Chapter 175: Seaweed
After coming to the Star Reserve Tribe, Jian Mo hadn’t yet had seafood, although he’d eaten plenty of river fish.
The wild river fish were tender, sweet, and fresh without any fishy smell. Based on his past experience, Jian Mo had high expectations for the stone-grilled arm shrimp and crabs.
The cooking method here was incredibly simple. The translucent flesh was cleaned and left in its shell before being placed on the stone slab to roast.
As it cooked, the shrimp and crab meat turned white, releasing a rich aroma that filled the air.
A member of the Star Reserve Tribe glanced at the food and said, “It’s ready to eat.”
Unfamiliar with seafood, Jian Mo asked, “Shouldn’t it cook a bit longer?”
The tribesman replied, “No need. If it cooks any longer, it’ll get tough.”
With that, the tribesman picked up a piece of roasted crab still in its shell and handed it to Jian Mo and Wu Jiong. “Jian Mo, Wu Jiong, you’re our guests. Try our crab and shrimp.”
Jian Mo and Wu Jiong quickly expressed their gratitude and accepted the offering.
Xing Jiu placed a small bowl of dipping sauce in front of them. “You can try the meat plain first, then dip it in the sauce.”
Jian Mo nodded. “Got it.”
He took a bite of crab leg meat. Fresh off the grill, the crab was tender and fragrant, melting on his tongue. Even without any seasoning, the naturally sweet and slightly salty flavor of the sea crab was exquisite.
Because of its thick, juicy meat, each bite was incredibly satisfying.
“This is the best crab I’ve ever had,” Jian Mo exclaimed.
Xing Jiu handed crab legs to Chirpy and Ying Ao, who happily gnawed on them, before smiling at Jian Mo. “Eat as much as you like. Our tribe has plenty of fish, shrimp, and crabs.”
Another tribe member chimed in, “Yeah, we’ve had so much of it that we’re starting to get sick of it.”
Jian Mo laughed. “Hearing that makes me jealous.”
Xing Jiu suggested, “When you leave, take some dried fish, shrimp, and crab back with you. We often hunt seafood, and anything we can’t finish, we dry and preserve. Dried seafood can also be used as medicine to strengthen weak bodies.”
Jian Mo nodded. “I saw that in the recipe you gave me the other day. One of the remedies uses dried shellfish to boost health.”
Xing Jiu smiled. “Exactly. You have a good memory.”
Jian Mo replied, “It’s a great recipe. Of course, I had to jot it down.”
While the seafood was already delicious on its own, dipping it in the tangy and salty sauce added a whole new layer of flavor.
Jian Mo and Wu Jiong sat among the group, enjoying the feast.
Seeing how much they liked it, Xing Jiu proposed, “Tomorrow, let’s go collect seaweed. There’s a type of seaweed that can treat swollen necks.”
Jian Mo’s interest was piqued. “I’ve read a bit about that. It’s the iodine in seaweed that helps.”
Xing Jiu shook his head. “We didn’t know that. It’s just a remedy passed down through generations, and it works well. No one here gets swollen necks, but since you live far from the sea, I bet this will be useful for you.”
Jian Mo nodded enthusiastically. “That would be amazing. Thank you for thinking of us.”
Xing Jiu waved it off. “It’s nothing. You’re interested in learning, so we’re just taking the chance to show you more before you leave.”
The Star Reserve Tribe’s method of teaching was different from what Jian Mo had imagined. Instead of structured lessons, students followed their mentors daily. They were taught whenever relevant situations arose, and even after graduating, they could return to consult their teacher about difficult cases.
Since there was no formal curriculum, Jian Mo had been learning through experience. He found this approach engaging and much less taxing, quickly adapting to it.
The next morning, Jian Mo and Wu Jiong checked on Fen Hui before setting off.
Fen Hui’s complexion was noticeably better, and he had even gained a little weight. It was clear that with continued care, he would recover fully before long.
Feeling indebted, Fen Hui said, “Jian Mo, Wu Jiong, can I come with you today? I feel bad staying here and doing nothing while you’re out working.”
Jian Mo smiled. “Didn’t Xing Yi tell you to rest, drink your broth, and soak up some sun? There will be plenty of time for work later. No need to rush.”
Fen Hui hesitated. “It just feels wrong watching everyone else work.”
Jian Mo patted his shoulder. “You’re a patient. Focus on recovering. If you’re feeling better by the time we leave, you can help us pack up and carry supplies back.”
Fen Hui nodded. “Alright.”
After checking on Fen Hui, Jian Mo and Wu Jiong met Xing Jiu.
Xing Jiu greeted them. “Today, we’re likely to collect a lot, so everyone should bring extra baskets.”
