I Became The Chief Of A Primitive Village

Chapter 1077, Yu Ying, With No Idea Where to Begin

Translator: Silavin

Su Bai had only just opened his eyes and stepped out of his room when he found Yu Ying crouched around a wooden basin, staring at nothing in particular.

He walked over, curious. “Xiao Yu, what’s the matter? Why didn’t you come and knock on my door this morning?”

Normally, by this hour, Yu Ying would have already run over to call him. But today she had not.

“Ah! Good morning, Shaman! I, I forgot.” Yu Ying stood up quickly, all in a rush. “It was because, it was because I was looking at a new beast.”

“A new beast?” Su Bai walked over to have a look.

He glanced at what was inside the wooden basin, and broke into a smile at once.

“Shaman, what is it? Do you recognise these creatures?” Yu Ying asked, puzzled.

“These are not new. They’re called crayfish, and they’re delicious.” Su Bai laughed, easy and bright.

The moment he had seen what was in the basin, he had understood. They looked exactly like the crayfish of the modern world.

Of course, it was only the appearance that was the same. The size was another matter. These were fully twice the size of any crayfish he remembered. Calling them lobsters would not have been an overstatement.

If they had not looked so precisely like crayfish on the outside, Su Bai might not have been confident at all.

“Crayfish? But they don’t look small at all,” Yu Ying said, her pink eyes blinking steadily.

“True. These crayfish are quite large. They’re not quite like the ones I remember.” Su Bai studied them carefully.

“Shaman, you said just now that these creatures taste very good. But they look ugly. Are they really edible?” Yu Ying asked, half-believing, half-doubtful.

“Of course. If these are the same as the crayfish I have in mind, then prepared properly, they would be delicious.” Su Bai said it with complete certainty.

In the modern world, crayfish were prepared in an enormous number of ways. Garlic butter, spicy, thirteen spices, and countless others, each one different.

Every preparation had its own character, but every single one of them left you wanting more.

In summer, crayfish with a cold beer was something that could only be called perfect contentment.

“Shaman, could we have crayfish for lunch today? Only I don’t know how to make them.” Yu Ying looked uncertain.

“That’s simple enough. I’ll teach you how at midday. After that, you’ll know what to do.” Su Bai ruffled her hair.

Yu Ying narrowed her eyes instinctively and said, pleased, “Yes. I’ll learn it as quickly as I can.”

“Oh, right, where were these crayfish found? Along the great river?” Su Bai asked.

Seeing the crayfish had made him so curious about them that he had nearly forgotten to ask where they had come from.

“The soldiers spotted them during their patrol today. They saw these creatures climbing up onto the riverbank. They didn’t know what they were, but they caught some and brought them back.”

Yu Ying kept her eyes on the crayfish in the basin. “The Chieftain sent some over first thing this morning. He said you would probably know what they were.”

“I see. Then after breakfast we’ll have a go at preparing them. If they taste really good, we should catch more of them.” Su Bai nodded slowly, his thoughts already moving ahead.

It had been a long time since he had eaten crayfish. If these creatures tasted the way he remembered, he would certainly want more than a few.

It was the perfect opportunity, too, to eat his fill for once. Crayfish of this size would be something else entirely.

“Yes.” Yu Ying showed a row of white teeth.

“Has your Tribe ever seen crayfish before?” Su Bai thought to ask.

“Never. This was the first time any of us had seen them. The Chieftain didn’t know what they were either.” Yu Ying shook her head.

“Understood.” Su Bai went to wash up and brush his teeth before breakfast.

The two of them had barely finished eating before they were already busying themselves with the crayfish. Neither could sit still.

“Shaman, how do you prepare crayfish? Do you just drop them straight into the water and boil them?” Yu Ying stood looking at the basin, with no idea where to begin.

“They do go into the water to boil, yes, but before that step there are a few others. Go and fetch me some stiff grass brushes.” Su Bai told her.

Many of the things used in the Tribe now were things Su Bai had thought up. Brushes were one of them. Since there was no plastic to be had, certain simple plants made a reasonable substitute.

They worked well enough for scrubbing clothes, for cleaning pots, and for brushing teeth, though the brushes for teeth were made from something considerably softer, so as not to damage the gums.

“Right away.” Yu Ying was on her feet and off to fetch the brushes at once.

Min stood nearby, watching with interest. She was the one responsible for the kitchen now, so she was here to learn.

“First, the crayfish need to be scrubbed clean. These animals live in the mud, and their shells are filthy. Boiling alone is not enough.”

Su Bai demonstrated as he spoke. He gripped the crayfish firmly by its claws, then scrubbed the body with the grass brush.

These crayfish were on the large side, so the claws had to be secured first. Being pinched by them would easily tear off skin and draw blood.

Su Bai scrubbed with practised ease, covering the belly, the back, and the head, and being thorough about all of it.

When he was done, he picked up a pair of scissors and said carefully, “The next step is just as important. You need to remove the vein.”

Su Bai arched the back of the cleaned crayfish, made a single vertical cut along the spine, then drew out the vein in one smooth motion.

The whole thing was done with ease, and the girls watching on either side of him could not take their eyes away.

“That’s more or less how it’s done. Rinse it once more and it’s ready to set aside.” Su Bai smiled.

“I’d like to try. But, but I’m a little scared.” Yu Ying stood looking at the basin, not quite able to bring herself to reach in.

Yu Ying was not someone known to be particularly bold. And now that she could see just how large these crayfish were, she was more hesitant than ever. Their claws were large too. She was certain she would be pinched so she kept her small hands tucked away and did not dare move.

“Shaman, I’m scared too.” Min admitted, laughing awkwardly.

“It’s all right. As long as you hold it by the claws, it cannot hurt you.” Su Bai encouraged them both.

It was perfectly natural to be nervous the first time one encountered a crayfish. And a pinch from one of those claws would indeed be painful.

“All right. I, I’ll try.” Yu Ying gave herself a long, quiet moment to prepare before she slowly extended both hands.

She looked very carefully into the basin for some time, and finally chose one that seemed, relatively speaking, a little smaller than the rest.

Eyes clenched shut, Yu Ying lifted it out and clamped both hands tightly around its claws.

She did not dare let go, and she did not dare open her eyes. Her heart was hammering.

The feel of it was unsettling. It moved, and the shell was hard.

She was a young girl. Of course she was frightened.