RPS – Chapter 74 Spring

After more than a month of grinding and polishing, the stone mill had finally taken shape. Although it was much rougher than the ones Li Feng had seen in his previous life, that didn’t really matter—what was important was whether it could actually grind flour. Once Li Feng and the others had finally assembled the mill, they couldn’t wait to test it out with some corn to try making cornmeal.

Since they weren’t making a paste, there was no need to add water. Li Feng poured a handful of corn kernels into the round hole in the center of the millstone and began pushing it together with Li He. Because the stone mill was made rather roughly, the grooves inside weren’t finely carved, which made it a bit hard to turn. Plus, the mill was quite large—Li Feng alone couldn’t move it. So, when they were constructing it, he had them install two handles for easier operation. That way, two people could push it at the same time. This time, all four of them took turns because they were all curious. Li Feng wanted to see if the quality of the flour produced was acceptable and whether it came out smooth, while the other three were just plain curious—they had no idea what the final product would look like. Could such a big chunk of stone really grind corn into powder? And all through such a tiny hole?

Li He and Bu were already strong to begin with, and with two more adult men helping, the weight of the stone mill didn’t pose a problem at all. As the golden corn kernels were fed in and the mill turned a couple of rounds, fine powder began to emerge—just a little at first, but it was proof that it worked. Li Feng was greatly encouraged by this. He took on the job of adding corn to the hole in the center while the others turned the mill. When the level of corn dropped to about halfway, he’d refill it. The hole was small, but they worked quickly enough to keep it going at a steady pace.

Eventually, Li Feng realized he could barely keep up with how fast they were turning, so he just let the others keep grinding while he focused on adding more corn. That way, he didn’t have to walk in endless circles like a donkey and tire himself out holding his arms up. Now he just needed to stand beside the mill and watch when it needed refilling. The teamwork proved very efficient. By the time they had finished grinding the several dozen jin of corn Li Feng had set aside, the others still hadn’t had enough and wanted to “play” a little more. They weren’t tired and were thrilled at how much flour they had managed to produce. Naturally, everyone praised the stone mill—it meant they could finally enjoy plenty of flour without having to labor over the mortar and pestle again.

Seeing their excitement, Li Feng laughed and said, “Since you’re all enjoying it so much, then I’ll leave this job to you guys from now on, alright?” Sure, it was fun now, but once they had to do it regularly, they might not feel the same. Even donkeys and mules need blinders to keep them from getting irritated by the monotony.

He gently swept the golden cornmeal that had accumulated in the stone groove beneath into a clean clay jar. Since he’d done this several times before, he was now skilled at it—not a single grain spilled from the edge of the mill. And this time, the flour filled more than half the large jar, which was no small feat considering the size of the vessel.

“Sure! I think it’s actually kinda fun,” Nuo said cheerfully, immediately agreeing when he heard Li Feng’s words. He genuinely enjoyed the process and didn’t find it tiring at all.

“Alright then, but you better not go back on your word later,” Li Feng teased with a smile as he covered the clay jar.

“As long as we’ve got time, we’ll definitely do it,” Bu answered cleverly, taking the initiative to qualify the promise. He was clearly more cautious—best not to make an open-ended commitment and leave themselves some wiggle room.

Li Feng couldn’t help but think to himself, Bu is getting smarter and smarter. Nuo used to be so easy to fool, but now that Bu’s got a handle on him, he even managed to shut that down. Oh well, in the end, whoever’s free can do it. “Alright, I get it. Tonight, I’m planning to steam some mantou and make some soybean porridge. Since you still want to keep playing, how about switching to grinding soybeans now?”

Li Feng wasn’t worried they’d have nothing to do—they had several types of crops suitable for grinding: dried sweet potatoes, taro, corn, soybeans… they could grind whenever they wanted to eat something fresh. The stone mill had been placed under the thatched shelter in the courtyard, which was spacious and well-ventilated. In the future, they might even be able to get a mule or donkey to help power it—much easier than doing it by hand. After all, the tribe had already started planting wheat. With time, more and more crops would be harvested, and they were bound to get too busy to keep up.

