Chapter 5: Beetroot

Chapter 5: Beetroot

Qiu Huanian first lit the hearth and took a small bowl of cornstarch to fry into cooked powder. While it cooled, he went to process the red beetroots stored in the pantry.

These beetroots were different from the modern varieties introduced from Europe, which were selectively bred for sugar extraction and had a higher sugar content, making them economically viable as sugar crops. The villagers grew them mainly for their high yield and sweet flavor, occasionally nibbling on them for a little sweetness.

Qiu Huanian wasn't aiming to extract sugar from them but intended to use them as a substitute for the sugar required in the Sorghum Jelly recipe.

The modern method of making Sorghum Jelly is quite simple, involving just three steps. First, dissolve sweet potato starch in three times the amount of water, pour it into a pot, and stir continuously over low heat until it thickens. Second, add a large amount of sugar and some lemon juice, continuing to stir until well mixed. Third, line a mold with prepared cornstarch to prevent sticking, pour the mixture from the second step into the mold, let it cool for two to three hours, and then remove it to get the chewy and soft Sorghum Jelly.

In this alternate world, Qiu Huanian substituted sweet potato starch with the traditional sorghum starch and used beetroot juice as a substitute for sugar and lemon juice. The taste might not be as good as the modern version, but for the people around Du Village who rarely ate sugar, it would still be a delightful treat.

Qiu Huanian washed six large beetroots, peeled them, and then chopped them into small pieces. He used a stone mortar to extract the sucrose-rich juice, diluted the juice with water, and combined it with three times the volume of sorghum starch. He left the residual beetroot particles unfiltered to add texture to the final product.

He then removed half of the firewood from the hearth to prevent the temperature from getting too high, poured the well-mixed starch suspension into the pot, and stirred continuously to prevent it from sticking.

This was a labor-intensive task. The iron pot was large, and the starch mixture became increasingly sticky. Qiu Huanian had to use all his strength to push a foot-long wooden spatula back and forth in the pot, and soon his arms were so sore he could barely lift them.

He made a mental note to include body nourishment in his future plans. Jiu Jiu and Chun Sheng were also thinner than their peers, and everyone needed to build up their strength, as health was the foundation of everything.

After stirring continuously for about ten minutes, the starch mixture in the pot finally reached a certain level of solidity and was less likely to stick. Qiu Huanian judged that it was ready, scraped out the starch mixture, and lined a new square mold with prepared cornstarch.

The main ingredient of Sorghum Jelly was sorghum starch, with cornstarch used only incidentally. However, Qiu Huanian had deliberately ground equal amounts of corn and sorghum as a decoy.

This way, even if someone tried to decipher the recipe for Sorghum Jelly, they wouldn't realize that corn wasn't actually part of the jelly but was only used to prevent sticking.

Additionally, the method of extracting starch first and then making the jelly wasn't something that could be easily figured out, so Qiu Huanian had enough time to earn his first pot of gold with his exclusive Sorghum Jelly.

Qiu Huanian filled three one-liter molds with Sorghum Jelly and placed them on a shelf in a cool place to let them cool. Jiu Jiu and Chun Sheng also woke up.

Qiu Huanian thought that children needed plenty of rest, so he deliberately didn't wake them. However, when Jiu Jiu and Chun Sheng saw that Qiu Huanian had already done a lot of work, their faces instantly filled with regret and embarrassment.

Qiu Huanian pinched the cheeks of the two little ones, told them a few stories, and diverted their attention.

For breakfast, they ate the wheat gluten steamed the day before, sliced and served with pickles, which had a unique flavor. Jiu Jiu and Chun Sheng both loved the soft and fluffy texture of the gluten.

After breakfast, Qiu Huanian slung a bamboo basket over his back and asked the two children with a smile, "Jiu Jiu and Chun Sheng, would you like to accompany Brother to the back mountain to pick some leaves?"

Delighted to be helpful, the two children eagerly agreed, carrying small baskets and following Qiu Huanian to the back mountain.

In early spring, many trees on the back mountain were just budding and hadn't turned green yet. Qiu Huanian looked around and finally chose the willow trees with tender green leaves. Together with the two children, they picked over a hundred of the largest and most intact leaves, washed them in the mountain spring water, and neatly arranged them in the basket.

Since they were already there, they also picked a basket of large-leaf celery, bitter dragon sprouts, and other wild vegetables. Qiu Huanian had been busy all morning and was starting to feel tired. Jiu Jiu and Chun Sheng insisted that he sit on a rock to rest while they gathered wild vegetables nearby.

