Take Arada back to the past

Chapter 611: Sideline Business
That night, the conditions were not very good and the rain was still falling.

The new recruits went to bed early, but many veterans were still busy there.

There are harvesters in the fields harvesting crops overnight in the rain.

In the farm warehouse, there were still some people sorting the wet wheat that had just been harvested.

This thing has to be made as quickly as possible and then dried.

Otherwise it will sprout quickly.

Night fell, but the company was still busy.

Yang Xiaole quietly came out at night and added a lot of well water to the water source of the entire company. Many people in the company felt unwell today.

……

The next morning.

The rain finally stopped, and after about six hours of rest, the educated youth who had been listless yesterday began to become lively again.

According to my previous habit, I get up half an hour earlier to tidy up my room.

As the sound of the horn came out, they ate and worked.

……

"Xu Fei, what the hell are you doing here? Don't worry about the health room."

Song Lin looked at the medical worker busy at work in the threshing ground and cursed at him.

Seeing this, the hygienist said in bewilderment: "Work! From yesterday till now, only a few people came to see me yesterday, but no one came to see me at night!"

"No one came to see you? Those educated youth didn't come either?"

Song Lin was suspicious for a moment.

It rained for so long yesterday that not only the young people but even the veterans found it a bit exhausting.

But veterans have experience after all, so they can handle some of it.

"No! No one came last night!"

Hearing this, Song Lin was surprised: "Damn it, these guys should not hold on!"

After muttering something, he then said to him, "Alright, go do your thing and pay attention! If it doesn't work, go downstairs and ask more questions."

"Captain, don't worry. I'll go for a walk in a while."

Xu Fei agreed.

Seeing this, Song Lin didn't say anything.

Just left here.

I appeared at the farm again and took a special look at the conditions of the educated youth.

It seems like everyone is motivated.

I didn't feel depressed as if I was not sick, so I left with peace of mind.

……

It rained most of the day yesterday and most of the night today, and the wind was blowing.

At this time, a lot of wheat in the wheat fields had already fallen over.

In addition, the wheat fields were muddy, which made harvesting quite difficult.

Everyone looked sad.

But there is no way, the work still needs to be done, and we have to harvest quickly and harvest as much good products as possible.

But they had heard that the good wheat had to be handed over.

They only eat the moldy and sprouted ones.

Xu Jinbu mowed a long distance in one breath, then stood up and shouted to Yang Xiaole who had already run a long way away.

"Monitor! I feel particularly energetic today!"

Yang Xiaole raised his head and said with a smile: "As long as you have enough energy, I will give you a snack tonight."

How could it not be exciting?
When I got up in the morning, I added enough well water to the water room and the soup in the canteen.

In fact, there were some added before, but not that many.

"what?"

Xu Jinbu started wailing instantly.

This caused everyone to laugh.

Because the wheat fell over and there was a lot of work to be done, the girls were basically assigned to assist and pick up wheat behind the boys.

As the saying goes, men and women can work together without getting tired.

Everyone was talking and laughing there.

Xu Min naturally followed behind her brother, doing some detailed work such as bundling wheat and sorting it out.

"Sister, take a rest. You are not well yet!"

Xu Jinbu looked at his sister busying around there and said with a smile.

Seeing this, Xu Min smiled and said, "It's okay, the fever went away yesterday, I just feel a little weak today."

Xu Jinbu nodded and said, "Okay, take care of yourself! Don't get tired. I can take care of you now."

Looking at his brother's appearance, Xu Min said nothing and just smiled.

Now it seems like I have really grown up.

……

The busy life is tiring but also fulfilling, leaving little time to think about other things.

Except for a few people who were so tired that they cried in their quilts in the middle of the night.

But this is the military, and I'll get used to it after crying for a while.

After all, with the support of Yang Xiaole's well water, the entire company was supported and they were busy with farm work in an orderly manner amidst the chaos.

……

After a few days, more than a thousand acres of wheat were harvested, and the remaining soybeans and corn would have to wait until the end of September to the end of October to be harvested.

At this point, people breathed a sigh of relief.

It’s not that there are no jobs left, but we don’t have to fight for them as much as before.

After finishing work in the fields, we have to go to the threshing area.

At noon that day, Yang Xiaole was winnowing wheat in the wheat field when Meng Zhiyuan walked over.

"Yang Xiaole!"

"Platoon leader! What's wrong?"

He put down the wheat shovel in his hand and wiped the sweat from his head.

"It's estimated that the weather will turn colder in half a month or so. Your winter military uniforms have arrived. After dinner, take someone to pick them up."

"Yeah, okay! Got it. Anything else?"

