Searching for the Last Ginger Sugar Makers of Jianghua Wharf

First Encounter

The Last Sugar Making in Great Wharf

As early as 2017

A chance encounter led me to Great Wharf Shilun Village

where I heard about an 80-year-old man making handmade ginger sugar and sesame sugar

so I came here for his expertise

Passing through Great Wharf Shilun Village's winding and tortuous alleys

Walking through these old houses and stone streets

Until I reached the end of the village

At the foot of the mountain, in an old house

I found him

This year

The elderly couple were both 80 years old

They were in this simple house

Husband and wife worked together

Making handmade sugar

Supplementing their income

The old man's hair was already white

But his back wasn't stooped or bent

His ears were sharp and his eyes were clear

He started to chat with us

He started making sugar at the age of 18

Traveling around

Experiencing all kinds of hardships

But he always gave others an unchanging sweetness

One kitchen

Cooking and making sugar

One bedroom

Also the operation room for making sugar

It's also a dining room

And a TV room for entertainment

The TV signal was unavailable

Only old Chinese films and local folk songs were played

He would watch them repeatedly

Hundred times didn't get bored

The elderly couple are good 'business partners'

Helping to slice ginger, light the fire, and play with it

They also do laundry and cooking

It's diligent and selfless without any salary

Making handmade sugar

Seems simple

But there are still many secret recipes and techniques

He said he could teach us

As long as we are willing to learn

He said

Now no one wants to learn

It's hard to earn only a few tens of dollars a day

No one wants to do it

The reason they are still making it now

Is just because they are old and can't do other things

And unwilling to give up their old profession

And earn a little money

Accumulate little by little

He said that this sugar making technique

Was quite popular in the past

Back then, they sold sugar at the local market

Making, pulling, and selling sugar

The money they earned could let him marry and have children

And support his family

These hands

Made for one lifetime

A fragrant and sweet sesame sugar was finished

When bitten, it was crispy

And had a chewy texture

Full of the taste of childhood

Ginger sugar also tasted authentic

Without any additives

Which cannot be achieved by other candies in the market

To a certain age

The elderly couple didn't mind death

They took 'death photos' early on

This was my last time seeing him

At that time, I didn't know

January 18, 2019

This was my last time seeing him

Great Wharf

As usual, he went out to sell sugar

A small bamboo basket

Inside were ginger sugar and sesame sugar

This was all he prepared for others for a lifetime

Later, I never saw him again

October 25, 2019

Great Wharf

I didn't see him

So I came to their village

I saw that some old houses were demolished due to the village's governance

I suddenly had a bad feeling

Then

I saw the elderly couple's house was also demolished

I asked the villagers

I found out

The elderly couple had passed away a few months ago

His name was Zeng Guangmei

(1937-2019)

I tasted his handmade ginger sugar and sesame sugar

I admit that it was the most delicious sugar I ever ate

I was fortunate to have several encounters with him

I witnessed his eloquence and character

It admired and loved him

I wanted to write about him early on

But I kept putting it off

I thought it didn't matter

I thought he would always be there

But he was gone

He didn't see me

Heart full of melancholy

Source: Yongzhou Hot Events

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