I must not let those master birdcage makers see my birdcage, otherwise they will be dumbfounded, wondering if this thing can be made like this.
This birdcage is like a beautiful painting. I made two small holes in it with a nail, then framed it with hemp rope and hung it on the wall that was blackened by the smoke of cured meat.
I shaved three round bamboo strips into smaller pieces to make a cage door that could let the chicks in and out.
Then I put some dry grass and the duck feathers I had plucked from the wild ducks in the cage. The down was very warm, so I rolled it into the shape of a nest, and an artificial bird's nest was made.
I piled up the remaining duck feathers so they would be more comfortable sleeping inside.
They put the pheasants inside one by one, then made a full-coverage cover out of banana leaves and put a piece of hemp rope through the beam as a cage hook.
Looking at the birdcage, it seems like it's time to plan on building a suitable home for my little ones.
It's already quite late now; I only discovered the chicks hatched this afternoon. So I haven't even had time to cook dinner and have been here making cages for the chicks.
Top played with me here for a while, but then he saw that I was just making that lousy thing and wasn't planning on cooking.
It got tired of staying there, so I told Top that if he was hungry, he could go to my warehouse and get some dried fish to eat.
I don't know if it ate too much dried fish and didn't want to eat anymore, or if it was because I had these chicks and was showing favoritism, but this guy climbed back into his shed without looking back.
However, I know that Top has its own food reserves, so its visit to me is like a friend coming to visit. As long as it wants, it can still have food on its own.
It's just that the flavors aren't as varied as the ones I make.
It seems I'll have to reconnect with Top tomorrow; this old friend has been a great help to me lately.
The chicks just hatched today, and the egg yolks inside can provide them with nutrition for 24 hours, so there's no need to feed them today.
I made a small water cup out of a banana leaf, put some water in it, and then put it in the cage for them to drink.
They didn't seem to drink much; they only took a few sips before running away, huddling together in a ball. These things really do have their own biological clocks; they're going to sleep now.
Seeing that they weren't drinking water, and worried that the water would spill out, I took out the banana leaves inside.
I'm too lazy to cook anymore, since I have some cured and smoked duck anyway.
So I took a wild duck of suitable size from the shelf, and by the light of the torch, I went to the water's edge and used a pot made of plant fiber to scrub the black ash off the duck meat.
I skewered a wooden stick through the duck, which had been smoked until it was a deep reddish-brown color, and started roasting it by the fire.
This dried smoked duck has a fresh and fragrant flavor, similar to the roast duck sold on the street, but with a unique smoky taste and a chewier texture.
Although the smoked duck is smoked at a low temperature, the meat is already about 50-60% cooked. Now, it just needs a simple roasting, and the aroma fills the air, with the duck's own oil sizzling out.
I blew on the slightly scalding hot duck meat and called out to the treetops not far away, "Top, do you want to come down and have some? I roasted a duck."
After waiting for a while, a figure peeked into my field of vision. At this moment, Top's eyes were fixed on my roast duck, which was sizzling and dripping with oil.
I greeted it with a smile and invited it in. It seemed that it had already smelled the aroma when I was roasting the duck, but it didn't come down as usual because it was too proud to do so.
Top hesitated for a second, then came directly to my side and stared at me expectantly.
There's nothing an animal can't win over with a good meal; if there is, then treat it to two meals.
I twisted off a fragrant, crispy duck leg and handed it to Top with a smile. This was the first time I had ever roasted duck, so Top had never eaten anything like it before.
Top took the duck leg from my hand and took a bite. Instantly, its monkey eyes lit up. It was clear that it was once again impressed by the strange and wonderful flavor I had created.
Soon Top pointed to the duck leg in his hand and grinned at me, clearly very satisfied with the food.
I smiled and nodded back. Animals are just that simple-minded. One second they might be angry, and the next second they might be happily coming back to your side.
I then brought out a jug of wine, and by this time Top had already learned to drink. As soon as he saw me take out the wine, he immediately and familiarly went to the place where the tumbler glasses were and took out two glasses.
Top handed me a glass, then looked at my flask and held out his hand.
For some reason, Top was very interested in the act of pouring wine. After only a few tries, it had completely mastered the art of pouring wine, filling it to the perfect fullness without spilling.
I let it play as it pleases, and usually it ends up pouring my drinks.
I smiled and handed the flask to Top, who gladly accepted it. He then slowly poured a glass of wine into my hand before filling his own.
Then Top grinned and raised his glass to me. Since I often toast with Top, the monkey subconsciously thought that doing this before drinking would make me happier.
This monkey has really mastered the etiquette of drinking at the table, but I wonder what its companions will think when they see it.
Not wanting to spoil Top's fun, I smiled and clinked glasses with him, then downed my drink in one gulp. Top took a bite of duck meat, then also raised his glass and downed his drink in one go.
Looking at my life now, it's the direction I once dreamed of. Life isn't about great wealth or high status, but about being carefree, happy, and unrestrained.
Now that wish has come true, but I'm now the only one in the world facing and enjoying this kind of life. The only one who can keep me company is probably this intelligent monkey in front of me.
I shook my head, trying to shake off the unpleasant thoughts. I held out my glass to Top and said, "Here you go, Top, another one."
Top was happy to take on the task, quickly pouring me another glass of wine, and then turning to pour himself one.
Seeing that Top had almost finished his duck leg, I tore off the other duck leg in my hand and handed it to Top.
Top didn't stand on ceremony with me, taking two bites off the duck leg in his hand and then taking the duck leg from my hand to continue gnawing on it.
I downed the wine in my glass in one gulp, then picked up the whole roast duck and started to devour it. As I ate, my thoughts gradually drifted away.
The wine in my cup is never finished, nor can I forget the sorrows of the past...
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com