Chapter 58

Chapter 58 \nChapter 58 Silkworm\n

 

After Lin Mu returned home, he started to organize today’s harvest. All the garlic he found was put to dry in the yard, and Lin Mu plans to search for more. Patrik likes to eat grilled meat with garlic. However, it leaves quite some smell in the mouth after eating, so Patrik was a little hesitant to eat more, even though he likes it very much. Of course, after Lin Mu discovered an ingredient that could be made into a tea and remove the garlic smell in the mouth, Patrik has no qualms about eating garlic anymore.

Lin Mu looked at the garlic drying in the yard and thought of the ones still stored in the storage room. En, although they don’t have much in hand, it was enough for both of them to eat. Now the most important thing is to plan out future plantings. Lin Mu plans to grow some vegetables for next year’s consumption. No doubt, garlic is one of the vegetables on the list. He washed the freshly picked fruits with water and placed them in the fruit bowl. Then, he placed the fruit bowl on the stone table in the yard. Next, Lin Mu began to study the cocoons he brought back.

Each cocoon is about the size of a rugby ball. Lin Mu tore off the silk the cocoon used to fix itself on the tree. Looking at the tightly entwined cocoon, Lin Mu thought that maybe he could check if the thread was strong enough and suitable for making clothing. Well, he could still use it even if it is not silk… probably. Thinking to peel the cocoon, Lin Mu put the cocoon in the basket and muttered, “I think I have to soak it in hot water?” He thought for a while and made a decision, “Welp, I have 3 cocoons to experiment with anyway.” He should just do however he wants. And so, Lin Mu started to boil water in the kitchen.

[Banana: Here’s a part of how to process the silkworm]

When Patrik came back, he didn’t see Lin Mu in the yard. There was smoke coming from the kitchen, which means someone is cooking in the kitchen. Lin Mu said it before that a bustling life like this is the real life; peaceful and free. Patrik still remembers the happy expression on Lin Mu’s face when he said these words as if this kind of life had always been what he had hoped for, and now his wish has come true. Patrik knew that the place Lin Mu used to stay was very good, material-wise, but he also knew that Lin Mu is not happy there. Knowing that Patrik did not ask Lin Mu how his previous life was like and what happened that caused him to appear alone in the forest. He wanted to wait for Lin Mu to open up to him one day. It’s fine even if Lin Mu wouldn’t tell him in the end, because he knew that their current life now is what makes Lin Mu happy. And that is the most important thing.

Patrik took the food into the kitchen and saw Lin Mu doing something strange.

“Mu Mu, what are you doing?”

Patrik looked at Lin Mu holding a wooden stick and kept tangling some strings. He looked at the things in the tub with some uncertainty and asked, “Is this an insect beast?”

Lin Mu nodded and said happily, “En, I have an idea, but I’m couldn’t be sure if it can be done.”

Patrik knows that Lin Mu always has a lot of strange and useful ideas in his mind. People would usually throw away the cocoon of this insect beast because, seriously, both the insect beast and the outer shell are really unpopular. No females would touch it; even the insect beast’s appearance after it emerged from its cocoon is still undesirable. Placing the meat he hunted on the wooden table, Patrik reached out to take the stick in Lin Mu’s hand, “I’ll do it; you can go and take a rest.”

The expression 囧 appeared on Lin Mu’s face, “I barely started doing anything. All I did was just boiling some water.” But he still handed the stick over because he couldn’t ignore Patrik’s outstretched hand and leave him hanging there.

Seeing Lin Mu compromised, Patrik smiled and said, “You have gone to the mountain today, so you should rest.”\n

Lin Mu sat down on one of the stools and watched Patrik swirl the stick. “Actually, I didn’t use much strength to go up and down the mountain. We went up the mountain on Lal’s beast form.”

Lin Mu could see Patrik paused for a moment when he said that, but he(P) didn’t say anything. Lin Mu felt that he had to talk to Patrik about his thoughts, “Patrik, will you be angry because I sat on Lal’s beast form?”

“How can I be angry with Mu Mu? No, I’m not angry.” Patrik looked up at Lin Mu and said with a smile.

Lin Mu curled his lips, “Of course you won’t be angry with me, but are you unhappy?”

Patrik thought for a while, “If it’s Lal, then no.”

“Patrik, to be honest, I think this kind of thinking is wrong, that female sitting on another beastman’s beast form is an insult to their own partner.”

“En?” Patrik smiled at the person sitting across from him, “This rule has been going on for a long time. Beastman is more sensitive to smells, and they are very possessive of their own female. Naturally, they cannot tolerate having other beastman’s scent on their female. Is there anything wrong with it?”

Lin Mu thought for a while, “You can’t be completely wrong, but it depends on the situation. For example, if I am in danger one day, and I can only be saved by sitting on another beastman. You are not here, then I…”

Patrik didn’t wait for Lin Mu to finish but looked at him seriously and said, “Mu Mu, I won’t let you encounter that kind of situation. I will always be by your side and will not leave you alone. I will always be here.”

