American Hunting: Starting with Solitary Life in the Wilderness

Chapter 237 The Strength of the Ancestor's Carefully Selected Pieces (It's the end of the month, please vote!)
Arya grinned mischievously and pointed her knife and fork directly at the giant roasted turkey.

The sharp knife made a precise cut along the joint of the turkey's thigh, and with a crisp sound, the whole, huge, and seemingly plump turkey leg was completely cut off.

He placed the enormous prize steadily on Lin Yu'an's plate, then scooped up a large spoonful of golden, crispy traditional filling and piled it next to it.

“Let’s start with this,” she said, gesturing with her chin to the turkey leg, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"Try our chef's cooking and see if she has completed the epic challenge of 'making turkey taste good'."

Lin Yu'an couldn't help but laugh when he heard this. His impression of roast turkey was still that of the dry, tough, and wood-like texture he had eaten at parties in the past.

In his view, the greatest value of this thing is as a mascot for the festival; nobody really expects it to be delicious.

With a hint of skepticism, he picked up his knife and fork and cut off a large piece of turkey leg meat with its crispy skin still attached.

I expected to encounter stubborn resistance from the rough fibers, but when the blade cut down, I felt an unexpected smoothness.

He forked the piece of meat, dipped it in the hot, rich meat sauce in the boat-shaped bowl next to him, and then somewhat perfunctorily put it into his mouth.

The moment it entered his mouth, Lin Yu'an paused in his chewing motion.

The dry, woody texture I had imagined was nowhere to be found. The turkey skin was roasted to a crispy, caramelized perfection, with a complex aroma of rosemary and garlic.

The leg meat below is not only firm in texture, but also surprisingly not dry inside, with every fiber infused with a subtle salty and spice aroma.

Incredulously, he cut off a small piece of the breast meat to taste, the part of the turkey most prone to failure.

As a result, the breast meat was equally tender and juicy, and the vanilla butter completely overcame the dryness of poultry white meat.

However, deep within that rich vanilla and butter flavor, a familiar, wild, gamey odor stubbornly resurfaced.

The flavor had been processed to be very mild, but it was still there. It was the original mark of a large bird like a turkey, which could not be completely erased by civilized cooking methods.

Lin Yu'an slowly swallowed the food in his mouth, put down his knife and fork, and instead of speaking immediately, he gently tapped the table with his fingers, making a series of rhythmic sounds.

He crossed his arms over his chest, leaned back in his chair, and wore an extremely serious expression, as if he were a judge in the final of a top-level culinary competition.

Arya rolled her eyes at his pretentious act: "Hey, here you go again."

Lin Yu'an's appearance instantly reminded Ailiya of her college days, when she had just tried making a Chinese dish of scrambled eggs with tomatoes, and he wanted to do the same thing after tasting it.

Ignoring Arya's eye roll, he focused his gaze on Emily, who was trying hard to suppress her laughter and looking at him expectantly.

“Ms. Emily,” he said, deliberately lowering his voice and mimicking the authoritative tone of a food show judge, “please come to the judging panel.”

Emily obediently stood up from her chair, walked over to him, and put her hands behind her back, like a contestant awaiting sentencing.

Lin Yu'an cleared his throat and began his comments: "First of all, I want to congratulate you. You got full marks in the 'moisture' category."

"Technically, I have no complaints about how they can make turkey, a 'disaster' ingredient in the culinary world, so tender and juicy."

"Honestly, this is better than many of the so-called Michelin-starred restaurants I've had."

Lin Yu'an paused for a moment, then his tone suddenly became sharp: "But..."

He leaned forward, looking directly into Emily's eyes, and said, word by word, "Your biggest challenge lies in controlling the flavor."

"You try to mask it with lots of vanilla and butter, but that original, primal turkey smell is still there."

"No matter how lavishly you set up your stage, I can still smell its presence; you haven't been able to completely get rid of it."

"Did you do this on purpose, or was it an accident?"

Faced with such a "sharp" critique, Emily showed no sign of nervousness; instead, she revealed a confident and composed smile.

“Yes, sir, I did not remove it completely on purpose,” she admitted frankly.

"Because I know that's impossible. The turkey's gamey smell is written into its genes, and any chef who tries to completely eliminate it is going against God."

Her aura instantly shifted, and she began to explain her cooking philosophy to the "judges": "Therefore, my strategy is not to eliminate, but to tame."

"I soaked it in spiced brine for two whole days, adding plenty of juniper berries and bay leaves to minimize its wildness."

"I then dressed it up with a blend of vanilla butter, making it a respectable and acceptable turkey."

Arya couldn't help but complain from the side, "You two, that's enough! Can't we just enjoy the holiday in peace?"

