Chapter 30 - Transmigration: The Farm Life of a “Fool”

Translator's Note:

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The Stone Mill

 

 

The chilies took three full days of sun to dry, but the soybeans only needed two before Xu Ran shelled them.

 

In those three days, they also finished preparing more than two hundred bamboo joints, which would be ready for storing the chili paste once it was made.

 

Xu Ran still thought it was worth asking Liu Tong to buy a large clay jar. The paste would need to be stored for some time, and bamboo alone might not preserve it as well as a proper jar.

 

The soybeans could be made into fermented bean paste directly, but the chilies needed to be ground into powder. They didn't have a stone mill at home, but the village had one they could use for a few copper coins. However, Xu Ran worried no one would be willing to let them grind so many chilies.

 

Since Xu Ran wasn't that familiar with the villagers, these matters were left to Liu Tong.

 

Grinding such a large amount of chili powder might also raise suspicions, so Xu Ran decided it would be better to make their own stone mill. He still remembered how it was done from his previous life.

 

Having their own mill would be convenient for grinding anything in the future, and since their house was a bit secluded, they wouldn't have to worry about frequent visitors noticing.

 

After agreeing on the plan, the next day, Liu Tong took Tangtang and Guoguo to Wu Mei's house, asking him to look after them. Then, he and Xu Ran set off for the mountains with tools in hand. Though they didn't have a proper chisel, they brought an axe, and Liu Tong assured Xu Ran that he could follow his instructions and make it work, so Xu Ran felt at ease.

 

The mountains in ancient times were largely untouched, wild and teeming with resources. Xu Ran and Liu Tong weren't concerned about food, and they had brought plenty of water. They planned to finish the stone mill before heading back.

 

Liu Tong, being an experienced hunter, knew the mountains well. He led Xu Ran to a spot where there were plenty of natural sandstone boulders, so they wouldn't need to do much quarrying.

 

Xu Ran found a patch of soft soil and used a branch to sketch out the design for the stone mill. He then had Liu Tong follow the plan to carve it out.

 

Xu Ran had always believed that only what you create yourself is truly yours. In his previous life, he had learned a little bit of everything, not mastering any one thing but gaining a broad understanding. Coming from the countryside, he had always been determined to prove he wasn't any less capable than city kids, so he worked even harder to prove himself.

 

Though the stone mill seemed simple, making it was a real challenge—especially without a chisel, having to rely on an axe. Fortunately, Liu Tong was skilled, and the large stone slowly transformed under his hands.

 

While Liu Tong focused on the mill, Xu Ran's task was to find a mill shaft, which was not easy. It had to be made from the sturdiest tree they could find, and ideally, one with a crooked front but straight back—a rarity in the mountains where most trees grew straight.

 

Liu Tong worked on the mill from morning till nightfall, while Xu Ran spent the entire day searching for the right branch. It wasn't until dusk that Xu Ran finally found one suitable for the mill shaft.

 

By nightfall, Xu Ran had also finished sanding the mill shaft. They carried it home, but the millstone itself would have to wait until it was fully finished before they could find help to carry it down from the mountain.

 

After returning home, Xu Ran went to pick up Tangtang and Guoguo from Wu Mei's house, while Liu Tong started cooking. Thankfully, they didn't have any livestock at the moment, otherwise, with their current situation, the animals would have starved.

 

The only two rabbits they had went along with Tangtang and Guoguo, so they didn't have to worry about them.

 

In the mountains, time seemed to stand still; after the cold passes, one doesn't even notice the passing of the years.*

 

[T/N: The phrase "山中无甲子，寒尽不知年" is a Chinese proverb. It metaphorically refers to people living in remote, isolated places, cut off from the world, unaware of the seasons or worldly affairs.

It originates from "Journey to the West" and can be traced further back to the Tang Dynasty in the poem "Reply to Someone" by Taishang Yin Zhe, which goes:

"I occasionally come under a pine tree, lying on a rock, resting my head. In the mountains, time seemed to stand still; after the cold passes, one doesn't even notice the passing of the years."

This highlights the detachment from time and events when living in isolation, where nature and daily survival take precedence over the flow of time or societal milestones.]

 

Though Xu Ran and Liu Tong weren't quite at that stage yet, they weren't far off. It took half a month to make the stone mill, and during that time, the two children stayed with Wu Mei, Wu Lan, and Liu Qing's families in turns. This allowed Xu Ran and Liu Tong to focus entirely on their work in the mountains, without any worries at all.

 

By midday, when the mill was finally finished, Xu Ran had Liu Tong gather people from the three families to help. He made a hearty meal for everyone before they all set off for the mountain to bring the millstone back.

 

Xu Ran had already told them about the millstone, so they understood the task ahead and didn't overthink it.

 

The stone mill was incredibly heavy. Since an ox cart couldn't go up the mountain, the only way to transport it was by manpower.

 

Eight people took on the task. The men were strong, while the gers, though willing, didn't have as much strength—except for Liu Tong, of course. Xu Ran, however, was about as strong as the gers.

 

With only six able-bodied workers, they had no choice but to carry the millstone back slowly, taking frequent breaks.

