Chapter 140: Making Melon Seeds

Bringing the grain home didn’t mean the autumn work was done. All that grain still needed to be threshed, dried, and processed before it could be stored. When it was time to eat, it would have to be ground at the mill. The town had a mill, and most families sent their grain there for processing; very few handled it at home.

Naturally, these tasks were somewhat less time-consuming. But to sell the grain sooner, most households hurried to finish preparing it. Although the prices were low at this time, the grain contained more moisture, so it was still worthwhile.

On the other hand, the imperial government also levied grain taxes. In the north, these taxes were usually collected from late September to early October, when the grain was nearly dry. Currently, the tax rate was one-tenth, estimated based on local yields and paid in rice or wheat.

However, the northeastern region produced little rice. Take Qingshan Village, for example; it hardly produced any rice. Wheat was only spring wheat, which could not be used for tax grain. So many families had to sell their grain and pay taxes in silver. Because tax payments had deadlines, some grain merchants deliberately lowered prices to profit from the situation.

Actually, the Gu family had no urgent need to sell grain; they still had enough silver for taxes. But since Xiuli had married out this year and Gu Chengren had taken a bride, expenses were considerable. The elders, including the patriarch and Madam Li, agreed to sell most of the grain to avoid tight finances.

Besides managing the grain themselves, the Qi family had received news from the town mountain, requesting another 200 jin of melon seeds. Qi family’s melon seeds had already been thoroughly cleaned and dried, waiting only for Jiaoyan to come and process them. Xue Mei arrived at the Gu household to escort Jiaoyan over.

Having long promised, Jiaoyan would not back out. Besides, she couldn’t manage these tasks at home alone, so she accompanied Xue Mei to the Qi family. Upon arrival, Jiaoyan began guiding Qi family’s daughters-in-law in handling the melon seeds. The seeds were soaked in lime water, and Jiaoyan asked Granny Qi for silver to buy various materials in town.

Qi family didn’t question this and handed over the silver directly. Jiaoyan then went to the Miao family to find Shaoyuan, and together they went to town. To make five-spice flavored melon seeds, essential ingredients included peppercorns, star anise, salt, and most importantly, alum.

Without alum, the melon seeds would become damp and stale after two or three days and lose their appeal. But too much alum was harmful, so the amount had to be precise. Jiaoyan knew this well and mixed the alum into the salt, disguising the key ingredient so no one would notice.

After purchasing the materials, Shaoyuan helped Jiaoyan carry them back just as Qi family finished washing and draining the melon seeds. Jiaoyan added water to a jar in specific proportions, poured in the ingredients, and told Qi family exactly when to soak the seeds, when to boil them, for how long, and how to dry and roast them afterward.

Jiaoyan taught Qi family the entire process partly because she did not intend to profit personally, and partly because the quantity was too large for her small frame to handle alone. The Qi family would have to do the work anyway, so sharing the method saved her from exhaustion.

Qi family was busy with the work, unaware that Madam Xu had come by. She wandered around the Qi household a few times before leaving. Jiaoyan found this odd and couldn’t understand what Madam Xu intended.

“She’s come by three or four times today, just wandering inside and outside the house, chatting with my mother’s side, then leaving. I wonder what she’s up to,” Xue Mei whispered to Jiaoyan.

One day, Jiaoyan overheard her parents discussing how Madam Li was displeased with Jiaoyan’s unnecessary help to the Qi family. Reflecting on this, Jiaoyan thought Madam Xu might be trying to learn how to make the melon seeds. But since the Gu family didn’t grow melons and had no seeds, what good would learning the method do? Jiaoyan was puzzled.

Three days later, all the melon seeds had been processed. Jiaoyan tasted a few and found them just as good as the first batch—unchanged in quality. “Alright, Uncle Qi, quickly send these to town,” she said. Only consistent quality ensures good sales, and Jiaoyan was very satisfied.

Qi Jianyuan trusted Jiaoyan completely and hurriedly loaded the cart to take the seeds to town.

With matters settled here, Jiaoyan did not linger at Qi’s. She carried the grapes and pears picked by the Qi family back home.

As soon as she entered the Gu courtyard, Madam Xu greeted her. “Oh, Jiaoniang, you brought so many delicious things back. Here, let your fourth aunt try a bunch of grapes.” She grabbed a large bunch, then noticed the pears. “Ah, these pears look good too, so juicy—just right for your Wen’an brothers.” She grabbed her clothes with one hand and stuffed pears into her blouse with the other. Quick as she was, she collected six or seven pears, leaving only four or five in Jiaoyan’s basket.

