Chapter 2402: Mission 82

Translator: Henyee Translations  Editor: Henyee Translations

It was here.

Traditionally, they had always favored air-drying the meat for preservation, which was a common practice among the clans.

However, the Tribe Chief’s mention of potential issues in the clan during winter had struck a nerve. What if something went wrong with the dried meat?

The most pressing concern for the clansmen was that the Tribe Chief suggested consuming a portion of the meat now. Given the Five Elements Clan’s belated food storage, there was an apprehension about potential scarcity in the future.

The clansmen were arduously trying to convince Gu Chaoyan. They understood that she had their best interests at heart but couldn’t bear the thought of wasting food.

Gu Chaoyan grappled with the challenge posed by their deeply ingrained beliefs. The clansmen’s fears of hunger and coldness ran deep, leading them to be anxious about every aspect of their situation. Beyond their anxieties, they had little else on their minds. Their prevailing mindset favored a conservative approach for survival.

Nevertheless, Gu Chaoyan’s insistence persisted. She reasoned, “Dried meat carries a high risk of spoilage and offers limited nutrition, primarily serving as a hunger suppressant. If we consume some of the meat now, it will replenish the nutrients for a few individuals. When we are in good health, winter will be more manageable. We now possess weapons, which will facilitate hunting, and I can arrange traps.”

“Under my approach, I will guarantee that you won’t endure starvation in the winter.”

“Eat some fresh meat. There’s no need to dispute this with me. My mind is set, and I have to pursue this course of action. As for the smoked meat, if you’re concerned about unforeseen circ.u.mstances, we can have both—drying a portion and smoking a portion. This year, we’ll smoke a small quant.i.ty. When this year concludes, and you judge it suitable, you can make a decision for next year.”

“We must prepare and cook the meat during this period. It’s essential for everyone, and no one is exempt,” Gu Chaoyan a.s.serted firmly.

“Once your bodies recover, you’ll experience fewer illnesses, leading to an improved quality of life.”

“We have a wild boar that’s been prepared—half smoked, half dried—and the remaining wild rabbits have been cooked for everyone to enjoy,” Gu Chaoyan declared resolutely.

Despite her convictions, there were still clansmen who sought to persuade her once more.

Aina chimed in from the side, “Consider this: when have we ever had a wild boar for the winter in the past? We’ve already ama.s.sed an abundant supply of prey earlier this year, surpa.s.sing anything from previous seasons. With our weaponry and the ample time at our disposal, we can surely secure more hunting opportunities.”

“The Tribe Chief has devised a plan, and we should follow it. Our current comfort is a direct result of the Tribe Chief’s leaders.h.i.+p. What reason do we have to doubt her?”

Upon hearing Aina’s remarks, the clansmen found themselves unable to object.

They resumed their tasks peacefully.

Given that her clansmen were more experienced in dealing with the prey, Gu Chaoyan chose not to partic.i.p.ate directly. However, she arranged for someone to learn from her about making bacon. Subsequently, a portion of the meat was used for smoking.

The air-dried meat, although there were many subpar pieces, was not particularly palatable overall. Nevertheless, the bacon stood out for its exceptional taste.

The aroma of the bacon intensified with each pa.s.sing moment.

The enticing scent drew everyone’s attention.

“Tribe Chief, observe those folks. They were initially hesitant about wanting smoked meat, but now they’re all lured by the aroma,” Aina remarked with a playful grin.

The clansmen had harbored doubts about the Tribe Chief’s intentions, which had fueled their initial reluctance.

“Tribe Chief, I apologize for my earlier opposition to the idea of smoked meat. In the winter…”