Chapter 36: Hawthorn Pork Ribs

“I don’t get it either. Right now, I’m watching through a screen, calling her Sister Tong with every breath. But if I actually met her in real life, I’d definitely stay fifty feet away! I’m terrified of someone who can drag a wild boar with one hand while petting a big cat with the other.”

“Actually, speaking objectively, Qiao Yitong is quite gentle toward people. At least she hasn’t shown any aggression from start to finish (unlike the people over on Shisan’s side, who don’t even know how to communicate properly and can’t speak without belittling, mocking, or attacking).”

“I noticed that too. Sister Tong really has a good temper. Even when Deng You first came over, if it were me, I would’ve told him to get lost. I wouldn’t have listened to his nonsense for a second.”

“I think everyone should be glad Sister Tong has a good temper. Otherwise, given the force she used to smash coconuts with shells and chop bamboo, who knows how many of those professional haters would’ve been taken down by now.”

“Hahahaha, I think so too. Haven’t you noticed? As Sister Tong shows off more of her skills, the brainless haters in the bullet chat have decreased a lot. (Whispering: I actually clicked into their profiles one by one and found out many of them are professional trolls.)”

“Why would professional trolls target Sister Tong?”

The viewers in the bullet chat were doing their own thinking, and generally speaking, they weren’t lacking in intelligence.

In the past, they had no good feelings toward Qiao Yitong because the entire internet was cursing and attacking her.

Coupled with “video evidence” that seemed to prove the claims, those negative labels naturally took root in their minds.

But now, having seen for the first time what kind of person Qiao Yitong actually was, they suddenly felt that the overwhelming wave of vitriol felt a bit off, even eerie.

Once the seeds of doubt began to sprout, various theories came rushing in like a wildfire that could no longer be contained.

Many people began to proactively dig into Qiao Yitong’s past, attempting to reconstruct the truth of who she really was.

Regardless of what others thought, now that Qiao Yitong had received her answer, she felt at ease. She stopped obsessing over whether she appeared gentle or approachable.

She led the group over to the wild boar.

Rubbing her chin slightly, she began to contemplate how to process this boar to make the most of every part.

Lu Cheng approached the boar. Looking at the two-hundred-pound beast, he was once again struck by its sheer size.

How on earth did Sister Tong manage to subdue such a creature back then?

Sister Tong really worked hard.

Thinking this, Lu Cheng said to Qiao Yitong, “Sister Tong, tell us how to handle this. You give the orders, and we’ll do the work.”

In the past, he had helped his father slaughter pigs during the New Year.

From that experience, he knew very well that butchering a pig was backbreaking labor.

In Qiao Yitong’s eyes, every part of this wild boar had already transformed into the image of a delicacy.

Once she had a plan, she deftly drew a sharp dagger and began marking sections on the boar’s body.

“The head meat is rich but not greasy. We’ll braise it.”

“The hind legs have firm meat. We’ll salt and air-dry them to make ham for long-term storage.”

“The trotters are high in collagen. We’ll make braised pig’s feet.”

“The rib section, we can braise or fry. We’ll make spare ribs.”

“This part has a high fat content. We’ll render it for lard to add flavor to future dishes.”

“Then there are the organs. Once cleaned, they can be braised or stir-fried.”

“Any other parts we can’t finish, we’ll cut into strips, cure them with salt, and hang them in a ventilated area to dry. They’ll keep for a long time.”

Qiao Yitong gestured as she spoke.

As the others listened, a clear image of each dish formed in their minds.

Lu Cheng swallowed hard, his appetite completely piqued. He desperately wished that every item Sister Tong mentioned would transform into a gourmet meal before him in the next second.

In his eagerness, he asked impatiently, “Sister Tong, what should we do now?”

“You and Deng You will divide the meat according to the marks I’ve made,” Qiao Yitong said. After finishing, she looked at the two of them. “Can you handle it?”

“Don’t worry, Sister Tong. We can at least manage that much,” Lu Cheng replied.

Qiao Yitong nodded, leaving the heavy labor entirely to the two men.

When she walked back, she saw Qi Qing watching her.

