OFTLHFRO C154

Chapter 154: Under the Grape Vines – You, Me, and Him

Glass and liuli differ by one character in name, yet the difference is significant.

To be precise, making liuli is more difficult.

Anciently, liuli was made from by-products of bronze casting, refined and processed under high temperature.

Why could ancient craftsmen produce complex liuli but not simpler glass?

Because ancient technology couldn’t separate impurities well.

Liuli is a type of glass, but glass’s composition is simpler.

Two identical pieces of glass may exist, but two identical liuli never will.

However, not being able to make glass wasn’t absolute.

It was simply never thought of before, like how daily horseback riders couldn’t imagine cars or spaceships.

Luo Mingchen wrote down the basic ingredients for glass making and gave them to Huo Yan for professional study, along with a small mirror as a sample.

This would take years, maybe even a decade.

Xiao Lin bought many medicinal herbs from Yancheng. Luo Mingchen was busy planting herbs daily. When free, Huo Yan would help him in the space.

Half a month later, Wolf King’s Fort sent gifts in gratitude.

Seeing these, Luo Mingchen fell into thought and sincerely asked, “Wolf King’s Fort… how many gold mines do you have?”

The leader smiled and asked, “Are you satisfied, Lord?”

Luo Mingchen asked, “Did they really send us these carts and horses?”

“Indeed.”

“…Very satisfied.”

Afterward, Luo Mingchen had them rest and went to inspect the more than twenty golden carts.

Using golden carts to transport looms and spinning wheels was a lavish display that surprised Luo Mingchen.

The carts were adorned with many jewels, prominently shining and captivating.

The horses were fine sweatblood breeds.

Given both carts and horses, how could Luo Mingchen be anything but pleased?

In times of shortage, he felt like kneeling before Lan Yiheng and Zhu Ruo.

In the afternoon, Luo Mingchen specially moved some fruits and vegetables from the space to give them as return gifts and to let them taste, so selling produce in future would be easier.

With looms and spinning wheels, only the cotton harvest awaited.

Earlier, Luo Mingchen planned to plant fresh ginseng and lingzhi for sale, paying little attention to age.

Later he found that if continually grown, the age could be tracked separately, while other crops would stay mature.

Quite magical and intelligent.

With so many questions about the space, and only the area increasing without other changes, Luo Mingchen stopped worrying.

July was hot. The first cotton had matured; deep purple grapes hung thick over the trellis, nearby acres of watermelons.

Luo Mingchen sat under the grapevines, comfortably half-reclined in a chair, his three children half-reclining with him, all crossing legs, wiggling toes, clutching washed grape bunches, eating heartily, with grape skins littered below.

A shadow fell over him. Luo Mingchen looked up. Huo Xinyue spoke first, “Little Daddy! Eat fruit!”

The brothers shouted, “Daddy!”

Luo Mingchen lazily glanced right. “I saved you a spot. Sit down.”

Huo Yan plucked several grapes from his hand, picked up the wooden basin on the chair, sat, ate two grapes, and said, “The caravan will arrive in a couple of days.”

“That’s good!”

Their crops were finally sellable.

“I asked Wolf King’s Fort for some clothes. When watermelons ripen, they’ll be sent to Northern Yue.”

Huo Yan took more grapes from Luo Mingchen’s hand.

Seeing several grapes gone, Luo Mingchen clicked his tongue. “Don’t you have a big basin in your arms?”

Huo Yan justified, “Yours are sweeter.”

Hearing this, Luo Mingchen tapped his arm. “How can they be sweeter? They’re from the same vine.”

Huo Xiang eyed Luo Mingchen’s grapes, wondering if they were truly sweeter and whether she should swap and try some.

Huo Yuhui caught her playful thought and stopped her, selecting several large grapes from his bunch. “Here, try these.”

Huo Xiang quickly looked away, smiling brightly. “Brother’s the best.”

Young Huo Xinyue ate slowly, not picky about grape size or sweetness, peeling grape skins diligently without wanting help, convinced her hand-peeling made them sweetest.

Soon most grapes in Luo Mingchen’s hand were snatched away, so he took another bunch from the basin for Huo Yan, who peeled and handed one each for Luo Mingchen.

Watching those elegant hands tirelessly peel grapes, Luo Mingchen smiled, “Peel them nicely, okay? I won’t eat bumpy ones.”

Huo Yan glanced at him and agreed.

His hands were indeed beautiful—long fingers, even flesh and bone, though a bit rough, with calluses on his palms.

Carefully observing, Luo Mingchen leaned forward to eat a peeled grape. “Say, a watermelon at ten taels of gold—would Northern Yue people think we’re crazy?”

“Not really. Prices are set by people. The higher the price, the rarer it seems. Besides, we’re just quick money; once the deal finishes, they won’t find us.”

Huo Yan peeled another grape and fed it to Luo Mingchen.

Luo Mingchen ate contentedly, smiling, “So this is how it feels to be fed grapes. Pretty nice.”

Huo Yan smiled quietly, even gently wiping juice from Luo Mingchen’s lips.

The tender gesture made Luo Mingchen shudder, feeling trouble awaited.

After a rest, the couple took scissors to cut grape bunches—the fruit wine still had to be made.

If not for bayberries not growing in the north, Luo Mingchen had thought to have Huo Yan brew bayberry wine too.

They cut several baskets of grapes; most for wine, the rest for jam.

A cold summer’s day with a glass of chilled yogurt drizzled with tart-sweet jam—one sip was refreshing!

Jam in slush was good too, though hand-crushing ice was laborious.

Recently Luo Mingchen found a new use for Liu Changlian.

His internal strength was strong; one palm could crush ice into slush without smashing the basin.

Luo Mingchen wanted to open a cold-drinks shop with Liu Changlian—it would surely thrive.

At night, just as Luo Mingchen was about to wash up and sleep, Huo Yan pulled him into a bath.

Luo Mingchen tried to reason, “Big Brother! Bathing in summer, you’re crazy?”

Huo Yan said flatly, “It’s a warm bath.”

Ah…

Luo Mingchen twitched his mouth, knowing resistance was futile, handed him a scrub towel, and resignedly said, “Scrub my back.”

Huo Yan smiled, agreeing.

Bathing meant scrubbing everywhere—up, down, inside, outside…