Jiaoyan stepped back, hiding the basket behind her. “Fourth aunt, these were given to me. I haven’t dared to eat them, saving them for my brothers to try. You can take one or two, but why take them all? If you take them, what will my brothers eat?”

“Look at you, such a stingy girl. Your auntie eating a few pears isn’t worth your fuss. I might as well take them all. Why don’t you just go back to Qi’s and get some more? You helped the Qi family make quite a bit of money; a few baskets of fruit from them is nothing. Your auntie eating a bit—why should I feel bad?” Madam Xu was indifferent and reached again to grab more.

Jiaoyan’s face turned cold as she stepped back several paces. “I’m not like some people, shameless and bold. If someone gives me something, I take it, but I don’t run back asking for more. Fourth aunt, you’ve taken enough for Wen’an. I’m keeping these for my brothers.” Saying this, she grabbed the basket and ran away.

“Hey, you stubborn girl, why are you so stingy? You’re so tight with your family but generous to outsiders? Ten or so taels of silver you don’t want, but fuss over two pears?” Madam Xu grumbled angrily. “It’s nothing. Wait a few days; we’ll make some money too.”

“Fourth daughter-in-law, what are you mumbling about over there while shucking corn?” Madam Li called.

Madam Xu hastily put the pears and grapes from her blouse into her house before returning to work. “Second sister-in-law, you should control your girl. She’s so petty. It’s just a few pears, but look at her. And when there’s something good, she doesn’t even think to show filial respect to the elders. At least she should come offer some to our mother,” Madam Xu said while shucking corn, sowing discord.

“Jiao’er is still a child. She simply loves fruit. There’s none at home, so it’s rare when others give her some. No wonder she treasures it so much. Mother, if you like, I can buy some good ones from town for you sometime,” Madam Feng replied with a calm smile.

Madam Li had felt uncomfortable hearing Madam Xu’s words earlier. She didn’t actually crave the fruit but was upset Jiaoyan didn’t share it with her. Now that Madam Feng had spoken, Madam Li didn’t press the matter. “Forget it. I’m not fond of those things anyway. They’re not food or dishes, so why eat them? Children like those things; let her have them.”

Seeing her attempt to stir trouble fail, Madam Xu sneered and lowered her head to continue shucking corn.

By evening, everyone stopped working. Wu and others hurried to prepare dinner, while Madam Feng returned home to cook. Upon entering the kitchen, she saw Jiaoyan had already started steaming sorghum rice, and another pot simmered with green beans and potatoes.

“Jiao’er, didn’t I tell you to wait for me before cooking? There’s plenty of time,” Madam Feng said, quickly taking the spatula from Jiaoyan. “With so few people, what if you accidentally fall into the pot?”

As she spoke, Madam Feng stirred the pot and then added, “And why did you cut the potatoes yourself? How old are you? Aren’t you afraid of cutting your fingers?” Thinking of Jiaoyan handling a knife made her nervous.

“Mother, why worry? I’ve even operated on people, let alone cut potatoes. It’s nothing. You’ve worked hard all day; it’s only right I help cook,” Jiaoyan said cheerfully. “By the way, tomorrow’s the Mid-Autumn Festival, right? The family’s so busy, haven’t you prepared anything special? Mother, are there any good things for sale around here? I’m a little craving something.”

Jiaoyan wasn’t truly craving anything; she just wanted to change the subject. Otherwise, her mother would keep nagging, which was tiresome. Jiaoyan adapted well to cooking except for her small stature making it a bit more difficult. This was no big deal, but Madam Feng always brought up the festival, which Jiaoyan preferred to avoid.

“I’m not sure either. Let your father go to town and see. Your brothers are at school, and tomorrow your father will bring gifts to the teacher for the festival. Why, do you want to come along?” Madam Feng’s attention clearly shifted as she mentioned delivering gifts to the school.

Jiaoyan thought for a moment and nodded. “Sure, I’d really like to see it and maybe buy some treats.” She deliberately put on a craving expression, her big eyes crinkling in a delightful smile, utterly charming.

Madam Feng shook her head. “You’re such a little foodie.” After all, at six years old, even the most obedient child had moments of sweetness. Madam Feng never got angry at Jiaoyan’s antics, only found her utterly adorable.