CH-021

Elder Jager’s dining table held only apples and raspberries bought from the market.

At this moment, a family of seven sat around the table, both curious and ill at ease.

Because Herens had been given half a wild boar from his recent hunting trip, he had thoughtlessly gone to deliver it to the priest. After failing to find anyone at the church, Herens carried the meat to Elder Jager’s house.

When Father Alis saw there was meat, he had Herens act as his assistant, intending to cook for Jager and his family.

However, he forbade the family from peeking.

The kitchen and the dining room were less than three meters apart, separated only by a half-wall.

At first, there were only the sounds of ingredient preparation and Father Alis directing Herens to cook; they also heard the crackling of wild boar fat being rendered in the pan.

There was the scent of oil, but it didn’t attract too much attention.

That was until Father Alis put garlic into the oil pan. The originally pungent smell of raw garlic immediately reacted with the fat, producing a peculiar, mellow, and even nutty aroma.

Father Alis seemed very skilled at using spices, like the Easterners they had heard of.

Garlic, onions, apple cider vinegar, salt, parsnips, black pepper, allspice, and more—with just a casual sniff, he added amounts according to his own ideas. Herens, watching beside him, was terrified, but once the fragrance emerged, let alone the children, even the adults couldn’t help but swallow their saliva.

However, they could only keep their eyes closed.

The adults had self-control.

The two children, Sia and Via, couldn’t sit still; their bodies twisted and turned as they repeatedly tested everyone’s reactions—if everyone looked away for a second, the two of them would immediately bolt to the kitchen to peek.

So, Elder Jager had the whole family hold hands and begin to pray, reciting blessings.

As the head of the household, Elder Jager thought about how he had been acquainted with Father Alis for nearly two months now.

Easy to get along with, a mild temperament, no air of superiority, hardworking, and willing to do things personally—this was his first impression of Father Alis.

For a time, Elder Jager had also speculated about the priest’s origins.

Initially, he thought the young priest simply came from a poor background and was a clergyman sent by the Bishop to fill a vacancy. But this idea was quickly overturned by one small incident after another.

For example—sugar, salt, and wheat flour.

In this place, a small pinch of sugar could be exchanged for a child’s entire day of hard labor. Yet Father Alis didn’t care at all about how precious this seasoning was, casually using sugar to coat fruit for the children to eat.

Take salt, for instance; just to make the crops grow a bit better, he would use salt to soak the seeds.

These two stories came from his daughter Cecilia and his son Raymond, respectively. Not to mention he had seen with his own eyes that Father Alis could wash a kilogram of wheat flour into a small ball of dough weighing about 300 grams.

This kind of extravagance was simply enough to make one’s scalp tingle.

Furthermore, setting aside the priest’s ability to converse with God, his own knowledge far exceeded Elder Jager’s imagination. He could judge the depth of water, the authenticity of silver items, or whether it would rain by sound alone. However, the priest couldn’t speak of the history and culture of the entire continent.

It was just that many times, even if he didn’t know something, as long as a word was mentioned, he could quickly infer three things from one, connecting all the dots.

Clearly, he wasn’t like a country person who accumulated knowledge through the accumulation of experience; rather, he came from a perhaps very secluded place where he had been taught systematic knowledge, mastered extremely strong digestive abilities, and could improve upon methods at any time.

This made Elder Jager often have an unrealistic illusion when looking at him: this shouldn’t be some minor priest, but truly a successor from some noble family who had high hopes placed upon him and had been meticulously cultivated.

But the problem lay exactly here.

Elder Jager had seen real nobles before.

Father Alis’s behavior was completely incompatible with the habits of noble circles, even carrying a sort of instinctive rejection.

For example, during their first meeting, Elder Jager had specifically gone to the market to buy plums, slowly stewing them with precious salt and pepper to make the fruit meat stew favored by city dwellers, fully intending to relieve this priest of the gloom of coming to the countryside. But Father Alis was unwilling to taste it no matter what, preferring to gnaw on raw plums.

There were also apples and pears, which in big cities should be baked to be eaten, yet he also liked eating them raw.

Besides that, the priest was cooking for them; such a thing was far too out of bounds.

Elder Jager couldn’t help but begin to reflect on what he had done wrong in his life.

Just as he heard his granddaughter’s stomach “growl” a second time from the smell, and he himself couldn’t help but swallow another mouthful of saliva, Father Alis’s sentence “you can start eating” let everyone feel as if a heavy burden had been lifted.

