Shipin Dalizheng

But this was still pure sugar, and there was no cost reduction. Although the cost wasn't a big deal for Rong Tang, as it was just made from sorghum stalks, sugar itself was a scarce resource, and being able to turn one into two, and two into four, was even better.

"Next. Aunt Dahu, see if there are any raw peanuts, melon seeds, white sesame seeds, etc. at home. Fry them first and set aside."

Since the big pot outside was the main cooker, the small pot in the kitchen was no longer boiling, and Aunt Dahu also planned to clean the pot and wait for dinner. Wen Yan and Chun Cao searched for peanuts and sesame seeds.

"Just two."

"Okay, let's do the experiment first."

Aunt Dahu fried the peanuts and sesame seeds and put them in a bowl. Rong Tang also broke off a small half of a box of still warm sugar and put it into the pot. It soon turned into a slurry again.

"Aunt Dahu, crush the peanuts and put them in, stir-fry until evenly mixed. Chuncao, put baking paper on the bottom of the box and sprinkle a layer of sesame seeds. Aunt Dahu, take out the peanut candy and put it in the box, flatten it, very good. Chuncao, sprinkle some sesame seeds and roll it flat with a rolling pin."

After completing this set of processes, a small piece of candy becomes a large box of peanut sesame candy.

Time passed little by little, and before they knew it, it was dark. A large group of people gathered outside the kitchen. When they came out, they were shocked.

"Uncle Dashan, when did you come back?"

Rong Dashan said foolishly, "It's been a while. Anzi said that Prince Tang was doing something great and he doesn't want to be disturbed. Oh, the wine money, I gave it to Anzi, and the account has been reconciled."

They knew, they heard, that Prince Tang had made sugar and Rongjia Village was going to become wealthy.

Rong Tang gazed at the group, lost in thought. Winemaking and sugar production were both core technologies, and too many people knew about them now. Although he trusted everyone's character, with so many people around, there was always the possibility of someone leaking the secret and letting someone else get ahead of him...

Rong An now works with Rong Tang, and always considers Rong Tang first. He immediately understood Rong Tang's concerns and said, "Prince, let me handle this matter."

He gathered all the villagers into one room and said something to them. When they came out, everyone looked like they were wearing a tight ring, but also seemed to have calmed down.

"Prince Tang, we are back, back."

Everyone said goodbye in unison.

Rong Tang looked at Rong An, "What did you do?"

Rong An took out a stack of papers, which were letters of commitment, or oaths, from all those who knew about the situation, all stamped with bloody fingerprints.

Every word was filled with vicious words like "be struck by lightning," "die a miserable death," "intestines ripped out," "no descendants," and "there will be no redemption." Rong Tang wanted to laugh when he saw it.

The most special one among them is Rong Dashan. If he leaks the secret, he will not be able to have a son.

Secondly, Aunt Dahu, if she leaks the secret, her son won’t be able to find a wife.

These are all based on what each person fears the most, and they make vicious oaths. Although it is funny, it is also simple.

"this is mine."

Rong An wrote a contract to sell his body, and he even pressed his fingerprints on it in a very formal manner.

"You are talking nonsense. You are my uncle. If you dare to sell, I dare not buy."

He tore the paper in two snaps. "Alright, this prince never believes in oaths, only in his own instincts. Rong An, you are a person with a big heart, and you won't be trapped in the shallow pool of Rongjia Village. Listen to me, study hard when you have time, take the exams for the scholar and the juren. For a family to rise, it is not enough to rely on one person alone. The officialdom, the business world, and the battlefield are all our battlefields."

Rong An felt a sense of pride.

Finally, we took stock of the day's results. The first batch looked terrible, so we divided it all up. The second batch included a small basket of hard candies and two large baskets of peanut and sesame candies. Besides these finished products, there were also various types of candies scooped out at different times from the large pot simmered in the yard. There were three cans of thin, liquid candy, four tubs of solid malt sugar, and twelve boxes of solid hard candy.

Chuncao said, "Master, we have used up all the containers at home. We have to go buy new ones tomorrow."

