Chapter 5: Return, The Barbecue Stall
Ray settled down next to the Jewel Meat.
Naturally, his daily meals were replaced by the Jewel Meat.
However, much to his frustration, his sense of taste had been drastically enhanced, likely due to acquiring Gourmet Cells.
He used to think his cooking skills were decent, but now, when he used simple roasting to prepare the Jewel Meat, he could clearly taste the flaws.
Overcooking it slightly caused the meat to lose a hint of its tenderness, cutting it too thick affected the texture, and the open flames left behind a faint burnt smell...
All of this detracted from the Jewel Meat's original, exquisite flavor.
It felt like using a dull knife to carve a rare piece of jade, leaving Ray feeling both heartbroken and disappointed.
Looking at the golden, glowing Jewel Meat, a strong desire to learn culinary arts welled up inside him.
He wanted to know what kind of cooking method could truly bring out the Jewel Meat's deliciousness. He wanted to experience the ultimate enjoyment of perfectly interpreting an ingredient's flavor.
Perhaps this was also an instinctive craving bestowed upon him by his Gourmet Cells.
Aside from that, Ray didn't eat a third of the Jewel Meat in one sitting like he did the first time.
He would feel intensely full after eating just a pound or two.
Evidently, the Gourmet Cells in his body weren't particularly eager for a dish that failed to bring out the Jewel Meat's true flavor.
Three days later, while Ray was savoring a small, perfectly roasted piece of Jewel Meat, a clear sensation suddenly echoed in his mind.
It was a wondrous connection that instantly made him realize he could return home.
Without hesitation, Ray decided to leave.
There was nothing left to explore inside the Regal Mammoth.
And the outside world was certainly not a place he could step foot in right now.
Staying here any longer would just be a waste of time.
Furthermore, the water he had brought with him was basically depleted.
He carefully carved out the remaining Jewel Meat.
Then, he gathered the large amount of regular Regal Mammoth meat he had cut down earlier.
While this meat wasn't as precious as the Jewel Meat, it was still an excellent ingredient.
Ray took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and focused his mind to respond to the sensation in his head.
With a single thought, the surrounding space began to ripple faintly, like a stone tossed into a calm pond.
The next moment, Ray's figure vanished completely.
When he opened his eyes again, a familiar ceiling greeted his sight. He had returned to his own house.
The faint glow radiating from the Jewel Meat proved that none of this was a dream.
Ray set down the Jewel Meat and the Regal Mammoth meat, stretching his limbs.
Feeling the power still surging through his body, an expectant smile curled his lips.
His life was going to be completely changed because of the Gourmet Cells.
But soon, the smile vanished from his face.
Staring at the small mountain of Regal Mammoth meat, Ray found himself in a real bind.
Although he had a household refrigerator, it could only barely fit the Jewel Meat.
As for the Regal Mammoth meat, it had to be left out.
While the weather wasn't exactly sweltering, the meat obviously wouldn't last long at room temperature.
After rummaging through his house, he only managed to find two hundred-yuan bills.
The rest of his savings were on his bank cards.
Being in a foreign country, whether he could successfully withdraw that money was entirely unknown.
Sighing, Ray didn't completely give up hope. He had to at least try; he couldn't just watch the Regal Mammoth meat rot away.
Before heading out, however, he needed to clean himself up.
Having stayed inside the Regal Mammoth's body for so long, he felt incredibly grimy and uncomfortable.
Stepping into the bathroom, Ray habitually looked up at the mirror. The next second, he froze in place, the towel in his hand dropping to the floor with a soft thud.
The youth reflected in the mirror still had familiar facial contours, but the exhaustion and weathering of his past were completely gone, replaced by the vibrant, tender youthfulness of a teenager.
His nose was straight, his jawline was still soft, and the boyish innocence between his brows practically overflowed.
This was no longer his twenty-something-year-old self; he looked exactly like a fourteen or fifteen-year-old boy.
Ray raised a hand and touched his cheek.
'Did I age backwards?'
'Gourmet Cells actually have this kind of effect!'
Ray stared at the youth in the mirror with a complex expression, unsure for a moment whether to be happy or worried.
After hastily washing up and changing into some old clothes that still somewhat fit, Ray pocketed his meager two hundred yuan and headed out.
He ran around to several banks, but was unable to withdraw any money.
This forced him to come up with another plan.
Get a part-time job? That thought was snuffed out the moment it popped up.
Working a regular job was out of the question.
Setting aside whether he could even find a place willing to hire a fourteen or fifteen-year-old...
Even if he did find a job, by the time he earned enough money to buy a freezer, the Regal Mammoth meat would have long since rotted.
He needed to make some quick cash.
Walking slowly down the street, his mind raced to find a solution.
Suddenly, an idea struck him—barbecue.
Ray's eyes lit up.
The Regal Mammoth meat he brought back was far superior to any ordinary beef or mutton.
If he priced it a bit higher, the money would come rolling in.
As for the tools, he had previously bought a portable grill, some bamboo skewers, and a box of smokeless charcoal to satisfy a sudden whim for camping.
No sooner said than done.
Ray turned around, hurried back home, and dug out the grill and charcoal.
He casually sliced off a chunk of Regal Mammoth meat, cut it into evenly sized cubes, and deftly threaded them onto the skewers.
As for seasoning, the orange salt ground from the Salt Oranges was more than enough.
Carrying the heavy ingredients and tools, Ray arrived at the entrance of a nearby shopping street just as the evening crowd was at its peak.
This was the busiest shopping street in the area, making it the perfect spot to set up a barbecue stall.
Finding an empty, out-of-the-way corner, he set up the grill and lit the smokeless charcoal.
Orange-red flames licked the grill grate, and a warm breeze began to rise.
Ray placed the mammoth meat skewers onto the grate. The moment the fat touched the scorching metal, it let out an enticing sizzle.
Golden drops of oil dripped down the texture of the meat, landing on the charcoal and sparking tiny clusters of embers.
In just a few moments, an incredibly rich, savory aroma permeated the air.
This scent was unlike any ordinary barbecue. It lacked the heavy smell of artificial seasonings; instead, it was the purest fragrance of meat, carrying a wild, mellow, and savory richness. It was as if the aroma had sprouted wings, burrowing into the noses of everyone passing by.
Pedestrians who had been rushing by suddenly stopped in their tracks, following the scent with their eyes.
Very quickly, they surrounded Ray's little stall, forming a crowd three layers deep.