SC1 2.4 – The Most Delicious Steamed Bun
From Butcher Jin’s shop I went straight to Sotora, the only general store in Rokube. The only time the Unfortunate Sanno had entered Sotora was when he was seven-year-old. At that time, Kazuyori brought him to buy school supply and garment for Manno’s uniform.
In this single shopping, Kazuyori spent almost a thousand monn. It was equivalent to a good harvest from Tadaoka’s rice field, but the Unfortunate Sanno believed it was a good spending. He believed it worth every cent as long as Tadaoka Household could have an honored government official in the future.
Only after his death the Unfortunate Sanno regretted his believe. To be precise, he couldn’t accept that he had to leaved Yunno and Yui with nothing but unfair treatment from Kazuyori. Therefore, as soon as I entered Sotora his wishes to buy Yunno and Yui decent clothes and lot of other things after Manno graduated suddenly resurfaced into my mind like a firework. Well, I couldn’t full fill his wish in one go, but at least I would not wait until Manno graduated.
Then, a junior shop attendant welcomed me. She put a big smile on her face even though I looked very suspicious to the teeth.
“Venerable Guest, what can this attendant do for you?”
After altering my vocal cord to produce a voice of an old man I asked, “What is your name?”
“This attendant is Minami.”
“You can call me Deitoro,” I casually introduced myself. “Please show me the toothbrush this store has.”
“Please follow me, Ser Deitoro.”
After a small nod I followed Minako. In general, other than some additional sections and merchandises, Sotora still retained its old layout, a neatly row of shelves full of merchandise, divided in a few sections. It was pretty similar with general store in earth. It just that the merchandise didn’t had price tag. The price list was written in a black board and was hung above the shelf.
As soon as we arrived at the personal hygiene section, Minami led me into shelf where the row of toothbrush was neatly placed.
“Ser Deitoro, this is our collection of toothbrush. The one in the middle section is the best product we have.”
“I see.”
I immediately took a toothbrush from middle section and made a quick check. The handle was made of black oak and as soon as I touched it, I could tell it was made by excellent craftsman. As for the brushes, it was made of wild boar hair. I didn’t recognize the technique they used to process the wild boar’s hair, but the result was as good as toothbrush from earth.
Wasting no time I took one toothbrush for adult and two toothbrushes for children. Minako immediately took a small basket made of bamboo from a corner, and put the three toothbrushes I picked into it.
After that I took a bar of perfumless body soap and a box of toothpaste. The two were the cheapest product of its kind, but for now it would be sufficient.
“Is Ser Deitoro also wants to check the hair shampoo we have?”
“No,” I calmly replied.
The toothbrush, body soap, and toothpaste had already cost me 25 monn or around three plump pheasants. For now, I couldn’t afford to buy luxury goods. This was also the reason why I planned to make my own personal hygiene supply in the future.
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“But I need writing supply,” I calmly said.
After a big smile Minami said, “Please follow me,”
After checking and comparing some products, I took three pencils, two erasers, two 40 cm wooden rulers, and three small folded tables. All of those cost me 90 monn. I knew that in Planet Erra personal hygiene supply and writing supply were very expensive.
However, after living in earth for 40 years, I couldn’t help but heaving a deep sighs when I had to spend so much money for it. People in earth were so fortunate. Their civilization had advance beyond most planets in the universe.
After that I asked Minami to take me to kitchen utensil section. Over there, the first thing I took was a 3-liter hot pot. It was ordinary brown hot pot made of clay, but it had a dome-shaped lid and steamer, so I could also use it as steamer.
Then, I took a clay stove, a hundred sheet of oiled paper, six 60x40 cm bamboo strainers, wooden colander, wooden basin, wooden ladle, three big bamboo baskets, two small bamboo basket, three wooden bowls and spoons, two 60x60x5 cm chopping board, kitchen knife, a jar of pickled-napa cabbage, a jar of pickled-bamboo shoot, an egg basket, 40 liter water jar, and 2 kg sea salt.
Then, I made a quick check on the availability and price of spice and seasoning before going to the cashier to clear the bill, and then Minami walked me to the exit with big smile. All this time, I clearly saw that despite her young age, maybe around 12-year-old, Minami’s disposition was much more mature than the other senior attendants in Sotora.
She must be not ordinary shop attendant, but I didn’t think about it too deep and focused my attention on the errand I had to complete.
I still had 30 monn and 80 cent, so I went to buy steamed bun. It was 20 cent a piece for plain steamed bun and 40 cent a piece for sweet red bean steamed bun. I bought 15 pieces of each type. I also bought 10 kg purple yam for 6 monn. Then, I went into an empty alley, changed into Peregrine Owl and returned to the hut.
