Chapter 1632: Sesame Leaves Rearranged

Seventh Uncle looked at the sesame leaves washed and put in the pot, and knew that the group of young employees he recruited couldn't pinch the leaves at all, no matter how they talked about it.

It won't work!

It's a pity that this thing is not for sale, otherwise it would be shameful.

Master Jiang was still asking him: "Is it blanching or steaming in the pot?"

Seventh Uncle looked at the sesame leaves in the basin, helplessly reached out and took a large steamer, and told the employees to take it out and rinse it again:

"Steam it."

Master Jiang also laughed: "I just watched them pinch it neither old nor tender. If it's blanched, the taste will be worse."

Don't look at it as just a simple process, but the effect brought is completely different.

If sesame leaves are blanched, the taste is refreshing, and the fiber feeling will not be lost too much, and it is tough when bitten.

But if it is steamed in the pot, the taste is soft, glutinous, and fragrant, but the slight velvet astringency on the leaves cannot be cleaned.

Looking at the ones sent now, they can only be used for steaming, left for cooking noodles.

Seventh Uncle looked outside: "You clean up first, I'll go to the field to explain to them."

The little old man walked slowly up the mountain with his hands behind his back. Although he was old, his spirit was not bad at all.

That large pot was lifted up, and the young employees recruited couldn't compare at all.

When they arrived at this large sesame field, in the green sesame field that was almost as tall as a person, white tubular flowers were only visible sporadically, and the employees were stuck inside, pinching quickly with both hands, and even Qiao Qiao was full of enthusiasm.

The problem is, sesame leaves are not picked like this.

Seventh Uncle looked at the stalks that had been picked in front, and felt great pain:

"Qiao Qiao, don't pick these sesame leaves for now, pick them next month."

Qiao Qiao was a little confused: "Ah? Why?"

Didn't they say they should take advantage of the leisure time now to pick the leaves, for fear that they wouldn't be able to take care of it next month?

Seventh Uncle pointed to the sesame stalks in front:

"There are not many flowers blooming, I'm afraid that if you pick too many, it will affect the yield."

"Next month, find someone to top this piece of sesame, and then you can pick the leaves."

In fact, for their family, picking a little first wouldn't affect the yield at all, but this group of employees had heavy and light hands, and Seventh Uncle couldn't bear it.

Qiao Qiao didn't understand much, but he was obedient. At this moment, he drilled out of the field, his forehead under the hat was sweaty, and he only grabbed a handful of sesame leaves to show Seventh Uncle:

"Did we pick it wrong?"

Can't say it's wrong.

It can be eaten anyway, the taste is different, but it's not unpleasant.

Seventh Uncle grabbed a handful of leaves from inside to look at:

"Don't pick the stalks for the tender ones on top, you can pick the mature ones below with stalks, the flavor is different."

"And, you can't pick too high when picking, there are still sesame seeds to be produced on top."

Qiao Qiao nodded, a little disappointed:

"Then I taught it badly, I didn't teach it so carefully."

Seventh Uncle looked at his pitiful appearance, how could he bear to say anything else?

This is not important anyway! 【163

And you can't blame Qiao Qiao either; this place isn't a major production area for sesame. In earlier years, it was just some elderly people planting a few fen of land sporadically at home. Let alone intensive cultivation, they didn't even bother with topping.

Everyone relied entirely on extensive management.

So, he quickly offered comfort again:

"Picking them however you want is fine. I was just letting you know; picking them like this now doesn't have much of an impact."

It's just that last year, the old Song family planted very little sesame and didn't spend the effort, leaving it all to nature.

This year, they've moved to systematic planting. Yan Ran and the others check the fields every single day; if they don't cultivate them intensively, wouldn't it be a waste?

That's why this year, they need to do a little topping on the sesame plants once they stop flowering. This allows the fruit to ripen better, and the sesame pods to grow more numerous and plump.

Picking them after topping—although there are fewer tender leaves—means the leaves that do grow will have a more uniform texture, and it won't affect the yield either.

Like how they are pinching them now, a handful of tender ones and a handful of old ones, that's such a waste.

Qiao Qiao listened earnestly and was very willing to take advice. He quickly waved his hand toward the field:

"Older brothers and sisters, stop picking for now. We've picked enough."

Sister Zikao poked her head out first: "My cloth bag isn't even full yet."

Qiao Qiao explained seriously: "Seventh Great-Uncle said that if we pick them in a month or two, the texture will be more uniform. I'll teach you all properly next time."

Alright then.

The top-ranked fan wiped the sweat from his forehead, feeling embarrassed: "It's just that we weren't picking them to standard! That won't do; that's wasting ingredients. Good things require the right timing and conditions."

