Chapter 51: A New Recipe is Born, Hope Town's First Harvest Feast...

Tonight, Hope Town is filled with an indescribable lively atmosphere that blends fatigue, excitement, and the rich aroma of food.

Outside the main building, a huge bonfire roared, illuminating the entire temporary central square as bright as day. The air was filled with the aroma of roasting meat, the rich fragrance of stewed meat, the wheat scent of freshly baked steamed buns, and... a peculiar, refreshing fragrance with a mysterious glow that was invigorating to the spirit.

Everyone gathered here, whether they were the Silent Whisperers who had just returned from a long and harrowing journey, or the local residents of the small town who were exhausted from harvesting crops. Everyone's face showed a hint of fatigue, but more than anything, it showed a heartfelt joy and anticipation for the harvest and the delicious food.

However, amidst this peaceful and festive atmosphere, a small internal conflict is quietly unfolding inside the main house.

Just as Lin Yue had several large bowls of steaming hot rock-roasted potatoes brought out for everyone to have a bite to eat, Uncle Shi Quan pulled him into the curator's office.

"Lin Yue! You brat! Explain yourself!" Shi Quan lowered his voice as soon as he entered, but his tone was like a volcano about to erupt. His face, darkened from years of working with the stove, was now filled with anger and a hint of barely perceptible grievance. "Why do those people outside... call this place Hope Town? What about Lin's Restaurant? The home we worked so hard to build, and you just handed it over to them without even blinking an eye?"

Gray followed him in, looking at the two men who were on the verge of conflict with some concern. He wanted to speak up and offer some advice, but he didn't know where to begin.

In a corner of the main house, the refugee representatives—the old village chief's wife, her daughter Leah, and the Barton family—whom Lin Yue had specially invited to observe and learn, along with the newly joined Silent One representative—Elder Farador and his most trusted guards, all sat upright, eyes downcast, afraid of being affected by the wrath of these two powerful figures. After all, they were newcomers; they had no say in the core power struggle of this stronghold, nor dared they.

Lin Yue was taken aback by Shi Quan's "If you don't give me a reasonable explanation, I'll fight you to the death" attitude, then he was both amused and exasperated. Earlier, when he boasted to Elder Farador in the Valley of Tears, he casually upgraded Lin's Restaurant to Hope Town. After returning, he was busy harvesting and settling the new recruits, and hadn't had a chance to formally inform Shi Quan and the others about it.

"Ahem, Uncle Shi Quan, please calm down, calm down." Lin Yue quickly smiled apologetically and handed over a cup of warm water that had just been brewed with some calming mushroom powder. "This is my fault. I didn't discuss it with you beforehand. It was my fault."

He cleared his throat and explained earnestly, “Uncle, think about it. Now we have more people. It’s not the small-scale operation that used to be, just a few of us. There are over two hundred of us! We need a more… um… more resounding, more unifying name, right? Lin’s Restaurant is friendly, but it sounds… a bit small, doesn’t it? Besides, the name Hope Town is meant to give everyone who comes here, especially the Silent People and refugees who have just experienced hardship, a hope, a direction, to let them know that this is a place where they can start over.”

"As for what you said about handing it over to others..." Lin Yue's expression turned serious. "Uncle, you're wronging me. Yes, Lin's Restaurant was established by a few of us. We laid the foundation brick by brick, hammer by hammer. But look at it now, those newly built sheds, those reclaimed farmlands, even... all those red bricks and cement you fired, didn't they also embody the sweat of those refugees who joined later? Although they were latecomers, they were also contributing to this community with their labor."

He pointed to the figures outside busily preparing for the banquet: "We are now a larger collective, a growing community. Hope Town belongs to everyone who lives here and strives for it! And Lin's Restaurant..." Lin Yue revealed a sly smile, "It will always be our original little restaurant, our exclusive hideout, our secret base for planning the future and developing cutting-edge technology. This name belongs only to us, the founding members. Anyone else wanting to come in? No way!"

As Shi Quan listened to Lin Yue's words, which were half explanation and half deception, the anger on his face gradually dissipated. He actually understood the reasoning Lin Yue was making. However, the sudden replacement of the name "Lin's Restaurant," which he had invested deep feelings in, with "Hope Town" left him with a bitter taste, feeling as if the cabbage he had painstakingly raised had been eaten by a pig...

"Hmph, at least you have some conscience." Shi Quan finally grunted, accepting Lin Yue's explanation, but still stubbornly said, "But let me tell you, if there's anything like this involving changing your name in the future, you have to discuss it with me first, otherwise I'll burn all your lousy blueprints as firewood."

Lin Yue quickly nodded and bowed, "Yes, yes, yes, definitely, definitely. I will definitely report to you in advance next time."

A minor naming rights dispute was resolved without incident thanks to Lin Yue's clever deception.

Outside, the bountiful harvest feast is about to begin.

