More Delicious
First, Lao Wu and the others went to the city to sell candy in order to earn money. The family then started cooking for the service area to generate income. Finally, they started selling ginger to make a profit.
No matter which way, it was all very hard work, but they earned a lot. Unlike farming, which is weather-dependent, Xiao Qian found selling items to be an easy way to make money.
As long as the products were of good quality, the family could still consume them even if they couldn't be sold. Xiao Qian didn't worry about making a trip for nothing because, in the winter, everyone had plenty of free time.
Even if the Zhou family needed to build a house now, it wouldn't be a problem to send someone to the county town.
Xiao Qian had it all planned out. If Zhou Xi couldn't make time, then they would send Dàtóu and Dàyā.
The two siblings, Dàtóu, who is ten years old and has already been to the county town many times to help sell things, and Xiao Qian, had full confidence in themselves.
With this in mind, Xiao Qian called all the children playing in the yard over and had them wash the remaining yam beans, while she heated water to peel them.
Zhou Erlang asked Feng Shi for help. Feng Shi examined the bamboo skewers they had used to string the yam beans, then went to the woodshed to locate a thick piece of wood and began drilling holes.
He planned to make a wooden board for them to insert the candied haws, to avoid burning their hands every time.
Before long, it was dark, but no one went to sleep. Instead, they squatted in the kitchen, watching Xiao Qian make candied haws by the fire.
Because there were quite a few yam beans strung this time, Xiao Qian hesitated for a moment and then gave each child a string; even the youngest, Zhou Si, got one.
Everyone got the candied haws they had been longing for and dispersed, satisfied.
Mǎn Bǎo took her candied haws and rushed back to her room to share them with her parents.
Lao Zhou was becoming more and more fond of sweets. He grabbed Mǎn Bǎo's hand and took two bites, patting her head affectionately, "Good girl, you're much better than your three brothers." "Those little rascals wouldn't even think to let their parents have some first."
Feeling a little sorry for Mǎn Bǎo, she immediately proudly puffed out her chest. After hesitating for a moment, she boldly extended her hand forward, saying, "Dad, if you like it, have some more."
Lao Zhou smiled and said, "It's too sweet. I've had enough for today." "You can give me more to eat later."
Mǎn Bǎo immediately withdrew her hand and said happily, "Dad, don't worry." "When my sister-in-law makes them again, I'll save some for you."
Mǎn Bǎo then looked at Qian Shi and, leaning in close, said, "Mom, have another one."
Qian Shi glanced at her husband and shook her head slightly, smiling, "Mom won't have any more." Please go ahead and eat. After you are done, remember to rinse your mouth and go to bed early. "You have to go to school tomorrow."
Mǎn Bǎo nodded happily, deciding to go to bed quickly so she could start fresh in the morning.
Of course, good things should be shared with good friends. The next day, Mǎn Bǎo squatted in front of a row of candied haws, picking out the two fattest strings to give one to Bai Shanbao.
Xiao Qian inserted the remaining candied haws into the haystack and asked Zhou Xi to take them to the county town.
This time, Dàtóu and Dàyā also went with them, and they would be responsible for selling the candied haws.
The entire Zhou family was very busy. From Zhou Dalang to Zhou Sìlǎng, the four of them had to stay at home to build the house, while Zhou Wǔlǎng, Zhou Liùlǎng, and Zhou Xǐ had to go to the county town to sell ginger.
Mǎn Bǎo still went to school, and she felt very busy.
Mǎn Bǎo gave the candied haws to Bai Shanbao, who was eating them for the first time and was pleasantly surprised, "So delicious, I want more."
Mǎn Bǎo invited him, "We have a lot at home." My sister-in-law will make a lot of delicious things.
Bai Shanbao, with his mouth watering, indicated that he wanted to go home with Mǎn Bǎo.
The entire Zhou family warmly welcomed the visit of the young master from the Bai family, knowing that he had come to eat candied haws. Xiao Qian took out the remaining candied haws and let them eat to their heart's content, saying, "Eat up." I'll have Er Tóu and the others pick some more yam beans later and make another pot. The young master can take some home to eat.
Mǎn Bǎo was overjoyed, and Er Tóu and Er Yā were also very happy. They had been wanting to steal some candied haws all day, but they hadn't dared to do so and hadn't found an opportunity.
Er Tóu and Mǎn Bǎo said, "Little Miss, it's great that Bai Gege came to our house as a guest."
Mǎn Bǎo also thought it was great, so she turned to Bai Shanbao and said, "Would you like to come to my house to play every day and then ask my sister-in-law for candied haws?"
Bai Shanbao said, "...Clearly, you want to eat them."
"Don't you want to eat them?"
Bai Shanbao thought about it and realized that he did want to eat them.
He turned to Mǎn Bǎo and said, "Then tell my grandmother that you want to eat the osmanthus cake from our house."
Mǎn Bǎo wasn't very fond of osmanthus cake from the Bai family; now, she prefers glutinous rice cakes. But it seemed like a trade, so she hesitated for a moment and asked, "Can I say one more thing?" "I actually think glutinous rice cakes are better than osmanthus cakes."
"Clearly, osmanthus cakes are better." Then tell my grandmother that you want to eat both glutinous rice cakes and osmanthus cakes.
Mǎn Bǎo agreed, and the two children reached a consensus.
In the evening, Bai Shanbao took four strings of candied haws home and told his grandmother, "Mǎn Bǎo's family's candied haws are especially delicious, and she really likes the osmanthus cake from our house."
Madam Liu, who was not blind, could clearly see Mǎn Bǎo's snack preferences at their house. She asked, "Is the osmanthus cake what you want to eat?" Mǎn Bǎo prefers to eat glutinous rice cakes.
Bai Shanbao said, "She likes both now." "Grandmother, don't believe me." "Ask her when she comes to our house tomorrow."
Madam Zheng couldn't help but smile, "You must want to eat osmanthus cake, so you made her say that, right?"
Mǎn Bǎo's preferences were a little different from Bai Shanbao's. She liked to eat lightly sweetened foods, while Bai Shanbao preferred sweeter ones. The sweeter it was, the more he liked it.
Madam Liu was concerned that the child would damage his teeth by consuming excessive sweets, so she always restricted the quantity of pastries he could have.
But she also accepted the child's occasional coquetry, so she said, "When Mǎn Bǎo comes tomorrow, I'll ask her how many strings of candied haws you ate at her house."
Bai Shanbao reluctantly held up three fingers, so Madam Liu confiscated the four strings of candied haws he had brought back and said, "You've had enough sweets today." Save these for tomorrow.
After a pause, she smiled and asked, "Are you going to share them with your grandmother and mother?"
Bai Shanbao naturally agreed, so the four strings became two. Bai Shanbao was feeling a little sad, especially since he could only gaze at the food today without being able to eat it.
Madam Liu took a bite and found that the candied haws were indeed delicious. She discovered that they were made with yams, which she knew were beneficial for digestion and spleen health.
After taking a bite, she smiled and said, "It's not bad." Tomorrow, when they dig up the yams, remember to buy some from them and bring them back to make some yam cakes.
Madam Zheng agreed.
Bai Shanbao muttered, "Yam cakes aren't as good as osmanthus cakes…"
Madam Liu was speechless after hearing this.