Chapter 174 Staying Overnight
After Brother Liu finished threshing the grain, Taozi, with his keen eye, swept it up and put it into a winnowing basket.
By sifting against the wind, the impurities in the winnowing basket are sifted out.
"I remember you exchanged a lot of millet before, is that enough to eat?"
Brother Liu stopped what he was doing and watched Taozi sift the millet, then asked me a question.
"Yes, we can eat it for quite a while."
"If there's enough to eat, don't remove the husks after sifting the millet. Remove the husks only when you're ready to eat it, as storing it with the husks on will keep it for a long time."
"Okay, I'll listen to you, Brother Liu."
There is indeed a lot of rice and flour in the basement. If it can be stored longer with the wrappers on, I will definitely choose to store it with the wrappers on.
“You need a sieve, and it would be best if you could also have a blower… There are quite a few households that have vacant spaces at the base, and they should have one. I’ll look for one for you when I go back this time and put it away. You can bring it back and use it directly next time you go. A blower and a sieve are much more convenient than using a winnowing basket.”
Upon hearing that there were tools for processing grain, I was overjoyed: "That's wonderful! Processing grain is so complicated. Is there a machine for peeling millet? I think peeling it by hand is too troublesome."
"Yes, we do, but that machine needs electricity. We process them at the base. Let's ask the base manager when we get back if they have any extras, or you can try looking in town, maybe you can find some there."
When I heard that there really was a rice milling and hulling machine, that was wonderful! I wonder how much effort it would save me from my arduous work of processing grain.
Whether I exchange it at the base or look for it in town, I'm determined to get one of these machines.
I sat alone on the steps, lost in thought, while Taozi and Brother Liu had already processed the millet and packed it into sacks.
That huge pile of ears of grain and straw only filled one sack of millet.
However, knowing how much land is needed to grow a sack of grain will give you a better idea of what to expect when you actually start growing your own grain in the future.
After finishing with the millet, it wasn't dark yet. I was thinking of finding some other work, but I couldn't treat people like donkeys, so I invited Brother Liu and Taozi into the house for tea.
I went to the small west room to look for traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions that Brother Gao could take.
If there's no option for intravenous drips, taking anti-inflammatory medication alone might not be enough. Trying to supplement with a traditional Chinese medicine prescription would likely improve the treatment's effectiveness.
After considering many remedies for wound infection, we finally settled on one called "Xianfang Huoming Yin" (仙方活命饮). This remedy reduces swelling and hardening, clears heat and detoxifies, invigorates blood and relieves pain, making it perfect for Brother Gao's condition.
Honeysuckle, angelica, saposhnikovia, angelica dahurica, red peony root, etc., should be taken from the medicine cabinet according to the dosage written in the book.
Get a prescription first, and if it works well, continue using it.
As I walked into the east room with the medicine bag, I saw Sister-in-law Gao helping to clean the room. The floor was sparkling clean, and even the glass and coffee table were spotless.
Although I clean myself regularly, I've never been able to clean it this thoroughly before; it's like having a professional cleaner.
Seeing how conscientious Sister-in-law Gao is, I feel happy even though all those medicinal herbs were wasted.
"Take a break, don't bother cleaning up after Sister-in-law Gao. I've got some medicine, let it soak in water for an hour, then you can brew it for Brother Gao to drink."
"Okay, thank you, little sister. When I get back, I'll definitely bring more things to pay for the medicine. I can't let you take such precious medicinal herbs for free."
Sister-in-law Gao held the medicine packet in her hands like a precious treasure, repeatedly expressing her gratitude to me.
At this moment, Brother Gao also woke up and took over what his wife had said to me, saying, "If my leg can get better, it's because you saved my life, sister. If you ever have any trouble in the future, come to me and I will definitely help you."
No wonder everyone wants to be a doctor; they have such high emotional value! I replied with a smile, "Don't think about how to help me; get better first."
Looking at Brother Liu's injured leg, I remembered that I had made a pair of crutches before when my leg was injured. They will come in handy and make it easier for me to go to the toilet.
He went to the side room, found the crutch, and handed it to Sister-in-law Gao. "What a coincidence! I injured my leg a while ago, and this pair of crutches just came in handy."
Sister-in-law Gao happily accepted it and thanked her repeatedly.
As it got dark, we led the chickens home. After dinner, Brother Gao had his herbal soup, and everyone was ready to rest.
Then came the headache: how were so many people supposed to sleep?
No one knows about the existence of the darkroom, and I have no intention of revealing it to others.
Although the heated kang bed in the east room was big enough, I inexplicably felt uncomfortable sleeping with Brother Liu and Taozi.
Brother Liu and Taozi only realized the problem then. Rural bungalows are usually built with two heated kang beds, and they only discovered that I only had one when it got dark and I was about to go to sleep.
Brother Liu scratched his head awkwardly: "How about Taozi and I go back to our place and come back tomorrow?"
But it was getting late, and we couldn't very well let Brother Liu and Taozi go back, so we quickly said, "They can stay here."
I went to the side room, found the folding bed, put it in the breeding room, and told everyone that I was staying in the breeding room and that the others should stay in the east room.
When Brother Liu heard that I was going to make do with sleeping on a folding bed while they slept on a heated kang (a traditional Chinese bed-stove), he immediately refused.
"That won't do. How can you sleep on your folding bed while we sleep on your kang (heated brick bed)?"
“The kang in the east room is big enough for all of you to sleep on. I’m a light sleeper and prefer to sleep alone.”
Seeing that I insisted, Brother Liu stopped trying to stop me.
While everyone was having tea in the east room, I ran to the basement and brought up four quilts.
The blankets are all unopened, so we won't use duvet covers. Please make do with them.
After everyone went to sleep, I locked the door of the breeding room, drew the curtains, and secretly ran into the dark room to sleep with Tiedan in my arms.
I originally planned to have Brother Liu and Taozi stay in the breeding shed, but what if they accidentally stumbled into the dark room? That would be terrible.
The next morning, I woke up early and was just about to try lying on the folding bed when I heard some voices coming from outside.
I simply pushed the door open and went out. When Sister-in-law Gao saw that I was awake, she quickly said, "Did I accidentally wake you up? Sister, go back to sleep for a while. I'll go make you some food."
There's no reason for someone to cook while the owner is sleeping.
"I'm not sleeping anymore, I'm getting up."
Brother Liu and Taozi also came out one after another and greeted me.
Did you sleep well last night?
"It's great, this folding bed is quite comfortable."
He pretended to say the folding bed was comfortable, then turned around and went to the kitchen to cook.
We've accumulated a lot of eggs at home, so we're going to steam 10 eggs, two per person.
Sister-in-law Gao offered to help make fried dough cakes, so I used the side stove next to me to cook a winter melon and pork slice soup.
Sister-in-law Gao made 10 large pancakes, and my winter melon and pork soup was also ready.
Add some pepper and sesame oil to the soup. It's late autumn now, and it can be a bit chilly in the mornings. Drinking some soup with pepper can help ward off the cold.
Sister-in-law Gao's pancakes are just as good as mine, and they taste even better like country food.
With a big bowl of winter melon soup, some pancakes and eggs, I broke out in a sweat and felt completely refreshed.
After the meal, Sister-in-law Gao took the initiative to clear the dishes, and I didn't stand on ceremony. She washed the dishes while I changed Brother Liu's dressing.
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