Abandoned the Immortal Cultivator, returned to his hometown to farm and sing

Chapter 1322, Section 1310: Catching the Pig
Speaking of pig heads.

Keen-eyed netizens also spotted the pig's head in another location.

It's the channel that, despite being labeled "CCTV Military Channel," is actually "CCTV Cooking Channel," a place that deliberately airs "Cooking Squad Stories" at 9:30 every night to poison viewers' minds.

"Thousands of miles away, on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the sky is high and the land is vast, the wind is light and the clouds are light."

"But the training camp is by no means easy; the training is both tough and tiring."

"Providing catering services is by no means simple; the challenges are endless..."

"This time we've come to a model border defense company, stationed at an altitude of 4500 meters. What stories will unfold here?"

As expected, it's another little story about the cooking squad.

The cooking channel remains true to its original mission.

As the camera panned into the barracks kitchen, there stood a sergeant major who looked to be in his forties, with two thin gold stripes and a folded stripe on his epaulets.

He was the company's cook squad leader.

And he was... on the phone.

"It's almost noon. Have you decided what you want to eat? Order now!" The head cook had a loud voice.

On the other end of the phone came a young voice, speaking in a very friendly tone.

"Old squad leader, we still want to eat yesterday's braised pork, ribs, and meatballs, and it would be even better if we could also have some braised pork intestines..."

The cook interrupted him jokingly, "You guys really eat a lot. You've got a lot of meat on your bodies. Wait till the company commander gives you a dressing down."

The voice on the other end wasn't worried at all, "We only get to eat something hot for a few months each year, can't you even let me eat something good?"

The cook wasn't happy to hear that, and pretended to be angry, saying, "Didn't I give you hot food when it was cold?"

The person on the other end of the phone immediately burst into tears, "I ate hot pot for seven months in the winter, and you still cut the meat so thick, it was rock hard when it was served, it could kill someone if you threw it out..."

"You guys are so high up, what are you going to do if you throw something like that? You'll kill someone." The cook laughed and scolded, "Can't you cut the meat if it's too thick? There's a kitchen up there."

"The task is arduous."

"I think it's just laziness. I can tell. You'd rather carry heavy loads for five kilometers than go into the kitchen to cut a knife. Otherwise, you wouldn't have been eating hot pot every day for seven months..."

The two chatted for a while, as if it were just casual conversation.

The cook then got back to the main topic, "The pork intestines haven't arrived yet, but I'll make braised pork intestines for you tomorrow. Today, I'll make braised pork belly and spicy spare ribs. The chilies I picked this morning are pretty good, so I'll also make stir-fried pork with chilies. Don't eat so much meat, let's have some vegetables: stir-fried cabbage with tofu, water spinach with garlic, and I'll also get you a fish, sweet and sour fish. That's all, how about that?"

Three meat dishes, two vegetable dishes, and one fish.

I could hear the person on the other end of the phone drooling, so I quickly agreed.

"Okay, that's settled. Just wait." The cook hung up the phone.

The reporter then stepped forward and introduced him to the camera, saying, "This is Wang Yaohui, the head cook of a model border defense company in a certain plateau unit. He has been in the army for seven years and has extended his service by five years. He has been studying cooking skills day in and day out for ten years, improving the overall level of the cooking squad. He has performed outstandingly in many support missions and has been named a logistics support pacesetter."

It turns out he was a veteran squad leader who had settled down on the plateau.

After the introduction, the reporter asked, "Squad Leader Wang, who were you talking to on the phone just now?"

"Oh, they're soldiers stationed at a high mountain outpost." Squad Leader Wang pointed to the distance. "The conditions there are tough, and there's not much entertainment. Every day, I chat with them a bit while ordering food. It's a mix of unity, tension, seriousness, and liveliness."

After saying that, he continued, "It's not easy to get there, and it's not easy to go up and down. They can only be stationed there for several months or even more than a year before they can be rotated. The weather is good for these few months every summer, so the supplies can be delivered up before they get cold. Let's take advantage of this time to do more good things and let them have something hot to eat."

The reporter followed up by explaining, "Squad Leader Wang was referring to a border outpost located at an altitude of 5800 meters, where the highest annual temperature is 10 degrees Celsius and the lowest is minus 30 degrees Celsius. The mountain is snowbound for more than seven months every year, and natural disasters such as lightning strikes and avalanches are frequent, so it is also known as a 'snow-covered island'."

Squad Leader Wang continued, "Of course, conditions are tough. Electricity and water were only connected a few years ago. Originally, there was only an observation post and a dormitory. Later, we gradually expanded to include a dormitory, a kitchen, a recreation room, and a library. Oxygen was only just installed by the bedside, and we were able to use electrical appliances and deliver fresh vegetables."

Having been stationed on the plateau for a long time, Squad Leader Wang has become very talkative.

Meanwhile, the video's comments section was filled with laughter.

[Old squad leader, you're capable of Versailles!]

[A 5800-meter-high outpost, with water, electricity, internet, and even telephone service!]

There are also fresh vegetables to eat, and hot food to enjoy. Even after seven months of heavy snow blocking the mountain passes, we're having hot pot.