He nimbly climbed out of the sesame field, the thick sesame leaves in his bag pinched with exceptional neatness.

Seventh Great-Uncle took one look and knew they were relying on their fingernails. He reached out, grabbed a nearby sesame stalk, pinched the connection between the leaf and the stem with his fingers, and gave a gentle tug:

"Look, this is how you pick the leaves."

"When doing farm work, you don't need to be too meticulous. If you're too meticulous, you'll be overly anxious about gains and losses. Firstly, it's inefficient, and secondly, it's easy to do a poor job."

"Crops planted in the ground rely on sunlight, rain, and dew; they aren't that fragile."

"Let's go," he called out to the group:

"A bunch of young men and women, if you have nothing to do, go back and help tidy up the sesame leaves; that takes effort too."

Everyone obediently followed along.

As Seventh Great-Uncle led the group halfway, he pointed ahead: "Qiao Qiao, tell your sister, leave a patch of that amaranth and don't pull it. Wait for it to grow old, and I'll make us some stinky amaranth stalks to eat."

Qiao Qiao immediately frowned.

"I don't like eating that. None of us like eating that."

Seventh Great-Uncle laughed instantly:

"What kind of culinary skills does your family have? Anything I make is guaranteed to be delicious. Stinky amaranth, fermented bean curd—I guarantee you won't be able to stop eating."

"Besides, if you peel the amaranth stalks that aren't too old, pickle them, and make them into salted vegetables, they're crunchy and delicious when you bite into them!"

Although Seventh Great-Uncle's "pie in the sky" didn't smell appetizing and even had a strange odor, everyone was a foodie.

Around here, they had already tasted strange combinations like watermelon paste; what was a mere stinky amaranth stalk compared to that!

Everyone just swallowed their saliva:

"Will we get to eat these stinky amaranth stalks too?"

If they could mooch a meal of sesame leaves today, they might as well be bold and ask; it wouldn't cost them anything.

Seventh Great-Uncle laughed: "Asking me is useless. Go apply for benefits from your boss later."

Everyone giggled and acted coquettishly: "We'll ask the boss, and we'll ask you too... You're an elder after all!"

Seventh Great-Uncle walked among the crowd with his hands behind his back, the corners of his mouth curling up:

These youngsters aren't great at working, but they sure have sweet tongues.

Meanwhile, Yun Duo held her phone and followed behind, looking at the barrage of comments from people filled with crazy envy and jealousy, and the pain of being forgotten once again...

Don't say it!

Thinking that she could eat such delicious food while these fans couldn't, she felt quite smug inside.

But she still said: "Qiao Qiao, since we aren't picking sesame leaves anymore, why don't you say goodbye to the little friends before ending the stream?"

Only then did Qiao Qiao react: "I'm sorry, little friends, I forgot while picking."

The barrage looked so humble:

【It's okay, it's not the first time we've been forgotten...】

【I'll forgive you if you send me a handful of sesame leaves】

【What does stinky amaranth stalk taste like? I want to try it too】

【Is it too late for me to plant amaranth now? Can you give a heads-up on the ingredients when you make the stinky amaranth stalks? I want to make it too】

【Sesame leaves! I found some at the market here, I bought some, hahaha!】

【After harvesting the sesame, can you make a few jars of sesame salt to sell?】

Everyone chattered away, unable to let it go. Yun Duo mentioned the suggestions from the barrage to Qiao Qiao, and he nodded immediately: "When I make the stinky amaranth stalks, I will tell the little friends."

"It's just..." He wrinkled his nose: "I really don't like eating this."

As for the sesame leaves...

"Seventh Great-Uncle said we didn't pick them well. Do you still want them? If you do, let Sister Yun Duo hold a lucky draw for some."

Brother Yan Ping and his sister often comforted and apologized to the fans like this. He had forgotten them again today, which really wasn't good.

Meanwhile, Lu Chuan finished his work for the day, turned, and went downstairs to say to Lu Jing: "Mom, lock up the two family suites and two double rooms from July 5th to July 15th."

Hmm?

Lu Jing was stunned: "So many people? Staying for 10 days? Who's coming?"

Lu Chuan smiled: "Qin Yun and He Kuang are planning to bring their children and elders along."

Lu Jing immediately became happy: "Oh my! You said it was boring not having friends here; it's good that they're coming. This place is so nourishing for people."

As she spoke, she touched her increasingly round face and sighed with resentment: "I can't lose weight at all anyway."

She used to be such a slender beauty! Now, it's fine, but she has to wear clothes two sizes larger.

Lu Chuan didn't think so.

Lu Jing is quite tall. She used to be thin, but now with a bit more flesh, she doesn't look bloated; instead, she looks very prosperous and plump.

