Chapter 102: Tender Corn

Time flew by; in the blink of an eye another seven days had passed. That morning, Ba Ke Er and Mo De had just gone out to collect game from the traps outside the tribe when Zhang Fan and Fei Er teamed up to go inspect the cornfield.

Zhang Fan looked at a large patch of newly grown corn ears, feeling an itch to act, so he peeled back one ear to have a look—but that look made him even more delighted! He hadn't expected that corn ears which take several months to mature on Earth would be edible after only a month and a half on the Beastmen Planet! Although they're still tender corn, at least they can be put in a pot, right?

Seeing Zhang Fan's delighted expression, Fei Er next to him likewise peeled back the husk of a nearby ear and saw that it, too, was a fully grown ear of corn. Smelling the fresh, natural sweet fragrance of the tender corn, Fei Er's mouth almost instantly began to water.

"Fan Fan, is this corn edible now? But it seems a bit different from the corn we just brought back!"

"Exactly, it can be eaten now. The corn is tender; just wash it clean, toss it into the pot, and cook it until done, then it's ready to eat. At least the corn we brought back earlier is mature—it can be saved for seed or ground into cornmeal—but this tender corn can't be used that way; it has to be boiled and eaten as is, because it isn't fully mature, so it can't be ground into flour."

Fei Er listened, nodded as if half‑understanding, and then said nothing more.

Here, after Zhang Fan had peeled back several corn husks in succession, he began to break off each edible tender ear together with its husk, placing them at his feet.

Fei Er walked over, glanced at the ears Zhang Fan had broken off, quietly noted which ones were edible, then quickly told Zhang Fan and ran to his own cornfield next to Zhang Fan's house to break off corn there.

Zhang Fan watched Fei Er dash off in a flurry, smiled helplessly and shook his head, then went on breaking off corn.

Over there, as soon as Fei Er reached his own cornfield, he began, while picturing the ears Zhang Fan had just broken off, to constantly flip over his own corn with both hands; whenever he saw a suitable ear, he imitated Zhang Fan and broke it off together with its husk.

Not long after, Zhang Fan had already broken off enough corn for today's meal—twenty ears. Since there was too much corn to carry easily, he tore off a few strips of the long corn leaves, peeled back half the husk on each ear, and then tied them together in bundles.

Zhang Fan thought Fei Er was still out in the field and hadn't returned, so he hurriedly picked up the bundled corn, one bundle in each hand, and headed toward the neighboring cornfield.

As expected, when Zhang Fan arrived at Fei Er's field, he saw Fei Er still busy breaking off corn, with at least seventeen or eighteen ears already piled at his feet. Seeing this, Zhang Fan quickly set down his own bundles, went over, and helped Fei Er tie up all the ears as well.

At that moment Fei Er noticed Zhang Fan, looked very surprised, and said, "Fan Fan, when did you get here? I didn't even notice you coming over!"

Zhang Fan replied with an exasperated eye‑roll: "Just now your eyes were only on those corn ears, so of course you couldn't see this big living person! I'm telling you, Fei Er, you're moving pretty fast! Since I just got here, you've already broken off another four or five ears, bringing the total to over twenty—why don't you stop? Aren't you afraid you won't be able to eat them all?"

Fei Er chuckled embarrassedly and said, "Heh heh, I'm just too excited! Look, I absent‑mindedly broke off all these! I've got enough now—let's head back? Besides, we can cook some corn to eat when we get home."

Having said that, Fei Er hurriedly clutched the freshly broken ears that he hadn't yet bundled, walked over to Zhang Fan, took the bundles Zhang Fan had just tied for him, and together they left the cornfield, walking toward home side by side.

When they reached the point where they would have split off to go their separate ways, Fei Er didn't part from Zhang Fan to go home; instead he kept pace with Zhang Fan and headed straight to Zhang Fan's house. Zhang Fan wasn't the least bit surprised, after all Fei Er is a super‑big foodie who hates staying home alone.

Moreover, the distance from the cornfield to Fei Er's house is longer than to Zhang Fan's, so this time following Zhang Fan home must again be so he can eat the corn as soon as possible! Thinking this, Zhang Fan and Fei Er slowly walked back home.

