The fried chicken and crispy tenderloin were all out of the wok. Eric tapped the side of the wok with his spatula: "If you’re not helping, could you please step aside? You’re blocking Leo from carrying the food!"
Max and Michael awkwardly separated, each carrying two plates of food to serve.
The once-fried lobster was returned to the wok for a second frying, then drizzled with garlic sauce, completing the garlic lobster dish.
Eric instructed Kevin to grill all the skewered rabbit ribs, handing him a barbecue sauce of his own concoction and telling him to brush it on layer by layer. Smelling the rich aroma of the barbecue sauce, Kevin readily agreed. With Grass supervising nearby, Eric felt confident entrusting this task to him.
The remaining animal fat in the wok was poured into a ceramic crock, to be saved for future cooking.
Without pre-made hot pot seasoning, Eric had to stir-fry the soup base himself. In hot oil, he sautéed dried chilies, onions, and garlic until fragrant, then added soybean paste and a little sweet bean sauce. Finally, he tossed in a large amount of Sichuan peppercorns for a numbing aroma before adding water and bringing it to a boil.
Once the broth was boiling, the fried fish pieces were added to braise. Eric also added thinly sliced pig’s blood curd. After simmering for a while, a simple yet flavorful pot of braised fish was ready.
Though the method was simple, the flavor was anything but lacking. A rich fragrance permeated the air, making everyone in the courtyard restless with anticipation.
Eric ladled the braised fish into a large ceramic basin, poured the thick sauce over it, and brought it out for everyone.
Chief Joseph and his family were sitting with Luban, sipping clear white liquor and praising it endlessly.
Luban also enjoyed the liquor, but his attention was completely captured by the myriad of delicious dishes before him, so he didn’t join their discussion about the wine.
The pot of animal trotters had been simmering all afternoon and was now tender and falling off the bone. Eric scooped three different flavors into three large ceramic bowls, had the children carry them out, and went down to the cellar himself to fetch more fruit wine.
The white liquor was quite strong, not as easy to drink as the fruit wine. In case some weren’t used to the intensity, he had prepared the fruit wine as an alternative.
The friends who worked in the communal kitchen had to wait until the entire tribe had finished dinner before they could come over. Eric had set aside some food for them, which he would reheat upon their arrival.
Seeing that he was finally done, Michael eagerly waved him over to sit with them.
Chief Joseph and Thomas sat at one table. Michael, Max, Grass, Kevin, and the children sat at another wooden plank.
The fried chicken and crispy tenderloin were still warm. Eric had a particular fondness for these fried dishes. He personally sprinkled some dried chili powder on top and popped a piece into his mouth with delight.
Afraid of making Max feel awkward, he deliberately took a detour and sat between Grass and Michael. Even so, the expression on the person opposite him didn’t improve much.
Eric had prepared both white liquor and wild berry wine for everyone. Glutinous rice was scarce, so he hadn’t dared to be extravagant and use it for brewing recently, leaving only these two types.
The late-season evening had a chill, but in Eric’s courtyard, everyone was eating and drinking boisterously, breaking out in a sweat. Luban and a few other Dwarves even took off their outer coats.
Under the flickering firelight, everyone’s face was flushed, whether from the steam rising from the braised fish or the effects of the alcohol.
Eric ate a piece of pig’s blood curd from the braised fish pot, silently regretting not having cooked rice. Most of today’s dishes were perfect accompaniments to white rice; a bowl of fragrant, fluffy rice would have been ultimate satisfaction.
Kevin alternated between grilling the meat and sitting down to eat with everyone.
Everyone vividly remembered the miserable time they were knocked out by Eric’s berry wine, so there was a tacit understanding to first line their stomachs until they were half-full before daring to touch the alcohol.
Today, the white liquor that had perfumed the entire tribe was undoubtedly the top choice. They had been restraining themselves all afternoon.
The moment the strong yet mellow sorghum liquor touched their lips, it felt like a whirlwind of fiery embers sweeping through their chests. Despite the gentle night breeze, sweat beaded on everyone’s foreheads.
Thomas was a warrior chief, and he immediately saw another use for this liquor. During the harsh winters of the mainland, even the Snow Wolf people dared not venture out easily. In a snowstorm, it was not only easy to get lost but also to lose body heat.
When hunting in winter, the energy warriors needed to expend was several times that of normal days. If they couldn’t hunt large prey, all their effort would be for naught.
However, this white liquor warmed the entire body as soon as it went down. He couldn’t help but imagine: if each warrior carried a bamboo tube of this liquor in the winter, wouldn’t a few sips be enough to drive away the biting cold and provide energy when their bodies felt frigid?
That way, even with the scarcity of food in winter, they wouldn’t have to hunt huddled in fear. It wouldn’t be like previous years when their combat effectiveness would be reduced by more than half every winter.
Thinking further, among the beastmen races, many had strength and physiques inferior to the Snow Wolf people. If they could obtain this liquor, it would undoubtedly significantly enhance their chances of survival.
It was a known fact that many small beastmen tribes were wiped out each winter. The cold winters here were a difficult struggle even for a powerful tribe like the Snow Wolf.
This was truly a good thing. Thomas happily raised his cup, clinking it against Chief Joseph’s.
Eric had given them plenty of berry wine, and he and Luci had gotten drunk a few times, so he was wary of this white liquor. He took only small sips, not daring to gulp it down.
Phong, seeing that his partner, contrary to her usual behavior, didn’t start picking on Luci the moment they met, breathed a sigh of relief. He happily took a large swig of liquor and let out a long, satisfied breath.
Anna glared sideways at him, snorted coldly, and then took a sip herself.
"This liquor isn’t bad. That kid might be weak, but his head is quite sharp," she commented in a critical tone.
Luci found every word she said jarring. Hearing this, his anger flared.
"Eric was harmed in the womb, otherwise he’d definitely be much more formidable than Michael! Besides, wasn’t it to protect the tribe that his mother got injured back then!"
Phong hadn’t even swallowed his second sip of liquor when what he feared most finally happened. He carelessly choked on the alcohol, coughing violently as he waved his hands between the two, trying to intervene.