Chapter 71
The unbaked pottery was moved to the open meadow to dry, and the camp became much tidier.
The open space for pinching unbaked pottery was replaced by rows of simple bamboo racks. The blanched reed shoots and bamboo shoots were torn into strips and, along with fresh bracken and wild vegetables, were hung on the bamboo poles to dry. They swayed slightly when the mountain wind blew, rustling, like endlessly swaying wind chimes.
After a whole winter, the pine nuts and chestnuts had long been eaten, and the potatoes in the warehouse were almost gone. The dried fish from a while ago and the wild vegetables that had sprouted in the forest had become the tribe’s main food now.
The crops in the fields had not yet matured, and the days of living off the land would continue for some time. In the spring, when all things were reviving, there were only wild vegetables in the forest. The days without a staple food made Hua Shi’an a little anxious.
But fortunately, the unexpected harvest of crayfish had greatly relieved his anxiety.
After planting the rice seedlings and taking a nap, Hua Shi’an reluctantly bid farewell to the Duke of Zhou. By the time he leisurely arrived at the camp, the diligent tribe members were already busy.
Stealing a half-day’s leisure from a busy life, both the hunting and gathering teams had stayed in the tribe.
Recently, back baskets and winnowing baskets had been in short supply. The beastmen were helping to split bamboo and cut bamboo skin. The old and the young had temporarily put down their clay and started to weave bamboo utensils. And the sub-beastmen, each with a willow branch in hand, were squatting by the river, scrubbing the writhing crayfish.
He hadn’t wasted his breath in the morning. The sub-beastmen had completely mastered the technique of cleaning crayfish. They twisted off the troublesome shrimp heads, used a bamboo skewer to poke into the gap of the third segment of the shrimp’s back shell, and gently picked out the shrimp line. They flattened a willow branch to use as a brush, dipped it in water, and repeatedly scrubbed the shrimp’s body.
Discarding the shrimp heads might be a bit wasteful, but Hua Shi’an had thought about it. The shrimp heads contained many toxins, bacteria, and parasites, and had little meat. It was better to eat a little less than to get sick.
Besides… the crayfish they had harvested last night were unusually plentiful. They weren’t short of this little bit.
The riverbank was bustling with people, densely packed. Hua Shi’an stood on the riverbank and looked down. As far as the eye could see, it was a sea of red. The shrimp heads were piled up on the ground as if they were free. The back baskets, winnowing baskets, stone pots… all the existing utensils in the tribe were being used. There were shrimp everywhere.
It was a bit too much. He felt that they wouldn’t be able to finish it in four or five meals. Besides, this thing wasn’t meant to be eaten every meal. Eating too much would cause indigestion and high uric acid, which would affect their health.
Make them into dried shrimp and eat them slowly? Hua Shi’an stroked his chin and thought for a moment, but he couldn’t think of a better way. So he stepped on the gravel and walked down the slope, finding a familiar sub-beastman in the crowd.
“Zhile, Yinglan, you guys stop washing for a moment. Come, help me with something.”
Hearing Hua Shi’an’s voice, Yan Zhile suddenly turned his head. He didn’t even hear what Hua Shi’an had said. He quickly elbowed Hong Yinglan, who was squatting beside him. “The Lord Priest is here. Quick, quick, make a spot. The Lord Priest wants to be next to me.”
Hong Yinglan didn’t react either. She moved to the side with the half-washed crayfish. After moving two steps, she finally reacted. She stopped, looked up, and glared at Yan Zhile. “Are your ears blocked? The Lord Priest told us to stop washing for a moment.”
“Huh?” Yan Zhile blinked blankly and looked back at Hua Shi’an. “There are still so many to wash. What are we going to do if we don’t wash them?”
His ears need to be cleaned. He had to repeat himself a million times. Hua Shi’an helplessly rubbed his temples and said concisely, “Take some of the washed shrimp back with you and come with me to cook.”
“Cook?”
Yan Zhile looked up at the sky. “The sun hasn’t set yet. Isn’t it a bit too early?”
