Erlizi Village is a rice-wheat rotation system, so not long after the rice harvest here, the fields were burned, the ashes were spread, and the fields were plowed deeply, and it was time to plant wheat again.
But before that, we have to harvest the sweet potatoes.
It is said that this sweet potato was a crop brought by merchants after the third emperor of the Dai Kingdom imposed a sea ban, so it was named sweet potato. It has good adaptability, large yields, and does not need to pick up the land, so farmers are more willing to plant it on dry land.
it.
The weather is good this year, and anyone in the village who has planted sweet potatoes in their fields will have a good harvest.
Only the banker has no dry land, so he can't harvest anything.
But this didn't stop villagers she knew well from sending these to her home.
Zhuang Keqing and Qin Man looked at the sweet potatoes piled up in the yard and were a little troubled. There was a lot of grain and soybeans piled up in the warehouse at home, and there really wasn't much room to put them all in. If they can't eat them all before winter, wait.
If it gets cold and snowy, the sweet potatoes will freeze and become inedible, which is a waste.
"Ke'er, you say all this, how do you do it?"
How could the bankers get such treatment in the village before? When winter is approaching, the warehouses are empty, and most likely they have to borrow grain to survive.
Who would have thought that there would be a bumper harvest of both fish and grain this year. If I had known this, I might as well have demolished the warehouse and expanded it.
Expansion is not difficult, but now these sweet potatoes can't just be left in the yard, right?
"The warehouse still needs to be expanded." Zhuang Keqing pondered for a moment and said, "Let's build a shed at the back and pile the sweet potatoes first, and then move it there when the warehouse is ready."
"In addition, we have to think of some ways to preserve it for a long time."
Qin Manzhi looked at the pile of sweet potatoes and sighed, "Yes, our family has a small population. Even if we eat this every day, I can't finish it all in one winter."
Here, the mother and daughter were still thinking about how to deal with this pile of things. Over there, a cart was pushed far away, and the dog, whom they hadn't seen for a long time, was also following them.
From a distance, Gouzi saw the banker's sister and Aunt Qin standing in the courtyard. Their books were three feet tall, running towards them hurriedly, and shouting, "Sister Ke'er, look what did my father bring?"
Zhuang Keqing couldn't see the sweet potatoes on the cart, and he didn't know what expression to make at this time.
Oh my god, it’s sweet potatoes again!
The dogs trotted in a row, and when they entered the courtyard, they found that there were already a lot of them piled on the ground. He looked at the ones on his father's car again, what a good guy, they weighed more than a hundred pounds together.
Zhang Da has harvested a lot of rice and fish this year, and his two acres of rice have also yielded a good harvest. The whole family is happy. He feels grateful for the farmer's kindness and is thinking about when he can repay the favor.
But he was just an ordinary farmer with nothing to offer, and the girl's husband-in-law had seen the world, so he really couldn't get some ordinary things to give away, and it would be a shame.
It's better to give away whatever you collect on the ground.
Recently, I have sent a lot of things like beans and sesame seeds. Now that the sweet potato harvest is abundant, it is necessary to send some more to express my gratitude.
Before he went out, my mother took a look at the cart and said that he was stingy for not bringing enough, so she added half more and then let him go.
But as soon as Zhang Day entered the small courtyard and looked at the sweet potatoes here, he couldn't laugh or cry. There wasn't enough space for them.
Even giving gifts brings trouble to others.
Shen Ling has really experienced the enthusiasm of the villagers these days. Not only every day, but almost every other day, someone comes to deliver things. Not to mention a handful of fruits or a bushel of beans, just a wish, everyone comes.
She put on a smile, she was sincere, and she couldn't refuse even if she wanted to.
At this time, Zhang Da came, and he was used to it. When he came up, he helped hold the handle of the car and asked people to rest first while he unloaded the goods.
In the past few months, he saw that the strips had become stronger and more energetic. Zhang Da felt relieved and handed over the cart to him.
"Uncle Zhang, drink some water."
Zhuang Keqing had already brought some water and handed it over.
Zhang Da took it, drank it all in a few gulps, and started talking to them.
"There are a lot of sweet potatoes. Is there enough room in the warehouse?"
"Uncle Zhang, I'm worried about this."
"We were thinking about expanding the warehouse, but now we have to plant wheat again, and we can't find the time." Qin Manzhi sighed beside him.
"This is also difficult to handle." Zhang Da frowned, unable to think of any good solution.
This sweet potato will germinate after being left outside in the sun for a few days, which is really a pity.
