Stockpiling for an Exiled General Through My Store's Back Door

Chapter 182: Chapter 182: Hua Buwan Takes Command

However, the fish seemed to sense the danger, abruptly flicking its tail and swimming away. Hua Buwan was not discouraged; she simply moved on to her next target.

After some effort, they finally caught a few fish. Everyone cheered, their faces brimming with joyous smiles. As the sun dipped below the horizon, they headed back with an abundant harvest. This fish-catching experience not only brought them great joy but also deepened their bonds.

As time passed, the sun gradually slanted further westward.

Hua Buwan and the Ling family returned to the shore with their bountiful catch. Sitting on the beach, they admired the beautiful sunset and savored the wonderful moment. After they rested for a while, the sky turned completely dark. The pleasant sound of the ocean waves filled their ears, one rhythmic crash following another. As the sea breeze blew past, a refreshing coolness washed over them, completely relaxing their bodies and minds.

It was time for a barbecue!

Hua Buwan acted as the on-site commander-in-chief, while Ling Qianjun and Ling Qianfan built the grill nearby according to her instructions. Xu Panqing and Ling Yunge stayed to the side, preparing the ingredients.

Seeing the meatballs and sausages inside the packaging, the two women gulped. They asked Hua Buwan what these strange items were, and after she explained, they grew even more curious about how the food would taste. They tore open the bags, placed everything into a basin one by one, and then went to fetch water to wash them.

Although they were near the sea, they obviously wouldn’t use seawater. There was a mountain spring nearby, flowing down from the summit to the base of the mountain. The villagers all went there to fetch water. There were also many rocky streams along the way, where foragers and hunters would stop to rest. It was delightfully cool up there.

The catch they had brought from the sea was now fully processed and ready for the grill.

Ling Qianjun and Ling Qianfan had the setup finished in no time, and the firewood pile was soon sparking with a loud CRACKLE AND POP. Ling Yunge found some large, clean leaves for everyone to sit on as they gathered around the fire.

Taking the lead, Hua Buwan placed the skewered food onto the grill. She roasted chicken wings with one hand, and sausages and fish balls with the other.

”Here, just like this. You only need to flip them occasionally,” she explained. ”There’s no need to hold them up the whole time; leaving them on the grill is perfectly fine. When they’re almost done roasting, you can use the brush on the side to apply the sauce.

”I have salty, spicy, and honey glazes here. Oh, right, there is also cumin powder. You can see what flavor you like and apply it. Take your pick.”

Hua Buwan pointed to the condiments one by one as she introduced them. The Ling family watched earnestly, memorizing her instructions carefully and nodding from time to time.

Ling Qianfan raised his hand and asked, ”Sister Wan, what is cumin? What does it taste like?”

Ling Yunge quickly followed suit, raising her hand. ”I’ve never had cumin either. Sister Wan, can I smell it?”

Xu Panqing also curiously sized up the bottle of cumin. They generally knew what spicy tasted like—some locals used cornel berries in their cooking, which packed a spicy kick.

”Of course. Smell it and see if you like it. If you do, you can put it on your skewers. It’s a really good flavor,” Hua Buwan said. She twisted open the bottle of cumin and handed it over.

They cautiously leaned in to take a sniff.

”So this is what cumin smells like! I want to try it!” Ling Qianfan licked his lips, looking down at his skewers, completely torn over which one to season first.

Ling Yunge and Xu Panqing nodded in eager agreement.

Ling Qianjun didn’t even need to be asked. Being the last to receive the bottle, he directly applied it to his grilled squid.