Chapter 87: Fox Stew

The next morning, Chen Xiyi saw Cheng Zhen drying a fox pelt in the yard and went over to greet him and get closer.

“Fellow Daoist, where did this dog come from so early? Are we having dog meat for breakfast?” Chen Xiyi spoke without thinking.

This made Cheng Zhen pause. Damn it, this is a fox, what kind of eyes do you have?

“Ahem, Fellow Daoist, this is a fox pelt. Last night, a clueless little fox sneaked in to steal chickens, and I killed it. We’re having fox meat for breakfast. I stewed a big pot using a secret recipe. I promise it tastes just as good as dog meat.” Cheng Zhen corrected Chen Xiyi’s words.

Chen Xiyi hesitated a little. This was a bit challenging for his taste buds. After all, not everyone could accept eating wild game.

“Are you sure fox meat is edible? Doesn’t fox have a strong, gamey smell?” Chen Xiyi decided to ask anyway. He was easygoing in other aspects, but when it came to food, he was quite picky.

The food he ate was always top-notch in flavor.

“No, it won’t. I’ve already taken care of it.” Cheng Zhen did not explain why to Chen Xiyi. From this comment, he judged that Chen Xiyi was someone who couldn’t tell one grain from another. This made him think it was unlikely that Chen Xiyi had attracted the Fox Demon.

“Oh, that’s good then.” Chen Xiyi had no further thoughts. He guessed it might be similar to dog meat, even though he had never eaten dog meat either.

Chen Xiyi was an ordinary person. Even in his previous life, he mostly ate chicken, duck, fish, pork, beef, and lamb. Not to mention fox meat, even dog meat would be quite a challenge for him.

He could eat it if he had to, but he never had. Unless necessary, he never thought about trying it.

After all, his diet was already set.

Of course, he wouldn’t stop others from eating it. As long as they weren’t eating his own pets, he wouldn’t care if others ate foxes or even pandas—that was their freedom.

“Fellow Daoist, you seem a bit unwilling?” Cheng Zhen noticed Chen Xiyi’s reaction and couldn’t help but ask.

“Yeah, not too fond of it.” Chen Xiyi said without holding back. If he didn’t like it, he didn’t like it—what could anyone do about it?

“But it’s fine. I’m not picky with food. Not liking something doesn’t mean I can’t eat it. As long as it fills the stomach, it’s okay.”

Chen Xiyi added another sentence. Seeing how sincere Cheng Zhen looked, he thought Cheng Zhen might offer him a chicken instead, which would only make the already poor Manor worse off.

While the two were talking, Lusheng returned after finishing some farm work.

Yes, in the whole Manor, Chen Xiyi was the one who got up the latest. Of course, he wasn’t still sleeping.

He had gotten up right on time.

“Brother Chen, you’re awake. Here, try this. It’s much tastier than the ones in the city.” When Lusheng saw Chen Xiyi, he took out a water radish, wiped it on his clothes, and threw it to Chen Xiyi.

Chen Xiyi caught it and took a bite. He wouldn’t call it delicious, but at least it tasted okay.

However, he thought it probably wasn’t a water radish, just looked similar.

Lusheng didn’t just give one to Chen Xiyi; he also threw one to Cheng Zhen.

“This year’s luo fruit is not bad. Tomorrow, we’ll pick a batch to sell in the city, along with this fox pelt, and buy some supplies.” Cheng Zhen finished the luo fruit in a few bites, wiped the juice on his clothes, and then turned his attention back to drying the fox pelt.

Lusheng, who had put down his hoe, also crouched down to look, earning a glare from Cheng Zhen.

“What are you looking at? You’re just getting in the way. Go check how the stew is doing in the kitchen.”

Lusheng felt wronged for being scolded for no reason, but when he heard he could check on the meat, he perked up.

“Yes, Master. I’ll go right away.” After saying this, he stood up excitedly and hurriedly ran towards the kitchen.

“Please don’t mind it, Fellow Daoist. This child, Lusheng… sigh.”

Cheng Zhen’s tone was full of disappointment.

“He’s fine. Though conditions are not great, at least you have food and clothing, right?” Chen Xiyi didn’t know how to comfort him, so he could only say this.

“That’s true. In these times, having this kind of life is still better than those outside who don’t have enough to eat or clothes to wear.” Cheng Zhen said this, but Chen Xiyi didn’t know what he really thought.

Chen Xiyi watched Cheng Zhen’s skilled movements as he dried the pelt. He didn’t know if pelts needed drying—he had never worked in this trade—but Cheng Zhen must have his reasons. After all, this was a different world; who knew how things worked here?

“Master, Brother Chen, it’s time to eat.”

At some point, Lusheng had already set the table and came specially to call them for the meal.

Cheng Zhen stopped his work, put away the fox pelt, and said, “Brother Chen, let’s go. It’s a good chance for you to taste my cooking.”

“Then I won’t stand on ceremony.”

“Please.”

As the host, Cheng Zhen naturally walked ahead. It wouldn’t be proper for the guest, Chen Xiyi, to lead the way.

It must be said, the stew did smell good. At least he had used a lot of spices.

The spices in this pot must have cost quite a bit. This struck Chen Xiyi as odd—wasn’t the Manor very poor? Where did the money for spices come from?

Of course, puzzled as he was, he didn’t ask. Spices were expensive, but if they were gathered and dried by themselves, using a small amount shouldn’t be a problem.

With Cheng Zhen’s ability to live off the land and water, this really wasn’t an issue.

“Here, Fellow Daoist Chen, have a drink?” Cheng Zhen pulled out a bottle of liquor from somewhere.

But Chen Xiyi shook his head and refused. “Better not. Drinking can lead to trouble.”

Hearing this, Cheng Zhen could only put the liquor away reluctantly. It was probably good liquor; otherwise, Cheng Zhen wouldn’t have brought it out to entertain a guest.

After all, serving cheap liquor would be losing face.

During the meal, Chen Xiyi only tasted a little, while Lusheng, carefree as ever, ate most of the pot.

The saying about a growing boy eating his father out of house and home was no joke. This made Cheng Zhen a bit unhappy, feeling that Lusheng had embarrassed him.

But secretly, he was also a little pleased—being able to eat was a blessing.

Of course, he didn’t show it.

He just scolded Lusheng a few times at the table. After Chen Xiyi stepped in to smooth things over and give him a way out, Lusheng started eating heartily again.

After the meal, they each went about their own tasks.

Lusheng shouldered his farm tools and headed to the fields, while Cheng Zhen wanted him to follow Chen Xiyi to the study to learn Feng Shui, so he could inherit the Manor in the future.

Unfortunately, as soon as Lusheng heard he had to study and memorize, he ran off in a flash. This made Cheng Zhen so angry, but there was nothing he could do.