[Warning] This chapter contains scenes that depict the consumption of insects and may not be suitable for readers who have entomophobia (fear of insects) or a strong aversion to the idea of eating worms. While the story aims to explore themes of survival and sustainability, the content may evoke discomfort or anxiety. Reader discretion is advised.
Chapter 43: Delicious
Xia the Cat’s enthusiasm for bamboo worms had grown considerably. He even took the initiative to ask for peppers. Kong Zhi glanced at the cat, still puzzled by how someone who had leapt two meters into the air in fear an hour ago could change his mind so quickly.
Kong Zhi looked at the cat, then at the basket full of bamboo worms, now tightly packed under bamboo strips, and confirmed, “You’re not scared anymore?”
“Meow.” Xia the Cat looked at him with his green eyes, raising his fluffy little head as if to deny ever being afraid.
So what if they’re ugly?
Wasp larvae, crabs, crawfish; scorpions, bamboo rats, bullfrogs—weren’t they all ugly? But that never stopped them from being delicious.
Xia the Cat’s paws twitched, his face showing signs of hunger. It had been so long since he’d eaten any of those.
Kong Zhi looked at him for a few seconds, then picked the peppers as requested and placed them in the basket, along with the machete. Scooping up the cat from the ground, he said, “Let’s go.”
“Meow.”
Xia Huo Qu and his group weren’t great cooks, and Kong Zhi couldn’t cook either. So, the small half-basket of bamboo worms they had collected was sent to the canteen’s kitchen for professional preparation.
They specifically sought out Sun Hong Xiu, the cook known for making the best stir-fried dishes, to handle the bamboo worms.
Sun Hong Xiu was quite pleased. She took the basket from Kong Zhi’s hands, weighed it, and said, “So, this is tonight’s bamboo worms dish? It’s pretty hefty.”
“There are forty-seven in total,” Kong Zhi said as he put down a pound of rice, along with oil, peppers, and other important seasonings. He instructed Sun Hong Xiu, “Please fry them in oil and stir-fry with peppers—dry, no water, using the dry-frying method.”
This cooking method had been meticulously written out by Xia Lu Nong, despite being in cat form, as he scratched each character onto the ground for Kong Zhi to relay.
Every word was crucial.
“Got it, don’t worry. I’ll make sure it’s delicious,” Sun Hong Xiu promised, her smile deepening. “Just wait here; it’ll be ready in no more than an hour.”
Kong Zhi nodded and sat down outside the kitchen with the cat in his arms.
Sun Hong Xiu took the basket into the kitchen, pulled out a large wooden basin from under the cutting board, and carefully poured the bamboo worms inside. She even covered it with a bamboo tray to prevent the worms from flying away while she wasn’t paying attention.
Since the afternoon meal had already been served, only a few people remained in the kitchen, wrapping things up.
Sun Hong Xiu’s actions drew some curiosity. Several onlookers gathered to watch, and they were surprised by the sight.
A bald, middle-aged man nearby couldn’t help but ask Kong Zhi, “Did you catch these in the bamboo forest? Aren’t those worms supposed to be super alert? How did you catch so many?”
“Just lucky,” Kong Zhi replied calmly, his expression making the others half-believe, half-doubt, and perhaps a bit envious.
Bamboo worms are considered pests, so catching them isn’t prohibited at the base; anyone is free to do so.
Seeing their eager expressions, Sun Hong Xiu dampened their spirits with a laugh. “Hey, this young man’s only making it look easy because he knows what he’s doing. You guys? Not so much. Just the other day, Ma Ba and his buddies spent two hours in the bamboo forest and only caught a small plate of them.”
Sun Hong Xiu illustrated this with her thumb and forefinger, pinching them together to show a tiny size. “And even then, the ones they caught were just little ones, about this big. The larger ones are incredibly alert. Most people can’t catch them, and even if they do, they might get bitten.”
The bald man reluctantly turned his gaze away and said, “Getting bitten isn’t a big deal. I’ve heard these worms are highly nutritious.”
“Yeah, what’s the harm in a little bite? It’s not like they’re poisonous.”
“Look at the size of these worms! Just a few would make a whole dish.”
