OFTLHFRO C17
by NininiaChapter 17: You Want a Restaurant Too?
It took a few moments for several hunters to come back to their senses, and they walked over to stand beside them in surprise.
One of the older hunters looked at Luo Mingchen’s completely unharmed hand and exclaimed, “Young brother, your strength is truly impressive.”
Luo Mingchen could only awkwardly smile, “Not bad…”
“That’s not just strong; you’re practically a marvel.”
Seeing they were about to say more, Luo Mingchen diverted the subject, “Is there only this one big wild boar? Otherwise, you all figure out how to handle it; I’ll go take care of the kids.”
After saying this, Luo Mingchen hurriedly left, fearing they would stop him with questions.
Walking a few steps, Luo Mingchen overheard a hunter say to Huo Yan, “Your sworn brother is amazing.”
Luo Mingchen didn’t listen carefully to what Huo Yan replied. He quickly took the child home, worried they might call him a monster.
How could a normal person kill such a large wild boar with one punch?
However…
He hoped to get a good share of the boar meat.
Thinking this, Luo Mingchen placed Huo Xinyue on a small stool, wanting to peek through the door crack.
But just as he reached the doorway, he collided with Huo Yan who was pushing the door open.
Luo Mingchen stepped back half a pace, his shoulder aching slightly from the bump.
But that wasn’t the main issue. Nervously, Luo Mingchen asked, “Did they really take the wild boar away?”
“No. That’s the wild boar you killed yourself. They’re going to find something to help carry it back for you.”
Hearing this, Luo Mingchen felt awkward. “Maybe we should share the meat? After all, you all found it together.”
“There’s still a male wild boar up the mountain. This one escaped down the mountain, and since you killed this one, it’s yours. If you can’t finish it, you can sell it to the county’s restaurant for a few dozen taels of silver.”
Hearing this, Luo Mingchen frowned, “Such a big wild boar is only worth a few dozen taels of silver?”
Huo Yan said, “Wild boar is somewhat common among delicacies. A few dozen taels is the price from the large restaurants in the county town. If you don’t mind the trouble, find out if anyone is hosting a wedding and drag it there to sell. You might get a hundred taels.”
Thinking carefully, Luo Mingchen realized a few dozen taels here was still a considerable sum.
But after seeing Huo Yan’s savings last night, he thought a few dozen taels was nothing.
“Should we sell it or keep it for ourselves?”
“Either is fine.”
After a moment of thought, Luo Mingchen felt it might be better to sell it, “So we’ll go to the county town this afternoon?”
Huo Yan agreed, “Okay.”
Several villagers helped carry the wild boar inside, “Let’s put it in the yard for now.”
“Alright, thank you.”
Luo Mingchen thanked them and heard someone say he was truly strong. With him around, Xishui Village wouldn’t fear wild beasts attacking.
He could only say these people… were very simple and sincere.
At noon, Luo Mingchen didn’t bother to cook much, just casually boiled a pot of rice, a bowl of stir-fried green peppers with meat, a bowl of braised pork, and a plate of pickled cucumbers.
Huo Yan, hearing Luo Mingchen say it was just casual food, “…”
Sitting down, Huo Yan said with meaning, “I thought there was only a pot of porridge.”
Luo Mingchen didn’t understand, “You want porridge?”
“No.”
Luo Mingchen assumed he was just being polite, “If you want something, tell me in advance, and if I can, I’ll cook it. By the way, there’s a pot of mung bean soup on the stove. When we get back this afternoon, I’ll chill it with well water. It tastes somewhat like porridge.”
Huo Yan was stunned. “Didn’t you make steamed buns?”
“Yes. When Xiao Hui and the others come back hungry, they can just eat those.”
At this, Luo Mingchen thought for a moment, “How about we buy some jars? I want to pickle some vegetables and duck eggs. Those go well with porridge or steamed buns. In the morning, I can stir-fry some sour beans as well, even put them in noodles.”
Huo Yan had no objection, only asking, “Making so much, don’t you get tired?”
He didn’t marry a wife to be a cook. It was nice if she could cook, but if she got exhausted from fear of being chased away, that would be miserable.
“Is this tiring?”
Luo Mingchen was not someone pampered all his life; he was fortunate to have lived in the city but had done many laborious money-earning jobs, like carrying bricks, washing dishes, handing out flyers…
Later, a hotel owner thought he was too pitiful and put him in the back kitchen as a vegetable washer, which stabilized his life. He also worked hard and got into university.
After the apocalypse, Luo Mingchen had to do even more to survive.
So, in this world without zombie threats, school troubles, and with a place to live, all he had to worry about was how to earn money. Life was much easier.
Of course, Luo Mingchen felt relaxed only if he had a place to live.
He didn’t have great ambitions; comfort was enough.
Huo Yan thought for a moment and said, “Don’t tire yourself.”
“I’m not only cooking for you. I also have to eat.”
How could he be a nanny?
What he cooked were things he loved. When in a good mood, he cooked what they wanted to eat too.
Besides, Luo Mingchen liked cooking; he just hated cleaning up pots and pans.
“Mm.”
While eating, the village chief’s youngest son came by holding a few pounds of meat and called out, “Brother Huo!”
The door was slightly ajar, and Huo Yan could see Yu Bei.
Yu Bei smiled as he entered and handed over the meat, “Brother Huo, enjoy. My father told me to bring this wild boar meat.”
Huo Yan took the meat and said, “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome…”
Yu Bei sniffed and swallowed nervously, “Brother Huo, this dish was cooked by Brother Luo? Smells so good.”
Huo Yan nodded, “Yeah. Want to come in and eat a bit?”
“No thanks. My mother is waiting for me to eat. I’ll come by again to scrounge food, hehe.”
Yu Bei hurried off.
Luo Mingchen wore disposable gloves and tore apart the tender braised meat for Huo Xinyue. Seeing Huo Yan come back with more meat, he asked, “Did they share meat with you too?”
Huo Yan put the meat on the table, “This is my share since I participated. The one in the yard is yours. Everyone who helped got a share.”
“…Oh.”
The midday sun was strong, and all three wore straw hats as they went out.
Before leaving, Luo Mingchen fed some large Chinese cabbage from his space to the ox to prevent it from giving out on the way.
The wild boar was covered with many big leaves to keep it from going bad before reaching its destination.
Not many people were in town at noon, so they didn’t wait long in line.
If it were like the morning, they might have been delayed a long time on the road.
Before entering the town, guards asked a few questions and looked at the wild boar, then took the fee and let them in.
There were many wealthy landowners in Yuelan County, but Luo Mingchen was too lazy to visit each household, so he went to the biggest restaurant, Fulai Restaurant.
The owner gladly gave him seventy-six taels of silver after inspection.
Luo Mingchen smugly smiled at Huo Yan and the daughter, very ostentatiously saying, “Tell me what you want to buy.”
Huo Xinyue cheekily pointed at Fulai Restaurant and smiled, “Want!”
Luo Mingchen awkwardly rubbed his nose, “…Uh, sweet Yueyue, forget it. Daddy can’t afford that.”
Huo Xinyue blinked and nodded obediently, indicating she understood.
Seeing Huo Yan looking at him, Luo Mingchen felt disheartened, “You want a restaurant too?”
“…No.”
Coming all the way to the county town, they couldn’t buy nothing.
However, after wandering around, they didn’t buy much but got to witness a good show.