CHAPTER 169: CORN BUNS

The grilling on the cast-iron griddle was very fast.

A group of starving Snow Wolves surrounded it, their eyes shining brightly, full of anticipation, waiting to be fed. The rich aroma filled the air, making everyone impatient.

Meanwhile, Eric wasn’t idle either. He took some octopus tentacles into the house, using the iron pot on the indoor stove to make spicy stir-fried octopus.

He cut the octopus meat for the stir-fry into small, bite-sized pieces. When taking the pot off the fire, he sprinkled some chopped green onions and a few bright red dried chili threads on top. The red chili threads, dotted against the white meat and green onions, looked extremely appealing. The spicy, pungent aroma hit the nose directly, making one’s mouth water just from the sight.

Evan was still sitting at the dining table, leisurely enjoying the grilled dish. His movements were graceful and elegant, as if he were attending a state banquet, a complete contrast to the heaped, flavorful plate of grilled meat in front of him.

Eric brought the spicy stir-fried octopus to the table, then leaned his head through the window and called out loudly: "Everyone, come inside and eat, it’s warmer in here."

Kevin quickly carried two large plates of octopus meat inside first, and the others followed one by one. Once there was food, no one paid any more attention to the "chef" Sam, who was in the yard, both complaining and delighted, continuing to fry batch after batch.

The dough proofing on the earthen bed had now risen. Eric sprinkled a layer of dry flour on the cutting board, turned the dough out, and kneaded it forcefully to press out all the air.

While kneading, he suddenly remembered he forgot to add sugar. He salvaged it by dividing the dough into equal portions, then wrapping sugar inside, shaping them into round, neat sugar buns.

Childhood memories flooded back. When he was young, he often ate steamed corn buns that were dry and had a sour, hard-to-swallow taste. It wasn’t until much later, when finances improved, that his grandmother started mixing white wheat flour with the cornmeal.

The buns, steamed after proofing, had the characteristic aroma of corn and were also fluffy, soft, and delicious. That rustic and sweet flavor, Eric could eat three at a time without any side dishes.

The aroma of corn in this world was even richer. After mixing with the breadfruit flour, the color of the dough also lightened slightly. The small buns were shaped, arranged neatly on the steamer, and soon puffed up, becoming round and plump.

As the buns began to cook, the sweet, gentle fragrance of grains rose with the steam and spread everywhere. The light aroma, completely different from the familiar smell of grilled meat, made the Snow Wolves involuntarily gather around the pot.

Sam, still holding the iron spatula in the yard, ran in sniffing: "It smells so good! How is this even more fragrant than the wheat buns Eric made before!"

Amid everyone’s expectant gazes, the buns were finally cooked. Eric lifted the lid, revealing round, white, plump buns that looked extremely fluffy inside.

The buns, made from two types of flour and filled with sugar, had a very special sweet fragrance. Eric steamed two full racks, giving one to each person.

"Breadfruit and corn can actually be eaten this way. The taste isn’t bad," Evan said thoughtfully, taking a bite of the bun.

The Snow Wolves beside them weren’t so reserved. Some quick ones had already devoured the bun in two or three bites, licking their lips and savoring the aftertaste.

"Sweet, soft, and fragrant."

[Devouring it in two or three bites like that, like swallowing a ginseng fruit whole, could they really taste anything?] Eric thought doubtfully, while the bun in his hand was still untouched.

Kevin took a large bite, and the hot, sweet sugar filling immediately oozed out. He quickly bowed his head and slurped it up, not letting a single drop go to waste.

"This bun is delicious! So corn can also be made into flour, and it’s so fragrant," Michael keenly smelled the corn in it.

Max ate very quickly but not sloppily. He said concisely: "Plant more corn next year."

The other warriors didn’t know what corn was, but that didn’t stop them from nodding vigorously in agreement. For delicious food like this, of course, the more the better.

Sam’s mouth was stuffed full, unable to speak, he could only "mm-hmm" and nod in response.

"Brother, what delicious thing are you making!"

Leo ran back, out of breath. His clear voice rang out before he was even seen. Following behind him were Flower and several other cubs.

Eric told them to wash their hands, then gave each of them a bun. He carefully wrapped the rest in a cloth bag, telling Flower to bring them to Grass and Jessica to try later.

Just eating this much was definitely not enough to fill the stomachs of the Snow Wolf warriors. After finishing the delicious food, they trudged back to the cafeteria.

Everyone silently memorized the sweet taste of the bun, and their anticipation for farming next year grew even stronger.

Eric had said that if they started farming next year, they could eat as many buns like this as they wanted.

Max and a few others stayed behind; that giant octopus was more than enough to feed them.

Michael had nothing to do and didn’t want to go home either. He habitually ignored Max’s unconcealed look of annoyance and lazily sprawled out on Eric’s earthen bed.

"Next year, our family must build a house exactly like this. It’s too comfortable."

Michael’s house was just a temporary animal-hide tent. In winter, the wind blew in from all sides, making it cold and damp. The sleeping place was just a mat woven from dried grass; when it was very cold, an extra layer of animal hide was spread on top.

How could it compare to Eric’s new house, which was sturdy against the wind and bright inside. The warm and comfortable earthen bed was one thing, but just the large, light-filled window alone was enough to make all the Snow Wolves die of admiration.

The reason they preferred to stay outdoors even in winter was that they couldn’t stand the dark, stuffy feeling indoors.

In short, ever since Eric built his new house, all the Snow Wolves in the tribe had secretly made plans to build a spacious house just like it next year.

Eric’s original intention was to set an example, to lead the tribe members to build a new residential area, abandoning the temporary tents and damp earthen houses. Now that even someone like Michael was saying this, it seemed his goal had been achieved.

The Snow Wolves’ strength was immense, and their claws were sharper than most weapons. Whether for farming or construction, they were all excellent craftsmen.

[If this were his previous life, countless black-hearted bosses would be fighting over them.] Eric thought to himself.

No wonder beastmen were so formidable, yet mercenary groups still risked danger to steal their cubs.

It was just a pity that the beastmen had not yet developed their own civilization, still living mainly by hunting. The tribes were fragmented, and despite possessing such great power, their lives were extremely harsh.

Thinking of this, he couldn’t help but be silently grateful to Thomas for rescuing the Du tribe. Without those wonderfully skilled craftsmen, his house couldn’t have been built.

After all, Eric was just a clumsy person who only knew theory but had never put it into practice.

Leo, full from eating, also rolled onto the earthen bed to play, while Evan found a quiet corner to meditate.

According to him, his magical power had dropped to the level of an apprentice mage since his injury, and he needed to cultivate constantly to have a chance of recovering.

Max helped Eric carry coal into the house from the yard.

Now that Eric was back, Luci was more at ease, so she declined Eric’s invitation to stay and went home. Max did not go back with his mother but continued to stay at Eric’s house.

Perhaps because he had become too used to communal living during the journey, he didn’t find it troublesome for them to stay at his house now.

Anyway, Evan was already here, so adding two more people didn’t matter.

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