HPDBC Chapter 24 Wild Taro, I'll Eat First!
Chapter 24 Wild Taro, I'll Eat First!
Unexpectedly, taking advantage of the continuous rain and the withdrawal of half the contestants, the production team made adjustments. They even used the opportunity of regrouping to send the contestants who persisted in the challenge a meal they desperately needed.
On the other hand, the contestants who withdrew from the challenge seemed somewhat disappointed upon hearing the news. While on the island, they had no idea what the outside world was like. This isolation undoubtedly created considerable psychological pressure.
But once they left the island and returned to the city, upon learning of the show's current popularity and viewership, they regretted their decision. While the celebrity contestants could still earn a considerable amount from appearances, they craved more attention and viewership!
"Sigh, if I had known there were unforeseen circumstances with the production team, I definitely should have persevered a little longer!"
Unfortunately, since they chose to withdraw, there's no going back. Fortunately, even though they left halfway through, they still gained a lot of buzz and viewership from the show. Many talk shows invited them to discuss their experience participating in the program.
Although this buzz won't last long, it's still an unexpected bonus for both the ordinary people and celebrities participating in the show. And the contestants on the deserted island, naturally, are completely unaware of what's happening outside the island.
When Chen Duling woke up naturally again, she felt a little embarrassed to find out she was the last one up again. Even after breakfast, she specifically sought out Zhao Liying and said, "Sister Ying, please make sure you wake me up tomorrow, okay?"
"Seeing you sleeping so soundly, I can't bear to!"
"Oh dear, if I really have to be the last one to get up every day, I'm sure I'll become a laughing stock after the show ends."
"Alright! I'll definitely call you when I get up tomorrow."
"Yes, thank you, Sister Ying."
The two had worked together on a film set before, and although their relationship wasn't particularly close, Zhao Liying could sense that this rising starlet had a rather simple and innocent personality, without much guile. Normally, this kind of personality wouldn't be suitable for the entertainment industry.
However, the entertainment industry today is different from what it used to be. Chen Duling rose to fame thanks to her high education and good looks, and she has her own representative works and fan base. Under these circumstances, she is also favored by some production teams and casting directors.
With everything prepared, Yuan Linghan and Wu Yue, carrying their composite bows, led Zhao Liying and Chen Duling to the hollow where the wild taro had been found. Just as Yuan Linghan had guessed, the mountain path was slippery after several days of rain.
Fortunately, everyone remained calm and careful with their footing, and nothing untoward happened. The four of them arrived at the depression and saw the wild taro growing there. Wu Yue hesitated slightly and asked, "Xiao Ling, are these taro really edible?"
"I'll dig up a few, cook them, and try them out! Don't worry, I won't eat anything I'm not sure about."
Seeing that Yuan Linghan had already said this much, no one said anything more. Just as Zhao Liying and Chen Duling were about to help, Yuan Linghan stopped them, saying, "Sister Ying, Dudu, leave the taro digging to Yue Ge and me!"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Liying immediately expressed her dissatisfaction, saying, "Xiao Ling, it's just digging taro, Dudu and I can help."
Seeing that Zhao Liying seemed to have misunderstood, Yuan Linghan quickly explained, "Sister Ying, this is wild taro. It's easy to get sap on your skin during the digging process. If you have sensitive skin, you'll quickly develop an unbearable itching and rash. Just to be safe, let me and Brother Yue do it."
Upon learning this, Zhao Liying suddenly realized that in terms of outdoor experience, she was definitely inferior to Yuan Linghan. Since he had made these arrangements, there must be a reason, so she could only say, "Well, we should at least do something!"
Finally, under Yuan Linghan's arrangement, the two women went to the nearby area to pick wild vegetables. Although the wild vegetables didn't taste very good, for everyone, when no vegetables could be found, it was necessary to use wild vegetables to improve their diet and regulate their stomachs.
