Landlord in the Arctic-Chapter 92: Eating Meat

He started by making a cut on the musk ox’s belly. Following the incision, he carefully peeled back the outer layer of fur, revealing the bright red muscle tissue beneath, before stripping off the entire hide.

As the musk ox was broken down, residual blood from the muscle tissue flowed down the cuts, dripping into a basin that had been prepared beforehand.

Next, Feng Mountain began to remove the organs.

His hands precisely found where the organs connected and removed them one by one.

After dealing with the organs, he started butchering the large cuts of meat. He took the four legs first, followed by the ribs and the chest meat. He cut the meat into pieces of a suitable size for cooking and storage, then packed them away in the Storage Bag.

With every slice of the knife, he could hear the sound of muscle fibers tearing apart.

A single musk ox weighing over five hundred pounds yielded about three hundred pounds of meat. Feng Mountain didn’t plan on keeping the organs and bones this time.

As payment for pulling the sled, Feng Mountain tossed the organs and bones to the white wolves.

The white wolves excitedly gathered around, growling low in their chests, and eagerly pounced on the delicious food.

In the winter, organs are extremely attractive to predators. The liver, in particular, is rich in nutrients and provides them with precious energy.

Seeing the White Wolf Pack eating so happily, the three little ones wanted to sneak a bite. But the wolves gave them no chance, forming a tight circle around the food with their bodies. This sent the three into a frenzy of anxious yelps, with Prince being especially loud with his complaints.

"Stop your yelping. I saved this for you," Feng Mountain said, bringing a bowl out of the workshop and placing it before the three. Inside were thin strips of fresh liver.

Later, Feng Mountain and Nash used shovels to pile up the snow in an open space. Then, they dug a cave into the snowdrift and placed the packaged musk ox meat inside.

They hadn’t stored the meat this way before because the snow wasn’t deep enough. Plus, the occasional rain would have made the meat spoil. But now, it was cold enough and the snow was thick enough. Even if it rained, the water would just freeze into a layer of ice on the surface, turning the snowdrift into a natural freezer, which was much better for preserving the meat.

After feeding the white wolves and his three little masters, he went inside the wooden shed.

A griddle on the stove began to let off white smoke. Nash rubbed a piece of musk ox fat evenly across the hot surface. The fat met the searing griddle with a SIZZLE, and its rich aroma instantly filled the air.

The rich aroma permeated the entire wooden shed, a tantalizing scent that teased their nostrils and whetted their appetites.

Nash focused intently on swirling the musk ox fat, his eyes fixed on the griddle to ensure every inch was evenly coated. The sizzling fat sounded like a wonderful melody, building their anticipation.

As time went on, the aroma grew richer and more intense, threatening to fill the entire shed.

Feng Mountain took out the sliced musk ox meat and poured it onto the greased griddle.

The moment the slices of musk ox hit the griddle, they let out a sharp SSSST! A cloud of steam billowed up, and the rich, meaty aroma instantly filled the air.

On the hot, oiled griddle, the slices of meat changed color in an instant. Their edges curled up slightly, releasing a tempting, seared aroma.

Feng Mountain picked up a piece of wood and split off two thin strips to use as chopsticks, quickly turning the slices of meat.

Musk ox meat is naturally delicious, best enjoyed for its inherent flavor. A mere pinch of salt is all it takes to bring out its unique texture and taste perfectly.

"Xiaona, go get the salt."

Resigned to the new nickname Khilla had given him, Nash got up and went into the bus to get the salt.

Feng Mountain took the salt, sprinkled a little over the meat, and continued to turn the slices.

He then picked up a slice of musk ox, and without a thought for the searing heat, popped it into his mouth.

The scalding piece of meat rolled across his tongue. Even though it was hot enough to make Feng Mountain suck in a sharp breath, he couldn’t resist chewing. He felt the fibers of the musk ox meat parting between his teeth, releasing an even richer, savory flavor.

The texture of the musk ox meat was just as his grand-uncle had said.

