Chapter 221 Gourmet Battle!

   At noon.

  Linghu Wetland Park.

  Due to the blizzard last night, the pine forest was covered with snow, and the white snow was dazzling under the noon sun.

  Carrying a hemp rope on his left shoulder and a hunting bow on his right shoulder, the young man took a breath of white mist and looked up at the south gate of the park.

  The twisted steel bars are covered with ice picks, and a wooden board with the width of a table is attached to the highest point, with a series of numbers engraved on it.

   "404."

   Staring at the wooden sign for a while, Yu Hu whispered the numbers.

  This is the way old Charlie taught them, and it's a habit he's only recently picked up.

  It is said that as long as it is a word that you see on the road, you can read it in a low voice if you can recognize it, and silently count the strokes in your heart.

   Once you know more, you will naturally become familiar with it.

   This method works quite well. Recently, he has learned to write the names of himself, Xiaoyu, Lao Mom, Lao Ge and Sister-in-law. He has also learned basic numbers, addition and subtraction.

  If it was placed a few months ago, this skill could already be regarded as a cultural person on Beit Street.

  But right now, it's just average.

  Recently, the learning enthusiasm in the town is ridiculously high, especially the young lads. Since everyone heard about the treatment in the new industrial zone from Li Niu and the others, they have all become regular visitors to the literacy class, wishing to live in it.

  Of course, this may also be partly because the castle is relatively warm, and I don’t want to leave once I’ve been there.

  The most dangerous road has passed.

   Resting for a while at the gate of the park, Yu Hu tightened the rope on his shoulders, and continued to walk forward on the knee-deep snow.

  Wading through the snow with prey is not an easy task, but for experienced hunters, this problem does not exist.

  He made a raft out of wooden planks, tied the mutated wild boar he had hunted to it, and dragged it away with a rope.

   In this way, there is no need to worry about the prey getting stuck in the snow and freezing. It is much easier and safer than pulling the prey directly.

  As long as you step carefully and don't take unfamiliar paths, basically there is no problem.

  Passing through the woods hundreds of meters away, the eyes suddenly opened up.

  Rows of snow-covered wooden piles stand on the open ground outside the ditch. In front of it is the wall of the outpost and the south gate, and behind it is the house built by the blue coats, and then the home of Big Brother Chu.

   Compared with a month ago, the changes here are simply too big.

  The tall chimney behind the wall, and the tinkling sound of iron, disappeared along with the tree outside the wall.

   Instead, there are cottages with unique styles, straight streets paved with stone bricks, more and more people, and more and more things on the stalls.

  Yu Hu is not well educated, he just learned to read a few words recently, he can’t think of any beautiful words to describe these houses, he just thinks they are so beautiful.

  Some eaves are upturned, brick and wood are mixed, square and majestic. Some are entirely a cylinder, made of stone bricks, fortified and mysterious.

  Although the styles are different, these houses are all neat and uniform in height, and none of them exceeds the roof of the sanatorium, the room in the center of the settlement.

  Yu Hu didn't know what those houses were for, he only knew the warehouse, and the elegant and uniquely decorated cabin with a plaque wrapped in rattan.

  He bought clothes there once, and also bought two meters of cloth for his family. It seems that his sister's scarf was also made there.

   Occasionally, when he catches some beautiful prey, Yu Hu will take it here first to ask. The shopkeeper who looks like a child will pay a little more than the warehouse not far away.

  Anyway, according to Brother Chu, as long as you bring things here to trade, you can help him, and Yu Hu doesn't care who you sell them to.

   But forget about the wild boar.

  Yu Hu felt that the cute little shopkeeper probably didn't need this kind of rough leather, so he dragged the wild boar directly to the warehouse.

  The rope was left at the door, and just as he was about to ask the steward to weigh the prey, he suddenly saw a familiar face from behind the wooden table.

  The man also saw him, and instantly beamed with joy.

   "Yu Hu?"

   "Zhao Shu?" Yu Hu looked at him in surprise, "Aren't you in the brick factory?"

   While speaking, Yu Hu looked up and down at the fur coat the fellow was wearing, with a hint of envy on his face.

   This guy is having a good time.

   They all changed into new clothes!

   Seeing the surprised expression on the fellow's face, Zhao Shu smiled and said with a high air.

