Inside the house, only the moonlight and the child's even breathing remained. The night in Huaiyuan was like a sweet sesame candy, wrapped in the warmth of the courtyard's cooking, slowly settling into the most peaceful flavor.
Just as dawn was breaking, Nian'an was awakened by the aroma of the sesame bag on the windowsill.
He sat up, clutching the bag, and touched the little mouse embroidered in yellow thread on the bag with his little hands. Suddenly remembering something, he ran barefoot to the kitchen.
Jiang Jianhua was adding firewood to the stove, and sesame seeds were boiling in the pot, filling the whole yard with their aroma.
"Little darling, why aren't you wearing shoes again?" She put down the fire tongs and carried him to the stool. "When the sesame seeds are cooked until soft, I'll make you sesame paste, which is sweeter than sugar."
Fu Yucheng carried the sesame stalks toward the threshing ground and saw Nian An barefoot, laughing: "Go put on your tiger-head boots quickly, otherwise you'll crush the sesame seeds and we won't be able to make sesame candy today."
Nian'an immediately slid off the stool, slipped on her shoes, and chased after him. The sesame bag rattled in her arms, and the silver longevity lock jingled against the corner of the bag.
Yun Tangyin was sweeping sesame seeds by the stone mill; the golden seeds glistened in the morning light.
“These sesame seeds need to be thoroughly dried,” she said, using a broom to gather the seeds into small piles. “That way, the sesame paste made from them will be more fragrant.”
Xiao Lan brought freshly picked pumpkin blossoms in a rabbit-shaped basket. The blossoms in the basket were bright yellow and glistening with morning dew. "Second Aunt," she said, "my mother said that pumpkin blossoms stir-fried with eggs are the most delicious, so she asked me to bring some over."
Seeing the sesame seeds next to the stone mill, she squatted down, picked up a seed, and put it in her mouth. "These sesame seeds are so plump, even more fragrant than last year's."
Jiang Jianhua poured the cooked sesame seeds into a stone mortar and pounded them into a fine powder with a wooden mallet.
"It has to be pounded into a paste," she said, wiping the sweat from her brow, "so that the sesame candy won't be gritty."
Aunt Zhang, carrying a basket filled with freshly made tofu, came to visit: "I came because of the sesame aroma. Jianhua, can I learn how to make this sesame candy? I want to make some for my grandson."
Jiang Jianhua stuffed a handful of raw sesame seeds into her hand: "Try the color of these sesame seeds first. The steps are not difficult, but you need to be patient in pounding them."
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