Jian Mo suggested, “Chirpy and Ying Ao can come with us. They can help carry things, so feel free to bring as many baskets as you need.”
Xing Jiu laughed. “That works for me.”
A large group set off for the shallower seas where seaweed thrived. They walked along the coast until they reached a cluster of small islands surrounded by clear water about four to five meters deep.
Xing Jiu explained, “This area only gets submerged in summer and autumn, which is why the seaweed grows so well here. We don’t harvest it often since it’s not a staple, but when we do, we dry it to last for a year.”
Jian Mo nodded. “With so much meat around, it makes sense that seaweed isn’t a priority.”
Xing Jiu chuckled. “Exactly. Let’s get to work. Just cut the seaweed wherever—it grows back quickly, even if you pull it out by the roots.”
Jian Mo assured him, “Got it.”
Chirpy and Ying Ao were left on the shore, where they waited patiently under Jian Mo’s instructions. Though Chirpy seemed a bit sulky, it obediently stayed put.
The underwater field of seaweed was vast and lush, like a green underwater meadow. Jian Mo only had to make a few cuts with his knife before his basket was brimming.
Amidst the seaweed, he spotted various shellfish, including abalone-like creatures. These “abalones” were far larger than any he’d seen before, each one easily the size of a hand.
Surfacing with a couple of them, he asked the Star Reserve Tribe, “Are these edible?”
“They are,” one replied, “but they’re tough and take ages to cook properly.”
Another person added, “It doesn’t have much flavor, just a hint of freshness. That’s why we don’t like eating this kind of shellfish.”
Jian Mo was surprised. “Does no one eat it?”
The Star Reserve Tribe member clarified, “It’s not that no one eats it, just that we don’t like it. If there’s nothing else to eat, even these bland shellfish will do.”
Jian Mo hadn’t expected abalone to fall to such a lowly status. Looking at the large abalone in his hand, he said, “Then I’ll take some back with me.”
Xing Jiu swam over and said, “You can take them back. These shellfish can also be used to treat swollen necks. But they’re so big that drying them is a hassle. You’d have to cut them into small pieces first, which we find tedious.”
Jian Mo looked at the hefty abalone in his hand. “I don’t mind the trouble.”
Since Jian Mo didn’t mind, the others had no objections. While gathering seaweed, they would occasionally grab abalone for him when they spotted them.
Jian Mo and Wu Jiong didn’t specifically go hunting for abalone, but by the time they finished collecting seaweed, they had two entire baskets full of them.
Holding the baskets, Jian Mo grinned so wide his teeth were fully exposed.
Xing Jiu couldn’t understand his enthusiasm. “These really don’t taste good.”
Jian Mo replied, “Maybe it’s because they need more elaborate preparation to taste good.”
Xing Jiu still didn’t get it. “Some food tastes great with just a simple preparation. Why bother making it so complicated?”
Jian Mo wasn’t sure how to respond to that.
Wu Jiong spoke up from the side, “It’s because we look forward to the good things in life. Even if it’s a bit more work, the effort is worth it.”
Xing Jiu chuckled. “Well, you’re welcome to take them, but let me warn you: you’ll need to process them quickly. If you let them sit for too long, they’ll spoil fast.”
Jian Mo promised, “I’ll take care of them as soon as we get back.”
Xing Jiu reminded him, “Aren’t you going to copy the medicinal recipes tonight?”
Wu Jiong volunteered, “I can handle it. Leave it to me.”
Their haul that day was plentiful, and with Chirpy and Ying Ao helping carry several baskets, the return trip wasn’t too strenuous.
Once back at the tribe, everyone divided the seaweed and went their separate ways to start processing it.
Xing Jiu specifically explained to Jian Mo and Wu Jiong that the seaweed only needed to be spread out in a clean area to dry. Once dried, it could be stored—no complicated steps required.
Jian Mo and Wu Jiong agreed.
Xing Jiu added that he would come by after dinner to continue teaching Jian Mo how to copy medicinal recipes.
Jian Mo quickly assured him, “We’ll finish up here in time. It won’t delay the recipe work.”
Wu Jiong took the initiative. “What do you want me to do with these abalones?”
Jian Mo explained, “First, remove them from their shells, clean out the innards, and rinse them thoroughly. Then, lightly salt them. I’ll handle the rest after I’m done copying the recipes.”
Wu Jiong nodded. “You seem to know what you’re doing.”
Squatting on the ground, Jian Mo grinned up at him. “Not entirely, but I have a general idea. It’s not like these are super rare or anything—I’ll just experiment.”
As Wu Jiong worked on the abalones, he commented, “That’s already impressive enough.”
Thank you for the chapter!