Chapter 94: Taking a Detour Past Changlong Gambling House

While the slaked lime was taking effect, Xu Mo went to fetch the alkaline solution and filtered it twice to reduce the impurities.

After that, he first added the slaked lime to the brine, and then poured in the alkaline solution.

The two additions quickly began to work, and before long more impurities had appeared in the brine.

Xu Mo told Chen Miaoyi and Xu Hui that these impurities were soluble substances such as magnesium chloride and calcium chloride, only now being brought out and removed.

After filtering the brine twice, Xu Mo carried it into the kitchen.

The next step was to separate the salt from the water by evaporation.

Xu Mo poured the brine into a large iron cauldron, then lit the fire and began to boil it down.

As it simmered, he kept stirring without pause so that the brine would heat evenly and crystallize too soon.

At last, he boiled away the water in the pot, leaving it full of snow-white fine salt.

Xu Mo dipped a finger into it and tasted a little, then nodded with satisfaction. "Yes, that does it!"

Xu Hui copied him, tasting a bit of the fine salt as well, and asked, "Cousin, why does this fine salt taste less salty than coarse salt?"

Hearing that, Chen Miaoyi also tasted a little and said, "Yes, it really does seem milder now. It doesn't have that fragrance coarse salt had either."

Xu Mo explained, "Of course. The impurities in coarse salt stimulate our taste buds, so its flavor and saltiness seem stronger than fine salt."

"Besides, when the magnesium chloride in coarse salt is heated, it releases hydrogen chloride gas. That gas helps proteins in food hydrolyze into tasty amino acids, which is why coarse salt seems more fragrant than fine salt."

Chen Miaoyi and Xu Hui exchanged blank looks. They had not understood a word of that explanation.

Xu Mo could not help but laugh. "It doesn't matter if you don't understand. All you need to know is that fine salt is better to eat than coarse salt."

The two of them laughed too, both nodding.

Xu Mo spent the whole morning purifying a large jar of fine salt.

"This jar should be enough for us to eat for quite a while," Xu Mo said, looking at the brimming salt container.

Xu Hui nodded, then said suddenly, "Cousin, this fine salt of yours is much better than the fine salt sold in the market. Do you think we could open a salt shop in the city and sell only the kind you make?"

Before Xu Mo could answer, Chen Miaoyi said, "No, Huihui."

"Why not, Sister-in-law?" Xu Hui asked, puzzled.

Chen Miaoyi replied, "Huihui, salt is not something just anyone can deal in. You have to apply to the magistrate's office and get approval from the court. Otherwise, secretly selling salt is a serious crime!"

"Oh." Xu Hui sounded very disappointed, and could only answer helplessly.

Chen Miaoyi turned to Xu Mo and asked, "Husband, you should know this better than I do, shouldn't you?"

Xu Mo laughed at once. "Miaoyi, don't worry. I won't be selling contraband salt. I made this fine salt just for us to eat. Eating coarse salt all the time really isn't good for the body."

Chen Miaoyi finally relaxed after hearing that.

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The day before the city of Xinzhou held its big market.

After lunch, Xu Mo, Chen Miaoyi, and Qin Mutou set out for Xinzhou City.

Chen Miaoyi was going along for two reasons. First, she had not been to the market for a long time, and this time it was the big market, so she wanted to join the fun and do a little shopping. Second, it was nearly the end of the month, and Xu Mo was taking her to settle accounts with Ning Yaxin so everything from this period could be cleared up.

They were leaving a day early because on the day of the big market, the crowds would be enormous, and by then the mule cart might not even be able to get through the city gates.

Along the way, Chen Miaoyi was in high spirits, chatting and laughing with Xu Mo, so pleased she looked as though she could show all her back teeth.

Time always passed quickly when one was happy.

Before long, it seemed to Chen Miaoyi that Xinzhou City was already in sight.

Once inside the city, the three of them saw advertising banners hanging from the buildings along both sides of the street, either printed with "Peony Brand Soap" or "Fragrant Skin Specialty Shop."

