Chapter 21
Shi Nuo sliced the round mushrooms, caps and stems together. Some caps had fallen off, so he sliced them separately. He tore other mushrooms into finger-width strips.
The earthy aroma of mushrooms filled the air. He had sliced a plateful and torn another plate into strips. There was still a bucket and a half of mushrooms left, but he didn’t have time to process them all now.
He heated a thin layer of oil in the pan and, using chopsticks, carefully placed the mushroom slices in, frying them over low heat.
Sizzle—
The mushroom slices released their moisture as they cooked. When they started to turn golden brown, he flipped them and continued frying.
A unique, mouthwatering fragrance filled the air, and Shi Nuo swallowed, patiently waiting for them to cook thoroughly.
These two types of mushrooms were non-toxic, but he wanted to make sure they were fully cooked.
He had eaten many types of fresh mushrooms before, some of which could be eaten raw, but he hadn’t particularly enjoyed most of them, except for one with a honey-sweet flavor, imported from another planet, rare and expensive.
Interstellar trade flourished, offering a vast array of foods, including countless varieties of mushrooms. The Shi family, with their modest wealth and desire to maintain appearances, always had well-known dishes on their menu.
Shi Nuo had tasted many things, but compared to wealthier families, there were also many things he hadn’t.
He had never seen these two types of mushrooms before and wondered if they were unique to this planet.
The aroma intensified. When both sides of the mushroom slices were golden brown, Shi Nuo sprinkled salt on them, picked up a slice, blew on it, and took a small bite. The cooked mushroom was tender and incredibly flavorful, the aroma exploding on his tongue, rich and savory.
His eyes widened in surprise. He had never tasted a mushroom like this, so fragrant and flavorful with just a sprinkle of salt. His taste buds were instantly captivated.
The bottom of the pan was covered with cooked mushrooms, and he quickly transferred them to a plate before they burned.
Hugh Elvis entered the kitchen, his body damp. He had been exploring the forest, and his fur had picked up some grass and dirt. After dropping Shi Nuo off at the front door, he had gone to the river to wash. Upon returning, he smelled the unusual fragrance and, although he usually had no interest in vegetarian food, couldn’t resist investigating.
“Try some. They’re very fragrant, different from other mushrooms,” Shi Nuo said excitedly, handing him a pair of chopsticks.
Hugh took a bite, his brow arching slightly. They were indeed good, better than any mushroom he had tasted before.
Seeing Hugh’s apparent satisfaction as he took a second bite, Shi Nuo smiled faintly and joined him.
They ate as he continued frying. After finishing the sliced mushrooms, Shi Nuo stir-fried the torn mushroom strips.
Although he didn’t have fresh garlic, onions, or chili peppers, the kitchen had bottled seasonings, including garlic sauce, which added a unique flavor to the stir-fried mushrooms.
Shi Nuo knew that the supplies he had been given were randomly packed, but there were occasional pleasant surprises, like this garlic sauce, which he hadn’t used much before because he didn’t particularly like garlic. Now he had found a perfect use for it.
The mushroom strips were mostly yellow mushrooms, their taste different from the light green ones he had just fried. They were plump and meaty, with a subtle fragrance, and the garlic sauce added a savory depth of flavor, making them equally delicious.
After finishing the mushrooms, Shi Nuo looked at the flavorful sauce left in the pan and thought that it would be delicious with rice.
Unfortunately, he didn’t have much rice left, only enough for a few bowls of porridge.
Staple foods like rice and flour were difficult to find substitutes for on this planet. He didn’t want to use it all up at once. Otherwise, he might forget what it tasted like.
After washing the dishes, Shi Nuo carefully rinsed the berries twice. There were a lot of them, filling a heavy basin, which Hugh took from him and carried to the dining table outside.
The sweet and sour berries were juicy, bursting with flavor as he bit into them. He had to be careful not to let the juice drip.
He had intended to brush his teeth after eating, but the sweet and sour taste filled his mouth, even masking the lingering garlic flavor.
After a while, feeling full, Shi Nuo stopped eating.
This was the first time he felt that the natural resources of this undeveloped planet were so abundant, the wild mushrooms and fruit so delicious. He didn’t know how to describe it.
Hugh Elvis sat next to him, lazily chewing on a berry, his eyes half-closed, seemingly indifferent.
After spending time together recently, Shi Nuo knew that if the berries weren’t good, Hugh wouldn’t bother eating them. He must have found them tasty.
However, compared to his earlier enthusiasm for the fried mushrooms, he seemed less interested in the berries.
The light green, round mushrooms were so delicious that Shi Nuo couldn’t help but lick his lips, savoring the memory.
He thought of the expensive mushrooms he had eaten before. If these could be sold, they would fetch an exorbitant price, especially on the planets within the Imperial Star Circle, where noble families resided.
Whenever a new, expensive ingredient became fashionable in the Imperial Star Circle, minor noble families like the Shi family would often follow the trend. And Hugh seemed to like these mushrooms too.
He knew about Hugh’s past. The Elvis family was powerful and wealthy, and if he had grown up without incident, he would now be the head of the family.
As the heir, he must have had the best of everything as a child.
He understood Hugh’s occasional pickiness with food. From another perspective, the fried mushrooms must be considered top-tier.
Having enjoyed a delicious meal, Shi Nuo was in a good mood. He drank some water and went back to the kitchen to work.
He had a bucket and a half of mushrooms left. Even if stored in the refrigerator, they would only last for two or three days. Some mushrooms were delicate and lost their flavor quickly.
He washed some and stored them in airtight containers in the refrigerator for the next few days.
He washed the rest, sliced some, tore others into strips, and placed them on plates and trays to dry in the sun.
