Chapter 406 Grinding Tofu
In the air, the strange, rich aroma grew even stronger, carrying the warmth of roasted nuts and tender beans, forcefully invading everyone's nostrils.
A group of young monks, unable to resist any longer, stretched their necks like a herd of deer sniffing for nectar, their noses twitching eagerly.
Meanwhile, the white-browed elder and his four main disciples stood as still as statues, their eyes locked onto Elbert. Their initial scrutiny had long since turned into utter disbelief.
The massive stone mill, driven by Elbert, had become a gray blur, emitting a deep, continuous hum. To achieve such a speed with such a heavy object required hundreds, if not thousands, of precisely controlled bursts of force.
Elbert's eyes were closed, his expression serene, as if he were not driving the mill but listening to the pulse of the universe.
Every few seconds, when the mill's momentum began to wane, he would casually throw a punch.
That punch, seemingly soft and weak, contained the purest form of "Qi." The hidden force, like a spring tide merging with the sea, gently integrated into the mill's rotation, perfectly compensating for the lost energy.
Over and over, the wind howled, making everyone's robes flutter.
"Master..." Peaceful Heart's voice trembled with a hint of dryness, "Elbert's control over 'Qi' is probably... five times better than mine."
The white-browed elder remained silent, but his mind was in turmoil.
This 3,500-pound stone mill, which an ordinary strongman would struggle to move, was being spun like a high-speed top by Elbert! Even more terrifying, at this speed and weight, the central bearing was on the verge of breaking. Any imbalance in force would cause the mill to shatter and fly apart, with the power of a cannonball!
Yet Elbert, after throwing hundreds or thousands of punches, kept the mill steady and even increased its speed.
This level of "Qi" control was beyond belief.
The white-browed elder discreetly wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with his wide monk's sleeve.
In just one night, Elbert had reached the pinnacle of "guiding" Qi, just a step away from the ultimate mastery! The elder, having lived a long life, finally understood a profound truth today: in the face of talent, hard work really doesn't matter.
Second disciple Pure Light scratched his bald head and whispered, "Master, could Elbert be a long-lost descendant of our clan? How else could an outsider use 'Qi' better than us?"
"Sigh..." The white-browed elder sighed deeply, his eyes complex, "Have you ever heard the saying, 'One force can overcome ten skills, one clever move can break a thousand techniques'? What he relies on is that unfathomable intuition!"
As they were feeling ashamed, a graceful figure approached, carrying a basket. It was Rachel.
"Master." Rachel nodded slightly to the white-browed elder as she passed.
"What are you doing?" the elder asked, puzzled.
"I'm helping Elbert," Rachel replied with a smile, not disturbing the meditating Elbert. She climbed a wooden ladder beside the mill and slowly poured soaked soybeans and some unknown brown seeds into the rapidly spinning millstone.
With the addition of new ingredients, the rich aroma intensified, becoming even more fragrant and enticing.
Though curious, everyone refrained from disturbing Elbert, who seemed to be in deep concentration.
The next morning, a loud rooster crow broke the monastery's tranquility.
"What is that smell... Is that meat?" The white-browed elder suddenly opened his eyes, feeling a rich aroma so intense it seemed to solidify and enter his mouth. He moved slightly, realizing something was pressing on his cheek. Looking closely, he saw a small bald foot resting peacefully on his nose.
"Ugh!" The elder pushed it away in disgust, stood up, and looked around, finding the mill had stopped, and Elbert and Rachel were nowhere to be seen.
"So fragrant!"
"Too fragrant!"
The monks, awakened by the overpowering aroma, sat up from their sleep. Like a pack of enchanted hounds, they sniffed the air and focused their gaze in one direction—the kitchen!
At the kitchen door, a crowd had already gathered, even blocking the head chef of the monastery.
The captivating aroma was wafting from the kitchen!
The white-browed elder touched his growling stomach, cleared his throat, and walked over with a steady gait.
"Make way," he commanded with authority.
The crowd respectfully made way, and the elder, with a solemn expression, walked to the front of the line. Then... he casually pulled out his own set of utensils from his robe.
The disciples: "..."
Master, you're really good at using your seniority to cut in line.
Inside the kitchen, Elbert and Rachel were busy. The white-browed elder was stunned, thinking: Goodness, they've taken over the kitchen and cut off my food supply from the source?
"Everyone, thank you for waiting!"
Elbert, smiling, carried a large steamer out steadily. Amid the rising steam, he placed the steamer on the long table at the door. Then he went back and brought out three large pots.
He wiped his hands and stood behind the table, laughing loudly, "Everyone, I've been a burden these past few days, eating so much that you've all gone hungry. I felt really bad about it. So, I gathered some ingredients from the mountains and, with Rachel's help, worked through the night to make a few dishes as a token of my appreciation!"
The monks' eyes lit up, their fondness for Elbert growing.
"Elbert, you're so thoughtful!"
"Elbert, when can we eat?"
"Don't rush," Elbert smiled, "Let me introduce the dishes first."
At this moment, Rachel stepped forward and lifted the lid of the first large steamer.
With a "whoosh," an incredibly rich bean aroma mixed with a sweet, mellow scent filled the air, making everyone take a deep breath involuntarily.
Inside the steamer was a large, intact block of tofu.
The tofu had a warm, pale yellow color, with a texture so fine it seemed to have no pores. In the morning light, it even had a faint glow, like a piece of fine jade.
Just by smelling its aroma and seeing its color, everyone knew this was no ordinary tofu. Compared to the tofu they usually ate at the monastery, it was like night and day! The mere scent was enough to captivate their souls.
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