Divorced woman with child travels through time

Aunt Liu made everyone a bowl of sugar water with syrup, and then grabbed a handful of peanuts to eat with them.

Raw peanuts with sugar water—Chen Wenfang is a picky eater and finds the combination of raw and cooked peanuts to have a raw taste that she doesn't like. So she asked, "Aunt Liu, why don't you roast the peanuts before eating them?"

Aunt Liu said, "I did try frying them once, but the outside was burnt while the inside was still raw. We eat about a hundred pounds of peanuts like that at home."

Chen Wenfang then said, "Aunt Liu, could we fry some peanuts and sell them?"

Aunt Liu said, "I've thought about it, but I don't know how to cook it."

Chen Wenfang smiled and said, "I know how, I'll teach you."

Aunt Liu laughed and said, "You have a way to prevent it from burning?"

Uncle Liu Hai exclaimed with delight, "If you can sell all the peanuts, then you are truly a benefactor to our family!"

Chen Wenfang said, "I've seen others stir-fry it before. They add river sand when stir-frying it together. It doesn't burn easily and it's very fragrant."

He then laughed and said, "Uncle Liu Hai, you're being too formal. I've been here entirely thanks to your help. Without your cornmeal, my mother and I would have a hard time surviving. I won't say thank you. Just go to the river and get a few pounds of sand. Remember to wash the sand clean before you go."

Aunt Liu smiled and said, "Of course we trust you. Let's cook some now and try it out. We can go to the market together tomorrow to sell them."

Uncle Liu Hai smiled and agreed, then went to the riverbank to fetch several pounds of river sand. Chen Wenfang directed the operation, while Aunt Liu tended the fire. The three children picked through the peanuts, discarding any bad, rotten, or very small ones. Uncle Liu Hai poured the washed river sand into a clean, oil-free wok and heated it over high heat. Then he added the peanuts and quickly stirred them to mix them evenly with the sand. This is why Chen Wenfang was directing the operation; stir-frying this requires strong arms and constant stirring, otherwise it will burn easily.

The three little ones had been waiting by the pot ever since the peanuts were poured in, and they couldn't resist when the aroma started to waft out.

"Give me one in a bit, I'll try it and see if it's cooked."

A moment later, someone said, "I think it's already cooked. If you don't believe me, give me one to try."

Chen Xuanyu remained silent, while Xiaolu stared longingly at Uncle Liu Hai. Uncle Liu Hai, unable to bear it, reached out and gave him a peanut, saying with a smile, "Be careful, it's hot!" Chen Xuanyu took the peanut, exclaiming, "Ah, it's so hot!" He tossed it from hand to hand, unwilling to drop it. Uncle Liu Hai then gave one each to Dazhuang and Shitou, and the three of them tossed it together, their cries of "So hot! So hot!" rising and falling in a lively chorus. Dazhuang was the first to get a bite.

Chen Wenfang asked with a smile, "Is it cooked yet?"

Dazhuang, with his mouth full, said, "It smells so good, but it's not cooked yet. Dad, give me another one."

Chen Wenfang laughed heartily.

Continue frying the peanuts over medium-low heat until the shells turn slightly yellow, indicating they are cooked. Then, pour the peanuts into a bamboo sieve to remove any sand. The three little ones had already eaten quite a few, their little hands turning red from the heat. Smelling the rich aroma of the peanuts, Chen Wenfang also ate a few; they were indeed delicious. Uncle Liu Hai and Aunt Liu both ate a handful with delight, unanimously agreeing that these would definitely be a novelty to sell at the market tomorrow.

Chen Wenfang laughed and said, "This crop has just been planted, and not many people are planting it, let alone roasting it. We can roast more so the price will be higher. Next year, when the peanut harvest comes, there will be more people selling them, and it won't be as profitable."

Uncle Liu Hai said, "Sister Chen is right. Honey, let's work a little harder tonight. Besides keeping some for food and for breeding, let's cook the rest."

Aunt Liu said, "I'm not tired because I can make money. Fang'er, if you're tired, go home first. We'll go to the market together tomorrow."

Chen Wenfang was indeed tired, so she agreed to take the child home on her own.

Uncle Liu and his family worked together, staying up half the night to roast nearly fifty pounds of peanuts before finally resting after they had burned out all the firewood in their house.