All The Furry Creatures In The Beast World Are Farming With Me – CH71

Chapter 71

The young wolves’ group-fighting game was forcibly called to a stop, and all of them were sent to stand as punishment.

It was still raining outside, so the punishment locations differed according to age. Sub-adults over sixteen were not afraid of getting rained on, so they stood outside the cave. Those under twelve were more likely to fall ill, so they stood inside the cave. Young wolves between twelve and sixteen had bodies a little weaker than sub-adults, so they stood at the cave entrance.

In order to supervise these young wolves, Lang Yan chose his own cave as the location. This way, if they made even the slightest movement, he would hear it.

While walking from the cave where the young wolves had been fighting to his own cave, Lang Yan even began to suspect that when his father had arranged the sub-adults’ cave around his own cave back then, it had been purely to torment him.

If it had been any other location, finding the sub-adults would not be this convenient.

The sub-adults were very loving and took the initiative to help the four- and five-year-old cubs.

To the cubs, not having to step on mud was quite good. It would have been even better if the animal hides did not choke their necks when the sub-adults carried them.

Fortunately, the chief’s cave was right ahead.

The young wolves lined up according to Lang Yan’s requirements.

They had only just stood properly when the sub-adults outside could no longer hold back and began exchanging looks.

They really wanted to go play in the rain. Standing here and only getting rained on while being unable to do anything was too uncomfortable.

However, the chief’s expression just now had been very bad. Even the boldest sub-adult did not dare provoke the chief right now.

Just as the group of sub-adults were communicating with their eyes, Lang Yan brought two back baskets out of the cave and threw them to Lang Yong. Then he pointed at several of the sub-adults who had been the rowdiest just now. “Go put the toys away. If even one is missing, replace it yourselves.”

The sub-adults drooped their heads and went to look for the toys.

Good news: because the place where they had been fighting was inside the cave, the toys had not been lost.

Bad news: just now, while they had been snatching them back and forth, many toys had flown into the corners. And this cave was relatively large, with many items placed inside, especially the containers that had been successively brought over from the Snow Wolf Tribe. Every single one could hide a toy.

The sub-adults were forced to begin a major cleaning.

While searching for the building blocks and tangrams, they rummaged through the things in the cave, wishing they could turn the entire cave upside down.

Without the rowdiest ones, the other sub-adults lowered their heads and pretended to be mute.

Lang Yan glanced at them, looked around, and asked the group of members who watched every bit of excitement, “Aren’t you hungry?”

The spectating members said, “Hungry, hungry!” As they spoke, they hurriedly slipped away.

Food was being served at the foot of the mountain, but without Lang Yan’s permission, the group of young wolves could only watch as the other members walked past them, happily going down the mountain to get food.

Before long, members carried food back to the cave, passing by the cave again.

Although the main reason they had gone to the Snow Wolf Tribe to learn was for the cubs, Lang Lan and the other members had truly learned quite a few skills. The food these past few days, even ordinary stewed meat, was more fragrant than before. Today’s food was abundant, and the scent could be smelled from quite far away. Unfortunately, it was raining today, and most members had to return to the cave to eat.

Lang Yan’s cave was in the most central position of the entire tribe. The vast majority of members had to pass by this side when returning to their caves.

The other members looked at this group of young wolves who had made mistakes, all more or less carrying the thought of watching a show. After all, the sub-adults had not been rowdy for only a day or two. It was rare to see them looking so wilted and dejected, so they deliberately carried food in front of them, letting them clearly see today’s meal.

The fragrances of different foods drilled into their noses. The hunger they could originally endure now became torture. Standing as punishment became exceptionally hard to bear, especially for the targeted sub-adults. The enticing fragrance lingered at the tips of their noses, making them wish they could directly rush down the mountain and eat wildly.

However, they did not dare. If they moved recklessly, what awaited them would not be as simple as standing as punishment.

Lang Yan waited until the other members had finished eating and Lang Yong and the others in the cave had found all the toys before finally speaking to the sub-adults standing outside the cave. “Go down and get food.”

Hearing that they could eat, the group of sub-adults immediately became happy and quickly threw the matter of being punished to the back of their minds. Eating was more important!

However, when they reached the foot of the mountain, the group of sub-adults instantly froze.

They saw that in the remaining pots, aside from leafy vegetables, there were still only leafy vegetables.

As the leader of the sub-adults, Lang Yong hesitated for a moment, then boldly went to ask Lang Lan, “Lan, where’s lunch?”

Lang Lan had a rare good temper today and pointed at the leafy vegetables in front of them. “It’s all here.”

All the sub-adults: “???”

