C3 Roast Chicken

Taking advantage of the lingering daylight, Lin Ke'er, at Yang Zhiming's suggestion, disguised him and led him out to explore the world.

The crimson sky twinkled with innumerable stars. Lin Ke'er donned a thermal suit, while Yang Zhiming, due to his metallic body, wore regular clothes complemented by a wig and a mask.

"Ke'er, take me to your market," Yang Zhiming requested, gazing at the enchanting sky, his expression distant.

"Immortal, why the market? The wilderness has such beautiful scenery; it would be wonderful to show you that," Lin Ke'er replied, her face awash with embarrassment. She was short on funds, and a market visit would inevitably mean spending money—something she was not in a position to do with the Immortal.

Yang Zhiming shook his head, his mind set on making money. He had no time to admire Martian landscapes. Naturally, he wanted to head to the market to get a grasp of contemporary human life.

"Isn't your father still in debt to Gold Tooth? I, the Immortal, intend to help you resolve this issue. Let's go to the market and find some ways to earn money."

Lin Ke'er was deeply moved by his words. She marveled at how the Immortal, a being from ancient times with vast powers, could be so humble and approachable. Knowing him was indeed a fortune from a past life!

As they conversed, they arrived at the nearest market, a place of chaos reminiscent of Earth's poor markets a millennium ago.

Yang Zhiming observed attentively and discovered many vegetables and fruits he had never seen, and at a butcher's stall, a rooster with three heads.

"Ke'er, these things were unknown to me a thousand years ago," Yang Zhiming confessed, swallowing hard. He couldn't help but wonder if he could truly prosper on Mars, a thousand years in his future.

Awakening after a millennium, he was acutely aware of the stark contrast to his past.

Lin Ke'er, taken aback, quickly explained, "Immortal, due to the planetary relocation five hundred years ago, Mars's environment became unsuitable for growing many vegetables and fruits, leading to their extinction. Scientists have since developed new varieties."

"Regarding the animals, they've undergone mutations, and over the past five hundred years, many new species have emerged. Humans experienced mutations too, but now we live normally thanks to the Martian vaccine."

Yang Zhiming nodded, gaining a fresh perspective on life on Mars.

As they strolled through the market, Yang Zhiming began to notice the stark simplicity of Martian cuisine, which seemed limited to just frying and boiling. He learned that over the past five hundred years, as human society advanced, people had gradually abandoned more complex cooking methods, finding that frying and boiling could produce a wide array of delicious dishes.

However, following the relocation to a new planet, humanity had lost many of its culinary techniques, leaving only frying and boiling as the remaining methods. The variety of foods had become quite basic, bearing a strong resemblance to ancient fare.

A spark of inspiration flashed in Yang Zhiming's eyes. With this insight, the modern cooking techniques he knew could become a lucrative venture.

Feeling confident in his direction, Yang Zhiming's spirits lifted. Yet, his task was not complete; he still needed to verify the availability of spices and equipment on Mars.

Together, Yang Zhiming and Lin Ke'er explored every spice shop in the market, only to discover that cumin was no longer considered a culinary seasoning. The selection of cooking equipment was equally sparse, with no hot pots or barbecue grills to be found—only pots and bowls remained.

"My plan is definitely viable, but putting it into action will be challenging," Yang Zhiming reassured himself internally. With the initial capital left by Gold Tooth, he could construct Mars's very first oven.

Lin Ke'er, intrigued by Yang Zhiming's murmuring, asked, "Immortal, are you reciting a spell?"

Caught off guard by her question, Yang Zhiming chuckled and replied, "Ke'er, I've figured out a way to earn money. Have you ever tried roasted chicken?"

Her eyes gleaming with excitement, Lin Ke'er responded, "Roasted chicken? I've heard of it! I saw it mentioned in my schoolbooks. It's an ancient culinary technique that's been lost for centuries. Immortal, you know how to make roasted chicken? Wow, you truly are all-knowing!"

The admiration in the young girl's eyes sent Yang Zhiming's heart soaring. He silently reveled in the thought that the knowledge he took for granted was now an invaluable treasure in this distant future.

However, when Yang Zhiming returned with the funds, he was taken aback. The decline in cooking expertise had not only led to the disappearance of most cooking utensils but also the extinction of blacksmithing. On Mars, metal had become an exceedingly rare commodity.

The fundamental issue was that Mars's subterranean landscape didn't yield these minerals. After a brief moment of astonishment, Yang Zhiming was struck by inspiration. Lacking iron, he decided he could craft a purely earthen oven himself. He fondly recalled the delicious roast chicken from his grandfather's house in his childhood, which tasted even better than those made in modern ovens.

"Ke'er, we won't find what we're looking for here. Let's head back and gather some clay. I'll build a furnace with my own hands!" Yang Zhiming declared.

"Immortal, you can make the legendary oven?" Lin Ke'er's eyes sparkled with excitement as she eagerly followed Yang Zhiming back to their home.

The Lin family courtyard was abundant in one thing: earth. With the loss of ancient techniques, human exploitation of Martian soil was virtually nonexistent.

Within an hour, the indefatigable Yang Zhiming had constructed a simple earthen oven. At the heart of the Lin family courtyard, he erected a one-meter-tall pit, filled it with firewood, and topped it with a lid—ready for roasting.

With the oven ready, it was time to focus on the food.

With Lin Ke'er's assistance, Yang Zhiming prepared three chickens, having found some cumin in the wild which he ground into powder. After marinating and processing the chicken, he placed it in the oven.

This being his first attempt at using an earthen oven, Yang Zhiming struggled to maintain the right temperature, and the flames went out several times. After three hours, as darkness enveloped the sky, the first Martian roast chicken was finally ready.

Upon inspecting the roasted chicken, Yang Zhiming furrowed his brow. Parts of the skin were charred black, clearly the result of uneven flames. He imagined a modern roast duck restaurant owner would surely dock his pay for such a mistake.

"It's my first attempt, so it's not perfect, but the flavor should be quite good. Give it a try," Yang Zhiming said as he sprinkled the chicken with cumin powder, tore off a leg with his metallic hand, and offered it to Lin Ke'er.

"Thank you, Immortal!" Lin Ke'er's eyes shone brightly. It had been a long time since she'd tasted meat, especially something as legendary as roast meat, since her father had taken to drinking.

With just one bite, Lin Ke'er's mouth was awash with flavor. The succulent chicken, infused with the distinct aroma of cumin, exploded with taste.

— Content from Gugu Reading