Qi Qing was an actress in her thirties. In the original owner’s memory, she had been famous for a time, but she had suddenly announced her marriage to a wealthy man and retired from the entertainment industry.

Later on, there were rumors and gossip about her.

They said the wealthy man went bankrupt and couldn’t handle the blow, turning to alcohol and eventually domestic violence.

Qi Qing couldn’t stand him and chose to divorce.

After the divorce, she didn’t feel safe leaving her child with such an irresponsible man, so she raised the child alone.

Relying on her past influence, she could still occasionally land small gigs. The money she earned was just enough to take care of her child and their daily lives.

But six months ago, her daughter fainted at school.

Qi Qing took the child for an examination, and the results showed congenital heart disease. While not life-threateningly severe, it required surgery as soon as possible.

The cost of the surgery plus recovery fees was about one million yuan.

And that didn’t mean spending that million would fix everything; she had no idea how much more would be needed for follow-up care.

Even so, coming up with that initial million was no easy feat for her.

In her state of confusion and helplessness, she received this job offer. Some said this was a way to gamble one’s life for money, but for her, it was the only way to restore her daughter’s health.

She had no intention of making enemies.

However, she needed to survive.

Yet this desire to survive was what had led her, at the very beginning…

After Qiao Yitong had repaid her malice with kindness, the hurdle in Qi Qing’s heart hadn’t disappeared. Instead, it had become a growing knot.

To the point where every time Qiao Yitong showed her kindness, her conscience would undergo a trial of guilt.

Qi Qing’s gaze was unfocused, staring into the distance until Qiao Yitong walked over.

“Are you busy?” Qiao Yitong asked.

Qi Qing quickly snapped out of her daze. “Not at all.”

“Help me wash these.” Qiao Yitong handed her backpack directly to Qi Qing.

Qi Qing blinked in surprise. She opened the bag and looked inside, only to find it filled to the brim with hawthorns.

“This is…” Qi Qing could hardly believe her eyes.

How could something like hawthorns even exist here?

“Hawthorns,” Qiao Yitong said. “We’re making Hawthorn Pork Ribs later.”

The moment the words “Hawthorn Pork Ribs” were uttered, an image of the delicious dish immediately formed in Qi Qing’s mind.

She had been following them for several days, eating things that could barely be classified as food. Now, just hearing the name of the dish, a tart, fragrant aroma seemed to waft around her nose, and her mouth instantly began to water.

“How are there so many hawthorns?” Qi Qing couldn’t help but ask.

“Found them on the way. It’s all thanks to Deng You,” Qiao Yitong said, taking none of the credit for herself.

“Oh, I see.” Qi Qing’s eyes were fixed on the hawthorns. Without wasting another second, she hurried off with the bag to wash them.

Their conversation wasn’t far from where Deng You and Lu Cheng were working hard to butcher the wild boar, and every word reached their ears.

Lu Cheng glanced at Deng You and remarked sarcastically, “Well, look at you. Quite impressive, actually managing to find food on your own initiative.”

Deng You was used to Lu Cheng’s occasional snide remarks. He put on a mock-bashful expression as if he were embarrassed by the praise, just to annoy him. “You flatter me, really.”

Lu Cheng sighed. “Can you just be normal for once?”

Deng You dropped the act and focused on the hind leg of the boar. As he struggled to slice through it, he explained seriously, “Actually, it’s not really worth praising. On the way there, Sister Tong was focused entirely on finding the boar. I was just terrified, so I kept a very close eye on our surroundings. I didn’t expect to stumble upon a hawthorn tree. Even though the wild hawthorns are small, there were plenty of them. Sister Tong said they were edible, so I gathered a bagful.”

“Fair enough,” Lu Cheng nodded in approval.

Regardless of how they were found, discovering food was always worthy of praise.

Once Qiao Yitong had finished delegating all the tasks, she found herself completely at leisure.

She went into her room and, after a moment, emerged as if by magic carrying a bamboo chair. She set it down on the beach and began to soak up the sun.

She had to admit, life was quite comfortable when there were people to do her bidding.

Especially since these people followed her every instruction without question, saving her a great deal of effort.

