The transparent glass was filled with a dark brown liquid. Its color was similar to that of ale brewed from burnt oats, and its smell was extremely unique.
But the cup was still full of strange things. Rurik was very interested in it, and his female relatives expressed doubts.
"Is it the sweet and sour wine made by people from the east?" Otto asked casually.
"It was made by Peravina." Aslaki personally helped up the pottery jar and asked Otto if he wanted to taste it.
"Novgorod people can brew this kind of strange wine. It's good. Compared with bitter wine, this sweet and sour wine is also good."
Rurik was a little surprised when he heard that the kvass he was surprised by was not a rare thing in old Otto's place.
Thinking about it again, it is not surprising that Otto frequently visited Novgorod in the past and knew and drank kvass.
In fact, the idea of adding oat flour to wheat flour has been around since ancient times. In this era of rough agriculture, it was almost inevitable to mix the two types of wheat. It is common for people to pursue delicious food, and it is rich in nutrients.
Combining the sticky wheat flour with the lack of sticky oat flour, the baked bread is a beneficial compromise. Even if the wheat flour is in the minority, the oat flour in the majority can appear in the shape of the bread.
This kind of bread can be hard, even if it is eaten like chewing wood, its extremely shelf-stable and edible characteristics make it a perfect convenience food in this era.
As for it being made into kvass after being left out for too long...
This was a good idea of the East Slavs. Perhaps after they knew how to make bread, the technology of kvass was also invented. In comparison, the Rus and other Viking tribes have been fishermen and planters since ancient times.
Oats only happened in the past few hundred years. And the Russians, who have never left the fjords, are simply unable to grow them. It is only in the past five years that a large number of professional farmers have begun to appear in the Russians.
Otto drank it deliciously, and Rurik tasted it carefully.
At this time, Aslaki's carefully baked bread was cut into dense slices and shared with everyone sitting around the long table, especially the girls.
Slices of bread were placed on the glass dinner plate. Rurik, who had already eaten a bowl of noodles, didn't mind having more bread.
He smelled the rich aroma of wheat, and under the matrix of oil lamps, the slices of bread were almost pure white, fluffy and porous, which really made him feel that time was a little bit out of place again.
"Did you bake this?" Rurik raised his head again and looked at Aslaqi.
"Yeah. I've always been good at this."
"Eh? Why didn't I know this in Gotland? Is this your secret?"
Aslaqi smiled, she actually wanted to say a lot.
Otto was not surprised. This old guy was very excited after drinking some wine. He really fell in love with this wonderful way of eating lo mein for many days in a row. He also had some unique oriental drinks and interesting slices of bread.
, life is full of joy.
But this piece of bread directly refreshed his understanding of bread.
A large piece of bread was as soft as lamb's fur. It had a rich wheat aroma and an indescribable burnt and sweet feeling. An extremely powerful desire to eat took over the mind.
He opened his mouth wide and stuffed the soft bread into his mouth in just two clicks, then chewed it deliciously, and a sweet feeling suddenly filled his entire mouth.
Otto swallowed it, patted his chest vigorously and drank the remaining half cup of kvass, letting out a sour and refreshing burp.
He pointed with his big hand: "Aslaqi, you! Did you use honey water?"
"It's honey." She answered calmly.
"Are you really willing to give it up?!"
"In order to let the Duke eat well, I am willing to do it."
These were flattering words, Otto laughed happily, and Rurik naturally heard the deep meaning.
At this moment, Arik became an outsider. He was fully aware of his wife's intentions, but he didn't know how to join them. The scene was really embarrassing for a grown man standing here. Rurik felt really sorry to see it, so he simply left his seat, even if it was crowded.
I also had to drag my cousin to the dining table.
Before, this was very normal.
But Old Otto had already completed the upbringing of Arik based on tradition. His nephew had already started a family and was already a hero of the duchy. While he was on his own, he came to the ducal family as a guest. Also because of his status.
