In the courtyard, she was making white sugar with Liu. After thinking it over, Qin San Niang finally decided to use activated carbon decolorization method because the yellow mud water sugar leaching method didn't seem very reliable.
The method is quite simple: first, burn charcoal, then crush it and put it into dissolved brown sugar water until the liquid on top gradually becomes clear. Then, put the light-colored brown sugar water back into the pot and heat it. After a large amount of water evaporates, pour it out to crystallize, and you will get white sugar! This process may need to be done several times!
However, when she saw that this black charcoal could actually turn brown sugar into expensive white sugar, Liu's eyes widened in surprise, and she simply couldn't believe it!
“Mother, this job is simple in theory, and all you need to do is be careful! If we make another batch today, that should be enough.”
Nowadays, brown sugar is made from sugarcane and sugar beets. Because it contains many impurities that are difficult to remove, it appears red, hence the name brown sugar. However, brown sugar is actually quite rare; a pound of brown sugar costs thirteen or fourteen coins, not cheaper than grain.
Even if it is cleaned, it is quite troublesome. Some wealthy families or sugar workshops that specialize in making white sugar have master craftsmen who have mastered this craft. Because the technology is in the hands of a few people, the price of white sugar is very expensive!
In peacetime, brown sugar cost about 10 to 14 wen per jin (500 grams), which was twice the price of rice and flour, while white sugar cost as much as 25 or 26 wen, which was equivalent to doubling the price of brown sugar.
Making dried apricots requires quite a bit of white sugar, but if this method is used to produce white sugar, the cost can be reduced by at least half! After all, if they buy brown sugar in bulk, the price will be much more favorable! This time, the brown sugar was stored in her space, and she took out 100 catties at once. Including losses, it can be made into about 90 catties of white sugar, which is quite a high yield.
As for the charcoal, it was some she had saved up from her escape, the kind she hadn't used up during the fleeing journey. She never expected it would come in handy. With these materials, the mother and daughter could make dozens of kilograms of white sugar today.
After finishing her work, Qin San Niang realized that she didn't have a large winnowing basket to dry such a large quantity of apricots. At the very least, she would need a large bamboo mat! Wasn't that called a drying mat?
Liu herself can weave mats, but bamboo is not her specialty. Upon closer inspection, she remembered that there were people in Shiligou who sold bamboo weaving products. A few days ago, she bought her own bamboo comb and steamer from them!
"Third Sister, Chen Youliang's family does this kind of business. He wove our steamer baskets and steamers. I think his craftsmanship is good, and the price is reasonable!"
Chen Youliang? Isn't that the father-in-law of that gossipy old woman? Qin San Niang didn't care about that, and picked up her money bag and left.
Hearing from his mother-in-law that they were going to pick apricots, Chen Youliang and his son quickly finished their work in the field, ate a few bites of rice, and planned to go to the back mountain.
They have six acres of land, which is entirely managed by the father, son, and wife. They can't rely on their lazy daughter-in-law either. They're just grateful that she can take good care of the children!
The two were about to leave when they were stopped by Qin San Niang before they could even lock the door.
"Uncle, wait a moment."
"Big Brother's mother, what brings you here? Is something the matter?" Caihua's father knew Qin Sanniang; he had been helping out at the factory a few days ago.
Hearing his son's words, Chen Youliang realized this was Qin Sanniang. He just wondered why she had come. Was it because his foolish daughter-in-law was gossiping in the village again? Sigh, this wasn't the first time someone had come knocking on their door! It was truly a headache!
Qin San Niang knew that Caihua's father was a very honest and capable man. Seeing the baskets on their backs, she knew they were planning to go up the mountain, so she quickly explained her purpose.
The father and son were quite happy to hear that someone wanted to buy their bamboo weaving, as it was an affirmation of their family's craftsmanship.
Their business has been terrible these past two years! Many people in the village can weave their own combs or something similar, although they don't look very good and don't last long, but at least they don't have any other jobs and they don't have to worry about them breaking frequently!
"Hey, come in quickly. There are many finished products at home. Do you see any that you like? If not, that's okay. You can tell me the style, and I can make it for you." Chen Youliang hurriedly unlocked the door and pushed it open to let Qin Sanniang in.
The Chen family's house was a mud-brick house, but it was quite spacious with eight rooms. Qin San Niang was led to a room filled with bamboo weaving products.
There were all sorts of bamboo combs, cages, and baskets... each one was exquisitely crafted with superb skills. Qin San Niang was amazed by what she saw and couldn't help but admire them. These bamboo weavings could be considered works of art in her time!
"Tsk tsk, Uncle's skills are truly amazing!" Qin San Niang was full of praise for this intangible cultural heritage craft!
Hearing such praise, Chen Youliang and his son blushed. How long had it been since they had heard such compliments! Therefore, they both thought she was knowledgeable, and Chen Youliang even planned that if she only wanted to buy a comb or something, he would just give it to her! His son had already earned quite a bit of money working for other people's families, and now he was picking apricots, all thanks to their help.
Qin San Niang nodded, quite confident in the other party's skills, and said she wanted a winnowing basket and a bamboo mat. She had thought about it on the way here, as she would need winnowing baskets and mats when brewing wine, so she wanted to buy more. She then explained in detail the size of the winnowing basket and mat.
After listening to her, Chen Youliang said that it was no problem. Although Qin Sanniang's request was a bit demanding, it was still possible to do it.
"How much do we need in total?" Caihua's father asked. If the materials at home were not enough, he would have to go to the back mountain to cut down a few bamboo trees.
"I'll take ten winnowing baskets and ten mats!"
What? Ten sheets? Chen Youliang and his son exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with disbelief! But then they were both overjoyed; this was a huge deal!
Chen Youliang was so excited he didn't know what to say. Even in a good year, this was a huge deal. Small businesses and workshops like theirs rarely ordered so much at once! Most of the time, it was just a single mat or a winnowing basket.
Chen Youliang rubbed his rough hands together, his face flushed with excitement, "Alright! My son and I will stay up all night these next few days to make it for you! It won't delay your household expenses!"
Qin Sanniang smiled and said, "There's no need to stay up all night to make them. I'll take these winnowing baskets back and use them first. You can make bamboo mats for me first. It would be fine if you could make two by the day after tomorrow."
Chen Youliang nodded. It wasn't difficult at all. In two days, he and his son could make four or five bamboo mats! Although bamboo mats were large, the weaving method was simple and straightforward, making it even faster than making a winnowing basket!
After finishing this matter, Qin San Niang hurried back, leaving Chen Youliang and his son overjoyed and at a loss for words.
Finally, Chen Youliang calmed down first and urged his son to go to the mountains to tell his wife, and also to bring down a few bamboo poles to weave the mat first.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com