Big Data Cultivation

Chapter 62: Repay with Fine Jade

Translator: 549690339

Feng Jun glanced at the porridge and discovered it was akin to a thin porridge, mixed with plenty of green vegetable leaves and a few strands of some unidentifiable animal meat, interspersed within the porridge.

Is this even called meat porridge? Feng Jun silently complained in his heart, thinking it should be called vegetable porridge with added meat strands. However, it was indeed a bit cold in the mountains after the rain, and he planned to start eating to taste the food in this space.

Just at that moment, a “gurgle” sound reached his ears, and turning his head he saw Younger Brother Lang staring at the meat porridge, involuntarily swallowing his saliva.

Feng Jun glanced at Elder Sister Lang and, before he could speak, she reached out, grabbed her brother’s ear, and rapidly said something in a gibberish that exuded displeasure.

By now, Feng Jun had grown somewhat used to their language and could vaguely make out that Elder Sister Lang was scolding her brother, saying, “Don’t embarrass us, will you? You’ve already eaten dinner tonight.” It was clear that the discipline in the Lang Family was quite strict; the young brother dared not talk back and immediately diverted his gaze, but within two seconds, he couldn’t help but sneak another glance at the meat porridge.

How am I supposed to taste this with you staring like that? Feng Jun stroked his chm, reached into his backpack, rummaged around, and when his hand emerged, he held a dark, long bar of something—it was the chocolate he carried with him.

He handed the bar to the young brother and made a biting motion with his other hand—it was something to eat.

However, Younger Brother Lang pulled his hands back behind himself and shyly glanced sideways at his sister.

Elder Sister Lang’s face blushed slightly, “Pay him no mind. He’s already eaten; he’s just being greedy.”

“It’s fine,” Feng Jun replied with a smile, thinking to himself that if you don’t let him eat chocolate, I won’t be able to eat either.

Elder Sister Lang hesitated, but perhaps seeing that the chocolate wasn’t very big, she lifted her chin slightly, “Thankyou first, Brother Feng.” “Thankyou, Brother Feng,” Younger Brother Lang mumbled, then extended his hands and respectfully accepted the chocolate.

The chocolates Feng Jun brought with him on his descent from the mountain had all been removed from their packaging.

Younger Brother Lang’s hands were slightly wet from rain, and since the weather wasn’t really cold, the moment he took the chocolate, it left a brownish-black smear on his hands.

He lifted his hand without thinking and extended his red little tongue to lick the brownish-black smudge in the palm of his hand.

The next moment, Young Brother Lang’s body jolted, and he froze in place, his eyes widening, his face flushing uncontrollably; he had never tasted anything as delicious as this.

Elder Sister Lang was also curious about what this brownish-black thing might be as she watched her brother intently.

Seeing her brother’s reaction, she instinctively turned her head, looking at Feng Jun in amazement: What exactly did you give him to eat?

Feng Jun spread his hands with a smile, “A rather delicious food that replenishes energy quickly.”

Elder Sister Lang still seemed unconvinced, but she felt that the other person really had no reason to harm her own, so she couldn’t help but glare fiercely at her little brother, thinking to herself, look at you, embarrassing our Lang family.

Younger Brother Lang couldn’t care less about embarrassment at this point; he stayed stunned for quite a while before he came to his senses, then opened his mouth wide and raised his hand to shove the chocolate inside.

However, just as he was about to pop it into his mouth, he hesitated and changed his mind, carefully biting off a small piece the size of a soybean, keeping it in his mouth without chewing.

After savoring it for about five or six seconds, he turned around and shoved the chocolate towards his older brother’s mouth, “Brother, take a bite, but not too much.”

Elder Brother Lang’s eyes shone with a ravenous light, but at that moment, he still looked to Feng Jun: This is what you gave my brother, may I have some?

Feng Jun chuckled and pulled out two more chocolates from his bag, offering one to Elder Brother Lang and the other to Elder Sister Lang.

Elder Brother Lang and Elder Sister Lang, following their younger sibling’s example, also bit off a tiny piece, and the next moment, both of them squinted their eyes, filled with a profound sense of bliss.

Watching their contented smiles, Feng Jun felt quite happy, so much so that he momentarily forgot about his porridge.

After Elder Sister Lang bit off a piece of chocolate, she didn’t go for a second bite. Instead, she squatted down, pulled a wide leaf, and carefully wrapped the chocolate, stuffing it into her bosom.

“You can’ t do that,” Feng Jun said hastily, waving his hand, “This chocolate, it melts in heat… just like ice.”

He explained with gestures and words, and eventually, Elder Sister Lang understood his point and took the leaf-wrapped chocolate back out from her chest.

Feng Jun didn’t concern himself with this any further but looked again towards Younger Brother Lang and said with a grin, “This is also afraid of water; don’t let it get rained on.”

Younger Brother Lang nodded hurriedly and raised his hand, biting carefully into the chocolate once more.

It was Elder Brother Lang who spoke up, reminding, “Big brother, drink the meat porridge before it cools.”

