Bambus Village (1)
Yesterday, while I was watering the Oido trees with growth enhancement water magic, Hamilton and Kamuela worked on surrounding Pere’s hut with a three-meter-high soil wall.
The fence in Shinana Village was made of wood, but even compared to other villages, it looked so flimsy it could break easily.
I had suggested surrounding Shinana Village with a two-meter-high soil wall since Pere was being kept there, but they refused.
“We’ve also gained a little leeway thanks to straw paper, rice cultivation, and raising Pere. In winter, we plan to build stronger walls, so it’ll be fine.”
Even so, since winter was still far off, I asked if they could just focus on the area around Pere’s hut.
I was worried, but since the village chief said it, I didn’t push further, so only the area around Pere’s hut got fortified.
After collecting Pere’s silk and leaving Shinana Village, we headed south to Bambus Village.
This was the village where the person I asked to make the tea whisk lived.
The contact came about a month after the exhibition ended.
It was a small item, and with no sample, I had expected it would take longer, so I was surprised when they reached out.
I was looking forward to seeing the finished product.
When we arrived at Bambus Village, it was surrounded by a bamboo fence.
I worried it might fall over easily, but the inner side of the village had a soil wall.
It was a double structure: bamboo and soil.
Since the west side of the village was a bamboo grove, they used bamboo for the fence there.
Village fences vary a lot.
Each village uses what’s available locally and devises their own method, which is quite educational.
Upon arrival, the village chief and Dino were waiting. Dino was the one I had asked for the tea whisk.
After greetings, they led us to the village hall meeting room.
From this point on, it was just Dino.
“Dino, I didn’t expect you’d contact me so quickly. You’re not overexerting yourself?”
“No, it’s fine. We’re working on farm tasks, so it’s not a burden.”
I worried people often overexert themselves when I make requests, but judging by his face, he looked healthy, so I decided to trust him.
“Here’s the item you requested,” Dino said, placing the tea whisk on the table.
“May I take a look?”
“If anything seems off, I’ll make improvements, so please check it carefully.”
Each bamboo strand of the tea whisk was thin and fluffy on the outside, while the inner strands were neatly arranged like a tree, and the tips were carefully curved inward, all at uniform height.
Given my vague memory of a picture, this level of precision was incredible, especially since Dino wasn’t a professional.
“Can I try using it?”
“Yes, and could you show me how to use it properly?”
“Sure.”
I brought out a ceramic bowl similar to the kind used for matcha in my previous life, a tin of matcha powder, and a pot of hot milk from Varsh.
Brother Chris leaned forward, clearly interested.
I put some matcha powder in the bowl, poured in a little hot milk, then lightly dissolved the powder with the whisk. I added more milk and whisked briskly, and a froth formed.
Wow—that’s incredible. It turned out perfectly on the first try. Dino is amazing.
I twirled the whisk in the bowl and removed it, ready to taste the drink.
But just then, a hand slid over and took the bowl with the matcha milk.
“Brother Chris, I should taste it first before you do.”
“No, that’s fine. I’ll taste it first.”
Since Brother Chris already held the bowl, I let him have it.
Dino looked eager to try, so I asked,
“Dino, do you have bowls similar to this one?”
“Yes.”
“Could you bring a few? You’d like to taste it too, right?”
“Is that alright?”
“If you don’t taste it, you won’t have a reference for future tea whisk quality.”
“Thank you. I’ll bring them immediately,” Dino said and left the room.
I noticed Brother Chris had already finished drinking.
“Hardt, this is excellent. The matcha milk has become smoother.”
I made some for myself and drank it.
“Brother Chris, matcha milk whisked with a tea whisk tastes better.”
“Ah, a tea whisk? I wondered what it was for, but the taste difference is remarkable,” he said, holding the whisk and examining it from various angles.
As we chatted pleasantly, Dino returned with another man.
He introduced him as Bailey, a potter from this village.
Apparently, Bailey had brought some of the ceramic bowls he made.
I quickly borrowed them, whisked the matcha milk, and handed it to Dino and Bailey.
“This is my first time drinking this, but it’s delicious. Is there really a difference between whisked and unwhisked matcha milk?”
I realized Dino had never tasted matcha milk before whisking.
I handed them matcha milk mixed only with a spoon, without the whisk.
“If you haven’t tried whisked matcha milk, you’d probably think this is good, but the difference is significant.”
“Umm—may I speak?”
What do you think about this chapter?
