Chapter 19: Fruit Leather

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Qin Jin swallowed the apple in his mouth and frowned. "If you don't pay wages, your mother will definitely make a fuss."

Qin An had already thought of a response. "Anyway, you've already been staying at the village chief's house for a clear path. This matter was agreed upon by her first. If she goes back on her word, she will be the one blamed."

"When the time comes, I'll firmly say that you’ve paid me the wages. Others will surely believe us, not her. Don’t worry, I won’t let her cause trouble for you. Although she doesn’t care much about appearances, she still has people she cares about."

This was a matter of his mother’s fault. If she caused trouble, most people would side with Qin Jin.

Moreover, his mother had someone she cherished most—his eldest brother, Qin Shuli.

If it truly caused trouble for Qin Jin, he would use Qin Shuli to pressure his mother into backing down.

However, unless absolutely necessary, he truly didn’t want to bring this up in front of others, as it would make people think he was betraying his own mother.

But he really had no other way.

Day by day, he grew older, but his mother still dreamed of marrying him into a wealthy family. She was not clear-headed, but he was, so he had to plan for himself.

Was he born into this world just to be a beast of burden for his mother?

He was unwilling and would not agree.

Having lived once, he must live for himself.

This time, working at Qin Jin’s home was a rare opportunity for him. He had to seize it and learn some exquisite embroidery skills to rely on.

If his mother dared to cause trouble, then it would be a fight to the death; no one would have an easy time.

Still, if his mother truly caused trouble, with her temperament, anyone under her scrutiny would be in trouble.

Qin Jin caught the implication in Qin An’s words.

He raised his brows, quite surprised.

In fact, the reason he agreed so easily to Zhu Erhong was because he trusted that Qin Shuli, the “glorious ancestor,” was there, so Zhu Erhong wouldn’t dare make a scene in front of him. But he didn’t expect Qin An, who seemed so quiet, to actually have the courage to set his sights on Qin Shuli.

He had underestimated this Brother An.

Since Brother An was not foolish, he would lend a hand. This world was too harsh on women and younger brothers.

He spoke up, “If you want to learn sewing, then follow Brother Miao to learn, but wages must be paid as well.”

“No need to pay wages. If I learn sewing, I won’t be able to do much work,” Qin An hurriedly shook his head. “I’d already be grateful just to learn sewing. I’m not picky; I’ll just do some miscellaneous work diligently.”

“Why speak so formally? I’m your brother; how can I take advantage of you? It’s settled then.” Qin Jin said, pointing to the kitchen, “Go help Brother Miao with cooking. This afternoon, make some more pumpkin cakes to send to Sister Chunlan.”

After saying this, he walked toward the main room.

Qin An’s lips twitched a few times, his nose tingling slightly. Seeing Qin Jin enter the house, he suppressed the feeling and turned into the kitchen.

There was so little he could do to repay.

Though Ye Miao was in the kitchen, he pricked up his ears to hear all the conversation between Qin An and Qin Jin. When Qin An entered, he said earnestly, “Brother An, don’t overthink. Learn sewing if you want, work if you need. You’re such a good person; Heaven won’t treat you unfairly.”

“It’s just that fate hasn’t arrived yet. Look at me and you’ll understand.”

Qin An smiled lightly.

He was far less accomplished than Brother Miao, who was handsome and had a money-making skill. So he didn’t ask for much—just that the other party wouldn’t despise him and would be willing to live honestly with him.

After speaking openly, his mood wasn’t as heavy. He quickly helped Ye Miao prepare lunch.

After eating, he and Ye Miao started making pumpkin cakes. This time, Qin Jin did not join in, and they handled everything themselves. They remembered yesterday’s steps clearly, so today’s pumpkin cakes were just as good as Qin Jin’s handiwork.

After the pumpkin cakes were done, Qin Jin put them in a small basket and took them to Huang Chunlan’s house.

Huang Chunlan’s husband, Yan Shengli, had a father named Yan Xiang, who was the village chief of Wuligou. When Qin Jin arrived, Yan Xiang was pushing his eldest grandson around the courtyard in a small cart.

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Qin Jin couldn’t help but smile. Huang Chunlan was indeed decisive—she said she would buy a small cart yesterday, and today she already had it.

At this moment, Huang Chunlan was sitting by the well washing apples.

Yan Xiang saw Qin Jin and, usually stern, showed a faint smile. “Qin Jin is here, come sit.”

Huang Chunlan also invited Qin Jin to sit and handed him two freshly washed apples.

Qin Jin offered the basket of pumpkin cakes. “Sister-in-law, Uncle Yan, try these. They’re freshly fried and still warm.”

“Oh, fried in oil?” Huang Chunlan looked at the dozen golden cakes, smiling more broadly. When she heard they contained glutinous rice flour, she clicked her tongue. “Well, looks like I’ve been outdone by the young fellow.”

She had intended to casually pass on the pumpkins, but now it seemed she had taken advantage of the young man. She immediately grabbed a basket. “My mother’s family can’t sell their apples this year, so they sent a few dozen pounds over. Since you’re here, you can take some back.”

“Can’t sell?” Qin Jin thought of the small apples he bought today, red and green, crisp, not too sweet but definitely not sour, with a genuine apple flavor.

More importantly: they were cheap.

Unlike in his previous life, when fruits from all over the country were available year-round, this era only allowed people to eat what was locally grown in season.

Still, even local seasonal fruits were not cheap.

Farmers depended entirely on the weather. Many households barely had enough to fill their stomachs with crops, let alone spare land and energy for fruit trees.

With small quantities, prices were high.

Even jujubes, though ordinary, cost about ten wen per jin fresh, and dried ones were even more expensive. Candied jujubes were as pricey as sugar, unaffordable to ordinary farmers.