Breathing in the fresh, moist forest air and listening to the clear, melodious bird songs, Qiu Huanian exhaled deeply, feeling a sense of relief, and thought that such a busy and fulfilling life wasn't so bad.

When they returned home, the Sorghum Jelly had cooled. Qiu Huanian took it out of the molds and cut it into strips about the size of a finger, making seven cuts horizontally and vertically. He first gave each child a piece to taste.

"Brother Hua, this is—mm!" Chun Sheng paused for half a second, his eyes lighting up. "It's so delicious! Even better than peanut candy!"

Jiu Jiu held the jelly strip in both hands, nibbling on it and nodding continuously.

Qiu Huanian also tasted a piece and was pleasantly surprised. The taste of this alternate-world version of Sorghum Jelly was much better than he had expected!

The sorghum starch was soft and chewy, and the natural sweetness from the beets carried a fresh aroma. The occasional bite of fine beet particles greatly enriched the texture, and upon careful tasting, one could also detect the fragrance of prepared cornstarch.

Due to the natural red pigment in the beetroots, the Sorghum Jelly had a jade-like red hue, with semi-transparent edges, making it visually appealing as well.

Qiu Huanian thought that even in the modern world, people would be willing to pay for this "ancient method" Sorghum Jelly.

Three pounds of sorghum starch made about two hundred pieces of sorghum candy. Qiu Huanian took out a handful and placed them in the sugar basket inside the house. The rest were wrapped in white cloth and packed into another small basket, which, along with the basket of willow leaves, was placed into the carrying basket.

Carrying the basket, he locked the courtyard gate and took Jiu Jiu and Chun Sheng to Hu Qiuyan's house not far away.

Hu Qiuyan was in the yard teaching her youngest son, Yun Kang, how to weave bamboo baskets with tender willow branches. Seeing Qiu Huanian, she clapped her hands and stood up.

"What a surprise! What brings you here today, Brother Hua?"

"Auntie Qiuyan, I need to go to town and would like to ask you to look after the two children for me."

Although both Jiu Jiu and Chun Sheng insisted they could stay home alone, the trip to town would take at least five to six hours. Given their young age, Qiu Huanian wasn't entirely comfortable leaving them alone.

"No problem, don't worry. Just throw in an extra half handful of rice at noon," Hu Qiuyan said with a casual laugh.

Their family had a fish pond at the edge of the village, which had been quite profitable in recent years, allowing them to live comfortably. Otherwise, they wouldn't have considered sending their youngest son, Yun Kang, to school.

Qiu Huanian asked Jiu Jiu to bring half of the wild vegetables they had picked that morning, while he took a handful of sorghum candy from the basket.

"Auntie Qiuyan, try this."

"What is this made of? It looks quite nice," Hu Qiuyan examined the dozen or so candy sticks handed to her.

"It's the candy I mentioned to you a couple of days ago. I've made it now."

"Good heavens, it really is candy?" Hu Qiuyan took one and chewed it a few times. "Good heavens, it really is!"

Hu Qiuyan had never tasted such candy before. It was sweeter, more fragrant, and chewier than the maltose candy in town, and it left a lasting impression. She regretted eating the first piece so quickly.

"Brother Hua, this is too much. Just a couple for the kids to try is enough," Hu Qiuyan said, trying to return the candy to Qiu Huanian.

A small stick of maltose candy the size of a fava bean sold for three coins. Brother Hua's candy was three to four times larger and tasted even better. It must be worth at least seven or eight coins per stick. This handful must be worth nearly a hundred coins. Hu Qiuyan couldn't possibly accept so much.

"Auntie, keep it and let the whole family have a taste," Qiu Huanian smiled and pushed the candy back. "This candy is called sorghum candy. It's not expensive to make. I plan to sell it for one coin per stick."

"This good candy, and it's only one coin?!"

Hu Qiuyan pondered for a moment. If it were only one coin, she could buy one every two days—no, every day! She could cut it into pea-sized pieces, and the whole family could enjoy candy every day.

"Brother Hua, I'm truly impressed. How did you come up with this? You said you'd make candy from sorghum, and you actually did it!" Hu Qiuyan understood the significance and didn't ask for the recipe.

"I just experimented a bit, and it turned out well," Qiu Huanian said modestly.

Hu Qiuyan clicked her tongue, impressed. Villagers had been gossiping that Du Baoyan's eldest son had thrown away his future, and the family was doomed. Who could have guessed that while the eldest son failed, his young husband would be so capable!