As for providing them with food in return?

To Qiao Yitong, that was simply a matter of convenience.

After all, even if she didn’t feed them, she still had to eat herself.

Now, she had people to help with the prep work and people to wash the dishes and clean up the mess afterward. All she had to do was the part she loved most: the cooking.

Moreover, because she was a Culinary Cultivator, her culinary skills grew significantly every time she prepared a meal.

Now, while she wasn’t needed for the busy work, she could lie in her lounge chair, basking in the sun and feeling the sea breeze, looking out at a beautiful landscape she had never seen in her previous life.

It was truly pleasant.

Occasionally, she even wondered if this beautiful, serene environment was what the ancient books of her past life described as the Immortal Realm.

But it seemed a little different.

Qiao Yitong immersed herself in this relaxed state, enjoying an experience that was almost impossible to find in her previous world.

Compared to the greatest rulers of her past life, her current existence was perhaps only missing a few people to dance and sing for her.

At that thought, Qiao Yitong shook her head. This life was becoming far too decadent.

About half an hour later, the boar had been butchered and the hawthorns were all prepared. Only then did Qiao Yitong stand up to begin cooking.

All the preliminary preparations were complete.

Qi Qing, Lu Cheng, and Deng You were now gathered around the campfire, watching Qiao Yitong with expectant eyes.

“You’ll have to wait a little while,” Qiao Yitong said.

Lu Cheng nodded vigorously.

A hasty man eats cold ribs¹ – he understood, he understood perfectly.

Qiao Yitong took the ingredients and closed her eyes briefly, sensing the temperature of the flames in the campfire.

After a few minor adjustments, she began the preparation of the Hawthorn Pork Ribs.

First, she placed the washed and chopped ribs into the pot to blanch them, removing any gaminess, before scooping them out and draining them.

Next, she cut off a piece of pure fat and rendered it on the spot to get the lard she needed for the dish.

Once the oil was rendered, she set aside the crispy remains and began adding seasonings to the pot.

It was entirely different from the beginning when she only had one or two spices. Now, after many days of scavenging, she had gathered dozens of seasonings. By combining and substituting them, she could meet almost any culinary requirement.

She threw the substitutes for scallions, ginger, and garlic into the pot to sauté. Within two or three breaths, the fragrance exploded into the air.

Lu Cheng and Deng You stared at Qiao Yitong’s every move without blinking. It wasn’t just the pangs of hunger; they were so captivated by the contents of the pot that they were practically drooling.

As an outsider, Qi Qing had felt somewhat embarrassed, but she too was drawn in by the aroma and couldn’t help but take a step closer.

Even the usually calm Doctor subconsciously looked up, his expression filled with surprise and a hint of longing.

Qiao Yitong ignored them. She skillfully tossed the ribs into the pot and stir-fried them until they were golden brown. This single action made the onlookers grow restless with anticipation.

But she was clearly far from finished. Qiao Yitong took a bamboo tube from the side and began pouring in her special blend of seasonings. Once the flavors had permeated the meat, she added the washed hawthorns to the pot.

The liquid in the pot bubbled and boiled. The fruity scent of the hawthorns merged with the savory aroma of the pork ribs. That unique, enticing fragrance wafted out from the Stone Pot, causing the group to swallow hard repeatedly.

Qi Qing had initially felt that her reaction was a bit unseemly.

But when she saw the Adam’s apples of Lu Cheng and Deng You bobbing incessantly beside her, she suddenly felt at ease.

It made sense. Facing such a delicacy, such a reaction was nothing more than pure physical instinct.

Humans simply cannot go against their own biological instincts.

As time passed, the aroma of the Hawthorn Pork Ribs grew increasingly rich.

Finally, Qiao Yitong lifted the wooden lid that Lu Cheng had specially crafted. The ribs were a bright, ruby red, the hawthorns had softened into a pulp, and the sauce was thick and glossy. She gave the pot a gentle shake, ensuring every piece of meat was thoroughly coated in the glaze.

That color, that scent!

It wasn’t just the people standing in front of Qiao Yitong; the viewers watching through their screens were staring with wide, fixed eyes.