But the apples he bought today were only five wen per jin. Now Huang Chunlan said her mother’s family’s apples couldn’t be sold?

“How come they can’t sell?” he couldn’t help but ask.

Huang Chunlan sighed. “Our county is close to the capital. In previous years, merchants in the county town would buy our local apples, then sell them to merchants from other places, who would send them to the capital.”

“But this year, there were floods in the south. Many merchant caravans couldn’t come, so county merchants stopped buying apples.”

“Apples don’t last like grain; they spoil quickly. Apple growers carry their goods around to sell, but many villages near my mother’s family grow apples, so they all sell at the same time, driving the price down.”

“My mother’s family didn’t want to sell cheap, so they sent a few dozen pounds over for free — to eat as much as you want.”

Actually, Huang Chunlan’s family didn’t rely on apples for a living, but they still earned a few taels of silver each year from them.

In previous years, selling apples in bulk to merchants fetched seven or eight wen per jin; this year, selling individually was five wen per jin — hard work and low returns.

Many villagers flocked to the county town, crying out their wares on every street and alley. Under those circumstances, Huang Chunlan’s family chose to give away many apples.

Better to give as a favor than to sell cheap and feel heartbroken.

If nothing unexpected happened, Huang Chunlan’s husband, Yan Shengli, would be the next village chief of Wuligou.

After hearing her explanation, Qin Jin nodded knowingly.

He looked at the apple in his hand, a new idea forming: “Sister-in-law, I’ll pay for a few pounds.”

“What are you saying? They’re worthless. Just take them and eat,” Huang Chunlan waved her hand. Having already taken advantage of the young man, she couldn’t ask him to pay.

“Sister-in-law, I intend to make a food item with the apples,” Qin Jin smiled and explained, “I want to sell it. I can’t take your apples for free.”

“Food? What can you make with apples?” Huang Chunlan was curious.

Yan Xiang glanced over as well.

“It’s called Guo Dan Pi, but I’m not sure if it will turn out well. I heard about it and want to try at home first.”

“Guo Dan Pi?”

Huang Chunlan didn’t know what Guo Dan Pi was, but knowing Qin Jin’s skills with pea cakes, thousand-layer cakes, and pumpkin cakes, she was sure Guo Dan Pi wouldn’t be bad.

She smiled, “Since you want to try it first, I definitely won’t charge you. Just try. If you succeed, come back and buy more.”

This year, she didn’t expect to make much money—just to work less hard.

Besides, selling apples took time away from fieldwork. When her family sent apples before, their worried expressions troubled her.

If Qin Jin could find a way to sell her family’s apples, she would surely remember his kindness.

Qin Jin wanted to decline, but then Yan Xiang also spoke up, telling him to take the apples and try freely.

Their words were sincere, so Qin Jin no longer refused. He carried half a basket of apples home.

In truth, whether the Guo Dan Pi worked out or not, his small stall had been running for about a month—not very long—and the public was still curious about pea cakes.

But earning favor with Huang Chunlan was important.

She was the wife of the next village chief of Wuligou; building a good relationship was necessary.

Coincidentally, he had just bought sugar yesterday and had enough raw materials at home. So upon returning, he began making Guo Dan Pi.

Zhao Feng took a small spatula to the fields, and Qin An followed, helping to distract Zhu Erhong.

Many fruits could be made into Guo Dan Pi—not just hawthorn. He washed the apples, cut them into pieces, cored them, added sugar, then a little water, and boiled them in a pot.

While boiling, he mashed the apples with a rolling pin since there was no blender.

Once the apple mash clung to the rolling pin, it was done.

He moved a dining table outdoors, laid down oiled paper, poured the apple mash on it, and spread it evenly—not too thin, as too thin would make it hard to peel off once dried, prone to breaking, and chewy, which spoiled the taste.

In this weather, drying for one day was enough. Drying too long would lose moisture and ruin the texture.

“So simple?” Ye Miao looked at the apple mash on the table, incredulous.

“Whether it works or not is uncertain. Let’s just dry it first.” Since it was his first time, Qin Jin wasn’t very confident.

He went to the kitchen, grabbed a food cover, and covered the apple mash.

Seeing Ye Miao still standing by the table looking around, he smiled and put his arm around Ye Miao’s shoulders as they went inside.

Time flew without notice; it was almost evening.

Ye Miao was suddenly pulled into Qin Jin’s embrace, his attention shifting immediately from the Guo Dan Pi.

In broad daylight, he was being held?

He glanced around furtively; the courtyard gate was wide open!

With no one at the gate, he withdrew his gaze, looking up at Qin Jin’s face just as Qin Jin looked over.

Their eyes met, and he immediately tightened his embrace around Qin Jin’s waist.

His big brother was taking the initiative to be close, so naturally, he had to respond.

Blinking, he said, “The hemp cloth my mother gave me last time—I finished making a pair of pants. You can try them on.”

“Alright,” Qin Jin nodded.

“And the underwear you mentioned—I finished that too.” After saying this, Ye Miao dared not look at Qin Jin, fixing his gaze on Qin Jin’s chin.

Qin Jin understood what the little husband meant.

Since the night Qin Jin kissed Ye Miao first, Ye Miao’s courage had grown. The next night, after the oil lamp was out, Ye Miao took the initiative to kiss him—coincidentally on the lips.

Qin Jin planned to spend his life with Ye Miao. Since Ye Miao was so proactive, how could he push him away? So that night, he kissed back.

Every night before bed these past days, they kissed. Now, seeing Ye Miao like this, Qin Jin smiled and held him tighter.

“All right, you help me try them on.”