"But don't worry, I'll go back and discuss it with my second and third brothers. I'll build a shed for your family tomorrow to support you, and then I'll change the warehouse when it's not busy later."
This idea coincides with Zhuang Keqing's.
There was a lot of work in the fields, so Zhang Da sent something away and agreed to come tomorrow. Without wasting any more time, he pushed the cart and took the dog away.
Afterwards, Zhuang Keqing moved a bench and sat in front of the pile of sweet potatoes, thinking about how to eat them.
Usually, villagers just pile it up in warehouses or cellars after harvesting. When they want to eat, they dig out a few and either mix it with other grains to make porridge, or put it in the fire pit and cook it on a kang, but there is no way to eat it fresh.
Sad.
"I have eaten these dried sweet potatoes in the county before. They are sweet and delicious, and they seem to last a long time."
Shen Ling also sat on a small stool to the side, which was just right to block the still-heating sunlight.
Being reminded like this, Zhuang Keqing suddenly had an idea flash in his mind.
yes!
Dried sweet potatoes and sweet potato vermicelli are both shelf-stable. One is a snack and the other is a staple food. Why worry about not being able to finish all these sweet potatoes!
If done well, wouldn't this be another way to make money? If it can be promoted in the village and sold through peddlers and other channels, everyone in the village can get more income!
If you think of it, do it.
Zhuang Keqing immediately pulled Shen Ling's hand and said, "Aling, your method is good, we will make dried sweet potatoes and sweet potato vermicelli!"
Shen Ling didn't know what sweet potato vermicelli she was talking about, but when he saw the girl's happy cheeks reddening, she softened her eyebrows.
"Mom, I've thought of a way."
Zhuang Keqing stood up, took Shen Ling with him, and went into the room to inform Qin Manzhi.
The three of them discussed it in the main room for half an hour. It was not until the sound of Aman waking up from the back room was heard that they stopped talking.
Early the next morning, Zhuang Keqing and Shen Ling drove a mule cart to the river to fetch several buckets of water. In addition to filling their own water tanks, they also had to leave a lot for cleaning the sweet potatoes.
When the three Zhang brothers arrived, the whole family was busy in the courtyard.
"Sister-in-law Qin, why don't you wash these many sweet potatoes? They will get spoiled easily!" As soon as Zhang Er entered the yard, he saw the family washing the sweet potatoes. In the rattan basket next to them, most of the baskets were already cleaned.
Yes.
"Yes, Sister-in-law Qin, we can build this shed in half a day. You won't have to worry about putting it there then." Zhang San also advised.
Only Zhang Da stood aside and said nothing.
How could Sister-in-law Qin not know that these sweet potatoes are not easy to preserve after being washed? Isn’t it the girl who has some ideas?
"Girl, why are you washing so many sweet potatoes?" Zhang Da ignored his brothers who were confused about the situation and only asked Zhuang Keqing.
"Uncle Zhang, I was wondering if I could make some dried sweet potatoes and sweet potato vermicelli, which would be better preserved and save space."
Dried sweet potatoes seem to be understandable, but what are sweet potato vermicelli? Why have you never heard of them?
Zhang Er and Zhang San looked at each other, and they all saw some confusion and doubts in each other's eyes. But they didn't continue to talk, and it was hard for them to ask. What if it was as confidential as the tofu recipe? Just ask.
Don't you want to be scolded?
Although the banker's girls will not really be like this, they, the elders, cannot be so ignorant.
Zhang Da didn't ask any more questions. He just went to the backyard with his brothers, chose a place with good ventilation and sunshine, and asked Qin Manzhi if it would be okay to build a shed there.
Qin Manzhi got up and went to look at it. She said that the place was good and it was right here. After that, the Zhang family built a shed and the farmer's family washed sweet potatoes. They all worked silently all morning before the work was finished.
Zhuang Keqing wanted to stay with them for dinner, but Zhang Da waved his hand and refused, saying that his mother and daughter-in-law were still waiting, so there would be no trouble.
Zhuang Keqing didn't force it. They had been busy all morning and didn't take time to cook. It was always bad to make something casually at noon to fool others.
I won’t keep it for now. When the sweet potato fans ask for dried sweet potatoes, I will give them to them as a thank you.
After sending the people away, Zhuang Keqing went back into the kitchen, lit a fire in the pot and boiled water, stacked the baskets, and put the washed sweet potatoes in one by one.
What do you do with sweet potatoes? They need to be steamed first!