“Oh, you have so many questions. Just do what the Lord Priest says. Hurry up.” Hong Yinglan finished washing the half-washed crayfish, threw it into the back basket, and quickly stood up.
Yan Zhile put down his willow branch and stood up, grunting sullenly.
The sub-beastmen had gotten up early, and almost half of the crayfish had been washed. Hua Shi’an, Yan Zhile, and Hong Yinglan ran back and forth a few times, carrying the de-headed, de-veined, and cleaned crayfish back to the camp.
Hong Yinglan piled up the firewood and started a fire. Yan Zhile washed the pot and fetched water. Hua Shi’an found a stack of woven bamboo steamers on a stone behind the firewood pile, picked out five of them, and took them to the river to wash.
The steamers had been woven by the tribe members a while ago as practice. They were custom-made for the large stone pot, brand new and unused. So it was true that you needed utensils, and you needed a full set. There would always be a time when you needed them.
The three of them worked separately and quickly set up the stall. The large stone pot with clear water was placed on the fire to heat up. Hua Shi’an returned with the wet steamers, dried them with a coir sheet, and then went to the warehouse to get a basket of ginger and a coir bag of dried sour papaya.
Fresh seafood always had a bit of a fishy smell. Even if he were to dry the shrimp, he had to get rid of the fishy smell. He washed and sliced the ginger. The three of them held the crayfish and laid them in the steamers, a layer of crayfish, a layer of ginger slices, a few dried sour papaya, and then an even layer of thin salt.
The steamers were large enough. One tier could hold two or three layers. The five tiers of steamers were filled with more than half a back basket of shrimp. After they were laid out, he placed the steamers on the pot, covered it, and steamed it directly over high heat.
The five tiers of steamers were stacked very high. Hua Shi’an was afraid that a gust of wind would knock them over. But fortunately, the tribe members’ bamboo weaving skills were becoming more and more exquisite. The steamers were tightly fitted to the stone pot, one tier on top of another, and they didn’t even move when the wind blew and the water boiled.
There were only seven tiers of steamers in total, and the other two were a little flawed, so he could only steam them one pot at a time. Once the steamers were on the pot, there was nothing much to do. Hua Shi’an rested his chin on his hand and stared blankly, occasionally throwing some firewood into the fire pit.
Hua Shi’an had seen and eaten dried shrimp before, but dried crayfish… Hua Shi’an had never heard of it. Whether it was crayfish, river shrimp, or sea shrimp, they were all shrimp. The method should be more or less the same. It was just that the crayfish shells were thicker, so they would probably have to be shelled and dried after steaming.
With so many shrimp, wouldn’t his hands cramp from shelling?
Tsk, troublesome.
The crayfish for drying didn’t need to be steamed for too long. After the water had been boiling for about half an hour, thick white smoke drifted out through the cracks of the steamers. Hua Shi’an sniffed and smelled a refreshing, fresh fragrance.
They were almost cooked. Hua Shi’an had Hong Yinglan bring over an empty back basket, then lifted the bamboo lid, and with a coir sheet to protect his hands, he and Yan Zhile lifted the steaming, hot steamers.
After being washed and steamed, the blackish-red crayfish had turned a bright red, the color was bright and particularly tempting. He tilted the steamer, and the crayfish “splashed” into the back basket. The hot steam carried a rich, fresh fragrance that rushed to his face, so fragrant that Hua Shi’an wanted to eat a few on the spot.
It wasn’t time to eat yet. Hua Shi’an held back, and with the two sub-beastmen, he emptied the steamers and quickly steamed the second batch.
The most relaxing and pleasant part was over. Next was the painful torture.
After the steamed crayfish had cooled down a little, Hua Shi’an grabbed two clean winnowing baskets from the riverbank, placed one between the two sub-beastmen, and squatted down on the ground. “Come on, break open the shrimp shells and peel out the shrimp meat inside.”
The unremarkable crayfish had become so fragrant after being steamed. Yan Zhile’s mouth was watering. Hearing this, he quickly grabbed a crayfish from the back basket.
