Transmigrated Into an Ancient Filial Piety Novel as a Scumbag Alpha (GL) - Chapter 31

Chapter 31

Ji Huan smiled and looked at Jiang Yubai. She said, “We took the flint back, so let’s go. We should finish early and return to the wooden house to make a fire and cook.”

Jiang Yubai asked, “Sister, can I handle the wild chicken later?” She didn’t want to stay idle. Ji Huan worked hard in the morning, and Jiang Yubai was skilled at handling wild chickens. She often did this at home in the past.

Ji Huan agreed, “Alright, you handle it, and I’ll assist you.” She picked up the wild chicken from the ground. She walked with Jiang Yubai toward the stream.

Jiang Yubai took a short knife and bled the wild chicken. Ji Huan gathered many branches and dry grass.

She bundled the dry grass together. She took out the fire knife and flint. She struck the flint against the fire knife. Sparks ignited the dry grass. Ji Huan quickly gathered the grass and blew gently. The flames grew larger. She added small branches. When the fire stabilized, she added larger branches.

Ji Huan saw Jiang Yubai finished bleeding the chicken. She took the short knife and cut some branches. She made a simple rack beside the fire. She filled a small pot with water and placed it on the fire to heat.

When the water was warm enough, Ji Huan gave the wild chicken a thorough hot water bath. Then, she and Jiang Yubai plucked the feathers together. Ji Huan had limited patience for plucking. She grew irritable and sped up her movements.

Jiang Yubai saw Ji Huan getting frustrated. She laughed and said, “Sister, I’ll do it. You just keep the water boiling.”

Ji Huan agreed, “Alright.” She noticed the water in the pot was low. She fetched another pot of water and heated it on the fire.

Jiang Yubai continued plucking the chicken feathers carefully. Her technique was more skilled than Ji Huan’s. She plucked cleanly and quickly. Ji Huan watched Little White Rabbit pluck the feathers. Her eyes curved slightly.

Jiang Yubai plucked roughly once. She scalded the chicken with hot water again. She plucked the edges carefully. Some stubborn feathers remained. She burned them off with fire. Then, she washed the chicken with clean water. She took the short knife to the river to clean the chicken’s innards.

Jiang Yubai asked, “Sister, should we keep these innards for setting traps?”

Ji Huan replied, “Keep them. I’ll set a few small traps when we return.”

Jiang Yubai said, “Alright, I’ll keep them all.” She cleaned the wild chicken skillfully. Soon, the chicken was completely clean.

Ji Huan chopped the wild chicken into small pieces. She put them in the small pot. She asked Jiang Yubai to hold the chicken. She gathered some weeds and packed the chicken innards. She filled a large clay jar with water and carried it. She extinguished the fire with dirt. She checked for forgotten items. Then, she and Jiang Yubai left.

Near the wooden house, Ji Huan handed the flint and fire knife to Jiang Yubai. She said, “You go back and start the fire. I’ll set the traps and join you. Let’s make a good meal for lunch.”

Jiang Yubai’s eyes brightened. She nodded. She thought about the wild chicken and the items they brought. Her stomach growled unconsciously.

Ji Huan set the traps faster than last time. The traps could catch rabbits but were unlikely to catch agile wild chickens.

Ji Huan finished setting the traps. She walked quickly to the wooden house. She saw Little White Rabbit had already started the fire.

She took the short knife outside. Soon, she returned with plenty of firewood. Ji Mantun and others were right about one thing. After the snowfall, some snow on the mountain hadn’t melted. The temperature was very low. She and Jiang Yubai needed firewood to survive on the mountain.

Jiang Yubai said, “Sister, the fire and rack are ready.” She imitated Ji Huan’s previous setup and built a rack over the fire.

Ji Huan said, “Good, let’s fry the two eggs first.” She liked eggs in the past. They were nutritious and tasted good in dishes or noodles.

They were driven out by the Ji family without breakfast. Ji Huan was hungry. She placed the small pot on stones over the fire. She put the chicken fat in the pot to render.

When Ji Huan went out, she carved two pairs of simple chopsticks with the short knife. She also made a shovel-like tool to use.