Lin Mu was a little embarrassed by Patrik’s words and said, “I said if.”

“Although I said that I would not let Mu Mu be in danger, your thinking is also right. These rules still depend on the situation. Maybe we should tell our tribe that under special circumstances, we can temporarily set the rules aside. It’s more important to save our females.”

Lin Mu felt that it’s a good idea. He will only sit on Patrik’s beast form if not under special circumstances.

“It’s done.” Patrik’s words reminded Lin Mu that he has finished untangling all three cocoons.\nPatrik looked at the chrysalis in the tub, and he fished it out to throw it away.

Lin Mu saw his actions and asked, “What are you doing?”

“Of course to throw these away.”

“Keep it first.” Lin Mu felt that if those were really silkworms, they could be eaten.

“Keep it?”

Seeing Patrik’s confusion, Lin Mu lay down a leaf for Patrik to put the chrysalis before saying, “This thing might be edible.”

“Edible?” Patrik couldn’t help but wrinkle as he stared at the chrysalis the size of his fist. “Mu Mu, are you sure this kind of food can be eaten?” The truth was Patrik wanted to ask Lin Mu whether he dared to eat it. After all, females really hate insects. Moreover, he remembered seeing Lin Mu frowning when he saw other worms before this. That shows that Lin Mu also hated insects. Therefore, to hear Lin Mu saying to eat the… pupa, Patrik was stunned.

Lin Mu saw Patrik’s look of disbelief and could only say, “Not sure yet.”

“Let’s cook it first.” Lin Mu looked at the three really big chrysalides on the table, thinking that he doesn’t want to be the guinea pig. Turning to look at Patrik, who is cutting meat behind him, Lin Mu shook his head (Patrik felt a chill running down his back). Patrik is his man; this wouldn’t work.

“Forget it, I’ll cook the chrysalis first. Whoever comes to find me later, I will let that person eat it.” Hence, Lin Mu started cooking.

Overeating grilled meat can cause the body to get heaty. Unlike those beastmen with an abnormal body, Lin Mu needs to eat vegetables every day. Because Lin Mu’s cooking is delicious, Patrik also likes Lin Mu’s vegetable dishes. Of course, meat dishes are still the best. Under Lin Mu’s firm request, Patrik will also eat some vegetables, provided that those vegetables have a meaty taste. But even with the meaty flavor, Patrik still thinks that greens are not what they should eat. After all, the beastmen don’t think it tastes good no matter what, and the females like it very much. Doesn’t it mean that vegetables are females’ food? Grass and whatnots are really not what a beastman should eat.

Maybe because he went up and down the mountain today, Lin Mu ate more steamed buns and meat than usual. Talking about buns, Patrik readily accepted the buns, especially steamed buns (mantou). Patrik thinks that the taste is nice. Although meat buns are also his favorite, steamed buns are obviously his favorite. Maybe because Patrik really likes it, or perhaps it’s due to Lin Mu’s unusual love for steamed buns.

After lunch, the two sat in the living room and chatted for a while. Then they went to take a nap together. After a comfortable rest, Lin Mu woke up and saw Patrik looking at him. Lin Mu sat up and pulled at his arm, “Won’t your arm feel numb? Next time when you wake up, you can gently pull out your hand.”

Patrik raised his arm and said, “It’s fine.”\n\nUnder Patrik’s gaze, Lin Mu tried to take a bite of the chrysalis. “It’s delicious!” It was chewy, very similar to the larva he had eaten back in his world. He immediately put it to Patrik’s mouth, “Try it.”

Patrik took a bite, and it was unexpectedly delicious. “I didn’t expect the insect beast’s pupae to be so delicious.”

Lin Mu took another bite and nodded, “If its silk thread can be used, we shall rename it as silkworms.”

“Silkworm?”

“En, silkworm’s pupae can be eaten, and their silk can be made into clothes.”

“Clothes? The same clothes as what you are wearing?”

“Even better. After all, my clothes only contain some cotton. I’m not living a luxurious life to casually wear silk.”

“Squeak…” Qiuqiu tried to attract their attention.

Seeing Qiuqiu looking eager, Lin Mu knew what it is thinking without needing to ask. He stuffed the remaining chrysalis into Patrik’s mouth and said under Qiuqiu’s regretful look, “This is the pupa of an insect beast. If you want to eat it, go get a cocoon, and I will cook it for you.”

The two little ones nodded immediately and ran out.

Patrik: “I’ll go too.”

Lin Mu thought for a while and nodded, “Sounds like a good idea. Then everyone can have a taste. Just pick enough for everyone to have one each. After all, it takes a lot of time to untangle them.”

“Alright,” Patrik said before going out.