Feng Jun touched the clay pot, finding it not too hot to hold, and he decided to forgo the chopsticks, lifting the pot to tentatively take a sip.

What does this taste like… how to describe it? It was a bit fishy and spicy, and if one could drink several sips in succession, it might indeed drive away the chill. However, the gamey smell was a bit too strong, and although there were some unknown seasonings, the porridge was too bland to cover up the gamey taste. Too bland? That was indeed a problem. Feng Jun reached into his backpack and pulled out a small plastic bottle of table salt.

In this space, he was particularly concerned about replenishing his salt intake. He naturally drank a lot of water, and in the desert, he would sweat profusely every day. In order to prevent electrolyte imbalance, he had to replenish large amounts of salt.

Feng Jun twisted off the cap and sprinkled a small pinch of salt into the soup, then tightened the cap again.

Younger Brother Lang stared at the white powder in the bottle and couldn’t help swallowing his saliva with a “gulping” sound.

Feng Jun picked up his chopsticks, stirred twice in the clay pot, and then lifted the pot, drinking greedily.

He had downed more than half of the meat porridge in one breath before he set down the pot, let out a satisfied burp, and exhaled deeply.

It was evident that Younger Brother Lang was very curious about what the white powder was, but in the end, it was the Younger Sister Lang who asked, “What kind of seasoning is that?”

Feng Jun gave her a slight smile, “Salt, edible salt.”

The corner of Younger Sister Lang’s mouth twitched before she asked incredulously, “Table salt… white?”

“Yes,” Feng Jun nodded with a smile, “It’s refined, very good quality table

What “refined” meant didn’t really matter to Younger Sister Lang; instead, she gestured with her hands, eyes wide open, “You actually used… that much?” It turned out that in the village, table salt was an expensive daily necessity. Everyone knew that salt was essential for the body, but with no salt sources nearby, they had no choice but to endure the high salt prices.

That’s why their taste in food was relatively bland, and some even resorted to drinking animal blood to supplement their salt intake.

In Younger Sister Lang’s view, to put “that much salt” into just a small clay pot of meat porridge was simply too wasteful, too extravagant.

As for the color of table salt and whatever “refined” meant, those were no longer as important.

Once Feng Jun understood the situation, he did not want to linger on the issue of salt. He considered himself not selfish, but after taking a risk to save Younger Sister Lang and receiving a cold reception in the village, he could hardly feel comfortable.

Just like back m the Earth Realm, when giving up your seat to the elderly on the bus, he didn’t necessarily expect a “thankyou,” though a smile or a nod would suffice—indicating that your kindness was acknowledged.

If someone just sat down without glancing at you, as if it was their right, could the person who gave up their seat feel good about it?

Goodwill should inherently be mutual.

With such a cold reception from Small Lake Village, why should he bother to warm up to them?

Although Younger Sister Lang was a girl, her simplicity of mind could rival her sturdy legs. She did not talk about chocolate or salt, but instead explained why the village was aloof towards him.

This was a small mountain village, far from the emperor’s reach. If they were ever attacked by bandits, they couldn’t count on any reinforcements and had to fend for themselves.

That’s why they were naturally wary of outsiders. Some say that nomads on the grasslands are hospitable, which is understandable. The grasslands, although sparse tn population, are open plains where it’s easy to kill but hard to escape. The mountains were different. You could kill someone, toss the body, and who would find it? The scene during the day was the best illustration of this.

Murderers could easily hide themselves in the mountains, slip into any crack between the rocks, and who would find them?

Younger Sister Lang expressed her regrets, explaining that strangers here were unwelcome, let alone someone clearly foreign like Feng Jun.

Although Feng Jun still didn’t feel great inside, since she had provided an explanation, he couldn’t hold onto his grievances, “In that case, once the rain stops tomorrow, I’ll leave.”

You can’t just leave like that,” Younger Sister Lang objected, “The Spirit Green Bamboo Shoot hasn’t been sold yet… I need to give you half the money from the sale.”

“Do you think I care about that bit of money?” Feng Jun scoffed disdainfully. Just by the popularity of chocolate alone, I could make a fortune by selling it.

As for selling salt, he wouldn’t consider it for now. There were salt traders here, and selling salt seemed to be a very lucrative business. Why invite trouble by getting involved?

What he really wanted to know was what the local currency was and how to settle in a larger town or market place.

Before he could ask, Younger Sister Lang spoke up again, “Feng Jun, the utensils you use are quite nice. You must be a nobleman of some status, but your hair… what’s that about?”

Feng Jun glanced at her and lazily replied, “I wander alone, and I find grooming troublesome, so I cut it short myself. Is that a problem?”

Younger Sister Lang became furious at his response, “Have you not heard that ‘one’s body and hair are given by one’s parents’?”

She seemed to realize that her tone was not appropriate and paused for a moment before lowering her voice to ask, “My father wants to know if you are a hermit or a fugitive?”

(It’s the Winter Solstice as well as the weekend. Enjoy your dumplings, and don’t forget to click, recommend, and add to your favorites.)