The Cat Who Farms in the Post-Apocalyptic Wasteland – CH16

Chapter 16 – Ouch!

After the disaster, tools and seasonings were in short supply, so cooking was no longer as meticulous as it used to be, and they didn’t strictly follow recipes.

Xia Lu Nong poured some of the mountain spring water that his brother and Yan Xi Nian had brought into the pot. He added the chicken to the cold water along with ginger and scallion knots, brought it to a boil, skimmed off the scum, then removed the ginger and scallions. Once the chicken was cooked, he took it out.

Next, he put the washed carrots into the golden chicken broth to simmer.

The chicken was shredded and placed on large leaves they were using as plates. Once the broth was done, they would fry the peppers and garlic.

As he cooked, Xia Lu Nong hummed a tune, and Liao Cheng, who was tending the fire, bobbed his head along to the rhythm.

Yan Xi Nian and Xia Huo Qu were chopping ingredients nearby, both quietly enjoying the warmth of Xia Lu Nong’s singing. The atmosphere was peaceful and comforting.

When the chicken soup with carrots was ready, the broth was golden, and the carrots were tender. Xia Lu Nong poured the soup into bamboo cups, took a sip, and found it sweet and delicious. The carrots were especially tasty.

With just a pinch of salt, the natural sweetness of the carrots was even more pronounced.

Without enough tools to serve the soup properly, the four of them sat around the pot, each with a bamboo cup, sipping the carrot and chicken broth while it was still warm.

The heat from the soup spread from their throats down to their stomachs, chasing away the chill of the evening breeze.

As they drank, the swaying shadows of the trees seemed to soften in the twilight, glowing warmly under the fading light.

Liao Cheng, while sipping the soup, felt a lump rise in his throat. The warmth brought tears to his eyes.

Turning his head awkwardly to look at the sky tinged with the last of the sunset, he cursed under his breath, trying to push back the emotions welling up inside.

He sniffed and stubbornly kept his gaze on the ordinary sky, as if it had transformed into a masterpiece worthy of slow, careful admiration.

None of the four spoke, sitting quietly around the pot, watching as the night crept closer.

Out of the corner of his eye, Xia Lu Nong noticed Yan Xi Nian subtly stretching his leg toward his brother. Despite having plenty of space, the two sat with their legs touching.

After drinking four bowls of soup, Xia Lu Nong set one aside and slid the chicken fat into the pot. Once the fat had melted, he added garlic, ginger, and chili, frying them until fragrant. Then, he poured in soy sauce and vinegar, letting the mixture bubble furiously before promptly removing it and pouring it over the now-cooled chicken. He mixed everything together while it was still hot.

The leeks had already been chopped into a large pile, and the eggs were whisked. Xia Lu Nong cleaned the pan, dried it, and heated oil in it. When the egg mixture hit the hot pan, a fragrant aroma instantly filled the air.

Xia Lu Nong lowered his eyes, flipping over a portion of the cooked eggs to let the uncooked part slide into the hot oil, where it quickly set, forming a whole egg pancake.

Below the stove, Liao Cheng pulled out the firewood and let the remaining coals continue cooking the eggs.

Once the eggs had solidified, Xia Lu Nong expertly flipped them over, revealing a crispy golden-brown side.

Liao Cheng sniffed the air. “Smells amazing.”

Yan Xi Nian and Xia Huo Qu also took in the aroma, their expressions revealing exactly what they were thinking.

Delicious!

The four of them sat on the ground around the pot, each holding a bamboo cup in one hand and chopsticks in the other.

Xia Lu Nong took a sip of the warm carrot chicken soup and picked up a piece of the leek omelet with his chopsticks.

The omelet was still hot, the eggs perfectly cooked, and the leeks fresh, juicy, and tender. As he bit into the soft egg, the flavors of the leeks and eggs intertwined, creating an irresistible taste.

Xia Lu Nong smiled with his eyes, quickly chewing and reaching for another bite.

After a few pieces of the omelet, he turned to the shredded chicken.

