I want warmth to dispel the chill from my body.
On the carpet at my feet, a white shadow was going berserk.
The Cotton Candy rolled around wildly, making a mess of its fur, which was covered in ice crystals, on the carpet.
It kept making soft whimpering noises, clearly frightened by the awful weather outside; only this house, filled with the scent of wood, could give it a sense of security.
Once my body calmed down, the feeling of being frozen was gone.
Su Wei picked up the heavy bucket of water and headed towards the kitchen.
The Cotton Candy kept circling the bucket, sticking its little head out to see the catch.
"Don't rush, we'll have some meat tonight."
Su Wei changed into soft cotton slippers.
Gently push the playful Cotton Candy away with your foot.
He rolled up his sleeves and looked at the harvest in the bucket.
That eight-pound Arctic fennel was a big guy; keeping it to make smoked dried fish would be a great way to store up food.
Tonight's main course is the five-pound rainbow trout, plus two three-spined fish for added flavor.
On such a cold day, nothing is more comforting than a bowl of hot soup.
The boning knife was pulled from the knife holder, gleaming coldly in the light.
Su Wei reached into the cold bucket, precisely grabbed the rainbow trout's gills, lifted it up and slammed it onto the cutting board, then struck the fish's head hard with the back of a knife.
The entire set of movements was clean and crisp.
"Shh"
As the scraper moved, silvery-white fish scales flew out like snowflakes.
Remove the internal organs, scrape off the black membrane, and chop it into several pieces.
The Cotton Candy couldn't wait any longer.
It draped its two front paws over Su Wei's legs, desperately tiptoed, sniffing around with its wet little nose, and drool was dripping from the corners of its mouth.
Go get a bowl.
Su Wei gently patted its forehead with the back of his wet knife.
The little guy immediately landed, darted to the corner like lightning, ran back with its stainless steel food bowl in its mouth, and threw it at Su Wei's feet.
With a crisp clang.
Then it sat obediently, its fluffy tail sweeping the floor behind it clean.
Su Wei cut off a piece of the plump fish belly and threw it into the small pot next to him to cook.
In the wilderness, where medical care and medicine are scarce, eating cooked food is safer.
After settling the little one in, Su Wei started working on her own task.
He heated the wok to melt the lard. The snow-white fat quickly turned into liquid, and an overpowering aroma of meat exploded out, filling the nostrils.
Heat the oil to 70% of its maximum temperature, then add the fish pieces.
"Sizzle!"
The cracking sound was particularly loud in the quiet wooden cabin.
White smoke rose from the kitchen, followed by an enticing aroma of smoky cooking.
Su Wei shook the pot handle to prevent the fish skin from sticking to the pot.
Once the fish skin was fried until both sides were golden brown and slightly charred, and the oil inside started to seep out, he knew that the crucial step had arrived.
If this step is done correctly, the fish soup will turn as white as milk.
Su Wei picked up the kettle that had been boiling and poured the boiling water into the oil pan.
"Splash!"
White steam billowed out, and the pot instantly boiled.
When clear oil and boiling water collide, the soup immediately turns milky white and thick.
He put the lid on the pot, turned the heat up, and added only a few slices of ginger and a handful of dried scallion segments.
Ten minutes later, the savory aroma filled the entire room, even overpowering the smell of burning wood in the fireplace.
The Cotton Candy frantically tugged at his trouser leg with its paws, letting out a low growl of possessiveness.
Su Wei lifted the lid of the pot. The broth inside was already quite thick, and the golden fish pieces were faintly visible in the milky white soup.
He sprinkled it with salt and white pepper, and finally tossed in a handful of chopped green onions.
The green and white colors look very appetizing.
First, I served a portion of Cotton Candy, then poured a spoonful of unsalted thick soup over them.
The little guy buried his head in the bowl, eating noisily, without even lifting his head.
Su Wei filled a large bowl to the brim.
He held the bowl and sank into the armchair in front of the fireplace.
Outside the window, the blizzard was still pounding against the glass like a madman, emitting a shrill, howling sound.
But at this moment, the sound sounds more like the accompaniment to impotent rage.
Su Wei leaned closer to the rim of the bowl and blew away the surface oil.
A sip of hot soup.
It was a scorching hot line of fire that burned its way down the esophagus into the stomach, where it exploded into a small sun in the center of the abdomen.
fresh.
It was so fresh it made your scalp tingle.
The slight spiciness of white pepper stimulates the tip of the tongue, and every pore on the body relaxes.
Su Wei let out a long breath and slumped onto the sofa.
He picked up a piece of fish, and with a gentle touch of his chopsticks, the garlic-clove-shaped fish meat fell off the bone.
Upon tasting, the fish skin is crispy and soft, soaking up the broth, while the fish meat is so tender that it hardly needs chewing, melting into a sweet and savory flavor on the tongue.
[Ding! You have enjoyed a perfectly creamy rainbow trout soup.]
[ Life Module Experience +21]
[ Life Module lv2 (144/300)]
[Gain temporary buff: Warm Current ]
[ Warm Current: Cold Resistance +20%, Stamina Recovery +30%, lasts 4 hours]
This is exactly what he wanted.
He finished the bowl of soup, even chewing and swallowing the chopped scallions at the bottom.
Su Wei felt a surge of heat throughout his body, and the chill that had seeped into his bones was completely expelled.
He put down the bowl and glanced at the Cotton Candy that was still licking its paws and washing its face.
The room was peaceful.
But he knew very well that this was the calm before the storm.
Su Wei turned his head, his gaze falling on the shelves on the wall.
A black rifle was hanging there.
He got up and walked over, his fingertips tracing the cold walnut stock, then he firmly grasped the gun and took it off.
Browning rifle.
His old partner.
And the.30-06 Hornady shotgun shell.
150 grains of ammunition.
These bullets are specifically designed for North America behemoths; whether it's an 800-pound red deer or the even more terrifying Kodiak brown bear, they're all the same in this caliber.
The gun was heavy, and its weight in my hand gave me peace of mind.
A flannel cloth stained with oil was spread out on the coffee table, with a bottle of gun oil and a cleaning rod next to it.
"Click."
The sound of pulling the bolt was crisp and pleasant.
He removed the bolt and inspected the firing pin and locking lug.
Although it was well-maintained, when dealing with a behemoth weighing several hundred kilograms, any negligence could be tantamount to playing with one's life.
He hadn't checked it for four or five days.
Proper maintenance and inspection are both necessary.