CHAPTER 119: CHAPTER 119: LITTLE LUCKY STAR’S MISSION

At noon, that bit of sugar syrup, everyone made a bowl of sugar water, and left some for Jiang Yu, and it was gone.

Even though it’s just a bit of sugar water, everyone loves it, you know, sugar on the market is ridiculously expensive, even now, Jiang Hu can’t bear to buy more.

In the afternoon, Jiang Hu had Xiaoxue stay home to watch Xiaomi and Tiedan while he went out to work with his wife, especially to the sorghum field next to Liu Yang’s house.

Ever since they planted this sorghum last year, this year the villagers all bought seeds from him and planted this short-season sorghum.

"Brother Jiang, is your family done? Need any help?" Liu Yang greeted eagerly when he saw Jiang Hu.

Wang Xiang was at home watching the kids, but Liu Yang’s parents were in the field.

Jiang Hu shook his head, "No need, we’re almost done too."

Then he adjusted his straw hat, "This weather is too hot, as soon as you step out, you’re drenched."

With one cut, the sorghum stalk snapped.

Although the sorghum was mature and ready for harvest, the stalks weren’t old yet, and a lot of juice flowed out where it was cut.

Liu Yang also wiped the sweat off his forehead, "Yeah, day in and day out, can’t wipe off the sweat fast enough."

Jiang Hu suddenly chopped the sorghum stalk in his hand in two, "I’ve seen sugarcane before, and now I realize, these sorghum stalks look a lot like sugarcane, wonder if they are edible."

Hearing this, Liu Yang laughed, "Brother Jiang, don’t corn stalks look like sugarcane too, but they’re not edible, right?"

By the time he finished speaking, Jiang Hu had already ripped off a piece and started chewing it.

Even though Xiaoxue had told him at home, he was still surprised chewing it himself, not hiding his expression, showing it openly.

Then he excitedly looked at his wife working, "It’s true! Try it, it’s so sweet, and juicy, unlike those hollow corn stalks."

The latter part was a hint to Liu Yang.

Before his wife could react, Liu Yang heard it, "Really? Brother Jiang, don’t fool me, I’ve never heard of sorghum stalks being edible."

Though he said so, his hands acted differently, quickly cutting a sorghum stalk with a sickle.

This was actually sweet sorghum, not the same variety they planted before, only the Jiang family planted it last year, and everyone planted it this year.

So it’s normal that nobody knew sorghum stalks were edible.

Following Jiang Hu’s action, Liu Yang took a bite, and indeed felt the sweet juice flowing into his mouth. He’d never tasted sugarcane, which was expensive and used for making sugar.

But he had seen sugarcane and heard others say that sugarcane had a lot of juice and was sweet, and once juiced, could be boiled into sugar.

His wife also tasted it now, just as surprised as Jiang Hu, "Really, so sweet."

"Brother Jiang!" Liu Yang suddenly got excited, startling both Jiang Hu and his wife.

"What’s up?" Jiang Hu quickly asked.

Liu Yang looked around, others were nearby but at a distance, so he walked a few steps closer to Jiang Hu, lowering his voice.

"Brother Jiang, I know how to make sugar."

As soon as Liu Yang spoke, Jiang Hu was surprised, glanced at his wife, who was also looking over, equally surprised.

Surprised but also quietly relieved.

Jiang Hu feigned surprise, "You can make sugar?" Then looked at the sorghum stalks in the field, "Are you thinking..."

Liu Yang hinted so clearly, Jiang Hu naturally couldn’t play dumb.

Liu Yang nodded vigorously, "Yes, Brother Jiang, making sugar isn’t hard. I used to have a fellow townsman helping people do this, he told me about it."

"See all the sugary juice in these sorghum stalks, if we make sugar from it, couldn’t we sell it for good money?"

Anything related to sugar, that’s money!

The more Liu Yang spoke, the brighter his eyes got, like money was right in front of him, "And the village’s sorghum stalks, they’re being cut these days, I’ll tell them to leave some, I’ll buy a thousand pounds for ten copper coins!"

Turned out Liu Yang knew how to make sugar, Jiang Hu was relieved, no need to make Xiaomi the center of attention, the plan to have his wife pretend to discover a way wasn’t necessary anymore.

Jiang Hu felt at ease, admiring Liu Yang’s money-making sense.

Since Liu Yang came up with the idea, he didn’t need to worry, just asked, "Then why are you telling me this?"

Liu Yang slapped his thigh, "Of course for our families to do together! Brother Jiang, your place is the quietest, we can work at night, so no one sees us."

"But this can only work this year, it’s easy to learn, by next year, there won’t be anyone selling sorghum stalks."

This idea is really simple, now that there’s a sorghum stalk alternative to sugarcane, he naturally wants to make the most money first.

Jiang Hu nodded in his heart, it really is simple, his daughters Xiaomi and Xiaoxue already made syrup themselves.

But he could only think this, of course, he couldn’t say it aloud.

"Alright then, tell me what to prepare, I’ll get all the sorghum stalks back this afternoon."

Acting like he doesn’t know, that’s Jiang Hu, and Liu Yang didn’t doubt it a bit.

"Brother Jiang, you have a big millstone by your house, right? We’ll clean that up, prepare some firewood, and a big pot, I’ll teach you."

Liu Yang was straightforward, to be precise, he had never been the kind to beat around the bush with Jiang Hu’s family.

After a few more words, Liu Yang hurried back to his field, even telling his parents about it.

Back here, his wife held back her questions, finally taking a deep breath after they finished cutting the sorghum stalks and were walking home with a bundle.

"Such good luck."

Jiang Hu was secretly delighted, "Heaven’s helping us, no need to worry about Xiaomi being exposed, and we can earn some money."

Now since Liu Yang thought of it first, at most he’d remember the Jiang family and be willing to partner up, without involving their daughter Xiaomi at all.

Their only action was to deliberately mention sugarcane in front of Liu Yang.

Originally, they planned for his wife to claim to know how to make sugar from sugarcane, then suggest trying with sorghum stalks.

Doing this in front of Liu Yang was to let him spread the word for them.

Unexpectedly, they didn’t need to do anything, Liu Yang already knew how to make sugar and wanted to buy the village’s sorghum stalks for it.

So, his wife naturally went along with Liu Yang’s suggestion.

His wife was all smiles, "Heaven’s blessing, Xiaomi is safe, but we must still tell her not to secretly create anything, talk to us first."

They’re afraid something might reach others’ ears and attract unwanted attention to Xiaomi.

As for why Xiaomi knows these things, Jiang Hu and his wife had already labeled it.

Xiaomi is a Little Lucky Star descending to benefit the people, surely knows things others don’t.

Only Xiaomi is still small, they need to protect her first, her tasks can wait till she grows up!