“Ahhh, I’m going crazy! These Hawthorn Pork Ribs are making me drool. It’s late at night here, this is pure torture!”

“I can’t take it anymore. Why do I want to eat everything I see? I still haven’t successfully recreated that Coconut Fish, and now I want Hawthorn Pork Ribs. Someone save me.”

“It doesn’t look that hard. Someone has already been so tempted they started ordering ribs and hawthorns online (goodbye, wallet).”

“I’m just numb at this point. I originally planned to lose weight, but watching this Deserted Island Survival has made me gain two pounds in three days. If the production team doesn’t do something about Qiao Yitong, I’m going to sue for emotional damages.”

“(English Comment) Oh my god, is this the legendary Chinese cuisine? It looks so tempting, I’m craving it so much. Does anyone know where in China I can eat this dish? Also, does anyone know the process for traveling to China?”

After finishing the Hawthorn Pork Ribs, Qiao Yitong did exactly what she had done before. She served herself a portion and left the group, heading over to her small bamboo chair to eat in peace.

The moment Qiao Yitong stepped away, the remaining group became restless.

Lu Cheng’s first instinct was to rush forward and serve himself.

Having learned his lesson from before, Deng You was quick. He reached out and pinned Lu Cheng’s arm down, saying with a straight face, “Things are different now. These two are Sister Tong’s guests. Don’t hog it all for yourself and leave nothing for them.”

Lu Cheng gave a thin, mocking smile. “Don’t forget, you’re a guest too.”

Deng You was momentarily silenced by the retort, but he quickly found his footing and fired back, “As if you’re any better. You’re just a guest who arrived a bit earlier. Don’t go acting like you’re the master of the house. Has Sister Tong even acknowledged you?”

The two traded barbs, neither willing to back down.

The display left Qi Qing feeling a bit lost.

She was even more confused internally. They were… why did it feel like they were at each other’s throats one second, and then like they were on great terms the next?

Being someone who preferred harmony, she took the initiative to step back.

“You two… if there isn’t enough, you can have my portion,” Qi Qing offered.

“No way. Sister Tong brought you here, so we can’t let you go hungry. What would that make us?” the two said simultaneously, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

They could fight each other for food, but a guest brought by Sister Tong had to eat.

Sister Tong’s orders were absolute.

Though they were bickering incessantly, their hands didn’t slow down. They carefully served a bowl of Hawthorn Pork Ribs to Qi Qing and the Doctor each, and then immediately began scrambling for the remaining ribs. Their protective behavior over the food was like two small children, completely devoid of any adult composure.

Watching this, Qi Qing and the Doctor exchanged a look, both filled with confusion.

They couldn’t understand why two people would fight to this extent over a single bowl of food.

Was it to build a persona? Was it for variety show effect to entertain the audience?

The thought was dismissed as soon as it appeared.

No, others might have that goal, but definitely not these two.

One usually looked down on internet celebrities, and the other had no intention of making a living through the internet. There was no logical explanation for such childish behavior.

The only explanation was that they were genuinely, passionately fighting for this meal.

But…

Surely it wasn’t that serious.

Even if they were on a deserted island, they shouldn’t have been deprived to this degree.

With a hint of doubt, the two looked at the enticingly colored Hawthorn Pork Ribs before them and took a bite.

In an instant, a feast for the taste buds unfolded on their tongues.

The ribs were tender and succulent. With a gentle bite, the meat fell away from the bone. The texture was delicate, and as the thick sauce coated their palates, the flavor exploded.

Suddenly, the deliciousness felt like fireworks blooming in their mouths, so good that it felt like their very pores were opening up.

A look of pure amazement erupted in their eyes. The sweet and sour notes of the hawthorn blended perfectly with the rich, savory depth of the pork. While it stimulated their taste buds, the aroma wafted up into their nasal passages.

It was a beautiful, shocking flavor!

In the past, they had always felt they had little desire for gourmet food. To them, food was merely a way to fill the stomach and a source of energy.

As long as it was edible and didn’t taste bad, it was fine. They could never understand people who went crazy for food or did extreme things for a meal.

