Taking swift actions, Xiangbei slaughtered five mountain chickens, ducks, and geese each from her spatial reserve. She also used her consciousness to catch five big grass carp, weighing over three kilograms, from the clear creek. After cleaning them, she coated the meats with sediment from the bottom of the honey wine barrel. A large wooden barrel was filled with these prepared ingredients. Xiangbei then heated an iron pot over a fire, stir-frying dried red pepper and salt until it was warm to the touch, adding the mixture to the barrel and covering it.
Xiangbei then harvested palm fibers and wove around forty ropes, each half a meter long. She sharpened both ends of several bundles of bamboo, arranged them side by side, and inserted them two meters high into the natural cave. Pine branches were stacked underneath, ready to be used to generate smoke after the meats were cured with hot salt for most of the day.
This series of actions consumed a significant amount of mental energy, leaving Xiangbei feeling a bit overwhelmed. To alleviate this, she quickly shifted to the Snow Jade Cave and settled near the edge of the dry pit under the coverage of the swirling energy vortex. After circulating her breath for a full cycle, she drifted into a deep slumber. During this state, the swirling energy at the center of the pit connected to her dantian, sending a subtle flow of energy through her meridians, emanating from her hands, feet, and crown before returning to the vortex. Everything returned to tranquility.
Upon waking, Xiangbei felt as if she had slept through an extended weekend, radiating vitality. Without dwelling on the peculiar experience, she picked up the honey wine base and exited the spatial realm.
Arriving at the stone platform in the courtyard, the larger knives for dividing and dissecting were already prepared. Xiangbei added a new batch of seasoning to the brine, including soy sauce and salt. Just like the previous night, she continued to marinate the internal organs of the animals. Additionally, she instructed Aunt Li to open a small pot, adding the honey wine base, seasoning, soy sauce, ginger, red dates, salt, and a bit of sugar. The mixture was simmered, and then pork, mountain chicken, poultry eggs, and tofu were slowly stewed over low heat.
The skins and meat of the pigs and sheep had been separated. Xiangbei marked ten large strips of pork belly on the loins of several just matured wild boars. The brothers, Hu Zi and Biao Zi, carried all the meats, both inside and outside loins, and the ten strips of pork into the kitchen. Several copper pots collected from various families were arranged, and one pot was filled with meat. Using the saltpeter method, a wooden barrel was filled, and the two brothers were then sent back. They thought Xiangbei had no intention of letting the ice-making technique spread, so they discreetly avoided outsiders and returned to the stone platform to continue their work. After the two left, Xiangbei placed two-thirds of the meat in a tightly sealed bamboo basket and stored it in the Snow Jade Cave. In this time-frozen space, preservation was at its best.
Grandpa and the two patients had gone to sleep. Xiangbei, carrying a blue cloth bundle, gathered everyone around the largest bonfire. On the cleaned stone table, she opened the bundle, revealing shiny silver coins and some small silver ingots. "These days have been hard on everyone. Tomorrow is the day I promised to go to town to deliver the goods. From last night until today, and even continuing into tomorrow, it relies on everyone's help to produce so much. Xiangbei sincerely thanks you all. This is the deposit received last time, and I'll pay everyone for these two days in advance. The remaining wages will be settled when we come back." Xiangbei was well aware of the stimulating effect of cash on productivity. Although ancient people were relatively simple, what could bring more joy to families in financial difficulty than silver coins? This was the first time several families in the mountains had gathered together. There would be many more such days in the future, so Xiangbei decided to hand over the money to them to warm themselves with the fruits of their labor while they slept. "Hunters receive eight taels per person, and for Jingjing, who is still learning, following my father's allocation, she will receive only three taels. For the hard work these two days and nights, everyone, including my family's Sihan, Jiawei, and the two injured friends, will be settled with two taels of wages each. This is the first time we've all gathered together. It's both bitter and joyful. Whether we work more or less, I'll split it evenly. I hope none of you uncles, aunts, and elders will blame me. Next time, I won't favor my two little ones from my family."