As evening approached, Xu Nianhua and her brother Xu Nian’an, one carrying firewood and the other dragging it, wearily made their way back home.
"I thought you went to pick plums, why did you bring back so much firewood?"
Ji Ying hurried forward to take the firewood from Xu Nianhua’s hands, felt the bulging clothes, and couldn’t help but ask, "What else did you bring back? Plums?"
"There are plums, and other things too."
Xu Nianhua was so tired she could hardly catch her breath.
Her face was also sunburnt red, and her hands, likely blistered by now.
What Xu Nianhua admired most was her second brother, Xu Nian’an; he chopped and bundled the firewood efficiently, without stopping for a moment.
"Those plums are so sour, and you can still stomach them," Ji Ying said as she placed the firewood into the stack and unwrapped what was bundled in the clothes—there were only a few green plums, but a whole bag full of Bixi Fruits!
"Even if you’re craving Mung Bean Jelly, you didn’t need to pick all the fruit and bring it back, right?"
Seeing so much fruit, Ji Ying wondered how much Mung Bean Jelly that would make—after all, two fruits could make a whole bowl.
Although this food cost little to make, it was extremely laborious; therefore, in the village, only occasionally would someone satisfy a child’s craving by making it, and it was rarely made in large quantities.
"Mom, I have a great use for these," Xu Nianhua said as she gulped down a lot of well water, then filled a bowl with more and handed it to Xu Nian’an.
Thirsty as well, Xu Nian’an agreed; since they moved here, firewood was what they lacked the most. Now that they were on the mountain, Xu Nian’an wished he could chop enough firewood for ten days or even half a month all at once.
"These two fruits make a bowl of Mung Bean Jelly, enough for a satisfying meal," Ji Ying mentioned.
Grinning, Xu Nianhua said, "Mom, when did I say I wanted to eat it myself? I’m going to sell it in the county."
"You think you can sell this stuff for money?" Ji Ying was the first to disbelieve.
In the village, who couldn’t make Mung Bean Jelly?
"Of course," Xu Nianhua confidently nodded. Seeing Ji Ying’s disbelief, which was shared even by Xu Nian’an, she asked, "Brother, what would you do if you wanted to eat Mung Bean Jelly?"
"Make it myself," Xu Nian’an answered without hesitation.
"Then, what about the people in the county who want to eat Mung Bean Jelly? One makes a whole bowl, but what if someone only wants one serving?"
"Also, the process of making Mung Bean Jelly is particularly tiring. Tell me, if someone made it ready-to-eat, wouldn’t you buy it?"
Xu Nianhua’s eyes gleamed as she looked at him.
Without a second thought, Xu Nian’an replied, "I definitely wouldn’t buy it."
Why spend money on that when it could be used for something else?
Holding back the urge to roll her eyes, Xu Nianhua said, "What if, just what if, you lived in the county where picking fruit isn’t easy, and it’s even more time-consuming to prepare?"
She slowly explained, and Xu Nian’an’s eyes lit up. If one were a county resident, who would have the time to make Mung Bean Jelly?
Besides, just because they were short on money, it didn’t mean others were.
If the price was right, there would definitely be buyers.
"Nianhua, that’s a brilliant idea!" Xu Nian’an’s eyes sparkled with excitement. "If this can make money, I’ll pick fruits every day."
The thing their family lacked the most now was money.
The siblings set to work washing the fruit. Then, they sliced them open, packaging the seeds and pulp in cheesecloth to rub and scrub in well water.
This scrubbing was the most exhausting task.
Xu Qinghe returned from working outside and, hearing that his siblings intended to sell Mung Bean Jelly in the county, started making buckets with his tools after dinner.
Done. She had wanted Xu Qinghe to dissuade his siblings from their idea, but instead, he went out of his way to make two buckets for their Mung Bean Jelly!