Chapter 131: Cypress Branches

After Zhang Fan brought Fei Er back home, he summoned Fei Er to go to the cellar together, moved some meat up, then tied each piece of meat with bamboo strips, and hung them in the courtyard to dry.

After finishing that, Zhang Fan took out some dried meat, gave some to Fei Er, then brought him along while eating, heading toward the small hill in the tribe where cypress trees grew abundantly.

Fei Er was utterly puzzled! You said the meat was stored fine in the cellar, so why must we hang it up again? And why go to the small hill? What are we going there to do?

After hearing Fei Er's question, Zhang Fan did not answer directly, but instead gave him a look saying "You'll find out soon," and of course also gave him a mysterious expression.

This left Fei Er even more baffled! Hardly had they stepped out the gate when Fei Er had already asked over ten times. Zhang Fan was also annoyed, but he still had to keep up the mysterious appearance!

As they were about to reach Fei Er's house, Zhang Fan suddenly remembered something! He had forgotten to bring tools—how would he bring the branches back later? Thinking of this, Zhang Fan also became uneasy.

He immediately grabbed Fei Er, who was still walking ahead, and told him he had forgotten the tools. Fei Er heard it, rolled his eyes casually, and said helplessly, "Why didn't you say so earlier, and why are you rushing so much? You also won't tell me what we're doing."

After saying that, Fei Er waved his hand casually and said, "Forget it, we're already at my house, so let's use my tools. Tell me what you need, and we'll go inside to get them now."

Speaking, Fei Er didn't wait for Zhang Fan to speak, but pulled Zhang Fan toward his house.

Seeing this, Zhang Fan had no choice but to follow behind Fei Er, entering his house together, and of course he didn't forget to mention what tools he needed to bring.

When Fei Er heard Zhang Fan say he needed to bring a cart and a machete, he thought Zhang Fan was going to set up some trap on the hill! He became especially excited, clamoring that they must catch more small game to bring back and roast.

While speaking, drool-like liquid slowly seeped from the corner of his mouth. Seeing this, Zhang Fan felt extremely uncomfortable, at times feeling his eyes sting.

Moreover, after hearing Fei Er's words, Zhang Fan also did not forget to pour a large basin of cold water on him.

"Well, Fei Er, actually I need these tools not to catch small game, but to go up the hill and cut some branches to bring back as firewood."

Upon hearing this, Fei Er reacted exactly as Zhang Fan expected—his disappointment was no ordinary kind; he was extremely disappointed. At that very moment, Fei Er silently mourned in his heart the delicious feast that had not yet appeared but was already slipping away from him.

Seeing Fei Er like that, Zhang Fan found it painful to hold back his laughter. However, to avoid being discovered by Fei Er, Zhang Fan affectedly coughed a few times, successfully suppressing his laugh, though he himself failed to notice his own lips slightly turning up.

Seeing Zhang Fan still holding back his laughter, Fei Er could no longer restrain himself; he let out a loud shout, rushed straight to Zhang Fan's face, and once again unleashed his signature move: Tickle God Skill!

Moreover, he specifically targeted Zhang Fan's waist, tickling him until Zhang Fan laughed uncontrollably, refusing to stop until Zhang Fan told him what he had just been laughing about.

Zhang Fan struggled for a long time before breaking free from Fei Er's clutches, but he still did not tell Fei Er what he had been thinking just then. After all, he had already learned from Fei Er's "petty-mindedness," and not just once or twice!

If he were to spill the whole truth, it would surely be worse than just that ticklish feast! So Zhang Fan wisely chose not to say anything, and would rather die than speak; for if he did, the consequences would be simply horrifying, beyond imagination!

Thus, Zhang Fan had no choice but to tell Fei Er a few small jokes to get him past it.

Not long after, Zhang Fan and Fei Er pushed the small cart to the foot of the hill. Zhang Fan looked up at the vast expanse of lush, leafy cypress trees, and his heart swelled with joy!

With a wave of his hand, he took Fei Er along with a machete into the hill and began cutting cypress branches. After about ten minutes of cutting, the two filled the cart; seeing it full, Zhang Fan again brought Fei Er along pushing the cart back.

When the two arrived at Zhang Fan's house, it had been only about an hour since they left, which of course included the round trip.

After arriving home, Zhang Fan unloaded all the cypress branches from the cart and piled them in the courtyard.

Seeing Zhang Fan simply pile the firewood in the courtyard instead of putting it straight into the woodshed, Fei Er found it strange; though he was normally impatient, having a doubt, he immediately voiced it.

Seeing Fei Er's doubt, Zhang Fan had no intention of hiding anything and openly told him his idea.

Upon hearing this, Fei Er's disappointment over missing the delicious feast instantly vanished, and he even regretted having tickled Zhang Fan just now, fearing Zhang Fan would not let him taste the sweet reward!

However, Zhang Fan did not act as Fei Er imagined. On the contrary, he also told Fei Er that he hoped Fei Er would quickly learn this method! Fei Er certainly solemnly promised Zhang Fan to do so!

