Humiliation, resentment, anger... all these emotions were no longer important at this moment.
Akomann ate in large gulps, her tears flowing down unconsciously, mixing with the meat juices as she swallowed them.
She didn't know if these tears were because of humiliation or because she was eating something so delicious for the first time in her life.
She only knew that when she took the first bite of meat,
something hard within her heart had already begun to shatter.
The next day, the entire Tribe's conversation centered around yesterday's food.
"Did you taste those Braised Lamb Chops? Oh my god, I've been dreaming about that flavor!"
"I preferred the Stir-fried Meat Slices; they were so fragrant and tender!"
"What kind of lives were we living before! With Lord Wu Liang here, we finally know what real life is!"
The women's faces overflowed with happiness and satisfaction; besides awe, their feelings for Wu Liang had become much more fervent and worshipful.
Wu Liang didn't let them stay in the stage of just reminiscing.
It's better to teach a person to fish than to give them a fish.
Early this morning, he selected a group of women from the Black Rock Tribe and the Bloodfang Tribe who were quick-witted and nimble to form a Catering Team.
Wu Liang began to systematically teach them how to cook.
From the basics of pressing oil and grinding salt to identifying various edible wild vegetables and spices.
Then to knife skills for cutting vegetables, heat control techniques, and the practical operation of various cooking methods like stir-frying, stewing, boiling, and steaming.
Wu Liang was very patient, teaching them step-by-step.
"When stir-frying, the oil temperature must be high and the movements fast; this way, you can lock in the moisture of the ingredients and maintain a fresh, tender texture."
"When stewing meat, use a low heat and simmer slowly to let the flavor seep in bit by bit. The longer it cooks, the more tender the meat becomes and the richer the soup gets."
"Remember, add the salt last. If you add it too early, the meat will become tough and dry."
Things that seemed like common sense to Wu Liang opened the gates to a new world for them.
They studied very hard, carefully remembering every word Wu Liang said.
As the top leadership of the Tribe, Wei Xian and Eliza naturally didn't need to cook themselves.
But they also spent almost every day in the new kitchen.
The two women watched obsessively as Wu Liang turned those ordinary ingredients into dishes that were like works of art.
Wu Liang was also happy to cook special meals for them.
Today he made Sweet and Sour Pork Tenderloin, which was tangy and appetizing.
Tomorrow he would make Sichuan Boiled Pork Slices, spicy and fragrant.
The day after, he would roast a whole sheep—crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, sprinkled with special spices, its aroma wafting for miles.
Wei Xian's appetite had already become somewhat picky due to her pregnancy, and now she was completely conquered by Wu Liang's culinary skills.
Her favorite thing to do now was to lean in Wu Liang's arms and wait for him to feed her bite by bite.
"Wu Liang, you're so amazing. I feel like I can't live without you for the rest of my life."
Wei Xian narrowed her eyes with satisfaction, like a well-fed cat.
Eliza, on the other hand, was more interested in the principles behind cooking.
"Why does adding that sour fruit make the meat softer?"
"Why can different spices combine into so many wonderful flavors?"
Like a curious baby, she always had endless questions.
Wu Liang patiently answered her, occasionally teasing her with half-truths.
This left the High Priestess stunned, and her admiration for Wu Liang deepened even further.
The women of the Black Rock Tribe were immersed in the joy of their soaring standard of living.
Meanwhile, the captives of the Bloodfang Tribe were undergoing an even more profound psychological shift.
They were no longer treated like slaves, facing only heavy labor and cold whips every day.
As long as they worked hard, they could also receive steaming hot meals and taste those dreamlike delicacies.
They were also given the chance to learn how to use chopsticks; though clumsy, it represented a form of recognition of their status.
Gradually, they stopped thinking of themselves as captives.
They began to envy the life of the Black Rock Tribe and longed to become members of it.
"I was too foolish, really!"
"Yeah, we were really too stupid before. Why were we raiding things instead of living such a good life?"
"Exactly. The little bit we worked ourselves to death to raid isn't even worth one of their meals."
"If only we could stay here forever."
Such thoughts spread among the women of the Bloodfang Tribe like a wildfire across the prairie.
The way they looked at Wu Liang no longer held any hatred, only awe and a desire to please.
This man was practically a god in their eyes.
A god who could bring them a good life.
In comparison, their leader, who was still locked up and refusing to bow her head, seemed quite an eyesore.
Finally, after another delicious dinner was distributed.
The elderly woman from the Bloodfang Tribe who had been the first to lead the kneeling led a group of people to the stone house where Akomann was imprisoned.
They no longer cried out or pleaded.
They simply knelt silently at the entrance of the stone house, each holding a bowl of food in their hands.
The meal was simple: a large bowl of white rice topped with a few slices of stir-fried meat and some vegetables.
But even such a simple meal emitted an enticing aroma.
The Black Rock Female Warriors on guard didn't stop them, merely holding their iron spears and watching coldly from the side.
This was done with Wu Liang's tacit permission.
Inside the stone house, Akomann heard the commotion outside.
Through the crack in the door, she saw the dark mass of people kneeling outside and the rice bowls they held in their hands.
Her heart sank abruptly.
"Leader."
The elderly woman spoke, her voice calm but full of determination.
"We didn't come here to beg you."
"We came to tell you that we have already made our choice."
She paused and said, word by word:
"We want to stay here. We want to live a good life."
"We... want to become people of the Black Rock Tribe."
"You are our leader; you have a responsibility to look out for us."
"If you truly care about our well-being, you should know what to do."
Another younger woman also looked up, her eyes shimmering with tears.
"Leader, look at us. We are well-fed and warmly clothed now, and no one beats or scolds us anymore."
"Lord Wu Liang even teaches us farming techniques so we can support ourselves with our own hands."
"We never even dared to dream of such a life before."
"Give it up! Is your so-called dignity really more important than the future of all of us?"
"If you keep persisting, the one you are opposing won't be Lord Wu Liang, but all of us!"
"You are severing the hope of all of us Bloodfang people to live again!"
These words from her tribespeople were more hurtful than any weapon.
Akomann's face turned pale, her body swaying unsteadily.
Her responsibility as a leader, at this moment, instead became the final straw that broke her.
She had always said she wanted to be responsible for the Tribe.
But now, her tribespeople told her in the most direct way that her stubborn resistance was destroying the future of the entire Tribe.
Wu Liang, having calculated the timing, appeared behind the crowd.
He didn't speak, just watched quietly.
But the pressure he brought made the air turn heavy.
He also held a bowl in his hand, containing a meticulously prepared dish.
Braised Pork.
The pork belly, with its alternating layers of fat and lean meat, was stewed to a bright red luster; the skin was translucent, emitting a rich aroma that was a blend of sweet and savory.
He walked to Akomann's stone house and handed the bowl to the elderly woman.
"Let her choose for herself."