Favorite of the Beast-world: I Got Rich Through Farming-Chapter 15: It Smells So Good
"Not yet. Just a little longer."
Just as Ling Hong was about to sneak a grab, An Jin, quick as a flash, yanked a large leaf back over the stone bowl. She shot him a reproachful look. "If you scald the fur right off your paws, don’t you dare blame me."
Ling Hong was speechless.
After spending a few days with him, An Jin had finally figured him out.
On the outside, this wolf Ling Hong was the picture of cold aloofness—as stern and unapproachable as a hardened soldier. In reality, he was reserved, painfully blunt, and had a one-track mind. His inner self was the complete opposite of his exterior.
Ling Hong sat beside her, his large frame held perfectly straight. He watched the young female’s every move with rapt attention, not even blinking, like a star student hanging on a teacher’s every word.
An Jin scooped a bit of coarse salt from the jar, spread it on a leaf, and ground it into a fine powder before sprinkling it into the stone bowl. She covered it with the leaf again and, after waiting ten minutes, lifted the lid—
The rich, mellow aroma was absolutely intoxicating. It flooded their senses, making their insides churn with a desperate, boiling hunger. They wished they could start devouring it that very second.
The golden sheen of the chicken broth was a feast for the eyes.
Droplets of fragrant oil floated atop the milky-white broth, along with a few delicate bubbles, making their mouths water instantly.
A glimmer appeared in both of their eyes.
Ling Hong had never seen chicken cooked like this, nor had he ever imagined the result would be so unexpectedly enticing.
His eyes gleamed as he swallowed hard. He tilted his head, staring longingly at the young female, his silver-white wolf tail wagging even more furiously without him realizing it. "I’m so hungry."
An Jin was suddenly reminded of the little border collie she used to have. ’Whenever it wanted to eat, it would give me the exact same pitiful, pleading look.’
She cleared her throat.
’I’m getting sidetracked.’
An Jin fetched two stone bowls, ladled them full, and handed one to the man.
"Ah, careful, it’s hot—!"
The words had barely left An Jin’s mouth, but it was already too late.
The man before her had already snatched a drumstick with unbearable impatience. The bone was sticking out, and he grabbed it and brought it straight to his lips. In the next instant, his eyes widened in surprise.
The searing heat made his tongue recoil at first, but it was immediately followed by a lingering aroma that flooded his senses. Once the initial heat subsided, he stripped the bone clean. The exquisite flavor and the sheer shock of it sent tremors through his very being. He stared at An Jin in utter disbelief.
’He’d never imagined in his entire life that he would ever—*ever!*—eat something so delicious!’
Even more unbelievable was that this meal had been prepared by the unassuming female right in front of him.
An Jin saw him staring at her in a daze. ’Did the food taste so good it broke his brain?’
An Jin picked up two clean twigs. Unlike Ling Hong, who had just used his hands, she used her makeshift "chopsticks" to deftly pick up a small piece of meat and pop it into her mouth.
A contented sigh escaped her lips. ’So fragrant. I really am the best.’
’Wild chickens have more developed breast and leg muscles, which makes the meat chewier and more flavorful when cooked. Perfect control over the heat and ingredients had brought out the absolute best of the chicken’s flavor. Just one small bite sent a shiver through her body. The warm, delicious taste melted her heart~’
An indescribable fragrance lingered in her mouth, refusing to fade.
After she swallowed, a pleasant aftertaste remained, and she felt a surge of energy.
She drank the broth like fine wine, downing it all in one go, then stubbornly licked the corners of her mouth, determined not to let a single drop of flavor escape.
This chicken soup was, in the truest sense, the first real meal An Jin had eaten since arriving in this world.
An Jin let out a satisfied burp, walked over to a pile of straw, and flopped down, ready for a nap.
The wild animals in this world were much larger and plumper; this wild chicken was twice the size of a typical farm-raised one. An Jin had a small appetite, so one bowl was more than enough to fill her.
The rest of the chicken soup went straight into Ling Hong’s stomach. He was starting to feel full, but the lingering aroma was so tempting that he still felt unsatisfied, wanting more.
’After that meal, Ling Hong felt like he had wasted the first twenty years of his life. He found himself regretting all the garbage he’d been eating up until now.’
’After this, he didn’t think he could ever stomach his old food again.’
He looked over at the young female, who was stretching lazily on the pile of straw, her eyelids growing heavy. The suspicion in his heart grew stronger.
’Medical skills?’
’Curing meat?’
’And this captivating culinary skill?’
He no longer thought she was stupid at all. On the contrary, he now saw her as a bundle of mysteries, tempting him to uncover them one by one.
"Why is your food so delicious?" Ling Hong asked, his expression serious and blunt.
An Jin was already half-asleep. She rolled over, covering her ears. "Someone told me when I was little. I’m really sleepy, stop asking..."
Ling Hong was relentless. "Who was it?"
"An elder."
Ling Hong was speechless.
’She didn’t even bother to change her excuse.’
Fearing he would keep pressing her, An Jin suppressed her irritation, sprang to her feet, and grabbed the two stone bowls. "I’m going to wash these stone bowls. Don’t follow me," she said, already running for the exit.
With that, she jogged off and disappeared from sight.
Ling Hong worried she might be in danger, but he hesitated, having been given a direct order not to follow.
Members of the Wolf Clan tended to be rigid and straightforward—in layman’s terms, they had one-track minds.
Since An Jin had told him not to follow, Ling Hong hesitated for a moment before deciding to wait obediently at home. He’d just have to ask her when she got back.
...
’System, submit the quest.’
[DING—Side Quest (Heal the Wolf Beast) complete. Reward: +10 Gold Coins.]
’Gold Coins? What are these for?’
The voice of Mirror Mirror sounded in her head.
[Dearest Host, Gold Coins are the direct currency for the System Mall! You can use them to purchase unlocked items and develop land in your space. You can earn them by completing quests or selling items~]
An Jin reached a nearby river and squatted down to wash the bowls. The clear water flowed over her hands, its coolness a welcome relief from the summer heat.
Suddenly, ripples spread across the surface of the water as a long, elegant blue figure shot toward her from beneath the surface.
A sudden chill spread across An Jin’s palm. She looked down in surprise to see that her hand, submerged in the water, had been taken by another—a large, pale, slippery hand.
The cool touch of the stranger’s skin felt like smooth jade against her palm.
"What’s that? It smells amazing~"
SPLASH! A pair of captivatingly beautiful blue eyes broke the surface—clear and lovely, glinting with the river’s light.
Long, blue hair swayed gently with the ripples, like strands of seaweed.
