Sisters in the Deep Forest Valley: Many Fun Things

Chapter 181 Black Coal Balls

Are these spiky balls meant to be used in an idol drama with the two of them?

Lin Chunyi squinted at her younger sister: This is a coincidence, isn't it? She couldn't have done it on purpose, could she? It wasn't intentional revenge, was it?

Lin Lanshan's eyes slightly darted away from her sister's probing, dangerous gaze:

She wouldn't think I was deliberately getting revenge, would she? It's absurd, but it really is just a coincidence! It's such a coincidence that even ten mouths couldn't explain it…

So neither of them spoke.

He just silently moved his chair further and further away...

The two sisters were about the same distance apart, one near the main gate and the other near the inner courtyard gate.

They quieted down, stopped playing around, and immediately doubled their work speed.

Many of the chestnuts in the two baskets, which had been exposed to the sun, had already cracked open. The remaining, stubbornly resisting cracking, were chopped off one by one.

In less than the time it takes for two incense sticks to burn, they had come to a realization.

Next, the spiky shells and chestnuts were separated and placed into separate bamboo baskets. The two sisters each carried a basket that was more than half full of spiky shells and went out to the location of the oven.

Lin Lanshan rubbed her fingers, which had been pricked several times, and felt a little pain.

She frowned and said, "Sister, let's make a small batch first to test the heat and time. The shell is too thin; if the temperature gets even slightly higher, we definitely won't be able to see any ash."

If it all burns out, not only will today's work be wasted, but my hands will also hurt for nothing, which would be a huge loss!

As he spoke, he put half a shovelful of burrs into the oven.

Lin Chunyi then used stones to block the stove opening and bamboo tubes to plug both ears.

She glanced up at the sky, which was beginning to glow orange, and casually remarked, "The colder the weather, the earlier the sun sets. Let's go, Lanshan, let's go back and thoroughly clean up those empty vegetable patches so we can plant lots of vegetables next year!"

The two moved very quickly, hurried home, picked up their hoes, and went to the outer yard.

Lin Lanshan arrived at the empty watermelon patch and skillfully swung her hoe, embedding it deep into the dry, hardened soil.

Then he turned to her and said, "Sis, let's clear out a patch of land and sow some lettuce seeds. How can we have barbecue without lettuce!"

Work can be done however you like, however much you want. But when it comes to food! Lin Lanshan is never ambiguous.

Lin Chunyi stood in the pumpkin patch beside her, where the vines and leaves had already withered. She had just picked up her hoe when she put it down, and after a moment of contemplation, she said:

"I forgot to plant some lettuce earlier. Should I plant it now? The weather is getting colder and colder, I'm afraid lettuce won't survive."

Lettuce seeds can't be saved; the amount used is the amount lost. She would be heartbroken if too many seeds froze to death!

"We don't need much, just a little bit will do. We'll transplant them once they sprout, and keep them indoors to keep them warm at night when it gets cold, no problem."

"Indoor planting! I've been out of school for so long, I've forgotten. Let me think... Let's go down the mountain in a few days and order a few more long wooden boxes, and sprout some bean sprouts while we're at it. There are so few leafy greens to eat in winter."

"Okay! Lettuce wraps for roast meat! Here I come, hahaha!" Lin Lanshan swung the hoe faster and faster, full of energy.

Lin Chunyi shook her head, chuckled softly, and continued turning the soil.

She used all her strength to strike with her hoe, turning over large clods of earth and leaving a large pit.

Then break up the clods of soil, fill them back into the pit, and loosen them again.

After exchanging and mixing the topsoil and deep soil, sprinkle some wood ash on top.

Turning the soil deeply before it freezes loosens it, improving its water and fertilizer retention capacity, and also helps prevent pests.

If we plant new vegetables next year, they will grow even better.

The two worked diligently, and after some time, Lin Lanshan put down her hoe and went to check on the burrs in the oven.

Unsurprisingly, the first batch only contained a pile of white and black ash, without even a trace of charcoal.

Relight the fire, then put half a shovelful in again... The second time, make the fire smaller and cook for a shorter time.

It's about time, so it's Lin Chunyi's turn to go and check.

Fortunately, they had quite a bit of experience in making charcoal, and they succeeded on the second try, so they didn't have to waste the remaining burrs.

Lin Chunyi gently scraped out a pile of black charcoal with a shovel.

Wild chestnuts are small, and when they are burned into charcoal, almost all of their sharp thorns are burned away, leaving only a few rough bumps, turning them into hollow, hemispherical black charcoal.

Just like the little soot sprites in Spirited Away.

She instantly thought of the cartoon, "It's so tiny, and kind of cute." She chuckled to herself, then crushed one in her hand.

Now that we've determined the temperature and time to burn them into charcoal, the next step is to put as much as possible into the furnace and burn a large quantity.

Once the stove was lit, Lin Chunyi happily ran home, carrying a bamboo basket containing only a few pieces of chestnut charcoal. She planned to tell her younger sister the good news.

When she reached the stream, she suddenly raised her right hand and exclaimed, "Wow, it's so dirty! My hands are covered in black ash!"

I just kneaded some charcoal.

I need to wash them first, so I don't get them dirty... Wait!

Lin Chunyi suddenly thought of something, gave a lewd smile, gave up on cleaning, and turned around to go straight home.

"Lanshan, look! The chestnut charcoal is done!" she shouted before even stepping inside.

"It's done?" Lin Lanshan dropped her hoe and ran over excitedly to see.

"Let me see... Wow, it's so small, like a little lump of coal. And it looks so fragile, it'll probably crumble if you squeeze it. Perfect, we don't even need to break it up. Sis, let's use this when we're grilling."

"Ah? Okay~" Lin Chunyi readily agreed.

She was still thinking about what she was holding, and quietly, slowly, she approached her unresponsive sister.

How can I prevent her from noticing?

I've got it! Hehe!

Lin Chunyi said in a serious tone, "Lanshan, why did you throw dirt on your face? Your face is all dirty now."

Lin Lanshan subconsciously reached up and wiped her cheek. "Really? I didn't even notice. It was probably blown up by the wind just now. Is it still there now?"

If there are no opportunities, create them.

So here comes the opportunity!

Lin Chunyi suppressed a laugh and said, "It's under your eyes. Close your eyes and I'll wipe it for you."

"It's alright, it's alright. I'll go back and wash up after I finish tilling the land," Lin Lanshan said nonchalantly, waving her hand.

"There's still dirt on it. Be careful not to blow it into your eyes, it'll hurt. Let me wipe it off for you first."

"Oh, okay!"

Lin Chunyi so openly, easily, and blatantly... rubbed her hands until they were black and raw.

Then he stepped forward, cupped his sister's cheeks, and rubbed them back and forth several times.

"Do I have that much dust on my face?" Lin Lanshan couldn't help but twitch her eyelashes, trying to open her eyes.

She quickly put her hands behind her back. "There were quite a few. Okay, it's all clean now! You can open your eyes."

"Oh? Okay, thanks sis!" Lin Lanshan smiled brightly at her sister, despite the several long black marks on her cheeks.

Bah!

What a huge black coal monster!

Hahahaha~