The pastoral life of the grass tribe chief

"Xingzai, Lele, come here and see how amazing your father is. He can build a big kiln in one minute and ten big kilns in ten minutes."

Xu Xu also came over carrying a hoe and shouted at his two sons who were "fighting" with toy guns.

Xu Xing and Xu Le immediately left the "team" and ran over to watch their father show off his skills.

Lu Chang'an and Cai Xiaoliang had seen enough kiln building to be uninterested, so they continued "fighting".

When Lu Yao had built a kiln that was taller than a person, Xu Xu was still struggling on the third floor. The kiln door was also crooked and could collapse at any time.

The two sons squatted down beside me, each holding a toy gun, with distrustful expressions.

Feeling his brother-in-law looking at him, Xu Xu gave an awkward smile.

Lu Yao built two smaller kilns and was about to turn around to see how Xu Xu was doing when a loud crash came from behind him. He knew without looking that Xu Xu's kiln had collapsed.

Xu Xing and Xu Le couldn't stand it anymore, so they pouted and left to find the other brothers to "fight".

"I don't believe in evil spirits."

Xu Xu kicked away the collapsed clods of earth and began to rebuild them again.

Lu Yao gave him a thumbs up.

This spirit of fighting harder after each defeat and becoming more courageous after each setback deserves praise.

Lu Yao used a hoe to spread broken mud on the lower layers of the kiln, sealing the gaps between the clods of earth. This would allow the flames to rise higher when the fire was lit, making it easier to reach the top of the kiln and sealing it up.

Cai Xiaowen and the other girls followed Liu Jing to collect firewood. By the time Lu Yao had finished building the three kilns, they had already collected three large piles.

With so many people present, all three kilns were firing simultaneously.

Lu Yao placed the hoe across the kiln door as a stool, asked Xu Xu for a lighter, put some dry branches and leaves into the kiln, and then lit a handful of thatch.

After the fire is lit, dry branches are added little by little. When the fire is burning brightly, firewood and dry bamboo strips and tubes are added.

A large piece of firewood is placed horizontally a few inches away from the kiln entrance to support the firewood and bamboo inside the kiln, making it easier for the firewood to reach the top of the kiln.

Then, two burning pieces of firewood were moved into the other two kilns, and the fire was easily started.

A group of kids were clamoring to fire the kiln, so Lu Yao had to give way and stand aside to watch, instructing them on how to keep the fire burning, how to make it burn brighter, and when to remove the charcoal and ash from the kiln.

Tsai Hsiao-yen is recording on her phone.

Liu Man is going live!

Lu Yao also posted the recorded videos on Douyin and Kuaishou, which earned him many more followers.

Lu Jiling called and asked Cai Mingchao and Xu Xu to go back and pick them up with the food.

Xu Xu was still struggling with the unfinished kiln, while Liu Jing and Cai Mingchao each drove back.

Soon, Liu Jing and Cai Mingchao returned with people and food.

"Move your things over there."

Lin Xiaoqing called over a group of kids and moved the tables, chairs, and drinks to the open space under the bamboo grove. She also moved the food that would be baked in the kiln to the front of the kiln.

Two large basins were piled high with food.

Ten free-range chickens.

More than ten large ears of corn.

Sweet potatoes and taro of all sizes.

There are also chicken legs, chicken wings, chicken hearts, spare ribs, sausages, chestnuts, shrimp, and so on.

Once the clay blocks in the kiln are heated to a red-hot state, the kiln can be sealed.

Remove the charcoal and straw ash from the kiln, seal the kiln door with large clods of earth, then gently knock the clods of earth from the top of the kiln into the kiln with branches or similar objects, and then push the upper layers of clods of earth into the kiln one by one, laying them on the bottom of the kiln to keep it warm.

The ingredients that take the longest to cook are placed at the bottom, because the bottom of the kiln gets the hottest.

Every time some food is put in, hot clay blocks are pushed into the kiln.

After the food is placed in the ground, use a hoe to break up the hot soil clods and spread loose mud on top until the heat can no longer escape.

Because broken clay was laid in the lower layers when the kiln was built, laying broken clay at this time saved a lot of time.

