Chapter 75 The Undead in the Heavy Snow, Bean Sprouts, and a Traveler Returning Home on a Snowy Night
In the evening, Lai made steamed buns and steamed eggs, and also stewed winter melon and pork soup to send to Guge for dinner.
Gu Ge usually lives on the first floor. Yesterday afternoon, he went upstairs to get something, but he lost his balance and fell down the stairs, hitting his head.
Guge is a man who can't sit still. Even though he has difficulty moving around with his cane, he will find something to do.
When Ray arrived, he was in the living room weaving small baskets from the tree branches and straw he had saved up, baskets that he could use often in daily life.
"I've brought you your meal."
"Hey, I never thought that my fall would turn out to be a blessing in disguise, and now I can eat your cooking every day."
Actually, what Lai cooks are just everyday dishes, but people here don't pay much attention to their daily food. It's basically bread with various soups and various kinds of raw roasted meat.
That's why foods like Lai Yi's, which involve carefully processing ingredients before cooking and seasoning with various condiments, are so popular.
While Gugge was eating, Lai added more firewood to the fireplace and went outside to get enough firewood to burn all night.
"I put the wood away from the fireplace and am careful when burning it."
"Okay, I got it."
Gu Ge's teeth haven't been very good these past few years, so the smooth and tender steamed egg custard suited his taste perfectly. The meat was also stewed until very tender, easily separating from the bone with a fork. It was just a bit bland, though.
After quickly sweeping the floor, Lai took a few plates and bowls back from Guge's house. He was going to come over tomorrow morning to deliver breakfast to Guge.
"Just leave your food in the kitchen after you finish eating. I'll clean it up when I get back. Oh, and don't forget to take your medicine tonight."
"I know, I know. Sometimes you young man are more worried than an old man like me."
"......"
Before doing anything, Ray always likes to prepare everything in advance, just in case. Neil also gives him various instructions when he goes out, telling him to stay away from dangerous things.
In some ways, he does have the potential to be a mother figure.
"Go back quickly, I'm fine on my own, and it's with me."
Gug patted Jenny, who was squatting beside him.
"Okay, I'll be going now."
Lai took the things home.
Neil didn't dare touch the plaster skeleton; it remained on the table. The flames in the fireplace flickered, casting long shadows on the white skeleton with their yellowish light, creating an inexplicable eeriness.
Actually, we should have thrown this thing away a long time ago, but considering the current average combat strength of the entire Rosen Town, this magical item can definitely withstand the attacks of 90% of people.
Ray ultimately kept it, wrapped it again in a handkerchief, and put it in the box where the knife was kept.
This thing is quite strange, but you never know when you might need it.
As darkness fell, after feeding the mules and tarantulas, and after his usual washing up, Ray sat with Neil by the fireplace reading. When it was almost time, they each went back to their rooms to rest.
As evening fell, a ball of light drifted out from the plaster skull inside the large wooden box.
He is an undead under Seral's command. This time, he was ordered by his master to come here to monitor this human and find out what secrets he holds.
Ordinary containers are insufficient to support the spirits of the dead, so Seral specially found a "container" that both suited his aesthetic and could be used by spirits of the dead.
The undead emerged skillfully, clearly having done this many times before.
Suddenly, a painful burning sensation came over me, and I felt a tremor deep in my soul.
ah!
The undead quickly crawled back into the container, its entire body trembling incessantly.
What exactly is out there? Does this human know something but is pretending not to to deceive his master? Unlike Shudson, I can't learn powerful magic; I'm just a harmless little undead, the lowest of the low.
Waaaaah, why, why?! Am I going to be trapped here forever?
His chaotic consciousness was filled with an emotion called despair.
It all started with a coincidence.
The legacy left by Mr. Victor, that steel knife that Ray thought was unremarkable except for its solemn design and heavy blade, was now faintly emitting a white light.
The burning sensation felt by the little undead spirit came from it.
At this moment, its blade gleamed, and the dark patterns hidden deep within began to slowly emerge from contact with the aura of dark creatures. The magic circle, carved into the shadows years ago, also stirred restlessly.
Weapons that have been blessed with the Church's Light Magic bear traces of that magic and are more sensitive to dark creatures. This is why they glow.
Of course, Ray had no idea what was happening inside the wooden box. He was simply lying in bed, like any other winter night, reflecting on the new magical skills he had learned that day, waiting to drift off to sleep.
As the sun rises and sets, a new day begins.
After Guge's injury was resolved, life returned to its usual tranquility, and Lai resumed selling bean sprouts.
Sprouting beans isn't difficult. After the news of the poisonous bean sprouts broke that year, Lai's grandmother started sprouting beans at home, and Lai, who had always been helping out in the kitchen, naturally learned how to do it.
The mung beans or soybeans need to be washed and soaked in advance. After soaking for about a day, the beans will start to swell and grow significantly. At this point, you can proceed to the next step: sprouting the beans.
The key to sprouting beans is to keep them moist and away from light.
