Chapter 96 The heated kang bed "I've wanted to kiss this place for a long time."
Having identified the animal sinew, Yu Yan then found a bow made of cedar wood.
We had used bows before when building houses and firing pottery, so they were readily available.
The bow was bent at both ends, and Yu Yan fixed the string to both ends, tightened it, and the cotton-fluffing bow was finished.
Then, Yu Yan pulled out a dark brown wooden mallet. Having used it many times, the mallet's surface was smooth and burr-free, making it very handy.
He took a knife and cut a groove around the center of the mallet.
This way, when you're fluffing cotton, the groove can hold the bowstring in place, making it easier.
Feeling that it was about time, he emptied a basket of cotton, took a bow in one hand and a mallet in the other, and struck the bowstring. The string bounced back and forth, making a "bang" sound as it broke apart the cotton fibers below, making them fine and fluffy.
The soft cotton, like clouds, brings joy to the heart.
Fluffing cotton is relaxing and therapeutic; before she knew it, Yu Yan had become completely absorbed in it.
As he watched the cotton he had just finished fluffing pile up, he felt a great sense of accomplishment, and he kept changing the songs he was humming.
"What are you doing? You seem so happy," Jinxia asked with a smile as she carried over some grass.
He is a deer-type beastman and can always find excellent fodder.
Yu Yan turned her head and smiled, "I'm fluffing cotton. I'm planning to make two quilts out of the cotton."
Jin Xia's eyes lit up: "Cotton as a quilt? That must be really nice to cover yourself with!"
Yu Yan nodded: "That's right, cotton is light and soft, and it's warm to cover yourself with."
Jinxia immediately put down the grass: "I want to do it with you!"
"Sure, there's still some cotton left to fluff. I'll teach you."
"Uh-huh."
Once Jin Xia got the hang of it, Yu Yan handed over the cotton-fluffing work to him, while she herself held the fluffed cotton and sewed the quilt filling.
He used thread to sew a mesh pattern onto the cotton to secure it.
Fortunately, the quilt insert is inside the quilt cover, so it doesn't matter if his needlework is a bit rough; as long as it works, it's fine.
The sewn-up quilt insert was very fluffy and thick. Yu Yan carried over a wooden tray and used her body weight to press the quilt insert down to make it flat and firm.
He took a quilt cover that Feng Gui had sewn, made some minor modifications, and stuffed the quilt filling inside.
And just like that, a quilt is made!
It was a simple task; Jin Xia learned it after watching it once. Just then, he finished fluffing his cotton and excitedly came over, asking, "Are you done?"
Yu Yan: "Okay."
"Let me touch it."
As soon as Jin Xia picked up the blanket, her already large eyes opened even wider.
"It's so light! It won't feel heavy on my body." He sniffed it again. "It doesn't have that animal hide smell, just a faint scent of grass and wood and the aroma of sunshine... It's wonderful." He said enviously.
Yu Yan: "Let's go inside and try it out."
The two sat down on the wooden sofa in the living room, pulled the blanket over themselves, and covered their legs.
Jinxia felt so comfortable that she wanted to bury herself in the blanket. She squinted her eyes and said with enjoyment, "It's so soft and warm... And for some reason, I don't want to move at all while I'm covered with the blanket."
Yu Yan laughed out loud, thinking to herself, "Don't underestimate the sealing power of the blanket."
I only tried it out once, and Jinxia has completely fallen in love with the comforter.
He was exceptionally proactive in helping Yu Yan finish making the remaining quilt and mattress inserts.
Seeing that his mesh stitching was neat and beautiful, and that the quilt was tucked in neatly and orderly, Yu Yan silently pulled her own ugly quilt insert behind her back and hid it.
When Feng Gui and the others returned, they saw the quilt and couldn't put it down.
Feng Gui used the newly woven cotton cloth to quickly make three new quilt covers.
The cotton quilt cover is softer and more skin-friendly. Yu Yan lay in bed at night, sighing with comfort.
The lights were off in the room, and he whispered to Lanxiu through a megaphone.
"The quilt is so comfortable, it feels like lying on a cloud. I don't want to let go of it once I start holding it."
A moment later, Lan Xiu's smiling voice came: "Then I won't let go."
"It's a pity that not enough cotton was fluffed today, so only a mattress was made for me. Otherwise, you could have had a chance to try it out."
After saying that, Yu Yan realized something was wrong. Why did it sound like she was inviting Lan Xiu to come and stay?
He looked at the paper cup, wanting to explain, but felt that he would only make things worse.
Moreover... he was actually quite looking forward to living with Lanxiu.
The cup trembled slightly, and Yu Yan immediately put it over her ear.