The first dish to be served was roasted wild boar. It was steaming when it reached the table, with white mist drifting toward the ceiling from time to time. The meat was sliced thin and evenly, with slightly charred edges and a shiny oily surface; each thin slice was rolled around a fresh, plump mushroom. The fresh mushrooms were roasted to be charred on the outside and tender on the inside, with juices constantly bubbling out.

The second dish was a hot and spicy large-plate dish; as soon as it hit the table, the aroma of pepper and chili rose up, making one’s index finger move in anticipation. Large chunks of meat were stewed until soft and tender, with potatoes, turnips, and other wild vegetables at the bottom of the pot. And the rye bread, which normally needed to be soaked in hot soup, was sliced into diamond-shaped long pieces and placed to the side.

“I used the Northeast Iron Pot Stew method to handle the wild boar; this can be eaten with rye bread.”

Northeast Iron Pot Stew?

Elder Jager was dazed for a moment, not knowing what that was either.

However, as soon as Elder Jager saw Father Alis walking over, he threw this trivial little confusion to the back of his mind and immediately gave up the main seat to Alis. Elder Jager stood to the side himself and confessed, “Lord Alis, please punish me! I should have properly stopped Lord Alis earlier; how could I trouble you to cook?”

Father Alis laughed upon hearing this and said, “So Elder Jager is planning to not listen to my words?”

This one sentence left Elder Jager dazed as well.

Alis said, “Sit down, I’m still waiting for your evaluation.”

Father Alis had originally thought they had enough tables and chairs, which was why Elder Jager had invited them to eat together. As it turned out, Elder Jager’s plan was for everyone except the priest, Herens, and Elder Jager himself to sit on the floor to eat.

This stunned Alis, and he wouldn’t agree to it no matter what.

In order not to delay the meal, Alis directly took charge of the arrangements: the Jager couple sat in a row, Herens and Raymond sat on one side, Cecilia and her sister-in-law sat together, and Alis himself sat on one side with the two children.

Seeing Elder Jager about to object, Father Alis raised his hand and made a gesture of prayer, “Thank the Lord for the bountiful food bestowed upon us today…”

Elder Jager could only close his eyes and follow Father Alis’s rhythm.

“…may it benefit us and nourish our bodies, and we also ask You to let us not forget to share and care for others.”

After Elder Jager heard Father Alis finish, Alis then suggested, “How about we each take turns saying one word of” gratitude…

Father Alis had already picked up two skewers of meat for the two little ones to eat, “What?”

“Nothing…”

Elder Jager responded weakly.

Sometimes he really wished the priest could put on some airs!

Before he could finish his thought, Father Alis reminded him to start eating: “There is a book called “Dietary Materia Medica” which says that roasted wild boar and mushrooms can strengthen the body and prevent diseases, and can also cure malnutrition, loss of appetite, and so on. Elder Jager, eat more.”

“Oh oh oh, thank you, Lord Alis!”

Jager also followed everyone else in taking a skewer of meat first. As soon as he took a bite of meat, he felt the meat was soft but not falling apart, with a supple texture and overflowing aroma, countless times more delicious than the dry meat that gets stuck between teeth that he ate at the small restaurant last time.

He was about to share this with Father Alis when he caught sight of Herens’s expression as he ate the meat, immediately looking toward Father Alis. Alis seemed to be waiting for his reaction and quickly gave a small smile.

Herens hurriedly lowered his head.

“…”

What is the situation?

Before Elder Jager could finish his thought, the excited voices of the two children rose up.

Because the meat had been too hot just now, they could only watch the adults eat; now that they had finally managed to blow the meat cool and stuff it into their mouths, each one was more excited than the last.

“So fragrant! So delicious—!”

“Even better than what we ate last time!”

“Lord Alis, please don’t leave us, okay!”

Sia simply became presumptuous, pressing her head against Alis’s arm, not even noticing that the oil at the corner of her mouth rubbed onto Alis.

Everyone’s mood, which had just leaped with joy because of the delicious food, was startled by the two children’s tactless words and actions as if a basin of cold water had been splashed on them.

Their pupils trembled, and even the meat in their hands no longer seemed fragrant.

Their pupils trembled, and even the meat in their hands no longer seemed fragrant.

Father Alis, however, didn’t seem to notice the frozen atmosphere, being exceptionally patient with the children, “It’s best that you like eating it. You should eat more!”

This one sentence filled the children’s emotions to the brim.

Sia and Via immediately clenched their fists, “We super love eating it! We will definitely eat a lot, a lot!”

The priest smiled, and then he spoke the words he wanted to say to the several adults who were observing his facial expressions: “Actually, I put the gluten made from wheat flour earlier into this.”

