Afraid it would freeze solid, the soybeans soaked from last night had been placed in the kitchen by Eric.
Overnight, the soybeans had absorbed water and swelled up, piling on top of each other, golden and glistening in the basin. Their volume had increased by nearly double.
The people of the Hadu tribe were all very familiar with the task of grinding soybeans.
Seeing that Eric was ready, a Snow Wolf tribesman actively carried the basin of beans outside.
He added the beans to the stone mill while simultaneously pouring in clean water.
Before long, a thick, milky-white stream of bean liquid flowed down the stone mill into the pottery jar below.
The weather was freezing; everyone breathed out plumes of mist when they spoke.
Max had already started a fire nearby; the brightly burning flames also raised the surrounding temperature.
Thanks to the fire, the bean liquid on the stone mill didn't freeze, though a thin, white layer of ice accumulated at the bottom.
