Chapter 188 Exquisite Skinning Techniques
After the poplar seeds were sown, it was already noon, and the old steward promptly built a temporary earthen hut for rest.
Zuo Shan took out the meat and meat grinder he carried with him and began to busy himself making sausages.
Seeing that she made no attempt to hide anything, the old housekeeper looked heartbroken and said, "You silly girl, you shouldn't just casually display this long-lost culinary skill in front of outsiders."
“I didn’t just show it to outsiders. You and Madam Gu are family. If you’re interested, I can write down the recipe for you,” Zuo Shan said with a smile.
"Are you saying that because we're all old and don't have many days left to live, you're not worried about us stealing your secret recipe?" Old Madam Gu joked.
"No, I was thinking that if Grandpa Butler learns how to make it, he can cook it for you in the future!" Zuo Shan said.
"Hmph! He's a plant killer and a kitchen killer. He can't do anything except build houses!" Old Madam Gu looked at the old housekeeper with disdain.
“Arong, that’s not quite right. I can also forge weapons! Although I’m not a metal-attribute ability user and the swords and blades I forge can’t compare to those of a true weapon-forging master, everyone used to praise the other things I forged,” the old butler argued.
"Really? Then, Grandpa Butler, can you craft armor?" Zuo Shan immediately became interested.
"Of course! Back then, my leatherworking skills were the best in the entire 40th district! Whenever the mercenary group hunted a mutated beast, they would send it to me for help immediately!" The old butler looked like he was reminiscing about his heroic days.
"Hmph! They're just taking advantage of you! You only charge them 70% of the processing fee each time, saving them at least a million, right?"
"If it weren't for that time they took a damaged fourth-tier mutated brown bear pelt from you and then falsely accused you of ruining the good pelt when they came to pick it up, you'd probably still be working like a slave for them!" Old Madam Gu rolled her eyes at him.
"Oh dear! Ah Rong, you remember all this old stuff so clearly!" the old steward said, slightly embarrassed.
Zuo Shan originally wanted to ask him for help, but now things are not so easy.
Madam Gu hurriedly smiled and said, "Little Fan, you want Ah Zhong to help you make armor, right? Quickly take out the things! Although Ah Zhong swore he would never take on weapon-refining business again after that, you are family, so helping you doesn't count."
"Yes, yes, just thinking about refining weapons makes my hands itch! Hurry up and bring out the tools!" the old steward said, rubbing his hands together with great interest.
Seeing this, Zuo Shan didn't dare to be coy anymore and directly took out the large female crocodile.
"A fourth-tier mutated black caiman?! It still retains the aura of that young master Bai who came to our house last time. His ability level is quite high!" the old butler blurted out.
"It's more than just not low-end; with such a friend helping you, why would you still go out to scavenge in the wild?" Old Madam Gu probed.
"Relying on others is not a long-term solution, and friends also need to reciprocate each other's hospitality."
I know this mutated female crocodile is quite valuable, so I plan to refine its skin into armor and its meat into delicious food, and then give it all to Xiaobai and the others. If they don't accept it, I will sell it on the Ninth Forum and transfer the money to them.
However, I checked the posts on the Ninth Forum, and only armor crafted by master craftsmen would not waste such good materials.
"Unfortunately, there are no master craftsmen in District 48, so I would like to ask Grandpa Butler to help me craft the armor. I will pay the crafting fee at the market price." Zuo Shan said frankly.
"I won't charge any production fees. I swore long ago that I would never take on a weapon-refining business. I only took this job because I consider you family."
"Besides, didn't you just give us 30% of the plantation's shares? I believe that with your abilities, you'll definitely make a lot of money in the future," the old steward said.
“In that case, let’s forge a set of armor for each of you, Hanhan and the other two. If you have fourth-tier crocodile skin armor, you’ll be safer if you encounter any emergencies next time,” Zuo Shan said.
She couldn't bear to let someone work for free, especially an elderly person of such advanced age.
"Alright. But I think we should forge a suit of armor for our baby Achen first. He's the weakest of us all." The old butler smiled as he looked at the baby in the crib, who was blinking and listening to his mother talking to someone.
Ah Chen: Baby isn't the weakest!
The frozen female crocodile, exposed to the midday sun, quickly had its skin melt and soften. The old butler nodded in satisfaction at the freshness of the skin.
Next, Zuo Shan saw him take out a specially made knife from the spatial button, along with a pair of extremely thin and well-fitting leather gloves.
Next, Zuo Shan was stunned by what he saw!
Skinning is inherently a bloody and cruel task, but when the old butler skinned the crocodile, his technique was so skillful and effortless that it reminded Zuo Shan of the ancient Chinese text "The Butcher's Skill in Carving an Ox"—
Wherever the hand touches, wherever the shoulder leans, wherever the foot steps, wherever the knee bends, there is a whooshing sound, a swift sound, a swift sound, and everything is in perfect harmony.
It felt like the old butler wasn't peeling skin, but dancing between soul and body; it was like an artist displaying his unique charm on his own stage.
Even the clean-freak Zuo Shan couldn't resist wanting to become his student and learn anatomy from him.
The little girl, Pandora, gaped wide, her eyes filled with adoration. She even unconsciously softened her breathing, afraid of disturbing his rhythm.
After making the final cut, the old butler looked with satisfaction at the expressions of the two young girls who were deeply impressed by him: "How about it? I'm not so old that I can't move, am I?"
"Grandpa Butler, it would be a shame if you didn't take on an apprentice to pass on your skills," Zuo Shan finally managed to say after a long pause.
"You two young girls are not suited to do such bloody things," the old butler said with a regretful expression.
He had a very good impression of the two girls. If one of them had a boy, he would take him on as a disciple even if the boy didn't ask to become his apprentice.
“But I started scavenging in the wild when I was three years old. The children in District 50, regardless of gender, are all equally capable of enduring hardship,” Pan Duole said.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
