[It is normal for all parties to die? Glad that I’m still alive? Lucky to see me alive?]
Klein shuddered and took two quick steps toward the door. He tried to catch up with the police officers and seek protection.
Just as his hand touched the handle, his actions stopped abruptly.
[If the police officer made it sound so terrible, why don't they protect me? After all, I am an important witness and crucial clue.
Is this negligence?
Or is this a bait?]
All kinds of possibilities came up in Klein’s mind, causing him to suspect that the police were still secretly “watching” him and observing his reactions.
With such a thought, he became much calmer and was no longer panic-stricken. He slowly opened the door and shouted down the stairway with a deliberate shiver.
“You will protect me, right?”
Pa. Pa. Pa. The police officers did not respond and there was no change in the rhythm of the sounds between the leather shoes and the wooden staircase.
“I know! You will!” Klein shouted again, trying to convince himself that he just a normal person who had met with danger.
The sounds of the footsteps faded and disappeared from the apartment.
Klein grunted and laughed in his mind.
[Your reaction is too fake! The acting is not qualified!]
He did not chase. Instead, he turned back to the room and closed the door.
In the next few hours, Klein fully demonstrated perturbation, restlessness, and anxiety. He did not relax because of the absence of people around him.
[This is called the "An Actor Prepares"!] In his heart, he chuckled.
As the sun tilted west, it turned the clouds fiery red. The apartment occupants came home one after another. Finally, Klein shifted his focus to other places.
[It is about time for Melissa to finish her classes…] He turned his attention back to the stove. In one quick swoop, he lifted the kettle, stripped off the coal and took out the revolver.
Without pausing nor delay, he reached out to the back of the lower plank of the bed, where ten wooden poles crisscrossed to support the mattress.
After inserting the revolver between a wooden pole and a plank, Klein straightened up his body and waited uneasily. He feared that the police would suddenly knock open the door and rush into the room with firearms in their hands.
If it was an ordinary world of the Steam era, no one would be able to know what he had just done. However, this was a world of extraordinary powers and he had just verified their existence.
After a few minutes, there were still no movements at the door. He could only hear the conversation of two tenants agreeing to go to the “Wild Hearts” bar at Iron Cross Street.
Klein breathed a sigh of relief and found composure in his mind.
[I will wait for Melissa to come back and stew mutton with tender peas!]
As soon as the thought appeared, Klein’s mouth seemed to be overflowing with the scent of gravy. It also reminded him of how Melissa stewed mutton with tender peas.
She would whip the meat in boiled water, then stewed it with onions, salt, a little pepper, and water. After some time, the peas and potatoes would be added, and everything would be stewed for another forty to fifty minutes.
“This is a really simple and crude method. It solely depends on the taste of the meat itself!” Klein couldn’t help but shook his head.
However, how could peasants have access to a variety of spices, or pursue diversity in cooking methods? They could only choose what was simple, practical and economical. As long as the meat was not burnt nor spoiled, it was good enough for someone who could only afford meat once or twice a week.
Klein was not a chef. While he had used to eat out often, he had also cooked three or four meals a week. Over the time, he had developed some level of culinary skill. At least, he felt that he would not make a disappointing dish out of the pound of mutton.
“By the time Melissa comes back, it will be after half past seven. She will be starving… It’s time for her to witness the real culinary skills!” Klein gave himself an excuse. He rekindled the fire in the stove and started washing the slab of mutton in the public washroom. Then, he took out the chopping board, the knife and started slicing the mutton into small pieces.
As for how to explain his suddenly acquired cooking skills, he decided to push it to his dead friend, Welch McGovern. The classmate of his had not only employed a chef who specialized in Intersea cuisines but also enjoyed cooking himself. He had invited Klein to try his dishes a few times in the past.
[Well, the dead cannot expose my lie!]
[Actually, this is a world with extraordinary powers. The dead may really be able to speak. ] As he thought of this, Klein was a little unconfident.