"Why buy new ones? I, an old man, want some too."

Doctor Zhang, who had been out for the whole day, came back with slow steps, as if he had fallen, and there were grass scraps in his hair.

Chuncao stamped her feet and said, "Where have you been? The house is so busy, and you've been gone all day without helping. Yet you're not vague when you ask for things. I don't have any, and even if I do, I won't give them to you."

Doctor Zhang sniffed the air hard, smelling a sweet and greasy smell, as well as the aroma of peanuts and sesame seeds.

Suddenly his eyes lit up, "Delicious food is ready, bring it to me quickly. I've been on the mountain all day with nothing to eat. I'm starving."

Chuncao said something disdainful, but still grabbed a few peanut candies and gave them to him, "They're too sweet, eat less."

Doctor Zhang peeled one and put it in his mouth, squinting his eyes happily. "It's sweet and fragrant, so good. Boy, you have a conscience. It's worth my early morning trip up the mountain to collect tonic herbs for you."

Rong An looked at Rong Tang, "Is the prince feeling unwell?"

Rong Tang quickly rushed Doctor Zhang inside, "Go wash up quickly, and let Aunt Dashan make some noodles for us. Li Jin, go and help Grandpa Zhang rub his back."

Not long after Rong An left, Li Jin came over and said, "Grandpa Zhang's leg is bleeding. He said he fell. I saw tooth marks, like a beast's bite. He didn't let me tell you."

"What a troublesome old man."

Rong Tang cursed as he returned to his room, picked up a small medicine box, and took Doctor Zhang to treat his wound.

"Old man, are you dressed? I'm here to see you."

"Damn boy, who asked you to come?"

Rong Tang pushed the door open and saw that Doctor Zhang was only wearing a pair of shorts and a coarse cloth coat. His doctor's uniform was thrown aside and stained with blood.

"You said you fell, but you almost got eaten, didn't you? Stretch out your legs so I can take a look."

Seeing that he could no longer hide the truth, Doctor Zhang puffed his beard and glared, and still stretched out his injured leg to show him. He saw two bloody holes on each side, and a deep scratch more than two inches long that needed stitches.

"Old man, you must have gone deep into the mountains, otherwise how could the wolf have taken it away?"

Doctor Zhang was so angry that he scolded him, "You rascal, what do you mean by 'being carried away by a wolf'? How could it possibly carry me? I still weigh over a hundred pounds! Ah—, murderous! What did you apply to me? It hurts so much!"

"This is alcohol, used to disinfect wounds. What does disinfection mean, you ask? It means that wounds are dirty, and there are invisible poisonous gases corroding your flesh, causing them to not heal, fester, ooze pus, become black, become necrotic, and lead to amputation, even to death."

"Don't you want me to order something?"

"I hope you're well, too. Why didn't you threaten the big wolf on the mountain and tell him his secret? Did you let him lie down and practice acupuncture for you?"

Doctor Zhang was in so much pain that he grabbed his hands around, allowing Rong Tang to see the needle and thread in his right hand.

"What do you want to do? You want to sew it up yourself?"

Doctor Zhang said firmly, "Why, you're not allowed to? This stitch was invented by Mo Huai'en. He's monopolized it, and you're not allowed to sew it? Not even after he dies?"

Rong Tang gritted his teeth. Doctor Mo was really involved in everything.

"Just straighten your leg and I'll sew it up for you. Don't worry, I'm not good at anything else, but I'm an expert at suturing external injuries."

He added in his heart, I was also the one who taught Doctor Mo.

Doctor Zhang yelled, "Nonsense, you little brat... Ouch! It hurts so much."

Rong Tang threatened him forcefully, "Old man, I'm not a brat, I'm also a wolf!"

Doctor Zhang bared his teeth and fell silent, like a bullied young wife.

"Look, this is the needle used to sew wounds. Disinfect it before use. The thread is mulberry bark thread. No need to pull it out. Don't interrupt me. I'll teach you how to make mulberry bark thread when I have time. There's no anesthetic, so it'll hurt a little, but fortunately it won't kill you or paralyze you. Just bear with it..."

"Ow..."