The flavor of the shredded chicken was completely different from stir-fried chicken or meat. Boiled and mixed with soy sauce, vinegar, and chili oil, the chicken was spicy, savory, and packed a punch, instantly waking up his taste buds.

The chicken was slightly tough but grew more flavorful with each bite. After chewing the chicken, a sip of soup made the meal perfect.

Xia Lu Nong sighed contentedly, thinking how nice it would be to have some alcohol. Shredded chicken would pair nicely with it.

Since he couldn’t shift into his animal form, his appetite was much smaller. After a while, he couldn’t eat anymore and just sipped the soup while his brothers continued to eat without raising their heads.

Once full, Liao Cheng clasped his hands and bowed to Xia Lu Nong. “Chef god!”

Xia Lu Nong returned the gesture, smiling with his eyes. “You’re too kind, warrior.”

They all burst into laughter.

Xia Huo Qu stood up and stretched. “It’s been a long time since we’ve been out here. I didn’t expect there would still be so much game around. We’ll have to come back next time.”

“You mean the chickens?” Liao Cheng asked.

“Chickens are plentiful, but we also found traces of ducks and pigs. If those pigs are from before the disaster, they might not have fully regressed.”

Liao Cheng’s eyes lit up. “Pigs from before the disaster—were they castrated? Are they mutated?”

“I didn’t see them, only found some hoofprints. They’re pretty big, though. Not sure if we’ll run into them.”

Xia Lu Nong looked at his brother in confusion.

Xia Huo Qu explained, “Castrated pigs don’t have that gamey smell. The meat’s more tender, and they grow bigger and fatter, making them tastier than wild boar.”

Liao Cheng added, “The pork stir-fry we had last time came from a pre-disaster castrated pig. Wild boar meat has a much stronger flavor—tough and gamey. You’ll need to slow-cook it with lots of spices. Once you try it, you’ll see.”

Xia Lu Nong had never eaten wild boar before, but he nodded at the description.

Liao Cheng was excited. “Should we try hunting tonight? My nose is sharp; I might be able to find that pig.”

Yan Xi Nian glanced at him. “Huo Qu’s nose is sharp too. You and Lu Nong stay here while we go for a run.”

Liao Cheng urged, “Bring Lu Nong along.”

Xia Huo Qu declined. “When I run at full speed, Lu Nong might not be able to keep up. The forest is dense, and he could get scratched by branches. How about you and Xi Nian go hunting while we stay back at the base?”

Liao Cheng quickly waved his hands. “Forget it. I’m not that strong. You guys go.”

Yan Xi Nian said, “We didn’t come out here to hunt wild boar anyway. If Lu Nong wants to come, we can just move slower. It’s no problem.”

Liao Cheng immediately supported the idea. “Yes! If we find any signs of wild boar, Xi Nian and I will chase it, and you two can catch up.”

Xia Lu Nong looked eagerly at his brother.

With three votes against one, Xia Huo Qu reluctantly agreed.

The three of them packed up, preparing to move out.

They carried their spoils on their backs to avoid any wild animals from scavenging them while they were gone.

Since Xia Lu Nong was the only one in human form, he had more things to carry. After helping tie the luggage to Liao Cheng and the others, he climbed onto his brother’s back, holding onto his neck. “I’m ready.”

“Howl,” Xia Huo Qu reminded him to sit tight.

Xia Lu Nong tightened his grip. “I’m sitting tight.”

With that, Xia Huo Qu started running.

As usual, Yan Xi Nian brought up the rear.

Liao Cheng ran nimbly ahead, like a true hunting dog, occasionally stopping to sniff the ground.

Xia Lu Nong couldn’t see in the dark. Once they entered the forest and lost sight of the stars and moon, everything became pitch black. He couldn’t see what Liao Cheng was sniffing.

Clinging to his brother, his ears were filled with noises—wind, insect chirps, and bird calls. The birds’ cries were especially raspy and eerie, like ghosts wailing.