When Zhang Fan opened the courtyard gate, Fei Er shot forward like a rocket to the water vat, set down the corn, and immediately scooped up water from the vat to gulp down. Seeing this, Zhang Fan rushed over, dropped the corn, and began to wrestle the ladle from Fei Er's hand.

"Fei Er, stop drinking! This water is what Ba Ke Er hauled back from the river this morning; it's still full of sand and hasn't settled yet!"

Upon hearing that, Fei Er instantly put the ladle down, turned his head, and began to spit in the courtyard, all the while complaining to Zhang Fan.

"Fan Fan, why didn't you say so earlier? I had no idea how much I'd swallowed! Heck, the water in the rivers near our tribe has gotten increasingly murky since the rainy season started this year, and the time needed for the drawn‑in water to settle keeps getting longer."

Hearing Fei Er's words, Zhang Fan silently thought to himself that he ought to move up that plan.

Having thought it through, Zhang Fan pulled Fei Er into the main room, then went to the kitchen and brought out the hot water that had been boiled that morning, handing it to Fei Er. Fei Er took the large cup, gulped down a few mouthfuls with a glug‑glug, then after finishing he waved his hand heartily across his mouth and began to ask Zhang Fan:

"Fan Fan, when are we going to start boiling corn to eat? I can't wait any longer! Why don't we start cooking now? You see, it's still early; we figure we'll have finished eating by the time Ba Ke Er and Mo De get back. Instead of just sitting around bored, let's cook something tasty to reward our hard work!"

Zhang Fan gave Fei Er a withering look and bluntly exposed his little scheme: "Fei Er, if you're just craving it, say so—no need to make up excuses! I'm really impressed with you."

Upon hearing himself so readily exposed, Fei Er immediately became unhappy: "Fan Fan, how can you be so heartless? You already know my little thoughts—why do you have to say them out loud?" After saying that, Fei Er promptly covered his face with both hands and said, "How embarrassing~!"

Zhang Fan instantly burst out laughing at Fei Er's antics. Seeing Zhang Fan laugh, Fei Er wasn't annoyed; instead he playfully clung to Zhang Fan, urging him to help cook the corn. Unable to shake him off, Zhang Fan finally nodded in agreement.

Since the agreement was made, immediate action was called for; thus Zhang Fan at once pulled Fei Er out to the courtyard to fetch the corn that had been casually left there and bring it into the kitchen. Then he began washing ten ears of corn with the clean water that had been hauled back the previous night and had already settled.

Then Zhang Fan took out a large earthenware jar, washed it clean, filled it with water, dumped the corn in, put on the lid, and set it on the small stove outside the kitchen to light a fire and start boiling. Thus, once the water came to a boil, Zhang Fan used a towel to wrap the lid's handle and lifted the lid. As soon as the jar was opened, Zhang Fan and Fei Er both smelled the waft of hot steam mixed with a faint sweet corn aroma.

Both couldn't help but take a deep breath, then let out a soft, contented sigh.

Zhang Fan quickly poked the corn in the jar with his chopsticks, and after confirming the ears were cooked through, he told Fei Er to go into the kitchen and fetch a large bowl. Each took one ear, then they pulled the fire from the stove, replaced the lid, and carried the jar—still wrapped in its towel—back into the kitchen.

After Zhang Fan brought the jar into the kitchen, he went into the main room, and he and Fei Er went to munch on the corn. This was the first time Zhang Fan had eaten tender corn since arriving on the Beastmen Planet!

While they were gnawing on the corn, they weren't idle; they ate while chatting about other things, and somehow the conversation turned to the pickled peppers. Only then did they realize that seven days had passed since they'd started soaking the peppers—now the peppers were ready to eat!

Upon reaching that point, both stopped chewing the corn, looked at each other, and began to feel restless. So Zhang Fan hastily put down his corn, picked up clean chopsticks and bowl, and went into the storeroom; Fei Er, unwilling to be left behind, immediately followed.

