I've been transported to the orc continent.

Chapter 297 The most beautiful thing is the natural way.

Bai Ling said, "There's nothing we can do about it. Fermentation is a crucial step in brewing wine. When fermenting sorghum, it's important to keep it well-ventilated. Actually, cotton cloth would be the best option, but we don't have any, so we have to use silk instead."

Last year, the Sky Orcs gave him a kind of seed that could produce silk fibers. He planted those seeds in the backyard and on the hillside, and some saplings did grow. Unfortunately, those saplings did not produce any seeds this year, so naturally, he could not collect silk fibers to weave cloth. He could only use silk to seal the earthenware jars used for brewing wine.

To be honest, Bai Ling was also reluctant, but there was nothing she could do. Fortunately, silk could be reused. When brewing wine again, the silk could be washed, dried, and reused.

Yue was more concerned about when the wine would be ready: "Ling, how long does it take for sorghum to turn into wine?"

“It depends on the fermentation time,” Bai Ling said. “In autumn, it takes about a month, but now that the weather is cold, it will probably take even longer.”

At first, Bai Ling planned to put the earthenware jar in the bedroom, but the bedroom needed to be heated every day. Whenever the kang (a heated brick bed) was heated, a layer of ash would settle in the room. If the earthenware jar was placed in the bedroom, the sorghum might not have fermented properly before a layer of ash would settle on the silk covering the jar.

After much thought, Bai Ling placed the earthenware jar on the wall next to the kang (heated brick bed) in the storage room. Because of the kang, the temperature of this wall was higher, and placing the earthenware jar here would allow the sorghum to ferment better.

Yue then asked, "What happens after fermentation? How do you turn the sorghum into alcohol?"

Sorghum is made up of individual grains, but alcohol is like water. So how do you turn individual grains of sorghum into alcohol that is like water?

Bai Ling explained, "Didn't I add yeast to the sorghum? The yeast will slowly break down a certain component of the sorghum, turning that component into water. Then, after distillation, the alcohol will be produced."

Yue couldn't understand very well, but that didn't stop him from looking at Bai Ling with admiration: "Ling, you're amazing! In the past, if we wanted to drink, we had to trade with the Greenwood Tribe. Even if we could trade, we could only get a little bit during the New Year. If the brewing is successful this time, we can drink more wine during the New Year."

Bai Ling smiled and said, "Yue, the sorghum liquor is different from the fruit wine of the Green Wood Tribe. It may taste a bit spicy."

However, this kind of traditionally brewed liquor doesn't have a very high alcohol content, nor does it taste too spicy, so the beastmen might like it.

*

Bai Ling had said before that she would take Yue to make soy sauce, and now she finally has the time. The newly made soybean paste this year is ready to eat, and the leftover paste from last year can be used to make soy sauce.

Bai Ling scooped all the soybean paste she made last year into a ceramic bowl, added water, and started stirring.

Yue sat next to Bai Ling, resting her chin on her hands, her eyes shining as she watched Bai Ling work.

Stared at by Yue, Bai Ling felt even more eager to impress her. He straightened his back, making his body lines more fluid and upright, and lowered his head to what he considered the best angle. He pursed his lips slightly, staring at the sauce he was stirring, trying his best to appear expressionless and completely focused.

To make her work posture look better, Bai Ling controlled her breathing, neither too fast nor too slow, neither too light nor too heavy. Even though she was just stirring soy sauce, Bai Ling made it look like she was contemplating some rare treasure.

Yue and Bai Ling were so familiar with each other that he could naturally notice the difference in Bai Ling's behavior compared to usual, and the smile in his eyes deepened.

Yue sat there the whole time, watching Bai Ling put on airs in front of her. When the sauce was almost ready, Yue suddenly stood up, walked behind Bai Ling as fast as she could, and patted Bai Ling on the shoulder.

Bai Ling seemed to only then notice Yue standing behind him. He flashed what he considered his most perfect smile: "Yue, it'll be ready soon. You should start the fire in the stove first."

Yue asked, "Ling, are you tired?"

Bai Ling shook her head: "I'm not tired. This doesn't take much effort, how could I possibly be tired?"

Yue lowered her eyes, glanced at Bai Ling's hands holding the chopsticks, and then chuckled.

"Who asked you if you're tired from working? I'm saying, aren't you tired of standing so straight with your back straight, no expression on your face, but maintaining such a perfect posture?"

The soy sauce was ready. Bai Ling scratched her head and asked, "So, do you think I looked good just now?"

Yue thought for a moment, then said truthfully, "I don't think it looks good."

Bai Ling was taken aback, then asked, "What's wrong with it? I practiced in front of the glass for a long time, and I thought it looked really convincing."

Bai Ling looked at Yue with her dark eyes: "Yue, why do you think I don't look good like this? I think I look very good when I'm fully focused on doing something."

“Because it’s tiring,” Yue said. “Ling, it’s tiring to act like this. I want you to be your most natural self in front of me, without having to put on a show just to look good.”

He laughed and said, "I still prefer you when you're most natural. Ling, even if your face and hands are covered in dirt from working, I still think you look extremely beautiful."

He liked Ling in every way, except for the way she pretended in front of him. She was perfectly fine as she was, so why did she have to put on a show for the sake of being "good-looking"?

Bai Ling immediately deflated—no, he should say he let out his pretentious act. He returned to his usual self and said to Yue, "Yue, go start the fire. We'll make soy sauce. I'll cook something delicious for myself tonight."

As instructed, Yue lit a fire, asking as she did so, "What delicious food are you making?"

Bai Ling: "Let's make braised pork."

Braised pork belly with a rich, dark sauce always lacks a bit of flavor. But today I finally made some soy sauce, so I can make authentic braised pork belly now.

Braised pork belly is best served with rice. If you don't have rice, you can use steamed buns instead. He'll put the soy sauce in the pot and then go knead the dough, steam a pot of big, plump steamed buns, and make a pot of braised pork belly. Hot steamed buns with two big pieces of braised pork belly with alternating layers of fat and lean meat—just thinking about the taste makes my mouth water.

*

Simmering soy sauce requires a low flame. After the soy sauce boils, you need to stir it constantly. This process takes a long time, at least half an hour, and ideally an hour.

The longer you cook it, the better the soy sauce will taste. Once the soy sauce is cooked, turn off the heat and let it simmer with the lid on for a while.

Place silk in a large earthenware bowl, then scoop out cooled soy sauce and place it on the silk. The resulting dark gray liquid is the soy sauce.

However, the soy sauce doesn't taste very good yet, so it needs to be boiled again.