As soon as these words were out, the dining table was filled with voices of shock and uncertainty.

There was nothing on the skewers?

Cecilia had become quite familiar with Father Alis and spoke directly, “Could it be that the dough was ground into powder and sprinkled somewhere?”

“No.” Father Alis looked at the people around him with an expectant gaze again, “The answer is very simple.”

Besides the wild boar on these skewers, there were only mushrooms.

“Could it be that one of the mushrooms inside is gluten?”

Alis smiled and said, “No.”

He paused, “The wild boar you are eating is actually made of gluten. Gluten is often used as a meat substitute back where I come from; some people are vegetarians or can’t afford real meat, and gluten can also be used to make meat to eat.”

“What do you all think?”

What did they think?

Raymond, who was asked, took another bite of meat, feeling a bit dazed.

He felt it was very miraculous that this dough could eat like meat, but this dough also had to be made from wheat flour…

Herens said, “This is indeed a choice for many people who can’t afford meat, and it also provides a sense of fullness, but the cost of wheat flour is expensive. For ordinary people, this fake meat can’t compare to a solid piece of bread, can it?”

He thought this sentence would make Alis angry, but Alis was quite happy, “So, if we can bring down the price of wheat, won’t everyone’s choices increase?”

This involved a series of supply and demand economics.

Alis didn’t offer redundant explanations, only saying: “I want to cultivate a new type of wheat seed. If it goes smoothly, it can increase the average wheat yield by one and a half, even two times.”

As soon as he finished speaking, for a time, only the sound of children chewing remained by the dining table. Everyone else had stopped their eating motions one after another, staring blankly at the priest who spoke as if they had heard some unrealistic dream talk.

On one hand, their reason told them this was impossible.

On the other hand, their sensibility told them that Father Alis might truly be omnipotent.

Alis just continued: “If relying on fruits and vegetables sprouting early isn’t enough to move the townspeople, we always have to use some other methods. Waiting for death is never an option.”

Hearing this, Elder Jager couldn’t help but look at Raymond.

He had actually believed what Raymond said—that Lord Alis was messing around with this wheat flour because he wanted to eat lots of delicious food. He was momentarily choked up, lowering his head in silence, and even the corners of his eyes welled up with a hint of heat.

How was this priest living for himself? He was clearly fighting for the entire church—no, for all the people!

He even considered every aspect of poor people not being able to afford meat…

Father Alis is too great!

“…To let Lord Alis down like this… the townspeople are truly too stubborn!” He clenched his fists.

Rona also wiped the corners of her eyes while whispering, “Our priest is so good, can’t they see it?”

Elder Jager looked at everyone with warm tears and said, “We must fully assist Lord Alis, who is thinking of all the people of the continent!”

Father Alis: “…”

Slowly, he said a restrained “thank you.”

Elder Jager’s eyes were filled with warm tears again.

He knew that even though he was old now and might not be able to see Alis bring miracles to the entire continent, this history would ultimately leave a mark.

This was not just the future of a remote town in the Northern Territory, but the future of the entire world.

This mark must be recorded by someone.

Late into the night, he tossed and turned, unable to sleep. He simply put on his clothes and got up, relighting the candlelight and taking out the pen and ink he had prepared long ago.

“The Biography of Father Alis”!

When he wrote this title on the parchment, his hand couldn’t help but tremble slightly, as if he had already participated in that glorious and sacred moment and witnessed that profound and colorful chapter.

Shu Li ate until he was very full at Elder Jager’s house that night.

There actually wasn’t much meat, but fortunately, everyone was a simple person, and smelling the aroma of the meat was enough to be satisfied.

A table full of bread sliced into thick pieces, dipped in the thick soup of the large-plate dish, was also eaten with great relish.

The potatoes and turnips were also stewed to be soft, waxy, and fluffy, making it feel like they were eating big mouthfuls of meat too.

The final finishing touch had to be the sheets of starch skin steamed from the water left after washing the gluten. He originally thought they wouldn’t be used, but as it turned out, everyone couldn’t get enough, so the starch skin was put into the iron pot stew to continue cooking, letting the sheets soak up the fragrance of the newly added wild vegetables and the original meat bones. The translucent starch skin sheets were soft yet supple; after being served piping hot, they were distributed into everyone’s small bowls. The amount was only three or four bites, but eating with a spoon left the mouth full of fragrance and endless aftertaste.

Shu Li couldn’t help but sigh; he still had a Huaxia stomach.