When Yuan Linghan successfully dug out four enormous taro roots using the entrenching tool Zhao Liying had brought, Wu Yue, who had originally intended to help, ultimately couldn't offer much assistance. Seeing the unearthed wild taro, he still worriedly asked, "Linghan, how come these taro roots are so big?"
"This should be taro, not the milk taro commonly found in the north, which is the kind of taro that grows like taro. If it is taro, it will have a natural taro aroma after being washed and cooked. If it doesn't have the taro aroma, then it's definitely not edible."
"Is that so? If it's really edible, taro should taste better than cassava, right?"
"The texture should be more powdery and soft! If it's really taro, we'll have more main dishes to make. There's such a big taro field, the few of us can't possibly finish it all. When we have the chance, I'll make you steamed taro with smoked pork, it'll taste absolutely delicious."
Yuan Linghan, who hadn't dug much, helped dig for wild vegetables since it was still early. Chen Duling couldn't distinguish between wild vegetables and weeds, so she only picked the ones she recognized.
After Yuan Linghan arrived, he helped her identify which wild grasses and vegetables were edible and which were not. Not only did Chen Duling gain knowledge, but Zhao Liying and Wu Yue also felt that they had learned a lot.
Many edible wild vegetables have similar-looking but poisonous counterparts. If you don't know how to distinguish them and pick these poisonous vegetables, the consequences can range from stomach aches to requiring immediate hospitalization!
After the four of them worked together to dig up enough wild vegetables to eat for several meals, Yuan Linghan said at the right time, "Brother Yue, Sister Ying, let's go back first! It should be noon now, and the sun is quite strong. Don't get heatstroke later."
"Okay, these wild vegetables are enough for us to eat for a few meals. That's all for today."
Wu Yue, the oldest among them, spoke up at the opportune moment, and Zhao Liying and Chen Duling naturally had no objections. Back at the shelter, Yuan Linghan was in charge of clearing the wild taro, while Zhao Liying volunteered to take on the task of stir-frying the wild vegetables.
Once the wild taro was fully cooked and smelled the familiar taro aroma, Yuan Linghan exclaimed with delight, "This is the taste!"
Standing to the side, Wu Yue immediately chimed in, "Xiao Ling, can you really eat this taro?"
"It's edible! But just to be safe, I'll eat some first. If there's no reaction within half an hour, you can try it too. If these wild taro are really edible, we can alternate between wild taro and cassava from now on."
Although they were divided into groups just two days ago, the four of them ultimately chose two kilograms of rice and two kilograms of flour. However, the remaining rice and flour were mostly used to make porridge or breakfast. The staple food for lunch and dinner was mainly cassava.
Fortunately, each meal included smoked meat as a side dish, providing ample oil and nutrients, so none of the group experienced constipation. Furthermore, they ate wild vegetables every few days, ensuring a relatively balanced diet for all four of them!
Seeing Yuan Linghan devour the cooked wild taro without any concern that it might be poisonous, and after waiting for half an hour and confirming that he felt no discomfort, the three of them finally began to enjoy the slightly cooled taro.
The result was obvious; after tasting it, Chen Duling exclaimed with obvious enjoyment, "Brother Yuan, this taro is tastier than cassava!"
"Even if it's delicious, don't eat too much! For your appetite, half a serving per meal is enough."
"Hmm, this taro is huge. I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to finish even half of it."
"It's okay. If you can't finish it, Yue-ge and I are here. Don't worry about wasting food."
As a martial artist, Wu Yue has a considerable appetite. While Chen Duling can eat her fill at every meal, Zhao Liying tries to control herself, only eating until she's about 70% full. Wu Yue, too, consciously controls her food intake.
As for Yuan Linghan eating freely, his appetite was definitely greater than Wu Yue's. Fortunately, the energy he replenished each day was basically enough to maintain his daily needs. Therefore, during his time on the island, he could say he wasn't hungry, but he also wasn't truly full either!