Lin Yu'an ignored Aria's protest and continued to immerse himself in the role, imitating the judge's tone, "Emily, I have a historical story about this dish."

Emily winked very cooperatively: "Please go ahead, Mr. Judge."

Lin Yu'an said in a serious tone, "You know, six hundred years ago, during the Ming Dynasty in ancient China, there was a fleet of ships led by Zheng He that sailed to the Western Ocean. It can be said that they brought back all kinds of rare treasures from all over the world."

“Giraffes, lions, spices… they had everything, but when they saw the turkey, they absolutely refused to bring it back.”

Arya and Emily were both completely baffled by his nonsensical topic.

Lin Yu'an pointed to the turkey on the plate, his expression becoming extremely serious. He lowered his voice and said, word by word, "Because it's so awful!"

"If Zheng He had brought this thing back and presented it to the Yongle Emperor to taste, wow, what is this stuff? It's dry, tough, and fishy!"
"Enraged, the emperor gave the order: 'Guards! Drag the cooks and the fleet out and behead them!'"

"Pfft-"

Arya and Emily could no longer contain themselves and burst into laughter at his serious-sounding nonsense.

Lin Yu'an then dropped his serious expression and started laughing too.

Then he said to Emily, "That's why I said that you can handle this disaster-level ingredient that is enough to threaten your life to this extent. It's not just cooking skills, it's defying fate!"

The serious expression on his face vanished instantly, replaced by a hearty laugh. He stood up and gave Emily a dramatic hug.

Lin Yu'an raised one hand high and, imitating the exaggerated and drawn-out tone of a TV host, announced loudly.

"Emily! Congratulations! With your wisdom, honesty, and impeccable skills, you have won the grand prize of this year's 'Weisman Family Chef Competition'! The prize for the champion is..."

When Emily heard the "verdict," a radiant smile spread across her face, her eyes sparkling with the joy of victory.

She tiptoed and, before Lin Yu'an could finish speaking, kissed him on the cheek, like an overly excited winner on an awards stage.

"Thank you, judges!" Her voice was filled with barely suppressed laughter.

Just then, Arya, who had been silently enduring the situation, finally snapped.

She slammed her hand on the table, stood up abruptly, and pointed at the two of them, shouting in a tone filled with grief, indignation, and disbelief, "No! This is unfair! There's definitely something fishy going on here!"

Arya's acting skills instantly kicked in, her eyes filled with a dramatic glint of betrayal: "I saw it! I saw it all! Emily! You actually seduced the judges in public!"

She angrily pointed at Lin Yu'an, "And you! Respected judge! You actually accepted a bribe! I'm going to report you! I'm going to report this dirty deal to the competition organizing committee!"

As she spoke, she pretended to tremble with rage, her performance so lifelike that it seemed she had truly revealed some shocking scandal. Faced with Arya's sudden and brilliant addition to the drama, Lin Yu'an and Emily were both stunned for a moment, then could no longer hold back and burst into laughter along with Arya.

"Hahahahaha!"

The entire cabin was filled with their incredibly happy laughter. Ethan and Olivia tilted their heads in confusion and also giggled along in a daze.

This impromptu family stage play, sparked by a piece of turkey meat, came to a perfect close amidst joyful laughter.

Lin Yu'an smiled and shook his head, picked up his knife and fork, bypassed the roast turkey that had already completed its historical mission, and finally focused on the real hardcore main course, Wellington moose tenderloin.

He cut off a thick slice, and as the blade sliced ​​through the golden, crispy pastry, it produced a delightful "crunch."

He placed the perfect slice of Wellington on his plate and examined it carefully.

Its cross-section is distinct, as clear as geological strata, with a thin and crispy crust on the outside, followed by savory Parma ham.

Further inside, there is a layer of dark brown mushroom sauce made from a variety of wild mushrooms and liver pâté.

At the very center of these layers lies a perfectly pink, tender, and juicy moose tenderloin.

He didn't even need to pour gravy over it; he simply used a fork to pick up a small piece, making sure each layer was just right, and then put it in his mouth.

The first sensation upon chewing is the crispy texture of the pastry, bursting with buttery aroma.

Immediately afterwards, the salty and savory flavors of Parma ham and the rich umami of the mushroom sauce burst forth, setting a fresh and delicate tone for the entire taste experience.

Enveloped in this rich flavor, the moose tenderloin was cooked to perfection, its tenderness so exquisite that it melted on the tongue with almost no chewing required.

The most ingenious part is that during the baking process, the juices that seep out of the tenderloin are locked in by the mushroom sauce and ham, which in turn soak into the inner layer of the puff pastry.

This allows the pastry to remain crispy on the outside while absorbing all the essence inside, resulting in an extremely complex texture.

"How is it?" Emily asked softly, a hint of nervousness in her voice. This was her proudest work of the night.

