Chapter 21

【Recite the Sito website three times silently. Do you remember it? If not, I'll ask again in the next chapter. It's best to share it on Facebook.】

"Black Wind."

Zhao Xinyu's words were like an imperial edict. Black Wind's demeanor instantly wilted, and he obediently ran to Zhao Xinyu, rubbing his big head against Zhao Xinyu's leg, looking like a child who had done something wrong.

At this moment, the four frightened girls' eyes instantly showed surprise. They hadn't expected that the fierce dog from before would act so comically.

"You're really no fun. They all said they're fearless, and I just wanted Black Wind to scare them a bit," Du Mengnan pouted.

After saying this, Du Mengnan turned and pointed to the door, "What's going on? What did you do to make someone splash paint on it?"

Zhao Xinyu smiled wryly, "A few hooligans from the village. They wanted to take my vegetables for free, and when I refused, they caused trouble."

"Call the police."

"It's no use. By the way, why do you have time today?" Zhao Xinyu asked with a smile, remembering that Du Mengnan hadn't come over for a while after the last time she left with a watermelon.

"I was out on some errands those days. They just happened to come over, so I brought them to experience your rural life. I told you, they are my best friends. If you don't treat them well today, I won't recognize you as a friend."

The four girls, who had just recovered, exchanged glances. A girl who looked like a porcelain doll blinked her almond eyes, a strange smile appeared on her pretty face, and she sized up the simply dressed Zhao Xinyu, nodding like an old scholar.

"Looks good, but a bit thin. Mengmeng, is he your boyfriend?"

Du Mengnan's face turned red, and she pinched the girl, "Yumo, what are you talking about?"

Zhao Xinyu laughed awkwardly, "We're just friends. What do you want to eat?"

"Something different. I promised them."

Thinking about the four girls being Du Mengnan's best friends, and with only a few types of vegetables in his garden, he knew that although the taste would definitely attract them, it would still feel lacking.

"I'll make some barbecue for you."

"You can make barbecue?" Du Mengnan stared at Zhao Xinyu, her eyes showing a hint of disbelief. She knew Zhao Xinyu came from the countryside and had been working part-time while studying in Pengcheng for five years. She had thought he had good cooking skills, but didn't expect he could also make barbecue.

Although they hadn't known each other for long, she had some understanding of Zhao Xinyu. For him to abandon his skilled stir-frying and opt for barbecue meant he was very confident in his barbecue skills.

Zhao Xinyu chuckled, "Kids from the countryside, how many don't know how to barbecue?"

It was true. With poor conditions in the village, children often caught mountain chickens and wild rabbits to barbecue. Zhao Xinyu also had a grandfather who was a skilled cook and often taught him, making his barbecue skills quite good. In those days, when he and his playmates went into the mountains, all the mountain chickens and wild rabbits were prepared by him.

"What do you need? I'll have Jiamin send it over."

Thinking about how Jiamin was a senior executive at the Pengcheng Hotel, a five-star hotel, the ingredients there would definitely be of higher quality than those sold outside.

"Ten unmarinated chickens and ducks, three rabbits, and I'll prepare the seasonings myself. If you have pine wood, get some of that too."

Du Mengnan was taken aback, "You're taking advantage of the situation. Can these few people eat so much?"

Zhao Xinyu laughed, "You forgot, there are over ten people who eat here every day. I'm worried it won't be enough. Don't worry, I'll deduct it when I deliver the vegetables next time."

Du Mengnan rolled her eyes, took out her phone, and called Jiamin. Zhao Xinyu found some stools, but Yumo and the others followed Du Mengnan to the melon field.

While Zhao Xinyu was preparing, Jiamin arrived with ten cleaned chickens, ten rabbits, and the workers left. However, Jiamin stayed behind.

"Zhao Xinyu, these aren't ordinary chickens and rabbits. They are wild mountain chickens and wild rabbits," Jiamin said in a soft voice after the workers left.

Zhao Xinyu was slightly taken aback. He knew that the region had policies prohibiting the private hunting of wild animals, and mountain chickens and wild rabbits were included. Villagers occasionally hunting a few was fine, but if the Pengcheng Hotel sold them, it would be...

Seeing Zhao Xinyu's expression, Jiamin giggled, "Don't worry, these mountain chickens and wild rabbits are actually raised artificially, but they live in the wild."

Zhao Xinyu shook his head, placed the mountain chickens and wild rabbits in the space water to soak, and sprinkled the prepared seasonings in the water. This was just the initial step. Soaking would release any remaining blood and allow the seasonings to penetrate.

An hour later, he took out the mountain chickens and wild rabbits, evenly coated them with the prepared marinade, and then set up the pine wood Jiamin had brought in front of the door.

Around eleven, Zhao Xinyu lit the pine wood and began to clean and marinate the mountain chickens and wild rabbits, washing off the marinade. He then skewered them with the special barbecue skewers Jiamin had brought.

While he was doing this, the pine wood had lost its intense flames, and only a faint blue smoke rose from the fire. At this point, Zhao Xinyu placed the skewered mountain chickens over the fire.

A few minutes later, a sizzling sound began, and the skin of the mountain chickens started to turn yellow. Drops of golden oil fell into the fire, instantly filling the air with the aroma of meat.

As the meat aroma spread, Zhao Xinyu grabbed the seasonings and evenly sprinkled them on the mountain chickens. The aroma became even more intense, spreading around.

The meat aroma attracted Black Wind, who was playing with the chickens and ducks in the vegetable field. He ran over and lay beside Zhao Xinyu, his eyes fixed on the turning mountain chickens, drooling.

Zhao Xinyu kept turning the mountain chickens and continuously applying the seasonings. As the golden oil dripped into the fire, the meat aroma became even more intense.

Sitting under the grape arbor, Du Mengnan and the others were finally attracted by the meat aroma. Although they hadn't tasted it, they were already swallowing their saliva.

Seeing the mountain chickens turn golden, Du Mengnan swallowed her saliva, "Zhao Xinyu, are they ready? We're hungry."

"Almost, just a few more minutes," Zhao Xinyu said, pressing the mountain chickens a few times and then applying more seasonings.

As the meat aroma spread again, he took a skewered wild rabbit and placed it over the fire.

Ten minutes later, the mountain chickens turned from golden to a dark brown. Zhao Xinyu applied more seasonings and pressed the mountain chickens a few times.

"Get a plate."

As he spoke, a large iron plate was already extended in front of him, making Zhao Xinyu smile. He placed the mountain chickens on the plate and immediately began to turn the wild rabbit.

Under the grape arbor, Du Mengnan, Jiamin, and the other four girls, who had no ladylike demeanor at the moment, almost simultaneously reached for the mountain chickens as soon as Du Mengnan placed the plate on the table. In an instant, the mountain chicken was divided into six pieces, and they didn't even care about the heat, biting into it immediately. The wait had felt so long, and now they couldn't resist.

One bite, and the six of them were momentarily stunned. The mountain chicken was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with no greasy feeling. This one bite gave them a tremendous sensory shock, making them wish they could swallow their tongues.

In less than five minutes, a three- to four-pound mountain chicken was completely devoured, and they couldn't resist licking the oil from their fingers.

Unable to resist the temptation of the meat aroma, they almost simultaneously stood up and headed toward Zhao Xinyu's barbecue area, forgetting that their faces and hands were covered in oil.

Zhao Xinyu, who was barbecuing, heard the footsteps, turned his head, and was taken aback, a strange smile appearing on his face.

"What are you looking at? Hurry up," Du Mengnan said in a soft voice, her eyes fixed on the yellowing wild rabbit.

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