Not to mention anything else, he pushed the mirror on the countertop toward her:

"Look at your complexion; is it better to be fat or thin?"

Lu Jing looked in the mirror. Her skin was white with a rosy glow, and because she had gained some weight, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes had naturally smoothed out quite a bit. She really looked extremely happy!

She touched her neck again: "I'll go order a cheongsam later. You buy me a large pearl necklace—and earrings, they need to be large pearls too."

Lu Chuan laughed: Living in the countryside, she still doesn't forget to dress herself up beautifully every day. Many young people today don't have his mother's wonderful mindset.

"Fine! Buy! I'll buy you Australian white pearls!"

Lu Jing was immediately satisfied and instructed: "When you find a suitable one, pick another smaller string. I'll pay for this one; I'm buying it for Tan Tan."

Lu Chuan felt helpless: "Don't go through the trouble. I'll just buy a set for her mother too... It just so happens that the rice pearl necklace I bought before, she was playing with it and lost it somewhere. Let's pick again."

Lu Jing nodded: "She's a young girl, you should bring more for her to choose from. What if that jade is too old-fashioned?"

She then sighed: "Son, remember to save your money and don't play the stock market, buy funds, or make investments! Otherwise, life won't be this happy."

Lu Chuan chuckled—he wasn't exactly a steady investor, but his losses were within his acceptable range, and the investment amount wasn't large.

"Don't worry."

Back when he sat in the vegetable market for a day or two, he had already seen many people become rich by taking a gamble, and then lose everything by taking another gamble.

That mindset of betting one's entire fortune is something he will never have.

Over there, all income is accumulated day by day.

That is the most solid way.

Take Song Tan's family, for example. Don't look at their astonishing savings; not a single person in the whole family points fingers at stocks or funds. They are truly rooted in this little plot of land.

Currently, the only major personal expense—

He thought about it: it should be that 200,000-yuan car of Song Sancheng's.

Afterward, he couldn't help but smile: How solid!

Meanwhile, Qin Yun and He Kuang were still frantically sending messages in the group:

【Chuan'er, you've already infiltrated the family. Can you take charge this year and catch that big white goose for me to wash away my shame?】

【Chuan'er, I'm bringing your niece over. Can you sharpen your knife and kill a pig for us?】

Lu Chuan: 【Everything exists in dreams】

【Brothers support your entrepreneurial plan, and this is how you treat your brothers? I'm not booking that room anymore; I'm booking our boss's cousin's.】

【The cousin's family eats in the cafeteria, my family eats special ingredients—don't you like eating? Then I'll tell Tan Tan...】

The group paused.

The next moment, several "kowtowing" stickers were sent out. Clearly, some people had already lost money and dignity in this confrontation.

Lu Chuan thought for a moment and found Song Tan on the mountain: "Does Seventh Great-Uncle know any other chefs specializing in local cuisine? I want to hire one for half a month to cook for the homestay guests."

"The salary is negotiable."

It wouldn't be appropriate for their family of six or seven to go eat at Song Tan's house.

Song Tan pondered: "Hiring someone for just half a month probably won't be easy. Let me ask Boss Chang; he has many chefs. Let's see if it's convenient to transfer one over, and bring an assistant. The salary will be paid as usual. I'll send Boss Chang some things later."

That works too.

Lu Chuan nodded, and then Song Tan asked: "Are these the only friends you have? Just take this opportunity to invite more people to come and play!"

There's a homestay, a chef, and they can strive to make the food and drinks the best; it's a great opportunity.

Lu Chuan laughed: "I rarely go out, and as for those who can be called good friends, it's just them."

He paused and pondered: "I might need to add one more family."

He took out his phone and sent a message to his editor, Yun Feng:

"I opened a homestay. If you bring your family for a vacation, I can cover your three meals a day plus late-night snacks."

Yun Feng:??!!

He immediately sent a message questioning: "Do you think that's reasonable?"

"You're such a top-tier author! You only cover three meals a day for your editor's vacation?!"

Lu Chuan said calmly: "There's also irregular late-night snacks and afternoon tea."

Yun Feng:...

Sure enough, the richer people are, the stingier they get! If you have the ability, send some tea leaves!

But having said that, seeing how well things from Lu Chuan's girlfriend's family were selling this year, he couldn't grab any no matter how hard he tried and could only wait for Lu Chuan to send some.

Such a god-given opportunity, and it was an invitation from the old Song family's family members—

"You wait, I'm applying for annual leave in advance!"

Lu Chuan didn't hesitate: "Qing Yun and Kuang Qie are bringing their families to stay for a week on July 5th."

Yun Feng:...

Fine, fine! They are all authors under his management; no one can run away now!

?? Hehe, so early today! And so much!