Chapter 358 - 156: Sacrifice
The New Year's Eve feast brought unprecedented liveliness to the small courtyard.
The two new members tasted one dish after another made by Chen Zhou, occasionally widening their eyes in awe.
...
Under Chen Zhou's guidance, they gradually learned to roll dumpling skins, mix fillings, wrap dumplings, or pick up kitchen knives to try cutting vegetables and creating their own fruit platters.
Among the many dishes, Dodoru's favorite was stir-fried octopus legs.
In the tribe, no one would ever suggest that this strange creature with eight legs could be eaten.
If the number of octopuses increased by the seaside, the priests would tell them it was because they hadn't been working hard enough, angering the Celestial God, and that if they continued like this, a violent storm would soon come to punish them.
The appearance of octopuses was unpleasing to begin with, but after being endowed with the special meaning of "God's wrath," they became feared by everyone in the tribe.
Initially, when Chen Zhou cut off the octopus head, leaving only the eight legs on the chopping board, Dodoru felt a little panicked, instinctively recalling the past gods and their wrath.
But when Chen Zhou put the marinated octopus legs into the pot to blanch them, added chili peppers, scallion segments, and garlic slices, and started stir-frying, the inviting aroma suddenly dispelled Dodoru's inner fear, replaced by a strong appetite.
Ah Tun was more timid than Dodoru and didn't usually like to eat very spicy foods. Originally, he didn't dare to touch the octopus legs with chopsticks, but he was encouraged by Dodoru to muster the courage to try.
...
"How is it?"
Seeing his companion chew the octopus leg and swallow it, his face flushed, Dodoru asked in a whisper.
"It's hot, it's painful."
Ah Tun couldn't handle spice as well as Dodoru. After swallowing two segments of octopus legs, fine sweat broke out on his forehead.
The vocabulary in the primitive tribe's language wasn't rich, so he couldn't describe this sensation called "spicy," and had to express it with pain and heat.
"Also, it's very delicious."
Ah Tun added, picking up a sliced lemon beside him and popping it into his mouth, his face quickly wrinkling from the sourness.
...
While the indigenous youths enjoyed the banquet, other "elder" members of the household were also celebrating this New Year's Eve.
Tizi, Xiao Huihui, Kuang Dang, Tiger Head, Hui Qiu, Lai Fu, Little Dragon Cat...
According to their preferences, some were eating fish, some were enjoying cooked lamb, or gnawing on large prawns.
The hard-working Lai Fu was especially rewarded with a whole lamb leg, tearing into it under the courtyard wall.
...
Interestingly, not long after the indigenous youth was rescued, they had a conflict with the household cats.
At that time, they had just learned from Chen Zhou how to tend crops and prevent wild animals like rabbits, mice, and birds from damaging them.
The knowledge was too much and too varied that, even after reviewing in their cabin at night, they had some trouble recalling the essentials.
The next morning, they found Kuang Dang wandering in the field, mistakenly thinking it was a crop-threatening wild animal, they picked up stones to throw and chased it.
Luckily, the crops in the field were dense enough, and Kuang Dang was small and nimble. Coupled with Chen Zhou hearing their shouts outside and arriving in time to stop them, the farce avoided disastrous consequences.
Due to the farce, Kuang Dang still held a shadow in his heart towards the two indigenous youths, avoiding them while eating, and squatting in a corner to eat alone.
Chen Zhou also felt quite concerned. After the Kuang Dang chasing incident, he chose a day when all family members were present to introduce the two indigenous youths around to the cats and dogs at home.
They had met Lai Fu long ago; as for Tizi, Kuang Dang, Tiger Head, and other family members, they found them quite unfamiliar.
Especially Tiger Head, this guy's huge size was twice as big as the other cats, with a robust physique and majestic appearance, astonishing Dodoru and Ah Tun.
Needless to say, they quietly assigned Tiger Head the title of Divine Beast.
...
The last segment of the feast ended with lamb and scallion stuffed dumplings.
The boiling water was tumbling with the exquisite dumplings wrapped by Chen Zhou and the ugly ones wrapped by the two indigenous youths.
To make top-grade dumplings, Chen Zhou luxuriously used the premium flour sent as a reward.
The flour produced by modern industry was fine and white, making the dumpling skins thin and the fillings large. Through the thin dumpling skin, the interior ingredients were faintly visible, along with the rich soup from the cooked lamb and scallion, the taste nearly made the two indigenous youth swallow their tongues.
...
Unlike the indigenous youths who were busy savoring delicious food and various new things, Chen Zhou didn't focus on the taste and richness of the food.
He was enjoying the festive atmosphere.
Recollecting the first New Year's Eve when he first landed on the island, he barely managed to cobble together "four dishes and a soup."
A cup of cold milk tea, a few pieces of preserved fruit, a dish of cold kelp salad, plus kelp stew with bird meat, and grilled wings...
At that time, the cave didn't have a small courtyard paved with stone bricks, no bright lights throughout the night, and no decorations or furniture.
Even the family members accompanying him to welcome the new year only included Lai Fu, Xiao Huihui, and Dragon Cat.
Now, he had such a neat and safe-looking small courtyard, a host of pets, and kindred who could communicate with him, respect him, and regard him as their God.
Perhaps these changes were the real meaning of life on the island and the distant destination he was willing to strive for.
...
Pouring himself a glass of Yari wine, savoring its distinctive bitterness and sweetness.
Under the glow of lights, Chen Zhou leaned against the chair back, gazing dreamily toward the small courtyard. His focus wasn't on the table of food, nor on the two indigenous youths, but as if looking through the entire island, toward the endless distance.