Chapter 71 Chapter 71 Candy

After closing the stall, Xu Yunfan took a tael of silver and went shopping, then hurried home. There was no other way, the sun was so hot that it almost peeled off his skin. Fortunately, he was a person who could not get tanned no matter how much he was exposed to the sun, otherwise, he would probably have turned into an African black man in just a few days.

When Xu Yunfan got home and saw the bowl of soup on the table, he quickly sat down. "What's today? We have chicken mushrooms to eat. What a treat!"

Qin Run knew that Xu Yunfan loved soups. He would make a soup with some green vegetables and wild vegetables, and he would always tell Yaya that it was so delicious.

He drinks two bowls of soup at every meal and eats all the vegetables.

This morning, when Hunter Fang came to get corn seeds, he brought half a basket of termite fungus.

Termite fungus grows on mountains, grass slopes, fields or forest edges in summer and autumn because its roots are connected to underground termite nests. Therefore, people here call it termite fungus.

Few people in the village knew that this stuff was edible. Only Fang the hunter, who had fled here in his early years and was so poor that he even had to chew tree bark, accidentally discovered that this mushroom was edible. Later, when Xiao Qin's family had a hard time, Fang Fulang told Qin Run that he could keep an eye out for termite fungus when he went to the fields. If he found termite fungus, he could take it home and cook it. Although it was not meat, it could at least fill his stomach.

In the past, villagers would go up the mountain to chop firewood and pick mushrooms. Later, several members of a family died of foaming at the mouth, and even funerals had to be handled with help from other relatives. Because of this incident, no one dared to eat unfamiliar mushrooms anymore.

Compared to making soup with green vegetables or wild vegetables, Qin Run thinks that soup made with termite fungus is more delicious.

So he accepted it, used it to make soup and saved it for Xu Yunfan.

Sure enough, Xu Yunfan really likes to eat. He didn’t even eat a piece of meat for lunch. He just drank soup and ate vegetables.

The chicken mushroom is named because of its internal fiber structure and color that resemble chicken, and it has a special chicken aroma when eaten. The season for picking chicken mushrooms is between June and August every year.

"The chicken mushrooms are so delicious, Qin Run, where did you find them?" Xu Yunfan ate one and wanted to have a second one.

Yesterday he was just thinking about starting a sweet potato noodle business, and today he can eat chicken mushrooms.

It rained in the middle of the night yesterday, so I guess these chicken mushrooms popped up.

It's already early August. If you want to pick chicken mushrooms, this is the month to do it.

As for how to eat Alpinia arborescens, whether it is boiled or fried, it is undoubtedly a delicacy.

After Qin Run learned that Xu Yunfan really liked to eat what they called termite fungus, he said, "I've picked it up in a few places when I went up the mountain before. I'll go see if there's any."

These fungi often grow several times in one place, and they will only stop growing if the termites underneath disappear.

Ono pulled Qin Run's sleeve and started making "ahhh" gestures.

After spending a long time with Xiao Ye, Qin Run could also understand what Xiao Ye wanted to express from his gestures.

Ono meant that he had seen these mushrooms in the mountains before and knew where they were.

After learning where to find the chicken mushrooms, Xu Yunfan couldn't sit still after dinner. He took the dishes to the kitchen and put them down. Without even taking a break after dinner, he directly found three baskets and a backpack and pointed in the direction of the courtyard gate with a proud and confident look. "Let's go. Today, my brother-in-law will take you to the mountains to dominate the world."

Xu Yunfan was happy and wanted to go up the mountain at noon. Qin Run couldn't bear to say anything to him, so he could only follow him.

When they reached the foot of the mountain, Qin Run broke four wooden sticks, one for each person, and used them to dig chicken mushrooms.

However, Qin Run’s penis was of no use at all.

Xu Yunfan seemed to be addicted to digging. He was very active. When he saw the chicken mushroom, he smiled so hard that his teeth were showing. He didn't let Qin Run dig it and insisted that he do it himself.

Qin Run didn't understand why Xu Yunfan was so happy just digging some chicken mushrooms, but when he saw Xu Yunfan smiling happily, he became happy. His happiness came so simply.

Isn’t it just digging chicken mushrooms? Look how Xu Yunfan is laughing, and while laughing he acts like a thief, afraid of being discovered. He covers his mouth, squints his narrow eyes, and moves his eyeballs left and right.