Only Huaxia cuisine brought him the greatest sense of satisfaction.

“In order to eat better in the future, Shu Li, you must work hard!”

While Shu Li was encouraging himself, Herens, who was walking Shu Li back to the church beside him, was silent.

When it was time to part, Herens suddenly spoke up: “Lord Alis, actually, if you really want believers, you can buy them with money.”

Shu Li was caught off guard by the inside information Herens shared.

“As long as you give people some benefits and have them promote the church’s welfare to more people, it will attract more people’s attention and concern. Once there are more believers and you can get more donations from them, it will be easier for you to attract even more believers.”

Herens’s voice was low, making it uncertain what he was really thinking, “Do you need that?”

Shu Li was actually quite satisfied with the current quiet church activities.

However, it was better not to speak of this un-ambitious way of life.

Shu Li felt Herens’s state was off, so he asked back, “Why would you say such a thing?”

Herens said, “I actually feel you are walking a very arduous and winding path.”

“So, are you going to give me money?” Shu Li reached out a hand toward Herens, “You have ideas, so are you going to support the church with your own ideas?”

Herens was stunned for a moment, and for whatever reason, he actually took a silver coin and placed it in Shu Li’s hand.

The silver coin shimmered with silver light, and the symbols and text on the face were very clear.

Shu Li glanced at Herens and held the silver coin in his hand. Herens instinctively watched his movements—

He saw Shu Li give a light laugh, and that spreading smile was like a cool breeze blowing away confusion and irritability, making one’s heart relax. His finger flicked, and a silver coin traced an arc in mid-air and flew into the night sky. Under the moonlight, it was like a fleeting meteor.

After Shu Li caught it steadily, he asked Herens where the silver coin had gone.

This actually didn’t need an answer.

Because Shu Li directly spread his palm, and it was empty.

Herens was stunned.

He had clearly seen the silver coin land in Shu Li’s hand just now.

Shu Li didn’t directly respond to Herens’s shock, only saying plainly: “If you really feel that spending money to recruit believers is a shortcut that is easy and meaningful, why would you show such a heavy expression? Actually, you don’t want me to do this, do you?”

“…”

Herens had his own story too.

This story was actually related to why he had once wanted to leave the church.

But Shu Li didn’t want to pry into stories that others didn’t tell.

With a flip of his hand, two silver coins appeared out of thin air in his previously empty palm, silver light flashing.

This is a miracle!

Herens’s eyes widened: “…What is the situation?”

Shu Li didn’t directly reply to his words, only saying: “I think this is a very good practice of communicating original intentions. In my view, true faith cannot be built on the exchange of interests, because such following is both fragile and short-lived. I came here not for money, nor for followers.”

The two silver coins were flipped beautifully and casually by Shu Li.

The silver coins flipped and spun at his fingertips, like silver butterflies with light and nimble dances condensed from moonlight.

“I am just searching—for a path that allows me to lift my head calmly, without shame in my heart.”

Every time it rotated in his hand, a new coin would manifest, clinking “ting ting” in Shu Li’s hand. When he withdrew them again, the silver coins in his hand disappeared one by one, finally becoming one, which Shu Li solemnly handed over to Herens.

Shu Li stared fixedly into Herens’s eyes and said, “If you see clearly now, I believe you won’t try to use money to persuade me again.”

“Tell me, am I right?”

His pupils reflected the moonlight, the color of the morning glow before dawn on the horizon, deep and broad, warm and soft.

Herens was half a beat slow to react, slowly nodding.

Shu Li continued: “And I also believe that you said this for your own reasons and hidden circumstances. That should be the real reason you wanted to flee the church. But whether or not you are willing to speak it aloud, I can tell you one thing first—”

Shu Li’s hand covered Herens’s hand again, his palm and fingertips soft and warm, comforting the depths of one’s heart.

After moving it away again, a shining cross had appeared beside the silver coin.

His clear voice pierced through all the shock in Herens’s heart, like a bell echoing in the air: “Herens, do not be shrouded by the haze of the past, and do not feel timid about the future. Just move forward.”

“Trust me, God is by your side.”

As the voice fell, moonlight pierced through the clouds and spilled over Shu Li, like an invisible light silently crowning him.

In Herens’s eyes, at that moment, Alis was no longer just the priest himself.

Instead, he was,

The holy light of the mortal realm,

The reflection of God in the mortal realm.

This was actually also Shu Li’s answer, using actions to respond to what he truly wanted to convey—this faith doesn’t rely on buying and selling; it is just a touch that can make a person completely heart-broken with devotion.