Chapter 32

Eight Treasures Pickles and Zha Cai were easy to make, but the troublesome part was the Spicy Cabbage (kimchi).

Spicy Cabbage not only had to have a spicy taste but also a refreshing sweetness. However, this sweetness didn't come from sugar pickling but rather from fruits.

The Song family had fruit trees. Every year, apart from selling fresh fruits, some were dried to be kept for daily sale or personal consumption. Another portion was stored in the cellar to ensure the family could have some fresh fruits even in winter.

Moreover, people in the northern regions liked to stock persimmons and pears in winter. These fruits were frost-resistant. Even if they froze into hard lumps, after thawing, their juice remained sweet and moist, particularly benefiting the dryness of winter.

The sales of plums and persimmons each year were excellent. Every household was willing to buy some to freeze on the windowsill. Whenever they wanted to eat, they would soak a few pieces in water, and with a gentle squeeze to break the skin, the sweet juice would flow directly into their mouths, a delightful experience.

Pears were also an important ingredient for pickling Spicy Cabbage.

"I see you're getting more and more extravagant!" Fang shi looked at a basin of shredded pears, feeling extremely distressed.

In the harsh northern winter, fresh vegetables were rare, and fresh fruits could fetch a high price. Seeing these profitable fruits being wasted by her daughter, she couldn't help but worry.

"Don't you earn enough money to buy a few pears? Go, go, go see your son, I'll help your second daughter with this," Li shi's endless ideas attracted her attention, abandoning the warmth of the kang to assist Song Dingxiang in handling these items.

"You've spoiled her, how can you use pears for pickling?"

Li shi declared, "Pears can be turned into pear paste, so why not pickles? Pickled pears with salt are quite tasty! Look, if you're not going to help, then stay out of the way. Go on, shoo! Your son's crying again. Stop relying on Jin Qiao'er to take care of him all the time. If he doesn't call you 'Mother' later, don't come crying to me!"

"What's there to cry about..." Fang shi couldn't bear it and sat on a small stool, helping to chop the chili. "Alright, alright, I'll take care of this, don't make this thing sting my mother's eyes. I'm telling you, Song Dingxiang, if this turns out inedible, you'll be eating this all winter, forget about wanting fish and meat, you spoil yourself."

Song Dingxiang chuckled, "If it's delicious, will mom eat it?"

"Why wouldn't I? Can't I eat my own things?" Fang shi hypocritically justified.

Li shi interjected, "No mother acts like you... Enough small talk, spit has splattered on the chili."

Song Dingxiang prepared a large wooden basin of seasonings, originally intended for washing clothes but repurposed by her to mix them.

Meanwhile, in the courtyard, Zhao Di, Qiao'er, and Song Zijin lit a fire to blanch the cabbage. Besides the Spicy Cabbage that Song Dingxiang was making, every household took the opportunity to pickle cabbage.

Well-pickled cabbage was a key winter vegetable for them now.

The Song families grew a significant amount of Chinese cabbage every year, a common vegetable in every household. Some families cultivated just a small portion in the backyard, enough to suffice their needs, while larger families were reluctant to use good land to grow cabbage.

They typically grew it on the road shoulders or in uncultivated land. Although it didn't require much attention to manage, when the cabbage core formed, it was crucial to tie the cabbage with straw ropes.

Otherwise, the cabbage would loosen, the core would age, and lose its sweetness and crispness.

The Song families grew a lot of vegetables every year, especially those that could be dried. Cabbage, in particular, was vital.

This year, Song Dingxiang's family grew an acre of cabbage, yielding a large harvest. Initially planning to sell in the town, now they could hold off on selling and first see how this Spicy Cabbage turned out.

If it turned out delicious and profitable, they would work hard to prepare the Spicy Cabbage and pickled cabbage and sell them in town, fetching a good price.

After blanching the cabbage, it was split in half with a knife, and the prepared sauce was spread layer by layer on the cabbage leaves.

Once coated with the sauce, the cabbage was stacked in layers in a large jar, topped with a cover and a stone to prevent cats or dogs from overturning the jar and ruining the batch.

In preparation for the Spicy Cabbage, Song Zhiyuan specially bought five large jars from the pottery craft shop. Others thought they were going to make a lot of pickled vegetables this year but didn't give it too much thought.