The results of the nationwide mobilization to rush the harvest are gratifying.

With the help of iron tools and the incentive of the deluxe meal, both the original residents of the restaurant and the newly joined Silent Ones displayed an amazing enthusiasm for work.

Large swaths of Shifu potatoes were dug up from the ground, piled up like small mountains. Although the skin is tough and a bit troublesome to handle, their heavy weight and the system-certified super high starch content were enough to make everyone smile.

The wheat field, which had been shimmering with starlight, had been completely harvested. The golden ears of wheat were transported back to the small restaurant and piled up on the temporarily cleared ground.

Lin Yue even took the time to temporarily build a simple, human-powered flail threshing device using the wheel of a wheelbarrow made from stone fists, a few sturdy wooden sticks, and some flexible animal hide strips. Although it looked a bit like a large mousetrap, its efficiency was a qualitative leap compared to the primitive manual threshing.

As the wheelbarrow turned, the flail rose and fell rhythmically, and plump, shimmering grains of wheat emerged from the ears, falling like golden raindrops. The fantastical and beautiful sight drew gasps of amazement from all the onlookers.

The process of grinding flour was full of ritual. Lin Yue personally took charge, carefully pouring the first batch of cleanly threshed Starlight wheat into the stone mill. As the heavy millstone slowly turned, a delicate flour with a faint fragrance and a slight shimmering fluorescence flowed out from the gaps in the millstone like fine sand.

Faced with these new and mutated ingredients, Lin Yue immediately entered the chef's new recipe development mode, and his creative inspiration erupted like a volcanic eruption.

First up are the rock-skinned potatoes. These potatoes have thick, rough skin, and peeling them with a knife is practically self-torture. Lin Yue had a flash of inspiration and thought of the most primitive method, which best brings out their flavor—rock grilling.

He had his men clean the stone potatoes, then carefully used the back of a hammer to tap a few cracks into their hard shells, being careful not to break them. He then threw these cracked stones directly into the embers of the campfire, or stuffed them into a brick kiln that had just been extinguished but was still hot, to slowly bake them using the residual heat.

When the potatoes are piping hot and a rich, caramelized aroma wafts from their cracks, they are ready to be removed. Wrap them in tongs or a thick cloth, and gently pry them open. The hard, stone-like outer shell will crack open, revealing the golden, piping hot, delicate, and creamy flesh inside, as smooth as fine red bean paste.

That stone-like outer shell perfectly locks in the moisture and sweetness of the starch inside the potato during the baking process. At the same time, the minerals in the soil seem to give the potato flesh an indescribable, unique, and slightly salty mineral flavor through this outer shell.

One bite, and the crispy crust, the soft texture of the potato flesh, and the unique mineral flavor intertwine in your mouth, creating an ultimate taste sensation.

This simple yet incredibly delicious rock-baked potato dish instantly replaced ordinary roasted potatoes, becoming the undisputed new king of staple foods in Hope Town.

Next up is Starlight Wheat.

Looking at the wheat flour that emitted a faint glow and a delicate fragrance, Lin Yue decided to make steamed buns in the way that best showcased their true flavor.

He personally kneaded the dough, adding natural yeast extracted from some wild fruit for fermentation. Once the dough had risen and become fluffy and soft, he shaped it into round, plump, white steamed buns, then placed them in a newly made iron steamer and steamed them over high heat. That's right, Uncle Stone Fist even made a steamer!

The moment the lid was lifted, a waft of steam, a blend of wheat aroma, fresh fragrance, and a faint glow, wafted out. The steamed starlight buns were not only plump and soft, white as jade, but also emitted a refreshing fragrance, and their surfaces even had a faint, soft halo like starlight.

That night, everyone who ate the Starlight Buns felt exceptionally relaxed, as if the day's fatigue and anxiety had been dispelled by the magical aroma of wheat. They slept soundly through the night without any dreams.

This Starlight Sleep Aid Bun was immediately hailed as the number one miracle drug in Hope Town, becoming a hot commodity for treating insomnia, excessive dreaming, and anxiety. Some even joked that anyone who dared to gossip or sow discord behind someone's back would be punished by being forbidden from eating the Starlight Bun for three days, to see if they would still dare to do it.

Of course, the highlight of the harvest feast is still the meat!

With the help of Uncle Stone Fist's generous donation of a crudely made iron pot and a sharp iron knife, Lin Yue was finally able to showcase his true culinary skills.

He cleaned up all the remaining meat from the unfortunate Shadowclaw Leopard King that Gray and Little Finn had hunted together on their way back, as well as some wild rabbits, silly birds, and other prey that the local residents of the restaurant had recently caught.

Then, on the newly built stove, constructed of red bricks and cement, with a more intense and even heat, the dark, heavy iron pot was placed.

