Old Acquaintance (Continued)

Upon hearing the news, Yun Long, the chieftain of the Mengshui Tribe, quickly arrived with his people.

The chieftain, with his fox-like eyes, still smiled and said, "Long time no see. I heard you've exchanged quite a bit of metal with the Jintuo Tribe. Congratulations!"

Wu Jiong: "Your tribe has had plenty of metal for a long time; we've only just acquired some. There's nothing to congratulate us on."

Yun Long patted Wu Jiong on the shoulder. "Your tribe is developing better and better, how can we not congratulate you? Come, come, set up a stall here, I've already had someone inform everyone, do you need any help?"

Jian Mo stand on ceremony. "It would be great if you could make a campfire for us, so we can grill sausages."

Yun Long could already smell the aroma. "Aren't these sausages cooked?"

Jian Mo: "Yes, but it tastes even better roasted over a fire."

Some members of the Mengshui Tribe were already on good terms with Jian Mo. When they heard there was good food and Yun Long didn't object, they enthusiastically brought firewood and started a fire next to their stall.

Jian Mo and Wu Jiong had brought wooden skewers with them, and now that they had a fire, they simply skewered the sausages and grilled them over the fire.

Sausages grilled over an open flame cook much faster, quickly developing a tiger-skin pattern, while the aroma of the fat and meat wafts far and wide.

Those present were all orcs and sub-orcs with a keen sense of smell; the aroma alone made their mouths water.

Jian Mo smiled and pulled out her dagger, cut the roasted sausage into sections, placed them on a large earthenware plate, and then held up the plate, gesturing for anyone who wanted some.

No one stood on ceremony with him; they each grabbed a piece and popped it into their mouths.

The moment the grilled sausage touches your mouth, the fragrant sausage bursts with oil, hot and delicious, unlike anything you've ever eaten before.

The people of the Mengshui Tribe were astonished:

"What is this made of? I've never tasted this before?"

"I've never eaten food with this texture before. Has a new beast arrived in your tribe?"

"It's delicious! Doctor Jian Mo, your cooking is superb!"

Jian Mo smiled and answered their questions selectively, "It's not a new beast, it's a new method."

Yun Long, eating a sausage, asked, "What would you like to trade? Cloth? Animal meat? Animal hides?"

Jian Mo shook her head. "No, we just want to change some seasonings. We'll accept all seasonings except salt powder, but we really want pepper powder and honey cubes."

Another sub-orc said, "Alas, it's a bit of a pity. My pepper powder just went moldy, and I had to throw away a batch. Do you want some bark from the Mingxiang tree?"

The bark of the fragrant tree is another spice; Jian Mo's somewhat similar to cinnamon, but with a stronger flavor.

Jian Mo nodded. "Yes, we'll need it when stewing meat."

The orc immediately replied, "I'll go home and get it."

Seeing that some people went home to get seasonings, others followed suit. They were worried that the sausages would be too popular and that Jian Mo's sausage supply would be quickly replaced.

As for seasonings, use more if you have them at home, less if you don't, and if you really have none, you can go out and get some.

First, we need to get some better-tasting sausages.

Jian Mo changed the seasonings quite smoothly.

They don't have fixed prices here; they assess the condition of each other's goods and can easily exchange them after a little negotiation.

Soon, Jian Mo had exchanged most of a basket for various spices, and he also had a large bag of the pepper powder he had been longing for.

Just as he was exchanging fragrant leaves with a sub-orc, he heard Wu Jiong call out from the side, "Brother Min Dang."

Jian Mo rarely heard Wu Jiong call anyone "brother." Sometimes he would call Qing Kuo and Di Ya" brother," but most of the time he didn't use any titles.

Wu Jiong's sudden calling him "Brother Ren" was rather unusual, and he subconsciously looked up.

Standing before me was a tall, subhuman beastman with a sharp, handsome appearance, though his eyes held a hint of weariness.

Jian Mo looked at him a few more times and thought he resembled many people from the Riverside Tribe.

They may be related.

Jian Mo smiled at the sub-orc named Min Dang, quickly exchanged the fragrant leaves with him, and handed the tray over. "Brother Min Dang, please have a taste."

Min Dang greeted him, "Wu Jiong, Doctor Jian Mo."

Wu Jiong: "How have you guys been lately?"

Min Dang smiled slightly, "It's alright, the hardest time is over, things are slowly getting better now. I've come to get some sausages to take home and eat."

As he spoke, Min Dang handed over a soft bag woven from grass stems. "These are the pepper buds I collected earlier. See if you can exchange them?"

Jian Mo took the bag, and even before opening it, she could smell the enticing aroma wafting from inside. Upon opening it, she found the pepper stamens to be very dry and well-preserved.

He gently pinched the peppercorn core, and it snapped off instantly, releasing an even stronger aroma that made Jian Mo want to sneeze.

Jian Mo exclaimed in delight, "These peppercorns are of such high quality! Are you replacing them all with sausages?"

Min Dang nodded. "It's no use keeping it here."

Jian Mo, oblivious to his implied meaning, casually replied, "With such high-quality peppercorns, I'll have to give you a basket of sausages. Brother Min Dang, should I have Wu Jiong carry them for you? The sausages are a bit heavy."

Wu Jiong: "Are you sure you can change here by yourself?"

Jian Mo casually replied, "What's wrong with that? We're already so familiar with the Mengshui Tribe."

Those waiting nearby to exchange their sausages joined in the jeering, "That's right, we're not going to eat Doctor Jian Mo!"

Thinking of something, Jian Mo smiled at Wu Jiong, leaned closer to his ear, and whispered, "Don't worry, I won't be poached by them."

Wu Jiong nodded. "Then I'll deliver it."

Min Dang said, "Thank you, you've worked hard."

Jian Mo looked up and smiled, "We should be thanking you, the quality of these peppercorns is just too good. Brother Min Dang, wait a minute, let me clear out this bag for you."

Min Dang rarely showed a smile, "No need, you can have it. I have many more bags like this at home."