Sunburn

Wu Jiong: "We weren't very busy."

Jian Mo: "Well, we did keep busy a bit, having the little ones help chase away insects and birds, using Spring Thunder Egg as pesticides, and also providing them with water and fertilizer..."

Counting the grains on her fingers, Jian Mo looked at the hard-earned bunch and sighed, "'Every grain of rice on the plate is the result of hard work.'"

The two went back to the kitchen to cook, Wu Jiong asked, "What are we going to do with this tassel?"

Jian Mo perked up. "Popcorn! Wait, I'll show you how to make popcorn!"

Wu Jiong looked puzzled.

Jian Mo couldn't explain it, she had to bring out the charcoal brazier used for burning charcoal in winter, wash it clean with water, wipe it with weeds from the stove, and then put the charcoal stalks in.

Wu Jiong: "And then?"

Jian Mo: "Cook the food first, then leave some charcoal for later."

The two of them washed and chopped together, Jian Mo quickly prepared the three dishes and soup for breakfast.

After cooking, Jian Mo took a large shovel and scooped up some embers from the stove, pouring them directly into the charcoal brazier containing tassels.

Then, he casually grabbed a large basket, placed it over the charcoal brazier, leaving only his hand inside, and slowly rotated the stalks of the tassels.

Wu Jiong squatted to the side, watching him operate the device slowly with a mysterious smile on his face.

For a while, there was no movement in the basket.

Jian Mo was a little suspicious that the popcorn might be the wrong type of ear, with too high a moisture content, or the wrong variety, which was why it wasn't popping properly.

Logically speaking, plants like wheat and rice can be used to make popcorn, and although the seeds of Flour Grass are smaller, it shouldn't be impossible to make popcorn.

Jian Mo was about to check, he suddenly heard a "bang" from the basket, followed by a series of "bang bang bang".

Wu Jiong immediately bent over and reached out to protect Jian Mo.

Jian Mo was startled and immediately let go, causing the basket to clatter and completely cover the charcoal brazier.

When she realized what was happening, Jian Mo was both amused and exasperated. "This is the popcorn I told you about."

Wu Jiong: "That was quite a commotion."

Jian Mo: "Yeah, that's why I brought a basket over. Wait a minute, let me see how much it's exploding?"

As she spoke, Jian Mo carefully lifted the basket a little, and then saw small, pale yellow popcorn on the edge of the basket.

He quickly reached out and grabbed a handful of still-hot popcorn. "Look! It's a success!"

The popcorn had a slightly burnt brown edge and a tempting aroma of grains.

Wu Jiong took one from his hand. "Eat it directly?"

Jian Mo popped one into her mouth. "Yeah, just eat it."

With a chew, the unique aroma of the popcorn grains becomes even stronger. Even without syrup, the sweet taste of the starch is very obvious. It's fragrant, sweet, and slightly hard, making it very pleasant to chew.

Jian Mo squinted, a nostalgic look in her eyes. "I ate this when I was little, but my grandparents wouldn't let me pop it, afraid it would splatter in my eyes."

Wu Jiong: "Your snacks?"

Jian Mo: "Yes, back then we didn't have much to eat, so we tried to eat anything we could get our hands on."

Wu Jiong: "It should be fine for the little one to eat and play with."

Jian Mo waved her hand. "Let's not teach them. We adults can keep it for fun. It wouldn't be good if it hit their eyes."

The Flour Grass in the charcoal brazier were still popping and crackling. Once the sound subsided slightly, Jian Mo gently lifted the basket on his back, grabbed the grass stems, and rotated them to ensure the seeds were in full contact with the sparks.

After waiting for a while and hearing no further movement from inside, Jian Mo removed the basket, picked up a piece of firewood, brushed away the ashes, and moved the popped popcorn to the edge.

Jian Mo: "Some of them are a little burnt, but they should still taste good."

Wu Jiong: "Take some for Jiujiu to try."

Jian Mo agreed, "Okay."

Before she could finish speaking, Jian Mo laughed again, "This popcorn made from Flour Grass is so small, I don't know if it'll even be enough to fill Jiujiu's teeth. She probably won't be able to taste anything."

Wu Jiong: "Then it'll have to try this aroma."

Jian Mo laughed again.

After they ate breakfast, they took sickles and went to harvest Flour Grass.

The Flour Grass was perfectly ripe, already possessing the aroma of grains, yet not so ripe that the seeds would fall off due to shaking.

Both of them were skilled workers, cutting large swathes of land with each stroke.

The cut Flour Grass was piled up, tied up, and transported to the other side of the river to dry.

With limited seeds, they didn't plant many Flour Grass, just a large plot of land.

However, the amount of Flour Grass they harvested exceeded their expectations. Bundle after bundle, when they were dried, it was more than the amount of wild vegetables they had collected in half a month.

Those in the tribe who had free time came to help, and upon seeing this sight, they couldn't help but exclaim, "You've really made a good deal growing this Flour Grass!"

Jian Mo rubbed her aching back and looked at the Flour Grass, saying, "It's really worth it. The seeds are also big. Let's study it further. If it can be planted in the second half of the year, we'll plant another crop."

Flour is so precious. If we plant more, we shouldn't run out of flour for Chinese New Year this year.

Actually, it's just that there weren't enough seeds. If there were enough seeds, Jian Mo would have planted them all along the riverbank.

There's so much land along the riverbank, and so many people who can help. If they have enough seeds, they can plant a whole field, and when they harvest it, they can probably eat noodles all year round and won't need to eat various root vegetables anymore.

Some of the tubers tasted good, but it must be said that some were really awful.

Not only is it unpalatable, but it's also difficult to digest. Eating too much of it can cause acid reflux. If given a choice, Jian Mo would never want to eat this stuff again.

Chapter 104 Sunburn

After the Flour Grass was dried, Jian Mo took it to be crushed and threshed.

All the orcs and sub-orcs in the tribe who had free time came to help. He originally thought it would take several days to finish, but with everyone's help, he completed the task in just half a day.

The difference is even more pronounced when comparing dried and threshed Flour Grass with Flour Grass collected in the wild last year.