Elf Lord, intelligence updated daily.

Chapter 20 Hot Pot
late July.

Loren captured many magical beasts through daily intelligence gathering.

There is monster meat to eat almost every day in the castle.

His knightly training has progressed from raising the sword and breathing while raising it, and now he can finally begin practical combat training.

Combine sword techniques with breathing exercises to comprehend battle qi in actual combat.

Only by awakening his fighting spirit can he become a novice knight.

Loren once again displayed amazing talent in the Knights' training.

He awakened his fighting spirit in actual combat just three days after learning the breathing technique.

"From now on, you only need to practice your breathing techniques and engage in combat training to improve your battle qi level," Xuefu said.

Loren only trained for a month before becoming a novice knight.

The Silver Moon family's knightly talent is truly remarkable.

In addition, the four-compartment hot pot, wooden bowls, and wooden chopsticks that Loren had arranged for have been made.

Today I can finally have hot pot!
He bought a batch of ingredients from farmers.

Shiitake mushrooms, tomatoes, cabbage, white radishes, carrots, chicken, and pork.

In addition to the cured meat stored in the castle and the recently harvested monster meat.

The ingredients are ready.

The rest is teaching the chefs how to make the soup base.

Mary is almost forty years old this year. She has been a chef for most of her life and has never seen any nobleman teach a chef how to cook.

"My lord, do you mean to use these bones and meat, along with mushrooms and tomatoes, to make a soup?"

"That's right. Add some spices and seasonings as needed. Do some research on your own to make the soup base even richer and more delicious."

Mary nodded.

These are not difficult to understand.

It's nothing more than making broth; she's done it before.

but……

"Are these meats and vegetables really just something that needs to be cut up and served? Eating them undercooked can easily make you sick."

"Yes, after you've chopped the ingredients, just deliver them to the castle gate in a food cart."

Loren thought that eating hot pot at the dining table might not be very convenient.

In particular, he hasn't yet created the "magic heating" device and needs to use matches and charcoal.

So we have to eat outdoors.

"I also have chilled juice. I've prepared a bucket of ice for you. These ice cubes will melt quickly, so don't skimp on them. Add a few cubes when you're mixing the grape juice, and a little honey as well."

Mary was astonished when she saw the ice cubes Loren had brought.

It is summer now, and only the upper-class nobles can afford to use ice.

Where did you get it, Lord?
With the ingredients prepared, the next step is to prepare the equipment.

Loren had his servants place a specially made wooden table in the castle's front yard.

There is a large square hole in the center of the wooden table, which is used to place a four-square grid.

Below the four-square grid is a stove, which is heated by adding firewood.

As noon approached, Loren called over Shirley and also invited Liz.

Xuefu asked curiously, "Is this the hot pot you keep talking about?"

"That's right! I'll take this opportunity to teach you how to use wooden chopsticks, so you can enjoy more delicious food in the future."

As luck would have it, Loris's carriage arrived in Sandstone Town just before the food was served.

Shirley and Liz both stood up to greet her.

Lorice stepped down from the carriage and looked in amazement at the scene in the front yard.

"What are you doing?"

Loren chuckled. "My dear sister, you've come at just the right time. Did you arrive right at mealtime?"

Loris snorted, "Didn't you want grape juice and cucumber seeds? I brought them to you."

She really did arrive right at mealtime.

After her last visit to Shashi Town, she couldn't stop thinking about the chilled grape juice.

Loren said last time that there wasn't enough grape juice.

She brought several cans this time, so I can finally drink to my heart's content!
But she didn't expect Loren to be eating in the yard.

And the way they eat is quite novel.

"Since we're already here, let's sit down and eat together."

Loren casually greeted them and gestured for Xuefu and Liz to sit down.

Loris hadn't announced her arrival beforehand, so there was no need for them to bow. Loris sat down at the table, looking at the soup gradually boiling in the four-compartment dish, and exclaimed, "It smells so good!"

She asked curiously, "How do you eat this? Do you drink the soup with a spoon?"

"Just wait, the food hasn't been served yet."

A short while later, the servant brought over sliced ​​meat and vegetables.

Once the soup boils, Loren adds the ingredients.

Half mushrooms, half tomatoes.

"What kind of way is this to eat it?" Loris asked again.

"Hot pot, this is mushroom soup, this is tomato soup."

“Isn’t this four squares? What are the other two squares?” Loris asked.

"One is a clear broth, and the other lacks a key ingredient, so we can't eat it for now."

"What ingredients?" Loris asked again.

"Why are you asking so many questions? Just wait to eat, isn't that enough?"

Loris glared at Loren, then turned her attention to the hot pot broth.

Soon, new problems arose.

The food looks cooked, but how should we eat it?

Loren used his chopsticks to pick up a slice of meat and put it into Xuefu's bowl.

The bowl contains pre-mixed dipping sauce.

The ingredients are limited, and the condiments are not plentiful; they only contain oil, salt, and minced garlic.

"If you want to eat hot pot, you must learn how to use chopsticks, so that it will be easier to eat other dishes in the future."

Loren explained while picking up some food with his chopsticks.

After serving Xuefu, I served Liz a few more pieces.

Loris stared blankly at him.

Seeing that Loren hadn't served her any food, she angrily demanded, "What about me?"

"Little sister, this is a specialty of Shashi Town. You mustn't steal the recipe."

"Hmph, who cares? Hurry up and give me some meat!"

Loren put two pieces on her plate. "You need to learn to pick up your own food, otherwise it won't be enjoyable to eat."

Although she was served last, Loris was the first to start eating.

Xuefu and Liz are too concerned about etiquette.

Loris's eyes lit up as she took a bite of the meat.

"What kind of meat is this?"

"pork."

pork?

How can pork taste so good?

She had tried stewed, boiled, and roasted versions before, but the taste was on a completely different level!
Is it because of the broth in the pot?
Or is it because of the ingredients in the bowl?
After finishing the two pieces of meat, she handed the bowl to Loren, saying, "Give me some more."

As expected of a noble lady, she always feels that it is only natural for others to serve her.

"Is it so hard for you to use chopsticks to pick it up yourself?"

Loren used chopsticks to pinch some air, giving a simple demonstration.

As a high-ranking knight, Loris couldn't possibly be so incapable of using chopsticks...

She really doesn't know how.

Not only her, but also Xuefu and Liz couldn't get used to it.

Loren had anticipated this.

"Luckily, I made a batch of baby chopsticks in advance."

"Baby chopsticks?" The women looked at them with puzzled expressions.

"Yes, even babies can use chopsticks."

The baby chopsticks have their tips connected, making them very easy to use.

"Who do you look down on?" Loris asked with disdain.

She is the lord of the coastal town!

A genius of the Silver Moon family!
Your Excellency, Baron!
A powerful high-ranking knight!
How could someone not even know how to use two small wooden sticks?
Seeing that Xuefu and Liz were gradually becoming more skilled at picking up meat, Loris coughed lightly.

"Hey, get me a pair too."

(End of this chapter)