The newcomer called "Mosquito" proved to be quite the skilled carpenter. What took Lao Bai and Fang Chang ages to measure and cut, he managed in no time, producing a whole stack of planks with clean, interlocking edges.
Before long, they had several brick molds assembled and ready to go.
"Your wood processing could use some work," Mosquito remarked, wiping his brow. "Look here... it's practically sprouting mushrooms already." He leaned his saw against a post and asked, "Is this enough?"
"Plenty! Thanks, brother; you've been a huge help!" Lao Bai, beaming, gave Mosquito a hearty pat on the shoulder.
Mosquito smiled shyly, laughing it off. "No problem at all. Just let me know if you need anything else."
"Oh, I will! Believe me," Lao Bai chuckled, "next time, I won't hesitate to ask."
With the molds ready, making clay bricks was much easier. Lao Bai and Fang Chang mixed yellow mud from the river with water to create a thick paste, filling each mold and forming a neat stack, with charcoal tucked in between and a layer of ash brushed on top.
This technique, one Lao Bai had learned from wilderness survival videos, seemed effective. When the first layer of bricks had dried, they stacked a second layer at a new angle, repeating the process until the brick stack reached well over their heads.
Meanwhile, Chu Guang sternly addressed the bewildered newcomer.
"Our situation is serious. Besides setting up facilities on the surface, we must stockpile enough food for a hundred comrades before winter. Your help is needed."
The newcomer, "Tomato Scrambled Egg," blinked in surprise. A chef? That was indeed his real-life profession. Before logging in, he'd been cooking two dishes, only to end up cooking here as well.
Finally, he managed to speak. "So... what exactly do you need me to do?"
"A good question," Chu Guang replied, looking over at the smoking rack. "I tried smoking meat, but with little success. I need your expertise to resolve our food storage issue... According to your records, you have experience in food preservation, correct?"
Tomato Scrambled Egg paused, a bit taken aback. "I know a bit, yes, but games and reality differ—I mean, I'm not sure my skills will translate here."
"That's fine. I need professional input." Chu Guang gestured to the smoking rack. "Take a look and tell me where I went wrong."
Examining the structure, Tomato Scrambled Egg fell silent. More than just one issue, it seemed wrong on all fronts.
"Well… first, smoked meat needs an enclosed environment. Otherwise, you'll only char the outside. And these seasonings... Are they some kind of spices?"
"A special type of tobacco leaf."
"Tobacco leaves?!"
"Yes," Chu Guang nodded. "Salt is scarce, so local survivors use these aromatic, tar-rich leaves as a salt substitute. They're ground into a powder and applied to the surface of the food, combining with the oils to preserve it during heating."
Can that even work? While some aromatic compounds can act as preservatives, he'd never heard of tobacco being used as a food ingredient. Perhaps it wasn't lethal in small doses, though to him, this method seemed... questionable.
"You could smoke meat without salt, though it would lack flavor. I'm unfamiliar with this method you mentioned, but nutritionally, it seems dubious," Tomato Scrambled Egg replied cautiously, wary of the NPC's potential reaction.
"Without salt?!" Chu Guang was surprised.
"Yes… bacteria require moisture to thrive. The essence of smoking is to dehydrate the meat. Salt helps, of course, extending shelf life and adding flavor. But, if handled properly, you can manage without it."
"Of course, if it's fatty meat, dehydration becomes trickier, so it depends on the specific cut."
He hesitated, glancing awkwardly at the makeshift smoking rack. "But... with this setup, it's not likely to work well, regardless."
If he could preserve food without consuming precious tobacco leaves, it would be a blessing for the shelter's outpost. Chu Guang, however, remained a bit skeptical. Would the locals here, after surviving so long in the wasteland, have really overlooked such a basic skill?
But Chu Guang didn't dwell on the thought. After all, solving every problem would leave little for players to do.
"Excellent! This honorable and challenging task is now yours."
With a firm pat on the shoulder, Chu Guang assigned Tomato Scrambled Egg the task of managing the smoked meat, giving him a final rundown of safety protocols before walking away with a spring in his step.
One less problem solved.
With the food issue somewhat addressed, perhaps he could recruit more players to boost productivity. With only a handful of hands, finishing the sanatorium's walls by the month's end seemed impossible.
Just as he pondered this, an exuberant cheer rang out from nearby.
"Yes! Finally, we did it!"