 

Transporting the stone mill was no easy task, especially in this heat. They wore light clothing, and the mill was suspended from bamboo poles tied with ropes. They hoisted the bamboo onto their shoulders to carry it.

 

The scene reminded Xu Ran of the "stickmen" of Chongqing*—an iconic sight in the mountain city!

 

[T/N: The "stickmen" of Chongqing (重庆棒棒军 or 重庆棒棒) are a group of laborers in Chongqing, China, known for carrying heavy loads on their shoulders using long bamboo poles. They are often referred to as 棒棒军 (bàng bàng jūn) or simply 棒棒 (bàng bàng), which literally means "stickmen" or "bamboo stick workers." These workers perform physically demanding jobs, such as transporting goods up and down the steep, hilly terrain of Chongqing, a city famous for its mountains, rivers, and narrow, winding streets.]

 

They had left in the morning and didn't return until midday, taking half the day to complete the journey. But seeing the millstone finally set down in the courtyard, everyone was filled with satisfaction. The hard work had paid off.

 

Before leaving, Xu Ran had asked Tangtang and Guoguo to boil a pot of water so that it would be ready when they returned.

 

The children, being obedient, had done just as they were told. The water was prepared, and when the eight of them arrived, they eagerly gulped down bowls of water.

 

They drank until their stomachs were full.

 

Tangtang and Guoguo even managed to cook some rice, although they hadn't made any side dishes yet.

 

After taking a short break, Liu Tong went to the kitchen to help, allowing the others to continue resting.

 

Xu Ran was utterly exhausted, feeling as though he couldn't move another inch. Despite living for so many years, this was the first time he had engaged in such strenuous labor. Yet, he felt a profound sense of achievement; after all, he was getting closer to his entrepreneurial ambitions.

 

In the afternoon, Xu Ran cleaned the stone mill and set up the mill shaft. He soaked some soybeans, preparing for a little experiment. Although the mill looked about right, he couldn't be sure if it would actually work without trying it.

 

Once the soybeans were softened, he asked Liu Tong to turn the mill shaft while he carefully added the soybeans and water with a wooden ladle.

 

Everyone held their breath, watching intently, fearing that nothing would come out.

 

After Liu Tong had cranked the mill several times, a creamy white liquid began to flow out. Tangtang and Guoguo jumped with excitement, exclaiming, "It's coming out, it's coming out! Daddy, it's really coming out!"

 

Xu Ran beamed at the sight of the white liquid, elated that all their hard work had paid off.

 

"This is really working! Xu Ran, I didn't expect you had it in you!" Wu Mei exclaimed, his skepticism fading as he saw the results. Initially, he hadn't quite believed him when he spoke of this, but seeing it with his own eyes changed his mind.

 

"This can even be used to make tofu! That's fantastic! We won't have to buy tofu anymore," Liu Qing chimed in with delight.

 

"Absolutely! From now on, whenever you need to grind something, just come to our house. But this mustn't get out; otherwise, we'll have trouble," Xu Ran advised earnestly.

 

"Of course! We're not that foolish," Liu Qing replied promptly.

 

"Then let's have tofu scraps for dinner! Tongtong, let's grind more!" Xu Ran said, adding more soybeans as Liu Tong began to turn the mill axle with determination.

 

Laughter filled the courtyard, echoing their joy.

 

With the stone mill installed, the preliminary preparations were underway, and they were ready to get busy.

 

Xu Ran first instructed Liu Tong to go to the town to buy a large jar and some brown rice. During this time, they had been occupied with the stone mill, leaving Liu Tong no opportunity to hunt. Their savings amounted to just two taels of silver, which was painfully inadequate—though this was entirely Xu Ran's personal perspective.

 

Initially, the silver was meant for purchasing land, but two taels were far too little. Xu Ran decided it was better to start with the chili sauce.

 

While they had ground the chilies into powder, it was not as fine as they desired, and there were still whole chili seeds mixed in. Making chili sauce required a significant amount of seasonings and oil, which would cost money to buy. Purchasing the necessary ingredients had already cost them two hundred coins, leaving their remaining silver insufficient.

 

With no other option, Liu Tong would have to go back to hunting, while Xu Ran planned to sell potatoes.

 

Taking the two children with him, Xu Ran went up the mountain to dig for potatoes, which they would turn into mashed potatoes for Liu Tong to sell to the shopkeeper. This exchange brought them back a decent sum of money.

 

Starting a business was truly challenging, Xu Ran couldn't help but sigh.

 

Their family pot was too small and inconvenient to use, so Liu Tong borrowed Wu Mei's large pot and constructed a stove in the yard using stones.

 

The smell of frying chilies was overpowering, so Xu Ran sent the children outside to play, leaving the cooking to him and Liu Tong.

 

At first, unsure of how to balance the seasonings, Xu Ran asked Liu Tong to start with a small amount to test it out.

 

After experiencing their hardships firsthand, Liu Tong appreciated Xu Ran's efforts. He didn't want to waste Xu Ran's hard work, so he took the task seriously.

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