108: Chapter 102: Meat Worm_2 108: Chapter 102: Meat Worm_2 Everyone understood that relying on the government relief would not last long; they had all seen this during previous famines when many refugees initially received rice and grain from the government but, over time, without proper arrangements, countless ended up either starving to death or reduced to begging.

“Come and take a look!” Zhou Haitao shouted with all his might, “The Imperial Court is recruiting soldiers, three thousand this time.

They are looking for those who are strong and ideally skilled in martial arts.

The pay is the same as before, ten silver taels a month, with enough dry grain and meat supplied.

If you want to sign up, you’d better hurry!”

This offer initially excited many people.

With the current situation, there were plenty of strong-bodied individuals.

If they could join the army and have their meals provided by the Imperial Court, it would be a form of security.

However, when they heard that they would have to go to the countryside for relief work again, most people hesitated.

The terror of those zombies had been experienced firsthand.

Many had seen their own family members bitten to death.

The thought of going back to fight those monsters discouraged many from summoning the courage.

Still, there were some valiant souls who, driven by the tragic deaths of their loved ones, were eager to fight the zombies, wishing to annihilate them completely.

And now, with the assurance of a salary, what was there to fear?

And so, gradually, over a thousand people registered.

Gu Bei watched enthusiastically as the young recruits wrote down their names, but he was puzzled.

As the number of soldiers increased, Ma Erniang had already slaughtered all the pigs in the countryside, and these past days, to supply the city gate soldiers, not even meat porridge was sold to the public.

With so many new recruits, how would they fulfill the promise of meat with every tael?

While pondering this, suddenly a rich aroma drifted over from a distance.

Gu Bei was taken aback, forgetting to continue the registration for a moment, and turned his head to look.

He saw Ma Erniang and her group rushing over with large buckets, the scent from which was unmistakable: it was the smell of meat!

“Erniang, what good stuff have you got there?” Gu Bei quickly got up to help, his belly’s cravings kindled by the smell.

He hadn’t eaten meat for days to ensure the others were cared for—could Erniang have found a fat pig somewhere else?

Amidst the curiosity, they opened the bucket and poured out strips of fried, golden-brown meat onto the wooden plates prepared in advance.

The rich scent of meat immediately made everyone’s mouth water.

“What is this?” Gu Bei swallowed his saliva, “Fish?

Didn’t the Magistrate say fish from the river shouldn’t be eaten now?”

“Not fish, bug meat!” Ma Erniang wiped her sweat and said.

“Bugs?” The crowd was instantly stunned, staring blankly at the big strips on the plate.

These things…

were bugs?

What kind of bug was so large?

But as soon as they realized it was bugs, the strong urge to eat from many dwindled significantly.

“These are no ordinary bugs,” Ma Erniang explained hastily.

“These are spiritual bugs blessed by the Mountain God, not only delicious but also effective for replenishing qi and enriching blood.” She said this as she took out a knife and cut one of them open.

The golden-brown crust parted to reveal meat that looked better than expected—fatty and juicy like beef, the juices overflowing, once again igniting everyone’s appetite!

When the crowd heard it was a blessing from the Mountain God, many of them calmed down.

The temple for Nan Mountain’s God had already been established, and since it occasionally bestowed Spiritual Liquid, capable of curing all sorts of ailments, it had won the hearts of many.

Those wealthy enough to have contributed to the temple’s construction visited daily, and believers in the Mountain God were not a few in Lyuzhou City.

“Who wants to try?” Ma Erniang smiled invitingly.

At this offer, most were still hesitant; despite the tempting appearance, they still had some psychological barriers to overcome when faced with eating such a large bug.

“Let me try!”

As the crowd hesitated, surprisingly, an elder was the first to speak up.

When people looked, they were astonished to discover that the speaker was an elderly official school master, attired in a long robe and exuding an aura of refined scholarship!

“Oh, is that you, Master Yang?” Gu Bei cooperated by rising to his feet, inviting him over with respect: “What brings you here, sir?”

Upon hearing that a learned master was willing to eat this, the crowd was instantly energized.

If even a scholar didn’t mind, what point was there in fussing over it themselves?

Suddenly, several burly men stepped forward, eager to try as well.

“Here, Master, have a taste first,” Ma Erniang enthusiastically cut a small piece, dipped it in specially-made chili powder, and handed it over.

Master Yang took it, examined it for a few moments, and then bit into it.

As soon as the meat entered his mouth, his eyes widened in astonishment.

After chewing thoughtfully, he immediately nodded in delight, “Good, good, good!”

As he spoke, he asked Ma Erniang for another piece.

“Sir, how does it taste?” the nearby burly men eagerly asked.

“The meat is fatty yet firm.

I thought it would be like fish, but to my surprise, it’s more like beef, full of chewiness.

I almost thought I was eating beef shank,” he replied.

“Oh?

Is it that marvelous?” The burly men could no longer hold back their curiosity.

After all, beef was something ordinary folk might not taste even once in their lives.

After each trying a piece of the meat cut by Ma Erniang, they immediately praised it repeatedly and expressed a desire for another piece.

Suddenly, the crowd, previously just onlookers, cast aside their hesitation and clamored to try, creating an incredibly lively scene.

“There’s enough for everyone, no need to shove, form a queue, form a queue,” Ma Erniang said with a beaming smile as she busied herself.

She had been worried about her livelihood, with all the pork from her village sold out.

She never expected Aunt Chen’s suggestion, prompted by the Magistrate’s son, to bring her such a load of “meat bugs” and recommend selling them.

At first, the sight of the large bugs startled her, and she hesitated, thinking who would eat such a thing?

But after trying them herself, she knew they would be a hit.

Good gracious, she thought, when will the Magistrate say there’s a ‘bug farm’?

I must contract several more acres.

This could turn into a great business.

————————————–

Meanwhile, Master Yang, who was one of the first to taste the meat, had at some point brought a plate of bug meat to a teahouse nearby.

Seated in the teahouse were fellow Official School Masters from Luling County, fortunate enough to have been saved.

They couldn’t resist picking up their chopsticks at the sight of the fragrant, succulent bug meat.

“You old fellow, aligning rather well with your student,” one of the masters commented as he picked up a piece with his chopsticks and placed it in his mouth, his eyes lighting up instantly, “Mmm, not bad at all!

I thought you were exaggerating with your loud praises earlier, but this bug meat truly is as savory as beef.”

“Right?” Master Yang replied with a smile, “Even if I didn’t help, this meat worm will be promoted eventually.

I’m just doing a little favor while going with the flow.”

“Hahaha!” The other masters laughed heartily, although one shook his head, “True, the meat is excellent, but it’s a shame there’s no wine to accompany it, a regret indeed.”

“Thinking about wine at a time like this?” the others chided, “Be glad there’s food to eat.”

Whether Lyuzhou Academy would remain open, and whether these old masters would have food to eat, were uncertainties, and yet here they were, pondering over wine.

“What a coincidence, Masters.”

Just as they were enjoying their meal, a sinister voice suddenly interrupted them.

The masters frowned and turned to look, their hearts skipping a beat.

It was Lyu Yiqi, of all people.

In broad daylight, Lyu Yiqi somehow cast an eerie presence.

“I happen to have some wine here.

Would the Masters honor me with a seat to drink together?” Lyu Yiqi asked, smiling at them.