Chapter 159 - 151: Sour and Spicy Shredded Potatoes

Chapter 159: Chapter 151: Sour and Spicy Shredded Potatoes

He had also heard that potatoes were poisonous. He’d heard that an old couple had died from eating them, and another family had been poisoned as well, though they were thankfully saved and survived. After that, no one dared to eat potatoes again.

Meng Nan looked up at Bai Zhi and asked, "Are you aware that potatoes can be poisonous?"

Bai Zhi stood up and walked over to the potato basket. After rummaging through it, she pulled out one that had sprouted, one that had turned green and was about to sprout, and one that was fresh and smooth. She placed all three potatoes on the table together.

"Sir, please take a look. These three are all potatoes, but not all of them are edible. This sprouted potato is poisonous and cannot be eaten. The one that’s turned green is also poisonous and can’t be eaten. But this fresh, beautiful potato is a delicacy. The dish in this plate was made from this kind of potato."

Meng Nan was puzzled. "Why do they become poisonous when they sprout? What’s the reasoning behind that?"

’If I told him it’s because potatoes produce large amounts of solanine during the sprouting process, would he even understand?’ 𝑓𝑟ℯℴ𝓂

She organized her thoughts for a moment before speaking slowly. "It’s because potatoes produce certain toxins as they sprout. Mild poisoning causes vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, and headaches. Severe cases can lead to difficulty breathing and even death."

Meng Nan said, "If you know these potatoes can become poisonous, then why not just avoid eating them? Why take the risk?"

Bai Zhi replied, "Everything has two sides. Medicine that heals can also become a lethal poison if used improperly. The key isn’t whether something is toxic, but whether the person using it knows how to use it correctly."

Meng Nan had an epiphany. It was like a knife—in some people’s eyes, it’s just a tool for chopping vegetables and cooking, but in others’ eyes, it’s a deadly weapon that can kill. An object is inanimate; it possesses no good or evil. The crucial factor is the person using it. A righteous person can use anything to save lives, while a wicked person will use even the best medicine to kill.

Meng Nan cupped his hands toward Bai Zhi. "I have learned something today." With that, he reached out with his chopsticks to grab some shredded potato, only to find a single strand left in the dish...

While he and Bai Zhi were discussing poison and medicine, Hu Feng and the Jin guard’s chopsticks hadn’t stopped for a moment.

He shot a glare at the Jin guard. "Didn’t you say it was poisonous and shouldn’t be eaten? So what’s with this Evil Ghost act?"

The Jin guard gave a sheepish grin. "It’s so delicious, I’d eat it even if it were poisonous." He had originally just intended to taste it for his master, but once he started, he couldn’t stop...

And so they ate, and ate, until it was all gone...

He then glared at Hu Feng. "Hey, Miss Bai hasn’t even eaten yet, and you’ve gobbled down all the food. Have you no manners?"

Hu Feng slowly set down his chopsticks, elegantly picked up a cloth napkin from the side to wipe the corners of his mouth, and said calmly, "She has already eaten."

Meng Nan looked at Bai Zhi again, and she quickly nodded. "Yes, I’ve already eaten. I have things to do in a bit, so I ate early."

Meng Nan stared at the two completely empty plates on the table. He had only managed a single bite of the shredded potatoes. As for the wood-ear mushrooms, he hadn’t even gotten a single bite before they were—all—gone.

’Did I really ride thirty li on an empty stomach just to drink plain congee?’

Seeing the aggrieved look on Meng Nan’s face, she wanted to laugh but couldn’t bring herself to. So she said, "How about this? Why don’t you stay for lunch? I still have a bundle of chives left from yesterday. I can make another batch of dumplings."