Webnovel Author In The Apocalypse World-Chapter 323: New Year’s Feast and Festivities

"No need to thank me," Kim Haru replied reflexively, not knowing what else to say.

Everyone present knew his personality well, so they didn't press him further.

After the first toast, they refrained from crowding around him, worried that making him uncomfortable might cause him to leave.

The lively banquet officially began.

Most of the cooks weren't professional chefs, so the dishes lacked the structured order of a formal meal.

However, nearly every part of the pig was represented on the table.

The ears and snout were turned into cold dishes—one a spiced marinade without chili and the other a spicy salad, each with a distinct flavor.

The tenderloin was prepared as a vibrant red plate of boiled meat slices, with bean sprouts—fermented for two days beforehand—spread at the bottom.

The cabbage, soaked in the rich broth, paired perfectly with the tender meat, creating a satisfying bite every time.

The ribs were showcased in several styles: a plate of steamed ribs with rice flour, sweet and sour ribs, and a hearty lotus root rib soup.

The lotus roots were supplied by Kim Haru's small farm, part of an earlier harvest that had been stored in the granary.

The pork trotters, stewed for hours, were tender and gelatinous, offering an incredibly satisfying texture with each bite.

Even the pig liver and lungs were stir-fried simply yet deliciously.

While some people loved the taste, Kim Haru found the flavor of pig liver slightly hard to accept, managing only two bites.

As for the intestines, they were a highlight—served both braised and dry-fried.

Unfortunately, time constraints meant most of the intestines had been used to make sausages.

This process didn't require any machines, as a Metal-type ability user had easily fashioned a makeshift funnel to stuff the seasoned meat into the casings.

Although the freshly made sausages could be eaten right away, they lacked the depth of flavor that came after being smoked.

Once smoked, the sausages would develop a distinctive cured meat aroma, making them a true delicacy.

Moreover, smoked sausages could be stored for a much longer time, potentially lasting until the next winter.

The humans gathered around the table to enjoy the pig slaughter feast, but of course, they didn't forget the animals around them.

The hamsters, being partners in their cooperation, weren't interested in the meat, but still joined the celebration.

They sat nearby, nibbling on the nuts they pulled out from their cheek pouches, making a soft rustling sound.

The queen ant, accompanied by her ants, sat next to the hamsters.

The two species, while differing in size, looked quite harmonious sitting together.

The ants ate the same food as the humans, though in much smaller portions.

Known for their love of bold flavors, they particularly favored dishes with added spice and numbing heat.

As a result, all the dishes set before them were fiery red.

The Cryo Wolf, though attracted to the smells, couldn't have the same strong flavors.

Kim Haru worried that giving them too spicy food might affect their health, so he specially prepared a big stew for them in a separate pot.

Luna and Crescent naturally ate the same as the Cryo Wolf.

Everyone was not picky about food.

Once the signal to eat was given, they immediately dove into their meals, eating heartily.

Kim Haru, eating at a more leisurely pace, thought to himself that when he returned, he'd add some extra fertilizer for the plants, treating them to their own pig slaughter feast.

After the pig slaughter feast, the festive atmosphere for the New Year grew stronger.

The residents of Pyeongseong Safe Zone, no longer as anxious about whether they could survive the winter, now had more time to prepare for the upcoming New Year celebrations.

As a result, Kim Haru frequently received messages from Hwa Jian through the voice-transmitting snail, with the latter informing him that more goods had arrived at the Green Basket Vegetable Shop.

These items were, of course, all for Kim Haru.

Since they couldn't find the location of the small farm, they had no choice but to send them to Kim Haru.

"I won't accept food," Kim Haru instructed Hwa Jian.

The residents didn't even have enough food for themselves, so how could he accept theirs?

"There's no food," Hwa Jian replied, "Most of it is handmade goods. There are also some spring couplets."

Ah, that's right, there should be spring couplets for the New Year.

Kim Haru almost forgot about this.

He sent a Snowball No. 1 to the safe zone to bring the gifts back.

When Kim Haru looked, he found that most of the New Year's goods were here.

In fact, there weren't that many.

The paper was already in short supply in the post-apocalypse world, so most of the homemade lanterns the residents had sent were made from old paper, painted in a bright red color, though some of the original text was still visible.

However, Kim Haru didn't mind this.

Aside from the lanterns, the residents also sent cut-out lucky symbols, little dolls of blessings, and many spring couplets.

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"Kim Haru-hyung, let's put them all up," Go Okrim eagerly suggested.

Kim Haru had no objections.

After all, the gifts had already been accepted, so they might as well hang them up.

Soon, the small farm became lively again.

The Cryo Wolf, being tall, were just the right size to act as ladders.

Go Okrim and Kang Hose stood on the Cryo Wolf' backs to hang the couplets.

Of course, Kim Haru's cabin had to be decorated.

The best and most auspicious words were chosen for the front door, and a couplet was hung on each window, even the small one next to the kitchen's exhaust fan.

The staff dormitory also had to be decorated.

Inside the dorm, both Go Okrim and Kang Hose hung a pair of couplets on their doors.

The content was chosen by them, and both of them coincidentally selected the couplets that carried the meaning of peace and health.