"I'll take the candy then. Next time I visit my parents, I'll bring a few sticks and brag about how amazing Brother Hua is," Hu Qiuyan no longer refused. "In the future, when you're busy in town, feel free to bring the kids over. Just don't bring anything next time."

Even if one stick of candy sold for one coin, a dozen coins would cover the children's meals for quite some time.

After leaving Hu Qiuyan's house, Qiu Huanian headed out of the village. It would take about two hours to walk from Du Village to town. The sun was already high, and if he didn't hurry, he might not make it in time.

The basket of candy and the basket of willow leaves in his carrying basket were light and didn't add much extra burden. Following the memories of the original owner, Qiu Huanian quickened his pace and arrived in Qingfu Town by noon.

Qingfu Town had a permanent population of nearly three thousand and was one of the largest towns in the county. The town center had two main roads forming a cross, dividing the town into four streets: east, west, south, and north. The streets were lined with various shops, and there were many vendors doing business along the roadside.

Meng Yuanling's tofu stall was at the very end of West Street. Outside was the shop selling ready-made tofu, while inside the small courtyard stood a huge stone mill. A mule with one eye covered by a black cloth pulled the mill in circles, and soy milk continuously poured out from the side of the mill.

Meng Yuanling was helping sell tofu in the shop, his eyes occasionally glancing outside. As soon as he saw Qiu Huanian, he immediately put down the wooden knife he was using to cut tofu and rushed out.

"Brother Hua, you're finally here! Let me see the candy!"

"You really trust me," Qiu Huanian chuckled, "Aren't you worried I didn't make it?"

Meng Yuanling, no fool, grabbed Qiu Huanian's arm and said, "If you really hadn't made it, you wouldn't have come today. Quit playing around and show me already."

"Yesterday, I told my family that I met a friend in Du Village who can make candy from sorghum, and they all laughed at me, not believing it!"

Meng Yuanling pulled Qiu Huanian into the neatly arranged tofu shop. Qingfu Town had only this one tofu shop, which had been around for decades with a good reputation. Besides the townsfolk, people from nearby villages also bought tofu here.

At noon, there were five or six people waiting to buy tofu in the shop. These regulars, who'd seen Meng Yuanling grow up, turned to look when they heard him.

Seeing Meng Yuanling holding a young, handsome boy, they all laughed.

"Ling'er, no wonder they were laughing at you. Only kids would believe in making candy from sorghum."

Meng Yuanling puffed his cheeks in defiance, "I'm not a kid anymore! If it's true, how about each of you buys a candy?"

Those who could afford tofu didn't mind shelling out a few extra coins. They were just teasing Meng Yuanling without malice. Since malt candy was three coins a stick, sorghum candy couldn't cost much more, so they agreed.

"Alright, alright, let your buddy show us the candy, and we'll take it."

Author's note:

Too many people have questioned the pricing, so I'll explain in detail (headache)—

Four reasons for the protagonist's low pricing: 1. Lower cost; 2. The local consumption level is too low, and without transportation, he can't go far, so higher prices wouldn't sell; 3. He's in a hurry to make quick money; 4. He knows the clan leader and the Du clan can provide some protection.

Here are the specific discussions QAQ—

"About prices and costs" All prices are based on historical documents I researched, mainly from the Ming and Qing dynasties, with some references from the Song dynasty (due to various reasons, the prices of many things in ancient times differ greatly from modern times).

The profit margin for Sorghum Candy was calculated using a formula and a calculator, ensuring it was fairly accurate.

(The price of sorghum, the price of sugar beets, the working speed and hourly rate of a mule, the specific amount of raw materials needed to make a candy stick and the loss rate are all clearly written in the text. You can calculate the cost yourself and see if the pricing is reasonable.)

"About comparing prices with white sugar" The sorghum candy made by the protagonist only uses unimproved sugar beets, which have a slight sweetness. Its deliciousness comes from its texture and fragrance, and it can't be compared in price to real white sugar.

"About short-term market impact and retaliation" The protagonist has no means of transport and relies entirely on walking. The candy can't be sold far, only near his home and in the town to make quick money. It won't impact the market much or attract retaliation from big competitors.

As previously described, Du Village is a single-surname village with strong clan influence, and the clan leader has been taking care of the protagonist due to the absence of the male lead. Therefore, minor issues arising from selling sorghum candy in a small area can be resolved with clan protection.

"About expanding the market later" When the male lead comes back, with his clout and connections, he can sort everything out in no time, chatting and laughing with military officers and scholars, and occasionally being invited by the county magistrate for talks. So, soon, everything will be fine, over~