The Delicate Darling with Her Rough Man

Chapter 66: Chapter 66: Calm Down

Chen Erniu and Chen Sandan looked at the odd way Chen Jianshe was acting, but they didn’t say much and obediently left.

Once there were no ”outsiders” left in the courtyard, Chen Jianshe finally spoke excitedly, ”Brother Leng, are you saying Sister-in-law is making brown sugar?”

Leng Yuan nodded.

Chen Jianshe was dumbfounded.

”Th-these corn stalks can be made into brown sugar?”

After saying that, he turned and dashed toward the courtyard gate.

Leng Yuan couldn’t help but call out, ”Where are you going?”

”I’m going to buy corn stalks.”

’This stuff can be made into sugar. If I buy all the corn stalks, we’ll have more brown sugar than we can eat.’

The more he thought about it, the happier he became.

Leng Yuan looked at him as if he were an idiot.

”Not all corn stalks can be used to make brown sugar. The ones that can are pretty much all here.”

According to Gu Jiaojiao’s instructions, the corn stalks needed to be thick and juicy, otherwise the sugar yield would be too low.

This wasn’t sugarcane, nor was it the special type of corn stalk that could be used for making sugar.

It was only because they were in a mountainous area where the bottoms of the stalks were very sweet that Gu Jiaojiao had wanted to give it a try. She hadn’t expected it to actually work.

But he had just gone inside to take a look.

A large pot of juice would only yield four or five pounds of brown sugar.

This showed that the sugar content of the corn stalks was relatively low. This cartload of stalks, which weighed over two hundred pounds, would probably only produce about ten pounds of brown sugar.

Only then did Chen Jianshe calm down.

’That’s right! If they could all be used to make sugar, the villagers would have discovered it long ago.’

In the early years when there wasn’t enough to eat, it wasn’t like people hadn’t tried. But no one ever succeeded, and after a while, they just gave up.

He had just been too excited and had forgotten about the villagers’ past failures at making sugar.

Knowing that Brother Leng had already picked all the usable stalks, Chen Jianshe waited eagerly in the courtyard, wanting to be the first to have a taste.

By the time it grew dark, the brown sugar was finally ready.

Four pots of corn stalk juice had been boiled down into thirteen pounds of brown sugar syrup.

Since they were just making it for themselves, Gu Jiaojiao felt that turning it into solid brown sugar was too much trouble. It was better to just keep it as syrup.

However, she had reduced the liquid significantly, so the syrup was extremely thick—much more suitable than solid brown sugar.

Chen Jianshe’s eyes went wide at the sight.

In his entire life, it was the first time he had ever seen so much brown sugar. He was utterly shocked.

In the entire County Town, across seven or eight townships and several villages, only the supply and marketing cooperative could put out a dozen or so pounds of brown sugar at once.

The only other place was here, with his Brother Leng.

”Sister-in-law, this stuff... it can actually be made into sugar.”

As Chen Jianshe spoke, his voice trembled uncontrollably.

In these times, if you wanted to eat a little white or brown sugar, not only did you need sugar coupons, but the price was also high.

In the countryside, it was a precious commodity that most families didn’t have.

If someone had a guest over and served them a cup of sugar water, it was a matter of great prestige.

Having just finished making it, Gu Jiaojiao was also keen to taste it.

She simply took out some bowls, mixed a large, full bowl of brown sugar water for each person, and handed them over.

Chen Jianshe took it excitedly and took a sip.

The moment he tasted the sweet flavor, his eyes lit up instantly.

”This is delicious.”

’People in this era all love sweet things. After all, the number of times they get to eat sugar in a year can be counted on one hand. It’s not like in the future, where people cut out sugar and oil for fear of gaining weight.’

At this time, a mouthful of oil or a spoonful of sugar were both luxuries.

Chen Jianshe sipped it in small mouthfuls, and before long, he had finished the whole bowl.

Seeing how much he liked it, Gu Jiaojiao mixed another bowl for him.

Chen Jianshe hastily refused.

”No need, Sister-in-law, I’m full.”

But Gu Jiaojiao just handed it to him. ”I’ve already mixed it. If you don’t drink it, I’ll have to pour it out.”

Chen Jianshe immediately took it.

’It would be such a waste to pour out something this good.’

In the end, Chen Jianshe drank both large bowls of sugar water until he was full.

He patted his belly, completely satisfied.

”It would be great if I could drink sugar water every day from now on.”

Hearing this, Gu Jiaojiao thought, ’His wish will come true in the future, but when it does, the ”three highs” will come right along with it.’ It wasn’t something she could explain.

It was Leng Yuan who, for a change, offered a rare word of comfort.

”Life will get better and better. It’ll happen one day.”

Hearing his Brother Leng say that, Chen Jianshe’s spirits lifted again.