With their harvest full to the brim, the Jiang family of three prepared to head back home. Jiang Jianguo was in an exceptionally grand mood, humming a little tune under his breath. The flying notes were infectious with his joy. Lin Wanting also wore a relaxed smile, looking down from time to time at the wild pheasant eggs in her basket, then gently touching the wild pheasant cradled in her arms.
However, when they reached the halfway point down the mountain, Jiang Jianguo suddenly turned around and headed toward an entirely different direction. That particular area was virtually overgrown with wild weeds, offering almost no place to even step, which was why practically none of the villagers heading up the mountain ever ventured over there.
As it turned out, this was a place he had accidentally stumbled upon in the past while slacking off and wandering around the mountain. It was incredibly secluded—several massive boulders lined up just right to wall off a hidden space, further surrounded by dense shrubbery. Thick, tangled vines completely blanketed the giant rocks, making the spot even more impossible to detect.
Jiang Jianguo walked around the perimeter, circling the area once to inspect it. Confirming that there was absolutely no trace of anyone ever being here, he nodded his head in great satisfaction, thinking to himself, ‘As expected, what a fine place.’
“Right here!” He lowered his voice, a sly grin spreading across his face. “Wanting, Tangtang, today we’re breaking our vegetarian streak right here!” As he spoke, he immediately rolled up his sleeves to clear out the weeds in the hidden spot.
Jiang Tangtang’s eyes lit up, instantly catching her father’s drift.
Back at the ancestral house, there were eyes watching them at every single moment. Forget about stewing chicken meat—even eating one extra egg would easily be discovered by Old Mrs. Jiang, the eldest aunt, and the rest of the household.
But out here in the mountains, in such a well-hidden spot, basically no one would ever come by. This was the perfect haven to stealthily cook up a private meal and satisfy their cravings!
At the thought that their family of three could secretly feast on the finest food here in the future, Jiang Tangtang’s little hands couldn’t help but tremble with sheer excitement!
Lin Wanting was startled at first, but she quickly caught on. Scanning their surroundings, she whispered, “Is it… safe here? What if someone passes by…”
“Don’t worry,” Jiang Jianguo waved his hand confidently. “This place is out of the way. Normally, except for slackers like me, nobody ever crawls into a spot like this. Look, this area is completely surrounded by rocks, and the weeds have overgrown the boulders. It’s like a natural little kitchen; no one would ever guess there’s a space hidden inside.” He pointed to the massive boulders. “Even if we light a fire inside, the smoke won’t be visible from the outside.”
He was a man of action. Putting down the wicker basket and the pheasant, he immediately busied himself. He first gathered a few flat pieces of stone and quickly assembled a makeshift stove in the wind-sheltered corner formed by the boulders. Then, he instructed Lin Wanting, “Wanting, go nearby and gather some dry tree branches. Be careful, and don’t wander too far.”
He turned back to Jiang Tangtang. “Tangtang, help Daddy keep an eye on the surroundings, alright? If someone comes over, mimic a cuckoo bird call—coo-coo, just like this, got it?”
Jiang Tangtang found this job incredibly thrilling. Noding vigorously, she immediately entered “sentinel” mode. Climbing onto the edge of a large boulder, she peeked out with two wide eyes, stealthily scanning the direction from which people were most likely to approach. She looked absolutely adorable.
Looking at his daughter’s solemn yet precious expression, the corners of Jiang Jianguo’s mouth quirked upward.
Lin Wanting soon returned cradling a bundle of dry branches and wild grass. Taking them from her, Jiang Jianguo deftly lit a fire inside the temporary stone stove. As the flames leapt up, he deliberately controlled them, keeping the fire low and steady. Sure enough, practically no noticeable smoke drifted upward.
Next, he went to process the wild pheasant. Grabbing his machete, he walked slightly further away to the downstream section of a small creek. He rapidly gutted, plucked, and washed the pheasant clean. By the time he returned, he had already impaled the entire chicken onto a sharpened, sturdy wooden spit.
