Chapter 91 The Sun's Gift: Anxiety and panic solve nothing...

Anxiety and panic will not solve any problems. Right now, the only thing Hope Town can do, and the thing it should do most, is to focus on farming, quietly make money, and devote all its energy to strengthening itself.

"Mayor, mayor, come quick! The kind of crops you mentioned that grow long beards have all turned blackish-red and dried up."

That morning, the first to notice the corn was ripe was a member of the agricultural planting team responsible for inspecting the fields. Ever since Lin Yue explained the signs of ripe corn, he had made a point of checking it every day.

Lin Yue rushed over upon hearing the news, followed by a large group of equally curious residents. When they stood before the golden cornfield, everyone was utterly awestruck by the magnificent and vibrant scene before them.

Rows of corn stalks, taller than even a strong adult man, stood neatly in the field. On the thick stalks, each ear of golden corn, wrapped in a thick husk, weighed down the stalks, causing them to bend slightly.

"My God... what... what kind of crop is this?" Many residents who had never been to a cornfield before were shocked by this amazing crop. They couldn't even believe that this sapling-like plant was actually a crop. Some people squatted by the field, their hands trembling, carefully peeling off the outermost husk of a corn cob.

With a soft "sizzle," golden sunlight streamed down. Rows of plump, jewel-like golden corn kernels, almost bursting with color, were neatly arranged on the corn cobs, emitting a warm and sweet aroma reminiscent of sunshine.

"This...this yield...the grain on this one stalk is probably more than a whole ear of wheat!" Li Ge's eyes widened. He roughly estimated that the output of this small experimental field was probably equivalent to several acres of ordinary wheat fields.

The Silent Ones, even more curious, gathered around. They had never seen such a tall, so aggressive crop. Kaylan reached out a finger and gently touched a plump corn kernel, feeling the pure, intense, sun-like life energy it contained, his eyes filled with astonishment.

Looking at the bountiful harvest, Lin Yue subconsciously wanted to call the system to identify and confirm the specific attributes of the newly planted crop.

"System, scan this thing and see if it has any hidden features."

However, the familiar semi-transparent interface did not appear.

"Oh, right, it's still upgrading." Lin Yue slapped his forehead, only then remembering that his unreliable cheat system was undergoing upgrade and maintenance.

"Alright, it's better to rely on yourself than on others." Lin Yue cleared his throat, struck a pose like an agricultural scientist, and explained to the crowd, "Everyone, do you see this? This is the new high-yield crop, solar corn, brought from an ancient civilization. It's not only high-yielding and drought-resistant, but every part of it is valuable."

As he spoke, he broke off a plump corn cob and casually snapped off a thick stalk.

A fresh scent, with a hint of sugarcane sweetness, immediately filled the air, causing the children around to crane their necks and peer curiously into the distance.

Looking at their eager eyes, Lin Yue smiled and said, "This thing is a treasure from head to toe, and you can eat it all. If you don't believe me, you should try it."

His words immediately ignited everyone's curiosity.

A chubby-faced boy, the bravest of them all, was the first to rush forward. He imitated Lin Yue, picked up a corncob, opened his mouth, and took a bite.

"Pfft... ptooey ptooey ptooey!" He immediately spat out his mouthful of corn husks and silks, causing a burst of laughter from those around him.

"Hahaha, silly boy, who told you to eat the husk along with the corn?" Lin Yue laughed, personally peeling off the thick husk of the corn cob in no time, revealing the golden corn kernels inside.

"Only this can be eaten raw." He broke off a small piece and handed it to the boy who had made a fool of himself.

The boy, somewhat skeptical, put a few golden corn kernels into his mouth and took a small bite.

"Pop!"

With a crisp sound, a sweet liquid with a rich milky aroma bursts in your mouth.

"Sweet...so sweet." His eyes lit up instantly, and he quickly devoured the corn in his hand.

Seeing this, the other children followed suit, peeling off the husks and eating raw corn. Soon, the ridges of the field were filled with the sounds of chewing and the children's delighted exclamations.

Meanwhile, several grown men who completely believed Lin Yue's words set their sights on the thicker stalks near the roots. One impatient man even took a bite.

With a sharp crack, the man's tooth nearly broke, causing him to grimace in pain.

"Hahaha, you idiot!" Uncle Stone Fist laughed heartily from the side. "You think that's a steamed bun? You just open your mouth and start biting into it."

