Rice

Chapter 40: Rice

Zhao Hai felt depressed as he witnessed people eating fried rice for the first time. Although it resembled rice, it had a different appearance. The white and fragrant grains had been transformed into this dish, and it made Zhao Hai feel overwhelmed.

He understood why Merine hadn't made regular rice for him. These people probably didn't know how to cook rice. If this fried rice turned out well, it would definitely not taste delicious. This type of rice was only given to slaves to eat on the continent.

Zhao Hai noticed that the brick stove was already lit but no oil had been added yet. Unable to resist, he immediately walked over. A female slave stopped him and said, "Wait a minute, don't add the oil yet."

Seeing Zhao Hai's expression, the slave thought she had done something wrong and immediately kneeled, saying, "Please punish me, Master."

Zhao Hai quickly regained his senses and shook his head, saying, "I won't punish you. You're right. Listen to me now. Don't add the oil to the pot yet. Use a basin to wash the rice. I think this pot can hold the washed rice. Wash the rice thoroughly and drain the water before pouring it into the pot." As he spoke, Zhao Hai took out a large brass basin.

The female slave didn't understand what Zhao Hai was planning, but she quickly took the brass basin from him and filled it with rice. She washed the rice by the nearby spring, ensuring it was clean, and then poured it into the pot.

Zhao Hai continued, "Place the rice at the bottom of the brass basin. Then, add an equal amount of water to the basin and pour it into the pot." The obedient female slave followed his instructions and poured the water into the pot. Zhao Hai had her pour another bowl of water into the pot and then placed a large brass basin he found in the warehouse on top of the pot. He had the female slave light a fire under the pot.

Zhao Hai wanted to make rice for them, and it was a simple process. Before coming to this world, Zhao Hai had cooked rice many times, so he was familiar with the process. The ratio of rice to water was approximately 1:2, meaning for every kilogram of rice, two kilograms of water were needed. However, with this type of pot, more water was necessary because the pot was directly exposed to the firewood and water. This required a stronger fire, so Zhao Hai added extra water. The rice cooked slowly over a steady fire.

Meg and the others observed Zhao Hai's actions. They had previously seen rice being used as an ingredient in soups or as a vegetable, but they had never seen it cooked as rice before.

In a short time, the fragrance of the rice filled the air. The rice on the road might not have been treated with agricultural chemicals or fertilizers, making it a pure organic food with a unique and pleasant aroma.

The slaves, each with a wooden bowl and a wooden ladle, gathered around the stove. These were their only possessions aside from the pot. Despite their meager possessions, they were happy because they had never owned such things before.

As Zhao Hai watched the rice cook, Merine emerged from the thatched-roofed hut and asked, "Young Master, how do you light the kitchen appliances in this kitchen?"

Zhao Hai was taken aback and followed Merine into the kitchen. He hadn't paid much attention to the appliances before, but now he saw that everything was electric. There was an electric rice cooker, an electric baking pan, an electric pot, and all the appliances required electricity. What surprised him even more was that he couldn't see where the wires were connected. All the wires disappeared into the grass-covered walls, and there was a switch on each appliance.

Despite his surprise, Zhao Hai realized that these appliances could be useful. He explained their usage to Merine, and she quickly learned how to operate them.

Once Merine understood how to use the appliances, Zhao Hai left the kitchen. The aroma of the rice in the pot became even stronger, tempting everyone's senses.

When Zhao Hai emerged from the kitchen, Meg approached him and said, "Young Master, the fragrance is truly captivating. How did you do it?"

Smiling, Zhao Hai replied, "Didn't you see? It's just rice and water. If you add the right amount of water, it becomes fragrant and delicious. It's even better than fried rice. With the addition of fruit oil and vegetables, we can make a satisfying soup. Now they will enjoy it even more."

Merine looked at Zhao Hai with admiration and said, "Young Master, you have great knowledge and skills."

Blushing, Zhao Hai felt a bit embarrassed. He didn't possess exceptional knowledge; it was common knowledge in China. However, in this world, it seemed like a special skill.

Zhao Hai walked over to the pot where the rice was being cooked. Steam billowed out as he used a corn stalk to lift the large brass basin covering the pot. The rich aroma of the rice wafted into the air, causing Zhao Hai to step back involuntarily. The scent was even more fragrant than any rice he had ever eaten on Earth, and his mouth watered uncontrollably.

After the steam dissipated, the true appearance of the rice in the pot was revealed. It wasn't the pure white color that Zhao Hai had imagined; instead, it had a slight yellowish tinge and appeared somewhat greasy. But the aroma was incredibly fragrant.

Unable to resist, Zhao Hai took out a ladle from the warehouse and scooped a spoonful of rice. Before Meg could stop him, he had already put it in his mouth. Meg and the others stared at him in astonishment.

As Zhao Hai chewed the rice, he was met with a delicate fragrance and a soft, delicious texture. It was incredibly satisfying. He couldn't help but close his eyes and savor the taste. When he opened his eyes, he saw the slaves and Meg staring at him. Feeling a bit embarrassed, Zhao Hai said, "Don't just look at me. Enjoy your meal. If you don't like the fried rice you cooked earlier, we can make regular rice instead."

The slaves hesitated for a moment, but seeing Zhao Hai's encouraging smile, they finally moved and followed his instructions. They admired and felt grateful to their Master.

Many of the slaves couldn't hold back their emotions and began to cry. They had never tasted such delicious food in their entire lives, let alone their family members. They were overwhelmed with excitement.