While Li He and the others were still happily “playing” at pushing the mill, Li Feng was busy proofing the dough for the evening mantou. He wasn’t sure if this mixed grain flour—containing bean meal—would behave the same as pure wheat flour when left to rise. But there was only one way to find out. He’d know by evening.

Meanwhile, Mo and Lu were running excitedly around the stone mill. Even though the mill was taller than they were, they still wanted to try pushing it. As expected, they couldn’t even reach the handle, let alone move it. But that didn’t diminish their curiosity and excitement. Hugging their little steamed buns, they sat by the mill watching the fine powder being ground out from its edges. When it came time to grind soaked soybeans mixed with a little water into soy milk, they were even more amazed and admiring. They vowed to learn how to grind too when they grew up. They had no idea how much of a headache Li Feng would get if he ever heard about their grand ambitions…

After a full day of fermentation, the dough was ready—it had risen beautifully. The once small lump had now grown into a bowlful. That’s the beauty of leavened dough—a little bit can go a long way. Even though they didn’t have a large cooking pot, it didn’t matter. They simply filled a big clay basin or jar with hot water, placed a makeshift steamer rack made from clean, safe wood strips on top, and used that instead. Normally, bamboo strips tied into a ring were ideal since they could sit snugly in the pot, but there was no bamboo to be found here, so wood had to do. The rack had finger-width gaps for steam to rise through and cook the buns quickly.

Steaming mantou was the easy part. After kneading the dough on a smooth stone table, Li Feng divided it into chunks, rolled them into thick logs, and cut them into rectangles—or into balls, but he found that too troublesome, so he stuck to palm-sized rectangles. He even made a small slit in the middle of each to ensure the center cooked properly. The dough was soft and pliable, and Mo and Lu couldn’t resist the urge to poke it, though Li Feng stopped them. This wasn’t a toy—although, to be fair, it did feel like one.

The buns were then placed in the pot and steamed once the water came to a boil. Dinner wouldn’t just be mantou and soybean porridge though—Li Feng also planned to stir-fry some preserved sausage and cured meat, along with some pickled vegetables. These salty preserved veggies—similar to dried mustard greens and radish—gave off an amazing aroma when fried and went perfectly with rice. He even recreated a version of “braised pork with preserved vegetables,” which had become a regular dish in their home. They had plenty of meat now, and the preserved greens were made from fresh vegetables they had pickled earlier, tasting just as good—if not better—than anything Li Feng used to buy at the market. The whole family loved it. Still, Li Feng limited how often they ate pickled food—too much salt wasn’t good for the body. Even their regular pickles had to be rinsed multiple times before eating. After all, there were no fresh vegetables in winter, so pickles were their only option.

However, what was most regrettable now was the lack of fresh vegetables. Every day they could only eat pickled vegetables and meat. Li Feng thought that maybe by next year, he could try to find some winter vegetables like radishes or cabbages. As for tonight, this was all they had.

Just as the dishes were finished and placed on the table, the steaming hot mantou also came out of the steamer. The golden, fluffy mantou gave off a natural wheaty aroma. Everyone eagerly sniffed the air, wanting to grab one and eat right away, but it was too hot to handle, so they had to wait for it to cool down a bit. Still, their eyes were fixed on it with intense longing. Li Feng quickly shooed them aside and told them to go each get a bowl of soy milk, so they could eat together in a moment.

Tonight’s dinner was considered a feast: soft mantou infused with the fragrance of corn, milky-white soybean soup rich in aroma—these were the staple foods. On the table were also cured sausage, salted pork, fried fish, stewed pork with preserved vegetables, and pickled vegetables. The table was full of steaming dishes, each so flavorful that it instantly stimulated their salivary glands. Everyone held a big mantou in hand, took a bite of the hot, fluffy bread, then took another bite of the juicy pork and preserved vegetables. The aroma of the corn flour mixed perfectly with the savory, non-greasy preserved meat, creating a heavenly taste. It was so delicious they felt like they could swallow their tongues.

