Mercenary’s War

Chapter 2335 - 2311: A Dead Pig Fears No Boiling Water

There’s a cook, a kitchen, and best of all, a really large pot in the kitchen, just brought back by Liang Dong. When cooking for dozens of people, you definitely need a big pot.

The kitchen is already equipped, but there’s not much in terms of ingredients. Liang Dong excitedly reviewed what he brought back and shouted, "There’s about three or four pounds of lamb, a few eggplants, some tomatoes, onions, and lots of potatoes."

Cui Bo couldn’t hold back and shouted, "This isn’t right. Big pot meals aren’t like this. I’m telling you, big pot meals are just cabbage, pork, and vermicelli, nothing else!"

Gao Yang dismissively said, "Come on! What you’re talking about is pork and cabbage stewed with vermicelli. Big pot meals involve a few of these: pork, vermicelli, potatoes, and if there’s no cabbage, winter melon will do too. My mom’s big pot meals also included beans, delicious! Especially when it’s made in a big iron pot with wood fire during rural weddings and funerals, the taste is even more authentic!"

Li Jinfang shook his head repeatedly and said, "You two, do you even know what military big pot meals are?"

Gao Yang waved his hand and said, "Big pot meals are just big pot meals, don’t talk to me about military big pot meals."

Li Jinfang knew Gao Yang well, so he could argue.

"You know nothing. If you haven’t been in the army, you wouldn’t understand. Huaxia is so big, from the tropics to the arctic, every military unit has big pot meals. Can you use just a few dishes everywhere? I’m telling you, military big pot meals don’t have fixed dishes. Use whatever ingredients you have wherever you are!"

Liang Dong clapped his hands and laughed, "Exactly, use whatever is available locally. We can still make big pot meals here, just with lamb. Don’t worry, I’ll make the lamb without any gamey taste."

After hurriedly finishing his words, Liang Dong went to his own bag to get an apron, tying it on while saying, "You guys go rest for a bit. I’ll make a meal for the old man first, then make a big pot meal. I’ve never used lamb before, let’s give it a try."

At this point, Li Jinfang hesitated a bit and said in a low voice, "I haven’t had a big pot meal since I came out these few years. I’m afraid one mixed flavor will ruin my memory of it, make me forget what big pot meals taste like. Maybe we should wait..."

Li Jinfang was definitely a tough guy, and it was surprising for someone like him to say such delicate thoughts, honestly, Gao Yang was taken aback.

Liang Dong had already tied on his apron. He was also a bit dazed. After a moment of silence, Liang Dong said, "Waiting for a bit is fine too. I haven’t done this before, really afraid of messing up the taste."

Just then, Gao Yang suddenly said, "What’s this? Looks like sesame paste."

Liang Dong replied, "Oh, that’s sesame paste. I saw a lot of it and brought some back. People here eat a lot of sesame, there’s quite a bit of sesame paste after oil extraction too. It’s a bit different from what we have back home, but it’s definitely sesame paste. I’ve tried it; the taste is okay."

Gao Yang licked his lips and suddenly said, "Why don’t we have hotpot!"

Liang Dong, surprised, said, "Huh? In the middle of summer, it’s too hot for hotpot!"

Gao Yang nodded seriously and said, "Yeah, hotpot. You guys are enjoying the chat, and I thought of hotpot. I haven’t had it for a long time, and I really want it now. We have the meat; can you make the broth?"

Cui Bo nodded and said, "Hotpot sounds great!"

Li Jinfang also said, "Indeed, it’s been a while. Sweating in this heat feels pretty good, plus we have enough water here to shower!"

Liang Dong laughed, "Alright, you guys wait, go back first and I’ll call you when it’s ready. But it looks like we’re hogging the food for ourselves?"

Li Jinfang quickly waved his hand and said, "Just two or three pounds of lamb isn’t enough for all of us. Those foreigners don’t know about hotpot anyway. Let’s keep quiet and eat in the kitchen. I’ll help you out."

Cui Bo also said, "I’ll stay and help too, maybe pick up a trick or two if you don’t mind?"

Gao Yang coughed twice and said, "Alright, let’s do that. No harm in us eating alone. Next time we have more, we’ll let them try. I’ll head back to my room, call me when it’s ready."

Gao Yang went back to his room, not eating with the others. He was waiting to have hotpot.

After about forty minutes, Cui Bo sneaked open Gao Yang’s door and whispered, "Brother Yang, it’s ready, come on."

"So quick? Did you make food for the old man?"

"He’s eating, just took it to him. Ours is ready too, come on."

It was already dark, and most of the lights inside were on, but since no one was allowed outside, everyone stayed in their rooms.

Gao Yang and Cui Bo sneaked into the kitchen, where the pot was on the stove, with Li Jinfang and Liang Dong standing by it.

Li Jinfang hurriedly said, "There’s no small stove to cook on the table, so let’s just eat here."

Gao Yang laughed, "Summer in the Yemeni desert, eating hotpot around the stove, are we crazy?"

"Kind of."

Gao Yang looked into the pot and laughed, "Haha, it’s red, afraid it won’t be spicy enough? But it’s okay, that’s exactly what I want, let’s go!"

Liang Dong timidly said, "It’s a tomato pot, still with chili oil; aren’t you afraid of getting too hot?"

Cui Bo urgently said, "A dead pig isn’t afraid of boiling water, why be afraid of spice now? Bring on the chili! Lots of it!"

Gao Yang inhaled sharply and said, "That’s not a good analogy, don’t you feel awkward?"

While complaining about Cui Bo’s words dragging himself into it, Gao Yang picked up a piece of meat and immediately praised, "Not bad, Liang Dong’s knife skills are excellent! Thin and neat cuts, the plating looks like art."

Gao Yang held up his bowl, talking while swishing the meat in the pot, pulling it out as soon as it changed color. Putting it in his mouth, he immediately let out a long breath and sighed, "It’s awesome! Just awesome!"

Li Jinfang and Cui Bo weren’t shy, the three surrounded the stove, sweating profusely as they started the hotpot. Liang Dong stood off to the side with a smile. Gao Yang found it odd and asked, "You’re not eating? What are you waiting for?"

Liang Dong laughed, "You guys go ahead, the meat isn’t much. Besides, the boss doesn’t eat with the employees."

Li Jinfang slammed his bowl down, clattering his chopsticks on the bowl and angrily said, "What’s with the bad habit!"

Gao Yang also scraped with his chopsticks and said, "Don’t play this game with me again. I hate it. Grab some chopsticks and eat with us. Toad’s right; this is a ridiculous habit."

"Alright."

Liang Dong quickly joined them at the stove. With four people, less than three pounds of meat was a bit lacking. But they hadn’t been eating for long when someone outside said, "Smells great, what’s that, Boss? Are you inside?"