NOVEL FROG Chapter 8 – Braised Meat
Looking at the little black pig lying on the ground, Zhang Tuohai couldn't help but gape.
He originally thought it would be a fierce battle, but to his surprise, one arrow was enough to deal with the little black pig.
Even though it was a piglet, it still weighed over a hundred pounds. Without professional skills, it would have taken quite a bit of effort to kill it.
If the hint system hadn't given him a crucial hint, he would have had to engage in a real fight with the little black pig.
"The hint system actually has such a marvelous use?"
Zhang Tuohai discovered that the hint system seemed to be not only for checking supply boxes but also had many other uses waiting for him to explore.
For now, the most pressing matter was to butcher the pig.
Lacking suitable knives, Zhang Tuohai could only pull out a crossbow bolt from his quiver as a makeshift tool.
When he stabbed the crossbow bolt into the little black pig, a prompt suddenly appeared.
[No suitable skinning and cutting tools detected. This will reduce the amount of meat obtained. Do you wish to proceed with butchering?]
"It can even butcher automatically?"
Zhang Tuohai had never butchered a pig before. Using a crossbow bolt, who knows what kind of mess he'd make.
Now that the system could help with butchering, he gladly accepted.
"Confirm."
With Zhang Tuohai's command, the little black pig instantly vanished.
[Obtained 500g pork * 60]
[Obtained 4 pig feet]
[Obtained 1 pig head]
Looking at the pile of neatly cut meat in front of him, Zhang Tuohai didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Roughly estimating, he found 20 pounds of meat missing, and the pig offal was also gone.
T/N:(Offal refers to the internal organs of a butchered animal.)
"There's no such thing as a free lunch. Looks like getting skinning tools needs to be prioritized."
After loading the meat onto his vehicle, Zhang Tuohai suddenly realized a problem.
With the weather so hot, the meat would spoil quickly if left like this.
The only solution was to sell it while it was still fresh.
Additionally, he needed to start searching for a refrigerator and a grill.
Zhang Tuohai didn't want to eat raw meat.
He opened the trading channel.
[Selling 500g pork * 50 portions. Each portion is for 20 units of various resources. Accepting all kinds of blueprints and other resources via private message.]
[Also: Selling 4 pig feet and 1 pig head. PM if interested.]
After posting the trade, Zhang Tuohai announced on the regional channel.
"Pork for sale in the trading channel. Interested parties, act fast."
His announcement caused a stir in the regional channel.
"Isn't Zhang Tuohai the big shot who sold mineral water last night? Now he's selling pork! Amazing!"
"Big shot, is the pork cooked? Can you grill it before trading?"
"Big shot, please give me a piece of meat. I haven't eaten for a day. I'll trade my Rolex with you."
The regional channel was abuzz, and Zhang Tuohai's private messages almost exploded.
"Big shot, I have a sweet voice and good looks, and I can do any position. Just feed me daily."
"Big shot, I got a blueprint for making an iron pot. How much meat can I get for it?"
"Big shot, do you provide cutting services? A piece of pork is too big to bite."
The surviving people, except for a few waiting to die at the initial location, had managed to gather some resources.
Within a few minutes, Zhang Tuohai gained hundreds of various resources, and the number kept rising.
He also collected six blueprints: a folding table, planting box, skinning knife, iron pot, portable stove, and grilling fork.
He also got various miscellaneous items like toilet paper, soap, and cups, taking one of each.
Salt and pepper were especially plentiful.
Zhang Tuohai even received a pack of braising spices.
"Impressive, you hunted a pig. You're not short of resources now, are you?" Su Mu sent a private message.
"Just got lucky. Here's what I promised you yesterday." Zhang Tuohai sent a roasted naan to Su Mu.
Su Mu agreed to let him owe three loaves of bread yesterday, which he appreciated. Now that he wasn't short of food, he generously gave a naan.
"Wow, you really struck it rich?" Su Mu exclaimed.
"Just luck. Do you have any blueprints? I'll trade meat for them." Zhang Tuohai asked.
"Is it cooked? I can't digest raw meat, and my sister is sick. She can't eat raw food."
"For most people, no. But you're in luck. I just got a stove, so I can cook your share."
Zhang Tuohai said, looking at the newly made portable stove.
[Portable Stove: Level 1 cooking tool. Add enough fuel, and it cooks automatically. With stabilizers, it won't tip over even during severe shaking.]
With this, he could braise meat while driving to find resources.
"Really? Give me two braised meats. I'll trade this for it." Su Mu looked at her pale sister and sent Zhang Tuohai a blueprint.
[Light Dimming Glass: Level 1 car part. Effectively reduces strong light and lowers car interior temperature.]
"This is great."
Seeing the blueprint, Zhang Tuohai's eyes lit up.
It could reduce light and lower the car's temperature, a godsend in the scorching desert.
Moreover, in six days, it would be Disaster Day, with two suns in the sky. The heat would be unimaginable.
This light-dimming glass might be the key to survival.
But something puzzled Zhang Tuohai.
Su Mu had traded three blueprints with him in two days. The speed of acquiring blueprints seemed unusual.
"This is exactly what I need. I'll give you an extra pig ear. But the meat needs to stew for a while, so you'll have to wait." Zhang Tuohai replied.
"Alright, I'll wait for your good news." Su Mu said.
"Sis, did you just give him the blueprint?" Su Qi asked.
"No choice. He's the only trustworthy one in the regional channel. Given our situation, without replenishing meat, your body won't hold out." Su Mu said.
"Sis, I'm a burden to you." Su Qi said guiltily.
"What are you saying? We'll make it out alive." Su Mu said, rubbing Su Qi's head.
Meanwhile, Zhang Tuohai set up the portable stove in the back seat, placing the iron pot on it.
He threw in the unsold pork, pig feet, and pig head, added water and braising spices, and started braising.
For fuel, he used the wood obtained from trades.
Zhang Tuohai threw in 20 units of wood, enough to braise all the pork.