Impossible. They could not accept it. It was absolutely impossible that there were only leafy vegetables!

Lang Yong continued asking, “Then what about ribs, pan-fried meat, and roasted meat skewers?” These were all meat dishes they had seen just now.

Only then did Lang Lan raise her head. “You mean potato-stewed ribs, pan-fried curved-horned beast meat, and charcoal-grilled pork belly?”

Each time she mentioned one, the sub-adults swallowed. When she finished speaking, the sub-adults collectively nodded. “Yes, yes, yes!” Those were exactly them!

Lang Lan pointed at the empty stone pots beside them. “They’re all gone. You came late, so you can only eat the remaining food. Come earlier next time.”

The Snow Wolf Tribe’s food was prepared according to the number of people, with three to five extra portions counted beyond the actual number. After subtracting losses, by the time the last member was served, basically not much remained. Everyone divided it up, each person ate one more bite, and the pot was empty. If one day the members at the back did not receive any, Lang Shuo or the beastman cooking would make something easy to cook to ensure everyone could eat their fill.

The Black Wolf Tribe was different. The Black Wolf Tribe had many members. Added to the fact that they had been used to snatching food since childhood, their appetites were much bigger. There was no way to make the same food according to headcount. They simply made meat dishes and vegetable dishes half and half. The types differed, and people chose for themselves. First come, first served. Those who came later made their own.

The meat dishes at noon had been too delicious. Lang Yan had said that today’s food could be refilled as long as it was not wasted, so quite a few members had eaten two portions.

The meat dishes could be refilled, but there was no need to refill the leafy vegetables. That was why now, only leafy vegetables remained.

Thinking of how Lang Yan had said that if food was insufficient, they could only cook more leafy vegetables, Lang Lan sympathized with the sub-adults in front of her for a moment.

“What?!” The group of sub-adults were shocked, even more unable to accept this than when they had been standing as punishment just now. Standing as punishment only meant standing there and would not make them lose anything. Missing a meal was different. If they ate one meal less today, then they would forever have one less meal than others! Forever!

Lang Lan did not take their wailing to heart at all and only reminded them, “If you get any louder, be careful the chief makes you go back up there and stand, then only lets you come down after everyone finishes dinner.”

Hearing this, the sub-adults were instantly startled.

This was something the chief could do.

After hesitating between not eating and eating leafy vegetables, the sub-adults still chose the latter. Leafy vegetables tasted bad, but at least they could fill their stomachs a little. That was better than being hungry enough for their stomachs to growl.

It was just that looking at the leafy vegetables in their bowls, then thinking of the dishes Lang Lan had mentioned just now, they instantly felt life was not worth living.

If they had known, they would not have fought in the morning. If they had not fought, they would not have been punished to stand. If they had not been punished to stand, they would not have had to eat only leafy vegetables.

Regret!

The group of sub-adults dejectedly carried the leafy vegetables back to the cave, not wanting to eat them.

When they entered the cave, the expressions of the young wolves confined inside were exactly the same as when they had heard Lang Lan’s words.

The young wolves did not dare believe their ears. One grabbed a sub-adult and asked, “Brother, where’s our food?”

The sub-adult was holding two bowls of leafy vegetables. Hearing this, he said, “Come, raise your hands.”

The seven-year-old young wolf, inexperienced in the ways of the world, obediently stretched out both hands.

The sub-adult placed the bowl in his hands. “This is it. Eat. Don’t waste it. If you can’t finish it, find someone to eat with you.”

The seven-year-old young wolf held the wooden bowl that was bigger than his head. “???”

The sub-adults resisted even more than these young wolves. However, the chief was watching from the side, so they could only eat the leafy vegetables with an average taste while shedding tears inside.

In truth, Lang Lan had added meat to the leafy vegetables, but unfortunately, the members of their tribe served food themselves. In other words, they could pick a little. Every member in front had stretched their spoons toward the meat-heavy parts. By the time it was their turn, it was not much different from stir-fried leafy vegetables alone.

The sub-adults held large bowls and sat in a row outside the cave, gazing in the direction of the Snow Wolf Tribe. They ate one bite, then raised their heads to look once.

The first day after leaving Lang Shuo, they missed him. The first day after leaving the Snow Wolf Tribe, they wanted to go back.

Lang Shuo, whom the sub-adults were thinking of, was currently busy processing some ingredients that could not be stored for long and arranging meals for the next few days. The burned lime would not cool down for a day or two. He could not possibly just sit and wait. There were many matters in the tribe, and there was basically no time to be idle.

The prey handling methods were still the same few plans as before, and everyone was already used to them. The recently gathered fruits that could be stored were all placed in the cellar. Those that could not be stored were prioritized for eating, and if they could not be finished, they were made into dried fruit.

