The Infrastructure’s Guide ☆ 14

Meng Sheng retrieved Zhong Yang's lost weapon, drew his machete, and dashed to the beast.

At this moment, Zhong Yang led the beast into the moss-covered forest. The trees were tall and densely packed. The beast was enormous, bigger than the previous Ewing beast. It was so big it was unable to enter the moss forest to attack him. The beast felled the massive trees with a deafening sound.

Meng Sheng leapt into the moss forest as well and threw the stone weapon to Zhong Yang from a safe distance.

“Catch!”

The large male leaped to seize the weapon.

Both males exhaled heavily their breaths and surrounded the beast. When another large tree dropped, they both swing their arms at the beast at the same time.

The weapon pierced the skin and flesh, causing the gray-blue animal skin to be dyed red. The beast was startled and slammed his body down. Meng Sheng and Zhong Yang were tossed to the side. As a result of the tremendous impact, both became dizzy. Their eyes were blurry for a second, and they couldn't see clearly.

Qiu Juan, who had been standing farther out, stood beside the large tree trunk. Seeing that they were all wounded, he threw the pheasant in his hand to draw the attention of the beast. When the beast came charging at him to bite the pheasant, he gritted his teeth and hurled the stone spear.

The weapon, accompanied by the rustling sound and a deafening neigh, stabbed the beast's eye. The beast leapt in agony, splitting a few trees and running for the beast forest.

Qiu Juan's outstanding throwing skills were admired by the two males who rose from the ground.

Zhong Yang's body was coated with moss and sticky. "It's a shame! If such a large beast would be hunted back; the tribe would be full for several days."

Meng Sheng brushed bark splinters off himself. The beast was incredibly strong. It was the first time he had felt helpless since drawing his first breath. He felt so weak and powerless in front of the beast.

"Fortunately, Qiu Juan chased it away; otherwise, we'd have to submit to such a ferocious beast."

“Yeah.”

Meng Sheng stepped on the dry ground, and he noticed Qiu Juan still standing still. "What's the matter?"

Qiu Juan sighed and said, "It's a pity I lost my sharpest weapon. I've been using the stone spear for a long time.”

They'd witnessed the spear pierce the beast and the beast flee with it.

It is difficult for the tribe's natives to sharpen a decent weapon. They must choose a suitable stone and sharpen it for a long period of time. Most use weapons their entire life. After a long time, they will get attached to them.

“It doesn't matter, I'll go back and make another weapon for you." Meng Sheng comforted him.

"Eh! There is a bison!" Zhong Yang's eyes gleamed with surprise as he abruptly interrupted the two's thoughts.

As Meng Sheng turned around, he discovered an adult bison grazing. Since the bison was nearest to him, he naturally went out first.

He leapt up and sat on the back of the bison, his body supported by stabbing the machete. The cows in the ancient forest were far from meek. They were ferociously violent, but in the end, they were no match for the real beasts of the forest.

Meng Sheng could easily take it down.

"Adult bison, perhaps not much in comparison to wild beasts, but this one is still much bigger than the average cow," Zhong Yang and Qiu Juan ran over.

“The hunt is successful. Let's call it a day today! I’m starving!” Speaking of this, Zhong Yang lifted the bison by himself.

Qiu Juan went to pick up his own pheasant.

Meng Sheng glanced at Zhong Yang, but couldn't see his head under the massive bison. He could only grin as he looked at his bare back.

"You're hungry; do you want me to help you carry the bison?"

“Nah, I’m fine one my own.”

The three were about to return. Meng Sheng noticed some jute and white hemp growing in the grass and dashed through the field to pull it out.

After a while, Qiu Juan and Zhong Yang discovered he hadn't followed them. When they turned around, they saw the male burrowing in the grass, clutching some mysterious weeds in his arms.

"Meng Sheng loves odd plants."

Qiu Juan echoed. "Yesterday he pulled some sour fruits and went back to plant them.”

"What are you doing with those weeds? Hurry up, I'm hungry!"

Meng Sheng didn't bother lifting his head. “Wait. I’ll go when I’m done.”

After a long wait, right as Zhong Yang was about to set the bison down, Meng Sheng finally came over.

Zhong Yang snorted to Qiu Juan. "Let’s go, don't wait for him."

Meng Sheng saw two people chatting and laughing together. He hurriedly chased after them, squeezing in the middle and nonchalantly separating them.

