Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
In the end, one can only rely on Lea for cooking.
It was good that he was not hurt by what had happened on the way and had resumed his original condition.
Gu Mengmeng intentionally avoided him, but as if he did not realise, he pestered Gu Mengmeng, “I’m eating this for the first time too, you should at least demonstrate for me?”
Helpless, Gu Mengmeng nodded and took a small step back to make some distance. She called Elvis over, chopping the bamboo shoot into pieces then into thin strips.
Cutting all the ginger during the winter had left a side effect on Elvis, such that no matter what he was cutting, it would be as thick as a slice of ginger. Unless Gu Mengmeng provided specifications, they would all be cut the same, a mechanical production line.
Gu Mengmeng set up a tiny pot, first getting some oil from animal fat, then placing the freshly cut beast flesh inside. Firewood was different from gas, the intensity of fire cannot be controlled, so she could only quick fry it instead of steaming it at low heat. It took some effort, but eventually got it to fry till golden brown before Gu Mengmeng took the meat out, adding ginger slices and chilli into the hot pot to fry until there was an aroma. She later poured the meat back into the pot, adding in some water.
After everything was done, she was surrounded by people. Gu Mengmeng raised her head only to see a pair of eyes staring back at her, with a great desire.
Gu Mengmeng tilted her head, “There’s… chilli here.”
Mandy took a small step forward, “Mighty messenger, I’m not afraid of chilli, could you… share some with me to try?”
Gu Mengmeng returned a friendly smile, “It is my honor, to dine with the first beauty of the tribe.”
Mandy’s cheeks turned red as she slowly walked towards Gu Mengmeng’s side, sitting there obediently. Her eyes filled with adoration as she watched Gu Mengmeng’s back view circling around the pot.
Gu Mengmeng used the beast skin to wrap around the handle, pouring the bamboo shoot into the pot and stir with chopsticks before covering the pot with a stone board.
She turned her head, looking at Lea, “The basic steps are like these, it can usually be done after an hour of stewing, but since the meat of a wild beast takes much longer to become tender than domestic pigs, just let it stew for half an hour more. Add some salt to spice up the flavors before taking it out of the pot… Oh, right, any potatoes left?”
Lea nodded, “Yes.”
Gu Mengmeng, “Then cut two potatoes and soak them in water. Add them into the pot, stew together and that will be great. Don’t touch the water used to soak the potatoes, let the starch deposit then pour away the excess water before pouring the starch sauce over the dish at the end.”
Lea nodded carelessly, looking at Gu Mengmeng. Suddenly, he moved forward, leaning his face against the tip of Gu Mengmeng’s nose, holding it there for two seconds and smiled evilly as he watched Gu Mengmeng’s scared expression, “But, how long is one hour? How long is half an hour?”
Gu Mengmeng cleared a throat, taking a small step backwards, “There’s no need to be that precise, it’s about the same as how long you would usually stew a potato.”
Lea grabbed Gu Mengmeng’s waist, thrusting her into his embrace, using his height as an advantage to shroud her under his figure, squinting at Gu Mengmeng, who did not know what to do, and said in a low voice, “I’ll teach the method of stewing meat and bamboo shoots to the other males, then come back to eat with you.”
Gu Mengmeng tried pushing Lea twice, yet was not able to, and could only look up at Lea while maintaining a very forceful position, “That… Actually you can stay to eat with them, you don’t have to come eat with me.”
Lea raised his eyebrows, “Even Auretin, the guardian beast can eat with you, yet I have to eat with them?”