There were also other foods that could not be stored and could not be made into dried goods, but the quantity was small, so Lang Shuo directly paired them with other ingredients and cooked them in pots. Only potatoes were different. Because they had planted a lot themselves, the ones dug from outside were not worth specially storing.

The patch of potatoes they had planted had been carefully cared for, with weeds removed and pests killed regularly. The potatoes finally harvested were also large. Outside, potatoes grew one plant here and one plant there, surrounded by wild grass and other plants, competing with one another for nutrients. Added to being bitten by insects, the plants looked rather pitiful.

The gathering team was worried that if it rained for several days and they went to dig these potatoes later, they would rot. Therefore, when they saw rain, they hurriedly rushed to harvest the nearby potatoes.

With a short growing time and poor living conditions, these potatoes were only half the size of the ones they had planted.

Lang Shuo thought for a moment. He picked out a portion to make mashed potatoes tonight, while the remaining crooked and twisted ones were given to the sub-adults to move to the river and wash clean.

The sub-adults did not understand why. Lang Nuo asked with sincere doubt, “Shuo, can we eat this many in one meal?” He suspected the gathering team had dug back all the potatoes in the territory. Otherwise, how could there be so many strange-shaped ones? Even if their appetites were large, their tribe could not finish this many.

Lang Shuo said, “Only the ones in that back basket are for tonight. The rest will be processed into starch.”

In truth, keeping these potatoes and slowly eating them was not impossible, but Lang Shuo truly missed other delicious foods. Even a clever housewife could not cook without rice. These days, he had almost made all kinds of meat and leafy vegetables into flowers, but there still were not enough varieties. He might as well take this opportunity to make some potato starch.

With starch, he could make some crispy fried pork. Even if meat slices were marinated well, frying them in the pot still made them a bit dry. They were not as tasty as real crispy pork.

As Lang Shuo thought this, he could not help reminiscing and described the texture of crispy fried pork to the sub-adults. “Golden and crispy on the outside, the meat is very tender, not dry at all…” It had been too long since he had eaten it. Now that he recalled it, it felt even more delicious, making him wish he could eat it right now.

The few sub-adults held back the urge to drool, lifted the back baskets, and ran. “We’ll be back soon!”

The temptation of food was astonishing. The sub-adults who usually often got distracted while working went to the river and did nothing else. They even ignored the large grass carp splashing in the river and focused entirely on washing the potatoes. In half a day, several back baskets of potatoes were all washed clean.

Lang Shuo had them go move basins over. They placed the basins on flat ground, then placed a clean wooden board inside. On top of the wooden board, they placed rough stones, the kind usually used to grind stone knives, bone knives, and other tools.

Lang Shuo demonstrated how to grind the potatoes to pieces.

This step required no technique. The sub-adults got the hang of it quickly, each holding a basin and rubbing potatoes there.

Lang Shuo reminded them to remember to splash water, otherwise the potato starch would stick to the stones.

By the time the sky was almost dark, the sub-adults had successfully ground all the potatoes. Lang Shuo took a large basket and filtered the potato residue.

Without cloth, filtering this way was a little less efficient. Lang Shuo filtered it several more times, and the final result was still not bad.

The potato residue could be made into pancakes, but its nutritional value was not high and it did not provide much heat. Therefore, Lang Shuo did not do anything extra and directly had the members take it to feed the prey.

The remaining water was all in the basins. The top was covered with large baskets to prevent insects from flying in, then placed in the shade.

After the starch water stood still for one night, the next morning, the clear water on top was poured out, leaving only the potato starch at the very bottom.

The starch at this time could be used directly, but the weather was hot, so it would spoil easily. It needed to be dried to store well. It was still raining today, so Lang Shuo placed the basins containing starch beside the stove, using the stove’s heat to dry them.

The sub-adults had been looking forward to it since morning. Hearing that it could only be used after drying, they were instantly incomparably disappointed.

Seeing their expressions, Lang Shuo knew that unless they ate crispy fried pork, this group of sub-adults could not possibly settle down.

For the sake of the fact that they had worked so hard yesterday despite the rain, Lang Shuo thought about it and decided to begin making it today. “We’ll prepare it now. Who’s going to cut meat?”

“Me, me, me!” Hearing that they could eat it today, the sub-adults instantly seemed injected with chicken blood. Cutting meat was work they often did.

Lang Shuo chose two with good knife skills and taught them to cut the meat into long strips. Then he prepared the marinade. After the meat was cut, it was directly placed into the marinade.

