Sam and the others felt a cold chill run down their spines. They turned back in confusion and were startled to see Max’s expression.
After exchanging glances, they slipped away one by one.
Eric had been comforting them that it was okay to arrive a little late, but when he saw Max’s face, he too shut his mouth.
Why was he angry again? He really couldn’t figure it out. If he had known, he would have let Kevin carry the meat instead. Could it be... was Max upset because he had interrupted his private time with Michael?
Oh, a man’s heart is as deep as a needle at the bottom of the sea. Eric thought and thought but couldn’t figure out where he had provoked him, so he had to end his thoughts and come to that conclusion.
He stealthily turned his head to observe, only to see that Max’s expression had returned to normal, which made him frown in confusion.
The way home was shrouded in an awkward atmosphere. As soon as he stepped into the yard, Eric let out a soft sigh of relief.
The cured meat and sausages could wait; he had to focus on the housewarming party first.
The perceptive Grass had already washed the large cast-iron wok, but the smell of alcohol was too strong to be washed away completely. If you got close, you could still faintly smell the yeast.
Eric planned to make many fried dishes, and using the large wok would save time.
Gleaming white slabs of animal fat were placed in the large cast-iron wok, slowly melting into a clear oil. He had a secret for rendering animal fat; the finished product was always crystal clear and free of impurities. When it cooled, it solidified into a mass as white as snow.
Even Jessica, who was in charge of the tribe’s kitchen, had to praise his skill.
Everyone had tried to copy Eric’s method, but the fat they rendered was mostly cloudy, not as clear and white as his.
The marinated chicken was coated in a thin layer of flour and then dropped into the boiling oil. It was fried until golden brown, then removed, allowed to rest for a moment, and then fried a second time. This method would make the skin extra crispy.
The pork tenderloin pieces were prepared in a similar way, coated in flour and fried until crisp. When cooked, they became his favorite crispy fried pork tenderloin. It was delicious whether eaten on its own, dipped in a hot pot, or used in a vegetable stew.
In the past, whenever his grandmother made this dish, he would sit by the stove, waiting to eat the hot pieces of meat straight from the wok. The outer crust was both crispy and fragrant, while the meat inside was rich and flavorful.
Michael’s father, Phong, and Anna were the first to arrive. A little later, Luban, who had just returned, also brought his young son Robin over. In return for the white wine, he brought Eric a lot of food and several sparkling mineral stones.
Eric was a little embarrassed; it turned out that everyone knew he liked shiny things. He had already accumulated quite a few low-level magic cores, most of which were brought back for him by Michael.
After putting the gifts away, Eric dished out the crispy fried chicken and pork tenderloin. Fortunately, his house had many ceramic plates, otherwise, there really wouldn’t have been enough.
To prepare for today’s party, he had laid out several large wooden planks in the yard to serve as tables. Everyone just sat on the ground as if on a picnic.
Not long after, the busy Luci and Thomas also arrived. Afraid they would cause trouble, Eric quickly led them to a seat far away from Anna.
But as soon as Anna saw Luci, she snorted coldly.
Luci pouted, then decisively walked around and sat down at the same table as her rival. Thomas could only follow helplessly.
Initially, the two of them had fought over who would be paired with Thomas. Later, Anna found a compatible partner, but the two still couldn’t stand the sight of each other, bickering whenever they met.
Phong and Thomas looked at each other and sighed in sympathy for their shared plight, then sat between the two women to separate them.
Eric was also at his wit’s end. He had tried to seat them far apart, but who knew these two adversaries would insist on getting close to each other. At first, he had thought that if the two couldn’t get along, he should just invite one of them. But after thinking it over, not inviting either of them was not an option.
Luci’s family had taken care of him a lot, so he couldn’t not invite them. And for Michael’s sake, he couldn’t not invite Anna and Phong.
Besides, Anna had helped him out just yesterday. This matter troubled him so much he lost a few strands of hair, and in the end, he decided to take a gamble and invite them all.
They probably wouldn’t have the heart to beat a child like him to death, right? Eric thought with bitter optimism.
Flower, Xiao Ding, and several other children followed Leo, surrounding Eric to help. They were given snacks and obediently carried the dishes. Their human forms were even taller than the Dwarves, so Eric didn’t feel guilty ordering them around.
The crispy fried chicken and pork tenderloin were served. Even Anna and Luci had to temporarily set aside their feud and prioritize eating. Good food was the most important thing.
Seeing their mouths filled, Eric let out a soft sigh of relief.
Michael popped a piece of fried chicken into his mouth and sidled over. His mother and her lifelong enemy were sitting at the same table, yet he acted like an outsider, even seeming to enjoy watching the drama.
"It’s okay, Eric, don’t worry. My mom and Luci know their limits; they won’t fight."
He was even in the mood to comfort Eric.
Eric was utterly speechless. He turned his head to look at him, only to have his mouth stuffed full of fried chicken.
"Children shouldn’t be frowning all the time. This chicken is really good, you should try it." Michael said with a grin.
Although the fried chicken he made couldn’t compare to that of a certain white-bearded old man, the ingredients were fresh and the seasoning was just right, so it was delicious. Especially the crispy batter crust, on which Eric had sprinkled a little pepper and salt powder, further enhancing the flavor.
"Michael, you’re so thoughtless." he mumbled as he chewed.
"What?" Michael didn’t hear him clearly and leaned closer.
Eric was about to push the handsome face in front of him away in disgust when a large, bony hand appeared behind Michael’s head, grabbed him by the collar, and yanked him backward.
"If you’re not going to help, then get out of the way." Max’s cold voice came from behind.
His handsome brows were tightly furrowed, his entire face clearly written with the two words "bad mood."
This scene really looks too much like jealousy!
Eric’s little inner self was screaming and rolling on the floor.
It was the first time in his life he had witnessed such a scene in person; it was too exciting!
It would be even better if he wasn’t a part of this play.
Eric’s ears perked up, but he maintained a serious expression on his face, continuing to fry the remaining chicken and meat.
"What’s wrong with you today? Your temper is terrible. If it’s because we misunderstood you and little Eric, then, mmph mmph..."
Michael was getting annoyed. He had only gotten halfway through his sentence before an embarrassed and angry Max clamped a hand over his mouth and dragged him away.
"Don’t mention that again!" Max growled.
It was as if the novel he was following had suddenly been adapted into a movie and was being performed right next to him.
Eric scooped out the fried chicken pieces and shook his head with a sigh.
That person is jealous because of you, and yet this Michael is completely clueless about romance. He even keeps trying to pair him with Max. See, you’ve made Max angry now.
The most pitiful one was still a background character like him. His ideal type was always hovering around him, but they were all flowers that already had owners, and he was even being used as a tool. Truly miserable.