"I'm not in a hurry, but for you, is one mattress enough?"
Yu Yan: "..." Being so serious makes me seem like I'm in a hurry.
"What if I say it's not enough?" he teased Lanxiu.
"I'll fluff the cotton tomorrow and make you a thicker one."
"Fine! I want you to sew it yourself."
So the quilt I made won't be the ugliest one in the house anymore, right? Haha.
The young couple whispered sweet nothings for a long time, and only when they were really sleepy did they reluctantly go to sleep.
Yu Yan didn't know how Jin Xia had boasted about it outside, but the next day, many sub-beastmen came to his house to look at the cotton quilts and learn how to fluff cotton and make quilts.
While everyone was working, they were all talking about how nice it was to have a cotton quilt.
This attracted several surrounding tribes who came over with supplies, wanting to exchange them for cotton.
Yu Yan calculated the quantities and exchanged some cotton and seeds for other items.
Next year, we'll try planting cotton in several tribes to see which tribe grows it best.
Besides quilts, the use of cotton cloth to make clothes sparked an even bigger trend.
Everyone can see that although cotton is not as strong and durable as linen, it is especially soft and comfortable against the skin.
Once the little ones wore cotton clothes, they didn't want to wear linen clothes anymore.
The adults might say, "You guys are so hard to please," but their hands would honestly weave bolt after bolt of cotton cloth.
The tribe's dyeing techniques are now quite sophisticated; they can not only produce stable solid colors but also create beautiful patterns.
Everyone used the dyed cotton fabric to make many beautiful clothes.
Yu Yan discussed it with her family and said, "When Lan Xiu and I get married, let's wear cotton clothes too."
Ruihua: "Isn't it a bit thin?"
Yu Yan: "Our tribe's winters aren't as cold as those of the northern tribes. We can make thin cotton-padded jackets and trousers to wear under other clothes."
As for down jackets, I'll hold off on making them for now; I don't have enough duck down saved up at home.
Feng Gui asked curiously, "A cotton-padded jacket? Cotton-padded trousers?"
Yu Yan nodded: "Yes, it's like a cotton quilt, made from fluffed cotton."
After a moment's thought, Feng Gui's eyes lit up: "Sure! It can be used as a blanket, so of course it can be used as clothing! It's much lighter than an animal skin robe."
"Yes, after the cotton is fluffed up, it will be especially warm to wear. You'll see when it's finished."
Lan Xiu smiled and said, "Even if I couldn't make it, I could have imagined it."
That night he said he would fluff cotton and make a quilt for Yu Yan, and he actually did it.
His needlework was even worse than Yu Yan's. Yu Yan held the quilt he had made and laughed for a long time.
Lan Xiu's ears turned red from laughing, and he said, "Why don't I keep this one and have someone make a new one for you?"
Yu Yan immediately hugged the quilt to her chest, saying, "No, I said it was for me. The kang (heated brick bed) will be heated in a few days, and it's a bit too thick for me to put on two quilts. You can use the one I had before."
Without giving Lanxiu a chance to refute, he "domineeringly" shoved the original mattress into his hands.
That night, Lan Xiu lay in bed, smelling the refreshing scent left by Yu Yan, and couldn't help but bury his handsome face in the blanket.
As he inhaled the scent, his breath gradually warmed.
He moved the paper cup he used to communicate with Yu Yan further away, and slowly lowered his hand...
"Yu Yan, Yu Yan..."
*
Making the wedding dress was something Yu Yan couldn't do alone, so she happily mobilized the whole family.
Putting aside the cotton-padded jackets and trousers, apart from being padded with a layer of cotton, they were pretty much the same as the clothes they usually wore.
He put more effort into "designing" the clothes he wore on the outside.
After much thought, he chose a long robe with wide sleeves and a belt, paired with a fur-trimmed cloak.
Lanxiu and Ruihua are both skilled hunters, and with the ones he had previously acquired, they have many fine hides at home for him to choose from.
He drew a picture of the wedding dress, showed it to several people, and asked for their opinions.
"How is it? Does it look good?"
Lan Xiu's eyes lit up, and he said, "Beautiful!"
Feng Gui, who always makes clothes, also saw the trick: "It's really good. These clothes will look beautiful on you."
Ruihua: "I feel that this outfit is very suitable for wearing during sacrificial rites."
Yu Yan said proudly, "It looks very dignified, right? Since everyone thinks it's okay, then let's make this outfit!"
They made both wedding dresses themselves, without anyone else's involvement. From spinning the thread, weaving the cloth, dyeing it, to tailoring, they did it all behind closed doors.
To achieve the desired effect, the dyeing process alone was adjusted five times.