Suddenly, Liao Cheng let out a loud bark as he ran back toward them.

Xia Lu Nong could barely make out his silhouette in the darkness, unsure of what was happening. His heart pounded in his chest.

Xia Huo Qu and Yan Xi Nian seemed to understand, both howling in response to Liao Cheng’s calls.

Xia Lu Nong sensed they had changed direction, continuing to run.

The branches around them grew denser, and it became so dark that he couldn’t even see his hand in front of him.

His heart raced as he clung to his brother’s neck, a mix of fear and comfort.

Liao Cheng barked again, his tone excited this time.

Xia Lu Nong guessed it was good news.

They changed direction again, and the tree branches gradually became sparser.

Xia Lu Nong, still on his brother’s back, watched the branches swaying. Some of the branches weren’t moving with the wind; they were swaying in different directions, which was very noticeable and eerie in the forest.

He could only make out vague shapes as his brother swiftly ran past them. Unsure of what was happening with those branches, Xia Lu Nong continued to observe the surroundings with curiosity and suspicion.

“Woof, woof!” Liao Cheng’s bark became quieter.

Xia Lu Nong immediately sensed that something wasn’t right.

The next moment, loud howls echoed through the forest, somewhat resembling pig squeals but different at the same time.

Behind them, Yan Xi Nian let out a roar: “Roar!”

Xia Huo Qu made way for him, and a large white shadow leapt past him.

Through the wind, Xia Lu Nong could smell the scent of Yan Xi Nian’s beast form. A deep fear welled up in his heart — the sight of the running giant tiger was terrifying.

Yan Xi Nian charged ahead, with Liao Cheng following at his side.

Xia Huo Qu remained in place.

Xia Lu Nong guessed that Yan Xi Nian and Liao Cheng had gone ahead to scout for danger, making sure it was safe before signaling for them to move forward.

He and his brother didn’t have to wait long before the sounds of Yan Xi Nian’s roar and Liao Cheng’s strained barking, mixed with the eerie pig-like howls, reached their ears.

Soon after, the sounds of fighting and the smell of blood filled the air.

Even though he considered his hearing less sensitive than others, Xia Lu Nong could still hear the heavy thudding sounds of bodies clashing in combat.

His breath became quick and shallow as he clung to his brother’s neck.

Having never encountered such a bloodthirsty scene before, Xia Lu Nong could almost feel the violence just by listening.

Worried about the unknown battle ahead, Xia Lu Nong held his brother tightly, not daring to speak, afraid of being a burden.

His brother remained alert, listening in the dark. It wasn’t long before a long roar from Yan Xi Nian came from the front.

Without a word, Xia Huo Qu turned and ran.

Xia Lu Nong’s face paled with anxiety. “Brother, are Yan Xi Nian and the others in danger?”

“Awooo,” Xia Huo Qu responded, his tone not too urgent.

Xia Huo Qu was running fast, and Xia Lu Nong, bouncing up and down on his brother’s back, would have fallen off if he hadn’t been holding onto his brother’s fur and gripping his neck tightly.

They hadn’t been running long when Liao Cheng’s barks echoed closer, and Yan Xi Nian appeared, running alongside him.

Behind them, a large group of dark shadows loomed.

The dark shapes stamped heavily on the ground, crashing through plants and trees in their path as they chased, their howls rising and falling.

The situation became chaotic in an instant.

“Roar!” Yan Xi Nian roared.

“Awooo!” Xia Huo Qu howled, abruptly stopping in his tracks and turning to look at Xia Lu Nong.

Meeting his brother’s gaze, Xia Lu Nong inexplicably understood and slowly loosened his grip around his brother’s neck. “Brother?”

Before his brother could respond, a large head suddenly swooped down, and the next thing Xia Lu Nong knew, everything spun. His waist touched warm skin and fur.

Looking closely, he realized he had been picked up in someone’s mouth!

He was being held securely, with his shoulders and thighs neatly pinched!

“Awoo—?!”