Chapter 9: The Versatile Soybean
“You mean, you can turn soybeans into another kind of… soft and smooth food that won’t choke you or bloat your stomach?” the village chief asked confusedly.
“Yes.” Chu Jiu nodded firmly.
He finally understood why he felt that Yaris’s statement was so wrong just now.
In Chu Jiu’s previous life, corn and soybeans were very important crops that could be made into various dishes!
For example, soybeans, this native Chinese crop, people not only cook them and eat them, but also grind them into soy milk, make tofu, brew soy sauce, and extract soybean oil…
On top of this, various ways of eating have been derived, such as dried tofu, tofu pudding, fermented soybeans, stinky tofu…
In short, the Chinese people’s dining table cannot be separated from various foods or seasonings made from soybeans.
And Yaris actually said—this broken village “can only” produce corn and soybeans?
Aren’t these two enough?
However, just like Bean Village doesn’t know how to spin cotton, the villagers of Bean Village don’t know that soybeans have many uses.
It’s unknown whether it’s because their technology is very different from that of China, or because they lost their recipes due to the monster invasion a hundred years ago.
Chu Jiu didn’t dwell on the reason.
His current plan is to try to turn these indigestible soybeans into “tofu” that can be eaten by the elderly and children.
If he remembers correctly, one of the most primitive tofu recipes is to add gypsum, which is rich in calcium carbonate, as a “coagulant” to soy milk, so that the protein molecules in the soy milk gather and precipitate, and finally form a gel-like tofu.
And “gypsum” this thing…
Chu Jiu had seen the relevant illustrated card.
One of the collection sites written in the illustration is “the underground mine on the northwest edge of the Forgotten Forest.”
As long as he can collect gypsum, he can soon get fresh and smooth tofu.
Since the people in this world don’t know how to process soybeans and have never seen tofu, this white, soft, smooth, and delicious food will definitely capture a large number of people immediately.
At that time, Bean Village, as the only tofu producing area, is not afraid of merchants not coming to the door?
Of course, Chu Jiu can’t tell the village chief how he knows the tofu recipe; nor can he tell the village chief how popular tofu is in the Chinese world.
After listening to Chu Jiu’s plan, the village chief was silent for a long time.
He really couldn’t imagine how the distinct soybeans could become the soft and smooth “tofu” that the boy said.
But he thought of the boy’s ability-user ability, the delicious screaming mushrooms, the dull-headed fish from Grandma Zhu’s house, and the lamb legs from Cheng Yue’s house…
At this critical moment, perhaps the boy’s method can really bring new life to this village.
Finally, the village chief stood up and said to the boy, “Xiao Jiu, this matter… I’ll leave it to you.”
*
Chu Jiu planned to set off early the next morning.
He didn’t know the exact location of the underground mine. But since the illustration said “the northwest edge of the Forgotten Forest,” it might be possible to find it by walking along the outer edge of the forest to the northwest.
As for how long it would take, Chu Jiu had no idea.
Chu Jiu “discussed” with Little Can, hoping it could stay at the cabin and watch the house.
Unsurprisingly, Little Can waved its paw, its eyes turning into semicircles: Refused! I must go with you!
Helpless, Chu Jiu could only chop some fish meat into small balls, as Little Can’s portable cat food.
The small balls didn’t smell as good as roasted dried fish, hopefully, they wouldn’t attract insects.
He was about to make some dry food for himself when he heard the “ding-a-ling” bell sound coming from outside.
Opening the door to look, the person standing far away under the signpost was actually Grandma Zhu, supported by Aman.
What did this old and young pair want with him?
Chu Jiu quickly walked up to them, and before he could speak, Aman stuffed a basket of steamed buns into his hands:
“Big brother! Grandpa said you’re going to find something called ‘gypsum’.”
“This forest is so big and so dangerous, we don’t know how far you’ll have to go… Grandpa told me to give you these steamed buns to take with you on the road.”
Grandma Zhu then took out a scroll made of animal skin:
“Xiao Jiu, thank you for your hard work…”
“I have a scroll of records… left by my son when he used to go hunting in the forest… maybe it will be of some use…”
Chu Jiu didn’t expect they had come all the way to give him things, and after accepting them, he thanked them several times.
Grandma Zhu shook her head, muttering, “Oh, we should be the ones saying thank you…”, and left tremblingly.
Thus, Chu Jiu’s backpack was filled with [Traveler’s Dry Food X10], which had a poor flavor but was easy to carry, and a scroll of “Hunter’s Notes.”
Chu Jiu spent a few hours learning two very useful recipes from the “Notes”:
[Night Hammock] and [Animal Skin Sleeping Bag].
[Night Hammock: The best bedding for overnight stays in the forest, a great invention from the forest dwellers. No need to worry about ants gnawing on your ears in the middle of the night, no need to worry about wild boars running over your head.