   "Recently, the base has undergone massive construction work. The warehouses and dormitories are being expanded, and there is a shortage of manpower. I think the salary is good, so I took the initiative to ask to be transferred from the brick factory!"

  Actually, he didn't want to come here.

  Although the brick factory earns a few less silver coins, it is as warm as spring, and there are always people with stories written on their faces being sent in to work.

  Those old buddies are all talented, they speak nicely, and they love to brag.

   Opening your mouth means thinking about the past, and keeping your mouth shut means telling a long story. When asked where he came from, it was either a mercenary from the Wandering Swamp, or a commander from the Far West... In short, they were all places he had never heard of.

  Zhao Shu had never left Qingquan City in his entire life, and the farthest he had been was the dungeon of the Bloody Hand Clan. He vaguely remembered that the leader of the Bloody Hand Clan seemed to be known as the Centurion?

   At his peak, that strong, bear-like man, with about a hundred men under his command, ran rampant in the northern suburbs of Qingquan City, committing all kinds of evil.

   But what's the use?

   In the end, he was taken over by those blue jackets. Now he is probably working in the mine in Honghe Town, and he doesn't know if he is still alive.

  So...the commander of a thousand is in charge of a thousand people?

   This is not nonsense!

  Zhao Shu pondered, not all the people he has met in his life may add up to a thousand! It would be a headache for him to memorize the names of dozens of people. If he really manages so many people, can he remember who they are?

  In short, Niu Ma Brick Factory is a good place, even if you don't believe the nonsense of those old buddies at all, Zhao Shu still loves to listen to their bragging.

  If he hadn’t planned to move his family here from Beit Street in the spring of next year, and buy a house while the base expanded northward, he would really like to stay in that good place where summer is always like a lifetime.

  It was heaven there.

   "...Don't talk about me, what about your side? Is the snowstorm a big influence? Also, how is my family?" After talking about his situation, Zhao Shu asked Yu Hu about the family affairs.

  The blizzard last night blew away another roof. Thinking of the shack at home, he didn't sleep well all night.

"Our place is very good. Your father asked me to bring you a message yesterday, telling you not to worry about your family and take care of yourself..." Retelling the greeting that Zhao Shu's father asked him to bring, Yu Hu and the fellow continued. Speaking of the recent situation in Beit Street.

Although this winter was colder than everyone expected, and the blizzard made people's hearts tremble, but thanks to the help of those blue coats, they lived in a uniform brick house early on, and the disaster situation was reversed. Not as bad as last year.

  It would be hard to tell if it was the shack before, and many people would have died.

  In the most difficult days, old Charlie let those poor people whose houses were blown down by the snowstorm live in the castle of the former mayor, and at the same time arranged for manpower to repair the damaged houses.

  Under the organization of the street office, everyone is united in the face of difficulties.

   It turns out that they are only better off without the old mayor's rule.

  After listening to Yu Hu's description, Zhao Shu's face was full of emotion.

   “This is unimaginable in previous years.”

  Yu Hu nodded in deep agreement.

"yes."

  When the old mayor’s family was still there, they had to do their best just to survive. How could they be as comfortable as they are now.

   Not to mention opening the gate of the castle to let the disaster victims in.

   Even if the disaster victims gather together to save themselves, he will send those dog legs who only dare to bully his own people to drive away the people who gather together.

   "Speaking of which, Yu Hu."

   "What's wrong?"

  Zhao Shu hesitated for a while, then spoke.

   "Why don't you come here too!"

   Before Yu Hu could speak, Zhao Shu continued to persuade.

   "Life here is much better than Beit Street, and there is a shortage of manpower everywhere. You are so good at hunting, you can definitely find a job here! It is definitely better than me!"

  To be honest, seeing the changes here, Yu Hu was really moved.

   Anyway, he didn't have a family, and he didn't open his mouth to eat when he moved out of the house.

   But after thinking about it, he finally shook his head.

   "...forget it."

  Zhao Shu was taken aback for a moment, apparently not expecting him to refuse, so he hurriedly asked.

"why?"

  Yu Hu said frankly.

"You also said that I only have that little hunting ability. The weather is not helpful at all. I may not be able to catch a prey in a few weeks. Rather than come here to cause trouble for you, it is better to stay at home and learn more Braille, maybe it will come in handy.”

  What kind of reason is this?

  After hearing Yu Hu's words, Zhao Shu couldn't laugh or cry.

