Everyone waited with great anticipation, eager to see what their homemade sugar would look like. Would it be the same as the ones sold outside? They all looked forward to tasting the sugar they had made themselves.
After two days of eager waiting, this day, after breakfast, everyone gathered outside the main kitchen, waiting to know the final result. Most importantly, they wanted to know if the sugar had been successfully made.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, the old woman had Zhou Da Niang and Li Da Niang bring out the basins containing the sugar from the storeroom. The old woman gently removed a layer of hard sugar crust from the top of the basin with her hand and then said, "This part is also sugar, though not much. If this crust is crushed, it will become the white granulated sugar we are familiar with."
With that, she placed the sugar crust in another small basin and handed it to Zhou Da Niang, who was standing beside her, instructing, "Zhou Da Niang, could you please help crush this sugar crust? I'll need it later."
Zhou Da Niang happily took the basin and went to work nearby.
Chen Lan was a bit puzzled. The sugar had already been made; what use was the sugar crust? At most, it could be dissolved into sugar water to sweeten their mouths.
Several others likely shared Chen Lan's thought. Seeing everyone looking confused, the old woman explained, "The white granulated sugar made from crushing this crust is what we use as the 'sugar starter'! Did you think this is the final product we wanted? That's still a long way off. You'll have to wait at least a few more days."
Upon hearing that they had to wait a few more days, everyone immediately deflated like pricked balloons, their interest waning significantly!
However, they were still very curious about how this sugar starter would be used to make sugar.
Then, they watched as the old woman heated the sugar syrup with hot water and continued to boil it in the large pot until all the crystals in the syrup melted into the sugar water, turning it into a saturated sugar solution. This saturated sugar water was then filtered repeatedly and slowly. Afterward, the filtered sugar water was poured into a clean large basin. Then, the old woman dipped a pair of chopsticks thoroughly in the prepared sugar starter and inserted them into the sugar water.
At this point, everyone was dumbfounded. So, this was how the sugar starter was used?
Next, they heard the old woman explain with a smile, "This is enough. After letting it stand for a few more days, we will get the rock sugar we want."
Hearing this, everyone became even more disheartened. Rock sugar was such a precious commodity; how could adults bear to eat it? It was reserved for gifts or for coaxing children! Thus, one by one, they left with drooping spirits.
Seeing everyone's disappointed faces, Chen Lan felt a pang of sympathy and suggested, "Old Mother, why don't we make some maltose? The kindergarten children can have some maltose to sweeten their mouths. After all, our valley had a great harvest this year; we should let the children share in the good fortune. What do you think?"
The old woman clapped her hands with delight and said with a chuckle, "Good! Xiao Lan, that's a great idea! Indeed, our valley had a great harvest this year; we should let the children share in the good fortune. This year, let's make plenty of maltose, peanut brittle, sesame candy, puffed rice candy, and the like, to give the children and the elderly as snacks. The elderly have worked hard their whole lives; it's time for them to enjoy some delicacies along with the children."
As she spoke, the old woman suddenly paused, as if remembering something, and asked, "Xiao Lan, do you know how to make maltose?"
Chen Lan asked softly, with some uncertainty, "Old Mother, don't you know how to make maltose?"
The old woman nodded sheepishly, "Do you think your mother-in-law knows everything? However, I believe there should be someone in our valley who knows how to."
Chen Lan thought carefully. In her past life, sesame candy was a specialty of E Province. Sesame candy and peanut brittle were both made with maltose. So, she suggested, "Old Mother, Chen Da Xing's mother, Chen Da Niang, who is Ming Xuan Ge's comrade-in-arms from E Province, should know how to make maltose."
The old woman asked disbelievingly, "Xiao Lan, how do you know that?"
Chen Lan replied proudly, "Because maltose is a specialty of their E Province!"
As soon as Chen Lan finished speaking, the old woman had already run off.
With the old woman taking the lead, Chen Da Niang soon followed her to the main kitchen. Chen Da Niang was a thin, small old woman with bound feet, but she walked with vigor. Although her skin was a bit tanned from working hard under the sun, she was tidily dressed. Her hair was neatly combed and tied into a bun at the back of her head, and her clothes were clean and well-maintained.
Chen Da Niang asked, "Sister-in-law, how much sugar are we planning to make this time?"
The old woman glanced at Chen Lan. Chen Lan smiled and said, "Chen Da Niang, please make as much as you see fit. So many people in our valley have worked hard all year; it's time for us to enjoy ourselves. I also want to make more peanut brittle, sesame candy, and puffed rice candy for everyone and the children to sweeten their mouths. How much wheat and other ingredients do you need? Just tell me, and I'll have people bring them from the warehouse."
Chen Da Niang, hearing Chen Lan's instructions, did not hesitate and said, "Let's start with one hundred jin of wheat. This stuff doesn't keep well, but if we want it later, I can always make it for everyone."
Chen Lan considered this and agreed. It was true that the farming season would soon end, and if they wanted it, they could truly make it anytime.
Soon, wheat was brought over. Chen Da Niang first washed the wheat clean and then soaked it in water. That was all for the moment.
Seeing everyone looking confused, Chen Da Niang smiled and explained, "The wheat needs to be soaked in water overnight. Then, tomorrow morning, we'll take it out and spread it in a clean large basket lined with a clean white cloth. We'll place the basket in a dark, well-ventilated place with a suitable temperature for it to sprout.
Maltose is made by letting wheat sprout. We'll spray it with water daily to keep it moist. This way, it should sprout in about three to four days."
Chen Lan knew this; maltose certainly contained malt!
Chen Da Niang said they needed to soak corn grits or millet overnight. The old woman chose to soak corn grits.
When the malt sprouts grew to about two to three centimeters long, they could begin making the sugar. Chen Lan, like everyone else, was very interested, eager to know how malt sprouts turned into sugar.
They watched as Chen Da Niang chopped the malt sprouts with a knife and set them aside. Then, she had the helpers steam the soaked corn grits overnight. The steamed corn grits were spread out to cool until they were no longer hot to the touch. Then, the chopped malt sprouts were mixed with the cooked corn grits. Water was added to just cover the malt sprouts, and the mixture was stirred thoroughly. After it was evenly mixed, it was sealed for fermentation.
Then, Chen Da Niang explained, "Let it ferment like this, sealed. It should be ready in about five to six hours. We can boil the sugar this afternoon."