Wang Lun carefully took the basin of water from Li Ling, feeling the still-warm water inside. He, Li Ling, and Liu Ruoling washed the bloodstains off their hands before stepping inside. Interestingly, although Wang Lun was the first to take the basin, he was actually the last to wash his hands.
The reason was simple: it was the dead of winter, and the cold outside was biting, so the warm water would cool down in no time. For Wang Lun, who was strong and had thick, rough skin, washing his hands with cold water was fine; but for the two girls, Li Ling and Liu Ruoling, the icy water was unbearable. So, Wang Lun was willing to wait until the very end to wash his hands.
After the two women finished washing, by the time it was Wang Lun's turn, the water in the basin had become rather cold. He didn't mind, quickly washed his hands, poured out the water, and then grabbed a handful of glistening snow, rubbing it vigorously in his palms to clean his hands instead of water. After all, the basin was slightly murky after the previous two women had used it, and Wang Lun felt it wasn't clean enough after a simple rinse.
Wang Lun and his two companions entered the house, where they saw Liu Ruoxi had already neatly arranged four large bowls on the table beside the hearth, waiting for them to enjoy the meal.
The time was somewhat awkward, neither too early nor too late, around 10 or 11 o'clock. It seemed a bit too late for breakfast, but too early for lunch. However, being stranded on a deserted island, having anything to eat was already a blessing; the distinction between breakfast and lunch was irrelevant. Besides, I had important business to attend to today, so eating a little later wouldn't hurt.
More importantly, the meat being eaten today is fresh, far superior to anything dried over a long period. Liu Ruoxi knew that everyone hadn't tasted such delicious meat in a long time, so she specially prepared extra. A large pot of steaming wolf offal soup sat on the table, mostly consisting of various wolf entrails, with relatively little broth. To ensure the soup remained warm and delicious, Liu Ruoxi deliberately chose to eat by the fire pit, placing the pot over it and simmering it slowly over a low flame to keep the soup warm.
A large platter of sliced offal lay neatly arranged on the table, emitting an enticing aroma. Above the fire pit, a stone slab, typically used for grilling delicious meats, was covered with slices of offal sizzling and roasting under the intense heat, releasing a mouthwatering scent.
Liu Ruoxi had considered everything very carefully. She was worried that the sliced offal would get cold and affect the taste, so she specially placed them on a stone slab to heat them up, so that everyone could enjoy the warm and delicious slices of offal.
The four people took their seats, each picking up their own bowl, ready to enjoy the sumptuous meal. Earlier, Liu Ruoxi had already served each of them a steaming bowl of wolf offal soup.
These bowls were also made together at the camp as winter approached. Each bowl has its own unique mark to identify its owner.
Wang Lun carved a small "Wang" character on the rim of his bowl, always referring to himself by his surname. Li Ling, on the other hand, cleverly drew a cute "0" on the rim, as "0" sounds like "Ling" in her name, making it seem playful and adorable. After a moment's thought, Liu Ruoxi decided to keep it simple, writing a concise "一" character directly on the rim of her bowl.
Initially, everyone was full of anticipation for their designs, imagining how these unique markings would appear on the bowls. However, when they actually started carving, they realized it wasn't so easy. Despite their different ideas, their skills were all rather lacking, making them veritable "clumsy craftsmen," unable to perfectly realize their initial ideas. Helpless, they could only simplify their plans, resulting in the simple and minimalist style they see today.
However, the most eye-catching piece was undoubtedly Liu Ruoling's bowl. She wasn't particularly interested in simple markings, so she had a flash of inspiration: she found a beautifully shaped leaf and gently pressed it against the bowl's surface. Miraculously, the leaf's veins were preserved clearly during the firing of the ceramic bowl. Compared to the others' somewhat rougher work, Liu Ruoling's bowl undoubtedly became the focus of everyone's attention, drawing envy from the other three. However, none of Wang Lun and the other two tried to imitate Liu Ruoling's method.
Back by the warm hearth, the four men each held their own large bowls, brimming with steaming food. They skillfully scooped delicious wolf offal from their bowls with chopsticks, occasionally taking a sip of the flavorful broth, then eagerly picking up a sizzling, fragrant piece of wolf offal from the stone slab and popping it into their mouths. This leisurely and carefree life was truly satisfying.
The only slight drawback was the lack of fresh vegetables on the table. A few refreshing and delicious vegetarian dishes would have made the picnic even more perfect. Even so, the happiness and joy they felt at that moment were enough to enchant them, allowing them to fully savor this precious time.
No problem, everyone can have some dried fruit after the meal. The previously dried banana slices, peach slices, and other fruits are all placed in a special basket. Eating a moderate amount every day will ensure that various nutrients are fully absorbed.
After finishing their meal, Wang Lun moved to a pit near the door, took out a handful of pine needles, and instructed Liu Ruoxi to brew a pot of pine needle tea for the four of them to relieve the greasiness after washing the pots and pans.
When Wang Lun was young, he once tried this while playing: he dug a hole, put pine needles in it, covered it with large leaves, and finally covered it with a layer of soil. The next time he went there, he dug up the soil and peeled off the leaves, and was surprised to find that the pine needles were intact, as if they had just been picked.
After giving his instructions, Wang Lun immediately threw himself into processing the wolf carcasses. Meanwhile, Liu Ruoling and Li Ling took a short break before getting back to work. The workload today was considerable—seven wolf carcasses lay before them! On average, each of them needed to dissect at least three to complete the task. At the current pace, without breaks, it would likely take another six hours; and if rest time was included, they might not finish until nightfall.
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