"Don't be upset! Bring the cow to my cave so we can share. I'll make stew beef for you tonight. I know a way to cook especially delectable meat.” Meng Sheng raised his brows and turned to face Zhong. “Don’t you want to have a taste?”

Zhong Yang got a little greedy thinking about the meat he ate in Meng Sheng’s cave, so he said, "Then let’s go to your cave to divide the prey.”

"Qiu Juan should also come.” Meng Sheng added. “By the way, call Aunt Luo over as well.”

Qiu Juan frowned as he had followed the two powerful males on their hunt and shared the prey. He already felt like he was taking advantage of them, and now he was being asked to call his mother over.

"That's not good."

"What's the matter? We like the bustle. Meng Sheng proposed to call Aunt Luo over, so you should do it.”

Qiu Juan hesitated for a moment, but after seeing that the two males genuinely asked him to accompany his mother, he eventually agreed to Meng Sheng's suggestion after thinking that his mother hadn't been in contact with the people in the tribe for a long time.

As a result, the three split on the narrow trail, and Qiu Juan was the first to return to the cave.

When Meng Sheng arrived at the cave, he asked Zhong Yang to put the cow outside: "You dissect it. I'll go get some water and boil it.”

There was no water left in the cave. Meng Sheng started the fire first, then went to the river with the bamboo tube to get some water. The bamboo tube was small, and washing the pot would need three or four trips.

Tonight there will be four people and Zhong Yang’s appetite was big. To feed him, he will have to stew the large stone pot full of meat.

When he returned with the water, Zhong Yang had already removed the bison's internal organs.

"Meng Sheng, how do we divide the meat?"

If there were just two people, the cow could be split in half, but with three people, it was more difficult to ensure that each got equal amounts of meat.

"Give Qiu Juan the internal organs, and divide the remainder as you see fit."

The internal organs were useful and Zhong Yang didn't mind handing them to the weak sub-females, but it didn't make his task any easier.

"All meat is delicious, so how do we divide the legs?"

"Let's do this: you and Qiu Juan have one hind leg each, and I'll have one front leg and other we eat tonight.”

Zhong Yang burst out laughing. “There’s more meat on the hind leg. I’ll be here tonight, so let’s use the hind leg and I’ll take the front leg. Also, Qiu Juan asked to roast the pheasant he hunted for dinner.”

"It's all up to you, but leave more meat to stew later."

"I know!"

Meng Sheng went to get water for the second time, and this time he placed the berries in a bamboo tube to wash at the riverbank. The flavor of the berries reminded him of tomatoes. He desired to use tomatoes in a beef stew. The sourness was sweet, just to relieve the greasiness, and it will mask the smoky flavor.

Zhong Yang came over with a big piece of beef as Meng Sheng fetched water. It was estimated that there were around 25 kilograms of meat.

“For tonight," Zhong Yang said as he dropped it on the river bank with a clatter.

"Then you wash it and return it." Meng Sheng said and went back with the water.

In order to rinse the pot, he used this morning, he boiled some water to melt the left over fat on the bottom. He carefully washed it twice.

At this moment, Qiu Juan was in his cave. He rushed in and Luo saw him return empty-handed. “No luck today?”

“No. We got a bison and a pheasant. Both are at Meng Sheng’s cave. I’ll later go get my share.”

"Why didn't you follow them to Meng Sheng's cave?"

“Meng Sheng invited us all to eat tonight together. I returned to get you, mom.” Qiu Juan explained.

“He invited me?” Luo's eyes widened and he couldn't utter anything.

"Yes, indeed! Let's go, Mother, we can help out."

"The two of them," Luo stated, not moving. "What does it all mean?"

Qiu Juan smiled and said: “It’s means they want you to come, mom. They were very enthusiastic about it.”

Luo Cai's face showed a smile.

Unknowingly, he had been expecting something in his heart. He hadn't made simple contact to anybody in a long time.

"Should we then also bring something? We can't let Meng Sheng provide everything.”

Qiu Juan pondered for a moment: "Mother is correct; perhaps, we should bring some wild berries and vegetables? Meng Sheng likes them.”

“Yes. Yes.” Luo agreed quickly, turning around to gather wild vegetables and berries.

