Chapter 17 Full of Motivation
Zeng Xiaoyan and Aunt Zhu'er simply wrapped all the money in a handkerchief and left it with Xu Zhichun. They went to dig konjac and pick kiwanos first, and then brought them back when they returned home later.
Xu Zhichun was willing to help them make money, allowing them to earn 151 cents a day, and of course he would not be greedy for their money.
They have nothing to worry about.
Zeng Xiaoyan carried an empty basket, Liang Mingliang carried a backpack, two hoes on one shoulder, and the other hand was holding the unloaded cow.
Later, we will dig konjac while letting the cow eat grass. Dad will take the cow out to eat grass at dawn, and it will be enough to eat once more in the afternoon so it won’t be hungry.
Xu Zhichun and Aunt Zhu'er each carried a basket and a small backpack and went to pick lantern fruits.
Because no one wanted them, digging konjac and picking lantern fruit were very easy and the whole mountain was full of them.
Xu Zhichun and Aunt Zhu'er thought about picking as many as possible. The seeds of the lantern fruit can be preserved, and it would be better to take more back.
The lantern fruits at this time of year are those left over from last year's ripening, and the new plants have not yet started to bloom at this time of year.
Many of the ripe lantern fruit have already fallen to the ground, and the fruit will easily fall off with a slight touch. Two people need to be extra careful when picking them.
If one is accidentally knocked off, Aunt Zhuer will feel sad, because that’s all money.
Xu Zhichun would also feel sad, but when he thought about the large amount of powder for making ice jelly in the harbor warehouse, he didn't feel so sad anymore.
Whether it is ice jelly or konjac flour, she will of course get some from the harbor warehouse to add it, otherwise it would be a waste.
If adding more can save you some trouble, why not do it?
"Sister-in-law Zhichun, Aunt Zhuer!"
The two were still busy when Zeng Xiaoyan waved from afar and jumped towards them.
"We've dug up a whole load of konjac and half a basket of it. Are you guys still not done? Let me help you."
Xu Zhichun saw that his basket was almost full, and Aunt Zhu'er's was the same, so he smiled and said, "We still have to go back and make some, so this is all for now, we can pick more tomorrow."
"That's right, let's go wash the konjac first."
They padded the backpack with large leaves, carefully poured the konjac fruit in it, and covered it with some pig grass. The three of them met up with Liang Mingliang. Liang Mingliang carried two loads of konjac, Xu Zhichun and Aunt Zhu'er used baskets to share some of the contents in the backpack, and Zeng Xiaoyan carried the backpack. They came to a section of the river where no one usually came to wash the konjac.
The three women were busy here, and Liang Mingliang had to go and look after the cows. It was almost time to drive them back.
Aunt Zhuer smiled and said, "Liang San is really hardworking."
Zeng Xiaoyan said: "When it comes to making money, of course he's diligent."
Xu Zhichun: "We are all the same."
"Haha, that's right!"
The three of them were talking and laughing, full of energy.
Liang Mingliang sent the ox back and simply left the ox cart in Xu Zhichun's yard, as he would need it early the next morning anyway.
When he came to the river again, they had almost finished washing the konjac.
After it was done, he helped carry the load, and Xu Zhichun and the others took a small amount and went back together.
When I met villagers on the road, I was curious to see them doing this.
"Wow, what is this? Taro? It doesn't look like it."
"Ah? Konjac? Oh, it's konjac root. Isn't it poisonous? Pigs can't eat it. Why do you want so much?"
Xu Zhichun: Look, if there's a plant with even a hint of character in the mountains, how could the villagers not know it? Even if it's not common, they can tell by name whether it's poisonous, whether it's edible, and whether it can be fed to chickens, ducks, cows, or pigs.
Therefore, it is unreliable to claim that sweet potatoes, corn, potatoes, etc. were found in the mountains.
It was normal for the villagers to be curious, so Xu Zhichun explained that he was trying to make snacks from his hometown and sell them to make a living.
After all, it can't be concealed, so I have to say it even if I have to be vague about it.
If you don't tell them that you're going to sell it to make money, and someone says casually, "You agreed to give me some to try," it would be awkward to give it to them, and awkward to refuse it either. What's more, if someone asks how you made it, it would be difficult to answer.
If you just tell me that you want to make money, people who know a little bit about the ways of the world won't ask such nonsense questions.
If some people are really thick-skinned, there is no need to be polite.
She now has to support her brother-in-law's studies, which is very hard. It is normal for her to find ways to make money, and it is even more normal to keep her secret recipe.
With yesterday's experience, I am more skilled at it today.
After all, this is not a difficult thing.
With the help of Liang Mingliang, who is happy to help, the efficiency is even higher.
Peel and dice the skin here, and when you have cut most of the beams into cubes, you can start grinding.
Liang Mingliang pushed the mill, Zeng Xiaoyan added diced konjac into the mill hole with a spoon, and Xu Zhichun and Aunt Zhuer continued to peel and dice the konjac.
Leave some of the snow-white konjac heart and cut it into cubes separately - for making konjac knots.
It is not difficult to peel the konjac as big as a bowl. Both people can cut quickly and steadily, so it doesn’t matter if the peel is a little thick.
Konjac juice can easily hurt your hands, so Xu Zhichun specially bought three feet of linen today, cut it into small pieces, and wrapped his hands in three or four layers.
You should be able to find rubber gloves if you look in the harbor warehouse, but they're too advanced to be used.
After cutting a load, there was still a basket left. Xu Zhichun smiled and said, "This is more than enough. Let's put the rest aside and deal with it tomorrow. Even if we cut it all, we won't need so much. We still need to shape it and cook it tonight."
Aunt Zhuer smiled and said yes, and then said: "I will come over to help after dinner. Our two families are close."
Xu Zhichun smiled and nodded, "Alright, Aunt Zhu'er will come after dinner and bring a pair of wooden buckets and a basin."
"Okay. Are the molds sufficient? I'll look for suitable wood in the wing room and see if I can make two more. If not, my husband should be back in a couple of days, so I'll have him make them."
Xu Zhichun smiled and said, "I was just about to say that. Let's make three more. I also want to ask Uncle Qi Tian to make a long table to hold basins, baskets, and other things."
"No problem, just ask him to do it when he comes back."
"Can he also make buckets and basins?"
"able!"
"That's great! I need to buy some new things for my family. If Uncle Qi Tian is free, I'd like to trouble him."
"It's no trouble at all. Just tell me and I'll make sure it's done quickly and well for you."
As they were talking, they had already started peeling the lantern fruit.
After peeling the konjac for a while, Xu Zhichun began to add alkaline water to the konjac paste, stir it, and shape it.
Today's quantity is large, and there are only three molds. The sooner we can finalize the shapes, the sooner we can finalize them. After finalizing the first batch, we still have to make several batches before we can complete them.
By the time Zeng Xiaoyan and her husband entered the house after grinding the konjac paste, the first batch of konjac tofu had already been cut into pieces and soaked in a wooden barrel, and they started to shape the second batch.
Liang Mingliang's eyes widened in surprise. "Is this really the konjac tofu made from the konjac pulp we just ground? How is it made?"
Xu Zhichun jokingly said, "This is our secret. I can't tell you."
(End of this chapter)
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