Chapter 1696: Whole Roasted Goat
Mag chatted with Eddie about the changes in Chaos City, the life in the grassland, and also how big the world outside was.
One would always be able to learn something from chatting with older people after hearing about their insights into life that came with reflection through the passage of time. Even if Eddie was just a shepherd who went out once when he was young, Mag was still able to take away a lot from his conversation with Eddie.
Alfonso listened silently by the side while adding charcoal to the fire occasionally. Most of the time, he would be looking at Mag with a gleam in his eyes.
The world outside, as described by this distinguished guest, was way bigger and more exciting than the world his grandfather told him about. There were giant dragons flying in the sky, tree spirits who were as tall as a hill, dwarves who were good at construction and wielding… not forgetting the big cities that were built on flat land.
“After decades, the world outside has changed completely, but the shepherds in the grassland haven’t. We are still leading our slow and simple life. It’s really a pity for the young people in our tribe. They have no other skill than herding, so they can’t even leave the grassland,” Eddie lamented.
“The people outside are envious that you are leading a carefree life, but you’re envious of the bustling world out there. In these times, I wouldn’t be sure which is better.” Mag looked past the fire to the youngsters playing wrestling nearby. They were smiling contently, and such a simple life was not easy to find outside.
Eddie looked at Mag in a little shock. He thought for a while, and then nodded his head as he said, “I was being greedy.”
Mag smiled. He didn’t reply to Eddie. He looked with a smile at Alfonso as he could feel his gaze, and asked, “Do you want to go out to see the world?”
Alfonso was stunned. He stood up hurriedly and nodded while replying in the common tongue, “Yes.”
Mag watched his fidgety hands and smiled. He took out his money bag and took out 10 dragon coins and 10 gold coins. After that, he took out a piece of paper and pen, which he always had on him, and wrote an address down. He passed the paper to Alfonso, and said, “If you still want to go out to see the world by the time you can converse fluently with your grandfather in the common tongue, look for me at this address.”
Alfonso became increasingly agitated. His hands, which were holding the dragon coins, were shaking as he bowed deeply, and gratefully said, “Th-thank you.”
“This won’t do. Sir, that’s a lot of money. It’s too much for Alfonso to bear.” Eddie quickly stood up as he tried to return Mag the money.
“It’s only normal for young people to want to go out to see the world, just like how you walked out of the grassland in the past.” Mag pressed Eddie’s hand down gently, and looked at Alfonso with a smile as he said, “Besides, for the young people from the grassland to survive well outside, you do not necessarily need to know how to fight and kill. Times have changed. As long as he can learn your skills for the roast mutton, I will arrange things for him the moment he comes to Chaos City.”
Eddie looked at Alfonso’s yearning gaze, and felt his heart soften. How could he possibly not know what was on his grandson’s mind? The latter had attempted to leave the house countless times ever since he was young, just like when Eddie was young.
“Then I’ll have to trouble you.” Eddie bowed deeply to Mag.
“You’re welcome. Take it as my way of repaying you for the whole roasted goat.” Mag looked at the whole roasted goat on the grill that had already turned golden brown. It was even more fragrant compared to the roast mutton before. It was a little different from the smell of the blue sheep. This roasted goat’s fragrance had more layers to it, and they lingered in the air for a very long time.
Eddie turned the roasted goat, and looked up at Mag as he said, “Sir, this whole roasted goat is almost done. Do you want to have it now?”
“Of course, that’s the best time to have the roasted goat.” Mag nodded with a smile. He stood up and called everyone back for the roasted goat.
“That sheep is too lazy, just like Ugly Duckling. It couldn’t even keep up with Big Sister Anna,” Amy complained as she rode the sheep back.
“Baa~”
“Meow~”
Both the sheep and Ugly Duckling let out an innocent cry.
Mag looked at the plump and tame sheep, and was shocked at how Amy did that.
“Horse riding is so fun.” Anna was full of smiles when Shirley carried her off the horse.
Miya and the rest came back while laughing and chatting. Angela and Jane appeared way closer to the rest, and they were also smiling brightly. Everyone appeared to be in harmony.
“Smells great.” Amy jumped off the sheep’s back, and looked at the roasted goat that was glistening with oil. She swallowed her saliva, and said, “Roasting the goat like that is so delectable… detestable. But I love it.”
“Wash your hands first, and we can start eating.” Mag received a wooden basin filled with warm water from one of the shepherd ladies, and called Amy over to wash her hands.
After everyone had washed their hands, Eddie gave out a paring knife to each person as the shepherds always just sliced a piece off the roasted goat straight away. That was how they ate a whole roasted goat in the grassland. However, the roasted goat had just been cooked, so it might be a little difficult for the children and ladies to do that.
Mag brought his own knife along. He took out Fat Head Fish, and cut out a piece of mutton for everyone, together with the bones so that it would be more convenient for everyone to hold and eat the mutton.
“Father, can I have the leg?” Amy asked as she stared at one of the goat’s legs.
“Of course.” With a single chop, Mag cut out a leg from the goat, and passed it to Amy. The latter was still growing, so she could eat as much as two to three adults.
“Thank you.” Amy received the goat’s leg, and started biting into it happily.
After that, Mag cut out around a kilogram’s worth of mutton, and placed it on his plate. He had previously paid for the whole roasted goat with 11,000 copper coins, so he did not feel guilty cutting the goat up.
Eddie watched on in shock. That was very different from the way the locals ate a whole roasted goat. However, he did not probe. This might be the habit of their distinguished guests.
Of course, what shocked him the most was Mag’s cutting skills. The pair of hands did not look like they did menial chores, but they could actually wield such a large and thick knife so skillfully. That was something Eddie, as a person who had spent most of his life with goats, hadn’t seen before.
Mag held up a piece of mutton with the skin, meat, and bone with his fingers. The enticing smell wafted over together with the steam. The oil on the golden-brown skin gleamed under the sunlight. The mutton had already turned brown, and the smell of the baka leaves was infused within.
Without any hesitation, Mag bit into the meat.
Crunch.
The slightly charred skin made a crunching sound as he chewed, and the delicious scent of the charred skin filled his mouth. The fire had been controlled very well, and that gave the mutton its charming texture and taste. It was comparable to the duck’s skin of the Peking duck.
Beneath the slightly charred skin, the goat was exceptionally tender. The layer of fat under the skin protected the meat well, and leveled it up in terms of texture.
The tenderness of the chevon was even better than the mutton kebab just now. Besides, it even had a faint scent of its own other than the fresh smell of the baka leaves, making the meat smell better the more it was chewed. Mag’s taste buds had already surrendered to the beautiful taste as he could not help but immerse himself in the joy of eating.