The weather was hot, so the meat did not need to marinate for too long. After reminding them to pay attention to driving away mosquitoes and flies, Lang Shuo took a large clay bowl, scooped some starch from a basin with less water, cracked in several cluck-cluck bird eggs, added salt and a little Sichuan pepper powder, then stirred evenly.

After preparing this side, Lang Shuo called Lang Nuo over to tend the fire. He poured half a pot of oil into the pot. After heating it, he changed to a low flame.

Lang Shuo did not waste time. He used chopsticks to pick up the marinated meat that had been marinated first, placed it into the starch batter, fished it out, and directly placed it into the oil pot.

The meat coated in starch batter continuously bubbled in the oil pot. Lang Shuo quickly placed down another strip.

The difficulty of making crispy fried pork was not high, but picking each strip up, coating it in batter, and placing it in the pot one by one was repetitive. Added to needing to grip chopsticks with strength, the hand could easily cramp.

Lang Shuo simply put down the chopsticks, washed his hands clean, directly grabbed a handful of marinated meat and placed it into the starch batter, then placed the strips into the pot one by one.

Hands were still easier to use. Efficiency immediately increased by a lot.

The finished crispy fried pork was picked into a bowl by Lang Yun.

At first, Lang Shuo had wanted the sub-adults to do this work. After all, they only needed to judge whether it was cooked by color, so the method was simple. Unfortunately, the group of sub-adults did not trust one another, each feeling that the others would steal food. After choosing back and forth, they still could not decide who should help. Lang Shuo simply waved his hand and had them go cut meat instead. Since it was all raw meat, there was no need to worry about stealing food. The job of scooping the crispy fried pork fell to Lang Yun.

The golden crispy fried pork looked extremely enticing. The members responsible for preparing food nearby frequently looked this way.

Lang Shuo explained, “When I finish frying all of it, we’ll eat it together tonight.”

Frying crispy pork required oil, and their tribe had two kinds of edible oil. One was animal oil rendered from the fat on prey, and the other was plant oil pressed from oil-containing plants.

The former was easy to render, but the quantity was small and was only used when stir-frying leafy vegetables. The latter required several steps: grinding, steaming, and pressing. It worked on several kinds of plants. Although it was a little troublesome, the amount made was more than animal oil.

It was just that this “more” was relative. Added together, the two kinds of oil were only barely enough to use. This was under the condition that they did not often fry food.

Crispy fried pork was delicious, but it consumed too much oil. Even though Lang Shuo tried his best to control the oil at the most appropriate temperature, the oil in the pot still decreased quickly. According to this trend, the next time they ate crispy fried pork, they would have to wait until peanuts or soybeans were harvested. Therefore, this time, Lang Shuo made a little more, letting everyone eat to their hearts’ content.

This kind of food could be eaten both as a dish and as a snack. Once they started eating, there would be no end. In order to prevent the amount from decreasing the more he fried, Lang Shuo and Lang Yun only tasted the saltiness. As for the sub-adults, he did not even let them taste it, because once they started eating, they would be unable to stop.

After frying crispy fried pork for half an afternoon, they finally finished work at dusk. By this time, dinner was also ready. Lang Shuo had everyone eat dinner first while he divided the crispy fried pork.

One portion was for the cubs. The cubs were too young, and now it was night, so they definitely could not be given everything at once. Lang Shuo separated out their share, planning to give them a little each day.

After dividing the cubs’ portion, Lang Shuo hesitated for a moment. The black wolf cubs had always eaten together with the snow wolf cubs before. He did not know whether they were adapting after returning to the tribe. Looking at the remaining crispy fried pork, Lang Shuo finally took some out.

After separating the cubs’ portions, the rest was for the young wolves and adult members. Crispy fried pork leaned toward being a snack, so regardless of age, the amount was the same. This was easy to handle. Lang Shuo directly took out the scale made earlier.

There was more than one rope on the scale. Different ropes had different weighing ranges. After weighing the total weight, he removed the fraction and only took the whole number, calculated the amount for each member, then began dividing. Weighing it with the scale was even fairer than dividing it with bowls before. Each portion weighed the same.

By coincidence, the weighed amount happened to fill one bowl.

After weighing everything, there was still a little left, about two bowls’ worth. Lang Shuo divided it equally among the sub-adults. After all, they had been tempted by the smell of crispy fried pork for an entire afternoon and had not been idle all day. Giving them a bit more was only right.

The sub-adults received their divided crispy fried pork and could not wait to start eating. The first bite amazed them.

Sure enough, it was exactly as Lang Shuo had said. Golden and crispy on the outside, fragrant and crisp in the mouth. After tasting it, they simply could not stop!

