Chapter 93

Today, Lin Bei was still leading the hunters to Elephant Valley.

The white elephant had still not returned, seemingly vanished without a trace, which puzzled Lin Bei greatly. However, despite his curiosity, Lin Bei did not delve into it further. For him, the most important thing at the moment was to capture the elephants, and he would deal with other matters after the elephants were caught.

After yesterday's capture, the hunters were clearly more proficient today, and their preparations were more thorough. By the time they returned in the evening, they had caught five elephants—four large and one small. The small elephant had broken its leg and needed a veterinarian to treat it first.

Since Lin Bei had said he would use 'sorcery' to turn the elephants' waste into treasure, An Zhongzhi was not worried and accepted it very readily.

"How is the construction of the biogas pit going?" Lin Bei asked about the progress of the biogas pit.

"Sir, the pit has been dug, but achieving what you mentioned is not easy. The craftsmen are currently trying to figure it out," An Zhongzhi replied. Digging the pit was easy, but sealing the biogas pit was the difficult part, and An Zhongzhi had no experience with it, so he had to rely on the craftsmen to find a solution.

"Tell them to hurry up. Also, have a specialist handle the waste from the elephants. Once the biogas pit is ready, put the waste into the pit."

"Sir, there is too much waste; it won't fit."

"Yes, that's why I'm telling you to hurry. But you might think there's too much waste now, but once the first biogas pit is built, the entire Xishan Township will need to build biogas pits. Then you'll worry about not having enough waste."

An Zhongzhi still didn't understand what Lin Bei was planning, and why the biogas pit was so important. However, since Lin Bei had said so, An Zhongzhi just needed to do his job. After all, so far, Lin Bei had only brought benefits to Xishan Township, hadn't he?

"I hope that day comes soon," An Zhongzhi said with a smile.

"You worry about having too much waste now, but you'll worry about having too little waste later," Lin Bei said confidently.

Once the biogas pits were widespread in Xishan Township, the ability to cook directly with biogas would be enough to amaze the ancients. Considering that natural gas is still mainstream in modern times, it would be even more significant in ancient times. With a little promotion, people from Hepu County would likely come to learn from them. At that time, the biogas pits could also become a business, providing a comfortable life for the people of Xishan Township.

At the same time, no one would complain about the elephants eating too much. In fact, people might even complain that the elephants weren't eating enough.

Having accomplished several tasks, Lin Bei was in a good mood, so he prepared to treat the laborers again, letting them eat more fatty foods. Considering the large number of people, Lin Bei had caught wild buffaloes this time.

Beef, whether in modern or ancient times, is considered a high-quality food. Although it is not as good as venison, it is rare for farmers to eat it. Seeing the three wild buffaloes Lin Bei had dragged back and hearing that the dinner would be buffalo meat, the laborers' cheers almost shook the sky.

Killing the buffaloes was not Lin Bei's job; the laborers had skilled hands. Butchers and hunters among them were very proficient at slaughtering such wild animals. The buffalo hides and horns would be kept, but the internal organs were discarded, which Lin Bei found a bit wasteful. In modern times, many people enjoy eating offal, which is the internal organs of the buffalo. Lin Bei didn't particularly like it but didn't mind it either.

A roaring fire was lit, and dozens of large pots were filled with water and brought to a boil. Because of the large number of people, roasting was not an option; they had to cook the meat. This wild buffalo, when cooked with a little seasoning, would be quite delicious. Adding some wild vegetables would make it a delicacy, and even the soup would be fragrant.

The moon had already risen above the treetops, and the smell of the buffalo gradually became more intense. Hundreds of people were divided into several groups, sitting around the bonfires, enjoying the aroma, and talking loudly. Some even stood up to sing and dance, creating a lively atmosphere.

Compared to the wildness of the laborers, Lin Bei's side was much quieter. After all, the people sitting here were the top figures in Xishan Township, and the dining standards were the highest, with bowls, basins, and various seasonings.

Bian Ji, An Zhongzhi, Cui Lan, and Zhen Ding sat at the head of the table, talking quietly. Lin Bei mostly just listened.

Cui Lan's eyes suddenly lit up. "Sister Feng, come sit here."

Feng Xiaoniang was about to add water to the large pot on Lin Bei's side. Hearing this, she gently shook her head and smiled, refusing. Feng Xiaoniang was now in charge of the food for the people of Xishan Township, and many treated her with respect. Some even indirectly asked if she would remarry, but Feng Xiaoniang was firm, vowing never to marry. This kind of chastity, in her current situation, earned her the admiration of the men.

Cui Lan, being a straightforward person, stood up and pulled Feng Xiaoniang, whispering, "Sister, just sit here with me. I'm the only woman here, and it's quite lonely."

Feng Xiaoniang smiled and nodded.

When Feng Xiaoniang sat down, Bian Ji and An Zhongzhi, who were talking, glanced at her and smiled, tacitly accepting her presence. Feng Xiaoniang felt relieved; no one was driving her away.

Zhen Ding suddenly sighed, saying with a touch of emotion, "This scene is truly a blessing for Xishan Township."

An Zhongzhi laughed. "Why do you say that, Mr. Zhen?"

"Just a feeling," Zhen Ding threw a branch into the fire, not directly answering An Zhongzhi's question.

Bian Ji stroked his beard and pondered for a moment. "Mr. Zhen, are you thinking about the situation in Central China?"

Zhen Ding was surprised, looked at Lin Bei, and nodded.

Except for Cui Lan and Feng Xiaoniang, everyone fell silent. Yes, compared to the situation in Central China, Xishan Township was indeed a scene of prosperity. Many people in Central China were starving, selling their children just to have a meal. Compared to Central China, this place was like heaven.

"Zhen Ding, your Zhen Family Trading Company travels between Nanyue and Central China. Can you tell us about the current situation in Central China?" Lin Bei asked.

Next year would be the first year of the Zhongping era. According to historical records, Central China was about to fall into chaos. The phrase "people are suffering" is a polite way to put it; a more accurate description would be "no chickens crowing for a thousand miles, and bones littering the fields." In one word: tragic.