bookcurios Chapter 140: Mud Oven
Chapter 140: Mud Oven
But glutinous rice alone is not enough, she wants to add more flavors. This place is also in the north, so she thinks more people like to eat sweet rice dumplings, but there are exceptions to everything.
For example, she, a native northerner, likes to eat salty rice dumplings. In addition to rice dumplings, she also likes salty moon cakes and all kinds of rice noodles.
So we still have to make more flavors. What if everyone likes them? Even if we can’t sell them, we can keep them for ourselves and it’s not a loss.
After making up her mind, Cheng Yue asked Chen An to drive the ox cart to the grain store. In addition to the red beans and dates in the space, she also wanted to see if there was anything else that could be used as fillings.
However, the two of them went around several shops and only bought some dried lotus seeds.
I won’t even think about chestnuts. If you want to buy them you’ll have to wait until autumn.
Cheng Yue thought about it and decided that it didn’t matter, just make a few flavors.
There is no rush to make rice dumplings. The important thing right now is to decide on the pastries to be made.
She will make one in the next two days as a thank-you gift to Mr. Chen Sanye.
Since the pastries are all going to be given away, it might as well be a good idea to make a few rice dumplings and hear Mrs. Chen and the others’ opinions.
After Cheng Yue finished talking to Chen An, she felt that the more she talked about this, the more she complained. "I have to make cakes and zongzi at the same time. It's really a headache!"
Chen An said softly: "Ayue, you have worked hard. Since there are so many things to do, let's do them one by one. It's okay, don't worry.
If you want to give the gift boxes to Mr. Chen Sanye and his friends, you should buy ready-made ones. As for the gift boxes for the stewed food, I will make them. If you can’t wait, you can find someone else.”
Cheng Yue was an impatient person, but Chen An was always very patient and spoke softly, which was just enough to calm her temper.
Cheng Yue thought for a moment and said, "Well... why don't we ask someone else to make the gift box? You can make a big oven for me when you have time. I'll draw the blueprint when we get home."
The small oven in the space is the kind used at home. It can’t produce much at a time, and it will definitely not be enough once the shop opens.
She wanted to build a large clay oven, the traditional wood-heated kind.
"Okay, then I'll focus on making the oven and put off finding an apprentice for later."
Chen An agreed without thinking, no matter what he did, as long as he could help A Yue share the burden.
After discussing it, the two went to the carpenter's shop. The styles of gift boxes vary, and the prices vary depending on whether they are carved or not.
Apart from anything else, the county magistrate had made a special request, so the gift box naturally couldn't be sloppy. However, the carvings given by the carpenter were quite complicated, and she wanted something simpler.
Afterwards, Cheng Yue told the carpenter her idea and only made a hollow double circle in the middle of the lid, which meant reunion.
Partitions are also made inside, dividing the room into six equal compartments.
Cheng Yue asked the carpenter to make four, two for the county magistrate, one for braised food and the other for rice dumplings, as free snacks.
When it comes to favors, it’s best to get to know the person.
The other two are to be given to Mr. Chen Sanye.
The other boxes are made in the most ordinary way. You can just stick some red paper on them and write some auspicious words on them.
After all, it is still unknown whether these rice dumplings can sell well, and she doesn't want to invest too much money.
Finally, Cheng Yue told the carpenter the time to pick up the goods, and the latter repeatedly said it was no problem.
In this way, part of the matter was settled, and the two of them went home steadily.
The busy farming season is almost over, and people are gathering at the entrance of the village again, chattering about some unknown gossip.
When everyone saw Chen An and Cheng Yue coming back, they all smiled and greeted them. Aunt Zhou was not young, but she had sharp eyes. She noticed at a glance that Chen An's legs were different, and couldn't help but be surprised:
"Nephew Chen An, why did you remove the board on your leg?"
"Yes! I wouldn't have noticed if you hadn't told me. Is this okay?"
At that time, Cheng Yue and Zhao took money to find a doctor. They were all present. They also asked Chen An several times later and he said that he could get better, but they always felt that the hope was a little slim. After all, the injury was not light.
Everyone was concerned about him. Chen An felt warm inside. He shook his legs and said with a smile, "Yes, I am fine. I can get out of bed now."
"Oh! That's great!" Aunt Zhou exclaimed in surprise, and then quietly asked, "Is there anything wrong with walking?"
This was because they were afraid that he would become disabled, but Chen An couldn't show it to everyone, so he could only twist his foot and continue to grin, "No, I'm fine!"
"That's fine! Now that you're better, Cheng Yue can save some energy! Speaking of which, I really have to thank your wife for this!"
Your mother and your evil brother both said that you couldn't be cured. If Cheng Yue hadn't forced them to pay for a doctor, your leg would have been damaged!"
Aunt Zhou continued to perform steadily, praising Cheng Yue and not forgetting to step on Zhao and Chen Ping.
They are so cruel! If they knew that Chen An’s leg was healed, they would be so angry that they would die.
They deserve it! They are not human beings. They split up the family just because their child’s leg was injured. Who doesn’t know this?
Qian, who was standing nearby, touched Aunt Zhou's arm and reminded her in a low voice: "Mother, the engagement has been severed. What mother and elder brother..."
Aunt Zhou reacted and said quickly: "Look at my mouth, it's Zhao and Chen Ping!"
"It's okay. We are mother and son and brothers after all."
Chen An no longer cared about what to call them. He now only recognized Cheng Yue and the three children as a family.
Just like Aunt Zhou said, this life was given by A Yue, so the previous life should be regarded as returned to his mother.
The onlookers shook their heads secretly when they heard this. They didn't know what was wrong with Zhao's brain. Anyone could see that Chen An was the good one, but she treated Chen Ping as a treasure.
It’s okay even if he’s treated as a baby, after all, he’s her own son. But after all, Chen An is also her biological son, why does she treat him differently?
However, there are many biased parents. Who knows why? Maybe some parents just don't love their children.
Chen An and Cheng Yue talked to everyone for a while before going home. As soon as they left, there was a burst of clicking sounds from behind.
"It's been a few days, and the Zhao family is still busy working in the fields. In my opinion, all the wheat will be wasted!"
"Isn't it? This family is too lazy. Other people go to the fields early and come back late, but they go out late and come back early. It's a wonder they can finish harvesting! The grain tax is paid with money, tut tut."
"It's a good thing that Chen Ping can earn money, otherwise he would have starved to death."
Several people sighed again, and one of the women suddenly remembered something and shouted:
"Oh, right! Didn't Chen Ping come to your house? He said he was willing to pay our boss thirty cents a day to help.
But we didn't agree. Who knows if you can get the money?"
Chen Ping's character is really not very good, there is no guarantee that he will not do something that goes against his promise.
As soon as the woman said this, others followed suit, saying, "Why didn't he come to our house? He said he had harvested the wheat and planted the seeds!
There are so many jobs to do, there must be no other options, otherwise they would ask us for help? However, we didn’t agree to it either!"
The women spoke loudly, and Cheng Yue and Chen An had not walked far, so they naturally heard it.
This is a good thing, how can I not agree to it?