After being jilted, the entire neighboring village was filled with deep regret.

Chapter 255 Processing Strawberry Jam

When Boss Ji passed by Su Tai, he took the initiative to greet her.

Su Tai returned the greeting and asked, "Boss Ji, you're not planning to sell strawberries this year?"

Mr. Ji patiently explained, "To be honest, this year's strawberries are not much better than the wild fruits from the mountains. Such fruits simply cannot fetch a good price. Your village chief is stubborn and refuses to lower the price. If this continues, I'm afraid your village's strawberries will all go to waste this year."

I'm only telling you all this because of our long-term cooperation. Please try to persuade them; I'll come back in a few days. If you're willing to lower the price, I might be able to buy some more.

"Thank you." Su Tai watched Boss Ji leave before walking over.

Upon seeing her, Shen Ying sighed repeatedly, almost to the point of tears, "What are we going to do! The fruit hasn't even ripened properly! Oh!"

Su Tai tried a few strawberries, but she couldn't swallow them herself, so she knew others wouldn't either. She fell into deep thought.

Huang Xinghua continued weeding with her head down, looking sullen.

After a moment, Su Tai walked toward Shen Ying and said thoughtfully, "Village Chief, this year's situation is indeed special. We can't just sit and wait for death. What I mean is, if the fruit can't be sold for a good price, then we have to find a way to make it valuable."

"Hmm? Do you have any good ideas?" Shen Ying looked at Su Tai expectantly, pointing at her for a solution.

Su Tai's lips twitched slightly. Meeting Shen Ying's pitiful eyes, she finally gave in. "I was thinking of making jam. This year's fruit is definitely not good enough to sell, lest it ruin our reputation. But we can process the strawberries into strawberry jam."

If the fruit isn't sweet enough, we add sugar and honey. The resulting strawberry jam has the sweetness of strawberries, a beautiful color, and is easier to transport, allowing it to be sold in states outside of Lizhou.

However, we need to order a batch of nice ceramic jars in advance so that the jam can fetch a good price.

Shen Ying listened with longing and anticipation, so excited that her mind couldn't process it all. She just kept agreeing, "Okay, okay, whatever you say, we'll do it. You can order the ceramic jars. These pottery basins are very well made. I asked around, and the master craftsmen nearby said that these kinds of pottery basins sell for seventy or eighty yuan each. I can't find any ceramic jars cheaper than yours."

Su Tai nodded repeatedly, "That's fine. I'll arrange the ceramic jars, but the place for processing jam has to be in the village. My hometown is used for making flatbread and a school, so it's not suitable for processing strawberries."

Shen Ying expressed her understanding, saying, "Then let's go to the village compound, set up a large shed there, and get water easily, which is suitable for working."

Su Tai had the same idea in mind and reminded him, "If the village chief wants to find someone to set up a tent, it would be best to put a large wooden board directly above the pot to prevent dirt from falling into the pot and affecting our jam."

Also, you can use well water to wash the strawberries, but it's best to use spring water, the kind that's clean and free of impurities, to boil them. I'll prepare the sugar needed for boiling; we have plenty of sugar at home, and we know a vendor who can give us a cheaper price.

Shen Ying smiled broadly, "Then I'll trouble you. I'll go and make the arrangements first, and you can go and order the ceramic jars."

After returning home, Su Tai went straight to the Fire Time Brick Kiln Factory. She's practically become a VIP at the factory now.

When the boss saw her coming, he immediately went to greet her.

Su Tai immediately told him her needs, "Boss, I want these oval white porcelain jars that hold one pound each, preferably in a sky-blue misty rain color, and with a few strawberries painted on them."

She explained her idea in detail.

The boss is using a computer to create a drawing until Su Tai is satisfied.

The ceramic jar is quite exquisite, and it costs ten yuan.

Su Tai temporarily ordered 10,000 pieces, and then made a trip to the food street.

The grocery stores in the food street sell rock sugar wholesale for five yuan per pound. Buy some white vinegar, and that should be enough.

She arranged things properly, and the village chief also gathered the villagers to work.

Building the shed and stove were simple tasks that could be completed in a day. Even the roof problem that Su Tai had emphasized was handled well. She originally thought that the village chief would have someone lay wooden planks on the roof, but she didn't expect that the village chief would have someone make a burlap sack to cover it.

The cloth not only prevents dirt from falling into the pot, but it is also very lightweight and won't collapse the shed.

The strawberries are boiled in a large, thickened water vat, which can yield two to three hundred pounds of jam per vat.

With these things, making jam becomes much easier.

Two days later, the first batch of white porcelain jars that Su Tai had ordered arrived.

The villagers were all stunned when they saw the exquisite jar; not one of them dared to touch it.

"My goodness, such a beautiful jar, how much must this jam cost?"

Mr. He asked the question that was on everyone's mind.

Su Tai looked at them with amusement and said slowly, "One pound of strawberries can make about seven ounces of jam, and a white porcelain jar can hold one pound of jam. What I mean is that our jam cannot be sold cheaply. One jar should cost three hundred coins. What do you all think?"

The villagers nodded hesitantly. Putting everything else aside, they were certain they would take the jar for 300 coins.

With these jars, the villagers gained confidence in making strawberry jam and began harvesting their first batch of strawberries.

Because the village agreed to cook the strawberries and distribute the money accordingly, it was necessary to record the weight of the strawberries delivered by each household.

At this time, the children who were studying at the school came in handy. They were all assigned by the village chief to work in the courtyard. Whenever someone brought strawberries, they would register the delivery and have the recipient sign the document.

The strawberries that were delivered were given to the village girls and older women, who were responsible for washing them, removing the stems, and then dicing them before handing them over to the village men.

They cooked it according to the method taught by Su Tai.

Actually, making strawberry jam isn't difficult. The key is controlling the heat and stirring constantly; you can't stop.

If the bottom sticks, the whole pot of strawberry jam will be ruined.

These are all treasures of the villagers. Everyone wishes they could have four or five people take turns stirring each large vat, and they dare not be distracted at all.

When the strawberry jam is almost ready, the village woman puts the delicate white porcelain jar into a pot to steam and sterilize it. Finally, she puts the strawberry jam into the jar and steams it again in the jar to sterilize it. After cooling, it is the finished product.

When the first batch of strawberry jam was made, Shen Ying took the lead in opening a jar and letting the villagers taste it one by one.

Su Tai brought out the large steamed buns she had prepared in advance and said loudly, "Everyone, try dipping these in the steamed buns and see how they taste."

The villagers quickly stepped forward and each took one, afraid that if they were left behind, they would miss out.

The steamed buns dipped in jam have a rich strawberry flavor and a fresh wheat aroma. The taste is so captivating that not only do children eat them non-stop, but even adults find it hard to resist.

Xu shouted excitedly, "Village chief, it's done! This strawberry jam is so delicious, I think 300 coins a jar is too little!"

Su Tai chuckled, "Second Aunt, we always have to give the merchants who buy our goods some profit, otherwise who will come to us to buy from?"

"Hahahaha." Everyone burst into laughter.

After the first batch of strawberry jam was delivered to the warehouse, the villagers continued working.