Chapter 16 : Chapter 16
Chapter 16: Eating Is Important
Chenxi watched Hongxu chewing with her mouth stuffed full of salted meat, her cheeks puffed out like a squirrel. Silently, he looked away.
He set down the flour bag in his hands and walked to the water jar to scoop some water and wash his hands.
“Can’t we just make something quickly to eat now? I’m starving.”
“Even if you’re hungry, you still have to wait.”
Chenxi shook the droplets of water from his hands and spoke calmly.
“Many things can be done carelessly. Food cannot.”
There had to be something that kept his enthusiasm for this world alive.
Delicious food was a good choice.
Hongxu struggled to swallow the meat in her mouth and licked the grains of salt from the corner of her lips.
“Huh? I’m already half full. Just make something simple!”
“No.”
Chenxi had already returned to the stove, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.
He untied the rope sealing the flour bag and scooped several large spoonfuls of white flour into a clay basin.
“Eating is a very important matter. It must be taken seriously.”
Hongxu watched him pour water into the flour and knead the dough. His movements were efficient, and his expression was completely focused.
She curled her lips.
Humans were troublesome. Wasn’t it enough just to be full?
Leaning against the doorframe, she watched as Chenxi kneaded the dough, gradually gathering the loose flour into a single mass before repeatedly folding and pressing it.
Why was a human playing with white mud?
White… mud?
Yes.
She really had absolutely no common sense.
…
Sweat appeared on Chenxi’s forehead, and he swallowed.
Must endure.
He absolutely had to endure.
Only by restraining desire could one experience the ultimate satisfaction.
“Is it really necessary to go through all this trouble?”
Hongxu could not help asking again.
Back in her tribe, when she was hungry she would simply tear into raw prey, or at most roast it over a fire.
Such delicate work felt like a complete waste of time to her.
Chenxi did not look up. He continued kneading the dough in his hands.
“The trouble is necessary. Once it reaches your mouth, it will all be worth it.”
He wiped the sweat from his temple with the back of his hand.
“Go to the yard and pick a few scallions. Choose the tender ones.”
Hongxu answered with an “oh” and slowly walked outside.
By the time she returned with a handful of fresh green scallions, Chenxi had already set the dough aside to rest.
He was currently working on a slab of cured meat hanging from a beam. The blade slid along the surface, shaving off thin, translucent slices.
“What kind of meat is that?”
Hongxu leaned closer to examine it.
It looked completely different from any meat she had seen before.
“Smoked monster meat from last winter.”
Chenxi arranged the sliced meat neatly on a plate and then began washing several vegetables grown in the yard.
“Adding some vegetables to the noodles tastes very good.”
Hongxu watched him bustle about and muttered in her heart: It’s just a meal. Why is it more complicated than fighting?
But…
As she smelled the unique fatty aroma of the cured meat and looked at the vibrant green vegetables, the hunger in her stomach stirred again.
That small amount of salted meat earlier had merely filled the gaps between the teeth of an Oni.
The firewood crackled inside the stove. Once the iron wok heated up, Chenxi scooped a small lump of lard to coat the pan.
The fragrance of melting fat immediately spread through the room.
With a flick of his wrist, Chenxi dropped the meat slices into the pan.
SIZZLE!
Oil splattered as the cured meat curled, its edges turning crisp and golden.
“That smells amazing!”
Hongxu’s eyes lit up as she began swallowing her saliva.
Chenxi said nothing and focused on stir-frying with quick movements of the spatula.
After the salty fragrance of the cured meat was drawn out by the hot oil, he quickly added the chopped vegetables into the pan.
The emerald greens and glistening golden slices tumbled together in the wok, creating a beautiful contrast of colors.
Finally, he placed the fried egg he had prepared earlier aside. Once the noodles were done, it would be added directly.
A fried egg soaked in broth was exceptionally delicious.
“Go bring two large bowls.”
Chenxi instructed again.
Hongxu immediately complied.
When she returned carrying two coarse clay bowls larger than her face, the soup in the pot was already boiling vigorously.