There were far more of them than last time, and the colors of the banners and lettering varied in many combinations, making them very eye-catching.

Chen Miaoyi looked up at the array of banners and asked, "Husband, how much does it cost to put up so many signs?"

Xu Mo said, "I don't really know. Miss Ning arranged everything. If you want the exact amount, you'd have to ask her."

Chen Miaoyi sighed in admiration. "Miss Ning really is someone who does serious business. She certainly handles things differently."

Xu Mo smiled and nodded. "Yes, Miss Ning is indeed very capable when it comes to business."

Hearing Xu Mo praise Ning Yaxin, Chen Miaoyi could not help glancing at him.

Xu Mo noticed immediately and asked, "What is it?"

"Nothing... nothing," Chen Miaoyi said hurriedly, lowering her eyes and avoiding his gaze.

Xu Mo had intended to press further, but on second thought, he held back.

The mule cart continued along the street, and as it went, the road ahead was suddenly blocked.

When they asked around, they learned that someone had been struck and injured by a cart, and was now arguing with the cart owner. For the moment, the road was completely impassable.

So Xu Mo had no choice but to have Qin Mutou take a detour.

Who would have thought that this detour would pass right by Changlong Gambling House?

Most awkward of all, because so many vehicles were detouring that way, the mule cart was forced to stop right in front of Changlong Gambling House.

When Chen Miaoyi saw the signboard of Changlong Gambling House, she could not help but remember that darkest stretch of her life.

Xu Mo noticed her mood sink and immediately understood why. He quickly took her hand and said gently, "Miaoyi, don't think about those unhappy things anymore. It's all in the past."

"I know, Husband..." Chen Miaoyi said. "I just couldn't help it. I'm sorry, Husband."

Xu Mo shook his head at once, his heart aching for her. "Why are you apologizing? The one who should apologize is me."

"Sorry, my dear wife!" Xu Mo said with unusual sincerity.

Chen Miaoyi hurriedly said, "Husband, you've already apologized to me so many times. You don't need to keep apologizing!"

Xu Mo smiled and nodded. "All right. From now on, we'll put everything from before behind us completely. No one is allowed to bring it up again. If anyone does, we'll punish them severely!"

Chen Miaoyi gave a playful smile. "How do you punish them severely, Husband?"

The moment Xu Mo heard that, a wicked grin spread across his face. He leaned close to her ear and murmured a few words.

Before he had even finished, Chen Miaoyi's face had turned red.

"Husband, can you... can you be serious for once?" she said with a bashful frown.

Xu Mo burst out laughing, leaving Chen Miaoyi utterly helpless.

Just then, someone was suddenly thrown out of the gambling house. The person was small and thin, his face sallow, looking no more than sixteen or seventeen. His clothes were tattered and old, and he looked extremely shabby.

"You little beggar, get lost and stay away from me! Or I'll skin you alive!" one of the hired thugs snarled.

The little beggar immediately said, "I'm not a beggar. I went in to find someone. That man tricked me out of my money. It was the money for my mother's medicine. I have to get it back!"

With that, he tried to rush into the gambling house, but before he could get close, the thug kicked him hard and sent him sprawling to the ground.

The little beggar was too frail to withstand the blow. After falling, he lay there for a long time unable to get up, clutching his stomach tightly with a face full of agony.

He had fallen right beside the mule cart, and Xu Mo and Chen Miaoyi saw everything clearly.

At that moment, a familiar face emerged from Changlong Gambling House. It was none other than Xu Tong.

The instant Xu Tong came out, he began scolding the thugs. "What the hell are you doing? Is this your first day here? Don't you know to drag him farther away? If he stays here blocking the entrance, how are we supposed to do business?"

The thugs bowed and nodded repeatedly.

Then someone came over, grabbed the little beggar, and prepared to take him away.

Seeing this, Chen Miaoyi quickly grabbed Xu Mo's hand and said anxiously, "Husband, can we save him?"

The moment Xu Mo saw Xu Tong, he was reminded of the filthy humiliation his home had suffered. At once, he stood up and pointed at the thug, shouting loudly, "Stop. Let him go!"