When Yu Yan mentioned embroidery while making clothes, it aroused Feng Gui's strong interest.
Just then, the Qingqing tribe sent over another batch of refined needles, and Feng Gui pondered on his own, embroidering patterns onto the cloth.
It didn't take long before I embroidered a lifelike little white bird!
"My goodness..." Yu Yan exclaimed with wide eyes, "Father, your hands are so skillful! The embroidery is so beautiful!"
Feng Gui smiled broadly: "If you like, I'll embroider more for you."
"I like it, but embroidery is too tiring for my hands and eyes."
"It's alright, I'm not tired. Besides, it's just embroidering two pieces of clothing, not something I do every day. Embroidery is fun and beautiful, but unfortunately, you can't show it to others before you two get married."
Yu Yan said he wanted to make a stunning appearance, and the whole family let him have his way.
"Thank you, Father," Yu Yan said with a smile. "I have a feeling that after we become partners, the people in the tribe will be vying to embroider flowers on our clothes."
Feng Guiye laughed: "Yes, the things you make are always popular."
One autumn rain brings one chill.
Besides making new clothes, Yu Yan and her family, like the other people in the tribe, were busy stocking up on food and seeds for the winter.
Occasionally, when someone gets sick, he has to make house calls.
Yu Yan went out to gather food in the wild almost every day with the sub-beastmen in the tribe.
There are many ways to store food nowadays. If you can't finish it, you can dry it, salt it, or fry it. If it's not afraid of freezing, you can store it in a cave where ice is stored.
Every household has stocked up on potatoes and ginger.
Yu Yan not only had to stockpile food, but also medicinal herbs.
The kudzu vines have grown for a year, and the kudzu roots are mature and ready to be dug up.
He collected many medicinal herbs, including dandelion, honeysuckle, and centella asiatica, and processed them.
He also dried and stored fruits and peels that could be used in medicine, such as Quisqualis indica and pomegranate peel.
Although she was tired, seeing the small room in the clinic where the medicines were stored gradually fill up filled Yu Yan's heart as well. She felt very happy and proud.
As for the animal meat they need to eat during the winter, it is hunted by Lanxiu and Ruihua.
The family of four was so busy they barely had time to breathe.
People from the tribe have been coming to help.
That day, Yu Yan and everyone were making cured meat and sausages from the leftover animal meat.
Unlike before when she directly marinated the meat with a large amount of salt, Yu Yan first took a variety of seasonings and rubbed or mixed them into the meat.
Then he poured in the distilled high-proof liquor, and the aroma immediately filled the air.
Xin Yu closed his eyes and sniffed, exclaiming, "It smells so good. It's been cold lately, so Cang Feng and I drink less alcohol at night. It warms us up and makes us happy."
Xuefei asked, "Meat marinated in wine must taste delicious, right?"
Yu Yan smiled and said, "Not only does it taste good, but this wine can also disinfect, making the marinated meat less likely to spoil."
"very nice."
"It's mixed. These meats need to marinate for two or three days before drying," Yu Yan said, looking in Yin Qing's direction. "How's the minced meat coming along?"
"It should be about right."
Feng Gui said, "The animal intestines are washed too."
Yu Yan: "Okay, let's make sausages now!"
Everyone worked together to tie a knot at one end of the animal intestines and stuff the meat filling inside.
After stuffing one large sausage, use thread to cut it into smaller sections, and then use a thin skewer to poke some holes in the casing.
The sausages exuded a rich aroma of Sichuan peppercorns, baijiu (Chinese liquor), and meat, making one's mouth water.
Yu Yan: "You guys keep cooking, I'll go hang these sausages up to dry, and we'll cook some tonight."
Yin Qing's eyes lit up: "Great! I've been craving it for ages."
Everyone laughed good-naturedly.
As evening approached, before lighting the fire, Yu Yan checked the kang (heated brick bed) passageway.
When he built the house, he left a path for the kang (heated brick bed).
However, in the summers before, the kang (heated brick bed) passage was blocked because it was hot.
Lanxiu also returned from outside and joined him in the kitchen.
Seeing Yu Yan return, he asked, "How did it go?"
"Let's try burning it first."
Lanxiu added a large pot of water, laid the sausages on a steamer rack, and lit a fire.
In autumn, the wind is strong, and the chimney has a strong draft, so the fire burns brighter and brighter with a "whooshing" sound.
Once the stove was hot, Yu Yan asked Lan Xiu to watch the fire, then ran to the next room and touched the kang (heated brick bed).
It's hot!
Yu Yan warmed her hands on the kang (a heated brick bed) like she was baking pancakes before excitedly going to share the good news with Lan Xiu.
