After becoming a widow, I became the mother of seven children

It was July in the blink of an eye, and the weather was getting hotter and hotter. Maybe it was because pregnant women were afraid of heat, but Yan Qingqing lay in bed and didn't want to move at all.

She missed the air conditioner and cold drinks in her previous life more and more. Thinking of this, Yan Qingqing suddenly sat up from the bed. She couldn't make an air conditioner, but ice cubes were still a problem.

Ice cubes are only used by wealthy families these days. In the countryside, there is no such luxury as using ice cubes.

Moreover, ice making in ancient times was top secret and not accessible to ordinary people.

Yan Qingqing felt that she was stupid because she was pregnant. She didn't think about making ice. She might have forgotten about it because she had never seen ice since she came here. No wonder people say that one pregnancy makes you stupid for three years.

Because the weather was too hot, all the people who worked for Yan Qingqing's family moved to the new house, under the supervision of Li Xiniang, and Yuan Huiniang took care of Yan Qingqing at home.

Yuan Huiniang was feeding chickens in the yard when she saw Yan Qingqing walking out in a hurry. Yuan Huiniang quickly put down the things in her hands and asked: "Mom, what's the matter? Do you feel uncomfortable?"

Yan Qingqing shook her head and replied: "It's okay, I'm just feeling hot and want to get some ice cubes to cool down."

Yuan Huiniang sighed after hearing this, but she was in trouble. Where could she get ice for her mother-in-law in this summer? This ice was used by wealthy families. Although their family had some savings, they really couldn't afford it.

But since her mother-in-law said it, and Yan Qingqing was pregnant again, Yuan Huiniang thought for a while and said, "Then let Erlang think of a way. He must know some rich people in business, let's see if we can buy some."

After hearing this, Yan Qingqing knew that Yuan Huiniang had gone wrong. Looking back, she would think that she was a prodigal mother-in-law. She quickly waved her hands and said, "I'm not going to buy it. I can make it myself."

Yuan Huiniang was shocked when she heard this. Her mother-in-law was afraid that someone had screwed her up. She was smart enough to do business, but if she could even make ice, that would be...

Yuan Huiniang didn't dare to think about it anymore. Yan Qingqing roughly knew what Yuan Huiniang was thinking, but where was she? If she couldn't accept this, she wouldn't be able to accept what happened next.

Yuan Huiniang also knew that she was too obvious, but when she thought about it carefully, it was their family's blessing to have such a powerful mother-in-law, so what should she have to worry about.

In just a moment, Yuan Huiniang figured it out and quickly asked: "What should we do? Mother, please tell me to do it!"

Yan Qingqing looked at her bulging belly. She really didn't want to move, so she told Yuan Huiniang: "Go and get some of the white crystals from the saline-alkali land. I can use them."

Yuan Huiniang didn't dare to hesitate after hearing this, she quickly agreed and picked up the tools and went to the ground.

In fact, making ice is very simple, as long as you have saltpeter, but for a while, Yan Qingqing couldn't find natural saltpeter, so he had to extract it himself.

The main component of saltpeter is potassium nitrate, and the hoarfrost on saline-alkali land or the tiles of old houses contains this ingredient. Of course, it can not only be used to make ice, but it can also be used to make gunpowder, but most people don't know that.

Of course, the potassium nitrate collected in the ground or on the tiles is not pure, so it needs to be simply extracted.

This stuff is easily soluble in water and is easy to purify.

Just put these collected things into water, precipitate the impurities, take the white liquid above, and dry or sun-dry them.

Thinking of this, Yan Qingqing couldn't wait.

There are more saline-alkali lands these days, and Yuan Huiniang is also very quick in her work. She quickly returned with half a basket of alkali cream.

Yan Qingqing couldn't wait for a moment to start purifying potassium nitrate. After tinkering for most of the day, she finally finished it before dark.

Yuan Huiniang watched the whole process and saw that her mother-in-law did not avoid her at all, and she felt even more ashamed. How could she miss her mother-in-law like that today.

Yuan Huiniang still doesn't understand what kind of amazing skill her mother-in-law taught her.

In the evening, the whole family used ice. Yan Qingqing ate ice cubes while enjoying the coolness in the yard, feeling that there was a hint of coolness in their yard.

Yan Qingqing was still pregnant. Yuan Huiniang did not dare to let Yan Qingqing eat too much, so she persuaded her: "Mom, you are still pregnant. Eat a few pieces to relieve the heat, but don't eat too much."

Yan Qingqing knew that she meant well, and simple ice cubes had no taste, so she sighed: "It would be great if there were some fruits. You can make some fruit scoops. Even simple iced fruits are delicious."

Fruits are very valuable these days, and they are all seasonal fruits. In the past, Yan Qingqing's family was poor and she never dared to think about it. Although her family's life is better now, there are many children in the family, so she can't eat alone.

Yan Qingqing just mentioned it casually, but Li Xiangan remembered it in his heart, thinking that he was really unfilial. He went to the city to do business every day and never thought of buying some fruit for his mother.

Li Xiangan looked at the ice basin in front of him again and said: "Mom, there are not many people in the world who can make ice, and they only supply it to those high-ranking officials. If we start this business, we will make money quickly."

Yan Qingqing knew that Li Xiangan had a business acumen, so why didn't she want to do it herself? The key was that it wouldn't work, so she replied: "Yes, the money comes quickly, but the death is also quick."

Several children were shocked when they heard this. What their mother just said could not be to scare them.

Seeing that they didn't understand, Yan Qingqing explained: "Mom, I'm not trying to scare you. Making ice is a huge profit, and there are only a few people who know how to do it. It's all in the hands of aristocratic families, and it's even the basis for the survival of some big families. If we move If we steal someone else's cake, will they let us go?

We don't have any strength to compete with others now. The more good things we bring out, the faster we will die. "

This is also the reason why Yan Qingqing has not expanded after starting two small businesses. She wants to see what the feedback is like. So far, no one is targeting them.

After hearing Yan Qingqing's words, several children fell into silence, especially Yuan Huiniang. She felt a storm in her heart, wondering how much trust her mother-in-law had in her, so that she could pass on this secret technique to her casually.

Yes, this method of making ice has become a secret technique in Yuan Huiniang's heart.

Li Xiangping said calmly: "Mom is right, we can't rush for quick success, we have to take our time, our life now is much better than before.

So you all remember, no matter who asks about this ice, they must say that it was because my mother was afraid of the heat and your second brother spent a lot of money to buy it from the county. If anyone spills the beans, don’t blame the eldest brother for being obedient! "

Li Xiangan and the others all shrank when they heard this. When did their eldest brother learn from his mother and take care of the family? It sounded very scary.

Yan Qingqing couldn't help but find it a little funny when she saw Li Xiangping frightening a few children. As expected, everything in their family was suppressed.

Seeing that it was getting late, she had to get up early to do business the next day, and Yan Qingqing also felt sleepy, so she waved her hand and said, "Okay, let's go to bed. We have to get up early tomorrow."

Several children nodded when they heard this.

Yuan Huiniang helped Yan Qingqing back to her room and put her to sleep before going back to her own room to rest.