[Don't let the neighbors know they're still digging snowdrifts and boiling ice in tin buckets to make curry!]

[Those next door are called frugal and simple, unlike our pampered soldiers here who even caramelize sugar to make braised pork in the wild~~ (doge)]

Warfare is all about logistics; hot meals are a reflection of fighting strength!

Speaking of caramelizing sugar, Squad Leader Wang actually gave a demonstration.
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After the introduction, the cooks got busy, cutting meat and washing vegetables in an orderly manner.

Squad Leader Wang personally cooked the meals at the outpost.

The cookhouse staff heats oil in a large pot, adds rock sugar, and then slowly simmers it over low heat with a large spoon until the sugar caramelizes into a beautiful, glossy, dark red color.

Put large pieces of pork belly into a pot and stir-fry over high heat until they turn bright yellow. Then add hot water and simmer over medium heat.

Next, stir-fry another pot of sugar to make caramel color, then put the ribs in and fry until golden brown on both sides.

Leave some oil in the pan, add ginger slices, garlic cloves, Sichuan peppercorns, and dried chili peppers, and stir-fry until fragrant.

Add the ribs back in and stir-fry over high heat. Finally, add some parsley and cilantro for color.

Oh my, it smells so good!

As expected of CCTV's cooking channel, their cooking videos are absolutely amazing.

It's just as good as a food show.

It's so tempting, it makes your mouth water just looking at it through the screen.

And what follows is even more alluring.

The washed long peppers are a vibrant green and look incredibly fresh.

Squad Leader Wang picked up a vegetable and introduced it, saying, "This is a vegetable grown by our company."

"Last year, we installed solar panels and delivered vegetable growing warehouses. We can grow whatever we want to eat. These chili peppers are grown by ourselves. There are also water tanks for raising fish. Look how big these carp are! They are big carp from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau."

Squad Leader Wang became happy when talking about these things. He picked up a chili pepper, twirled it around, and then picked up a large carp, preparing to make sweet and sour fish. He had just finished cleaning it.

They were swimming in the water just a few minutes ago.

Cut the chili peppers into thin strips.

Squad Leader Wang took out another piece of pork tenderloin.

The best part of the pig, tender and fragrant, is perfect for stir-frying.

And this piece of meat even has snowflake-like patterns.

"The only problem is raising pigs. We've built the pigsty but haven't started raising them yet. We still have to get meat from the rear. Speaking of which, the meat they sent this time is really good. Our whole company loves it. No matter how we cook it, we can eat two extra bowls of rice. It's just that there's too little. If only we had a few pigs..."

While cutting the meat, Squad Leader Wang kept talking, his hands and mouth never stopping.

The meat was cut and marinated, and the fish was marinated as well.

Squad Leader Wang then chopped cabbage, tofu, and water spinach.

The cabbage and tofu were transported from the rear, and the water spinach was grown locally.

"I need to figure out how to make tofu later. Tofu is a rare treat here. Tofu, soy milk, tofu skin, and dried tofu are all delicious..."

His words made the reporter laugh. "You're planning to produce everything yourself at the base?"

"Of course," Squad Leader Wang said seriously. "At least for food and drink, we should produce it ourselves as much as possible. This place is far from the rear, and it's not easy to transport supplies. Producing it ourselves can save a lot of costs. The soldiers can also eat fresh food."

"Previously, all supplies had to be transported from the rear, in large quantities at a time. There were very few leafy greens, as they couldn't be stored. Most of the supplies were things like radishes and potatoes, which would either freeze or wilt in the warehouse. It was very difficult to get fresh vegetables."

So that's how it is. There are practical reasons, and also the hardships of the past... which led to the "hoarding habit." Originally, there were no other options, but we upheld the spirit of hard work and struggle; when the motherland needed us, there was nothing to say.

Now that the conditions are right, in Squad Leader Wang's eyes, it is his responsibility to ensure that the soldiers in the company and various outposts are well-fed and have access to fresh vegetables and meat.

As Squad Leader Wang spoke, his hands never stopped moving.

Sizzle! The tofu hits the oil and bubbles as it turns golden brown.

Add the chopped Chinese cabbage, stir-fry over high heat, and serve.

Next up is water spinach with garlic.

Next, stir-fry pork with chili peppers.

Finally, the sweet and sour carp.

Vegetable dishes are cooked one by one, followed by meat dishes, and then the rest are quickly prepared.

Instead of plating it, it was put into an insulated box.

After sealing them, they were all packed into a large insulated box.

Finally, Squad Leader Wang carried the insulated box out of the kitchen and into the courtyard of the barracks.

In the middle of the yard, a large drone, about half the height of a person, was already ready.

Squad Leader Wang then placed the insulated box into the drone's pod.

He took a few steps back and waved.

The drone's rotors turned, and it slowly rose into the sky, flying into the distance.

Before the audience could even savor the allure of the delicious dishes, they watched helplessly as the food flew away...
-
"Are we using drones to deliver food to the outposts now?" The reporter seemed to be seeing this for the first time as well.

