They've all separated, so what does it matter to me if they get poorer and poorer?

Chapter 17 Full of Enthusiasm
Zeng Xiaoyan and Aunt Zhu'er simply wrapped all the money in handkerchiefs and left it with Xu Zhichun, then went to dig up konjac and pick lantern fruits, planning to bring it back later when they returned home.

Xu Zhichun was willing to help them make money, allowing them to earn 151 coins a day, so of course he wouldn't covet their money.

They had nothing to worry about.

Zeng Xiaoyan carried an empty basket, Liang Mingliang carried a basket on his back, with two hoes on one shoulder and a cow that had been unloaded from the cart in the other.

While we're digging konjac, we'll let the cow graze. Dad took the cow out to graze once at dawn, and it will be enough for it to eat again in the afternoon, so it won't go hungry.

Xu Zhichun and Aunt Zhu'er each carried a basket and a small backpack to pick lantern fruit.

Because nobody wanted them, digging up konjac and picking lantern fruit went very smoothly; the whole mountain was full of them.

Xu Zhichun and Aunt Zhu'er thought they should pick as many as possible, since the seeds of the lantern fruit could be kept, and it would be better to bring back more.

The lantern fruits at this time of year are all left over from last year's ripening; the new plants haven't even started flowering yet.

Many of the ripe lantern fruits had already fallen to the ground, and the fruits would easily fall off with the slightest touch. Two people needed to be extra careful when picking them.

If even one of them is accidentally knocked off, Aunt Pearl will feel a pang of heartache, because it's all money.

Xu Zhichun also felt sorry for him, but when he thought about how much powder was used to make ice jelly in the harbor warehouse, he felt less sorry for him.

Whether it's ice jelly or konjac powder, she'll definitely get some from the harbor warehouse to add; why not?

If adding it can reduce some of the hard work, why not do it?
"Sister-in-law Zhichun, Aunt Zhu'er!"

The two were still busy when Zeng Xiaoyan waved from afar and hopped towards them.

"We've dug up a load and more than half a basket of konjac, are you still not done? Let me help you."

Xu Zhichun looked at his basket, which was almost full, and Zhu'er's was the same. He smiled and said, "We still have to go back and make more. That's enough for now. We'll pick more tomorrow."

"That's true, let's go wash the konjac first."

They lined the basket with large leaves, carefully poured in the lantern fruit, and covered it with some pigweed. The three of them then joined Liang Mingliang, who carried two loads of konjac. Xu Zhichun and Aunt Zhu'er shared some of the load in their baskets, while Zeng Xiaoyan carried her own basket. They went to a section of the river that no one usually came to wash the konjac.

The three women were busy working here, and Liang Mingliang went to watch the cattle; it was almost time to drive them back.

Aunt Zhu'er laughed and said, "Liang San is really diligent."

Zeng Xiaoyan said, "He's certainly diligent when it comes to making money."

Xu Zhichun: "We're all the same."

"Haha, that's right!"

The three chatted and laughed, full of energy.

Liang Mingliang sent the ox back and simply left the oxcart in Xu Zhichun's yard, since he would need it again early the next morning anyway.

When he returned to the river, they had almost finished washing the konjac.

After he finished, he helped carry the load, and Xu Zhichun and the others took a small portion and went back together.

I met some villagers on the way, and they were all curious to see what they were doing.

"Whoa, what is this? Taro? It doesn't look like it."

"Huh? Konjac? Oh, it's devil's tongue. Isn't that poisonous? Even pigs can't eat it. Why do you need so much?"

Xu Zhichun: Look, what villager doesn't know about any plant in the mountains that has even a slightly distinctive appearance? If it's not commonly seen, they can tell from its name whether it's poisonous, edible, or suitable for feeding chickens, ducks, cattle, or pigs.

Therefore, claiming that sweet potatoes, corn, potatoes, etc., were found on the mountain is all unreliable.

It was normal for the villagers to be curious, so Xu Zhichun explained that he was trying to make some local snacks to earn a living. After all, he couldn't hide it forever, so he had to give a vague explanation.

If you don't mention that you're making it to sell and make money, it's awkward if someone casually says, "We agreed to share some with me to try." Giving it or not giving it is awkward, and even worse, if someone asks how you made it, it's hard to answer.

If you just say you want to make money, anyone with a modicum of social skills wouldn't ask unnecessary questions.

There are a few shameless individuals, and there's no need to be polite to them.

She's currently supporting her brother-in-law's education, which is very hard for her. It's normal for her to try to earn money, and it's even more normal for her to keep her secret recipe.

With yesterday's experience, I was more skilled at it today.

After all, this wasn't a difficult thing to do.

With the addition of the cheerful and helpful Liang Mingliang, efficiency has increased even more.

After peeling and dicing the meat, Liang Mingliang can start grinding the grains once he has diced most of the meat and cut it into small pieces.

Liang Mingliang pushed the millstone, while Zeng Xiaoyan used a spoon to add konjac cubes into the mill hole. Xu Zhichun and Aunt Zhu'er continued to peel and dice the konjac.

Set aside some diced, snow-white konjac hearts separately—to make konjac knots later.

Peeling a konjac twig the size of a bowl isn't difficult; two people can cut it quickly and steadily, and it's okay if it's peeled a little thicker.

Konjac juice can easily irritate the hands, so Xu Zhichun specially bought three feet of linen today, cut it into small pieces, and wrapped it around his hands three or four times.

You should be able to find rubber gloves in the harbor warehouses, but these things are too advanced for us to use.

After chopping one load, there was still one basket left. Xu Zhichun laughed and said, "This is enough. Let's leave the rest for tomorrow. Even if we chop them all, we won't need this much. We still need to shape them and cook them tonight."

Aunt Zhu smiled and agreed, adding, "I'll come over and help after dinner; our two families live close by."

Xu Zhichun smiled and nodded: "Alright, Aunt Zhu'er will come after dinner, and she can bring a pair of wooden buckets and a basin with her."

"Okay. Are there enough molds? I'll look around the side room for some suitable wood to see if we can make two more. If we don't have suitable wood, my husband should be back in a couple of days, so I'll have him make them."

Xu Zhichun laughed and said, "I was just about to say that. Let's make three more. I also want to ask Uncle Qitian to make a long table so we can put basins, baskets and other things on it."

"No problem, I'll have him do it when he gets back."

"Can he make buckets and basins too?"

"can!"

"That would be wonderful. I need to buy a lot of things for my house. If Uncle Qitian has time, I'll trouble him."

"What's the trouble? Just tell me, and I'll make sure it's done quickly and well for you."

As they talked, the two began peeling the lantern fruit.

After peeling for a while, Xu Zhichun began to add alkaline water to the konjac paste, stir, and shape it.

Today's production volume is large, and we only have three molds. We need to finalize the shapes as soon as possible. After the first batch is finalized, there will still be several batches to go before we can finish.

When Zeng Xiaoyan and her husband came into the house after grinding the konjac into a paste, the first batch of konjac tofu had already been cut into pieces and soaked in a wooden bucket, and they were starting 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, we can't tell you."

(End of this chapter)