Quiet Heart Abode Town.
At first, this place had only been the Shang Family's camp, surrounded by dense jungle. But after generations multiplied and thrived, clearing mountains, cutting down trees, and filling in swamps, it had become a small town of nearly two hundred thousand people. It had merchants, barbers, opera troupes, chefs, craftsmen, and more. At first, they had only served the camp, but they had gradually prospered and developed more industries by relying on it.
At that moment, five butchers were waiting in the camp kitchen. Most of them were sitting in chairs, dozing off here and there. Suddenly, a maid shoved open the door. "Stop sleeping! Get to work! The Fourth Young Miss needs it right now!"
The butchers immediately jolted awake. They swiftly tied up the sheep sleeping on the straw, then brought the knife down to slaughter it and drain its blood. Its legs kept thrashing until every drop had been drained, showing how well it had been raised. They then inserted two thick, long iron needles into its heels and repeatedly pumped air inside with a tool. Before long, the entire sheep had swollen up. The butchers worked together, smoothly peeling off the hide before beginning to butcher and slice the meat.
The maids waiting impatiently nearby immediately picked up plates of fresh mutton and jogged all the way to a courtyard in the camp. Every window of the rooms in the courtyard had been opened. The inside was brightly lit, while white mist drifted out amid the billowing heat.
When they pushed open the door, they heard water boiling with a glug-glug sound. In the middle of the room, on a round pearwood table, sat a strange-looking stove. Charcoal burned in its base, while a pointed cone in the middle pierced a pot