The more they discussed it, the more tempted they became. “These worms are really fat now. If they taste as good as they smell, I might head up the mountain tomorrow to catch some myself.”
“Go ahead. Bamboo worms are always delicious. Before the catastrophe, they could sell for hundreds per pound.”
“Meow,” Xia Lu Nong reminded them from Kong Zhi’s lap, sensing that the crowd was getting in the way of Sun Hong Xiu’s work.
All eyes immediately shifted to the cat. “Isn’t this Vice Captain Xia’s cat? Could it be that Vice Captain Xia caught the bamboo worms?”
“Meow!” No, it wasn’t!
Sun Hong Xiu saw the crowd growing around her and waved them off. “Move along now, don’t block my workspace. I promised it’d be ready in an hour—don’t ruin my reputation.”
One of them chuckled, “Those worms aren’t easy to handle, Sister Sun. Need a hand?”
“No need, these are no harder to deal with than crawfish.” Sun Hongxiu shooed them away. “If you’re so free, grab me a couple of garlic heads. Just don’t crowd the place.”
Even though she dismissed them, no one left.
Bamboo worms this large weren’t something you saw every day. They wanted to learn how to handle them themselves so they could prepare them if they ever caught any.
More and more people gathered at the canteen kitchen door.
Everyone had been busy with base repairs in recent days, exhausted from morning to night. Evening was their only time to relax, and seeing something this interesting, they all flocked over.
Sun Hong Xiu didn’t mind them watching. There were no special secrets to stir-frying bamboo worms. Clean them well, use plenty of seasonings, and cook with the right heat—it’s hard to go wrong.
Kong Zhi and Xia Lu Nong stayed among the crowd, not leaving.
The rule here was that if you brought food to the canteen for processing, you stayed at the door to supervise and make sure no corners were cut.
Sun Hong Xiu worked quickly, grabbing a bamboo worm by its back, stripping off its wings and shell, twisting off the head, and cleaning out the insides.
She could clean a worm in seconds.
Once they were all cleaned, she washed them several times with warm water, drained them, and then tossed them straight into the oil to fry.
She fried them with care.
As soon as the oil sizzled and the worms started to crisp, an irresistible aroma filled the air.
At that moment, everyone at the kitchen door craned their necks forward in unison, like a flock of geese trying to get closer to the delicious smell.
“Wow, that smells amazing!”
“These worms are something else.”
“I think it smells even better than bee pupae.”
“Of course it does! These bamboo worms have been feeding on nothing but bamboo their whole lives—they naturally have a fresh fragrance.”
The aroma of the worms became even richer.
The crowd outside the kitchen couldn’t resist anymore. Their admiration turned into restlessness.
“I can’t take it. I need to go grab some wine from the canteen. This kind of food needs wine to savor properly.”
“Smell alone won’t satisfy. What if the more we drink, the hungrier we get?”
“I don’t care. Even if it makes me hungrier, I need a drink. Who knows when we’ll get to smell something this good again?”
“True. I’ll grab a drink too. Maybe some soybeans to go with it.”
“I’ll get some soy sauce and chili—we can all chip in.”
With the sound of someone gulping, a few guys with their arms slung around each other’s shoulders walked out, saying they were going to exchange their tickets for some drinks.
The others, unable to resist the temptation, grabbed their meal tickets and went to the canteen to exchange for something, eating as they gathered around the kitchen door.
Even the bland sweet potatoes tasted delicious alongside the rich aroma wafting through the air.
Kong Zhi stood in the middle of the group, expressionless.
Xia the Cat was lying on his lap, sniffing the air forcefully, a look of contentment on the cat’s face.
The guys around him saw the lively expression on the cat and burst out laughing.
The commotion at the canteen drew attention, and Yan Xi Nian and Xia Huo Qu, having finished their work at the base, came over.
Seeing Xia Lu Nong’s face filled with craving, Yan Xi Nian chuckled, “Now you’ve really turned into a greedy cat.”
“Meow.” Xia Lu Nong snapped out of his craving, displeased, and swatted away Yan Xi Nian’s approaching hand with his paw, his whole cat face saying: “What’s wrong with being greedy?”
One guy teased, “Captain Yan, Vice-Captain Xia’s caught some bamboo worms, you should treat us to a good dish too!”