Meng Zhiyuan nodded gently: "Well, your report and speech at the Corps has been decided. It will start on Monday next week. Today is Thursday. Someone will take you to the Corps on Sunday to study. Then they will drive you to the province. Have you finished writing the report?"

"Yes, I see. I have already written it."

"That's fine. Show it to the instructor later. When the time comes, bring it over and they'll give you a thumbs-up."

Yang Xiaole nodded: "Okay, got it!"

Since you plan to advance by making contributions in the future, these things will be inevitable unless you wait for time.

"Oh, by the way, you've all heard that the Corps will start to determine the candidates for this year's competition! This Saturday, the company will undergo a formal assessment, and the results of this assessment will be temporarily included in the preliminary list for participating in the Corps competition."

Then he gave a general explanation of the situation.

Yang Xiaole smiled when he heard this: "I heard the veteran talking about this this morning."

"Well, theoretically, we new recruits are not allowed to participate. After all, you have been here for too short a time and have received too little military training, so it is difficult for you to make a difference. However, there are some good people in this batch, so the company will let you try. The company can recommend a maximum of five people to participate."

After Meng Zhiyuan finished speaking, he smiled and said, "But! There are standards for participants. If you can't meet the standards, don't be embarrassed. You will definitely have no problem."

Yang Xiaole smiled and nodded: "Okay, I'll go and notify them later."

Seeing this, Meng Zhiyuan said hello and left.

"Hey, squad leader, is this about the big competition?"

After the people left, Zhang Xuesong hurried over, wiped the sweat from his head, and asked him.

Yang Xiaole nodded gently: "Yes! Yes, there will be an assessment this Saturday. If you rank in the top five in the company, you can participate, and then go to the regiment with the people in the battalion to take the assessment again."

The number must be small, after all, the entire Production and Construction Corps has nearly seventy regiments.

If there are ten people in each group, that would be seven hundred people.

If there is enough time, maybe I can get a first-class merit.

It is a first-class merit in peacetime, not a first-class merit in wartime.

It depends on whether you have enough time. After all, many events in this kind of competition are held at the same time, so you may not have enough time to participate.

Zhang Xuesong smiled and said, "I want to participate too. I feel I have made great progress during this period."

Yang Xiaole nodded. Zhang Xuesong had a good foundation, otherwise he wouldn’t be so crazy.

However, there is still a big gap to win the award.

There are 600,000 people in the entire corps, and there are always many hidden talents.

After all, Zhang Xuesong's training time is still too short. After a year, he will catch up with the pace of the veterans. With such a good foundation, it is not hopeless.

"I also need to go!"

Zhao Gang was muttering there.

"Okay, let's see if you can pass!"

Yang Xiaole didn't care much about it. Among all the recruits, they were the three with the best qualities, but not all of them would pass.

The reason I asked him is because he has the right to recommend.

If he doesn't allow people to go, then they can't even register.

In fact, the squad leader does not have much real power in this position, but he still has a lot of decision-making power on small matters.

If anyone makes a mistake, you will be fined a few kilometers, and the higher-ups will support you.

When Zhao Gang heard that he could sign up, he happily adjusted his straw hat and went back to work.

Soon, as the horn sounded, everyone rushed to the cafeteria.

After finishing the meal, he took these people to the quartermaster to get their winter uniforms.

Come back in the afternoon and continue working.

"Oh, the grains have sprouted. What a pity! They don't taste good anymore."

On the farm, after everyone came over, they looked at some of the wheat that had already sprouted and casually mentioned it.

Even with all the rescue efforts, a lot of the wheat still sprouted.

Naturally, these wheats cannot be handed in. Every year, the sprouted and moldy ones are digested by the farmers themselves.

The steamed buns didn’t rise, and they were a bit sour and sticky.

The person who spoke was Meng Zhiyuan.

Yang Xiaole looked at the sprouting wheat and said casually, "It would be better if there were more glutinous rice. We can make maltose."

"Maltose? We don't have the technology to do that!"

Meng Zhiyuan said casually.

Hearing this, Yang Xiaole smiled and said, "What's so difficult about this? Just mash the malt and steam the glutinous rice to ferment, and it will be ready in a few days. The success rate of this thing is quite high."

As a science anchor in the previous life, although I can’t say he’s omnipotent, at least he knows a lot.

For example, boiling sea salt and making sugar from sugarcane can be found everywhere on Douyin.

There are all kinds of side doors.

But it’s not surprising when you think about it. Nowadays, let alone making malt sugar, even a carpenter has to learn the skills from a master if he wants to take an apprentice.

Of course not, something like maltose will not work.