Only the tribe's elderly, ill, and disabled members would forage for wild vegetables to eat. Males who were capable of hunting usually didn’t eat them. Meat, after all, could grow their strength. Luo picked some wild vegetables not only to allow him to share the burden of life with Qiu Juan, but also to pass the time.

They went to Meng Sheng's cave after packing their belongings. Meng Sheng had already cooked the meat, and the fire was raging. Outside the cave, two men were scalding chicken feathers.

Zhong Yang complained. “I despise plucking birds the most. It's difficult to clean up with so many feathers. You can deal with goats, horses, pigs, and other beasts with few strokes of stone tool.”

Meng Sheng soaked the pheasant in hot water. He tried to pull two chicken feathers, and when the chicken feathers easily came off, he realized it was time.

"You're simply impatient. Try it out to see if tearing out chicken feathers rips the skin off."

"Allow us to do these things."

As the loving voice sounded, the two lifted their heads at the same time.

"Aunt Luo has arrived. Ah!”

"Let Aunt Luo and Qiu Juan come," Zhong Yang said as he pulled his buttocks away to give place.

Qiu Juan took the pheasant first and pulled two feathers: "Eh, it's so easy.”

"After blanching in boiling water, the feathers will come out easily. You can try again when you catch pheasants in the future."

The pheasant feathers were easily plucked out and the internal organs pulled out.

Meng Sheng lit a fire outside, and roasted some meat stored in his cave, mostly because he had peppers and lemons and wanted to try the flavor.

When it got dark, the food was cooked one after the other. Meng Sheng divided the roasted chicken and barbecue into small pieces and arranged them near the stone pot with the leaves. The stone pot was surrounded by four people.

Zhong Yang smelled the beef stew as he bent over it. The red and orange berries were stewed and puffy, and the sweet and sour mixed with meat smelled delicious, and many people were looking forward to it.

In the cave, there were just three stone bowls. Meng Sheng filled them for mother and son, and Zhong Yang, in that order. He ate directly from the pot with wood chopsticks. Other three didn't know how to use chopsticks and ate with their hands.

“Eat!”

Zhong Yang took the lead in eating the palm-sized meat, inhaling deeply: "This is too hot!"

"Eat slowly, how can I explain to the chief if you burn your mouth?" Meng Sheng said.

He cooled his meat with chopsticks while holding it.

Qiu Juan simply set down the stone bowl first, then took a slice of roasted chicken and tasted it. Previously, there was no pot at home. He rarely enjoyed cooked meals. When roasted, the chicken skin was golden and fragrant. He tried it first. The skin was oily and full of flavor. He can't help but fall in love with it.

"This roasted pheasant is delicious!" He grabbed another chicken leg and handed it to Luo, who was sitting next to him: "Mother, try it!”

Luo took it with a grin, and bite: "Well, the taste is very special!"

After seeing their mutual appreciation, Zhong Yang promptly set down the stone bowl and went to taste the roast chicken. “Let me see what you’re talking about.”

Meng Sheng sat back and waited for the beef to cool. He started by tasting the berry stew. The meat was thick, with a sweet and sour berry flavor on the outside. Few chews later, he tasted only meat. The flavor was lacking due to a lack of salt. Overall, this was still a really good meal and the most delicious meal he had here.

The berries whet everyone's appetite, especially Zhong Yang, allowing Meng Sheng to see how good a strong male's appetite was. Thanks to his foresight, he prepared more meat.

At the end of the meal, there was not even broth left.

Zhong Yang patted his belly and leaned against the cave wall. “You can cook an ordinary cow more tasty than my favorite animal heart!"

Meng Sheng ate a lot as well. “It’s practically cooked with just salt. Salt makes it more delicious. What I gave you this morning was also cooked with salt.”

"Really?"

"Well, salt will also make you more powerful."

Zhong Yang sighed "Bai ruined my previous salt. It would be useful to teach this method to the tribe's members."

“At the next food division, you could use this chance to tell everyone.” Qiu Juan suggested.

Meng Sheng nodded. "Qiu Juan is right, and the next time you share food, remember that. You could cook some meat and distribute it to everyone, so that everyone can taste it how delicious it is. When the time comes, the attention will undoubtedly fall on you, and not Kong Jia and Tang brothers."

"Meng Sheng, you're a genius!" Zhong Yang grinned and slapped Meng Sheng on the back. “You can help me out at the food division, and teach my mother by the way, okay?”

"No problem!"

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