Heat a pan, pour in the small amount of fat scraped off the animal meat and fry until the oil is slightly smoking, then add the leopard meat cut into large chunks along with the animal meat.

"Sizzle—!"

The moment the chunks of meat touched the scorching hot iron wok, they made a mouthwatering sound! A rich aroma of meat, mixed with the smoky fragrance of oil, burst forth—this is wok hei, a unique charm of an iron wok that can never be matched by a stone wok.

Lin Yue wielded the spatula, quickly stir-frying the meat until the surface was golden brown and slightly charred, locking in the juices. Then, he added a large amount of otherworldly ginger slices, fire crystal pepper powder, and various spices he could find, continuing to stir-fry to allow the flavors to fully permeate the meat.

Finally, add enough hot water to cover the meat, then add some diced potatoes and some tough wild vegetable roots. Cover the pot, turn the heat to low, and simmer slowly.

The rich, overpowering aroma, a complex blend of meat, spices, potatoes, and wild vegetables, wafted continuously from the cracks in the iron pot, like an invisible hook, enticing everyone's taste buds and soul.

Even Uncle Shi Quan, who was supervising the construction of the temporary toilets not far away, couldn't help but turn around frequently, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down, clearly tempted by the unprecedented aroma.

As night falls completely and the bonfire burns brightest, the bountiful feast officially begins.

Huge wooden planks were temporarily used as dining tables, and they were piled high with a variety of mouthwatering delicacies:

The mountain of roasted potatoes, each one exuding an enticing aroma of caramelization and mineral flavor.

Baskets of steaming hot, soft, sweet, and slightly fluorescent Starlight Sleep Aid Buns.

Several large bowls of Xiwang Town's specialty mixed salad, made with various fresh wild vegetables and nuts, and drizzled with a small amount of animal fat and salt.

These are charcoal-grilled skewers made from bird and rabbit meat, sprinkled with various spices, and grilled until crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, sizzling with oil.

The most eye-catching dish, of course, was the huge pot of stewed everything in a real iron pot, steaming hot, fragrant, and thick in broth. The leopard and other animal meats were stewed until they were tender and falling off the bone, and the potatoes and wild vegetables had absorbed the essence of the rich broth. It was simply a delicacy.

Everyone sat around the campfire, sharing the joy of this hard-won, sumptuous dinner.

Lin Yue personally cooked, serving everyone a full bowl of stewed meat in an iron pot and a large piece of roasted potato.

The Silent Ones were initially a little reserved and uneasy, but when they tasted the first bite of the delicious and rich meat broth and the first bite of the soft and sweet Starlight Buns, all their restraint and doubts vanished instantly. Like the original inhabitants of Hope Town, they devoured the food with gusto, their faces beaming with long-lost, heartfelt smiles and satisfaction.

Fueled by delicious food and a campfire, people from different backgrounds and ethnicities gradually let down their guard and barriers. They began to talk, share food, and burst into laughter.

Elder Farador, carrying a steaming bowl of meat soup, walked shakily to Lin Yue. He spoke not with his mind, but with halting speech, formal and grateful: "Lin Yue... I... on behalf of all the Silent Ones... thank you, thank you for giving us... a new life."

After saying this, he was about to bow deeply.

Lin Yue quickly helped him up: "Elder, you mustn't, you mustn't. From now on, we're all family, and it's only right that we help each other."

He raised the ceramic bowl in his hand and said loudly, "Everyone, today is the first harvest feast in Hope Town, and also a reunion feast for all of us. Let us toast to this hard-won food, to our common home, and to our hopeful future!"

"cheers!"

Everyone, humans, dwarves, and Silent Ones, raised their bowls high and cheered deafeningly.

The firelight flickered, illuminating every smiling face.

Looking at the warm and lively scene before him, listening to the laughter and joy around him, and feeling the heartfelt joy and satisfaction, Lin Yue's heart was filled with unprecedented ambition.

The future of Hope Town is as bright and promising as this blazing bonfire.

And he, Lin Yue, will work with these lovely companions to create their own miracles, step by step, on this cursed land.

[System Notification: Hidden Quest "A Feast of Hope" Completed. Community cohesion greatly increased, all residents' happiness increased by 20, their sense of belonging to Hope Town increased by 30, and Lin Yue's personal reputation reached "A Trustworthy Leader"]

[System has issued a new research and development task: [Please utilize mutated ingredients to develop new recipes with special effects]. Reward: Based on the recipe's effectiveness rating, different levels of points and rare blueprints will be awarded.]

Lin Yue looked at the system notification and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

A new challenge has arrived.

However, he likes it!

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Author's Note: Stone Fist (hands on hips): Next time I change the name, no discussion, I'll really burn your blueprints!

Lin Yue (picking up a fluorescent steamed bun): Let's try the new product first, it's calming, helps with sleep, and prevents violence~

Shi Quan (instantly devouring a steamed bun): ...It smells so good.