After dinner, except for Teacher Zhou and those working overtime to build houses, Xiang Dong and Er Hu, everyone else did not go back to rest. They decided to start right away.
When Chen Lan, Cui Qiao, and Hu Yuzhen finished moving peanuts and sesame seeds from the warehouse, Grandma took charge of assigning tasks.
Grandma asked everyone to peel peanuts first, and then had Zhao Dama, Li Dama, and Little Zhou Dama stir-fry and cool the sesame seeds. The three grandmas immediately got busy.
Indeed, there were many hands, and in no time, a large pile of peanuts was peeled.
Grandma saw that there were enough peanuts to fry a pot, so she asked Li Dama and the others to continue frying peanuts after finishing the sesame seeds. At this time, Little Zhou Dama washed the peanuts with water, poured them into the pot, and asked Li Dama to turn down the heat to a simmer. They slowly stirred with a spatula until the crackling sound from the peanuts in the pot gradually disappeared. Only then did Little Zhou Dama scoop the peanuts out of the pot and spread them on a large winnowing basket to cool.
Thus, everyone was peeling peanuts, frying peanuts, and eating peanuts at the same time. The cooled peanuts were crispy and fragrant, making it impossible for everyone to stop eating.
Grandma said with a smile, "Everyone, don't rush to eat yet. Finish your work first. There will be plenty of time later for you to take home and eat slowly."
At this point, someone suggested, "Auntie, everyone is here now, and there are many people working. Why don't we start making peanut candy, puffed rice candy, and sesame candy now? That way, we won't delay for another day. Tomorrow, everyone still needs to go up the mountain to find mountain goods?"
Everyone else agreed, saying, "This is a good idea. It makes sense. We can't delay a whole day for a few snacks."
Since everyone said so, Chen Lan and Grandma had no reason to disagree.
So, Grandma ceded her position, and Chen Dama continued to be the overall commander. Chen Dama instructed Qian Yingzi and the others to rub off the skins of the cooled peanuts with their hands, then put the peeled peanuts into a clean cloth bag and crush them into peanut crumbs with a rolling pin. After crushing, they were poured into a clean basin.
While everyone was busy, Chen Lan quietly went to the storeroom, opened the system with her mind, and ordered thirty jin of shelled sunflower seeds, twenty jin of dried grapes, and thirty jin of shelled walnuts, along with other dried nuts. Carrying them with both hands, she returned to the main kitchen.
As soon as Chen Lan entered the main kitchen, she smelled the strong aroma of puffed rice. She saw Chen Dama pouring a small amount of oil into a large iron pot, then adding about a jin of rice, and then stirring it with a spatula.
While stirring, she said to Li Dama, who was tending the fire, "Li Dama, turn the heat down to a simmer." With that, she covered the pot. Li Dama said "Ai" and pulled out the large logs from the stove.
After about a minute, crackling sounds could be heard from the pot. She quickly lifted the lid and stirred continuously with the spatula to ensure the rice was heated evenly. Thus, puffed rice was made.
By the time all the preparations were done, it was already moonrise. Everyone was still enthusiastically waiting. Chen Lan saw that it was getting late and voluntarily stepped forward to assist Chen Dama. Using the pot, they first made puffed rice candy.
Following Chen Dama's instructions, Chen Lan poured some maltose into the pot to melt, then added two handfuls of dried grapes, two handfuls of shelled sunflower seeds, and the puffed rice. She stirred them quickly while hot. Chen Dama brought over a small winnowing basket that had been brushed with cooked oil, so it wouldn't stick. She asked Chen Lan to scoop the evenly mixed puffed rice candy into it, then pressed it flat with a clean wooden board. Chen Dama said to press it as tightly and firmly as possible.
After pressing, the puffed rice candy was cut into small pieces with a knife.
While washing the pot, Chen Lan grabbed a piece and put it in her mouth. The puffed rice candy was sweet but not greasy, crispy and sweet; the sunflower seeds were also crispy and fragrant; combined with the sweetness of the dried grapes, it was just right!
Seeing that it was done, everyone swarmed around. In no time, the pot of puffed rice candy was divided. Chen Lan decided to add more maltose and puffed rice to make a larger batch next time. Since she had plenty of strength and it was the right time to use it, she would make good use of it today!
The method for making peanut candy and sesame candy was exactly the same as making puffed rice candy, only the ingredients were different.
By the time the puffed rice candy, peanut candy, and sesame candy were finished, it was already past midnight. The classmates could no longer stay awake and were sent home one by one by Ming Wei.
After everything was cleaned up, it was very late, but everyone was still incredibly excited about dividing the candy. Grandma, unit by unit of family, distributed a cloth bag of various candies to each household.
After all the candy was distributed, everyone happily carried a cloth bag of candy home.
Having exerted themselves greatly all night, Chen Lan went straight to sleep without even washing up when she returned home. Fortunately, this body had a good foundation and was young! The next morning, Chen Lan woke up on time, took a hot bath in the washroom, and felt revitalized. A new day had begun.
After breakfast, as Chen Lan was about to leave with the women, carrying her basket to go up the mountain to collect mountain goods, Grandma called out to her. Grandma said, "Xiao Lan! Ming Zhe was asking me yesterday when we can harvest the sugarcane we planted on the two acres of land!"
Chen Lan slapped her forehead. She had completely forgotten about the sugarcane. She had remembered it when harvesting sugar beets, but then, after getting busy, she had forgotten all about it. If they didn't harvest it soon, the ground would freeze as soon as the weather changed.
She immediately said, "Grandma, if you hadn't mentioned it today, I would have completely forgotten! The sugarcane is ripe and can be harvested!"
Chen Lan thought for a moment and then said, "Grandma, the season for collecting mountain goods has arrived. If we don't collect the mountain goods from the mountains soon, we'll miss our chance. I need to take Chen Dasao, Qian Yingzi, and Cui Qiao up the mountain to find more mountain goods so that everyone can have something delicious to eat during the winter. Also, there are many more people in the mountain valley this year, so I need to hunt more game to get through the winter.
For the sugarcane harvesting, please trouble you and the other grandmas to go and collect it. If necessary, you can ask Ming Wei to have the students from the reading club help with harvesting the sugarcane in the field."
Grandma said with a smile, "Xiao Lan, you and Cui Qiao go and do your work. You don't need to worry about the sugarcane. Just leave it to me and your other grandmas! You can rest assured! I will definitely arrange this matter perfectly for you!"
Harvesting sugarcane was a small matter for Grandma, and Chen Lan had no reason to worry! So, she thanked Grandma and went up the mountain with the women.