Chapter 37: Beef
The next day, Mo Shan left the house, and by dusk, he returned carrying a large bundle filled with wild beef.
"I went to Old Zhao's place—he still had plenty left. No one was buying it, and he couldn't eat it all himself, so I brought it back."
Liu Ruhua soaked the meat, drained out the blood, then marinated it with some spicy and aromatic seasoning.
These spices were hand-picked from the mountains by Liu Ruhua herself, sun-dried using a method she learned from a neighbor's aunt. It was a common technique used by rogue cultivators in Tongxian City, though Liu Ruhua's blend was particularly fragrant.
After marinating the wild beef overnight, she placed it in the stove the next day, lit the fire, and cooked it for half a day. She then removed the meat, discarded the broth, refilled the pot with fresh water and more spicy seasonings, brought it to a boil over high heat, then reduced it to a slow simmer—this went on for another full day and night.
By the evening of the third day, the fire was finally put out, and the lid was lifted.
Steam billowed out, and the rich aroma of beef mixed with spices filled the entire room.
Liu Ruhua took a small knife, sliced off a piece of meat into thin slices, placed them on a plate, set it on the table, and waved Mo Hua over. "Hua'er, come try this."
Mo Hua picked up his chopsticks, took a slice, and chewed a few times. The meat was tender and flavorful, melting in his mouth, with the gaminess perfectly balanced by the spice—a unique and captivating taste.
"Mom, this is the best meat I've ever had!"
Mo Shan tried a bite too, his eyes lighting up. He praised his wife,
"Even better than the chefs at the big restaurants!"
Liu Ruhua smiled gently but, after tasting it herself, still seemed unsatisfied:
"It's still a bit off. I should tone down the herbs a little and boost the spiciness. The heat also needs to be stronger…"
To Mo Hua, though, it was already the most delicious meat he'd eaten in his short life. As for his past life… he couldn't quite recall.
The beef turned out great, which gave them confidence about opening the eatery. Liu Ruhua sliced some of the beef and packed it into small food boxes, asking Mo Shan and Mo Hua to share with neighbors and friends.
Mo Shan gave some to the locals and his fellow monster-hunting team members.
Mo Hua took a box to Elder Feng from Xinglin Clinic to thank him for treating his mother. He also delivered a portion to Master Chen—after all, the stove was his work. It was only right to let him try the results.
Elder Feng, who specialized in medicinal diets and usually didn't eat meat, couldn't resist trying a few slices—and was full of praise.
As for Master Chen, he immediately split the beef with his disciples, giving half to Dazhu and the rest he saved for himself—to savor slowly with wine.
Mo Hua also delivered several boxes to the Meng family—home of Da Hu, Shuang Hu, and Xiao Hu.
They all had the surname Meng and lived as one family, though the three weren't blood brothers.
The Meng family had once been prosperous: three generations under one roof, with the old man having three sons, each of whom gave him a grandson. Those grandsons were Da Hu, Shuang Hu, and Xiao Hu.
But their fortune didn't last. Shuang Hu's father died hunting monsters, and his mother, stricken with grief and illness, soon followed.
Xiao Hu's father left to do business and ended up running off with another female cultivator, never returning. Some said he changed his name and started a new family. Others claimed he'd been seduced by some demonic temptress, drained of his essence, and turned into a pill.
Either way, he wasn't coming back. Xiao Hu's mother, ashamed, remarried.
The Meng patriarch had once hoped for a flourishing bloodline, maybe even a descendant who could reach Foundation Establishment and make the Mengs a name in Tongxian City. But with two sons gone in a flash, he fell ill with grief and soon passed away.
This left only the eldest son to hold the family together. Without complaint, he raised his brothers' children as his own. They ate together, starved together, and got scolded and beaten as one.
But as the boys grew, so did their appetites, and their already modest life became even tighter.
When Mo Hua arrived with the beef, the Mengs were in the middle of dinner.
Da Hu, Shuang Hu, and Xiao Hu were gnawing on steamed buns and pickled vegetables. The moment they heard Mo Hua had brought beef, their eyes widened. As soon as he opened the food box and the aroma wafted out, their mouths began to water.
Aunt Meng gave them a sharp look. "Before eating someone else's food, what do you say?"
Shuang Hu puffed up his chest. "Mo Hua! Between brothers, no need for thanks. If anyone dares bully you, I'll beat them up for you!"
Da Hu and Xiao Hu chimed in at once: "Me too! Me too!"
Aunt Meng picked up a chopstick and bonked each of them on the head. "You three only know how to fight! If you had even half of Mo Hua's sense, I'd burn incense in thanks!"
Then, seeing their pitiful expressions and hungry eyes, she relented,
"Alright, eat. But remember to help your Uncle Mo and Aunt Liu with chores in return. Don't just freeload."
The three boys quickly nodded, then each placed a slice of meat into Uncle and Aunt Meng's bowls before diving into the rest.
As soon as Xiao Hu took a bite, his eyes went wide. "This is so good!"
Da Hu and Shuang Hu nodded furiously, their mouths stuffed.
Seeing her cooking so praised, Mo Hua felt joy bloom in his heart.
Uncle and Aunt Meng both tasted the meat and nodded approvingly, then pushed the rest toward the boys.
Aunt Meng looked at Mo Hua with envy. "Your mother's cooking is amazing!"
Mo Hua quickly said, "Aunt Meng's cooking is great too!"
That made her laugh, and she took Mo Hua's hand with a smile. "I don't know how such a sweet, sensible child came into this world."
Uncle Meng, chewing slowly, asked, "This is wild beef? Doesn't taste like it."
"It is. Took a long time to cook."
"No wonder." Uncle Meng nodded. "I heard your family's opening an eatery. If there's anything we can help with, just say the word."
"Thank you, Uncle Meng!"
After some more small talk, Mo Hua got up to leave. Aunt Meng handed him a few freshly steamed buns and some wild fruits to take home.
"There's nothing fancy at home, but take these buns and fruits, alright?"
Mo Hua didn't refuse. He packed the buns into the box and snacked on fruit as he walked home.
Everyone who had tasted the beef cooked in their new stove had praised it.
Liu Ruhua continued refining the flavors, tweaking spices and cooking times. She even made a few bowls of beef noodles for Mo Hua to try—the broth was rich, the noodles chewy, and the beef tender and savory. Mo Hua beamed with joy as he ate.
She also added some snacks and light dishes to the menu, including liquor.
Of course, liquor was a must. Most rogue cultivators brewed cheap spirits with low-grade grain, so the flavor wasn't great. But Liu Ruhua's special fruit-and-flower-infused brew was different.
With a low alcohol content, it was sweet and floral, offering a gentle buzz and lingering aftertaste—Mo Hua loved it.
Besides beef, the eatery would also serve pastries, fruits, pine nuts, beef noodles, and more.
With the help of neighbors and friends, everything was prepared, and on the first day of the month, the eatery officially opened.
Originally, the name was going to follow the street's naming customs: "Mo's Eatery." But at Mo Hua's suggestion—and with Mo Shan's agreement—they changed it to "Liu's Eatery."
Liu Ruhua couldn't win against her husband and son and had to agree.
(End of Chapter)