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After checking that Yunno and Yui were still deep in breathing exercise, I immediately boiled all pigeon eggs I have. I did it around forty meters from the hut to ensure the smoke didn’t enter the hut and left a trace on Yunno and Yui. I made this precaution because Kazuyori would accuse us roasting some of the harvest if she smelled smoke on us. As for me, I used Shadow Hand to ensure the smoke didn’t touch my clothes.
It took nine minutes to make perfect hard boiled pigeon eggs. After chilling the eggs in cold water, I cleaned the stove and the pot, and then returned to the hut.
Without making a sound, I put everything I bought in Sotora in a corner. As for the purple yam, I put it in one of the bamboo baskets, while the boiled pigeon eggs I put them in the egg basket. I also filled the 40 liters water jar to the brim. As for the steamed bun, I only took out three pieces of plain steamed bun and wrapped it in oiled paper, and kept the rest in my spatial storage.
After that, I leaned my back on the hut’s wall and straightening my legs. A minute later, as I looked at Yunno and Yui, I used Shadow Hand to gently close their essence circuit. Slowly but surely, the two then woke up.
“How is it?” I calmly asked.
“It was like a dream. Yunno played with a cheerful baby blue dragon in a big and clear pool. It was very fun.”
“Yui also played with a cheerful baby blue dragon in a big and clear pool.”
“How is your body now?”
“Yunno doesn’t tire anymore.”
“Yui also doesn’t tire anymore.”
I smiled and nodded. “If you keep continuing the breathing exercise, the pool and the blue dragon will grow larger. It’s also a sign that your body becomes stronger.”
“Really?” Yui happily asked.
“Really.”
At the same time, Yunno curiously looked at the pile of goods in the corner. As she tilted her head she asked, “Big Bro Sanno, whose goods are these?”
“A warrior named Deitoro lends it to us.”
In an instant question mark appeared in Yunno’s forehead, “A warrior lends it to us?”
“Yeah, he came when you were still deep in the breathing exercise.” I calmly explained. “He very strong and he control a very good hunting ground. He offered me to hunt in his hunting ground, if we help him with a few jobs. These goods are for those jobs.”
After nodding her head Yunno firmly said, “Yunno will help.”
“Yui will also help,” Yui firmly added.
“I know you will help me,” I happily said. “But we have to keep it as a secret from people in home or anyone else.”
“Why we have to keep it as secret?” Yunno asked as she gave me curious gaze.
“I don’t know. Warrior Deitoro didn’t tell me the reason, but as long as we can get more harvest, I think it’s not a problem.”
Maybe because the two had deep trust on me, they didn’t ask further and just nodded their head. I then took the steamed bun I wrapped in oiled paper.
“Warrior Deitoro also give us these steamed buns. Let’s eat it.”
“Can we really eat it?” Yui looked at steamed bun in my hand with big eyes, but her tone clearly showed she hesitated. “Don’t we have to bring it home and let the other to take their share first?”
“Nope,” After inwardly letting out a sigh for Yui’s overly naïve disposition I gently said, “Yui, remember, we can’t tell anyone about Warrior Deitoro, or foods and job he gives us. We can’t make Warrior Deitoro angry and forbid us from hunting in his hunting ground.”
“Okay.”
Yui obediently nodded and I immediately give her and Yunno one steamed bun each. After cheerfully looked at their steamed bun, Yunno and Yui took a bite. A moment later, a big smile bloomed in their face as they chew the steamed bun.
“Is the steamed bun very delicious?” I curiously asked.
“Mhm,” Yunno firmly nodded. “It’s very delicious.”
“Yeah, it’s very delicious,” Yui happily added. “Warrior Deitoro must be very kind or he won’t give us such delicious steamed bun.”
After hearing their answer, I couldn’t help but inwardly took another sigh. What I gave them was only plain steamed bun, but Yunno and Yui enjoyed as if it was the most delicious bun in the world. Wasting no time, I split my steamed bun into two pieces.
“Here,” I said as I gave my steamed bun to Yunno and Yui. “You are in growing period. You will need more food intake than me.”
“But it is Big Brother Sanno’s share,” Yunno said.
“I’m not hungry. Help me to eat it or I will have to throw it away.”
“Okay.”
Yunno obediently replied before taking the half-steamed bun in my right hand. Then, Yui followed her by taking the half-steamed bun in my left hand. After that, they enjoyed it heartily while I took a silent oath. Under my watch, they would never suffer the lack of food anymore.
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