The hands of those involved in spreading the sauce turned red from the spiciness. Fang shi washed her hands with wood ash while continuing to nag, "If this turns out bad, look at your skin carefully. Your mother and grandmother's hands are ruined... Oh, this chili is really hot, my fingertips are burning."

Song Dingxiang also felt distressed and said, "Wash your hands a few more times and apply some lard, don't actually get burnt by the spiciness."

She forgot that there were no gloves here, so everything had to be done by herself. It was because she hadn't personally worked on things for so many years that she neglected these small details.

Li shi felt indifferent, "A little spiciness is fine, it's warm and prevents frostbite. When my hands froze before, I boiled Sichuan peppercorns in water, and it was just as spicy and hot."

"Mother!" Fang shi complained, "Why do you always speak up for your granddaughter?"

Li shi chuckled, "What's wrong with speaking up for your daughter? Because she earned money. Oh, from now on, your second daughter will be our family's God of Wealth, shouldn't I treat her well?"

"What God of Wealth, just nonsense." Although Fang shi said this, she secretly agreed with Li shi's words.

No one would complain about having too much money, especially since this money was hard-earned and toiled for, holding it in their hands would bring happiness. Now, the way Zhang shi looked at Song Dingxiang's eyes was no different from how she looked at the God of Wealth.

Today, she followed her husband Song Zhicheng to help at Song Zhiyuan's pork shop. She even specifically asked her eldest daughter-in-law to stay at home to help.

Song Dingxiang carefully scrubbed her fingers with wood ash. In poor households, they always used wood ash for handwashing, as only wealthy families could afford bean soap powder, which was said to be infused with spices.

She didn't know how to make soap, as it required oil, and who would waste precious oil, a valuable commodity these days, on making soap for laundry or handwashing?

Unless...

She looked at the rough fingers of Li shi and Fang shi and came up with an idea.

"If I want lard, would you keep it a secret from my mom?"

"What are you up to? Making snacks?" Song Zhiyuan was completely baffled by his daughter's constantly spinning ideas.

"Not for eating, just for a bowl... Dad, keep the leftover scraps from selling and give them to me. I'll secretly refine some for my use," Song Dingxiang pleaded while playfully nudging Song Zhiyuan's arms, her face full of childlike innocence. "Just a bowl, you can sell the remaining scraps, I'll sneakily refine some for myself."

"Even the scraps can be sold. Forget it, in a few days, I'll secretly save some lard for you after refining it at home. Don't let your mother know. You girl, while others embroider or make clothes, you're always thinking about making something to eat. I don't know what you're thinking," Song Zhiyuan was touched by his daughter's innocence.

"If it can be sold, it's a success, why do you care what I'm thinking? Thank you, Dad," Song Dingxiang said cheerfully.

In the process of refining lard, it was usually the women's responsibility. Normally, Fang shi would handle this, but with her young son to care for and not wanting to be covered in the smoky smell of oil, she asked her sister-in-law, Zhang shi, to take on the task.

Once refined, the lard was scooped into jars, becoming the main cooking oil for daily meals at home.

Vegetable oil and soybean oil were considered luxury items, especially the latter, often used by those offering sacrifices or preparing vegetarian dishes. Poor households preferred the aroma of animal fat and were less inclined to use vegetable oils.

Song Dingxiang's family grew rapeseed and produced rapeseed oil every year. Some of it was used to offer lamps to their ancestors, while the rest was used to make fried snacks.

Although lard could also be used for frying, once cooled, it felt greasy to eat, whereas rapeseed oil felt lighter.

Even fewer people use soybean oil, and soybeans are mostly used to make soy products in exchange for tofu.

Regarding soap making, it was simple but time-consuming. In the realm of Chinese ancient culture, soap making was an art both ingenious and laborious. Unlike the readily available bars of today, the process demanded a significant investment of time and meticulous attention to detail.

The journey began with the extraction of lye, the crucial cleansing agent. Wood ash, a readily available byproduct of daily life, was meticulously collected and burned. The resulting ashes were then carefully leached with water, transforming them into a potent yet delicate lye solution.

Next came the simmering cauldron. The lye solution was brought to a gentle boil, ready to be combined with rendered lard, a common household fat. To aid in the saponification process – the chemical reaction that transforms fats and oils into soap – a surprising ingredient was often added: crushed pig pancreas.