Especially for those who had never tasted such soft and fluffy food before—up until now, Li Feng had only been making rough and dense flatbreads—these mantou were a revelation. Not only was the flour finely ground, but the soft, fluffy texture made them irresistible to the touch. One bite and it felt like it might choke them from eating too fast, but then a sip of the fragrant soy milk washed it down, instantly warming the entire body, even opening up the pores.

The salted pork and sausage were chewy, oily, and fragrant; the fried fish, coated with flour, was crispy on the outside and tender inside—even the fish bones had been fried to a crisp, so there was no need to worry about choking. The pickled vegetables, though eaten often, paired beautifully with the rich meat. A sip of soy milk to cleanse the palate, a bite of mantou softer than clouds, followed by a crunch of refreshing pickles—this was the perfect combination of meat and vegetables! Everyone ate until their bellies bulged. Although they usually ate a lot, this was by far the most they had eaten in a day. Especially the mantou—Li Feng had steamed a huge batch, yet there was barely anything left. After all, there were many people in the family, and most of them were grown men.

Since the stone mill was completed, they began grinding flour and making mantou every couple of days. With little else to do, Li Feng often made flower rolls or steamed buns filled with meat, mushrooms, or vegetables like radish rolls. Their meals had become incredibly rich, especially in wheat-based foods. Noodles and dumpling skins were now commonplace. Fortunately, they had stored a good amount of crops earlier—otherwise, with how much they were eating, it wouldn’t have been enough. Not to mention, Li Feng had some seeds saved for planting next year that couldn’t be touched.

Winter passed quietly with the whole family eating their fill every day. Most of the tribespeople didn’t starve or freeze, either. The food they had prepared for winter had almost run out by now, a result of their thriftiness. Their bodies had built up strength over the winter, and now in spring—the season of renewal—they could begin to burn off their excess energy. At least, that was true for Li Feng’s household.

Though there had been plenty of “bedtime exercise” during the winter, for people like Li and Bu, who ate well and didn’t move much, their energy was still overly abundant. Each time Li Feng and Nuo were with them, it took them several days to recover—sometimes they wouldn’t allow it at all for a whole week. This left Li and Bu, whose muscles had started turning to fat under Li Feng’s care, feeling rather pent-up. Now was the perfect season to go hunting and burn off some excess energy. Hehe, spring had come, and with it, their energy surged even more. Every day, they were eager to pounce on their partners and not stop for the whole night…

Actually, Li and Bu never felt it was enough, but to Li Feng and Nuo, they hadn’t gained any winter weight at all. On the contrary, they often felt sore and exhausted after being “tormented,” with not even enough food to replenish what they expended. The sheer stamina and endurance of those men were beastly. Every night they messed around, and then slept in till sunset the next day—their days and nights completely flipped. Meanwhile, the culprits behind their near-collapse were as energetic as ever.

Now that spring was here, it was truly wonderful—they could finally go hunting instead of staying home and wearing them out all winter. Finally, after a whole day of hunting, there’d be no more energy left. Li Feng hoped for this, but could spring really wear those guys out? Probably not.

Though the cold wind still lingered, it was spring now. In this season where “grass is barely visible from afar but not yet grown nearby,” the animals that had hibernated all winter were emerging in search of food. Shedding their heavy, cumbersome animal pelts, Li and the others, light and agile, followed the chief into the forest, which was still bleak but gradually showing signs of life.

Back at home, Li Feng and Nuo were busy taking out all the things stored over the winter to wash and dry. It was already late February or early March by the solar calendar. The New Year had passed—though it was only celebrated with a hearty family meal, with chicken, duck, fish, and meat covering the table. The whole family stayed up with Li Feng till midnight, the time roughly estimated. Though the celebration was simple, Li Feng could feel the warmth of family. Eating reunion dinner, staying up late together—it was a joyful atmosphere. Even though he was later repeatedly “eaten” by Li until dawn and spent the whole first day of the New Year in bed, everything else was harmonious and happy.