Faced with the changes, Arik must remain humble and respectful when facing the most noble ducal family.
Many times, the young and promising Aric felt that his relationship with his uncle was inevitably alienated. His uncle's life was coming to an end. Although he loved his younger brother, after all, his younger brother was a Duke and was called the "Son of God" by everyone.
Even if he has achieved great achievements, compared with Rurik's achievements, these military achievements are like the stars and the sun. Although they are both twinkling existences, his younger brother is the shining one and the extremely warm existence.
Arik has a low self-esteem, but Aslaqi, because she came with a purpose, behaves more generously.
A glass bottle stuffed with wooden blocks was placed on the table by Otto with a bang, and then he pushed it in front of Arik: "Drink! We, father and son, drank it!"
Liquor?
Then drink it.
Unexpectedly, Otto, who was in high spirits, quickly ordered his servants to bring more spirits.
"Dad, do you want to get drunk with Arik?" Rurik frowned and couldn't help but feel nervous, "We agreed that there would only be one bottle a day."
"Forget it! Brat, you have forgotten your father for Ross's great cause. I am very happy today, both of you brothers have become heroes, but it is a pity that I am old. Drink! Alas..." Old Otto thought
Tears fell uncontrollably over some past events, and then turned into the wail of an old man.
Things became extremely strange. Niya held Otto's head to comfort him like a child, but Otto kept crying and yelling: Ogier can no longer enjoy the good days now!
Hearing this, Arik felt relieved. He suddenly pulled off the cap of the bottle, drank a bottle of strong wine, and then said, "Fortunately, my biological father's grave is still here."
Rurik immediately answered: "Then sprinkle the wine on my uncle's tomb. You must do it at night. His heroic spirit will see us in the sky."
"good idea."
Otto's sudden emotional loss was certainly due to his drunkenness, but the most fundamental reason was sadness for his own aging. As a hero aged, he felt increasingly powerless to make a difference, and even took a boat trip to Novotel.
Vgorod feels exhausted, and now he can only stay in his hometown and stick to the old friends who have only a few left in childhood. It is really painful to be marginalized, but this is fate.
He noticed that Aslaki's belly seemed to be bulging again, but his eldest nephew-in-law Peravina's belly was indeed much bigger.
His son Rurik's ability is even more outstanding. Among the female relatives sitting here, there are three of them who have given birth to new life in their bellies.
Nordic women naturally lose their childishness prematurely. Princess Mary and Duchess Carlotta of Ostara both have puffy bellies. And High Priest Rumia, who has more North Asian ancestry, is almost twenty years old.
Yes, today’s concept is actually a mature woman.
How can bread be baked until it is soft and fragrant? Rurik wanted to ask Aslaki about this.
He didn't care about his father and his cousin having a good time drinking, he just wanted to understand the matter. After all, eating a good meal was an important remedy in this era of lack of entertainment.
Aslaqi simply seized this opportunity: "Sir, actually I have something important to tell you this time."
"Is it true that you are here because of something big?" Rurik became more vigilant.
"Maybe it's something big, maybe it's not. I just have one request."
"Say it, as long as it's reasonable, I'll be satisfied."
"Okay. Yes..." Aslaqi composed herself, "It's your mill. I want to see your golden millstone. I want to see its structure and learn from it. I want to build a mill that belongs to my family.
, to serve you.”
Opening a mill? Is this a big deal?
Yes, it is indeed a big deal.
Rurik thought about it carefully. In today's era, a mill can be called a "heavy industry" style.
He glanced at his cousin and his father. Considering the current scene, it would be ridiculous to say that they were not father and son. Not only did the two of them drink strong liquor, but a large amount of ale was also put on the table. The two of them were too fierce, and they were no match for the current situation.
The material conditions are much better than before, and there is enough wine for two people to drink till they break.
Ryuri ordered the female relatives who had eaten enough to go back to their rooms to rest, or they could gather around Mary to review the Latin they were learning with each other.