The fat in the pot was almost rendered. Ji Huan cracked an egg into the pot. She looked at Jiang Yubai and asked softly, “Do you like it well-done or runny?”

Jiang Yubai answered, “Well-done.”

The aroma of eggs and fat mixed in the wooden house. Ji Huan carefully flipped the egg with the wooden shovel. Soon, the egg was cooked. She placed it in a bowl they brought and handed it to Little White Rabbit.

Jiang Yubai swallowed twice. She picked up the chopsticks to feed Ji Huan. She said, “Sister, you eat first.”

Ji Huan refused, “You eat. I have another one.” She pushed the bowl back to Little White Rabbit.

While the pot still had oil, Ji Huan cracked the other egg. When it was cooked, she took it out to eat.

The egg was golden on both sides. Ji Huan’s egg was slightly runny inside. She bit into it. The flavor filled her mouth. It was delicious. After walking far in the morning, one egg didn’t satisfy Ji Huan’s hunger. She looked at Little White Rabbit, who seemed just as hungry.

Ji Huan said softly, “Don’t worry, we’ll make something delicious soon.” She spoke to Jiang Yubai, who was also hungry all morning.

Jiang Yubai suggested, “Sister, let’s roast the sweet potatoes by the fire.” She figured the chicken would take long to cook. Sweet potatoes and potatoes cooked faster and were easier to handle. They could roast them by the fire.

Ji Huan agreed, “Sure, let’s roast some potatoes too.” She poured the remaining chicken fat into the pot. She stir-fried some chicken pieces and added a bit of soy sauce for flavor.

Jiang Yubai washed the cabbage. She cut some and added it to the pot with the chicken. Ji Huan added water and rice. She let the rice and chicken porridge simmer.

She skewered the remaining chicken on sticks and placed them on the rack to roast. They would have several dishes for lunch.

The firewood burned brightly in the small wooden house. It felt warm. Outside, the cold wind howled, discouraging anyone from going out.

As time passed, the aroma of the porridge and chicken blended. The roasted chicken on the rack sizzled with oil. The sweet potatoes in the fire were the first to cook. Their skins were charred black.

Ji Huan used two long sticks as tongs. She pulled two sweet potatoes and two potatoes from the fire. She placed them on the ground to cool.

Little White Rabbit stared at the fragrant sweet potatoes. Her eyes couldn’t look away.

Ji Huan saw Little White Rabbit’s expression. Her eyes curved slightly. She said, “Wait a bit to eat. They’re too hot now.”

Little White Rabbit nodded. Her gaze shifted to the simmering porridge. She exclaimed, “It smells so good.”

Ji Huan smiled softly and said, “If it smells good, eat a lot later. Fill your stomach.”

Jiang Yubai’s ears turned red. She whispered to Ji Huan, “Sister, you don’t think I eat too much, do you?”

Little White Rabbit nervously fidgeted with her fingers. She continued anxiously, “If we have our own home in the future, I’ll work hard. I won’t eat for free.”

Ji Huan laughed, amused by Little White Rabbit. She said softly, “It’s fine. Eating a lot is good. You don’t need to work too much. When we live separately, we’ll work together. We’ll live a thousand times better than at the Ji family.”

Jiang Yubai nodded firmly. With Ji Huan, she felt fearless.

The porridge was still simmering. The sweet potatoes had cooled enough to eat. Though the skins were black, the inside was bright yellow. Jiang Yubai took a bite. Her eyes squinted happily. She said, “Sister, this sweet potato is so sweet.”

Ji Huan saw Little White Rabbit eating happily. Her mood lifted. She said, “If it’s good, eat more. Save some room for the porridge and roasted chicken.”

Jiang Yubai nodded. In a short time, she ate half a sweet potato.

Ji Huan carefully picked up a sweet potato. She blew on it and peeled off the charred skin. She took a bite. The sweet potato’s aroma filled her mouth. Perhaps because she was hungry, she thought it tasted better than modern ones.

After eating one sweet potato, Ji Huan felt less hungry. She didn’t eat the potato. Little White Rabbit started on a roasted potato.

The charcoal-roasted potato smelled amazing. Peeling off the blackened skin revealed soft potato mash. Jiang Yubai ate happily. She looked up and saw Ji Huan smiling at her.

