Chapter 8: Wild Rabbit Fur

After returning to the cave, Pan Mengyan immediately picked up the stone knife and headed toward the pond. Her eyes fixed firmly on the wild rabbit in her hands, she silently resolved: she must successfully skin this rabbit! Taking a deep breath, she adjusted her posture and prepared to begin this daunting task.

First, she carefully placed the stone knife against the rabbit’s neck, locating the carotid artery. She knew that only by making a precise cut here could the rabbit bleed out properly. Gripping the stone knife tightly, she made a swift motion, and the blade instantly severed the artery, causing blood to gush out. Pan Mengyan watched nervously as the rabbit’s life came to an end.

Next, she quickly used the stone knife to make a circular incision around the rabbit’s neck, ensuring the cut was neat and deep. Then, grasping the rabbit’s head and hind legs, she pulled forcefully, and the skin tore open with a rip. Her heart raced with tension, but she clenched her teeth and continued tearing at the rabbit’s skin. Finally, after much effort, the rabbit’s skin was completely removed.

Pan Mengyan breathed a sigh of relief, gazing at the nearly intact rabbit pelt before her with a sense of accomplishment. Though the process was bloody and brutal, she understood it was a necessary survival skill. Next, she cleaned the rabbit, removed its internal organs, and set them aside to feed Gouzi later.

Carrying the prepared rabbit to the bonfire, she found Jiang Ruoxi had already lit the flames. Skillfully, Jiang Ruoxi set up a rack with branches and placed the rabbit on it to roast. Watching the flickering flames and the gradually golden-brown meat, Pan Mengyan’s stomach growled uncontrollably.

“Wow, that looks delicious!” Pan Mengyan couldn’t help but exclaim.

Jiang Ruoxi smiled and said, “Yes, it’s going to smell amazing once it’s done. But…”

“But what?” Pan Mengyan asked curiously.

“If only we had some spices. Rabbit tastes best when it’s spicy and numbing,” Jiang Ruoxi said with a regretful expression.

“Oh, right! I didn’t think of that. With chili powder, cumin, or other seasonings, it would definitely be even better.” Pan Mengyan licked her lips, imagining the flavorful roasted rabbit.

“Too bad we didn’t bring any of that,” Jiang Ruoxi shook her head helplessly.

“Sigh, there’s no helping it. We must make do with what we have, so let’s not dwell on it,” Pan Mengyan said with a wry smile.

“That’s true. No use thinking about it it’s just wishful thinking,” Jiang Ruoxi consoled herself, reasoning that having cooked food at all was already quite good.

“Never mind, let’s not worry about it. Having something to eat is better than going hungry,” Pan Mengyan reassured herself.

As time passed, the rabbit was finally roasted, emitting an enticing aroma. The two eagerly picked up pieces of rabbit meat to taste. Though it lacked the imagined spicy and numbing flavor, it still made for a hearty lunch.

They placed the roasted organs in Gouzi’s bowl and tore off a rabbit leg for him. Seeing such a lavish meal, Gouzi happily rubbed against them before devouring it eagerly. Both women and the dog ate heartily, their mouths glistening with grease.

Although it was already October, the midday sun remained scorching, making the heat somewhat unbearable. Thus, after filling their stomachs, they decided to take a short nap. After all, such sweltering weather was hardly suitable for labor.

However, after waking up, they still had an important task to complete making a stone axe. With tools, they would be able to chop down trees, collect vines, and make a comfortable bed. Although it was already October, the days remained quite hot, but the temperature dropped noticeably at night. To avoid catching a chill, they planned to sleep off the ground to ensure better sleep quality.

Before that, they needed to clean the skinned rabbit pelts, removing as much grease from the fur as possible. Once processed, they would be placed in a cool, shaded area to dry air naturally. This way, they could not only ensure the quality of the rabbit pelts but also make them more useful for their future life.

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