He only left Aslaqi behind: "It's good to visit and learn from my mill. I can probably guess how you bake bread. Now come with me and take you to the mill to have a look."
It's still March, and even though it's almost April, the frozen sea has begun to show obvious signs of melting, and the whole world is still cold. The thick snow is still there, and it reflects the moonlight and stars like crazy. The whole world is not really dark.
.
The golden millstone of the mill was still squeaking, and the slaves who were lazy to rest hurriedly stood up to grind the mill when the Duke came.
These servants were all captured from Britain, and their laziness was not a problem. Even Rurik deliberately moved the mill. The bronze millstone was indeed a bit strange, and the sharp sound of metal friction was really an annoying noise in the extremely quiet night.
"You all avoid it, I don't blame you for being lazy." Rurik ordered casually.
Aslaki walked up with satisfaction and stroked the golden millstones. They were not real gold, but a kind of bronze with a color similar to gold. She confidently inspected the ground coarse flour and tasted it carefully on her face.
The smile on his face gradually faded.
"What do you think?" Rurik asked.
"What a wonderful tool. It is much more efficient than the stone grinding rod I used. However, the wheat it grinds is not very fine. Can I see the structure under the grinding disc?"
"sure."
Soon, the mercenaries standing guard were called into the mill, and the four of them worked together to remove the millstone above.
Under the oil lamp, the internal structure of the upper and lower millstones was clearly displayed in front of Aslaqi, and she deconstructed its operating mechanism in her mind almost instantly.
She murmured: "With this structure, the wheat grains are ground into powder, which is indeed very different from the stone grinding rod method."
"Of course. It's an invention from the far East, brought here by the Romans. Oh, I hope you understand what I'm saying."
Rurik was inevitably a little arrogant in this regard, but when he asked Asraqi if he understood the structure, he received an extremely firm affirmative answer.
"Oh? You... really understand?"
"Yes. Look at those grooves. They are indeed the key to grinding wheat grains into powder. Unfortunately, my family's wealth is not enough to make so many bronze millstones."
"Are you obsessed with bronze?" Rurik stepped forward and pointed casually: "Bronze is not a good thing, it is just a stopgap measure. I need a lot of flour immediately, and I also need to make sure I can make a good millstone. Now it seems
I succeeded."
Aslaqi immediately spoke from the perspective of a businessman: "Indeed, if I use stones, I don't have to spend a lot of money to make stone millstones. Many stones are also very hard and can grind wheat into powder."
"It's such a pity..." Rurik sighed softly: "I am about to finish preparing the last dry food, and I will go to Balmok in a few days. Without these four millstones, I would not be able to process it.
Too much flour for bread and pancakes.”
"If you have enough time." Aslaqi asked weakly.
Rurik turned his face sharply, "Of course I will not hesitate to make a large number of stone millstones. One hundred or two hundred. In the future, Ross will only get more and more wheat. Grinding flour to make bread is an unstoppable trend."
Trend. Believe me, people no longer like to eat simple boiled wheat grains after eating bread. Everyone’s desire for delicious meals is unstoppable. You said you want to build a mill? I am still worrying about who to arrange such a mill.
A job. Aslaqi, you are exactly as your name suggests, the fairy of the sanctuary."
"You are a noble person. These four bronze mills are really beautiful. Shouldn't you make more?"
Rurik shook his head: "If possible, I would also like to try zirconium bronze or even simple carbon steel, but the cost is too high."
"Could it be that a great Duke would also worry about costs? You are clearly the richest man in the world."
"Put away your flattery! Aslaqi, do you regard me as a businessman? You actually talk to me in an attitude of flattering merchants. I am a duke, and my wealth is not only my own, but also the Russian people's. From now on.
I have tens of thousands of children to feed, and I am in trouble when they are hungry. Your proposal is very good. It would be a great help to me if you could build a new mill. If your mill is strong enough, the qualification to process grain will be yours.
