Recipe(tried): Rice can get bugs...

I didn't want to post this message because it's sound so "stupid" and I don't know whether or not it really works... But mother taught me this way so you may try it...

We buy a lot of rice. Something like 20 kg - 30 kg as it's the main grain we eat at home. Mother buy them in bags of 10 kgs in all varieties and puts all of them (unopened bags) in a large, heavy barrel in a cool area in the kitchen... This barrel will be called "rice barrel" by all Chinese. (Most Chinese I know back in Taiwan do this.) OK, she will place WHITE WHOLE PEPPERCORNS in between the bags. The opened one (the one is in the use) will be on the top so it's easier for us to scoop the rice out to cook daily. Since we eat so much rice, I don't think there is a chance for the rice to grow any bugs. But mother says rice does get bugs (she swore she had seen them as a kid.) and white peppercorns does help. She even asked me to place white peppercorn in all cupboards! (So I did.) We don't have any ants or other bugs in the house but I can't tell you whether it's because of the white peppercorns. It's a myth to me...