Required materials: Vine X5, Hay X2, Rope X1]
[Animal Skin Sleeping Bag: Extremely warm bedding. Just think, how happy it would be to have a warm sleeping bag to shelter you on a desolate and cold desert night.
Required materials: Animal Skin X5]
Alternating between these two items would be enough to cope with most nights requiring camping.
Chu Jiu went into the forest to cut some vines, and made [Tanned Leather] and [Grass Rope] according to the recipes in the book, finally obtaining the hammock and sleeping bag.
In this way, the necessities for “long-distance exploration” were complete.
*
The next day, just as dawn was breaking, Chu Jiu went out with the sleepy Little Can in his pocket.
The goal of this long journey was no longer to collect all kinds of strange edible and inedible magical creatures, but to find the underground mine as soon as possible and collect “gypsum.”
So Chu Jiu didn’t stop to chop mushrooms and dig up grass roots like he did before.
To save energy, Chu Jiu decided to collect as little as possible by the roadside.
However, when he walked and saw [Treasure Spider Web], [Extremely Fluffy Foxtail Grass], [Red Flowers that Can Be Used as Dye]…, he couldn’t help but collect two of each.
There was no way, it was too tormenting to see good things by his side and not collect them.
As Chu Jiu went north, the system map was gradually being lit up.
By the time he stopped to rest at noon, the map of the Forgotten Forest area had been opened to 15%.
By dusk, the map opening had reached 25%.
Chu Jiu wiped the sweat from his forehead, drank a few mouthfuls of clear water, and fed Little Can a few drops of water, then decided to start looking for a place to spend the night.
He walked a few steps into the forest, originally wanting to see if there were any suitable big trees to hang a hammock, but he inadvertently saw a faint blue glow in the grass ahead.
Looking closer, it was actually a field of “little stars,” shining faintly in the twilight.
Little Can “meowed” and stuck its head out, wanting to pounce on the ground, as if it was very interested in these starlight.
Chu Jiu knew that this was [Fluorescent Grass], a plant that glowed at night, non-toxic, harmless, and non-aggressive.
He didn’t stop Little Can, but gently lifted it onto the soft grass: “Play here for a while, I’ll cut a few bunches of grass to make a lantern.”
“Don’t run around.”
Soon, Chu Jiu harvested [Fluorescent Grass X30].
He tied these grasses and branches together to make a crude [Cold Light Torch].
As soon as he finished making the torch and held it in his hand, the system sounded a pleasant prompt:
[Regional development has increased to 0.3%]
[The host level has increased, now a level 3 pioneer]
[The host has learned the active skill “Camper’s Intuition,” please use it flexibly]
“Camper’s Intuition”?
Chu Jiu clicked on it and smiled:
[Camper’s Intuition: When the host needs to camp in the wild, you can use this skill to find the ‘overnight point’ in the nearby area that is least likely to be attacked by magical creatures or beasts.]
This skill was too timely.
Chu Jiu immediately used it, consuming spirit points.
In an instant, a…
A chubby, round… golden hamster with wings?
A flying hamster?
The little hamster flapped its wings in the air, flying forward through the dense branches, as if to lead Chu Jiu.
Chu Jiu marveled at the novelty of the road signs given by the system, while holding the cold light torch and following the little hamster into the depths of the forest.
And Little Can, which had been put back into his pocket, was also very curious about this flying hamster, and kept reaching out its paws to scratch it.
After walking for about half an hour, the little hamster disappeared.
In front of Chu Jiu was a towering tree—
[Dream Tree: A strange tree unique to the Forgotten Forest.]
[No matter what kind of creature approaches this tree at night, it will feel sleepy.
Some people suspect that this tree can emit a sleep-aiding scent, but unfortunately, no special substances have been extracted from the roots, leaves, or sap. The leaves and branches that have fallen off the trunk also have no sleep-aiding effect.]
Perhaps even magical creatures, after approaching this tree, will forget to attack and just fall asleep.
Chu Jiu ate some dry food and climbed up the tree with his hands and feet.
The crown of this Dream Tree was dense and the branches were thick, making it very stable for hanging a hammock.
Chu Jiu unfolded the hammock and lay down in it.
He adjusted his posture to make sure he didn’t press on Little Can in his chest, then closed his eyes.
The power of the Dream Tree was truly strong.
In less than half a minute, Chu Jiu was already dizzy.
He gently pressed his hand on the warm little ball in front of his chest and said in a daze:
“Don’t be afraid, I’m holding you.”
“You won’t fall…”
Little Can, although also very sleepy, still scratched Chu Jiu’s hand with its little paw angrily:
Hmph, I’m not afraid!
I’m a very powerful kitty, kitties aren’t afraid of heights—wait, I’m not a kitty!
What am I?
…Forget it, I don’t care, I’m so sleepy…