The storage room had a dry setting, but it only maintained dryness, not actively dehydrating food. There was no food dehydrator here, so he had to use the most basic method.
The mushroom soup was rich and fragrant, without any earthy taste. After finishing a bowl of soup and a small bowl of mashed potatoes, Shi Nuo felt content.
When the sun became stronger, he took the mushrooms outside to continue drying. They were only half-dry from yesterday.
He squatted down in front of the chairs he had brought outside, turned the mushrooms over, thought for a moment, then looked at the time. It was almost eleven o’clock. He took a deep breath and went to the bedroom.
The curtains were drawn, and the room was dim. A tall, long-limbed figure lay on the bed, a white animal skin draped over his waist.
Hearing his approach, Hugh Elvis opened his eyes.
He had been sleeping in the bedroom with Shi Nuo for the past few days, but the bed wasn’t wide enough. It barely accommodated his height, and if he moved down even slightly, his feet would hang off the edge. He often slept with his legs curled up.
Shi Nuo, under Hugh’s gaze, said shyly, “Mr. Elvis, could we go to the forest again today? I want to gather more mushrooms to prepare for winter.”
If possible, he also wanted to dry some more fruit.
Hugh sat up, his muscular upper body exposed. He remembered the dried vegetables, potatoes, and mushrooms Shi Nuo had stored.
He never lacked food in the winter. Even when heavy snow blocked the mountain passes, he could still find prey hiding in caves and tree hollows, or he could simply move to the other side of the continent, where it didn’t snow, and live there for a few months.
So, he hadn’t given much thought to Shi Nuo’s actions, assuming the Omega was simply stocking up food for rainy days.
Compared to him, the Omega did need to store some vegetarian food to survive the long winter when plants were scarce.
“Mm,” Hugh replied, getting out of bed and wrapping the animal skin around his waist as he went to the bathroom to wash up.
The man’s low, magnetic voice sent a shiver down Shi Nuo’s spine, his ears turning slightly red. But he was even happier that Hugh had agreed to take him to gather mushrooms.
When the white wolf appeared, he picked up the two buckets he had prepared earlier, climbed onto the wolf’s back, and, without needing to be reminded, lay down and held on tight.
He was so overjoyed that he wasn’t even afraid of the white wolf’s speed anymore.
For four consecutive days, Shi Nuo asked Hugh Elvis to take him to the mountains to search for mushrooms.
Today, they were lucky. Deep in the forest, he looked up and saw a large cluster of black wood ear mushrooms growing on a tree.
Shi Nuo stood at the base of the tree, staring at the tall, straight trunk, feeling a sense of defeat. He couldn’t climb trees. He turned to look at the white wolf beside him.
“Mr. Elvis, is there any way…?”
The beautiful Omega’s voice was soft and hesitant, tinged with shyness.
Having to ask the Alpha to bring him here every day, and now to ask for help picking mushrooms, Shi Nuo felt increasingly embarrassed.
Seeing the white wolf staring at him without moving, he mumbled, “It’s okay. We can just look for other mushrooms. Those are tastier anyway.”
He had become more sure-footed in the forest, no longer stumbling like he had the first time. He started walking towards a few pale yellow mushrooms growing under a nearby tree.
The white wolf had stopped earlier because it had seen those familiar mushrooms.
As he picked the mushrooms, he heard a sound and turned to see the white wolf effortlessly scaling the tree. With a swipe of its claws, the wood ear mushrooms rained down.
The white wolf twisted its body and leaped gracefully from the tree, landing lightly on the ground.
The Omega’s bright eyes were more beautiful than the stars. Hugh Elvis, his expression aloof, couldn’t tear his gaze away from Shi Nuo as he gathered the fallen mushrooms.
The wood ear mushrooms filled half a bucket. Shi Nuo, happily collecting them, followed the white wolf deeper into the forest, picking mushrooms as they went.
He had already harvested most of the edible mushrooms from the first location, the mushroom kingdom, so they had taken a different route today.
Shi Nuo picked up a sturdy branch and used it as a walking stick, helping him navigate the uneven terrain, crossing small streams and climbing over obstacles without needing the white wolf to notice he had fallen behind and carry him.
Nearly four months had passed. It wasn’t a long time, but after regularly walking and carrying things, his physique had noticeably improved, and his appetite had increased. He was no longer as afraid of insects and no longer cried when he saw them. He had simply grown accustomed to them, though he still avoided touching them.
He found a patch of familiar light green mushrooms and, putting down his branch, squatted down to pick them.
He discarded those that were rotting. Mushrooms were abundant here, and the animals that ate them had fled from the white wolf, so there was no danger.
The white wolf had wandered off again. Shi Nuo knew it was looking for wild berries, as it did every day.
After finishing with the light green mushrooms, he waited, his gaze drawn to a cluster of vibrant red flowers nearby.
Seven or eight large, colorful butterflies, their wings spanning almost the width of a basin when open, fluttered around the flowers, their bright colors and intricate patterns captivating Shi Nuo. He couldn’t resist moving closer.
The large butterflies had bright red and blue markings, with long, golden tails trailing from their wings. They danced gracefully around the flowers, occasionally landing to sip nectar.
He didn’t get too close, content to observe them from a safe distance.
One butterfly flew towards him, circling him twice. Shi Nuo remained still, afraid of disturbing the creature. He was delighted. He had never had a butterfly circle him like this and followed it with his eyes.
The butterfly returned to the flowers, landing on one, and the others followed suit, each claiming a flower.
Their large wings began to flutter, their movements quickly synchronizing, creating a surprisingly strong breeze.
Shi Nuo was fascinated by the sight, but the breeze, unfortunately, was directed straight at him.
The wind carried a cloud of pollen, which hit him full in the face, making him cough and his eyes water.