Lin Yu'an didn't speak, but kept nodding involuntarily with her eyes closed. Then she cut off an even larger piece and put it in her mouth. This action was more praiseworthy than any words.

The pace of the meal then became lighter.

Arya scooped a large spoonful of creamy garlic mashed potatoes for him, and Lin Yu'an poured hot meat gravy on top. The smoothness of the mashed potatoes and the aroma of the garlic were a classic combination that would never go wrong.

He then tried the maple syrup and bacon-baked Brussels sprouts. The slight bitterness of the vegetables was perfectly balanced by the sweetness of the maple syrup and the smoky, salty flavor of the bacon, resulting in a crisp texture and rich layers of flavor.

Ethan and Olivia were seated in their special baby high chairs. In front of them was a small plate containing their own "mini Christmas dinner."

That was something Emily had prepared especially for them: a few small pieces of mashed potatoes that had been pressed until extremely soft and unsalted, a small amount of chicken thigh meat shredded into thin strips, and carrots that had been steamed until soft and diced.

Ethan was curiously using his chubby little hands to clumsily grab a small piece of mashed potato and stuff it into his mouth, making a mess all over his face.

The younger sister, Olivia, was more reserved, only curiously poking at the small carrot cubes in the plate with her finger.

Whiskey and Honey lay quietly by the table, contentedly munching on their turkey meat, occasionally sticking out their tongues to lick up the crumbs that fell from the baby high chair.

They ate this meal very slowly, without talking about work or past hardships, but simply sharing the delicious food and chatting about the new pronunciations the children had recently learned.

Enjoying this purest moment of family happiness.

The dinner plates were cleared away, but the warm atmosphere of Christmas Eve continued to grow.

Whiskey and Honey lay contentedly in front of the fireplace, their heads resting on their front paws, taking a blissful nap.

"Alright, now it's my turn to perform my signature act." Arya turned and walked into the kitchen.

A moment later, a more complex aroma began to slowly permeate the cabin, a unique scent that blended fruit, wine, and various spices.

Warm cinnamon, spicy cloves, and a subtle hint of spirits.

Arya came out carrying two antique ceramic stew pots, one slightly larger and one slightly smaller.

She first ladled a cup of steaming hot red wine for Lin Yu'an and herself from the large pot.

“Glühwein (spiced red wine),” Aria handed the warm glass to Lin Yu’an, a hint of pride on her face.

“It’s a German tradition. My dad says that a Christmas without this is like a winter without a fireplace—it lacks soul.”

Then, she poured Emily a cup of warm, amber-colored drink from the small pot.

Arya smiled and said to Emily, "And this is for our great hero, made with apple juice, cranberry juice and the same spices, guaranteed to taste just as festive."

Lin Yu'an held the glass and saw cinnamon sticks and orange slices floating in the deep red wine.

He took a sip, and a warm, sweet, sour, and spicy liquid instantly slid down his throat. After that, an even stronger, fruity, and intensely warm current rushed down his throat.

"You added brandy?" Lin Yu'an looked at her in surprise.

“Of course.” Arya winked smugly.

"My dad's version has to be energetic to dispel the chill of Montana."

Emily also held her warm glass of "Kids' Punch" and happily inhaled its aroma, which was also full of cinnamon and fruit.

Although the contents of their glasses differed, the three of them were sharing the same warm and sweet flavor that belonged only to Christmas.

The family sat around the sofa in front of the fireplace, with the warm, flickering flames beside them and a small Christmas tree in front of them.

Ethan and Olivia were already tired from playing and fell into a deep sleep on the soft wool of the carpet, while Arya and Emily gently held them in their arms.

"Alright, now it's gift time!" Arya lowered her voice, but couldn't hide her excitement.

Like a child, she knelt on the carpet next to the Christmas tree and began to play the role of Santa Claus.

She first rummaged through the pile of gifts wrapped in kraft paper and hemp rope and found a unique flat box that was carefully wrapped in dark blue velvet and silver ribbon.

"The first one is for our dearest Emily." She solemnly handed the box to Emily. "Emily, thank you for being there for me when I needed you most."

Emily accepted the gift, carefully untied the beautiful silver ribbon, and then gently unfolded the velvet cloth covering it, revealing a low-key black hard case.

Curious, she opened the box. With a soft click, a Walther PPK pistol lay quietly inside the velvet lining. The gun was small and exquisite, with an elegant metallic sheen.

"Wow..." Emily covered her mouth in surprise. She hadn't expected Arya to give her such a hardcore yet trustworthy gift.

“I think it’s a better fit for you than the Glock 17,” Arya said with a smile. “It’s elegant, precise, and easier to carry and conceal.”

Emily gave Arya a big hug and whispered, "Thank you, Arya, I love it."

(End of this chapter)