Sugar-roasted chestnuts originated in Bianliang (Kaifeng) during the Northern Song Dynasty and are now a very common snack in various places. In winter, stalls are set up everywhere, using a large iron pot to roast chestnuts with pebbles.
Lin Ying collected a wide variety of dried fruits, so for convenience, she simply went to the riverbank and picked up pebbles.
After returning, she started washing the stones, rinsing them several times. While they were drying, Lin Ying washed some chestnuts and then made incisions in them.
There was no need to light a fire to stir-fry this, and it would be better to stir-fry it over a low flame, so Lin Ying simply used a small pot to stir-fry it on the stove.
Place an iron pot on the stove, pour in pebbles, sprinkle in white sugar, and stir-fry continuously with cooking oil.
After the pot was heated up, Lin Ying put the chestnuts in and continued to stir them.
Just as Lin Ying was busy, she saw Xiao Shuai emerge from the doorway of the shed she had set up behind the building, all smiles.
"Hey, Auntie, what are you busy with?"
Lin Ying turned around and glanced back: "Didn't you go out to play with your brother?"
Xiaoqiang, who had been called, came out from behind: "Auntie, I'm here. We listened to 'Taking Tiger Mountain by Strategy' yesterday, and we're having it again today."
Lin Ying understood; they were here to listen to the radio: "Okay, then you can go in and play by yourselves. Do you know how to turn on the radio?"
Xiaoqiang nodded immediately: "Yes, I was the one who turned off the radio yesterday."
Lin Ying was no longer worried: "Then you guys go have fun."
Upon hearing Lin Ying's words, the group behind them cheered. They urged Xiao Qiang to hurry up, but upon entering and seeing Lin Ying, they didn't forget to call out, "Auntie."
Lin Ying waved for them to go inside and play. She couldn't stop what she was doing.
After pouring the syrup twice more, the chestnuts started to "smile," and Lin Ying finally took the pot off the stove.
Lin Ying tried one and thought it tasted good, so she was satisfied. She kept some for herself and took the rest back to her room in a basket.
Back in the room, I saw the children sitting on the floor, some with their little hands propped up on the long table, others lying directly on the floor, their eyes fixed on the radio.
Even though there's no TV, they're all so focused. If there were a TV, these kids would probably be even more excited.
When Lin Ying came in, everyone subconsciously looked over, and then their eyes fell on Lin Ying's hands.
Lin Ying couldn't help but find it amusing; it seemed there was something that couldn't tempt them.
She placed the chestnuts on the table: "Be careful, they're hot."
After that, I went out and washed some pears for them.
The room was hot and dry, so she was too lazy to pour water for each of them.
It's just the right time to eat a pear.
After putting the pears in, Lin Ying washed some chestnuts. This time, she didn't open the chestnuts; she just stir-fried them directly. Opened chestnuts, of course, absorb the flavor more easily.
However, Lin Ying felt that if she cooked too much, she might not be able to finish it all at once, and the remaining unopened pieces could be eaten slowly later.
When some chestnuts started to crack open while frying, Lin Ying quickly took the pan off the stove, but many still cracked open.
Lin Ying filled a vegetable washing basin with chestnuts, and looking at the stones in the pot, she thought for a moment and then simply fried some rice, corn, and soybeans. She also added the hazelnuts and walnuts she had picked.
Each time I stir-fry a little bit, I send some more in. The kids inside are eating like it's New Year's Day, they can't keep up with the food.
After finishing cooking all of these, Lin Ying stopped. Looking at the bowls full of food, she turned her attention to the remaining ula grass at home. But what she needed to do now was to clean up the pot and make some cooling sweet soup.
These kids have eaten so much hard work, and it's so hot at home. I'm afraid if they don't cool down, their mouths will all get blisters.
Pour the stones from the pot onto the snow outside, and soon the snow melts, creating a pit.
Lin Ying ignored it and washed the pot with water before starting to boil sweet water.
Simmer pear slices, red dates, dried tangerine peel, lily bulbs, preserved plums, white fungus, rock sugar, and goji berries to make a red date, dried tangerine peel, and pear soup. This soup is good for moisturizing the lungs, relieving coughs, clearing phlegm, and stimulating appetite. The combination of dried tangerine peel and pears effectively moisturizes the lungs and relieves coughs, while the addition of red dates invigorates qi, strengthens the spleen, and aids digestion. Red dates are known as natural vitamin pills and have the effects of nourishing yin and yang and replenishing blood.
The key is that it's sweet water, and kids will love it.
Because there weren't many bowls and utensils at home, and Lin Ying didn't want to make someone go back to get a bowl just for a drink of sweet water, she had no choice but to bring out all her own bowls and water jars.
It was cold outside, and the temperature of the sweet water dropped in just a short while.
Lin Ying took the pot to the kitchen and let the two of them share one bowl.
Of course, Lin Ying had checked that these children were healthy and wouldn't catch any diseases from drinking sweet water, otherwise her good intentions would backfire.
Lin Ying listened to the broadcast for a while and realized that the drama on the radio wouldn't stop anytime soon, so she told them to bring their own water cups next time they came.
When everyone heard that they would be able to drink sweet water, they all readily agreed.
Lin Ying made a lot of sweet soup, so they drank it like water.
This resulted in the children needing to use the toilet more frequently. The bucket of water she had filled that morning was already empty. However, it wasn't a big deal, and Lin Ying wouldn't fuss over a bucket of water.
She was busy all afternoon, and the children played at her house all day.
What made Lin Ying feel gratified was that these children were quite obedient. Although they would make a fuss, they would not touch her things. They would eat what she gave them, but they would not leave things scattered all over the floor.
There is a trash can in Lin Ying's living room, and they always throw their trash in it. In fact, after drinking the sugar water, the older children will even take the initiative to wash the dishes.
Lin Ying's family had no shortage of food. Although she was somewhat afraid of crowded places and didn't like being with a group of adults, she enjoyed having these children around. It made the house feel more lively.
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