   "Hey, the granary next to you is almost full, how can people be short of your food? And you don't have to be on Beit Street to learn calligraphy. The factories here have night schools like the guards!"

   "That won't work either," Yu Hu said stubbornly, "Brother Chu has already helped our family so much, how can I take advantage of him!"

   Seeing that this guy was as stubborn as a rock, Zhao Shu shook his head and sighed.

   "You guy... Forget it, I can't persuade you."

  Yu Hu touched the back of his head and said with a smile.

   "You don't need to persuade me, I know it well. Besides, brother Chu said, let me come next spring, he will find something for me to do, and I will come again when that time comes!"

  Brother Chu is so smart, he must have already arranged everything.

   There is nothing wrong with doing what he says!

  The two of them were not talking about moving. With the help of Zhao Shu, Yu Hu weighed the mutated boar and sent it to the slaughter house.

  Standing in front of the chopping board in a blue coat with a butcher knife, he skilfully pulled out the skin and meat, and threw the bones and offal into the bucket. His movements were dazzling and dizzying.

  Now the price of prey is much higher than before. The purchase price of mutated wild boar skin has increased from 10 silver coins to 20 silver coins. If it is replaced with coarse salt, it will be a full 400 grams!

  In the past, although the price of salt is cheaper, you can exchange up to 300 grams of coarse salt.

  The same goes for the price of meat. The price of the things sold here has almost doubled, but the price of the prey has also risen accordingly, which does not affect him very much.

   Prey can get more things in exchange, which is a good thing.

  The raw hides are put into storage, and a tanner will come to pick them up later. The raw meat was divided into two portions, the larger portion belonged to Yu Hu, and the smaller portion was the payment for the slaughter, which was returned to the base warehouse as agreed.

  Zhao Shu dug out the ledger, made a mark on it, then carefully counted out 20 silver coins from the drawer, and arranged them on the table.

   "This is 20 silver, you keep it."

  Looking at the silver coins on the table, Yu Hu picked up one, looked at it, weighed it in his palm, and asked curiously.

   "Why is the style of this silver coin changed?"

   It is much heavier than before, and it looks newer.

   Zhao Shu explained.

   "The manager said that the coins were inconvenient in the past, and this new silver coin will be used in the future."

  Although he couldn't tell where it was inconvenient, this is what the manager said.

   "What about the original silver coins?" Yu Hu remembered that there were still some at home, and if they couldn't be used, he had to ask his brother to replace them with salt.

  Expecting that he would ask this, Zhao Shu waved his hand and responded skillfully.

   "It's not a problem, the manager said that no matter if it's new coins or old coins, the warehouse and the bank will accept them according to the order, but they won't look for the money anymore."

   Seeing that there was no impact on the family, Yu Hu felt relieved and put the silver coins on the table into his pocket.

   Looking at Yu Hu who was packing up his things, Zhao Shu asked.

   "Are you going back straight away?"

   Yu Hu said.

   "I'm not in a hurry. I have to go and see my little sister later. Do you have anything you want me to bring back for you? I can drop by and pick you up."

   Zhao Shu continued.

"It's gone, our salary is settled on a monthly basis now... How about you tell me and my family to tell my parents to pay attention to their health, wait for another two weeks, it's my turn to take a vacation, and I will Take some time to go home and have a look.”

  Yu Hu nodded.

   "Okay, I will bring the words to you."

   Obtaining this promise, Zhao Shu showed a relieved smile on his face.

"Thanks!"

  At this moment, a few residents of the refuge came running not far away, pointing at the shelves and chattering.

  The voice was excited like a quarrel.

   "Pepper, I want pepper!"

"I also want!"

   "Grand! Don't jump in line, I'll come first!"

  Looking at Fugui, the elf king who was at the forefront, Ye Shi, who hadn't outrun him, couldn't help but spout.

   "What's the use of asking for pepper, a hunter?"

  Brother Fugui rolled his eyes, and spoke with confidence.

   "I want you to control! Still not allowing hunters to be cooks?"

  This kind of opportunity to enter the Hall of Fame, how could the Elf King miss it!

  Although he can't cook at all, it doesn't matter!

   Don’t you just need your hands to cook?

  The seasoning is in place, but still worried about making it delicious?

  So the key is to grab the seasoning!

