Chapter 20: Candied Hawthorn Sticks

Xiao Die and Liu Xi were deeply moved by these words; were they not a reflection of their young master’s own harrowing experiences?

In his previous life, while role-playing as a corporate elite, Lin Feng had firmly etched one principle into his mind: to succeed in business, one must understand human nature. You must know what people want, what they loathe, what they enjoy, and what they are thinking. Only then will they willingly empty their pockets for you. Once you grasp human nature, you gain connections and traffic, and your business will inevitably grow.

"Let’s go. Since we’ve sold everything, let’s pick up some supplies before heading back."

If they were to make candied hawthorn sticks—*bingtang hulu*—they would naturally need white sugar. The Great Chu Kingdom had both white sugar and rock sugar, though the latter was quite expensive; commoners typically relied on sugarcane syrup as their primary source of sweetness. While white sugar would suffice for the candied hawthorns, rock sugar would certainly be better.

The town only had one shop that sold sugar. It also offered sweets such as brown sugar water, poached eggs in syrup, and black sugar cakes. In the Great Chu Kingdom, people did not eat lunch, adhering to a two-meal-a-day schedule—breakfast and dinner. While healthy, Lin Feng found it difficult to adjust to. Thus, he ordered a bowl of poached eggs in syrup and two plates of black sugar cakes for each of them, treating it as a midday meal. They ate with great relish, having not tasted such sweetness in a long time.

During the meal, Lin Feng inquired about the prices: white sugar was sixty copper coins per catty, while rock sugar was one hundred. It wasn't too expensive, which was a relief; otherwise, he wouldn't be able to turn a profit. A catty of white sugar could coat about forty skewers. Even if he sold them for ten coins each, he would make a decent profit. However, he had no intention of selling them so cheaply, having already gauged the basic spending power of the townspeople. He decided to price them at forty coins per skewer—a price the residents of Luping Town would surely accept if they steeled themselves. Moreover, these candied hawthorns were destined to be the favorites of women and children. It was an eternal truth that the easiest money to earn was from women and children.

Upon returning to the farmhouse, Lin Feng had the trio clean the hawthorn berries thoroughly, remove the pits, and leave them to dry. He found a piece of split wood and whittled several skewers, threading six pitted hawthorn berries onto each. The three watched his movements with curiosity.

"Big Brother, what are you making?" Xiao Die asked.

"I am teaching you how to make *bingtang hulu*," he replied.

"Candied hawthorns? Using these mountain berries?"

"Exactly. Watch carefully, because you will be making them yourselves shortly."

He lit the fire and cautioned, "Remember, do not let the fire burn too high. You must simmer the sugar over low heat."

Lin Feng poured a little water into a large iron pot. Once it boiled, he added the white sugar. As it melted rapidly, he instructed, "Do not stir it with a spoon; let it heat naturally. When the bubbles shrink and the syrup turns slightly yellow, dip a chopstick in and then into cold water. If the sugar hardens like ice, it is ready."

He demonstrated as he spoke. Once the syrup was ready, he sprinkled in a handful of sesame seeds bought in town. He took the pot off the heat, quickly rolled each skewer of hawthorns in the syrup, and placed them on an oiled plate.

After cooling, the beautiful candied hawthorns, fragrant with caramelized sugar and sesame, were ready. The three couldn't wait to taste them. The interplay of sweet and sour stimulated their palates, a unique flavor that left them wanting more even after they finished.

"Brother Lin, this is truly delicious," Tian Xi'er exclaimed.

Could the *bingtang hulu*—the snack that had once turned the fate of the hawthorn berry—be anything less than delicious?

"Now, you try," Lin Feng said. He was eager for them to master it, as he planned to sell them in town the next day.

Tian Xi'er succeeded on her first attempt, while Xiao Die struggled with uneven syrup or applying too much. Liu Xi fared even worse, burning the sugar entirely. Between this and the spiced peanuts, Lin Feng realized Liu Xi lacked any talent for cooking; he would be relegated to a kitchen assistant.

Once the lesson concluded, Lin Feng handed a few skewers to Tian Xi'er. "Xi'er, take these home for your parents to try."

"May I really take them?"

"Of course. You made these yourself; let them taste the fruits of your labor."

"Thank you, Brother Lin!"

"Don't mention it."

After Tian Xi'er left, Xiao Die began preparing dinner. Lin Feng found some bamboo in the yard and taught Liu Xi how to whittle skewers; Liu Xi proved quite adept at this task. Soon after, Tian Tian arrived carrying two full sacks of peanuts.

"Brother Lin, I've brought the peanuts."

"How much is there?"

"Seventy catties."

Lin Feng was surprised. "That many?"

"My mother and I spent the day visiting villages south of Yangle Town to collect them. This is only a portion; some villagers need until tomorrow to finish shelling the rest."

"With seventy catties as a base, we won't be in a rush."

Lin Feng immediately had Xiao Die pay Tian Tian. This time, he used silver, which he had exchanged for earlier that day. Having silver was indeed more convenient than counting hundreds of copper coins. He paid two taels and eight mace of silver for the seventy catties.

As Tian Tian pocketed the money, he asked, "Where is my younger sister?"

"I sent her home."

"I see. I am glad she can help you. Don't let her humble background fool you; she is very clever."

"Indeed, she is," Lin Feng laughed.

"Our family used to live in the county seat, though not in this area. My father was a merchant, but after offending a powerful local figure, we were forced to flee to this mountain village. I was just born then; my younger brother and sister weren't even conceived yet. My father was educated and taught me, but I lacked the aptitude. My brother and sister were much brighter, but since education is considered useless for girls, my parents stopped her lessons. She loves to read, though, so she often has my brother teach her in secret."

Lin Feng scoffed, "Who says it's useless? Must one pass the imperial exams or become an official for it to be of use?"

Tian Tian smiled. "We aren't a wealthy family in a provincial capital; our women don't have the luxury of leisure. We are farmers, and women here are expected to work the fields and tend the home. But I know my sister isn't satisfied; her aspirations are high. It is fortunate she met you, as it gives her a place to put her talents to use."

Lin Feng agreed wholeheartedly. "She is not only literate but also clever and quick to learn. She will be a great help to me."

"Then I leave her in your hands, Brother Lin."

After Tian Tian left, Lin Feng mused that it was no wonder the Tian family seemed different from the local villagers. They had been city dwellers, educated and experienced in trade. Mother Tian, in particular, was sharp-tongued and calculating—she must have been the one managing their business affairs in the past.