[Explanation] As the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, Wu Changying, a villager in Lujia'ao Village, Panjiawan Tujia Township, Yidu City, Hubei Province,’s "Wu Po Po Round Shortbread" has become a hot commodity. Seven or eight people make 200 kilograms of handmade cakes a day, and the supply is still in short supply. .
Wu Changying has been making cakes by hand every day for 50 years and has driven more villagers to engage in the shortbread industry.
On the 15th, the reporter visited this.
[Explanation] Wu Changying was born in 1946, and she learned how to make shortbread from her mother when she was a child.
Wu Changying said that at that time, the family was poor and the children in the countryside didn't have any snacks. Only when the Chinese New Year was celebrated, the mother would make some shortbread by herself and share it with her and her brothers and sisters.
Until now, Wu Changying still feels that it is the best snack she has ever eaten in her life.
[Explanation] After getting married, as soon as he arrived in the slack farm, Wu Changying bought flour, made his own noodles and mixed stuffing, and his family loved it too.
At that time, there was a tradition of making shortbread in rural Yidu. Because Wu Changying's shortbread was delicious, local villagers would often ask her to help make the cake during ceremonies.
During the period, Wu Changying also improved the baking process of the shortbread.
[Concurrent] Wu Changying, a villager in Lujia'ao Village, Panjiawan Tujia Township, Yidu City, Hubei Province
(I) visited other people, watched to learn technology, (then) made some refinement techniques (improvements) on the materials, using real materials, and the roasting aspect was improved. It turned out to be bran and charcoal. Many, without burning, are now hollow charcoal, charcoal made of sawdust.
Wu Changying's niece Wu Wenjun
We have 14 processes from raw noodles, ingredients to the final product. After all, the finished product (shortcake) is baked by charcoal fire, and it takes about 10 kilograms of finished product in an hour.
【Explanation】Wu Changying makes shortbread. The raw materials are authentic. The raw materials such as flour, sesame and white sugar are carefully selected, and they are never shoddy.
Wu Changying said that in food business, environmental hygiene is very important. Many villagers in rural areas raise pigs, but their families do not raise pigs, mainly because they are afraid of environmental pollution.
In 2014, "Wu Po Po Round Shortbread" became a tourist specialty of Panjiawan Township.
[Concurrent] Wu Changying, a villager in Lujia'ao Village, Panjiawan Tujia Township, Yidu City, Hubei Province
It turned out to be no matter how big or small, no matter what is good or bad. Anyway, once you sell it, no matter what it is, it is different now. It is all about excellence. Whether the quantity is not enough, the quality must be improved.
Wu Changying's niece Wu Wenjun
There are a lot of mosquitoes in the countryside. If these small bugs fall into the product, we will not be able to find it at all. Therefore, if we do not produce at night, we will only do it during the day.
[Explanation] The shortbread cookies become more delicious as they are made, and many people come here admiringly.
"Wu Po Po Round Shortbread" has also established a distribution point in Yidu City, and family life is getting better and better.
In 2018, Wu Changying registered the trademark of "Wu Po Po Round Shortbread". After that, she handed over the shortbread business to her son Yang Shan.
The Mid-Autumn Festival and the Spring Festival each year are the best sales seasons for "Wu Po Po Round Shortbread".
[Concurrent] Wu Changying, a villager in Lujia'ao Village, Panjiawan Tujia Township, Yidu City, Hubei Province
Every year during the Mid-Autumn Festival, more than a dozen people are invited to (help) make (shortbread), and the output can basically satisfy customers.
Wu Changying's niece Wu Wenjun
Our daily production volume is about 200 kilograms. Now in order to meet the needs of customers, the daily production time is about 14 or 5 hours.
[Explanation] In June 2020, the Yidu Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism included "Wu Po Po's Handmade Tujia Round Cake Making Skills" into the municipal intangible cultural heritage protection list.
In recent years, Wu Changying has successively brought about a dozen apprentices, and she has also taught her grandchildren to make shortbread, hoping that the craftsmanship will not be lost.
[Concurrent] Yang Shan, Wu Changying’s son
This is handmade and grilled on charcoal fire. The output is too small. In addition, this (bitter) (many) people can't stand it. This (Wu Po Po's pastry technique) still has to be passed on.
[Explanation] Nowadays, thanks to Wu Changying's drive, many villagers in Lujia'ao Village have joined the shortbread industry. Wide asphalt roads have been built in the local area, and cultural squares have been built. There are more and more tourists.
For the future, Lujia'ao Village plans to renovate the idle factories in the village, convene the villagers who are idle at home to develop the shortbread industry, so that more villagers can increase their income and achieve common prosperity.
[Concurrent] Zang Wentai, Director of Public Security, Lujia'ao Village, Panjiawan Tujia Township, Yidu City, Hubei Province
There are still many villagers in Lujia'ao Village who make traditional shortbreads. (We plan to develop villagers) to participate in the revitalization of our village. The collective also has income. Farmers can get jobs nearby at home, increase their income, and expand the industry. Be stronger.
Dong Xiaobin Zhao Mengying Mao Xinyu reports from Yidu, Hubei
Editor in charge: [Ji Xiang]