It was firm and springy. With every bite, you could feel the resilience of the muscle fibers, yet it wasn’t overly tough. It had a perfect, satisfyingly solid texture.

As he chewed, he discovered the meat was both tender and succulent. Fresh, savory juices flooded his mouth, bringing with them a deeply satisfying richness.

The texture of musk ox was more unique than other meats.

It wasn’t coarse like beef, nor was it soft like chicken. It had its own distinct flavor and texture.

"Delicious!!" Feng Mountain let out a long, satisfied sigh. He looked at Nash, whose eyes were twinkling with anticipation, and extended his chopsticks again. "What are you waiting for? Dig in!"

Nash, who was now quite skilled with chopsticks, did the same, picking up a piece of musk ox and popping it into his mouth.

The two went back and forth, snatching pieces with their chopsticks, and quickly polished off all the meat on the griddle.

Was the feast over?

Of course not. Feng Mountain had sliced a huge bowl of musk ox. The goal was simple: eat well, and eat until they were stuffed.

The three little ones, who had been eating liver off to the side, smelled the grilled meat, and suddenly their own food lost all its appeal.

Abandoning their food bowls, they crowded around Feng Mountain, nudging him and looking up eagerly.

Coca-Cola used its signature move, letting out a cute, pleading meow while demurely brushing its tail against Feng Mountain.

Prince was completely shameless. Knowing the stove was hot, he lay on Feng Mountain’s leg with his tongue hanging out, a string of drool dangling from the corner of his mouth.

The Little Wolf Cub seemed to be copying Prince, already showing signs of a goofy sort of cuteness.

Feng Mountain had no choice but to get their food bowls and share the pan-fried musk ox meat with them.

After sharing the fried meat with the animals, Feng Mountain remembered there was another treat he hadn’t brought out. He quickly got up and ducked into the workshop.

When he emerged from the workshop, he was holding a bowl with some pinkish-white slices. They looked like meat but had none of its fibrous texture.

"Xiaona, do you eat tongue?" Before he started cooking it, Feng Mountain thought to politely ask about Nash’s dietary customs. If it was something he didn’t eat, Feng Mountain would just freeze it and eat it by himself later.

Nash flashed a mouthful of pearly whites in a wry grin. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

"Khilla, Indians dare to eat anything. Including people!"

"Eating people?" Feng Mountain froze, holding the ox tongue. This dietary habit was a bit beyond his expectations. He looked at Nash curiously. "Do people taste good?"

"!!!"

’I was just kidding, and Khilla actually took me seriously.’ Nash was speechless and hurried to explain.

"Historically, it’s true that some Indian tribes practiced cannibalism, but that’s ancient history. Modern Indians prefer KFC and McDonald’s."

"Never mind. Let’s not talk about junk food. Let’s try this musk ox tongue instead. I’ve already taken care of the gamy taste."

Feng Mountain shrugged and placed the sliced musk ox tongue on the griddle to grill.

Honestly, with no seasonings other than a sprinkle of salt, the musk ox tongue grilled on the griddle was truly fresh and tender. Although the slices were thin, the outside was slightly crispy and charred, and they were tender and juicy to chew.

The primal feast continued until nightfall.

Man and beast alike ate until their bellies were round and full, completely content.

The White Wolf Pack had left the camp before dark. They had another job to do: patrol the Crown Territory to prevent other predators from sneaking in to hunt.

By the dim yellow light of a kerosene lamp, Feng Mountain lounged in his rocking chair, reading a book. On the stove, the teapot gurgled softly, puffing out steam.

The three little ones each found a comfortable spot in the bus to lie down, lazily licking their chops and savoring the memory of the delicious meal.

Nash headed out to the Glacial River Beach to guard his tribe’s Fire Seed.

The entire Tundra seemed to be steeped in a tranquil atmosphere. Only the cold wind continued to howl and the aurora continued to dance, witnesses to the land’s shift from clamor to quiet.

.....