It can only be said that those who are difficult will not be able to do it, and those who are able to do it will not be difficult. "Can you make maltose?"

Zhao Tao's voice came from behind.

Hearing this, several people turned around.

"Instructor!"

Seeing this, several people saluted.

Zhao Tao replied, then laughed and said, "How do you make maltose?"

"Oh, there are people in our commune who can make it. I used to go there secretly to try it out. You know, kids like sweet food. I know how to make it. But you need glutinous rice to make it. Actually, rice or sweet potato can also be used. But the sweetness and taste of the finished product are not as good as glutinous rice."

Yang Xiaole was perfunctory.

Nowadays, not only children, but even adults have a special liking for sweets.

What is the best thing that ordinary people can use to entertain others these days? It is not tea, but sugar water.

It's almost the highest standard.

Hearing this, Zhao Tao asked curiously: "Tell me, how is this thing made, and how much can it produce?"

Yang Xiaole smiled and said, "What's wrong? Instructor, you still want to make maltose? How to say this thing! Ten kilograms of glutinous rice and one to one and a half kilograms of malt, the kind that has just sprouted, 110 kilograms can produce about kilograms!"

Then I will talk about the general process.

“Can you produce so much?”

Zhao Tao was surprised for a moment, then his eyes lit up: "It's not impossible. I'm willing to do it for more than a pound of fine grains and seven ounces of maltose."

The price of glutinous rice purchased from the farm was 9 cents, and the price of wheat was cents.

It comes down to less than 1.7 cents.

How much does maltose cost per pound?
Sixty-five cents.

The problem is that sugar has to be rationed these days, and the same goes for maltose.

So rare!

"Yeah, I would too!"

"Why don't we make it ourselves and eat less refined grains!"

"Yes!"

"Instructor, can you do it?"

……

The people in the class asked with a smile.

They have fine grains, so the worst that can happen is that they can just eat less fine grains!

Zhao Tao looked at Yang Xiaole and asked with a smile: "Can it work? Do you want to try it some other day? There are two companies in our camp with a lot of paddy fields. They grow glutinous rice there. We can exchange rice for some glutinous rice!"

After hearing this, Yang Xiaole thought about it for a while.

It is definitely possible.

Besides, with him around, there’s no way we can’t succeed.

But he still asked: "Instructor, is this kind of business allowed?"

"Hey! What's the big deal? The higher-ups told us to be self-reliant. As long as we don't hold the country back, we can do this kind of sideline business. Isn't raising pigs a way to support national construction?
Besides, we can feed our company, and the excess can be given to the regiment. Then the sprouted wheat can be turned into treasure and exchanged for good flour. Why not? I just don't know if it will work."

Hearing this, Yang Xiaole looked at the sprouting wheat in the dojo and said, "It will definitely be no problem. It just requires manpower, and it needs to be done quickly. If the sprouts are too big, they won't sprout."

Then I explained the general reasons to them in a way they could understand.

Zhao Tao nodded.

Looking at Song Lin who had just come over from not far away.

He called out, "Old Song! Come here!"

Hearing the voice, Song Lin walked over with a sad expression.

When the wheat sprouts, they won't be in a very good mood.

"what happened?"

But after coming over, he still tried his best to smile, after all, he needed to stabilize the morale of the troops.

This is very important.

Seeing this, Zhao Tao told the whole story.

Seeing this, Song Lin looked at him suspiciously: "Are you serious? Do you have this skill? Don't waste the food."

Hearing this, Yang Xiaole smiled indifferently: "Captain, you underestimate me."

Song Lin looked at him and said, "What do you think we should do? Try making a small amount first. Our company only has some glutinous rice flour, but no glutinous rice. If possible, go to the camp and get some glutinous rice."

"Sure! Glutinous rice noodles are fine too. The food will be ready tomorrow at the latest."

Glutinous rice noodles are easier to ferment.

Seeing him say that, Song Lin thought for a moment and said, "Okay, pick a few people. It's only one night anyway, so it won't delay much work. Go find Wu Dahai, he will find something for you."

Seeing this, Yang Xiaole smiled and said, "It's not that troublesome actually. Just have a basin and some water. Then wash the sprouted wheat and pick out the black and moldy ones."

"Okay, I'll give you half a day off. Go ahead! Go find two people from the female educated youth group to help you."

Song Lin agreed.

Yang Xiaole smiled and said, "For real!"

"Nonsense! Are you going or not?"

"go with!"

Yang Xiaole agreed with a smile.

He said to Xu Jinbu, "Big Head, come with me. Call your sister and Tang Ruoyan, and we'll go to the cafeteria."

Someone has to do the physical work!
After saying that, he walked towards the cafeteria.