Chenxi took the dough from the basin and placed it on the board, kneading it briefly before grabbing a rolling pin.
The dough was rolled into a large, even sheet, then skillfully folded and cut into thick, uniform noodles.
Chenxi loosened the noodles with his fingers, shaking off the extra flour before grabbing a handful and scattering them neatly into the boiling broth.
The noodles sank and rose in the milky soup, quickly turning soft and translucent.
Chenxi stirred them with long chopsticks to prevent them from sticking together.
Whether dried noodles or store-bought hand-pulled noodles, Chenxi felt none of them tasted as good as noodles he rolled himself.
Finally, he poured the stir-fried cured meat and vegetables—along with all the oil and juices—into the noodle pot and sprinkled chopped scallions on top.
A rich aroma instantly filled the small kitchen.
Hongxu sniffed deeply, and her stomach growled even louder.
Chenxi lifted two overflowing bowls of noodles. Aside from their incredible fragrance, the most notable characteristic was their quantity.
Before transmigrating, Chenxi’s home had many large bowls.
But compared with the bowl in his hands now, they would all seem tiny.
More accurately, this should be called a basin.
…
He pushed the bowl piled higher—with more slices of meat—toward Hongxu and kept the other one for himself.
“Eat.”
He picked up his chopsticks first and blew on a bundle of noodles.
Hongxu eagerly reached out, intending to grab the meat directly with her hand.
Chenxi lightly tapped the back of her hand with his chopsticks.
“Hot.”
Chenxi truly did not know what to say.
Why would someone use their hands to grab noodles?
He demonstrated how to hold chopsticks.
“Use these.”
Hongxu looked at the two thin wooden sticks in Chenxi’s hand as he smoothly lifted noodles and meat into his mouth.
She imitated him clumsily, pinching the chopsticks with three fingers and attempting to pick up the largest piece of meat in the bowl.
But the two chopsticks behaved like two brains fighting each other—either separating or crossing. The tempting slice of meat slid around between them and refused to be caught.
“Damn it!”
Hongxu growled in frustration.
“This stupid thing won’t let me eat!”
Chenxi looked at her struggling with the chopsticks, and the corners of his mouth shifted almost imperceptibly.
“Press this one with your thumb,” he said, setting down his own bowl and pointing at one of the chopsticks in her hand.
“Control the other with your index and middle fingers.
Don’t rush. Move them slowly.”
Hongxu took a deep breath and adjusted her fingers as instructed, though they felt stiff as if they might cramp.
Holding her breath, she tried again.
The chopsticks finally closed together just enough to grasp the meat slice.
“Ha! I got it!”
Hongxu looked delighted as she slowly lifted it.
Unfortunately, the moment the meat rose barely an inch above the soup, the chopsticks slipped.
Plop.
The meat fell back into the bowl, splashing broth.
“….”
Hongxu’s face fell.
Honestly, she did not even want to eat anymore.
“Don’t rush.”
Chenxi stood up and returned to the kitchen.
Hongxu watched curiously.
Within only a few minutes, he returned.
But now he held another utensil.
“Use a fork. This one is easier.”
Chopsticks could be practiced later.
For something immediately usable, forks and spoons were best.
Even children could master them quickly.
For Hongxu, the fork was indeed much simpler.
One stab—
Noodles, vegetables, meat, and egg were all caught together.
Ignoring the heat, she shoved the noodles straight into her mouth.
The noodles soaked with rich broth exploded with flavor—salty cured meat, refreshing vegetables, and the soft tenderness of egg all blending together instantly.
“Delicious!”
She shouted through a mouthful of food, her eyes wide with excitement.
This tasted far better than anything she had eaten before.
Much better.
Only the first meal she had eaten here before could compare with this bowl of noodles.
Eat!
Eat with huge bites!
Hongxu’s face was filled with satisfaction.
“This soup is amazing!”
“The meat smells incredible!”
“How did you make the egg into flowers?”
Chenxi also showed a satisfied expression. After drinking a mouthful of broth, warmth spread throughout his entire body.
“I feel alive again.”