NOVEL NEXT Chapter 47: Anthracite coal, a Substitute for charcoal!
After washing his face, he looked much better, not as red as before. “I checked the coal. It’s good to go. Let’s eat first!”
Li Lizhi grabbed Xiao Ran’s arm, “Let’s eat later, not hungry. Let’s check the coal first. It needs to be burned!”
Li Lizhi was still uneasy. It needed to be burned to ensure it was usable, even if it looked good. “The food will get cold!”
“Once it’s cold, we’ll warm it up!” Li Lizhi dragged Xiao Ran to the bedroom.
Xiao Ran had no choice but to be dragged to the bedroom. On the ground were washed coals next to a burning brazier with charcoal.
Xiao Ran picked up the coal, confirmed it was fine, and added it to the brazier. “Changle, you don’t trust me!”
“I do, don’t say that!” Li Lizhi raised her voice, feeling a bit guilty.
“I said it’s fine, why don’t you trust me?” “I haven’t used it before, don’t know!” Li Lizhi pouted.
“You’ll find out later.” Li Lizhi nodded. They squatted by the brazier, watching.
Anthracite is much better. Untreated coal burns with thick smoke, which is deadly indoors.
Li Lizhi anticipated the brazier, which was crucial for making money and solving heating shortages in Changan City.
“Xiao Ran seems to have a pungent smell. Are you okay?” Li Lizhi worried.
“Don’t worry! It’s normal, won’t affect us.” Soon, the coal burned. “Changle, no smoke! The pungent smell is gone!” Li Lizhi nodded in relief. “No smoke, pungent smell, no poisoning,” Xiao Ran reassured.
Li Lizhi was finally relieved. She knew this coal was different from what she had heard. Burning without thick smoke or a pungent smell was a safe charcoal substitute.
“Okay, let’s eat!” “Okay!” Li Lizhi was now completely at ease.
Handling coal could be a perfect substitute for charcoal. The heating supply issue had been significantly alleviated.
Charcoal is pricey in winter mainly due to immature technology, making its production challenging. It involves extensive woodcutting and kiln construction, a process not completed in a day or two. This can’t be done in Chang’an City, and even if wood is available, transportation to the deep mountains, where it’s burned, is troublesome.
Back in the living room, the duo prepared to eat. Li Lizhi, since dining with Xiao Ran, had abstained from imperial cuisine. Perplexed, she commented on the abundance of vegetables in the season. Xiao Ran suggested building greenhouses in the Tang Dynasty to enjoy winter vegetables.
After the meal, Li Lizhi planned to visit Empress Zhangsun, concerned about her health. She habitually took delicious meals to share. Xiao Ran, having impressed his future mother-in-law with his cooking, joined in. As they reached the Lizheng Hall, it was already dark.
“Girl, why are you so late?” Empress Zhangsun inquired.
“Queen, bringing you some food!” Li Lizhi replied, presenting vegetables.
“It’s too troublesome. You don’t need to run every day, especially in this cold weather,” Empress Zhangsun remarked.
“No problem, queen mother, please eat first!”
Empress Zhangsun, seeing the vegetables, questioned, “It’s winter. Where do you get so many vegetables?”
Li Lizhi smoothly explained, “A master chef prepared these. Even I didn’t know.”
Empress Zhangsun, understanding Li Lizhi’s reluctance to share more, didn’t press. She mentioned that Li Lizhi’s father had left not long ago, revealing his agitation.
“Who dares to anger Father?” Li Lizhi frowned.
“Aristocratic families, apart from them, no one else can anger your father.”
“Is it because of the heating supplies?” Li Lizhi inquired.