The correct way to open the elf

Chapter 73 Brewing and Paddy Fields

Going further west, the soil becomes more desertified. Sweet potatoes are grown here, which are also the ingredients that Feng Yu uses to make cold sweet potato shreds.

The halflings' planting area is the one surrounding the camp, which feeds the people and livestock in the entire camp.

This is also why Feng Yu admires the halflings. Although their labor is primitive, their use of land is very scientific. They know clearly what crops are suitable for what kind of land.

Digging canals to irrigate the fields is not a problem anyway, there is plenty of flint, even if some of it seeps into the sandy soil, it can be used to irrigate the wasteland. If that doesn't work, wait until the dwarf stone powder is burned enough, and then build cement canals, which are sturdy and leak-proof.

But I really don't have the time now.

The second season of corn and the third season of potatoes in the wilderness are about to be harvested, which means that a new round of sowing will begin soon. There is no time to build stone powder canals. In addition, the construction of salt fields has never stopped. Feng Yu is also planning to build a house. There is no extra stone powder to build canals. He can just use loess to pad the places where water seepage is serious.

What Feng Yu was most interested in was a kind of bush in the wilderness. Allen told Feng Yu that the bush was originally called snake vine because its branches looked like snakes and twisted, and the native snakes in the wilderness also liked to cool off in the snake vine when the sun was bright, so it got this name.

The fruit of this thing grows in bunches just like grapes, but it is not as big as grapes. The diameter of the fruit is only about one centimeter.

Feng Yu saw that the beasts herded by the halflings liked to eat the purple-black fruits of this thing, so he planted a bunch and tasted it.

He now has mysterious confidence in his physical fitness. Seeing that the beasts were fine after eating it, he knew it was not poisonous, so he didn't care. The key point was that he secretly observed Alan and found that he didn't stop him, so he boldly took a big bite like a hero.

He finished half of the skewer in one gulp, but after only a few chews he spit it all out with a frown on his face.

Alan and several halflings watched and laughed at the side.

Allen introduced: "The skin of the snake fruit is thick and the seeds are large. The flesh in the middle is sweet, but it is a little less, only a thin layer, and its skin and seeds are very astringent. Except for the beasts, no one is willing to eat it. However, there are children who don't mind the trouble. They break open the snake fruits one by one and lick the thin flesh inside."

Allen thought that this thing was of little use, but Feng Yu thought that it was a rare treasure.

As we all know, the grapes used for winemaking are different from the grapes we usually eat. The grapes we eat have thin skins, thick flesh, moderate sweet and sour taste, and are fresh and juicy. But the grapes used for winemaking are different. They generally have thick skins, large seeds, and the flesh is very sweet and sour.

But it is also because of this that wine has that unique astringent taste, which comes from the tannins in the grape skins and seeds.

Therefore, even if the flesh of the grapes used for making wine is very sweet, it is not delicious.

This snake fruit, which tastes similar to wine grapes, comes from the snake vine, which is very common in the wilderness. It is drought-resistant and sun-loving. Due to the climate of the wilderness, it will bloom and bear fruit in all seasons. It is a favorite of halfling beekeepers and a rare material for making wine.

Feng Yu looked at the half-man who was laughing so hard that he fell backwards and clapped his hands. Allen and the others slowly stopped laughing and looked at Feng Yu.

Feng Yu cleared his throat and started bragging. No, he started to fool people... But that didn't seem right either.

"In my hometown, there is a kind of fruit that tastes very similar to this fruit, called grapes. That fruit is also very unpalatable, just like this snake fruit. But the difference is that here, the snake fruit is a delicious meal for the beasts, while in our place, grapes are the favorite of the upper class nobles."

Allen smiled and said, "Brother Darren, you are not trying to trick us into eating it, are you? In fact, our herdsmen also eat a few snake fruits when there is no water. This thing is very effective in quenching thirst. We have all eaten it and know its taste, so you don't have to waste your thoughts."

The halflings laughed again.

Feng Yu also smiled and shook his head, saying: "I didn't lie to you. You don't understand its deliciousness because you are not eating it in the right way. This thing should not be eaten directly."

Allen smiled and said, "Could it be cooking? Brother Darren, you have cooking skills that we halflings admire. The cold potato shreds you taught us are really a rare delicacy. But I don't think you can cook delicious food with red apples. The astringent feeling in your mouth can't be removed."

Feng Yu smiled and said, "Fruits are rarely used for cooking, and this thing is the same. Its correct use is to make wine."

"How is that possible? Wouldn't brewing wine be bitter in the mouth?"

"Of course. According to our winemakers, the reason why it tastes astringent is because the peels and seeds contain something called tannin. It is this substance, combined with the sweet and sour pulp, that makes the wine so delicious.

I like to drink that kind of wine. When I was at home, I would drink a small glass every night before going to bed. Drinking that kind of wine with fried meat is a very fashionable and expensive way of eating in our place.

If you don't believe me, you can help me pick some and I will brew that kind of wine. Then I will cook a meal to go with the wine, and I guarantee that you will drink it until your tongue goes into your stomach."

Allen looked at Feng Yu and said, "Really?"

"Really, the wine made from this fruit can produce delicious wines with different tastes, depending on the length of fermentation time and the use of barrels made of different materials such as wooden barrels, metal barrels and ceramic barrels."

Seeing Feng Yu's clear and convincing words, Allen also believed most of them. He mobilized the halflings to help Feng Yu pick more than ten kilograms of snake fruits, then started the car and rushed to the camp.

On the road, Feng Yu and Allen drove side by side. Feng Yu said, "Brother Allen, I saw this yellow land and an idea came to my mind."

Allen was confused and said, "What?"

"Fragrant snow rice!"

Alan was surprised and asked, "Growing cattails here?"

Feng Yu nodded and said, "That's right. This piece of land can retain water because of its soil. We have a steam engine. As long as we add flint, we can continuously pump water. So, why don't we enclose this piece of land near the river, fill it with water, and try to grow cattails?"

Alan's eyes lit up and he said, "Brother Darren, your idea is very bold, but maybe it will work. We can... experiment first, yes, that's what you said, experiment.

In the past, we halflings carried water one spoonful at a time to irrigate the corn, and we would never have dared to think of soaking the land with water to plant cattails. Only you dared to think of it."

Feng Yu glanced at the sparkling Lengshui River in the distance and said, "From now on, halfling brothers will no longer have to carry water to irrigate the fields."

Allen also showed a longing look and said, "Yes, I don't have to carry water anymore."

(End of this chapter)