Xu Yunfan had to speak in a low voice. Who knew if there was anyone here at this time? If other people discovered his termite nest, what would he be digging tomorrow?

Qin Run will never understand how tempting these things are for a city kid.

"Qin Run, look, this chicken mushroom I dug is super good. Look, I dug it very perfectly, and it's not broken at all." Xu Yunfan put the chicken mushroom carefully into the basket, not forgetting to show off.

"Well, you are very good." Qin Run spoke as if he was praising Qin An, his tone filled with infinite indulgence and doting on Xu Yunfan.

Xu Yunfan, who was immersed in the joy of digging chicken mushrooms, didn't hear it at all and continued digging with a grunt.

Xu Yunfan was tired but happy. He couldn't find the chicken mushroom, but Qin Run would call him softly as soon as he found one. Xu Yunfan ran around and never got tired of it.

Qin Run saw that a basket was full and said, "Yunfan, we have dug enough to eat. These mushrooms won't last long."

I guess by tomorrow, these mushrooms that Xu Yunfan had dug with so much effort will no longer be edible.

Xu Yunfan, addicted to digging, didn't think it was enough. "Not much, not much, this is still not enough. Before it gets dark, Qin Run, you should carry the chicken mushrooms back and empty them. Then bring the backpack. Thanks to last night's rain, the chicken mushrooms will bloom today. Let's find more. I'll teach you how to make chicken mushroom oil when we get home tonight. Then I'll take you to town to do business."

Upon hearing Xu Yunfan say this, Qin Run didn't ask any more questions and hurriedly picked up the backpack and rushed home.

On Xiaoye's side, the two little guys also found a lot. Xu Yunfan specifically told them to try not to hurt the termite colony when digging chicken mushrooms. They should continue looking for them tomorrow to see where they found them. Maybe they will grow again.

One afternoon, while others were busy working in the fields, Qin Run and his friends were having a great time in the mountains.

There were actually some in the cornfield, but considering that other people were there, Xu Yunfan didn't go there.

It was not until the evening, when the sun was about to set, that Xu Yunfan reluctantly went back.

Knowing that Xu Yunfan liked to eat chicken mushrooms, Qin Run arranged some for him in the evening.

In the past, after dinner, Xu Yunfan would drive the two little ones out of the house and ask them to go find three eggs to play with. It was not right for them to stay at home all day long.

You have to play when it’s time to play, and then let Qin Run call them back when the time is up.

Qin Run is a strong and powerful man, so Xu Yunfan has no worries about going to Aunt Qin's house. Therefore, people who are afraid of ghosts can think so with peace of mind.

Tonight, there are so many chicken mushrooms at home that need to be washed and torn, so Qin An and Xiao Ye naturally want to help.

Xu Yunfan told Qin Run the method of refining chicken mushroom oil, and then went into the woodshed to do his work.

With the small suitcase, he would always get surprises from time to time. Just the day before yesterday, a part of a hand-cranked blender, dozens of kilograms of sugar and several boxes of edible pigments appeared in the small suitcase.

Xu Yunfan was puzzled by these things that suddenly appeared. White sugar was still precious and he could make a profit by reselling it, but what were the other boxes of food coloring and a bunch of parts used for?

After thinking about it over and over again, Xu Yunfan suddenly had an idea and understood. He knew what he could do.

There is white sugar, edible coloring, and a bunch of parts that can be assembled into a blender. What can he do? Of course he can make candy.

Isn’t sugar expensive in the Dayan Dynasty?

Then he would make candies and sell each one for one or two copper coins, which would also make him a lot of money.

When Xu Yunfan thought about the money, he couldn't sit still.

Ever since he made money selling food at Qingfeng Academy, Xu Yunfan added another big pot to his home, which cost him one or two taels of silver.

In the kitchen, the three Qin Run brothers were busy as hell. The small kitchen was completely occupied by them and two basins of water. Xu Yunfan had nowhere to step, so he could only ask Qin Run to put the newly bought big pot on the simple earthen stove built with a few stones under the eaves outside the kitchen.

After setting up the pot, Qin Run did not forget to ask, "Yun Fan, what are you going to do?"