Jiang Yubai’s ears reddened with embarrassment. She whispered, “Sister, why aren’t you eating?”

Ji Huan smiled and said, “I’m not too hungry. I’m waiting for the porridge. If you’re hungry, eat more. There’s another potato.”

Little White Rabbit mumbled softly, “I’m almost full too.”

Ji Huan stirred the porridge with the shovel. The porridge was thickening. The rice’s aroma mixed with the chicken and a faint cabbage flavor. Ji Huan swallowed instinctively. She thought some green onions would make it perfect, but she was content as it was.

Ji Huan said, “Let’s taste it.”

Jiang Yubai quickly picked up a piece of chicken with her twig chopsticks. She blew on it and eagerly put it in her mouth. After chewing, her eyes lit up. She said, “It’s delicious!”

Ji Huan’s smile widened seeing Little White Rabbit’s delight. She scooped a bowl for Jiang Yubai and one for herself. The rest stayed on the fire to cook.

Without a spoon, Ji Huan blew on the porridge and sipped from the bowl’s edge. The sweet rice and fresh chicken flavors hit her. After a few sips, she felt her fatigue from this world vanish. This porridge was a hundred times better than Xu Qin’s.

Ji Huan had a small appetite. After one bowl and a sweet potato, she was full. Little White Rabbit’s bowl was completely clean.

Ji Huan asked softly, “Want more?”

Jiang Yubai nodded with red ears. She held out her bowl, looking at Ji Huan.

Ji Huan saw Little White Rabbit’s sneaky look and chuckled. She said, “Eat if you want. No outsiders are here.”

Jiang Yubai saw Ji Huan’s eyes full of warmth, not disdain. She relaxed. She said, “Sister, just half a bowl. I want to eat roasted chicken later.”

Jiang Yubai’s face reddened. She thought Ji Huan was too kind. She even dared to mention wanting roasted chicken.

Ji Huan’s eyes curved. She said, “Alright, as you wish.” She scooped half a bowl for Little White Rabbit.

Little White Rabbit sat obediently, drinking porridge. Ji Huan checked the roasting chicken. The skin was golden, and excess fat had dripped off. It looked appetizing.

Ji Huan brushed soy sauce on the chicken for extra flavor. She took down half the roasted chicken.

The chicken was cut into small pieces on skewers. Ji Huan tried one piece and gave the rest to Jiang Yubai.

Ji Huan said softly, “I’m full. The rest is yours. Don’t overeat and feel bad.”

Jiang Yubai worried Ji Huan was giving it up for her. She said, “Sister, eat some more.”

Ji Huan smiled helplessly. She said, “I’m really full. I’m not lying. Eat quickly. It won’t taste good if it cools.”

Little White Rabbit’s disbelief was understandable. By appetite, Ji Huan seemed like a Kunze of this world.

Jiang Yubai ate after Ji Huan’s assurance.

Little White Rabbit ate eagerly. The chicken’s fat was mostly roasted out. The meat was chewy and fragrant. Fresh wild chicken didn’t need blanching. Fresh meat was always delicious.

Little White Rabbit ate carefully, not wasting any meat.

Ji Huan watched Little White Rabbit. She thought about earning money to take her to eat all the delicacies in the Great Liang Kingdom.

Jiang Yubai saw Ji Huan smiling at her. She asked, “Sister, will you eat more?”

Ji Huan shook her head, smiling. She barely finished her piece. She couldn’t eat more.

She said, “You eat. I’m really full.” She nibbled the chicken bone and tossed it aside.

After Jiang Yubai finished, Ji Huan cleared the bones and sweet potato skins. Jiang Yubai moved the porridge pot off the fire. She covered it to cool. They could add ingredients for dinner.

The wind outside was strong. Ji Huan went out to throw the trash and felt cold. She returned and closed the door tightly. She sat by the fire to warm up.

Little White Rabbit sat with Ji Huan by the fire. The fire crackled. The house was warm. Jiang Yubai looked at the fire, her thoughts wandering. She thought living here with Ji Huan forever would be nice. They wouldn’t face the Ji family or others’ scorn. But she was called an ill-omened person.

Her mood sank. She wondered if staying with Ji Huan would harm her.