  Zhao Shu lowered his head and glanced at VM, skillfully took the last two bags of pepper from the shelf, handed it to the person standing at the front, and said in a non-standard pronunciation.

   "This is the last, no more."

  Hearing this sentence, the people behind immediately dispersed with disappointment on their faces.

  Only the one in the blue coat who bought something was happy, and after saying "thank you", he generously took out the VM, paid for it, and left in a hurry.

  Yu Hu asked curiously as he watched the retreating figure.

   "What did he buy just now? Salt?"

   "It's 'pepper', a seasoning with a strange taste, anyway, I don't really like it." Having said that, Zhao Shu paused, and then added, "Unless it's sprinkled on barbecue."

  Barbecue.

  Yu Hu swallowed unconsciously, thinking of the barbecue stand at the north gate.

  The food sold there tastes absolutely amazing!

  While looking towards the north gate, Yu Hu suddenly noticed that there was something differently lively there. Many blue coats were busy running there, some took things from the granary, some carried things to the granary, and some people moved some wooden tables and sheds from the carpentry hut there.

  Usually there are more people there in the evening, why is it so busy at noon today?

   "What's the situation over there?" Yu Hu felt that the number of times he was curious today was more than the sum of the past week.

   Zhao Shu said with a smile.

   "You said there, there will be a celebration in a week!"

   "Celebration?!" Yu Hu looked at Zhao Shu in surprise, "Is anyone getting married?"

   The celebration is held a week in advance, it must be someone with a high status.

  Could it be...

   Is it Big Brother Chu? !

"What is marriage? That's called... New Year's Day!" Zhao Shu was not very familiar with the pronunciation of the word, and it took him a while to remember, "The residents of those shelters plan to celebrate the arrival of the new year. The last day of the year and The first day seems to be a very important festival for them. I don’t know the details, but it’s something like a celebration.”

  Celebration Yu Hu knows.

  For example, the last time, when the youngest son of the old mayor was just one month old, he gave them a croissant and told them to go to the castle to do a half-day free labor.

  No one is happy except the old mayor and his henchmen.

but…

   Celebrating the New Year, for the first time he heard about such a new thing, he still couldn't help being curious.

  Seeing the expression on Yu Hu's face, Zhao Shu laughed and said.

   "It's not the busiest time yet, wait for the last night of December, if you have time, you can come and have a look."

   "I bet there must be a lively batch!"

  Yu Hu nodded vigorously and said with interest.

   "Hmm! I'll remember that... But at night, it's not convenient to go back, right?"

   "Why don't you go back, I'll live here when the time comes," Zhao Shu patted him on the shoulder, and said with a smile, "My dormitory has enough room, I'm sure I can sleep there!"

  …

   The north gate of the outpost.

   It is very lively at the moment.

  The players showed their special abilities. They were either busy arranging booths, or boiling something in a cauldron. The entire north gate was filled with a strange smell, which even the north wind passing through the forest couldn't blow away.

  Cat blinked curiously at Akiba next to her sister.

  She had never seen such a lively scene.

   "Night Badger! Brother Pingtou on the wasteland! Anyone want it? I just caught it outside Jiujiu Farm! If you want it, bring your own price, so buy it quickly."

   "Sweeping the building on 76th Street, is there any brother in the car, I heard that there is a hyena den there."

   "The three-person team waits for a perception department, and newcomers are also fine."

   "Lao Na, what did you throw into the pot just now?!"

   "Boss Crow! Help Tail to see if this is poisonous!"

   "Help me to be healthy!"

   "Hey! Just put it on the table, don't stuff ducks into my mouth!" The mournful cries echoed from the mushroom stand, causing the guards to look over there one after another, and then walked away after seeing nothing happened.

  Not far from the entrance of the market.

  Elf King Fugui shook the two bags of pepper powder in his hand towards Ye Shi, and proudly walked towards his teammates. Brother Mole and Irena were waiting for him.

  Tui gave this guy's back, and Ye Shi walked to the side of his teammates cursing.

   "Hey! The seasoning is not available! The peppers are all sold out!"

  When did these people get so rich!

  1 silver 1g of pepper powder, I bought two packs of it in one shot, it was too much!

  Old Bai comforted him.

   "It's okay, it's fine if you don't buy it, anyway, you may not be able to use it in the end."

  Guangfeng also said.

   "Well, we'd better use some simple materials as much as possible. I think the probability of winning the game will be higher in this way."