"I'm going to do something big, so you just focus on making your chicken mushroom oil." Xu Yunfan waved his hand and asked Qin An to light a fire for him. Then he went into the woodshed and took out dozens of kilograms of sugar.

Seeing so much sugar, Qin Run closed the kitchen door to prevent Qin An and the others from seeing it. He knew that these sugars must have been taken out by Xu Yunfan from that strange box.

Isn’t Xu Yunfan’s place really the fairyland?

Of course it is.

A handsome guy like Xu Yunfan can bring such magical things.

It looks like Xu Yunfan is going to cook something delicious.

Thinking of this, Qin Run's heart was burning with anticipation.

Pour the boiled syrup into the previously prepared mold. The mold is just a square, the same as the frame used to shape the sweet potato rice candy yesterday.

The bottom of the shelf is a smooth wooden board. The wooden boards standing on the four sides fit tightly with the wooden board at the bottom, so even if you pour water in, not a drop will leak.

Xu Yunfan took out a bottle of pigment and poured it into a corner of the syrup and stirred it with a small spatula. When the pigment met the high-temperature syrup, it boiled instantly. Then, Xu Yunfan added other pigments in turn according to the shape required.

When the syrup is semi-solidified, cut the syrups of different colors separately. In order to make the colors of the syrup more evenly distributed, Xu Yunfan puts the semi-solidified syrup on the blender and turns the handle by hand to continuously stretch and fold the syrup, fold and stretch it again.

The syrup at this point can no longer be called syrup, but rather a semi-soft sugar lump.

When he felt it was almost done, Xu Yunfan placed the evenly mixed sugar cubes on a clean wooden board on the table, stretched them according to his needs, and cut them into pieces in proportion.

Xu Yunfan presses the sugar cubes into regular long strips, and then pieces them together layer by layer according to color and shape.

After a series of operations, Xu Yunfan pieced together the original long candy bar into a thick large candy bar.

The next step cannot be accomplished by Xu Yunfan alone.

It just so happened that Qin Run was almost done in the kitchen. Because the chicken mushroom oil was still too hot, Qin Run didn't put it into the jar for the time being. When Xu Yunfan called out, Qin Run ran over without thinking, regardless of whether he had something to do or not.

"What's wrong?"

After closing the door of the woodshed, Qin Runcai asked.

Xu Yunfan smiled and said, "Nothing, I just want to make candy. I can't handle the next steps by myself, so I need your help. Come, help me..."

Following Xu Yunfan's instructions, Qin Run and Xu Yunfan worked together to stretch the sugar cube while pinching it into a long strip as big as an index finger.

The two people knead the candy together, and when the long strip is long enough, they use a small spatula to break it.

After the whole process, when the big piece of candy was pulled out, Qin Run stared at the densely packed candies about three feet long on the table in a daze for a long time.

Sugar again.

Such beautifully colored sugar.

Qin Run only felt his chest pounding, his chest heaving violently, his eyes wide open, looking at it in disbelief.

Xu Yunfan ran to the kitchen and got a kitchen knife and a chopping board. He placed them on the table and took Qin Run's hand. "Qin Run, it's time to show off your knife skills."

I don’t know if it’s a matter of talent, but Qin Run not only cooks delicious dishes, but his knife skills are also top-notch.

On the other hand, Xu Yunfan, not to mention being known as a kitchen killer, can be asked to chop pork vegetables, after all, that thing does not require any technical skills, but he has to chop it twice to pass the test. If you want to cut the sugar into small, even pieces, this difficult task should be handed over to highly technical personnel.

Qin Run's knife skills are really not to be underestimated. The candies he cut out are all of uniform size. Xu Yunfan grabbed a piece and handed it to Qin Run's mouth, "Qin Run, try it and see if it's sweet."

Sweet, why not sweet?

It was so sweet that it touched Qin Run's heart.

Not only is the candy in his mouth sweet, but his little husband is also sweet.

Such beautiful candy, made by Xu Yunfan himself, how could it not be sweet? It was so sweet that it filled him with energy, and the sapling named "Like" grew taller.

After all the candies were cut, Qin Run was even more surprised that after the bright red candies were cut into small pieces, the pattern on them turned out to be a puppy with its tongue sticking out and its eyes squinting, looking very cute.

