Mountains and giant beasts, cabins in the woods

Liu Xingmo was dragged along by Liu Sanniang and read for two hours.

In the end, Liu San Niang reluctantly accepted the cooperation plan for the cold drinks.

When Liu Xingmo returned home, it was already noon, and Su Mali was starting a fire to cook.

Given the heavy workload, the diet was heavily oily and salty. Fried fish chunks, stir-fried sparrows, twice-cooked pork…

The kitchen in the attic is divided into two parts: one side has a stove and sink for cooking, and the other side is a dining room.

A mahogany square table sat in the dining room, right next to a large window. A refreshing breeze blew in from outside, washing away the greasy smell.

Sumali brought over a bowl of amaranth and egg drop soup and placed it on the table, the fresh aroma of wild vegetables filling the air.

Liu Xingmo reached out, picked up a sparrow's leg, and took a bite of the meat.

The bird skin was fried until crispy, and the bird meat was juicy. One leg was quickly finished.

"Mary, the White Horse Caravan arrived this morning, and I gave them a sales quota of 50 bottles of Blood Qi Potion."

"How are their goods? Can we ask them to purchase and transport the raw materials?"

"They're a large merchant caravan, and I heard the captain is a fourth-tier expert, so they're definitely not having any problems with that," Liu Xingmo said, sipping a bowl of soup. "It's just that the cooperation is a bit troublesome; we also have to help complete some designated tasks, like weapon crafting and pill refining."

"Currently, I've converted three types of pills into alchemical potions; the others are still under research. You handle the transaction."

"Okay." Liu Xingmo finished his soup and then ate the fish and meat.

Half of the dishes on the table were quickly devoured.

Liu Xingmo stuck out his tongue, feeling that he had eaten too much meat and his mouth was too oily.

He took a fist-sized cherry from the bamboo basket and took a bite. His tongue savored the thin, soft skin and sweet flesh, the juice flowing down his palm and onto his arm.

He wiped himself with a towel, then ate three cherries in one go.

My stomach still doesn't feel full, so let's keep eating...

The meal took about half an hour, after which Liu Xingmo returned to his bedroom for a nap.

Outside the window, white clouds drift across the blue sky, and green mountains nestle around the village. Soft sunlight illuminates the tranquil town, and time seems to freeze into a painting within the window frame.

Above, the beams supporting the roof crisscrossed in layers. A sliver of golden light shone through the skylight, and the newly harvested wood this year emitted a faint scent of pine.

"Clang, clang..."

The seashell wind chime swayed in the wind.

Liu Xingmo closed his eyes and quickly drifted off to sleep.

After a 30-minute nap to aid digestion, I got up to do my afternoon work.

Descend the stone steps, leaving the bright attic. Use the key to open the steel door and enter the dimly lit workshop.

The security measures in this area are extremely tight.

What if an old man or woman climbs in and steals a piece of iron? What if a child throws stones at the window from outside? There are too many "what ifs" that could lead to tragedy.

Liu Xingmo carried the spirit stone lamp and inspected the potion production line to ensure that the machinery was in good working order.

Incidentally, he opened a small window on the outer wall—a round hole no bigger than a head, passing through a meter-thick granite concrete wall, which was usually sealed with an iron plate.

Countless small windows were opened, allowing the stuffy air in the workshop to circulate and making it less gloomy.

Liu Xingmo changed into his work clothes and went to the raw materials room.

Sumali was also there, using a guillotine to cut grass branches and leaves into thin strips.

"I'll do it!" Liu Xingmo took over the physical work.

Sumari walked to the other side of the pool, soaked the shredded herbs in a special potion, and then scooped them into a large vat.

After working for half a day, I started the machine.

The coal glowed red-hot in the furnace, and the water boiled and churned in the cylinder. High-pressure steam drove the machinery, and the exhaust pipe hissed and crackled.

……

On the other side of the farm, Liu San Niang was climbing a ladder, shaking a ladle, and boiling chestnuts in an extra-large iron pot.

She saw a wisp of black smoke in the distance, billowing from a slender, mushroom-shaped chimney, gradually disappearing into the blue sky.

"Are those two brewing poison again? Look at all that black smoke, it's terrifying..."

"Awooo..." A mournful wolf howl rang out from the side.

"What? You think eating chestnuts is beneath you? A strange beast like you won't starve if you skip a few meals of meat."

"Awooo..." "Snoring..." "Woof woof!" The mournful howls filled the air.

"Stop yelling! You're barking like a dog!"

……

sunset.

The black smoke from the mushroom-shaped chimneys disappeared into the crimson sunset.

In the dimly lit workshop, Liu Xingmo put down the shovel, waited for the flames to go out, and then shut off the valves one by one.

He used the dusty towel on his neck to wipe the sweat from his head, making his face even more smeared.

He walked into another room where there were 10 large glass jars on the table, two of which were still steaming.

Sumali wiped her face and said, "This is what I've gained today."

"Not bad! You've produced so many." Liu Xingmo inspected the machines in the room. "After four hours of continuous production, which machines are close to reaching their critical values?"

"The cylinders reinforced with alchemy techniques are fine, but some valves in the pipes are loose." Sumali took out a form with many crosses marked on it.

Liu Xingmo took it and examined it: "Is it caused by thermal expansion and contraction? Is the thermal expansion and contraction effect significant in steel forged through alchemy?"

"This issue was considered from the beginning of the design..." Sumali stretched out her index finger and rubbed her temples. "I think the reason is still too high pressure. Maybe increasing the size of the parts can solve the problem."

"Then I'll order another batch of equipment tomorrow."

Next, the two inspected and cleaned the entire production line, working late into the night.

Dinner was rather casual.

When you are overly tired, you don't have much of an appetite.

Liu Xingmo carried five bottles of fruit wine and a piece of cured meat, and walked through the night to Liu San Niang's farm.

In the darkness, six lantern-sized, emerald-green eyes lit up.

The three gray wolves, upon recognizing the newcomers, immediately stuck out their tongues and began panting.

Liu Xingmo threw out the cured meat.

"Awooo! Awooo! Awooo!" The sounds of fighting rang out.

The victorious gray wolf, the second-tier leader, crouched low and brought its face close to the little man before it.

Liu Xingmo put down the five bottles of wine and stepped aside.

Immediately afterwards, a breath of cold air came out from the wolf's mouth, and the ground immediately formed a layer of white frost, with the sound of fine ice cracking.

"It's ready!"

Liu Xingmo picked up the five bottles of wine and nodded in satisfaction.

Back in the dining room of his own attic, he placed a bottle of wine, its surface shrouded in cold mist, on the table.

Liu Xingmo picked up a bottle, bit off the cork with his teeth, and eagerly poured it down his throat.

The cool liquid washes over the tongue, tiny bubbles exploding on the soft mucous membrane. The sweetness of the fruit, mingled with the slight bitterness of the alcohol, is amplified by the coolness, instantly clearing the drowsy mind, as if finding an oasis in the desert.

"Ah—!" Liu Xingmo sighed deeply, "I'm alive!"

Sumali used a bottle opener to remove the cork and took quick sips, soon finishing the whole bottle.