  The seasoning will be sold out, but it is also expected by the wind.

   After all, the rewards of the event are not only the annual limited title, but also enter the Hall of Fame.

  It will be as fierce as a competition, it can only be said that it is reasonable, everyone wants to be the number one, after all, it is there.

   If no one is involved, Kuangfeng will have to wonder if he is playing the national server.

  At this moment, a split-claw crab lay next to them.

  The newbies passing by all involuntarily looked sideways at this side, envious and couldn't help but cursed the hateful Europeans in their hearts.

  In this winter, the roads have been buried, and the nests of split-claw crabs can still be found.

   Isn’t it Ouhuang!

  Come out from the north gate with a bag of flour, Zhang Hai's eyes popped out when he saw the big crab.

  Going forward to take a look, he couldn't help asking.

   "Where did you get such a big crab?"

  Ye Shi didn't hide it, and said lazily, pretending to be coercive.

   "There is a cave on the north bank of Linghu Lake, and there is a hibernating split claw crab inside. We saw that he was sleeping, so we took the opportunity to give it a slap in the face."

   Although it cost a little money, it was worth the money.

  Zhang Hai cursed and said: "Mommy! Why do you always find such good things?"

   Seeing his envious and jealous look, Ye Shi smiled.

   "Maybe luck?"

  Zhang Hai: "#%@!"

  Fang Chang and Tomato Scrambled Egg stood together, staring at the split claw crab on the ground and discussing the cooking method.

  One is good at eating, and the other is good at cooking. Standing together, they can be regarded as a strange pair.

   "I carefully studied the event announcement, and the requirement stated above is 'simple and delicious'. We have to use as many ingredients as possible that are easy to obtain, so that the probability of winning the prize should be higher."

   Tomato scrambled eggs shook his head.

   "This requirement is too abstract."

  Fang Chang said thoughtfully.

   "Indeed, and how to preserve crab meat is a problem."

   Even in winter, it is difficult to preserve the crab meat of hunting claw crab until the third day, and on the fourth day, even if the meat does not deteriorate, the taste will be much worse due to dehydration.

   And now there are still 7 days before New Year's Day!

   It was pure chance that he had found this hunting claw crab, and he had no confidence in finding another one.

  Scrambled Eggs with Tomatoes touched his chin, and suddenly said.

   "Save the crab meat... I have some ideas about this."

  Fang Chang looked at him.

"oh?"

   Tomato scrambled eggs continued.

"I have observed the laborers in the brick factory before. They would pick up some grass from the lake and use it to process the uneaten fish, so that it would be fresh even if it was kept for the second or third day. I don't know about crab meat. Does it work, but I feel like I can give it a try."

  Fang Chang had never heard of such a strange plant.

   "What grass?"

   Tomato scrambled eggs said.

   "Looking at the illustrated book on the official website, it is called buffalo grass, but it doesn't mention the specific effects."

  Fang Chang immediately asked the most critical question.

   "Can you find it in winter?"

   Tomato scrambled eggs shook his head and said.

   "That's not clear, but after I found out about it, I picked a lot out of curiosity, dried it and put it in a locker to study slowly, but it has never come in handy."

  Hearing this sentence, Fang Chang was instantly excited and said excitedly.

   "Good brother! This is the time to come in handy!"

   Scrambled eggs with tomatoes scratched the back of his head.

   "But even if the problem of preserving crab meat is solved... what should we do with it? We can't just grill it over charcoal fire?"

  Although it is not impossible, it is too untechnical, and it is still a bit difficult to win an award.

   "That's easy to say," Fang Chang continued with a confident smile on his face, "I just noticed that the warehouse's sales restrictions on green wheat and croissants have been temporarily lifted."

  Scrambled eggs with tomatoes froze for a moment, not understanding.

   "What do you mean..."

   "Obviously, the answer to 'cheap and delicious' is in these two items! Why else is the restriction lifted at this point in time?"

  Fang Chang looked at Brother Chaodan with piercing eyes, and continued.

   "Brother, have you heard of crab cakes?"

-

   (The number of words and content in the next chapter is a bit too much. Handicapped people don’t dare to set up FLAG anymore. In short, I will try my best to get it out at eleven o’clock. If it doesn’t come out at eleven o’clock, it will probably be twelve o’clock. QAQ)

  (end of this chapter)