Chapter 1094, A Complicated Process

Translator: Silavin

 

Su Bai stir-fried the Kapok Seeds in an iron pot. Once the oil had been rendered out, he gathered together all the remaining sediment.

 

“Shaman, this all looks quite black. Do we keep it as well?” Yu Ying asked.

 

“Of course we do. This is called Kapok Seed Soap Stock. This is actually the main ingredient for making soap.” Su Bai explained.

 

Yu Ying’s pink eyes went wide. “Shaman, this black stuff can really be made into soap?”

 

Yu Ying could not quite believe it. The thing had already been used to press oil. How could it still be put to another use on top of that.

 

And of all things, to be made into soap. Soap was something one used to wash and keep their body clean.

 

“Try it and you’ll see. The dark paste that settles out after oil is refined from pressing is Kapok Seed Soap Stock. It’s also called soap foot.” Su Bai explained.

 

“Shaman, is soap foot the basic raw material for soap?” Yu Ying asked.

 

“Of course.” Su Bai nodded with a smile. “We’ll need caustic soda, salt, and rosin. For equipment, we’ll use a pot and an iron ladle…”

 

“All already prepared.” Yu Ying’s clear voice rang out.

 

“Then let’s begin. First, add a large amount of clean water to the pot for cooking the soap foot and heat it over the fire. Then add the soap stock and rosin and keep heating, stirring constantly.”

 

Su Bai worked as he spoke. “We need the soap stock and rosin to melt and blend together evenly. Once the soap stock has fully dissolved, pour in the prepared lye solution, adding it slowly and gradually, stirring as you pour.”

 

“Shaman, why are the amounts of each ingredient all different?” Yu Ying asked.

 

“Every ingredient has its own ratio. I’ll write out the precise ratios in detail so that when you make it yourself, the chances of going wrong will be much smaller.” Su Bai said.

 

“Understood.” Yu Ying kept her eyes fixed on the large iron pot.

 

Su Bai had drawn many iron pots from the System already. The Yong’an Building now had seven or eight large ones stacked up.

 

Not that this was any sort of problem, since each pot had its own purpose. Keeping the cooking pots separate from the others was cleaner that way.

 

“The lye solution can be added in five or six batches, with a few minutes between each one.” Su Bai instructed carefully.

 

“Shaman, why in batches, and why wait a few minutes each time?” Yu Ying gave full expression to her principle of asking about anything she did not understand.

 

“So that the soap stock has time to saponify properly. Keep going until the soap gel is soft and glossy. And during the lye-adding stage, do not rush it, or you will get lumps.” Su Bai cautioned again.

 

He was noting down every step as they went. That way Yu Ying could follow along more carefully, and could refer back to the notes later and still make sense of them.

 

“I see. I did not think making soap would be so complicated.” Yu Ying nodded slowly, turning things over in her mind.

 

“Look, it’s about right now. Stirred to this consistency, we can move on to the water-washing stage.” Su Bai stopped stirring.

 

“Shaman, does that mean we wash this stuff with water? Won’t it just wash away?” Yu Ying asked.

 

“It won’t. Water-washing means adding clean water to the soap gel we’ve just stirred. Pour it in slowly and evenly, in small amounts at a time, the more evenly distributed the better.”

 

Su Bai poured as he spoke. “Don’t add too much water. About half the weight of the soap gel is right.”

 

“Got it, got it.” Yu Ying nodded again and again. The concentration on her face made it plain she was listening hard.

 

“And take note, the soap gel should no longer stick to the iron, the colour will have shifted from deep brown to yellowish-brown, and there will be small solid impurities. Once you see all that, we can move to the next step.” Su Bai pointed into the pot.

 

“Shaman, what is the next step?” Yu Ying flicked her pink fox tail.

 

“The next step is salting out. The purpose is to dehydrate the soap gel, further removing impurities, and improve the colour.” Su Bai did not pause as he explained, continuing to work through the same method as before.

 

He added a measured amount of salt to the water-washed soap gel, scattering it in evenly while stirring thoroughly, so that the soap gel could dehydrate properly.

 

“That looks amazing.” Yu Ying was already looking a little dazed.

 

“And during the salt-adding stage, we must keep the temperature of the soap gel quite high. That is what allows the pigment and impurities to separate out cleanly.” Su Bai explained.

 

“It’s all so complicated. But I have remembered it.” Yu Ying furrowed her brow in a way that made it clear she was trying very hard.

 

“Do you notice? The layers inside the pot are separating quite distinctly now. We can let it stand and keep warm.” Su Bai said with a smile.

 

“Shaman, is it done?” Yu Ying asked.

 

“Not yet. We can only say the soap is truly finished once the soap gel and the water have separated completely. We cover the top of the pot with insulating material to hold the temperature.”

 

Su Bai crouched down and pulled most of the fire from beneath the pot, keeping the temperature at a steady level.

 

Once he had done all that, he stood and dusted off his hands. “That’s it for now. Leave it for a day or more and then we’ll continue.”

 

“Ah! Shaman, so that means we can’t have the soap today?” Yu Ying was instantly a little crestfallen.

 

“No, not today. We also need to keep it at this temperature for a while.” Su Bai ruffled her hair.

 

“Oh.” Yu Ying gave a slightly reluctant nod.

 

“But don’t worry. After a day or so, you’ll see the finished soap.” Su Bai said gently.

 

“En.” Yu Ying’s expression brightened at once with anticipation, her pink fox tail swaying without stopping.

 

“By the way, did you take in all the steps I just taught you?” Su Bai asked.

 

Making soap was not a simple undertaking. The process was extremely complicated and hands-on.

 

One small lapse in attention and a step could go wrong. A wrong step would affect the finished product.

 

“Don’t worry, Shaman. I may not have Ah’Lan’s amazing memory, but I was really paying attention just now.” Yu Ying’s eyes held a look of real determination.

 

“Of course. If there’s anyone I’d trust, it’s you.” Su Bai laughed openly.

 

“It really is quite difficult. But you’ve always said there’s nothing in this world that is easy.” Yu Ying shook her pink fox ears.

 

“Well said. Would you arrange it then, find a shop front in the Central Market set aside specifically for selling soap.” Su Bai was already thinking ahead to getting the soap out to people.

 

There had been no such thing as soap in the primitive era. Soap for washing clothes and bathing left everything thoroughly clean, and he could already picture just how well that product would be received.

 

“Yes.” Yu Ying agreed at once.

 

“Actually, let Sha Lan handle the shop. She knows that side of things better. You help me with training the staff.” Su Bai changed his mind.

 

Creating a shop was one matter. Training the workers and setting up a soap workshop was another entirely.

 

“Shaman, do you mean the workers for a workshop?” Yu Ying asked.

 

“That’s right. I need you to teach them how to make soap.” Su Bai said quietly.

 

“En. Leave it to me.” Yu Ying’s sweet voice rang out.