Casterly Rock.
The Duke of Tywin held a cylinder that was polished smooth inside and out.
The cylinder is made of wood.
Originally an iron cylinder, the craftsman changed it to wood in response to the Duke's decree to replace iron with wood.
In the middle of the cylinder is a thin, round iron plate that has been polished very smoothly and has many small holes drilled in it.
The bottom of the wooden cylinder has a raised ring, and when a thin, round iron plate is placed inside, it fits perfectly into the raised area.
A solid round wooden board, the same size as the thin iron plate, has a long handle. Holding the handle, the solid round wooden board fits perfectly into the wooden cylinder.
The wooden cylinder is about forty centimeters long, open at the top and bottom, and has no lid.
Duke Tywin and Grand Maester Potter looked at the set, which was very simple, consisting of three objects: a wooden cylinder; a perforated thin iron plate that could be freely removed and inserted into the cylinder; and a movable wooden stopper with a handle whose size perfectly matched the internal dimensions of the cylinder.
Cylinder; thin iron plate; wooden stopper with handle.
It was a very simple combination, but when put together, it was the first time that Lord Tywin and Grand Maester Potter had ever seen it together.
The maker of this thing was right next to them.
Tob Mort, from Clegane Village, was a renowned master of weapons and mechanics in King's Landing. Beside him stood the reserved Alex, a woman from Clegane Village, and Esther, a young girl from King's Landing now married to Sir Polliver, along with her grandfather Booz. Of course, Tywin's youngest daughter, Jenny Westerling, was also there, right beside her father.
They were in the Duke's kitchen.
The duke's cook, servants, and attendants were also gathered around the cylindrical object.
The wooden basin beside it—because of the decree to replace iron with wood, the Duke's iron basins were also replaced with wooden ones—had the dough in it ready. Under the guidance of Alice, the noodle cook from Clegane Village, eggs, herbal spices, snow salt, and a specially prepared Clegane Village seasoning packet were added to the dough for the first time.
Under everyone's quiet, unwavering gaze, Master Tob placed the thin iron plate, which had just been washed, into the wooden cylinder, which had also just been washed. He stood the cylinder upright, and Alek placed two fist-sized balls of dough into the top of the cylinder. Tob then picked up the cork with a handle; the cork was round and its size perfectly matched the inner diameter of the cylinder.
Master Tob placed the cork into the cylinder, gripped the long handle, and pushed it down forcefully. From the bottom of the cylinder, strips of noodles of uniform size and thickness emerged from the small holes in the iron plate—a refined food product from a distant civilization several levels above Eastern civilizations—was produced.
The onlookers all held their breath.
Master Tob pushed the cork to the bottom with force, and noodles kept emerging from the small hole one after another.
Alek used a long bamboo chopstick to lift the noodles in the middle, preventing them from touching the ground because they were too long.
Two more dough balls were put into the top of the cylinder. Master Tob repeated the same action, and the noodles continued to grow longer. Alec raised the long bamboo chopsticks that held the noodles: "Your Grace, the noodles produced this way can be infinitely long. When they reach a certain length, they can be cut with scissors and dried in the sun. They are dried noodles that can be stored. As long as they are not exposed to moisture, they can be kept for a long time without spoiling."
The "hanging" in "hanging noodles" comes from the fact that noodles are hung on long bamboo chopsticks.
"Your Grace, wet noodles can also be thrown directly into the pot to cook," Tob said respectfully.
Tywin's usually icy expression softened noticeably, which is extremely rare.
The Grand Secretary of Porter was secretly pleased by the Duke's unusual gentleness.
"Is this how the noodles in Clegane are produced?" the Duke asked.
"Your Grace, that's not the case. Clegane's noodles are produced entirely by hand-cranked machinery, with a production speed and output more than ten times that of these cylindrical noodles. The noodle-making machinery is all made of iron. These handmade, family-style cylindrical noodles were made by a small machine specially designed for Your Grace by order of Lord Gregor."
"For home use?" Tywin said. His tone was unusually gentle, and a hint of approachability appeared in his otherwise dignified demeanor.
"Yes, it's for the Duke's family only."
"This noodle tastes good?"
"After drying, it can be eaten raw; it's crisp, fragrant, and firm, leaving a wonderful aftertaste on the tongue and in the mouth," Alek said.
"Very well," said Lord Tywin. "Maester Potter, have the steward give Tob and… what is your name?"
"My name is Alec, Your Grace." Alec quickly stood up straight, bowed her head, and knelt.
"Scholar Potter, arrange for the steward to award Tob and Alec each two gold dragons as a reward."
Tob and Alec quickly thanked them!
The Duke's cook and servants came up. The cook learned to put the dough into the cylinder and push the stopper. Sure enough, the noodles came out from the bottom of the cylinder. Under Alec's guidance, the servant used a second long bamboo chopstick to pick up the noodles that were almost touching the ground. She raised the chopstick, and the noodles hung on it—hanging noodles!
The structure and production method of this device are very simple, but the wisdom and ingenuity it contains greatly impressed Squire Potter.
It's a very simple thing, but very practical.
"Where is your Lord Gregor?" Lord Tywin asked the Mountain.
"Father, Sir Gregor has spoken with the nobles of the North about buying back our land. He'll be back soon," Jenny said softly.
Tywin looked at Jenny. In the past, the Duke of Tywin would stare, his gaze sharp and piercing, but this time he merely glanced, his eyes devoid of any sharpness.
"I hope he won't be able to make it back for lunch."
"No, Father." Jenny replied politely and gracefully.
The Duke nodded, his eyes softening. The small machinery and production process of making homemade noodles put him in a good mood.
"Let's go to the study!" Duke Tywin glanced at Master Booz.
"Yes!" Jenny, Boots, Esther, Tob, and Professor Potter answered in unison, with utmost respect.
The woman, Alek, stayed in the kitchen as a noodle maker, teaching the chefs how to cook noodles.
*
The study was where Duke Tywin Lannister cultivated his mind and discussed highly confidential matters.
The group entered the study, and Professor Potter gently closed the door.
There are seven steps outside the gate, and the guards stand guard far away from the steps.
There were no books in Tywin Lannister's study. The only decoration on the wall was a very exquisite silk painting of a stunningly beautiful woman with watery eyes looking at everyone and a faint smile on her face. Her name was Joanna Lannister, Tywin Lannister's cousin and his wife who had been dead for twenty-five years.
Duke Tywin sat upright behind his desk. The rare gentleness he had shown in the kitchen vanished without a trace, replaced by a cruel and ruthless indifference that was reflected in his eyes.
"Master Buz, bring out the item!" the Duke said.
Thank you for the generous gift, Young Master Jin!