how it tastes." ”

Guo Shi didn't refuse, took the bowl and chopsticks, gently picked up a piece, put it in his mouth, and suddenly his taste buds exploded, the freshness of this elm pod mixed with sour and spicy taste, making people want to eat more and more, and they couldn't stop at all.

Taking advantage of Guo's indulgence in food, Wu Yong brought another bowl to his grandmother, and then served a bowl for himself and Cheng Zhao respectively.

Cheng Zhao ate such a delicious elm pod rice for the first time, where can he still take care of any reserve, the chopsticks swing quickly, I don't know if she chewed or not, after a while, a bowl of elm pod rice was eaten by her cleanly, and then looked at Wu Yong with a blank eye.

Wu Yong had to serve her another bowl of it, but soon she finished eating it again, this time she didn't ask Wu Yong again, but burped and let out a satisfied exclamation, "This elm pod rice is too delicious, I really want to eat it every day!" ”

Guo, who was still in a daze on the side, suddenly woke up, and also sighed: "I didn't expect this elm pod to be able to do this, today is really more knowledgeable." ”

Then he thought for a while, and said to Wu Yong: "You will go to Zhu Lidian in a while, inform him of the new method of this elm pod, and see if you can ask for some sake from him." ”

"What do you want sake for?" Wu Yong was stunned.

Before Guo could speak, Cheng Zhao shouted loudly: "I know, my mother is making elm sauce." ”

"What is elm sauce? Why do you use sake to make sauce? ”

Wu Yong's continuous questions made Guo's head a little big, but she still patiently explained: "Yuzi sauce is a sauce made of elm pods, but the current elm pods are still a little fresh and tender, and they are not suitable for making sauce. ”

After a pause, Guo Shi frowned and thought for a while, and finally said helplessly: "As for why you add sake to make elm sauce, I don't know very well, everyone thinks that the sauce made in this way is more delicious, and I follow suit." Or you can ask Zhu Lidian later, he is knowledgeable and should know something. ”

So Wu Yong took such a question and found Zhu Lidian who was on duty today at the inner gate and asked the question in his heart.

After Zhu Lidian heard this, he laughed and said: "I didn't expect that there is something you don't know, in fact, not only do you need to put sake to make elm sauce, but also to put sake to make other sauces, which can not only enhance the flavor and fragrance, but also prevent the sauce from becoming moldy and deteriorating." ”

Wu Yong suddenly realized that this sake is equivalent to the role of additives in later generations, which can extend the shelf life of the sauce.

Thinking of this, Wu Yong thought of the acacia flower again, and couldn't help asking, "Uncle knows why this acacia flower is poisonous?" ”

Zhu Lidian was stunned for a moment, and then said with some tears and laughter: "Who told you that the locust flower is poisonous!" "Shennong's Materia Medica" records: Huai fruit, bitter taste, cold. It is mainly used to treat the five internal evil qi heat, stop salivation, and make up for injuries. Long-term service, bright eyes and good qi, the head is not white, and the life is prolonged. ”

"Then why did I eat this acacia flower last year, and I felt that my skin was hot and my face was swollen?" Wu Yong was also a little confused, and he was also a little confused now.

Zhu Lidian frowned and thought for a while before he spoke: "The combination of skin and lungs is also peaceful, the breeze can be clean, and the bitterness can relieve heat." Maybe that's why your face is hot and swollen, not poisoned. However, since this acacia flower is listed as a medicinal material, ordinary people naturally cannot take it easily. Don't eat it easily in the future. ”

"Oh, my nephew once saw a kind of locust tree in the too illusory realm, the locust flowers are white, and they bloom in March, they can be eaten directly, and they are more loved by the people than the current locust tree."

When Zhu Lidian heard this, he glanced at Wu Yong and sighed: "All things are born on the earth, and each has its own use. The locust tree in the too illusory realm, I haven't seen it, I dare not comment, but you don't underestimate the current locust tree, although this locust flower is inedible, but it can be used as a dye, dyed yellow, not only the color is bright, and it does not fade for many years, and it is deeply loved by cloth merchants. ”

After a pause, he said: "During the Zhou Dynasty, there were three locust trees planted outside the palace, and when the three princes of the court saw the Son of Heaven, they all stood under the locust trees. Therefore, people today use the three locust as a metaphor for the three princes, and the locust tree has become a symbol of status. And "Huai", through "Huai", the meaning of hope, people at present have a deep emotion for the locust tree. You'll learn about this later. ”

Speaking of this, Zhu Lidian asked Wu Yong if he had anything else to do when he came here, except for begging for sake.

Wu Yong patted his head and said with a smile: "I almost forgot about business, my nephew invented a new way to eat elm pods today, and I came here mainly for this matter, and begging for sake is secondary." ”

Next, Wu Yong talked about the practice of elm pods, and Zhu Lidian also showed an interested expression.

After Wu Yong finished speaking, Zhu Lidian thought for a while, and still pointed to Wu Yong: "If you have leisure time in the future, you might as well read more miscellaneous books, you are now enlightened, and learning does not have to be limited to the content of the Five Classics." Miscellaneous books can better help you broaden your horizons. ”

Wu Yong nodded, and then Zhu Lidian gave Wu Yong a bamboo slip, Wu Yong looked through it, and it turned out to be the strategic role of the elm tree.

Wu Yong took a cursory look, and it was written that there was an elm pass in the frontier, because of the existence of a large number of elm trees, which saved the imperial court a lot of expenses every year.

It reads: The branches of the elm tree are intricate, and planting the elm tree in an open place can effectively prevent the Huns from invading the frontier.

Moreover, elm leaves are a good livestock feed, which can be picked and fed to horses when there is a war, which is a very convenient and resource-saving method.

It also reads: Not only are elm pods edible, but elm bark can also be used as a food source in disaster years. Especially in the border areas where wars are frequent, if the supply of food and grass in the army is not timely, elm bark can also save the lives of sergeants.

Another point is that the fruit, bark, leaves and roots of the elm tree can be used as medicine, which has a good hemostatic effect, which is very critical for the soldiers who fought against the Huns.

These characteristics of elm trees are not found in other trees, so it is recommended that the imperial court plant a large number of elm trees in the border area.

The last column of the bamboo slip even has the method of elm sauce written on it, "Make elm sauce method: treat elm people one liter, pound the powder, and sift it." One liter of sake, five liters of sauce, and a wash. It can be eaten in January. ”

After reading these, Wu Yong really saw the wisdom of the ancients, which fully achieved the unity of heaven and man!