Rice noodle cakes with a fresh fragrance are a welcome addition to the festival.

The family had enough to eat and drink. In the afternoon, three adults, Luo Tiejiang, Wang Cuilian and Yang Ruoqing, took Luo Baobao and Da Zhi to burn incense on the mountain behind the village.

When the chestnuts on the mountain are ripe, there is also a fruit that is smaller than the chestnut but very similar in appearance. For generations in the village, it has been called "Maoli".

Whether it’s chestnut or woolly chestnut, they are Luo’s favorite.

So when setting out, Blacksmith Luo specially brought a hatchet and a pair of pole ropes.

On the way down the mountain, I picked up a load full of chestnuts and chestnut branches, planning to go back to the yard and slowly sort them out, and break out the pulp for the children to eat.

Having found Blacksmith Luo with something to do, I feel much more fulfilled and don’t feel so depressed anymore.

As soon as the chestnut was peeled off, it fell into the little mouths of Luo Baobao and Da Zhi.

Seeing the two children eating happily, the smile on Blacksmith Luo's face was not to mention how happy he was, and he became more energetic in his work.

"The thorns here are piercing. If you get the chestnut meat, go somewhere else. I'll make you more delicious stir-fried chestnuts later!"

Yang Ruoqing walked over, putting on the twine gloves in her hands, and said to Luo Baobao and Da Zhi.

The two children followed Tuoba Xian to play elsewhere, and Yang Ruoqing and Wang Cuilian also joined the shelling camp.

The chestnut balls were each as big as an adult's fist, and they were all covered with thorns like steel needles.

When mature, the big hair balls will have cracks on them. People at the foot of the mountain rely on the mountains to eat. Generations of people have already figured out how to clean them.

As long as you follow this rule, you can easily break open the big hair ball.

The plump and firm chestnut meat inside, with its hard dark red shell, was pulled off and rolled into a bamboo sieve at your feet.

When the sieve was covered with a thick layer, Yang Ruoqing stood up and picked up the sieve, sifting out the vegetation debris like rice, and then carried it to the backyard kitchen.

First, soak the chestnuts in water for a period of time until the upper shell becomes slightly softer, then Yang Ruoqing brings scissors.

Wang Cuilian said: "You still want to cut it? Let me do it."

Yang Ruoqing shook her head: "This requires some skill, so let me do it."

Chestnuts are almost eaten raw by farmers. At most, they are dried and then the crispy shells are cracked with a mallet and ground into chestnut powder for mixing with noodles.

Farmers generally don’t have that much free time to cook the way Yang Ruoqing eats roasted chestnuts with sugar.

There are shops selling sugar-fried chestnuts in towns and counties, but they are a bit expensive and most people are still reluctant to buy them.

So when Yang Ruoqing said she wanted to make sugar-fried chestnuts, Wang Cuilian and Yang Ruolan curiously followed her to the backyard kitchen to see how she made it.

"Qing'er, I know how to cut flowers. I have some skills. I'll help you." Yang Ruolan said.

Yang Ruoqing smiled and shook her head again: "No need, this thing requires not only skill, but also brute force. Let me do it by myself!"

Use scissors to cut a flower opening out of the drained chestnut, hold it between two fingers, and use the scissors with the other hand.

Each chestnut was chopped twice and then thrown into a clean basket aside. Yang Ruolan and Wang Cuilian were stunned to see the move with such skill and neatness.

The two of them couldn't help it and insisted on giving it a try. Yang Ruoqing had no choice, so she let them have fun.

I just happened to have time to go back to the backyard to put away my clothes. The sun was still hanging in the western sky before, but now it suddenly went up to the clouds again.

In late summer and early autumn, there are quite a few thunderstorms, and it is expected that another rain will come soon.

When she quickly put away her clothes and returned to the kitchen, she found the two of them standing by the pot with depressed expressions on their faces.

In the basket in front of me, two chestnuts were cut to pieces, making it impossible to see...

"Hahaha, isn't it a good job?" Yang Ruoqing asked with a smile.

Wang Cuilian shook her head and smiled bitterly: "Look at Qing'er, you cut it so easily, but when we do it, it won't be the same.

Yang Ruolan also said: "I almost cut off my hand. Oh, I have to accept it. You are the best, Qing'er."

Yang Ruoqing pursed her lips and smiled, "A ruler has its advantages and disadvantages. Auntie and Sister Lan'er are good at needlework. I'm just an amateur."

While talking and laughing, the chestnut shells were cut, Wang Cuilian heated up the pot, and Yang Ruoqing rolled up her sleeves, picked up the spatula, and started frying.

While frying, I didn’t forget to explain to the two ‘apprentices’ around me, “Because it’s stir-fried chestnuts with sugar, both salt and sugar must be added.”

"The purpose of cutting out the flower knife is to allow the flavor to penetrate better, so that it doesn't taste white."

Wang Cuilian and Yang Ruolan nodded.

When the sweet smell filled the kitchen, Tuoba Xian also entered the kitchen with Luo Baobao, Da Zhi and Yang Ruolan's daughter.

"The little ones can't wait for a long time. They have to come to the backyard and they can't coax them no matter what." Tuoba Xian said.

Yang Ruoqing smiled and said: "It's just in time, the fried chestnuts will be ready soon!"

When the hot sugar-fried chestnuts came out of the pot, a bolt of lightning suddenly struck outside.

After the sound of "boom", heavy rain followed.

In the kitchen, Yang Ruoqing peeled open chestnuts and fed the soft, fragrant and sweet chestnut meat into the children's mouths.

"Is it delicious?" she asked.

Several children scrambled to nod, like chickens pecking at rice.

"Mom, I want more!" Luo Baobao shouted loudly, and stretched out his hand towards the sieve containing ripe chestnuts, but was blocked by Yang Ruoqing.

"It's so hot, let me peel it off for you," she said.

Anyway, it was raining heavily outside right now, accompanied by lightning and thunder.

Everyone sat down around the kitchen table, peeling chestnuts for the children to eat, and eating them themselves.

Wang Cuilian said: "This way of eating chestnuts is really good and delicious."

Tuoba Xian said: "The book says that chestnuts nourish the stomach. Eating more chestnuts can strengthen the spleen and is good for the body. You can eat more."

Yang Ruolan said: "It's really delicious and nourishing, but the workmanship is a bit labor-intensive. No wonder the sugar-fried chestnuts sold at stalls outside cost more than ten cents per catty. It's so expensive, but it's justified!"

"

Yang Ruoqing smiled and nodded. There were a lot of chestnuts roasted today. I will pack some for all my relatives and friends at home.

The rain outside is still falling heavily.

Lightning and thunder continued, and the children who were eating chestnuts with gusto at first gradually stopped eating.

Yaya from Yang Ruolan's family was so frightened that she simply hid in Yang Ruolan's arms, "Mom, I'm afraid!"

Yang Ruolan hugged Yaya and covered her ears with one hand.
Chapter completed!