He still had some sense. After picking up the crayfish, he didn’t rush to peel it. He licked his lips and looked at Hua Shi’an with pleading eyes. “Lord Priest, isn’t it a bit bad to not wait for them?”
“What are we waiting for them for?”
He straightened the shrimp’s body and squeezed it vertically. With a “crack,” Hua Shi’an pinched the shrimp’s tail and gently pulled the shrimp meat, and a whole, complete shrimp meat came out of its shell.
Yan Zhile was stunned, his mouth wide open. It took him a couple of breaths to come to his senses and speak again, “Of course we have to wait for people to eat. Although I really want to eat, they’re still working. It’s not right for us to eat alone.”
“Pfft.” Hong Yinglan let out an unceremonious laugh. “Yan Zhile, did you stay up all night and go stupid? Who said we’re eating? What are we eating? The Lord Priest told us to peel the shrimp!”
Yan Zhile’s brow furrowed in confusion. “That’s right. Isn’t peeling the shrimp for eating? Why peel it if we’re not going to eat it?”
“Slap!”
A reddish-white shrimp meat drew a parabola in the air and landed steadily in the winnowing basket. Hua Shi’an took another shrimp from the back basket and, in his spare time, glanced at him. “Your Sister Lan is right. You really did stay up all night and go stupid. You can’t even see this big winnowing basket in front of you? Did you see us eat?”
“Ah! So these shrimp have another use. They’re not for tonight?” Yan Zhile finally reacted. His gaze was dazed for a moment, and then his face turned red. He lowered his head and started to peel the shrimp.
Hong Yinglan wouldn’t let him go and continued to tease him, “Yo, it seems you’re not completely stupid. I thought all you knew was how to eat.”
“All I know is how to eat? It’s not like the Lord Priest made it clear. He said we were going back to the camp to cook. Of course, I thought these shrimp were for tonight’s meal!” Yan Zhile pouted and argued.
Hua Shi’an chuckled softly and honestly took the blame. “Alright, alright. It’s my fault for not making it clear, okay? Don’t just talk. Hurry up and peel. The other batch will be steamed soon.”
“Heavens, do we have to peel all of these? Just the three of us?” Yan Zhile hadn’t gotten the hang of peeling yet. It was a struggle to peel even one. Looking at the back basket with the shrimp beside him and the steaming steamer in front of him, his face fell.
Hong Yinglan nodded, agreeing with him for once. “It is a bit much. The crayfish shells are too hard, and peeling them is slow and tiring. Lord Priest, why don’t I go to the river and get some more people? Otherwise, just the three of us won’t be able to finish peeling them by dark.”
Hua Shi’an had the same idea and grunted softly. “Go on. They’re probably almost done washing over there. Get a few more to come over—”
His words came to an abrupt halt. Just as Hong Yinglan was about to get up, she heard Hua Shi’an say, “No need.”
“Why—”
Hong Yinglan subconsciously asked, but as soon as she said two words, she swallowed the rest of her words.
The bamboo had been split, and the bamboo skin had been scraped. A group of high-spirited beastmen climbed up the riverbank with their machetes, their coir skirts soaking wet, as if they had just come out of the river.
They had also stayed up all night and had just finished their work, but they were all full of energy and in unusually good spirits. Seemingly attracted by the overflowing fragrance of the crayfish, as Hua Shi’an looked over, they happened to look over, and the slightly deserted camp instantly became lively.
“So fragrant, so fragrant. What delicious thing are you guys cooking, Lord Priest?”
“Crayfish, the crayfish in the back basket!”
“Look closely, the color is different. The crayfish have turned so red!”
“Lord Priest, are the crayfish cooked? Can we eat them now?”
…
Free labor that came to his door, it would be a waste not to use it. Hua Shi’an decisively waved to them, casting a straight hook to catch the gluttons. “They’re cooked, they’re cooked. They’ve just come out of the pot. Come, come, you all come over.”
They were indeed cooked, but he didn’t say they could be eaten.
