"Each person receives two taels, a total of eighteen taels for seven women and two injured individuals. The six hunters receive ten taels each, totaling sixty taels. Upon distributing the money, North gestures towards Old Chen, who promptly returns twelve taels, saying that from now on, all hunters will help in handling the game to offset the fee. He expresses gratitude for North's kindness and declares that they are now one family. North assures them that the processing of meat will continue, and those interested can work with a monthly wage of three taels, with an additional half tael for urgent tasks. She emphasizes the importance of following the provided list, and the workshop plans can proceed with the additional manpower. Old Chen suggests further discussion on arrangements, expressing confidence in North's initiatives."
"The harvest these past two days has been abundant, with piles of ribs, pork belly, and large backbone resembling a mountain. There are hundreds of legs alone, but it's not suitable for making ham in the spring. Apart from smoking, it's challenging to find other preservation methods.
"Brother Chen, look at this meat. Tomorrow, send some fresh ones down the mountain, leaving us with nearly ten thousand catties. We can only process them using the smoking method, which requires a large smoking room."
Tong Chen is also troubled, "We don't really have empty rooms here. Even if we clear the utility and firewood room, it's not spacious. The only potentially available space is the large martial arts field outside the courtyard, but that was provided by Madam—can Master agree?"
"My mother hasn't returned yet. If we're practicing, let's temporarily move it to the courtyard. We need it urgently here. Once this batch is sold and we receive payment in a few days, at the latest half a month, we'll expand our estate, build brick and stone houses, and construct a larger one. I'll talk to my father about it. As for your side, arrange to hang the cured meat tomorrow night. Also, Brother Chen, prepare some large wooden barrels and tightly woven waterproof bamboo baskets and saltpeter. I'll pick some tender meat and store it using the nitrate method. Tomorrow morning, I'll send it down the mountain. This time, I need to order some tools and utensils from Boss Qiao, so it might take a few days to return. Don't worry; I'll probably convince the boss to escort me back this time. Meet me at the foothills by the creek. I'll set up the smoke, and you can come down to pick it up." North went to the kitchen, prepared a concentrated mixture of salt, wine, soy sauce, and peppercorns, and brought it back to the courtyard. She gave most of it to Aunt Li with a large bucket of ginger and peppercorns, asking her to pick out the big bones and simmer them until they condensed into glue before cooling. Then, everyone was requested to dip the ribs, pork belly, and ham in the sauce and neatly stack them. They were taken to the large wooden house at the entrance of the villa. North secretly took some spare ribs, loin, and a few drumsticks, placing them in the smoking hole in space. Finally, when everyone left, she skillfully moved a few baskets and the previous fresh meat along with it, putting them all in the Snow Jade Cave."
This is the large martial hall Tong Chen mentioned, actually just a single-story wooden house built along the stone platform towards the entrance of the estate. It's four meters wide and eight meters long, showing signs of age with a darkened appearance. The ceiling boards are sparse, and even if it's not being used for smoking meat, North will definitely demolish it and rebuild it. So convincing Tong Ding Shan is not a problem at all.
"Alright, marinate the meat until tomorrow night, then string it with hemp ropes and hang it on the ceiling beams. Ignite fresh pine branches underneath, and remember, as long as there's smoke, promptly add new branches and cover the fire when there's an open flame. This way, urgent smoking can be done in five days. If it were autumn or winter, we could hang the meat in the hearth, slow-smoking it for three to five months daily, creating a truly delicious flavor that would last for a year without spoiling. However, these are fast-moving goods demanded by businesses, so we can only use urgent smoking." North had already explained these details to Tong Chen before, so now she's just elaborating a bit. At this moment, only half of the people are working, while the others have already gone to sleep. They'll wake up in the middle of the night for the next shift, and everyone cooperates seamlessly, so North feels comfortable going back to sleep.