During dinner that evening, Chen Lao Er's wife said, "I heard in town today that grain prices have gone up."
Zhou frowned and asked, "Second son's wife, how much has the price of grain gone up?"
Old Man Chen swallowed the food in his mouth and said, "Why has the price of grain gone up so early? Our family has contributed so much of what can increase grain production; the price shouldn't be going up!"
Chen Lao Er's wife said, "Grain has gone up by one copper coin, and meat has gone up by one copper coin as well. I don't know about the others."
Old Man Chen said, "Da Ya, Er Ya, when you have time, pick more wild vegetables, dry them and store them. Stock up on more edible things."
Chen Laosi asked, "Father, Mother, should we buy some more grain to store up, in case the price goes up again?"
Zhou said, "The grain we bought last time is enough for our family to eat for a while. Let's talk about buying more grain later! The higher-ups should be able to bring down the price of grain."
Old Man Chen coughed and said, "Alright, let's leave it at that for now. If you have anything else to say, you can talk about it after you finish eating!"
After the meal, the Chen family gathered in the hall.
Chen Lao Er's wife spoke first: "Father, Mother, I have something to discuss with you about our family's cold drink business."
Zhou asked in confusion, "What's wrong, second son's wife? Is it because the cold drinks aren't selling well?"
Chen Lao Er's wife said, "No, the cold drinks are selling quite well. We hadn't been selling for long today when a restaurant owner came over and offered to take over all the remaining cold drinks. He wanted to buy all our cold drinks, and the price was one coin less than our usual price. He wanted to take as many cold drinks as we made as he wanted, but I didn't agree."
Chen Laosi asked in confusion, "Second sister-in-law, isn't this a good thing? The price he offered isn't low either, so we don't have to waste money selling it."
Chen Lao Er's wife said, "I just feel that only our family knows how to make ice with saltpeter. We can set the price as we please. If we sign a contract with a restaurant and sell everything to them, then they can decide how to price it. Now that grain prices have gone up, such a profitable business should be in our own hands."
Chen Kai stood up and said, "I also disagree with selling all the cold drinks to one company. We can't let one company dominate the market."
Old Man Chen said, "Second daughter-in-law, since you've made up your mind, go for it! We'll all support you."
Chen Kai said with a smile, "Dad, I saw a plant today that can replace part of the staple food."
Zhou picked Chen Kai up and put him on her lap, saying, "My good son, what's this to eat?"
Chen Nong said excitedly, "Grandma, Grandma, I know. My uncle asked me to pick some today, and I've already processed them and put them in the yard to dry."
Chen Kai said, "It's a poisonous plant, but I saw a method in a book to turn it into something edible. When we went out to play today, I asked Chen Nong to dig some up. We'll dry it tomorrow and try making some."
Mrs. Zhou kissed Chen Kai's cheek and said, "My good son is so wonderful!"
Old Man Chen said happily, "Good son, after you finish cooking tomorrow, let the chicken eat first. If the chicken is fine, then we can eat."
Chen Kai nodded and said, "I understand, Dad!"
Chen Kai held onto Xiao Tian, preventing him from leaving. After the rest of the Chen family went back to their rooms to sleep, Xiao Tian snorted and said, "Alright, let go of me now. Everyone's gone. Just tell me what you want!"
Chen Kai immediately let go of her hand and said with a smile, "Xiao Tian, will the price of grain come down?"
Xiao Tian said, "The price of grain will drop back to its original level in a few days, and then it will rise again."
Chen Kai said, "It's good that the price will drop. When the price drops, remind them again." Chen Kai breathed a sigh of relief when he heard what Xiao Tian said, but he still needed to think carefully about how to get his parents to go to town to buy grain.
Xiao Tian yawned and said, "Okay, if there's nothing else, I'll go back to my room to sleep."
Chen Kai waved his hand and said, "That's all, go back to sleep!"
Early the next morning, Chen Lao Er's wife started loading the chilled drinks into the truck, ready to deliver them.
At home, Chen Kai instructed his mother to soak konjac powder in warm water for about half an hour until it became a paste. Then, Chen Kai pointed to the wooden basin and said, "Mom, just pour the konjac in this basin into a pot, add hot water, and cook it."
After Zhou cooked the konjac, she set aside a little bit, let it cool, and fed it to one of the roosters in the house.
Half an hour later, seeing that the rooster was still lively and fine, Zhou ate a little. After waiting a while, she felt no discomfort, so she ate a few more bites. Zhou smacked her lips and felt that it didn't taste like anything.
Chen Kai said, "Mom, if it doesn't taste good, add a little salt."
Zhou added a little salt to the bowl, stirred it a few times, and ate about half a bowl before feeling full. Zhou said in surprise, "My dear son, this tastes a bit strange, but it's quite filling. I've only eaten a little bit and I can't eat anymore. And it can increase in size after being boiled with water."
Chen Kai tugged at his mother's clothes and said with a smile, "Mom, I want to try it too."
Zhou squatted down and handed the bowl to Chen Kai. Chen Kai ate a few bites and then put the bowl on the stove. He just wanted to taste it. It tasted a little different from the konjac powder he used to eat. However, he figured that modern konjac powder must have other additives, so as long as the effect was the same, it was fine.
Chen Kai said in a coquettish tone, "Mom, there's still some konjac we dug up yesterday. Can you make me another dish with it?"
Zhou said helplessly, "Alright, good son, what do you want to eat?"
Chen Kai laughed and said, "It's delicious! But we need to do some preparation first."
Chen Kai directed Zhou to prepare the ingredients and begin making konjac.
To make konjac, you first need to soak it in clean water, and then use a brush to clean the skin of the konjac.
Next, prepare the ash water. Take half a basin of ash in a wooden basin, add water, and use a strainer to separate the ash from the water. Prepare the lime water. Add water and lime to a jar, soak and ferment for 12 hours, then remove it.
Next, prepare a clean container and add enough ash water to just cover the bottom of the container, then add lime water in batches. Then, start scraping the konjac and throwing it into the wooden basin. Be sure to scrape and stir the konjac in the ash and lime water at the same time until it is dissolved in the water.
Finally, after waiting for 6 hours, use a knife to cut the konjac into even pieces in the wooden basin, take it out and put it into a pot with water, stove ash water and lime water.
Remove the konjac from the water when it turns from light gray to dark gray. Soak it in water and let it cool. The konjac dish is now ready.
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