Before Shen Hao could start hawking, countless people immediately swarmed around. Fortunately, there were yamen servants maintaining order. Otherwise, Shen Hao's small stall would have been overturned.
"Young man, how much are you selling this rice for? In my entire life, I have never seen such crystal-clear rice!"
"That's right. It's strange. No matter how much we grind our rice, it's never this fine."
"Oh my god, this snow-white rice. How much is it per catty?"
Shen Hao looked at the onlookers and was too lazy to speak. Even the worst stale rice on Earth would be top-quality rice in the Great Qian Kingdom. The rice in the Great Qian Kingdom is all ground by hand. How can it be as good as that ground by machines? Coupled with the fact that this is hybrid rice cultivation and the grains are plump, it's not comparable to wild rice at all. The yield is not on the same level. In the Great Qian Kingdom, only wealthy households can eat steamed rice with every meal. Ordinary people eat mixed grain pancakes. When they suddenly see the superior rice sold by Shen Hao, it's no wonder they are shocked.
Before long, the servants of several wealthy households in Zhengyang County reported the matter of superior rice being sold on East Street to the stewards. After a while, the stewards of several wealthy households came to Shen Hao's stall one after another.
"Esteemed young master, may I ask your name? How much is this superior rice per catty?" The chief steward of the wealthy Hu family in the local area hurriedly stepped forward and asked.
Shen Hao still didn't speak. The reason was that he was not familiar with the prices in the Great Qian Kingdom and was afraid of being cheated. Fortunately, Xiao Rou was there. As a famine refugee, she knew well the value of food and immediately quoted the highest price.
"This steward, my young master Shen is doing business just for fun. But even so, as his servants, we can't let the young master suffer losses. Superior white jade rice, five taels of silver per catty."
Whoosh!
As soon as Xiao Rou said this, everyone present was shocked. Five taels of silver per catty of rice?
This rice is almost as expensive as the superior rice for tribute!
One tael of silver is enough to buy a dan of high-quality white flour. One dan is equal to 120 catties! In conversion, three taels of silver is enough for a family of three to live for a month. The money to buy one catty of this white jade rice is enough for a family of three to live for two months.
Steward Hu was also startled. But looking at the quality of the rice, it was definitely worth this price. In simple terms, the rice in front of him was not for ordinary people to consume! If the price was set too low, it would instead make people suspect that the source of the rice was unknown. On the contrary, selling it expensively would further prove Shen Hao's noble status.
Steward Hu gritted his teeth and asked tentatively, "Young Master Shen, the price you set is reasonable. But not only should the rice be good in color, but the taste also can't be bad. I wonder if we can cook some for a taste test?"
Hearing this, Shen Hao finally spoke, "Sure."
After getting Shen Hao's consent, Steward Hu breathed a sigh of relief. Recently, Master Hu's birthday is coming. He has invited many local gentry and honored guests to his home. He was worrying about not finding good rice to entertain them. The Hu family has always been eating third-class rice. The color is slightly grayish-yellow, and the taste is slightly bitter. But such rice is already something that only wealthy households can afford. Now to entertain local gentry and honored guests, at least second-class rice must be used. But in this year of famine, where can we find second-class rice? All merchants are hoarding and driving up prices. Now, when Steward Hu sees the white jade rice that is almost on par with first-class rice, how can he not be excited? As long as the taste of this rice is good, no matter how expensive it is, the Hu family is willing to spend money to buy it! Master Hu can't be stingy when celebrating his birthday!
Before long, the Hu family servants brought a large steamer and started a fire to steam the rice. Shen Hao was also startled when he saw the steamer in front of him. In ancient times, there were no electric rice cookers available. What was used was a large steamer. Moreover, in ancient times, rice was also steamed. It is said that the taste is better than that of rice cooked in an electric rice cooker. Under Shen Hao's signal, Xiao Rou scooped up several spoonfuls of rice and handed them to the servant in front of her. In no time, the stale rice was put into the steamer. But even if it was stale rice, it was still more fragrant than wild rice. In ancient times, rice was very unpalatable. The taste couldn't be compared with modern improved rice at all, and the sugar content was also very low.
As it was being cooked, the fragrance of the rice immediately spread out. Everyone who smelled the fragrance was stunned.
"Oh my god, such delicious steamed rice. This rice fragrance is so tempting."
"Yes, it's so fragrant. I just can't resist it." "The grade of this white jade rice is almost on par with first-class rice!"
The fragrance of the rice also attracted many famine victims to gather around. They smelled the fragrance of the rice and their mouths watered. This was steamed rice that they could never eat in their entire lives!
Steward Hu was also mesmerized by the fragrance of the rice. This white jade rice was amazing!
Before long, the servant served a bowl of fragrant steamed rice and handed it to Steward Hu. Steward Hu held the chopsticks but couldn't bring himself to use them for a long time. This bowl of steamed rice had plump grains and was crystal clear. It seemed faintly even more high-grade than first-class rice. It made him a bit hesitant to use his chopsticks. At the same time, he became even more suspicious of Shen Hao's identity and guessed that he was a nobleman from the capital.
"Young Master Shen, may I ask where this white jade rice is produced? How can it be so fragrant."
Steward Hu asked curiously. However, Shen Hao still didn't answer. Steward Hu looked at the silent Shen Hao and became even more convinced that he was a noble young master from the capital. Earlier, the beautiful maid beside him had said that Young Master Shen was here for sightseeing. Presumably, he was traveling quietly and didn't want his identity to be revealed. With this guess, Steward Hu didn't dare to ask any more questions. Instead, he picked up the chopsticks and tasted the rice.
As the soft and sweet rice entered his mouth, it exploded on the tip of his tongue. Steward Hu was stunned and couldn't say a word for a long time! This rice was too delicious! There was no bitterness at all. The rice was sweet, soft, and glutinous. Even if he just ate it plain, he could eat three bowls!
"Steward Hu, how is it? How does the rice taste?"
The stewards of other wealthy households gathered around and asked carefully. Steward Hu put down his chopsticks and nodded solemnly. "Delicious. Soft, glutinous, and sweet. The grains are plump. The rice fragrance lingers in the mouth for a long time. It's faintly even better than first-class rice!"
"What! Is it really that delicious?"
"What's the origin of this white jade rice? Even you, who are picky about food, can't find anything wrong with it?"
"Comparable to first-class rice. Could it be that only officials and nobles in the capital can enjoy it?"
Before everyone could react, Steward Hu immediately waved his hand and said, "Young Master Shen, we, the Hu family, want all the rice you brought! Five taels per catty. It's definitely worth this price!"
As Steward Hu's words fell, everyone else immediately objected! Steward Hu was trying to take the lead!
"No! No! Young Master Shen, our Liu family also wants this white jade rice!"
"The Bai family also wants some. I hope Young Master Shen can sell some so that our master can taste it!"
"The Lin family also wants some. Our mistress has never eaten such good rice."
For a moment, everyone was talking and about to snatch the rice with sacks. Fortunately, the yamen servants maintained order and immediately stopped these servants.
"Don't snatch. If you want to buy rice, it depends on Young Master Shen's intention!"
A yamen servant hurriedly shouted loudly to stop them.