“Good idea.” Yan Xi Nian smiled and asked, “What’s the special dish today at the canteen?”
“Roast duck!” Sun Hong Xiu called out, sticking her head out from the kitchen in the middle of her busyness. “A few ducks were killed in the earthquake, so we made roast duck. Captain Yan, do you want some? There’s half a duck left, exchange it for ten meal tickets.”
Yan Xi Nian, surprised they actually had something good, nodded, “Alright, heat it up.”
“Got it. We also have a few egg pancakes left; they go perfectly with the duck. Want a couple?”
Yan Xi Nian nodded again.
Amid the crowd of onlookers, someone tried to take advantage, “Captain Yan, I’ve got some rare first-press wine at home. Want to trade for some of those bamboo worms? Just a few will do.”
Yan Xi Nian, keeping a straight face, said, “That won’t do, these are the fruits of Xia Lu Nong and Kong Zhi’s labor. You’ll have to ask them.”
The bold guy jokingly asked Xia the Cat, who was still on Kong Zhi’s lap.
Xia the Cat’s eyes widened, “Meow!”
Clearly not happy about it.
Everyone laughed loudly.
One guy couldn’t help but click his tongue, “Feels like a New Year’s feast!”
Sun Hong Xiu quickly finished stir-frying the bamboo worms, serving them on a fancy porcelain plate. The roast duck and egg pancakes were also placed on matching plates and handed over in a large basket.
Under the envious eyes of the crowd, Yan Xi Nian and Xia Huo Qu each took a basket and, with the two younger ones in tow, headed home.
The canteen was only a few steps from home, and today they walked a little faster. By the time they arrived, the bamboo worms were still piping hot.
Xia Huo Qu washed the dishes, shook off the water, and placed two bamboo worms on Xia Lu Nong’s plate to cool.
A cat’s tongue is sensitive, and they can’t eat hot food. Xia Lu Nong sniffed the aroma of the worms on his plate, anxiously shifting his paws from left to right. If it weren’t for his reluctance to ask for help, the room would be filled with his meows by now.
Yan Xi Nian poured drinks for everyone and specifically asked Kong Zhi, “Kong Zhi, you’re eighteen, right?”
Kong Zhi nodded, “I turned eighteen this spring.”
Yan Xi Nian grinned, “Alright then, I’ll pour you a drink too. Let’s celebrate.”
Xia the Cat couldn’t drink alcohol and wasn’t interested. While Yan Xi Nian was rambling, Xia the cat lowered his head and bit into a bamboo worm, trying to pierce its crispy skin with his sharp teeth.
The bamboo worm had been fried to a crisp, and even though his teeth weren’t the best, he easily bit through it.
The moment the worm made contact with his teeth, the fragrant crunch of the fried worm, the spicy tang of the chili, and the sweetness of the meat exploded in his mouth.
He could clearly taste each layer of flavor, which soon melded together into a unique taste.
The savory bamboo worm, still warm, made his teeth ache as he bit into it.
He had to set down the half-eaten worm, licking his hot teeth and gazing at it with regret.
The expression on his cat face was so expressive that Yan Xi Nian’s hand trembled with laughter as he lifted his cup, “Patience, little one, you can’t rush eating hot bamboo worms!”
“Meow!” Xia the cat’s emerald green eyes were focused solely on the worms. He didn’t even lift his head in response to his brother’s teasing.
Seeing how much he liked the bamboo worms, Xia Huo Qu grabbed another plate and placed a few more worms on it to cool for him.
The three of them ate and chatted casually at the table, feeling completely relaxed.
Only Xia Lu Nong, his entire cat head almost buried in the plate, focused entirely on the worms.
Despite being the smallest, Xia the cat ate the most, with nearly half of the bamboo worms ending up in his belly.
By the time he waddled away from the table, his stomach was nearly round.
While his brother and Yan Xi Nian were in the kitchen washing dishes, Xia the cat, stuffed and uncomfortable, turned to Kong Zhi for help, pawing at his hand to rub his belly.
Kong Zhi glanced down at him and gently began to massage his stomach.
Xia the cat could feel the warmth of Kong Zhi’s hand, which made him feel sleepy and caused heat to spread throughout his body.
