When I'm still in the middle of joy after tasting rice again, Silvie's voice wakes me up from this joy
"Ikki, is that what you call rice? Can I taste it too?"
"Um, of course. But the taste is just like porridge from wheat, only this rice is more solid than porridge"
"It's okay Ikki, I see Ikki eat that with happy face make me want to taste that too"
"Oh, alright, let me take a scoop for you"
I take another scoop of rice in the pot and give it to Silvie
"It might be hot, blow it for several times to make it cool"
Silvie blows the rice several times before putting it into her mouth and starts chewing it. I look at her eating the rice with full curiosity. When she finally swallow it, I ask her about the taste
"Well? How's the taste?"
"Um, like Ikki just said, it's like solid porridge. How people in Ikki country eat this?"
"Oh they eat it with other dishes, like you eat kentang with fish or sausage"
"I see, so it just like kentang. Can it be made to another dish? Like kentang become frikadel?"
"Of course, the easiest way is to make fried rice"
"Can you make that now, Ikki?"
"Um, yes, I can make it, but I need other ingredients too"
"What do you need Ikki?"
"Egg, leek, onion, garlic, tomato"
"Alright, I'll get that for you"
Actually, I also need some soy sauce, chili, and salt, but that only exists in my backpack so I take it first from my backpack while waiting for Silvie bring what I ask from her. Actually, if I have nori sheets I can make this rice into onigiri too, but that impossible right?
After Silvie back and bring the ingredients I ask from her, I start to make fried rice. First I chop the garlic, onion, tomato, and leek. Beat the egg on the bowl and whisk it for a minute. Fry the chopped onion, garlic, tomato and leek in the frying pan until half done, pour the egg in the pan, stir for a while with a spatula then put the rice in the pan. Stir the rice and other ingredients to make it mix together, pour the soy sauce into the rice and stir it again until all rice in the pan well mixed with the soy sauce. Put on the plate and fried rice is ready to eat.
When we finish cooking, chief Harvard already returns from inspecting the village. Chief Harvard and Mrs. Harvard already sit on dining table waiting for us finish cooking. When he sees the fried rice on the plate, he looks at it with curiosity.
"Master Ikki, is that a new dish again?"
"Father, this is what Ikki made from something that we usually use to feed chicken"
Silvie already explain it first before I have a chance to reply
"What? Is that true? That chicken feed can be eaten too?
"Just try that father, you will not believe if you do not taste it yourself"
"Right, let's get eating. I hardly eat something in the morning like this, but that not a bad idea to have a full stomach for days activities"
We put the fried rice plate on the table and sit down to start eating. Since this dish is really new for them, I suggest them to take a little portion first to try the taste. But after they taste the fried rice, within minutes all the fried rice in the plate already disappears from there, transferred to our belly.
"Wow, I never expect chicken feed can be eaten too, the taste also good"
Chief Harvard commenting after finishes his eating
"Chief, why not try to cultivating this rice in the field? It can be made for substitute wheat for food"
"Good idea, if we have more people in the village, I will suggest them to plant this rice too in their field"
"Thank chief"
"Alright, I will go to other refugee camps, while your mother will go too to clean weeds in the field. Silvie, if you want to go out, don't forget to close the door"
"Yes, father"
After saying that, Mr. and Mrs. Harvard leave the house to their own destination. Chief Harvard goes to stable to take the horse, while Mrs. Harvard goes to their field. I and Silvie left at home to do house chores.
"Ikki, I will go to the pond for washing and bathing, are you coming?"
"Of course!"
I reply with a deep nod. Silvie smile sweetly when hearing that. Before we left the house, she handed me my clothes that washed yesterday.
"Ikki, here's your clothes, it's already dry if you want to change"
"Thanks, Silvie. I'll bring this to the pond. I'll change there while washing the one I currently wear now"
"Um, let's go"
Silvie carrying basket with her laundry while I bring my shirt and shaving knife to cut the remaining hairs on my chin that I haven't cut at Lukas' house. We left using back door, and after close and tie the door, we go to the pond together.