The blizzard lasted for a long time, and the cabin was shaking all the time. The wind was howling day and night, and the snow was still hitting the walls and roof, making a whistling sound. The wooden boards near the window were covered with white frost.
Sometimes, oil lamps need to be lit in the house during the day, otherwise the light is too dim.
Several dogs were allowed to stay inside, as they might get frostbite if left outdoors in such cold weather.
In the cedar forest where there is a shortage of clothing and medicine, frostbite is a very troublesome problem.
The old hunter had a sufficient supply of food, mainly various meats and fish.
Su Nian quickly took over the task of cooking.
In the cedar forest, there are also generous gifts from nature, namely matsutake mushrooms and pine seeds.
When Su Nian saw the large and plump cedar nuts for the first time, she exclaimed with joy. After cracking them open, the kernels were plump and sweet, making them a great way to kill time.
Matsutake is a top-quality ingredient. In high-end Michelin restaurants, it is sold at a price as high as gold.
In the old hunter's cabin, matsutake is an extremely common ingredient.
The old hunter once hunted a deer in the autumn. Su Nian cleaned the venison, cut it into chestnut-sized pieces, and then put it into the soup pot to cook with matsutake mushrooms.
It didn't take long for the soup pot to emit an enticing aroma. At this time, Su Nian asked for Chu Beichen's vodka and poured a little into the soup pot, but only one or two sips.
This little bit of liquor put into the pot immediately acted like a catalyst, turning the original aroma of the venison soup into a rich fragrance.
"Oh...using wine in this way does seem to improve the taste of the soup, but this is too extravagant. Wine is hard to come by, and we can't waste precious wine for a meal!" The old hunter protested seriously.
Su Nian smiled and assured that she would only use it this once.
Soon the thick venison and matsutake soup was ready, and the side dish was grilled fish.
There are no extra ingredients added to the grilled fish. Just clean the deep-sea fish, apply a thin layer of oil on it, and then bake it directly in the oven.
When the fish is almost cooked, put matsutake and other mushrooms in the oven, as well as some chopped radish, and sprinkle with a handful of salt after taking it out of the pan.
The old hunter discovered that although the cooking ingredients had not changed, the taste of the food had improved qualitatively due to Su Nian's skillful cooking.
Everyone enjoyed the meal very much. Afterwards, they washed the pots and bowls with water melted from the snow. The old hunter then took the oil lamp and led the two people up to the attic.
There is an extremely low wooden bed in the attic. The bed is not big, but it can accommodate two people to rest. The key point is that the chimney of the fireplace is next to the bed.
The fireplace will not go out all night, and its heat will go up through the chimney to ensure that people resting in the attic will also be warm.
"You guys sleep in the attic at night, and the dog and I will sleep downstairs," the old hunter left the oil lamp behind and went downstairs.
The space in the attic was very small, and the tall Chu Beichen would always hit his head whenever he stood up to do anything.
Su Nian took charge of all the work with a smile.
The small bed was covered with a straw mat and a layer of bear skin, which was soft and warm. Su Nian took out the thin blankets that she and Chu Beichen used, combined the two into one, and used it as a quilt.
After arranging everything, the two of them lay down on the simple wooden bed, which was quite warm.
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