On the first day of the New Year, he even received New Year greetings from Lu and Mo’s two children. Though it was just a simple bow with clasped hands, it made Li Feng very happy—it finally felt a little like New Year. He gave each child a handful of popped corn as a red envelope substitute, since they had no currency here yet.

Little Baozi was already about nine months old and crawled extremely fast. With the others out hunting and the house tidied up, Li Feng held the baby in the yard to play and soak up the sun. The two weeping willows in the courtyard had sprouted soft, yellow buds. Holding the baby under the arms, Li Feng was helping him learn to walk. The little one was still too young to walk on his own, but with Li Feng’s support, he was doing pretty well—his short, stubby legs wrapped up like little dumplings wobbled with each step, looking like he might fall at any moment. But Baby wasn’t worried; he had Daddy to hold him.

He was walking so happily, clapping his hands and drooling excitedly. His little legs moved faster and faster.

“Baby’s so amazing! You’re walking so steadily!” Li Feng praised, beaming as he helped the cheerful little one take more steps.

The baby giggled with a wide grin, sticking out his pink tongue and blowing spit bubbles. As if he understood he was being praised, he looked up at Li Feng and in a tender, squeaky voice said, “Ba…ba…”

Li Feng was stunned. Was the baby calling him? Was he saying “Papa”? Did the baby just say his first word? For a moment, he was dazed with happiness. After a while, he finally processed it, grinning so hard his mouth nearly reached his ears. He immediately sat down with the baby in his lap, facing him.

“Baby, baby, say it again—say ‘Papa’?” Li Feng still wasn’t quite sure whether it was a real word or just the sound of bubbles.

The baby didn’t understand what Li Feng was saying, but seeing his silly, smiling face, he found it funny and smiled again. Just as Li Feng thought it was another bubble sound, the baby placed his chubby hands on Li Feng’s cheeks and said again, “Ba…ba…”

Soft and tender, still a little unclear, but unmistakably “Papa.”

In that moment, Li Feng felt a strong urge to cry—his eyes heated and his nose tingled. The baby he had raised for eight or nine months, his soft, adorable little bun, could finally speak—and he called him Papa!!

That deep connection of blood and kin melted his heart. He couldn’t help but kiss the baby’s soft cheeks again and again, making the baby giggle as Li Feng’s hair tickled him.

Now he could finally understand what his colleague once told him—that when his son first said “Papa,” he cried. Back then, it had seemed unbelievable. But now he got it—the overwhelming joy and pride, the powerful emotion that shook his soul.

His beloved son, the one he cherished to the bone, had finally spoken his first word—“Papa.” That moment of joy made him want to shout it to the whole world.

“Baby, baby, say it again?” Li Feng still couldn’t get enough.

“Ba…ba…” The baby cooperated, calling him again while blowing bubbles.

“Again, one more time…”

“Ba…ba…”

…

Eventually, the baby got annoyed by the constant pestering. Pouting, he refused to speak anymore and looked like he might cry if pushed further. His big, shiny eyes welled up with tears. Li Feng quickly dropped the idea.

“Alright, alright, Papa will take you to eat something yummy. What does baby want to eat? Milk? Or some soy milk? How about some cheese? Want it? Or milk powder? Meat floss?”

Delirious with joy, Li Feng babbled nonstop as he carried the baby to the room to find food. The baby just wrapped his chubby arms around Li Feng’s neck and closed his eyes to sleep.

“Papa is so noisy… I’m going to sleep now. I can’t hear anything…”

Li Feng continued to chatter to himself happily. When Li got back, he was going to have the baby say “Papa” in front of him. Hehe, Li’s expression would surely be priceless. That’s what he thought, but who knew what might happen when Li returned?

A whole winter was enough to change many things—whatever they may be…