I've been transported to the orc continent.

Bai Ling watched as the ingredients in the iron pot floated to the surface and called out, "It's ready, we can eat now."

The orcs swarmed forward, and Bai Ling, holding a strainer, began distributing food to the orcs who had gathered around. The orcs who couldn't squeeze in could only stomp their feet outside, watching enviously as those who had managed to get in carried large bowls of food and found a corner to devour it with satisfaction.

The fish balls are bouncy and juicy, bursting with flavor in every bite, instantly filling your mouth with the fresh taste of fish—so delicious you'll want to swallow your tongue! The meatballs are even chewier, seasoned only with scallions and ginger, but this minimal seasoning preserves the original aroma of the meat. Soaked in the bone broth, the meat's flavor is enhanced, offering a richer, more savory taste than simply boiled or stewed meat. The sausages and smoked meats, soaked in the broth, are no longer dry and tough, but rather tender and delicious. With a slightly chewy texture, you'll want to take a second bite after just one. The beast blood has a subtle, indescribable fishy smell, but instead of being unpleasant, it transforms into a unique aroma thanks to the simmering of bone broth and spices. The beast blood is also smooth and chewy, with an excellent flavor. The slices of meat from the Jiji beast are thin and tender, and you can swallow them whole in one bite. The dried vegetables also absorb the umami flavor of the bone broth, making them even more delicious. After taking a few big bites of fish balls, meatballs, smoked meat, sausage, and beast blood, a bite of dried vegetables is the perfect complement.

The beastmen, engrossed in their meal, almost forgot to breathe, focusing solely on stuffing food into their mouths until their cheeks bulged out.

The entire pot of ingredients was quickly scooped out, but many tribesmen still missed out. Bai Ling quickly led the others to add more ingredients, and the tribesmen in charge of the fire added several more pieces of firewood to the fire pit. The flames in the fire pit suddenly rose a few more feet, and the beastmen who were surrounding the iron pot quickly took a step back, but their eyes were still fixed on the food in the pot, and they didn't even have time to pay attention to the tribesmen who were tending the fire.

The boiling bone broth, having been overcooked with too many cold ingredients, quickly calmed down. However, the fire at the bottom of the pot was too strong, and the broth slowly began to bubble again. Then, a small, bubbling spring appeared in the very center of the pot, from which countless tiny bubbles emerged. The spring grew larger and larger, and all the ingredients in the pot began to churn.

The aroma of meat, fish, broth, and spices filled the air, and the tribespeople who had gathered around swallowed hard, their eyes practically gleaming with desire.

Bai Ling stirred it twice with a wooden spoon, then called out, "It's ready to eat."

Bai Ling started serving hot pot to the tribespeople again. Each tribesperson received more than half a bowl, and the ingredients in each bowl were different. Some had more meatballs, some had more fish balls, some had more sausages or smoked meat, and some had more dried vegetables. However, no one cared about these differences and they all picked up their bowls and ate heartily.

Yue was the second to last to receive his share. Unlike the other members of his tribe who immediately found a place to squat down and start eating after receiving their share of the delicious hot pot, he waited until Bai Ling had also filled most of his bowl before finding a place with Bai Ling to start eating.

There were a few fish balls in Bai Ling's bowl. He picked up most of them and put them in Yue's bowl, leaving only two for himself: "Yue, try these fish balls and see if they're good."

Yue Wei was slightly taken aback, then said, "Ling, you can eat it yourself, there's some in my bowl."

Bai Ling turned his head slightly to look at Yue Xiao. This time, his smile was too faint. His expression did not change, and the corners of his mouth did not purse. Only the corners of his eyes and eyebrows had a faint, almost invisible smile.

But Yue could see it clearly and knew perfectly well that Ling was smiling.

And he was laughing very happily.

He also heard Ling say, "Yue, you love to eat fish, so why don't you eat a few more fish balls and see if they're good?" He saw that the smile on Ling's face had faded, but her words were truly hurtful, "If they're good, I'll make them for you often in the future."

I'll cook for you often from now on! I'll cook for you often from now on! I'll cook for you often from now on... This sentence kept playing in Yue's mind, completely occupying his mind, leaving him no time to react, and he could only dryly say "Oh".

Bai Ling continued, "Yue, I don't have enough ingredients on hand yet. Next year, after we plant wheat and produce starch, I'll make you even tastier fish balls. There are several ways to cook fish: steaming, braising, sweet and sour, or boiling. You can try them all."

Yue didn't answer. He lowered his head and ate silently. After a while, he asked in a low voice, "Ling, how did you know I like to eat fish?"

Bai Ling laughed and said, "You're always so happy when you eat fish, I can tell at a glance."

These words made Yue lower her head even further, almost burying it in the bowl.

*

After everyone had eaten most of the hot pot, and their stomachs were full of hot food, Bai Ling took the jar of wine and began to distribute the wine to the people.

The eyes of the tribesmen truly lit up.

The wine was so rare and delicious that once you tasted it, you could never forget it. This year, the tribe didn't get any wine, and they thought they wouldn't be able to drink it, but unexpectedly, they got to drink it before the New Year.

The beastmen didn't even dare to blink; they were all staring intently at Bai Ling. If Bai Ling weren't a young man like them, the beastmen would probably have started calling him "uncle" and "elder brother."

The wine was too precious, so Bai Ling didn't give them much. Each beastman only received a tiny bit, and even the largest portion barely reached the bottom of the large earthenware bowl in the tribe. It was less than ten mouthfuls.

When Bai Ling poured the wine, he held the earthenware jar with both hands without tilting it much. As soon as a little wine was poured out, Bai Ling immediately straightened the jar.

However, none of the young orcs complained about the lack of wine. Instead, they held the earthenware bowls with both hands and began to drink with an almost pious posture.

When Bai Ling poured wine for his younger brother Chen, he poured a little too much. While others took ten or more sips of wine, Chen took more than twenty. Chen didn't even have time to thank his older brother before he started licking the earthenware bowl with small sips.

Bai Ling naturally poured more for Yue, and Yue's eyes curved slightly as she smiled at Bai Ling.

*

The wine from the Greenwood Tribe has a slightly yellow tint and doesn't smell very strong. Instead, it has a fruity aroma. Bai Ling picked up the earthenware bowl and took a sip. It was indeed a fruit wine. She wondered what kind of fruit it was made from. The wine had a slightly sweet taste, as well as a little sourness and astringency. The taste was quite good.

Fruit wine has a low alcohol content; in Bai Ling's previous life, it could almost be drunk as a beverage. This kind of wine was very popular among the beastmen. What if they could make real grain-based liquor?

Bai Ling pondered as he drank: brewing wine requires yeast, so where could he find yeast?