When Zhang Fan opened the pepper jar, Fei Er immediately leaned in and snorted the aroma eagerly. Seeing Fei Er's greedy expression, Zhang Fan also began to smirk, though he didn't call him out on it.

Not long after, Zhang Fan lifted out a bowl brimming with colorful pickled peppers. He then nudged Fei Er to indicate he should try a taste. Upon receiving Zhang Fan's cue, Fei Er, unable to wait, grabbed several peppers with his hand and, under Zhang Fan's gaze, promptly shoved an entire pepper into his mouth and began to chew.

That bite made Fei Er's face change instantly! He immediately started coughing from the heat, and who knew that cough would send pepper spray up his nose, making him unable to bear the spiciness—but he didn't toss the remaining peppers; instead, after taking a few breaths, he ate another one.

Seeing Fei Er like that, Zhang Fan laughed so hard he nearly choked!

"Hahaha… Fei Er, you said it wasn't spicy, so why are you eating it again?"

"Huff… huff… huff… Fan Fan, these pickled peppers are really delicious! Spicy and crunchy—simply irresistible, you can't stop!" Having said that, Fei Er ate a third… then a fourth…

When Fei Er had eaten the eighth pepper, he finally couldn't take it anymore and began to demand water.

Zhang Fan immediately went back to the kitchen and ladled out a bowl of the hot water used to boil the corn, giving it to Fei Er. After a sip of that water—rich with the clean aroma of boiled corn and a hint of sweetness—Fei Er instantly felt he could eat even more peppers.

So, Fei Er then went on to eat the ninth… eleventh…

Seeing Fei Er's behavior, which looked like he was about to go on a disc‑eating spree, Zhang Fan immediately called a halt!

"Fei Er, can you really handle eating that many peppers? Aren't you afraid you'll have diarrhea tomorrow morning?"

Upon hearing Zhang Fan's words, Fei Er muttered, stopped eating the peppers, and began to silently nibble the corn in his bowl—but his eyes kept darting to the bowl of peppers.

After Zhang Fan and Fei Er had eaten five or six ears of corn, Ba Ke Er and Mo De also returned, each laden with several large animal‑skin bags full of game. Seeing them arrive, Zhang Fan and Fei Er hastily halted what they were doing with their hands and mouths, ran out of the main room, and went to the courtyard to watch.

Ba Ke Er and Mo De were delighted to see their females come out to greet them, each stepping forward to hug his own. After Ba Ke Er let go, Zhang Fan immediately pulled him inside, then brought out the jar of boiled corn and invited Ba Ke Er and Mo De to eat.

Then Zhang Fan and Fei Er went together to the courtyard to fetch some of the game, took it to the kitchen to prepare the ingredients, and got ready to cook lunch.

Ba Ke Er and Mo De wolfed down the corn and drank the corn‑boiling water in a whirlwind‑like rush, then went into the kitchen to help.

As soon as they entered, they saw Zhang Fan and Fei Er already washing rice and cooking it; the two didn't interfere but instead asked the females how to handle the ingredients, then got to work.

Not long after, the two males had chopped the ribs, blanched them, added the corn, and tossed everything into the pot to start stewing. By the time Zhang Fan and Fei Er had finished cooking the rice, the corn‑rib stew that Ba Ke Er and Mo De were simmering was almost done.

At noon, the four sat together and ate the meal. When they finished, Ba Ke Er and Mo De voluntarily cleared the bowls and washed them, while Zhang Fan and Fei Er went to the courtyard lounge chairs to chat—but as they talked, drowsiness crept up on them, and they gradually fell asleep in the chairs.

When Ba Ke Er and Mo De finished washing the bowls and chopsticks and came out, they saw Zhang Fan and Fei Er each lying on a lounge chair, asleep in a tangled, askew heap. The two sighed helplessly yet fondly and shared a smile.

Seeing this, Mo De quickly scooped up some game, cradled Fei Er, and headed for his own home. Ba Ke Er likewise hurriedly lifted Zhang Fan onto the indoor bed, let him continue sleeping, then returned to the courtyard to simply process the game, store each piece properly, and only then went inside to sleep beside Zhang Fan.