Squad Leader Wang nodded. "It's fast from the air, it only takes about ten minutes to deliver, and the food is still hot when it arrives. But it can only be delivered for these few months. In winter it will be too cold, and even if you add several layers of insulation, it will freeze. So we can only deliver raw vegetables and meat, and let the soldiers at the outpost cook for themselves. They're too lazy to cook anyway, they just have hot pot every day, it's easier."

The audience was shocked to see this.

Growing vegetables on the plateau? Raising fish? And pigs too? Making tofu? Delivering meals to outposts by drone? I'm scratching my head, I don't understand. When did things get this far?

[I don't know, but it basically means growing vegetables in all terrains and environments, raising pigs and growing vegetables—traditional skills.]

This is a testament to the nation's growing strength; our martyrs would surely be delighted to see this.

Seeing this makes me very happy. I'm even happier to see our soldiers eating well than if I were eating well myself.

[As expected of the best food channel, I love watching this kind of thing, please give us more!]

Just come.

After the drone flew away.

Another truck drove into the camp, heading straight for the mess hall.

As soon as the vehicle stopped, a soldier jumped out of the passenger seat, pointed at the driver, and yelled, "You're carrying pigs, not your comrades! Why are you driving so recklessly! If the pigs fall off, they'll be lost; they won't just run back on their own!"

A timid young soldier got out of the driver's seat and stood there obediently to receive a scolding.

Accompanied by several chorus of squeals from pigs inside the carriage, the area was quite lively.

This contrasted sharply with the sullen presence of Squad Leader Wang and his men at the entrance of the mess hall.

They probably didn't notice that there were reporters taking pictures here.

It's really surprising that the "Cooking Channel" released this segment as well.

Anyway, the audience was shocked again...

[Uh... does that mean if a comrade is in the car, they can drive recklessly? And if a comrade falls off, will they just run back on their own?]

[Pulling shells might cause them to explode, and pulling pigs requires getting out to catch them, but the great warriors of the Republic have an iron will; if they fall, they'll climb back up on their own, so there's nothing to worry about.]

[Actually, it's because the training requirements for motor transport soldiers include rapid advances in the absence of air superiority. Every second counts in getting to the front lines, and nobody knows how badly the front lines will be damaged by bombing, or even if there are no roads at all; anything passable by a vehicle is a road. So, hold on tight, comrades! Second gear, let's go!]

[Pfft, you've got to hold on tight!]

A "joyful" little episode.

The two soldiers who arrived by car quickly spotted the camera as well.

The co-pilot immediately stopped talking, ran over to salute Squad Leader Wang, and handed over the mission.

"Old squad leader, we've brought five live pigs this time, which is your company's quota for this month. The logistics department said to raise them at the base first."

This is the task description.

Then the soldier's attitude changed, and he became all smiles, "With you here, Sergeant, your cooking skills are excellent, and we can rest assured about logistics. You can just kill whatever you want to eat, and you'll get fresh food every day."

Squad Leader Wang laughed when he heard this, "That's good, it should have been done a long time ago. I've already built the pigsty, hurry up and get it in."

He rolled up his sleeves and headed toward the truck.

The cooks followed behind.

The soldier accompanying the vehicle was also on board, reminding them, "Sergeant, be careful, this pig is unruly and very strong."

Squad Leader Wang didn't take it to heart at all; in fact, he was even happier. "The stronger the force, the firmer the flesh."

As a result, when they arrived at the truck, they had just lifted the tarpaulin.

A large pig's head popped out from the frame.

It let out two loud cries, and then suddenly jumped out.

The truck was so tall, yet this big fat pig jumped down unharmed. It rolled on the ground, stood up, and ran off, rampaging wildly.

Squad Leader Wang, the cooks and motor transport soldiers, and the reporter were all startled.

Then they rallied and chased after them, and a large group of people couldn't catch up.

[Jumping and hopping, no worries~~ Wow, I can really jump so high!]

[Bouncing and skipping while making breakfast~~ Such a great physique, so lively!]

[He's so lively, he runs so fast!]

Viewers started singing in the live chat.

You can tell just by looking at the pig's head sticking out of the carriage; it has two dark circles under its eyes, so it's the pig from the cat's head family.

This pig runs wild in the woods every day, jumping and hopping around a lot, unlike ordinary pigs.

No muscle is gained for nothing; they're incredibly strong.

Indeed, the pig's escape alerted the soldiers training at the garrison. It took eight soldiers to rush forward and catch the escaped pig.

Even after being pinned to the ground, it kept nudging and biting, screaming in agony without stopping for a moment.

Squad Leader Wang was furious. "I'll kill it later. It's the one for today!"

The soldiers were so happy that they almost couldn't hold back their excitement.

If so many people let the pig run away again and it gets filmed, that would be really embarrassing...
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That noon, we actually had a meal of fresh meat. Even after arriving at the camp, the pig that we caught tasted really good.

Each person should eat two extra bowls of rice.

Finally, when Squad Leader Wang looked at the big pig's head in the pot, his face lit up with joy.

"The young soldiers don't know how to eat, they don't know what good food is. What a great pig's head! I have to save it for the patrolling soldiers."

(End of this chapter)