On the third day, as dawn broke and three suns lazily climbed over the mountain, Lin Feng got up, full of energy.
Inside the cabin, the embers from last night's fire still lingered in the fireplace.
After a quick wash, he ate a few pieces of dried meat and drank a bowl of warm "Golden Fox Rice" porridge before embarking on his ambitious "brewing plan" and "salt-seeking journey".
Brewing is something that cannot be rushed, but preparations should be made in advance.
He first ground a portion of the dried "Golden Fox Rice" into coarse powder using a stone mill (a simple tool he painstakingly carved out from two suitable round stones), then added water and slowly simmered it in an earthenware pot.
In his memory, the first step in grain brewing is to gelatinize the starch, which is beneficial for subsequent saccharification and fermentation.
The rice porridge in the pot was bubbling away, releasing a rich aroma of grains.
On the other side, he took out those precious dried "frost fruits" and some fresh fruits.
These fruits are rich in sugar and natural yeast, making them excellent materials for brewing fruit wine.
After carefully washing the fruits, he placed them in a large earthenware basin and carefully mashed them with a smooth wooden pestle, but not completely into a paste, leaving some of the fruit pulp's texture, thinking that this would enhance the flavor.
In an instant, the wooden house was filled with an intoxicating sweet fragrance, which mingled with the aroma of grains and invigorated the spirit.
While he was busy figuring out how to build a simple "fermentation workshop",
He suddenly realized a crucial issue—salt!
The salt he currently has is coarse salt that he painstakingly scrapes and refines from a saline-alkali land. Although it is usable, its quality is average, and his stock is starting to run out.
Whether it was to marinate more meat for future use, or... he vaguely remembered that in some brewing processes, a trace amount of salt could enhance the flavor.
More importantly, high-quality salt is a key element in improving the quality of life!
"No, we need to find a better salt source!"
Lin Feng made up his mind. This world is so peculiar; perhaps it contains natural salt mines of exceptional quality?
He covered the cooked "Golden Fox Rice" porridge with animal skin and let it cool naturally. He also sealed the crushed "Frost Fruit" with a ceramic lid.
Then, he shouldered his stone axe, tucked a stone knife into his waistband, and took a large backpack made of tough animal hides, and set off on his journey to find salt.
This time, he chose a different direction than before, heading towards a more rugged and sparsely populated mountainous area.
After crossing several mountain peaks and passing through a coniferous forest half-covered in ice and snow, Lin Feng's brows furrowed slightly.
He keenly sensed signs of human activity not far ahead.
Sure enough, as he rounded a huge rock and a relatively flat valley came into view, several familiar figures came into his sight—it was Su Wanqing and her group of women!
However, compared to their disheveled and panicked appearance a few days ago, they are somewhat different now.
They were still dressed in tattered clothes and looked pale, but their eyes held less despair and more resilience and vigilance.
They were no longer huddled together, but scattered. Some were digging for something with sharpened sticks, while others were looking around warily.
Although their movements were still clumsy, they also revealed a kind of "wildness" forced out by desperate circumstances.
Upon seeing Lin Feng's sudden appearance, the women were clearly taken aback, stopping what they were doing and showing wary expressions.
Lin Feng merely glanced at them indifferently, his gaze devoid of any emotion, as if he were seeing nothing more than some insignificant stones or trees.
He didn't stop, walking straight past them and continuing deeper into the valley, as if they didn't exist at all.
Looking at Lin Feng's tall and aloof back, and the imposing aura emanating from him, Su Wanqing and the others were filled with mixed emotions.
This man remains as powerful, and as... unfathomable as ever.
They had suffered a lot during this time, struggling on the edge of life and death, and had indeed grown a lot. They were no longer the spoiled young ladies who could only cry and whine, but compared with Lin Feng, they were still worlds apart.
Lin Feng was unaware of the women's complex thoughts; all his attention was focused on finding a salt source.
He carefully observed the surrounding rock formations and soil color, leaving no stone unturned.
Hard work pays off!
He discovered some peculiar white crystals seeping from the cracks in the rocks at the foot of a shady mountainside.
He scraped off a little with his finger, put it on the tip of his tongue and tasted it—it was salty!
Moreover, it tastes purer than his previous coarse salt!
Lin Feng's spirits lifted, and he climbed upwards following the clues. Soon, his vision cleared!
In a depression surrounded by mountains, a small open-pit salt mine suddenly appeared!
Sunlight shines on the exposed mineral layers, reflecting sparkling points of light.
Contrary to his expectations of pure white, the salt mines here are mostly a pale, beautiful red, like agate!
"My God! This...this is salt mine? And it's red!"
Lin Feng was overjoyed. He quickly stepped forward and carefully chipped off a small piece of red salt rock with his stone axe.
This salt rock is hard and smooth to the touch. Upon closer inspection, it appears to contain countless tiny red crystals that shimmer, making it quite beautiful.
He didn't have time to admire it; he immediately began mining. He selected a huge block of red salt with the purest color and the hardest texture, weighing over a hundred pounds.
He spent a long time using a stone axe and chisel to knock and chisel until he finally managed to peel it completely off the vein.
Carrying the heavy red salt mine, Lin Feng was filled with the joy of a bountiful harvest. Now, for a long time to come, they wouldn't have to worry about salt!
Just as he was satisfied and preparing to return the way he came, he ran into several women again.
They followed Lin Feng's trail and found this valley.
When they saw the huge salt mine on Lin Feng's shoulder, which emitted a strange red light, they all stared wide-eyed, their expressions filled with disbelief.
"What...what is that?" a young girl couldn't help but ask in a low voice.
Qin Lan mustered her courage, took a few steps forward, and stared intently at the salt mine on Lin Feng's shoulder. She asked hesitantly, "This... big brother, is that... salt on your back?"
They also suffer from salt deficiency, and some even experience physical discomfort due to it.
Lin Feng stopped and gave them a cold glance, still showing no interest in answering.
To him, these women were nothing more than insignificant strangers; he had neither the obligation nor the inclination to pay them any attention.
He simply adjusted the position of the salt ore on his shoulder, then strode past them and walked away.
Ignored, Qin Lan and the others turned pale and then flushed, feeling both ashamed and helpless.
But they also knew that with Lin Feng's strength and personality, they dared not have any complaints.
However, that huge red salt mine, like a magnet, deeply attracted their attention.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com