Provided the kiln is heated to a high temperature, a kiln-roasted chicken can generally be opened after 45 minutes. If it is roasted for too long, there is a concern that the chicken will burn, not to mention other smaller and easier-to-cook foods.

After sealing the kiln, everyone sat in the open space under the bamboo grove, drinking tea and beverages, chatting and scrolling through their phones, waiting for the kiln to be opened.

A group of kids were catching fish and shrimp in the drainage ditch.

Xu Xu finally succeeded in building the kiln, and its small and exquisite shape made it difficult to roast even three large sweet potatoes.

"Uncle, isn't it time yet?"

Xu Le asked every few minutes.

"Not so fast, is Lele hungry?"

Lu Lide smiled.

"I'm starving."

The little kid touched his belly and said in a pretentious manner.

Everyone was amused.

The little kid smiled sheepishly.

With Xu Le's persistent questioning, 45 minutes finally passed.

Three kilns were opened simultaneously.

"Wow, it smells so good."

After removing the mud, a rich aroma of various meats mixed with the natural scent of earth filled the air.

Even before they saw the cooked food, many of the little kids were already drooling.

There are also rules for opening a kiln. You have to dig slowly from the outside in, not from the top down, otherwise you might accidentally dig up food.

Food mixed with mud smells delicious, but I doubt anyone would want to eat it.

When you dig up a red clod of earth, it means you're about to find food, so you need to dig carefully.

Those who opened the kiln were all experienced, and the food inside was quickly emptied.

"I want to eat a chicken leg."

"I want to eat corn."

"I want to eat sweet potatoes."

"I want to eat taro."

……

A group of little kids surrounded the table, reaching out to grab the food.

"Be careful not to burn your hands, I'll get it for you."

"Let your grandparents (maternal grandparents) listen first."

"We eat this all the time, it doesn't matter, let the kids eat first."

Lu Jiling, Lin Xiaoqing, and Wang Juan tore the tin foil while pushing away the outstretched hands.

"You guys eat first, don't wait for me."

Lu Yao took four kiln-roasted chickens and a few sweet potatoes, packed them in a cardboard box, and drove them back to the village to distribute to his grandparents, his eldest uncle's family, his fourth uncle's family, and Lu Jiming's parents.

My second uncle and my younger uncle's families haven't returned yet.

"Uncle Ren, Aunt Ren."

When Lu Yao arrived at Lu Jiming's house, the two elders were eating poached egg noodle soup.

"You kiln-roasted chickens."

As soon as Lu Yao pushed open the door, Lü Guihua smelled the unique aroma of the kiln-roasted chicken.

"Renbo likes roasted sweet potatoes, so I took a few."

Lu Yao took out a few tissues and placed them on the coffee table, then put the sweet potatoes and roasted chicken on top.

"There aren't enough for all of you, so how come you have extra to give us?"

Lu Liren said.

"There's plenty more; we can't finish it all."

Lu Yao helped tear off the tin foil.

Lü Guihua went to the kitchen to get an aluminum basin for holding vegetables.

After tearing off the tin foil, Lu Yao went to the refrigerator to get disposable gloves, put them on, and tore the kiln-roasted chicken into pieces and put them into the aluminum basin.

"You bastard, I don't roast chickens when I'm home, but I roast chickens every day when I'm not home."

Suddenly, Lu Jiming's cursing voice came from the room.

"Tch, when have you been back home? You haven't seen a soul in ages."

Lu Yao was still tearing apart the chicken.

A camera was installed above the TV in the living room.

Modern cameras are becoming increasingly advanced, enabling not only remote conversations but also video calls.

"If you don't roast chicken for me when I go back on the second day of the Lunar New Year, I'll teach you a lesson."

Lu Jiming threatened.

He and his family of three will spend the Lunar New Year at his mother-in-law's house this year, and will not return until the second day of the Lunar New Year.

"I'm so scared."

"Uncle Ren, Aunt Ren, please eat while it's hot. I'll head back now."

Lu Yao tore the chicken apart, threw his disposable gloves into the trash can, said goodbye to Lu Liren and his wife Lü Guihua, and then walked out.

"I'll send out two crispy grass carp this afternoon."

Lu Jiming's shout came from behind.

"Come back and fish for it yourself if you want to eat."

Lu Yao replied without turning his head.

Behind him came Lu Jiming's cursing and stomping.