The heart of the process lay in the tireless stirring. The mixture, a blend of lye, fat, and pancreas, required constant agitation. This meticulous action ensured a uniform consistency and prevented the delicate balance from tipping into a failed batch.

This process required constant stirring and even wasted an entire day.

Song Dingxiang found an excuse to go to the shop, but instead, she sneaked back to the pig-raising courtyard to cook soap.

Finally, with patience nearing its end, came the solidification. Once the soap was cooked, it was poured into mud molds lined with corn husks to prevent the soap from getting dirty or sticking to the mold.

Salt, another readily available element, was incorporated to draw out the remaining moisture and solidify the newly formed soap. Only then could this creation, the culmination of a day's work, be set aside to cure and harden.

Song Zhiyuan knew that his daughter wanted to make something secretly, so he pretended not to notice. However, when a few days later he saw the indescribable lump, he was dumbfounded, "What is this? Looks like...shit?"

"Dad!" Song Dingxiang was exasperated!

The soap didn't look very appealing; her molds were not well-shaped, and adding corn husks made it even less aesthetically pleasing.

"No, is this thing edible?" Song Zhiyuan picked up the unidentifiable lump and sniffed it, "Yuck, what smell is this, not even fragrant."

Song Dingxiang took the soap away and explained, "This is not for eating, it's for washing hands and clothes. Let me cut it open, it will look better then."

Song Zhiyuan took a worn-out vegetable knife used for chopping piggrass and cut the lump of soap into several pieces, making them more presentable.

As it was made from fats, it looked translucent when held up to the light, "For washing clothes? You made this using just a bowl of lard? No wonder you told me not to tell your mother, if she knew, both of us would be in trouble."

"Dad, you really..." Song Dingxiang was speechless. She kept a few neatly cut pieces of soap and then wrapped up the less appealing corners, "Come on, let's give it to... no, let's first let Grandmother try it."

Li shi was sitting on the kang, engaged in sewing, her hands clean and not in need of soap. When she saw Song Dingxiang coming in with a package, she smiled and asked, "What did you bring, Dingxiang?"

Song Dingxiang stuck out her tongue playfully and asked with a smile, "Where's mom, grandma?"

"Is your mother currently making soybean paste? Speaking of which, are you not planning to make any this year?" Li shi picked up a needle and threaded it through her hair. "By the way, your grandfather has been saving the soybeans to make soy sauce instead."

Song Dingxiang said, "I'm done making it. Last year, I made two large jars of soy sauce, my mother made two jars, and my aunt made two jars. How can we finish six jars of soy sauce? We ended up selling most of it. Grandma, I made something, and if my mother scolds me later, you have to help me out."

"What did you make?" Li shi saw the open package and asked, "Made some snacks? Still worried about your mother scolding you?"

"Not snacks, I made soap using lard and wood ash," Song Dingxiang said. "I saw you, my mom, and my aunt washing hands with wood ash. Even after washing, the fingertips were still gray, so I thought oil and wood ash can remove dirt. So, I thought of making it. I just let my dad try it, and it worked well, but my mom..."

Li shi chuckled, "Made with lard? No wonder you're afraid of your mother scolding you. Here, let grandma try it and see how effective it is."

She got off the kang, rubbed her hands on the frosty window sill outside, then they rubbed their hands together. Dirty hands couldn't be cleaned with just water, so Song Dingxiang handed her a piece of scrap, and Li shi rubbed it in her hands, creating a rich lather in no time.

"Oh, it cleans well, and feels moisturized," she lifted her hands and examined them, with no traces of wood ash remaining on the rough areas.

Li shi lifted her hand, glancing around before carefully examining her fingertips. "What else can you do besides cleaning your face and hands?" she inquired.

"You can wash clothes too," Dingxiang replied, her eyebrows flitting. "Grandma, if we took this to town, do you think anyone would buy it?"

Li shi soaked the hand towel in a basin, then rubbed it with soap. She vigorously rubbed and squeezed the towel, producing dark water stains. After rinsing, it was indeed much cleaner than before.

"The wealthy families in our town all use soap bean powder, and some of it even has spices added, so your hands will smell wonderful after washing them. Yours, although it's a good thing, is not easy to sell."

"Spices can be added to this too. This time I made it roughly and it doesn't look good, but if it's useful, I can make it look better in the future," Song Dingxiang said with a grin. "I've been thinking, I'll buy some spices for making perfume later, and I'll ask my dad to order some nice molds... Where can they find such a good thing?"