For a moment, the sub-adults could not care that they had just finished dinner. They held the crispy fried pork and began eating.

Eating until a little too full was fine. They were not in a hurry to sleep. They would digest it all later. Food this delicious could not possibly wait until tomorrow!

The other members were not as eager as the sub-adults, but their liking for the crispy fried pork was not lacking at all. Even Lang Yu, who was always calm, ate several pieces in a row.

Lang Shuo put away the tools, raised his head, and saw that the sub-adults looked as if they were going to finish everything in one breath. He quickly reminded them, “Eat slowly. Once you finish this, there won’t be any more. Save some. Don’t finish it all in one go.” If they hurriedly finished everything today, tomorrow, they would definitely regret not saving a little.

Hearing this, the sub-adults paused. Lang Nuo asked, “Shuo, then when will you make it next time?”

Lang Shuo said, “Wait another month.” At the very least, they had to wait until peanuts ripened and peanut oil could be pressed. Otherwise, it simply could not be made.

Hearing that it would take this long, the sub-adults looked at the bowls in front of them. After hesitating for a moment, they decided to save some for tomorrow.

After Lang Shuo finished speaking and saw the sub-adults put away the remaining crispy fried pork, he reminded them, “Tomorrow morning, put it beside the stove and toast it a little. It’ll taste even better.”

After reminding the sub-adults, Lang Shuo went to feed the cubs.

The three cubs who had already transformed into human form were easier to handle. Lang Shuo gave each of them two pieces and let them eat slowly. The cubs who had not transformed into human form could not be treated this way. Crispy fried pork was fried in oil. If he directly fed it to them, before they finished eating, they could get oil all over themselves. He could not possibly wash them every time they were fed. If they were not washed, oil on their fur would easily stick to dust, so it could not be eaten this way.

Lang Shuo washed his hands clean, broke the crispy fried pork into small pieces, and placed them into the cubs’ little bowls. After breaking them all, he placed the bowls in front of the cubs.

The cubs knew that the food in the bowls could not be dragged out to eat, so their eating manners were very good and they did not make a mess everywhere.

Beside Lang Shuo, the sub-adults who had put away the crispy fried pork they had not finished were boredly looking around. Suddenly, they discovered that beside the cubs’ crispy fried pork, there was another basket. They could not help asking, “Shuo, whose is that?” Why was it so much more than theirs?

Lang Shuo looked back and answered, “It’s for the black wolf cubs. It’s not easy to make crispy fried pork, so I’m leaving some for them.”

Lang Shuo had not left much for the black wolf cubs. It was mainly because the cubs were too small, and the Black Wolf Tribe members had just taken them away. Sending some food from time to time would prevent the cubs from feeling uncomfortable in the Black Wolf Tribe.

Hearing this, Lang Nuo’s eyes lit up, and he immediately said, “Crispy fried pork doesn’t taste good after being left too long. Shuo, we’ll help you send it over!” They just happened to be bored.

Lang Shuo: “…”

Lang Shuo asked, “Do you know where the Black Wolf Tribe lives?”

The Black Wolf Tribe actually had not hidden their residence. Lang Lan had previously even told him the specific location. It was just that the members of their tribe had no need to go there. If there were any items, the sub-adult black wolves would directly take them back. Even if the sub-adult black wolves could not take them, Lang Lan and the others could take them back. Added to the fact that Lang Yan often brought the hunting party over, there was no need for them to deliver anything at all.

They had only heard the location, but had never gone there. If they went now, they might not necessarily find it. Most importantly, it was still raining and it was nighttime. How could Lang Shuo possibly agree?

“We can slowly look!” Lang Nuo avoided the important point.

Lang Shuo said, “No. Leave the food for Lang Yong and the others to bring back. Do whatever you’re supposed to be doing. Don’t get any ideas about this crispy fried pork.”

Hearing this, Lang Nuo immediately shook his head. “No, we can’t let Lang Yong take it.”

Lang Shuo looked at him.

Lang Nuo suddenly realized he had refused too quickly. He hesitated for a moment and had not yet thought of a reason when the sub-adult beside him rushed to explain, “If it’s handed to the black wolves, they’ll definitely sneak bites on the road. There are so many of them. If each of them takes one bite, the cubs won’t get any!” The sub-adult spoke with deep pain and righteous indignation.

Lang Shuo asked, “You have fewer people, so if each of you takes one bite, the cubs will still have some left, right?”

The sub-adult nodded. “Right, mmph—”

The sub-adult had just opened his mouth when Lang Nuo, swift-eyed and quick-handed, covered his mouth, choking back the rest of the sentence.

All The Furry Creatures In The Beast World Are Farming With Me