I came here and asked, and found out there are about 200 kilograms of glutinous rice flour.

When Wu Dahai heard that they were going to make maltose, he was suspicious: "Is this true? Don't waste my food!"

He is in charge of the canteen and has a headache every day about what to feed these people.

Anything good is a treasure.

Yang Xiaole smiled and said, "Hey, the company commander and the instructor asked me to come, otherwise I wouldn't have the courage to do this!
Don't worry, but you need to help me. Add water to the glutinous rice flour and knead it into noodles, then steam it. However, the pot must not have any oil, and it must be cleaned with alkaline noodles. "

He knew that in the cafeteria, people generally didn't use alkaline noodles to clean the pots when cooking.

Just wash it and use it next time, it’s almost the same as in the countryside.

Wu Dahai still didn't believe it, so he asked someone to ask.

At the same time, Tang Ruoyan and Xu Min followed Datou over.

Xu Min asked curiously: "Team Leader Yang, I heard that you want to make maltose? You have this skill!"

"Yes! I'll help you out later!"

"Hey, okay! How do we do it?"

Seeing this, Yang Xiaole smiled and said, "Let's go pick some malt! Fifteen pounds will be enough, come back and wash it..."

I explained the operation steps and the selection process.

The two agreed and followed Datou to pick malt, thus skipping the longest task of picking malt.

The rest is much simpler.

After a few people left, the person who asked about the situation came back after a while.

When Wu Dahai heard that the leader really agreed, he naturally agreed and was curious about how this thing was made.

Yang Xiaole simply explained the process again.

"So simple?"

Wu Dahai was skeptical for a moment. In his opinion, how could something as rare as sugar be made so easily?

Yang Xiaole smiled and said, "How much more complicated can it be? You can just watch me while I'm doing it."

There is no need to worry about others learning this thing.

Anyway, it’s all public property at this time.

If these people can learn it in the future, when the reform and opening up comes, maybe it can really be a skill.

Don't look down on those people who have just started a small business.

Wu Dahai looked at him suspiciously, then asked someone to get the glutinous rice flour, wash the basin, knead the dough, and steam the glutinous rice.

After a while, the three big-headed men came back carrying a basket of sprouted wheat.

"Squad Leader Yang, the stuff is here!"

"Well, weigh them first to determine the approximate weight, then pick them out, wash them, and then break them into pieces. The smaller the better!"

Yang Xiaole explained.

Xu Min nodded: "Okay, let's do it!"

Then I started to get busy.

Yang Xiaole naturally followed suit and started to make his choices.

Select the malt that is not black or diseased, chop it into pieces, and mix it with the steamed glutinous rice while it is still warm.

More than 100 kilograms were divided into two large iron basins in the cafeteria.

This process took almost until dinner time.

"Captain Wu! Is there any way to keep the temperature of these two basins at around 40 degrees without making it too hot?"

Maintaining the fermentation temperature is a must.

Otherwise it will be slow.

If there is no better way, you can only cover it with a quilt, which will take a whole day.

Wu Dahai thought for a moment and said, "Well, the rice is ready now. Put some warm water in the pot and add some hot water every once in a while. What do you think?"

Yang Xiaole thought about it and nodded: "Okay, that's it. By the way, squad leader, please help me find a larger gauze to filter it when the time comes."

"I have this. Is the gauze used for steaming buns okay?"

"Okay, that one is big enough. I won't use the others for now."

Wu Dahai agreed.

The work is almost done. It is already the end of August. The temperature here is not very high, but not too cold either. It will take five or six hours to squeeze the sugar.

"Squad Leader Yang, when will you be able to come out?"

Tang Ruoyan looked at him and asked with a smile, this was too strange, after all, she had never seen it before.

Yang Xiaole calculated the time and said, "It's past five now, so it will be fine from 11 to 12 at night."

"So fast?"

Tang Ruoyan was surprised for a moment, then whispered: "Squad Leader Yang, how come you know everything!"

"I know a lot. Hey, Squad Leader Wu, when I have time later, I will teach you how to make tofu. It's very simple. All you need is soybean flour."

Their company has beans, but they have to go to the regiment to get them ground into flour.

Just buy some brine and you can make it.

Wu Dahai was surprised: "You can also make tofu?"

"Yup!"

Yang Xiaole agreed and then put the things into the pot.

Just a slightly hot feeling will do.

"Captain Wu, I'll leave the rest to you. Just keep the temperature. Let's go eat first. Come back later."

Wu Dahai saw this and went over to try it out and agreed: "Okay, go eat and come back later."

After agreeing, they left the cafeteria.

(End of this chapter)