But now, they seemed to understand.

In the past, it wasn’t that they lacked a desire for good food; it was that they had never eaten anything that made their hearts race, something that completely captivated them!

They suddenly understood why the other two were reacting this way.

And once they understood, they began to feel a bit envious.

They envied the fact that the others were close enough to act this way. Otherwise, they would have wanted to cast aside their own images and join the scramble…

While things were happy and wonderful on Qiao Yitong’s side.

Shisan and the others watched the lively scene from afar, the atmosphere around them extremely stifling.

“What do we do now?” The remaining few sat in a circle.

At the beginning, their group had been massive, but now, one by one, people were leaving them to go to Qiao Yitong’s side.

Moreover, the people who went over seemed to be living much more comfortably, while they were all looking increasingly wretched.

The tiger Qiao Yitong had brought was still lurking in the bamboo forest. No one could guarantee when it might suddenly appear and treat them as prey.

The atmosphere was so heavy it felt like it could be wrung out like a wet cloth.

Under the dual pressure of hunger and fear, morale had hit rock bottom.

“What else can we do? We have to move,” someone said, glancing fearfully toward the tiger’s direction.

“Leave? Easier said than done!” Shisan said, his heart filled with irritation.

“Exactly. This island is huge, and we don’t know where any other water sources are. If we leave now and head into the wilderness without water, we’ll be dead of thirst within days!” Peppa Lamb added, equally irritable.

At the very least, with the sweet water here as a comparison, he didn’t want to drink another drop of that water back there that tasted like dirty socks.

The group fell silent at his words. Peppa Lamb had hit the nail on the head. Water was the key to their survival. If they left rashly, they would likely face an even more dire situation.

For a moment, everyone was caught in a dilemma.

If they left, they would have no water source, and the living conditions would be brutal.

If they stayed, they lived in fear of the tiger, and the looming threat of food shortages was becoming urgent.

In the silence, the atmosphere grew even more oppressive.

“If we hadn’t driven Qiao Yitong away back then and had just tried to get along, would we really be in this mess now?” someone couldn’t help but mutter.

Peppa Lamb’s heart skipped a beat. He instinctively felt things were taking a turn for the worse.

He looked up at the others and, sure enough, saw many of them looking at him with eyes full of resentment and scrutiny.

It was as if he was the one responsible for their current plight.

Feeling a surge of panic, Peppa Lamb blustered with forced bravado, “Hey! What’s that supposed to mean? I’ve done so much for you all during this time. Are you planning to betray me and turn on me now?”

The others turned their heads away one after another.

Although they didn’t get into an open conflict with him yet, it was clear that once the seeds of resentment were sown, they weren’t easily uprooted.

“What is with those looks?” Peppa Lamb suddenly shouted in anger.

It was the feeling of sudden isolation.

It rendered every move he’d made since arriving on the island and every persona he’d carefully crafted completely useless.

“Hey, you guys better explain yourselves!” Peppa Lamb yelled.

Someone silently turned to leave, throwing him a contemptuous roll of the eyes before walking away.

That single look was the final straw. Peppa Lamb chased after the person, demanding an argument. “What’s with the self-righteous act now? Why play the hero? If you didn’t feel the same way I did back then, why didn’t you speak up? You followed me because you thought there was something in it for you, and now that things aren’t going your way, you’re turning on me, is that it?!”

Seeing that Peppa Lamb looked ready to start a physical fight, Shisan hurried forward to hold him back.

“Enough, enough. Our situation is bad enough as it is. We shouldn’t be fighting among ourselves. We need to stay united.”

Peppa Lamb was on the verge of a breakdown. He had never been a particularly even-tempered person; if he were, he wouldn’t have become famous for his online rants.

Since coming to the island, despite the harsh environment, he had endured for the sake of his public image.

He had worked hard every day to find food and contribute to the group, all for the sake of his persona.

But after enduring for so long and being so good to them, they were turning against him the moment they felt envious of Qiao Yitong’s situation.

This time, they had finally pushed him past his limit.

Peppa Lamb finally snapped.

Translator’s Notes