“Today, we’re having roast chicken!” Jiang Jianguo propped the skewered pheasant over the stone stove, slowly rotating it to roast. The flames licked the chicken skin, making a delightful sizzle-sizzle sound. Droplets of fat dripped into the fire, igniting tiny sparks, and a rich, concentrated meat aroma instantly filled the small stone hollow.
Jiang Tangtang couldn’t help but gulp down her saliva. Even her sentry duty became a bit distracted as her little nose kept inhaling the fragrance non-stop.
Watching her husband’s practiced movements and her daughter’s greedy, gluttonous look, Lin Wanting smiled tenderly. She didn’t idle around either; she took out the clay pot they had brought along, scooped some water from the creek, and set it on the edge of the fire to simmer. Then, she retrieved the six wild pheasant eggs.
“Hubby, these eggs…” She looked at Jiang Jianguo.
“Boil them! Boil them all!” Jiang Jianguo waved his hand grandly, declaring with utmost generosity, “Today, we’re going to be extravagant for once and eat to our heart’s content! Tangtang’s illness has cleared up, and we’ve found so many treasures—it’s worth celebrating! Wild pheasant eggs are small anyway, so six isn’t a lot. The three of us will split them!”
Thus, Lin Wanting carefully placed the six wild pheasant eggs into the gradually heating clay pot.
Time ticked away slowly amid the trio’s eager anticipation. The roasted chicken gradually turned a crisp, golden brown, and its aroma reached a peak. The water inside the clay pot also came to a rolling boil, the wild pheasant eggs tumbling around inside.
Finally, Jiang Jianguo announced that the roast chicken was done. Tearing off a drumstick, he blew on it to cool it down before handing it first to his eagerly waiting daughter. “Here, Tangtang, careful, it’s hot.”
Then he tore off the other drumstick and handed it to Lin Wanting. “Wanting, you eat too.”
“I’ll just have a chicken wing,” Lin Wanting tried to decline.
“When I tell you to eat, you eat,” Jiang Jianguo stuffed it into her hand, brook no argument. “Listen to me today!” He then tore off a massive piece of chicken breast for himself, took a ferocious bite, and narrowed his eyes in pure bliss. “Delicious! It’s so motherf*cking delicious!”
Jiang Tangtang blew on her food with tiny puffs of air before taking a bite of the chicken, which was perfectly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The uniquely firm texture of wild pheasant mixed with the charred fragrance of the roast exploded in her mouth. Even though it lacked the heavy seasonings of modern barbecues, this was the most exquisite food she had tasted since her transmigration! A profound sense of happiness welled up inside her.
Next, the wild pheasant eggs finished boiling. Lin Wanting fished them out, dipped them in some cool creek water to cool down, and peeled them. Wild pheasant eggs had a much larger ratio of yolk, and the color was a deeper yellow, giving them a uniquely rich flavor.
The family of three huddled around the tiny campfire, not even bothering to talk as they buried their heads and ate like devouring wolves. Jiang Tangtang ate until her little hands and mouth were completely covered in grease, her tiny belly quickly bloating into a round little ball. Jiang Jianguo was an absolute whirlwind, tearing through the meal so thoroughly that he sucked the chicken bones completely clean. Lin Wanting ate a bit more elegantly, but her speed wasn’t slow either, a constant smile playing on her lips.
Once they had all eaten and drunk their fill, Jiang Jianguo thoroughly stomped out the campfire and buried it with dirt. He also dug a deep pit to bury the chicken bones and other scraps, ensuring absolutely no trace was left behind.
“Ah, content!” He patted his stomach and let out a loud burp. “This place is great, peaceful. In the future, whenever our family wants to satisfy a craving, we do it right here. From now on, this is our family’s secret base!”
On the journey back home, the trio deliberately slowed their pace, letting the mountain breeze blow away the lingering scent of roasted meat from their clothes.
Only the medicinal herbs and the matsutake mushrooms—securely wrapped in leaves—remained in Jiang Jianguo’s wicker basket. The wild pheasant eggs and the pheasant itself had already transformed into pure satisfaction inside the bellies of the three family members.
Cradled in her father’s arms, Jiang Tangtang’s little head began to nod off, nearly falling fast asleep. In her daze, she thought to herself: ‘This mountain really is a wonderful place.’