Line a steaming tray with a layer of absorbent cotton cloth, then spread the soaked beans evenly on top, and cover with another layer of absorbent cotton cloth.
The entire process of sprouting beans must be done in the dark, and the cotton cloth must be kept moist, otherwise it is easy to fail.
Temuji made five or six steamers for Laiyi, which Laiyi used to sprout beans, but even that was far from enough. Laiyi needed to find some more suitable containers.
They set up their stall every few days, and either Lamb would come along, or he would bring Neil with him, and sometimes they would go together.
The small bean sprout stall not only enriched the residents' dining tables but also added to Lai's savings. Whenever he ran out of meat at home, he would go to the meat stall to buy a few pounds after selling vegetables. Firstly, Tata, whose leg was injured, needed to eat meat every day, and secondly, Neil was in his growth spurt, and eating more high-protein, nutritious food would help him develop better.
Almost a week passed, and Neil was on winter break. He stayed home every day, helping Lay with some housework and running errands to deliver breakfast and dinner to Old Gug.
Finally, as evening approached, the small mountain village welcomed its first heavy snowfall.
Cotton-like snowflakes fluttered down from the sky, transforming the entire village into a white wonderland.
Tata stood in front of the window, her mouth wide open, looking as silly as a little mentally challenged person.
He lived deep in the Great Forest of Eaton. In the few years since his birth, he had never seen so much, such thick, "white fluff."
It only snowed; there was no wind.
That's good, at least we don't have to worry about the cold wind blowing snow into the barn and wetting the firewood we've painstakingly collected.
Only the path through the yard was affected; it's estimated that after this heavy snowfall ends, the snow will be so thick that it will be impossible to walk.
Lei made hot tea and baked some delicious cookies and nut bread. He and Neil each had a cup and stood by the window watching the heavy snow outside.
Wow, it's snowing so heavily!
Neil exclaimed.
"Has it rained this early in previous years? I remember it was supposed to be delayed for a while longer."
Ray asked Neil.
"This year it started earlier, and the rain is heavier than in previous years."
Neil held the cup in his hands, blew on it, and sipped the hot tea inside.
"With such heavy snow, what will happen to the fields next year?"
Neil always has something on his mind.
“A timely snow promises a good harvest. Snow is a good thing; it will freeze the insects hiding underground.”
As the snow fell heavier and heavier, Lai added more firewood to the fireplace, making the fire burn brightly. Then he went back to his room to put on some warm clothes.
"Brother, what are you going to do?"
Neil followed behind Ray, while Tata, unable to get down, remained by the windowsill.
"Go out and get some more firewood; it'll be very cold tonight."
"oh."
"You shouldn't go out with them; stay inside and watch the fire."
"OK."
The old saying goes, "It's not cold when it snows, but it's cold when the snow melts." The snow outside is falling heavily, but it's not cold at all.
Lai checked the condition of the shed, then threw two bundles of hay inside for the mule. He carried two baskets of firewood back to the house.
It's best to shovel the snow in the yard now, otherwise it'll be a huge undertaking by dawn. But without any lighting, working in the dark would just be asking for trouble. After thinking it over, Lai decided to get up early tomorrow and clear the yard.
He shook the snowflakes off his head and shoulders at the entrance, and stomped the snow off the soles of his shoes before going inside.
"Brother, drink some hot water, is it cold outside?"
"Thank you, Neil." Ray took a sip of water that was no longer too hot to drink. "It's not cold outside, but the snow is thick enough to fit the soles of our shoes. It won't be easy to walk tomorrow."
Lai rescued Tata from the windowsill, and Tata quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
"Ah! I thought Tata wanted to watch the snow a little longer, so I forgot to put him down."
Neil was filled with remorse, and Tata gave him a look that seemed to say he was mentally challenged.
"It's okay, he won't mind."
Ray comforted Neil, who was pulling at his hair in regret.
——
After more than a month of travel, Temuqi finally set foot on this familiar land once again.
Seeing the brand-new, sturdy tunnel before him, he couldn't help but feel a mix of trepidation and excitement, like someone who was getting closer to home than he was. Holding the new gadgets he had received from the conference in the city, he resolutely stepped into the tunnel.
He gained a lot from this trip to the city.
Not only did his work receive praise from the masters, but Lai's kitchenware designs also made him very famous, resulting in numerous business deals.
Therefore, he specially brought back some gifts for Lei.
To be honest, having lived in this small mountain village for so long, this was the first time he had ever brought something back specifically for someone else.
His admiration for Ray was a major factor; he also knew some of the inside stories about how the tunnel in the village was built.
A person walks along a path leading to a small mountain village late at night, their shoes crunching on the snow.
Once again, he felt the hustle and bustle of the city. In just one month, only he knew how much he missed the quiet and comfortable life here.
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Author's Note: Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 07:36:36 on September 6, 2023 and 23:59:18 on September 8, 2023!
Thank you to the little angels who watered with nutrient solution: Qingge (32 bottles); 31014676 (30 bottles);
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
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