The leaves wrapped not luxurious cuisine, but the most simple... fried rice?
The grains of rice gleamed golden, with a yellowish hue characteristic of fat, and a rich aroma! Each grain was as round and milky white as a pearl, so much so that one might mistake it for actual pearls upon a cursory glance.
Elder Mo picked up a grain of pearl rice and examined it under the sunlight: "Such fine rice!"
With a gentle pinch, it exhibited a slight elasticity, seemingly containing some protein.
Furthermore, judging by the lingering aroma, Elder Mo was certain that the edible grade of this rice was no less than Level 12. Based on its appearance, its market price would be at least 110 Belli per kilogram.
This was equivalent to a month's salary for an ordinary young adult!
"Fortune and misfortune are intertwined; these refugees are in for a treat, getting to savor dishes made with ingredients of this caliber."
Zhang Wei almost burst out laughing. This was no high-end ingredient; it was merely ordinary rock rice from the Rice Desert, except... it was a meticulously crafted perfect replica.
As for genuine rock rice, its price did not exceed 1.5 Belli.
The price difference between the two was nearly a hundredfold!
At this point, more and more refugees gathered, gazing with longing eyes at the enormous rice cooker.
"Don't rush, everyone gets a portion!"
With that, Zhang Wei pulled on the chain, and the steam ejected portions of the rice packages, making the sky seem to rain down green!
The disaster victims were immediately moved to tears, their mouths watering.
Hungry mothers knew to open them for their children first, while many elderly folks were already eagerly stuffing their mouths.
The fragrance of the rice wafted across the plain, filled with the sounds of ravenous chewing!
Fragrant!
So fragrant!
Why was it so delicious? It felt like their tongues were about to be swallowed!
"This... this fried rice is more fragrant than any delicacy I've ever tasted!" exclaimed an old man.
The old man sported a goatee and was elegantly dressed. Even though he was starving, his hair was not disheveled, and he exuded the distinctive scholarly and authoritative aura of a venerable figure.
He appeared to be an elder of some clan, and those around him regarded him with reverence. Yet, this distinguished individual still praised Zhang Wei's cooking to the skies.
Clearly, Zhang Wei had not compromised on quality despite the large quantity.
The clan elder bowed: "I am the fourth-generation ancestor of the Haiyu Zhao Family Village. You have descended like a god to save our clan, tens of thousands of our kin! Please accept my obeisance!"
Saying this, the old man knelt down trembling, about to kowtow.
Just as Zhang Wei was about to stop him, a crowd around them had already knelt.
"This... so be it. Quickly eat, and don't mind these formalities. After you've eaten your fill, take some with you on your journey, as other refugees will be arriving later."
Mention of food caused everyone to swallow again. After another bow, they immediately grabbed their fried rice packets and began to devour them.
"Mmm! This fried rice is packed with ingredients!"
"Indeed, not just rice, I've also found three tender slices of braised pork belly, which perfectly complement the preserved vegetables in the fried rice!"
"Wait, mine is ham and eggs. The ham is special starch ham, with a particularly springy texture!"
"Mine is also good, five large pieces of Dongpo pork, each bite bursting with oil, it's heavenly."
Fried rice with shredded pork and egg...
Fried rice with lamb and cumin...
Fried rice with pan-seared pork belly...
Fried rice with green peppers and bullfrog...
Rice with eel juice and red meat...
Everyone's eyes were wide with delight, their mouths glistening with golden oil...
Elder Mo, feeling envious, immediately fetched dozens of dumplings and indulged his palate.
However, as he ate, he couldn't help but frown.
"This cuisine... the skill level is quite ordinary."