Stitching

Jian Mo pressed a hand on his shoulder. "You don't need to help. I can manage on my own, so sit down."

Only then did Wu Jiong stop insisting.

After running around all day, they had both used up a great deal of energy.

Jian Mo washed the Wood-Stabilizing Root and tossed it into a pot to boil. Then he diced some meat, preparing to make the meat patties Wu Jiong liked.

Once the Wood-Stabilizing Root was cooked, he mashed it, added oil and spices, and mixed everything evenly. He spread the mixture on a stone slab and fried it until both sides had a crisp, browned crust.

He put the meat patties on the stone slab to fry as well. Since they were half fat and half lean, it was harder to give them a crisp crust, but they would be full of savory juices once cooked.

Jian Mo worked with great speed.

While the Wood-Stabilizing Root and meat patties were frying, he set the washed, discarded shell blades on the stone slab. Then he placed the razor clam adductor muscles on them and added chopped spicy fruit, chopped leaf celery leaves, a few grains of coarse salt, and a small piece of beast fat.

Catching Wu Jiong's eye, Jian Mo said, "Let's try it. If it really tastes bad, we'll feed it to the Flying-Winged Beast later."

Wu Jiong nodded, watching the shellfish meat intently.

He could already smell its aroma.

The Wood-Stabilizing Root and meat patties both cooked quickly.

The weather was cold, so they ate each piece as soon as it was fried. The piping-hot, delicious food soon chased away the day's fatigue.

By the time they finished the Wood-Stabilizing Root and meat patties, the shellfish meat on the shells was cooked too, its juices bubbling gently.

Jian Mo hadn't added any water while grilling it, yet now it was overflowing with juice.

The chopped spicy fruit, leaf celery leaves, and beast fat had combined to chase away the shellfish's fishy smell, replacing it with a distinctive aroma.

Jian Mo swallowed.

The smell was really just like what he used to smell at barbecue stalls.

Although there was no minced garlic, it had a different aroma of its own, no worse than garlic.

Wu Jiong smelled the wondrous aroma too. He gazed at the shellfish meat, his eyes bright. "Can we eat it now?"

"It's ready." Jian Mo picked up the shells with his chopsticks, giving one to Wu Jiong and taking one for himself. "Careful, it's hot."

Despite his warning, Jian Mo couldn't wait to bring his own shell close. He blew on it, then carefully sipped some of the juice.

So fresh!

A wave of fresh, savory flavor swept over Jian Mo, rushing straight to the top of his head. Next came the layered fragrance of the chopped spicy fruit and leaf celery leaves, which combined with the beast fat to create a slightly spicy finish.

Delicious!

Jian Mo narrowed his eyes, blew on the shellfish meat, and took a bite. His mouth was filled with thick, tender meat, fresh, fragrant, and so hot it could practically make him break out in a sweat.

No wonder oysters had reigned over barbecue stalls for so many years.

That flavor was enough to leave a person in a delicious daze.

Jian Mo slowly ate the whole piece of shellfish meat before coming back to himself and looking over to see how Wu Jiong had reacted.

Before he could ask, Wu Jiong spoke up. "It's better than I expected. It's not fishy, and it's very tender."

Jian Mo beamed. "I told you, the adductor muscle should be the tastiest part of a shellfish. It would've been such a waste not to bring them back."

Wu Jiong said, "You're a good cook. Most people wouldn't make it taste good."

Jian Mo said, "That's right. When it comes to food, I'm standing on the shoulders of immortals. The food where I come from is truly varied. What I can make is nothing special."

After hearing that, Wu Jiong said, "That's really hard to imagine. You're already the best cook I've ever seen or heard of."

Jian Mo gestured with his hands. "The gap between my cooking and that of the good cooks back home is about the same as the gap between the people in the tribe and me. Their theory and techniques are probably a whole level above mine."

Seeing Wu Jiong's look of disbelief, Jian Mo said, "I'll take you to try some if we get the chance."

Wu Jiong nodded seriously. "Okay."

Chapter 12: Stitching

Of the shellfish meat Jian Mo had originally said he would give the Flying-Winged Beast, the beast ultimately got only two pieces to try.

Jian Mo put the rest away, planning to eat it over time.

They had already eaten grilled shellfish meat yesterday, and they could have it again today.

He boiled the remaining adductor muscles in salted water, took them out, drained them, and put them on a rack, planning to take them outside to dry.

Once dried, the adductor muscles would become dried scallops. Whether used in soup or ground into powder for seasoning later, they would taste wonderful.

When he took the shellfish meat outside to dry, he saw quite a few people in the tribe making shell blades by the river.

Although the shells were large, their edges were too thin and brittle. To make shell blades, they had to knock off a broad section all the way around with stones, leaving only the hardest part at the back, then sharpen the edges.

Only then would the shell blades be more durable.

Jian Mo watched for a while, then decided to go back and get some shells to grind himself.

He might not be able to do a very fine job, but if he gave them a rough grinding first, Wu Jiong wouldn't have to work as hard when he took over and sharpened them.

Just as Jian Mo turned toward Wu Jiong's house, someone called out behind him. "Jian Mo-come and help!"

Jian Mo looked back and saw Hong Qiu supporting a beastman as he limped toward him.

The beastman's left calf was badly injured. Blood had run down it, staining his entire lower leg red.

Jian Mo's brow twitched. He hurried over to support the beastman's other arm. "How did you get hurt?"

Jian Mo knew the beastman, whose name was A Da. He had been among the people who went to gather shells for blades yesterday.

A Da was a little uncomfortable and tried to dodge Jian Mo's helping hand, but in the end he couldn't.

He explained awkwardly, "I saw a Long-Headed Beast while I was on patrol today. It looked like I could take it, but I didn't expect the rocks to be covered in dew and moss. I slipped as soon as I stepped on them. The Long-Headed Beast got away, and I cut my leg too."

After listening, Jian Mo crouched down to examine his leg.

His leg was still bleeding heavily. When Jian Mo gently pulled the wound open, he could see the muscle that had been cut inside.

Slightly thick-looking blood kept welling out of the severed muscle, as though there were a spring in it.

Jian Mo took off his beast-hide coat and wrapped it tightly around A Da's injured leg, pressing hard to stop the bleeding. Then he said, "The injury's a little serious. It might need a few stitches."