After replenishing the overnight feed, Zhang Yang and Cheng-ge followed the winding path along the water's edge back to Yan-ge's bungalow.
From afar, they saw in the open space outside the house, a butcher's rack used for slaughtering pigs, and a black-haired pig, smaller than the ones raised at home, had been bled and gutted, hanging on the rack.
Yan-ge was talking to another middle-aged man in his forties or fifties by the rack. This man was holding a sharp butcher's knife, performing the skinning process.
No doubt, the pig had just been slaughtered not long ago.
Seeing Zhang Yang and the others came back, Yan-ge laughed and said, "You all finished fishing? Master Gu had some business, delayed a few minutes, so we'll have to wait a bit longer for dinner!"
When Zhang Yang was a child in the village, he had seen butchers slaughter pigs. The pigs in his memory were white, and the locals called the breed Yorkshire. This much smaller black pig was something he hadn't seen before.
"Why are you slaughtering pigs now? It's so small, just about 140 or 150 pounds, hasn't had enough time to grow," Zhang Yang asked with confusion.
The question wasn't unfounded; normally, pigs ready for market weigh over 200 pounds. To Zhang Yang, this smaller pig hadn't grown enough, slaughtering it to entertain guests seemed a bit of a waste.
Yan-ge smiled and shook his head, "This is a Black Mountain Pig; 160 pounds is enough to go to market, it's not the same breed as regular pigs!
Though they're smaller, their breeding cycle is long. Regular pigs take four to six months to be ready for market; our Black Mountain Pigs take at least ten months, and only one batch is ready each year!
Since Ye brought you all here, we have to provide the highest standard of hospitality!"
Hearing the words Black Mountain Pig, Zhang Yang remembered that when they arrived, the sign at the entrance had those three words, and Cheng-ge had mentioned it.
Ye Wencheng smiled, took out cigarette and offered them, "Zhang, don't underestimate our manager, there's at least several hundred pigs in the mountain farm!
We'll not only eat, but take some back with us!
The Black Mountain Pig that roams the mountains has such a different taste, every year I have to order quite a lot to gift to relatives and friends. Once you've tasted it, you'll know."
"Ah, I've heard of free-range chicken, but pigs can roam the mountains too?" Cheng-ge's introduction hit a blind spot in Zhang Yang's knowledge. Can pigs be raised free-range?
Yan-ge pointed to a low pig shelter not far south of the bungalow, saying, "Black Mountain Pigs surely have much more activity than regular pigs. Every morning we feed them once and open the pen doors, letting them wander on the designated mountain areas.
In the evening, we blow a whistle to gather them back again!
Moreover, to enhance the quality of Black Mountain Pig meat, we've planted some forage plants in fixed areas at different altitudes, like alfalfa and yam.
These pigs haven't been marketed yet, but they are already reserved. Once slaughtered, they're air freighted to top supermarkets in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen!"
"Oh, oh! Learned something new! Pigs can be raised !" Zhang Yang realized.
"I'll continue to prepare, Ye, take them inside for some tea and rest, dinner will be ready in at most forty minutes!" Yan-ge casually said.
"Alright, then we'll just wait and enjoy the fruits of labor!" Ye Wencheng nodded, leading Zhang Yang and the others inside.
From outside, the bungalow seemed ordinary, but upon entering, they found it to be a hidden treasure.
The living room was at least over forty square meters, one side near the window boasted a massive solid wood carved golden dragon tea table, its dragon patterns lifelike, the wood emitting unique textures and gloss, clearly not inexpensive.
Inside, Cheng-ge acted as if he wasn't a guest at all, sitting right at the head position, rinsing cups, brewing tea, boiling water, soon bustling about.
While handling the tea, Cheng-ge casually said, "Does my manager seem interesting to you?"
Zhang Yang nodded, "Yan-ge is very low-key!"
Beside him, Xiao Yi chimed in, "That big tea table, isn't it expensive? It's so beautiful!"
Cheng-ge chuckled, "The wood was shipped from abroad! Just several dozen!
Don't underestimate the breeding scale of those eight hundred pigs, it might seem nothing special!
Do you know how much a pound of Black Mountain Pig sells for in Beijing's largest supermarket? In the most ordinary location, eighty per pound! This breeding base, its annual output value is over ten million!"
"Wow!" Hearing this output scale, Zhang Yang couldn't stay calm.
Bear in mind, it's 2014 now, regular pork, the priciest hind shank costs just over ten bucks.
Seeing Zhang Yang's expression, Xiao Hui grinned and said, "Haha, when I first came with Cheng-ge, I was as surprised as you hearing this! You'll get used to it!"
About half an hour later, Yan-ge pushed open the door and walked in.
"Don't just stand there, let's go to the dining room, dinner is served! A friend sent me a few bottles of good wine, let's try them tonight!"
Led by Yan-ge, everyone entered another separate room through the side door. Behind the full transparent glass windows, two master chefs in chef uniforms were still cooking at the stove, and on the dining table were already seven or eight freshly made dishes, emanating an enticing aroma.
The following feast goes without detailed account, those returning from the army naturally have a deep alcohol tolerance; the fifty-plus degree aged white liquor just continuously flowed.
This black pig meat was indeed delicious, Zhang Yang initially could enjoy the cuisine and chat with them a little, but by late evening, he couldn't keep up if it weren't for Cheng-ge helping him fend off a few more drinks, Zhang Yang might have just been knocked out for the night.