Song Li nodded thoughtfully and said, "Hmm, that's a good idea... but there are a few things to consider. This little girl seems to have a lot on her mind. For one, your recipe uses lard, which is quite expensive these days. Additionally, many wealthy families adhere to Buddhist vegetarian principles and wouldn't purchase treats containing lard because of religious offerings. They might avoid it altogether."

Song Dingxiang offers a solution, "Well, there's a simple solution! We can use rapeseed oil instead of lard. Rapeseed oil is a more affordable option. Plus, if we add a touch of sandalwood to the recipe, it would still be suitable for those who follow Buddhist practices."

"You have a quick mind. Let me ask you something. Wealthy households won't use it, and poor families can't afford it. Washing hands and clothes with wood ash is sufficient, so why would they spend money on this? What do you call this?" Li shi asked.

"It's called soap," Song Dingxiang replied.

"Ah, soap. Wealthy families won't buy it, and poor families don't need it. Who would buy this from you? Go to the town, buy some fragrance, come back with rapeseed oil or soybean oil. If you can make soap without lard, maybe it will sell better," Li shi held up a piece of soap, "It's a good product, but these ones only our family will use it."

Song Dingxiang realized that in ancient times, people were either not particular or very particular. Wealthy families used bean soap powder, and it was hard for them to accept new things.

Poor families couldn't justify spending money on soap, preferring to spend on meat instead.

"I thought too much," she sighed, "Thank goodness you told me, or I would have thought it was a great product that could earn a lot of money."

"Doing business is never that easy, right?" Li shi and Song Dingxiang returned indoors, sat on the kang, and Li shi held a square piece of soap in her palm, "It's a good product, but the appearance and scent aren't that great. It's fine for home use. Since it can be made with fats, can the leftover oil be used for this?"

Song Dingxiang nodded, "Of course."

"Alright, every year there's a lot of oil left; it can be turned into this. But only our family can make use of it. Go to the town, buy some fragrance, make some soap without lard. Then go to the wealthy households and see if anyone wants to buy. Make some exquisite and some regular ones, differentiate the pricing, and the business will thrive," Li shi advised.

"Grandma!" Song Dingxiang knelt down at Song Lishi's feet, "Grandma, I salute you! You're so great, how are you so amazing!"

Song Dingxiang had experience in business in her past life, so she knew some tricks. However, in ancient times, doing business required more finesse than in modern times. With a few words from Li shi, she had a sudden realization.

Fang shi, knowing the soap was made with lard, scolded Song Dingxiang for wasting good materials.

Li shi said, "Since it's made, if you don't want to use it, that's fine, I'll use it. See, it cleans hands well and can also wash clothes effectively."

"Mother, but that's lard, a bowl of lard!" Fang shi sighed, covering her chest, "Can't we just use wood ash for handwashing? Why use lard, why is it so precious?"

Li shi raised her eyebrows and said, "What? I've lived for over fifty years, and I can't enjoy something luxurious? This is a gift from my granddaughter to me. If you don't like it, then don't use it."

"I have no problem with you using it, mother. But this is lard... just the thought of washing hands with lard makes me uncomfortable." Fang shi still couldn't let go of the bowl of lard, and she glared fiercely at Song Dingxiang.

Song Dingxiang shrank behind Li shi, not daring to speak up.

Li shi scoffed, "What's wrong with lard? Can't we afford a bowl of lard in our house? You've seen how well this thing can clean clothes. Let me ask you, this square piece, would you be willing to buy it for five wen?"

Fang shi considered for a moment and said, "If it's five wen, I might just buy it, especially for washing face towels and children's clothes."

"This bowl of lard is worth only about ten wen, and can make several pieces. So, do you still think it's not worth it?" Li shi asked.

Fang shi finally came to her senses and calculated for a moment before saying, "It's quite worth it, but after all, it's made with lard. Who would be willing to buy it? Who can afford it..."

"Mom, it can also be made with rapeseed oil," Song Dingxiang suggested.

Fang shi started to clutch her chest again, "But rapeseed oil isn't cheap either. Why do you always insist on using expensive things, you troublesome girl? Oh, my heart aches, a bowl of lard..."

Doing business in ancient times was not easy, with many taboos to beware of. One small mistake and you could end up in trouble!