Lin Yue was also amused by the scene and burst into laughter. He stepped forward, picked up a piece of straw, and used an iron dagger to peel off the hard outer skin, revealing the core inside.

"This is how you eat it, and don't choose the part too close to the root. Although it's thicker and stronger there, it also has less moisture." He handed the man the cut stem core, "Chew it and suck out the sweet juice inside. Don't swallow the pulp."

The man followed suit, putting the core of the stem into his mouth and chewing it forcefully. A juice sweeter than raw corn kernels instantly filled his mouth, like drinking a sip of natural sugarcane juice—refreshing, thirst-quenching, and leaving a lingering aftertaste.

"Wow, the water in this pole is sweeter than honey."

In an instant, everyone was completely captivated by this magical crop. Some munched on the corn, some chewed on the stalks, and a few curious onlookers even picked off the broad corn leaves and inhaled the fresh, grassy aroma.

"Remember it all. Corn kernels can be eaten raw or cooked, but they're easier to digest when cooked. The sweet juice in the stalks can quench your thirst and replenish your energy. As for the leaves, we humans can't eat them, but they're top-quality feed for rock horn sheep. Even the bare corn cobs can be dried and used as firewood, so absolutely nothing is wasted."

"What are you all standing there for?" Lin Yue waved his hand. "Let's get started. Let's take back all these gifts from the sun."

The task involved picking corn cobs, cutting stalks, and digging up the corn roots left in the ground—a massive undertaking. Almost everyone in the town who could move threw themselves into this golden harvest celebration, working for several days to finally harvest all the corn.

To celebrate this unprecedented bumper harvest and to reward everyone for their hard work over the past few days, Lao Mo from the breeding farm specifically sought out Lin Yue and volunteered.

"Mayor," he said, his eyes gleaming with excitement as he looked at the mountain of corn piled up in the warehouse, "everyone works so hard, we can't just eat vegetables. Our rock horn sheep at the farm have been growing fat and strong lately. Do you think we could slaughter one and give everyone a treat, as a way to celebrate that we have another grain surplus?"

“Great!” Lin Yue immediately made the decision. “It’s settled then. The weather has been nice these past few days. If the weather doesn’t change, let’s do it the night after tomorrow. It’s been a long time since we’ve had a get-together like this. We’ll have a grand bonfire dinner in Central Park.”

This decision immediately drew enthusiastic responses from the entire town.

Aunt Leah and her team of cooks immediately went into battle mode. They practically emptied the kitchen of all their seasonings and embarked on a creative culinary experimentation frenzy around the golden corn.

As night fell and the bonfire in Central Park was lit again, a corn-themed culinary feast officially began.

The table was laden with a variety of mouthwatering corn-themed dishes.

The most popular dish is undoubtedly the simplest and most flavorful grilled corn, made with charcoal. Fresh corn cobs are peeled, leaving only the thin innermost layer of tender skin, and then slowly grilled over charcoal. When the skin is slightly browned and the heat draws out the moisture from the kernels, releasing a rich, smoky aroma, it's brushed with melted animal fat and sprinkled with a touch of Hope Salt.

One bite, and the scalding juice bursts in your mouth. The sweet and soft corn kernels, combined with the caramelized aroma of animal fat and the salty umami of snow salt, leave everyone praising it.

For the elderly and children, Starlight Corn Porridge is undoubtedly a favorite. Fresh corn kernels are ground into a fine paste using a stone mill, the coarse corn husks are filtered out, and then animal milk and a small amount of honey are added. It's then slowly simmered over low heat until it becomes a thick, smooth porridge. The delicate texture, sweet taste, and the warm, sun-kissed aroma of corn itself make everyone who drinks it feel warmth spread from their stomach to their heart.

Of course, the more technically sophisticated golden corn tortillas are also a must-try. Corn flour and wheat flour are mixed in a specific ratio, then beaten eggs and a small amount of lard are added to form a dough. This dough is then baked on a hot griddle. The resulting corn tortillas are golden brown on both sides, crispy on the outside and soft and sweet on the inside. Whether eaten plain or filled with minced smoked meat and sauerkraut, they offer a unique flavor.

What truly brought the entire banquet to a climax was Lin Yue's "unintentional" "mistake".

In front of everyone, he heated a large iron pot over a fire until it was scorching hot, then poured in some animal fat. When the oil started to smoke slightly, he grabbed a large handful of dried corn kernels, threw them in, and then slammed the lid on.