."
"Ah! How wonderful."
"If you are willing, just build me a lot of mills. I don't care what kind of mill you use, what I need is always ground flour. If you succeed, these golden millstones will be given to you."
"I...I can! I can quickly make a batch of stone grindstones, and even..."
While she was ecstatic, she also retained a strange hesitation.
Rurik immediately asked: "Do you want more rewards? Aslaqi, I promise you to process flour for me, and I will naturally reward you."
"In this way, I also thought of a tool." She began to describe a possibility: "If there is a huge stone mill rod that is pushed and rotated to grind wheat, it..."
"Huh?" Rurik was shocked.
"Your Majesty the Duke..."
Rurik blurted out "niantz" in great surprise, referring to the rotating stone roller.
Aslaqi danced and described her idea, and Rurik was absolutely sure that she was talking about Stone Nianzi.
Perhaps such a heavy-duty wheat processing tool should not have been thought up by a Nordic woman. How could she think of something she had never seen before?
In fact, the prototype of the heavy stone mill is the stone grinding rod, which is pushed by heat to roll the wheat grains into powder. If it is big enough, it can crush the wheat by its own weight. Aslaqi can see the rotation today
A stone grinding disc for grinding wheat grains. Her smart mind instantly started thinking, and she imagined a giant stone grinding rod being continuously pushed around a central axis to roll and grind the wheat grains.
The rotating stone grinder was originally in Rurik's plan. Since Aslaqi proposed the configuration of this instrument, wouldn't it be an afterthought if he jumped out and said that he had thought of it too?
Just think of it as something Aslachi came up with.
"You are so smart! You are our Rose's treasure! I would like to call you sister."
Asraqi was a little confused by such a high praise. After all, she was a woman who had seen the world. She knew that this was a business opportunity related to the future of the old Harald family, and she must seize it.
Are businessmen just second-rate dealers?
No! Although the old Harald family's property in Gotland collapsed, the family is slowly recovering in New Roseburg under the rule of the Russians. Although it is recovering, the successor of the family falls on the shoulders of a young woman.
On Gotland, the family's only industry is the processing of wool and sheepskin. Aslaki noticed that the Russians were doing similar work. The industry was already prosperous, and she felt uncomfortable trying to get involved.
Build a mill to focus on processing flour, and then build a bakery to make a large amount of bread to provide high-quality military food for the Russian army in the future. This is an absolutely emerging industry. If you seize the first-mover advantage, you will get future privileges.
After living in Rossburg for more than two years, Aslaqi felt that she had glimpsed the secret of the Russian victory. The Russian army was very organized, very good at navigation, and had advanced and sophisticated weapons. The most important thing was that they were always fighting.
Store a lot of food in advance so that they can compete with the enemy for consumption.
Because interests are eternal. She has no obsession with Gotland itself. She just wants to revive her family, and it doesn't matter where she completes the revival.
Aslaqi and her family have completely stood on the side of the Russians. Tonight, they took the initiative to ask Ying to build a large number of mills and bake a large amount of bread. This was actually a letter of submission to Rurik that belonged only to Aslaqi.
This time she not only produced a certificate of nomination, but also a guarantee.
She promised Rurik: "When you come back from Balmok, you will see a brand new mill. When my first stone mill or stone mill is built, wheat will be processed immediately. I will personally spend money to get it from you."
I bought wheat here and processed it into flour. I hope you will buy it all when you come back."
This was her condition, and Rurik readily accepted it: "Great. If so, I will give you a suitable purchase price."
Rurik could not immediately come up with a suitable price. The labor fee for Aslaqi's mill in the future must be based on the actual situation. His answer was very vague, and Aslaqi did not care.
In other words, Aslaqi's focus has never been on how much remuneration she can get from working for the Duke. If you think of it this way, the situation is too small.
She hopes that her full performance will benefit her family and lead to a faster recovery.
This is the struggle of a mother, the struggle of a female warrior.