Don't panic in a famine, I live in the mountains with my golden finger

Chapter 405 Wood Pressed Peanut Oil

The sun was shining brightly at this time, but it did not dispel the enthusiasm of the villagers at all.

After everyone delivered a batch of peeled peanut shells, they went back to continue peeling them. All this money counted.

The peanut powder in the pot was ground into very fine powder at first, but Xu Yuan found that it was actually unnecessary, so the rest was ground into embryo flakes, which made it easier to identify. As long as the embryo flakes feel oily and elastic when pinched, a few bundles of oil grass can be put in the pot and heated together to make the dried oil grass softer and kill bacteria.

There was hot steam rising above the stove. Xu Yuan instructed Zhu Chongli and Li Zhong to pick up the gauze underneath, pour the steamed peanut embryos into the two pots at the back, and start frying them.

The purpose of frying the embryos is to reduce their moisture content and ensure the amount of oil produced later. This step is crucial and the heat must be controlled very well.

Xu Yuan came here personally to watch over it. The food here needed to be stir-fried constantly. Xu Yuan got a blueprint and asked Chen Dafu to make a rotating shaft device and put it in the center of the cauldron. Just push the handle on the top and the spoon used for stirring in the pot will start to rotate. It doesn't require much effort at all. There are also two people watching here, Liu Zhushan and Fan Ren. The people in charge of the fire below are Zhu Chongli and Li Zhonghuan.

When the stir-frying reaches a certain degree, the aroma of peanuts comes from the pot, lingering in the entire workshop and even drifting outside the door.

The children in the village were very curious, but they didn't dare to go in rashly. They all stayed at the door, sitting under the shady trees and peeling peanuts.

Tie Niu smelled the aroma of peanuts, his nose twitched, and he took a deep breath, "What a nice smell!"

Gu Qingming took advantage of the aroma and put a peanut into his mouth to satisfy his craving.

"It smells so good even though it's not even cooked yet. I can't believe we can use the oil squeezed from it to cook. I'm really looking forward to seeing what it tastes like." Luo Xile said with anticipation. There were red and swollen blisters on his fingers, which were caused by peeling peanuts, but he didn't feel any pain. Instead, he enjoyed it.

"Guozi, Xiaoduo, have you ever eaten the peanut oil made by your eldest sister?" Feng Juexiao asked curiously to the many Japanese confectioners sitting nearby.

Although Village Chief Gu and Uncle Wang were in charge on the surface, Feng Juexiao was very clear-headed. This was definitely something that was thought up by Sister Xuyuan. After all, it was Sister Xuyuan who was the first to discover peanuts and those strange things. It was no surprise to him that peanuts could be made into oil.

As soon as Feng Juexiao asked this question, all the children present stopped what they were doing and looked at the two people.

Many Japanese confectioners shook their heads, indicating that they had never tasted it.

After all, the process is so complicated. It has to be ground into powder, then steamed and fried, and the last and most critical step is squeezing out the oil. Just listening to my eldest sister describe the general steps, Guozi felt it was very complicated. I heard that my eldest sister would not treat me badly and did it by herself.

Sure enough, he guessed it right.

A few children were sitting under the tree and chatting, while work in the workshop was in full swing.

Village Chief Gu, Uncle Wang, and those who had not yet started working all stood by the pot and watched.

The whole room was filled with the aroma of peanuts, without any burnt smell. Xu Yuan knew that success was not far away.

Shovel the fried peanut powder into the prepared pressing ring, pad it with oil grass underneath, and then use a wooden hammer to wrap the oil grass around the peanut powder and press it tightly to make oil cakes for oil pressing.

Xu Yuan just demonstrated it once. After the three men who were in charge of this process understood it, Liu Zhushan got the hang of it very quickly. The other two men were not willing to lag behind, and the three of them started to compete secretly.

Soon, the freshly baked oil cakes were placed neatly inside the hollowed-out wood.

Now comes the last and more critical step. After the hollowed-out wood is filled with oil cakes, wooden wedges are inserted in order and the pressing begins.

This step requires great attention to the rhythm and intensity of the impact and pressing. Xu Yuan originally wanted to try to pick up the wooden hammer and swing it himself, but was stopped by Village Chief Gu. After all, there were several strong young guys standing here, and at worst there were a few middle-aged men here.

How could a girl like Xuyuan be allowed to take action?

Feng Xing stood aside and watched Xu Yuan's methodical and clear arrangements and deployments, and secretly sighed in his heart that his boy was really unlucky and had no fate with Xu Yuan.

Thinking of this, he glanced at Village Chief Gu with some jealousy. He was so lucky to have such a visionary son.

Feeling an unfriendly gaze sweeping over him, Village Chief Gu raised his eyes to look in the direction from which it came. After seeing who it was, he couldn't help feeling a little proud.

Last time, he saw that Feng Xing's wife wanted to match his boy with Xu Yuan. When he asked himself, Village Chief Gu felt that Feng Juesheng was actually on par with his own Qinghan, not only in appearance, but also in character and personality. He was the type that girls liked. He felt a sense of crisis in his heart, so he hinted at Feng Xing and told him to dispel their idea.

"Yes, Xuyuan, you tell us what we need to do." Zhu Shunyi rolled up his sleeves, his face looking eager to try.

"Make a wish, if you pound these in, and then squeeze the oil cakes, the oil will come out."

The one who said this was Huang Shao, with an excited look on his face.

Xu Yuan recognized that these people were scholars who failed to go to Zhuangzhou to take the imperial examination. He learned that during this period of time, in addition to reviewing their lessons at home, their main job was to help with housework.

Thinking of those people who were taking the exam, it seems like they have been gone for a long time. I wonder how Gu Qinghan is doing?

Making a wish didn't let his thoughts drift far away, and he quickly replied.

The peanut cake is most oily when it is squeezed out with the first tap. The oil squeezed out at this time is fine with few impurities and has a rich aroma.

Along with it, a golden liquid slowly flowed down from the reserved small hole and was slowly dripping into the wooden barrel below.

Everyone looked at this scene with surprise, their eyebrows raised.

"It's done, it's done, hahahaha..."

Uncle Wang shouted excitedly, very excited.

Huang Shao and others who were swinging wooden hammers at the side were all stunned and looked in disbelief. They thought they had smashed it themselves.

"Bang bang bang..."

The sound of knocking was heard again in the oil mill.

Xu Yuan took a look at the peanut oil cakes inside and ordered several people to add wedges to the gap one by one to increase the pressure on it. This time, Xu Yuan put the squeezed oil into another wooden barrel. This time the oil cakes were not as full as the first time, and the squeezed oil would contain some impurities, which Xu Yuan used for comparison.

After the oil cakes have been squeezed until no oil can flow out, they are all filtered out of impurities through a coarse cloth filter. Some are left for the villagers to taste, and the rest are poured into the oil tank.

These oil tanks are placed in a room to allow the oil to settle and store, with lids on to ensure the rich aroma of the peanut oil.

Making a wish for a large tank of oil full in this room, I feel a great sense of accomplishment.

At the same time, "Ding Dong, congratulations to the owner for successfully brewing peanut oil, and reward one thousand points."

After hearing this, Xu Yuan raised his eyebrows.