"Mayor, what are you doing?" a child asked curiously.

"Shh...don't talk." Lin Yue smiled mysteriously and pointed to the iron pot. "Listen, a miracle is about to happen."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a series of crackling sounds, like popping beans, came from the iron pot.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The pot lid bounced incessantly, as if a raging monster trying to escape was trapped inside. The aroma of roasted corn stubbornly wafted out from the cracks in the lid, instantly piquing everyone's curiosity.

Once the popping sounds from the pot subsided, Lin Yue carefully lifted the lid.

"Wow--!!!"

All the children watching couldn't help but scream with delight.

In the pot, the once hard, golden-yellow corn kernels had vanished. In their place was a large pot of fluffy, snow-white popcorn, as light as clouds, emitting an enticing aroma.

While it was still hot, Lin Yue poured the melted honey and a small amount of animal milk over it and quickly stirred it evenly.

Sweet and crispy, it melts in your mouth.

The novel texture and sweet taste instantly won over all the children present, and even many adults couldn't resist secretly grabbing a handful, stuffing them into their mouths, and then showing a satisfied smile.

Creamy popcorn, amidst laughter and cheers, took center stage and replaced grilled corn as the most popular star product of the night.

Lin Yue even had a sudden inspiration: he ground slightly charred corn kernels into a fine powder using a stone mill, then brewed it with boiling water. A cup of dark brown corn coffee, exuding a rich, smoky aroma and a malty flavor, was born. Although it contained no caffeine, its unique flavor and warming taste had the same magical effect of refreshing the mind and dispelling fatigue, making it a favorite among the artisans and guards who needed to work late into the night.

Meat dishes are also essential.

The kitchen team placed the rock horn lamb and chopped sweet corn into a large iron pot, added a generous amount of exotic ginger and a type of tree bark that could remove the gamey smell and enhance the aroma, and simmered it for a long time. The resulting corn and lamb stew had a rich broth, the meat was tender and fell off the bone, and the sweetness of the corn perfectly neutralized the gamey smell of the lamb, elevating the flavor of the entire dish to a whole new level.

There's also a vibrant and flavorful dish of pine nut corn. Plump sweet corn kernels are blanched, then stir-fried with fragrant, exotic pine nuts, along with diced radish and snowball cabbage hearts. This is all quickly stir-fried over high heat, and finally thickened with a thin sauce of salt and honey. The complex flavors—sweet, crisp, salty, and nutty—were so delicious that even Uncle Shi Quan, who usually disdains vegetarian dishes, couldn't help but take several more bites.

Finally, when everyone had eaten their fill, Aunt Lian brought out several large bowls of clear, slightly yellow soup.

"Don't rush off, everyone," Aunt Lian said with a smile. "This is a special instruction from the town mayor. It's made by boiling corn in water and adding corn silk. He says it can clear heat, reduce internal fire, and aid digestion. Everyone, have a bowl, drink it before you go back to sleep, and you'll feel much better tomorrow."

Everyone held their food and sat around the roaring campfire, sharing an unprecedentedly delicious meal and telling ancient stories about the harvest from their respective hometowns.

"Uncle Shi Quan, come on, another bowl!" Tie Niu brought a steaming bowl of mutton soup to Shi Quan's side.

Shi Quan was staring blankly at the campfire when he was called out, and he suddenly came back to his senses. "Huh? Oh, oh, no... no, I'm full."

His reaction puzzled Tie Niu, but he didn't think much of it.

As the banquet was drawing to a close, Lin Yue, holding a cup of corn coffee, was about to go and talk to Shi Quan about the blacksmith shop's new plans when he found that Shi Quan's seat was already empty.

"Huh? Where's Uncle Stone Fist?" Lin Yue asked Amu, who was clearing away the dishes, with a puzzled look.

“Oh, Uncle,” Amu wiped the grease from the corner of his mouth and pointed in the direction of the blacksmith’s shop, “He just said that he seemed to have eaten too much and his stomach was a little uncomfortable, so he went back first. He also told us not to bother him and that he would be fine after resting for a while.”

"Is your stomach upset?" Lin Yue frowned.

A flicker of doubt crossed my mind, but looking at the still bustling scene around me, I thought maybe I was just overthinking it. Perhaps it really is because I'm getting older, and my digestive abilities aren't what they used to be?

He didn't delve any further, simply drank his corn coffee, and then turned to join the revelry.