After receiving Fei Er's promise, Zhang Fan also had Fei Er join him in the yard to erect a large rack using the freshly brought cypress branches, and inside the rack they placed a horizontal branch.

When the two had finished building the rack, it was nearly noon. Zhang Fan looked at the meat pieces in the courtyard that were almost dried, nodded slightly, and silently calculated when to start the smoking process for the best result.

Fei Er, after glancing at the sky, hurriedly said goodbye to Zhang Fan, agreeing to come again in the afternoon, and dashed off. Only Zhang Fan remained, who hadn't even had time to invite him to stay for lunch.

Watching Fei Er leave like that, Zhang Fan secretly shook his head, thinking, if Fei Er knew he had missed a delicious lunch because of this, how would he regret his behavior?

Thinking of this, Zhang Fan couldn't help but laugh, and even Ba Ke Er, who had already arrived home, did not notice.

Until Ba Ke Er walked over and lightly patted his shoulder, did he snap back to attention.

Ba Ke Er saw Zhang Fan finally regain his composure and felt relieved; having just arrived home, he saw his beloved standing beside a strange branch rack, laughing, which truly frightened him.

He even thought Zhang Fan might be possessed! Although there is no such thing as possession on the Beastmen Planet...

After Ba Ke Er patted his shoulder, Zhang Fan immediately turned around, lifted his head, stood on tiptoe, and planted a kiss on Ba Ke Er's face, saying, "Welcome home, my dear Ba Ke Er!"

Ba Ke Er, seeing Zhang Fan kiss him, quickly lowered his head, cupped Zhang Fan's face with his hands, and gave him a fierce kiss in return!

After a while of affection, they then brought the game and went together into the kitchen to start preparing lunch.

Of course, throughout the cooking process, Zhang Fan's mouth never rested; he began telling Ba Ke Er about the coal that Fei Er had brought back.

Ba Ke Er listened, then gave Zhang Fan two thumbs up in approval, constantly praising Zhang Fan's intelligence and prowess. Hearing this made Zhang Fan quite happy!

At this moment, if Zhang Fan were also a half-beast like Ba Ke Er, who knows how many times his ears would have twitched! And his tail would surely have risen who knows how high!

After receiving Ba Ke Er's praise, Zhang Fan was not satisfied, and besides, he also mentioned to Ba Ke Er the sudden appearance of that branch rack in his courtyard.

He also said he wanted to make smoked cured meat at home, and besides, he listed many benefits of cured meat, such as convenient storage! Plus various delicious qualities, and so on—he listed quite a few advantages.

Ba Ke Er originally, upon hearing Zhang Fan say the rack was for smoking meat, was already curious; then, after hearing Zhang Fan list the various benefits of smoked cured meat, he became both happier and more curious!

After all, anything Zhang Fan produces must be top-notch! In Ba Ke Er's eyes, no matter how unpalatable Zhang Fan's food might be, he would eat it all with a smile without hesitation; besides, Zhang Fan's cooking is inherently very delicious!

Now Ba Ke Er feels he can't wait to taste the wonderful flavor of the smoked cured meat that Zhang Fan described!

However, what Ba Ke Er didn't expect was: after Zhang Fan heard his words, he thought a moment, then still couldn't resist pouring a large basin of cold water on him!

"Well, Ba Ke Er, actually it's like this: the longer the smoked cured meat is smoked, the tastier it becomes; if the smoking time is too short, it lacks that unique flavor and wouldn't be cured meat at all! Moreover, cured meat needs to be smoked for at least ten or so days to be delicious."

Having said that, Zhang Fan couldn't bear to look up at Ba Ke Er's expression; seeing that Ba Ke Er showed no dissatisfaction, he then continued:

"Moreover! We are gourmands! We can't sacrifice our taste buds for a momentary pleasure; therefore, for that delicious cured meat we must not rush— we must wait until it's fully smoked before slowly enjoying the delicacy!"

Ba Ke Er, hearing Zhang Fan say that, also thought it quite reasonable! After all, we too are gourmands who have sampled various delicacies!

Thinking of this, Ba Ke Er also began to speed up his hand movements. Seeing this, Zhang Fan felt quite helpless; looking at Ba Ke Er's actions, he knew Ba Ke Er wanted to hurry and hang the pieces of meat in the courtyard onto the rack for smoking.

After lunch at noon, Ba Ke Er had no thought of taking a nap; having just washed the dishes, he pulled Zhang Fan to the courtyard.

Zhang Fan found this quite helpless! No way, for Ba Ke Er's health's sake, he still had to find some excuse—some meat that wasn't yet dried and thus temporarily unsuitable for smoking—and pulled Ba Ke Er into the room for a nap.

Zhang Fan was quite helpless about this! No choice, considering Ba Ke Er's health, he still came up with some lame excuse—some meat that hadn't been dried yet and thus couldn't be smoked—and dragged Ba Ke Er off to the room for a nap.