"Lanxiu, our kang (heated brick bed) is warm! Go and feel it!"
Lan Xiu added more firewood and said with a smile, "Okay."
He returned shortly afterward, his icy blue eyes gleaming with a warm light.
"Not only the kang (heated brick bed), but the whole room got warm."
His beast form is a large tiger with exceptionally thick fur. Although he is not afraid of the cold in winter, he still prefers to stay in warm places.
He was even happier for Yu Yan, because now that the room was warm, he wouldn't be cold anymore.
You should know that in previous years, the beastmen would huddle in their partners' arms for warmth during the winter.
"Really?" Yu Yan walked quickly outside. "I'll go and experience it."
The two's back-and-forth antics attracted the attention of others.
Yin Qing muttered, "We kindly left the kitchen to them, but instead of being affectionate in there, what are they doing going back and forth like this?"
Yu Yan, with her keen hearing: "..."
He pretended not to hear and leaned forward to ask, "The kang (heated brick bed) is heated up, do you want to come and take a look?"
"Yes, yes, yes!" Everyone immediately put down what they were doing, washed their hands, and hurried over.
As soon as I entered the room, a warm breeze greeted me.
In the past two months, Yu Yan's room has been filled with many new things.
The oil lamp with a glass cover, the comfortable cotton quilt, the pillow made of rice husks, the beautiful ornaments made by myself, the flowers and plants I grow... it all has a very homey feel.
When the kang (heated brick bed) is heated, the room becomes warm, and the feeling of coziness intensifies.
Yin Qing exclaimed, "It's so warm! Yu Yan, can I sit on the kang (heated brick bed)?"
"Of course." Yu Yan pushed the neatly folded blanket further inside and invited, "Everyone, come and sit down."
Several sub-orcs sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), reaching out to touch the head of the kang.
"Ouch, it's burning hot," Xin Yu said.
Yu Yan: "Haha, it's burning right now."
Xuefei and Moye also moved into a new house and said happily, "We also built a kang (heated brick bed) like Yuyan did, and we'll heat it up tomorrow."
Xin Yu: "My family also burns [firewood/firewood]."
Yu Yan: "You guys keep an eye on things first, I'll go check on the kitchen."
He closed the door behind him when he left.
When they got to the kitchen, Lanxiu was indeed sitting on a small stool, tending the fire.
Yu Yan was sitting on a perfectly sized little stool, which made her look even smaller in comparison.
Yu Yan smiled, tiptoed over, and jumped onto his back.
"Hey!"
Lan Xiu, being such a perceptive orc, naturally noticed his approach long ago, but he still pretended to be startled and let out a soft cry.
"Hahaha!" Yu Yan laughed even harder.
Lan Xiu looked at the beautiful face in front of him, his Adam's apple bobbed, he turned to the side, held the back of his neck with one hand and pinched his slender waist with the other, lifted his chin and kissed him.
Their thin lips met, and both of them shuddered.
They closed their eyes, their lips pressed together, and they opened their mouths to exchange breaths.
Unbeknownst to her, Yu Yan knelt on Lan Xiu's lap with one knee, cupped his face in her hands, and kissed him deeply.
Lan Xiu's hands, which were clasped around his waist, tightened, his palms burning intensely, the heat seemingly penetrating his skin and igniting his entire body.
Their noses touched from time to time, then separated.
After a long while, the two separated, their breathing erratic.
Yu Yan looked down at his flawless face and kissed the small mole on his nose.
Like a dragonfly skimming the water, it touches the surface and then immediately departs.
His crimson lips parted, and he murmured softly, "I've wanted to kiss here for a long time."
The man below suddenly darkened his eyes.
"What about the others?" he asked in a low voice.
Yu Yan smiled slyly: "I locked him in the room."
Lan Xiu smiled, tilted his head back, and kissed him deeply once again.
That evening, Yu Yan fried and grilled sausages for everyone to eat. The freshly made sausages were very hot, and his lips turned even redder.
The next day, after breakfast, Yu Yan took her tools and went with her family to find Cang Feng.
Now that everyone lives close by, we get there very quickly.
Senbai was standing in the courtyard, talking to Cangfeng, who looked troubled.
"What's wrong?" Yu Yan asked.
The two of them immediately looked over.
Cangfeng asked, "Why are you here?"
Yu Yan: "The sweet potatoes and beets in the fields are ready to be harvested. Didn't you plant them too? Let me ask you if you want to go harvest them together."
He borrowed the beet seeds from Xuefei and had been thinking about returning them.
Cangfeng said, "I'm going."
Yu Yan: "Well, you haven't said what happened yet."
Cangfeng looked at Senbai and said, "You can tell Yu Yan yourself."
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