Xu Yunfan hurriedly went to find a large jar and started filling it with candies, completely unaware of the shocked person. "With so many candies, if we sell them for one or two copper coins each, it will be a lot of money. Let's make a fortune."

After Qin Run came back to his senses, he looked at Xu Yunfan who was packing candy, his eyes obscure and unclear, "Yunfan, how come you have so many? That's amazing."

This sentence is amazing, Qin Run’s praise is sincere.

"Is it a lot? I went to a candy store and learned this from a master for two days. It's very simple and you can learn it too." Xu Yunfan didn't think it was a big deal.

Qin Run thought, maybe in Xu Yunfan's eyes, knowing these things was not something too impressive or worth boasting about, but as long as Xu Yunfan did it, Qin Run felt that he was very amazing, so amazing that no one could match the status of Xu Yunfan in his heart.

Xu Yunfan seemed to be shining all over, and he was like a moth attracted by the light in the dark night. Even though he knew that he would end up in eternal damnation if he flew towards it, he still did not hesitate for the light that illuminated his life.

Xu Yunfan continued to ramble, "The rest of this will be kept for you three brothers as snacks. I'll seal these in jars and store them safely. When I make enough money, we'll rent a small shop in town and sell food. Next spring, when we have enough money, we'll send the two little ones to school."

When Xu Yunfan went to the countryside to visit his cousin, he often heard the village aunties scolding children who didn't do their homework, saying, "If you don't study hard, you will have to come back to the mountains to herd cattle and sheep."

Modern villagers can still afford the full price of a calf, but in Dali Village, herding cattle and sheep is a privilege only enjoyed by children from wealthy families.

Before Xu Yunfan came, families like the Xiao Qin family didn't have enough money to even buy a leg of lamb, let alone herd sheep.

Qin Run had heard Xu Yunfan talk about sending Qin An to school more than once. He used to think he was just talking, but now he realized that everything he was doing was to prepare for Qin An and the others to go to school.

At this moment, Qin Run's mood was very complicated, bitter, happy, surprised, sad... There were so many emotions that he couldn't accurately say whether he was sad or happy.

He was happy to meet such a good person like Xu Yunfan, but he also knew that this was not Xu Yunfan's responsibility, and Xu Yunfan had no such obligation. But Xu Yunfan still worked hard for it. Blame him for not having the ability.

It turned out that while he felt fortunate to have met such a perfect person like Xu Yunfan, he also deeply realized the gap between them.

Qin Run warned himself that he must not feel inferior. Since there was a gap between him and Xu Yunfan, he should work hard to narrow the gap, climb to the peak where Xu Yunfan was, and grow enough to be on par with him. Self-pity was the most useless and negative behavior. In the future, he would have to learn more from Xu Yunfan.

After calming down, Qin Run asked, holding a candy in his mouth, "Are these candies also sold at that time?"

"Yes, otherwise, once the shop opens, we won't have enough candy to sell." Xu Yunfan added, "I plan to wait until Second Brother Qin and the others are done with their work in a couple of days, and then I'll have them help me sell it. I can also sell the sweet potato rice candy I made earlier. I've asked them, and they'll finish their autumn planting in two days. When the time comes, you can go to the Qin family and buy a few thousand kilograms of sweet potatoes. Then, ask Aunt Qin and Aunt Qin Sanniang, and oh, by the way, the women and boys from Uncle Fang's family to come and make sweet potato flour for us."

The pear tree in Qin Run's house is probably too old and doesn't bear fruit. However, the pear tree in Aunt Qin's house bears large and abundant fruits. Recently, the fruits Xu Yunfan eats are all picked for him by Dadan and Erdan.

"As for their pears, I'll tell them not to sell them for now. I'll think about what to do with them later. As for Hunter Fang and Fang Yi, they often go up the mountain, so they'll be responsible for picking grapes for me, and chopping wood and stuff. Oh, when I think about it, I don't even have enough manpower."

Qin Run's ears were buzzing. "Yun Fan, you're going to ask so many people to help. We'll have to cook a lot of food. Before you ask them, tell me so I can prepare it in advance."

Qin Run didn't know what sweet potato flour was, so he didn't rush to ask. Xu Yunfan would tell him when the time came.

Hearing this, Xu Yunfan was confused: "Cooking? Why cook?"