He swept the idea aside and put the meat into the soup bowl. Then, he took out the seasoning box and threw a spoonful of yellowish coarse salt. In addition, he took out a bottle of precious black pepper and mixed it together with the mutton and salt to make a basic marination.
Klein placed the saucepan on the stove. As he waited for it to heat up, he took out the leftover carrots from the day before and together with the onions he bought on the day itself, he cut them into many pieces.
After the preparation, he took out a small jar from the kitchen closet and opened it. There was some lard left in the jar.
Klein took a spoonful, placed it in the pan to melt it. After that, he poured the cubes of carrots and onions into the pan and stir fried them for a while.
The scent began to permeate. Klein put in all the mutton and carefully cooked them for a while.
In such a procedure, it was actually essential to use cooking wine or at least red wine. However, there was no such extravagance in the Moretti family. Even Benson could only drink one cup of beer every week. Klein had to do with what he had so he just added in a little water.
After stewing for about twenty minutes, he opened the lid, added the green peas and cut potatoes, as well as a cup of hot water, and two spoonfuls of salt.
Then, he closed the lid and lowered the fire to maintain a simmer. Klein exhaled a breath of satisfaction and patiently waited for his sister to return.
The time passed slowly, and the aroma in the room became more intense. There was the temptation of meat, the mellowness of the potatoes, and the freshness of the onion.
The scents gradually mixed. Klein had to swallow his saliva from time to time. So he took out the pocket watch and read the time again.
More than 40 minutes later, brisk but rhythmic footsteps approached the door. A key was inserted, the handle turned, and the door opened.
"Smell great …” Melissa had not entered but she whispered suspiciously.
As she carried her bag and stepped in the room, her eyes swept over the stove.
“Did you try to cook?" Melissa took off her cap. With her hands pausing in mid-air, she looked horrified.
She sniffed again, and after inhaling more aroma, her eyes quickly softened. She seemed to have found some assurance.
“Did you try to cook?" she questioned again.
"Are you afraid that I am wasting the mutton?” Klein asked with a smile. Without waiting for a response, he continued, “Rest assured, I have specially asked Welch what to do with this dish. As you know, he has a good chef.”
“Is this your first time cooking?” Melissa’s brows wrinkled subconsciously, but it was then smoothened by the scent.
“I think I’m very talented in this area,” Klein laughed. “It’s almost ready. You can put down your things and wash your hands in the washroom. After that, you can have a try. I have confidence in my culinary skills.”
Listening to her brother's orderly arrangement and looking at his gentle and calm smile, Melissa paused at the doorway and she looked a little surprised.
“Do you prefer the mutton be stewed a little longer?” Klein joked with a laugh.
“Ah, all right!” Melissa regained her thoughts. With the cap in one hand and the bag in another, she quickly walked into her room.
When the lid of the saucepan was opened, Klein’s eyes became misty with water vapor. Two rye pieces of bread had been placed on the sides of stew, allowing them to absorb the fragrance and become soft.
When Melissa finished packing her belongings, washing her hands and face, she saw a plate of stew mutton with tender peas, potatoes, carrots, and onions on the table. There were also two pieces of dark rye bread with a little gravy.
“Come on, have a try.” Klein pointed to the wooden fork and spoon that he had laid on the side of the plate.
Melissa was still a little confused, so she did not refuse. She picked up the fork, pierced a piece of potato, put to her lips and took a bite.
The fragrance of potatoes and gravy expanded at the same time, causing her saliva to be secreted madly. She swallowed the potato in twos bites.
“Try the meat too.” Klein motioned at the plate with his chin.
He had tasted the dish just now and felt that he could barely get a passing grade, but it was more than enough for a little girl who had not been to restaurants and could only occasionally taste meat.
Melissa’s eyes brightened with anticipation and she carefully forked a piece of mutton.
It was stewed thoroughly and the meat was so tender that it was melting. The juice of the meat exploded, filling the mouth with the wonderful flavor.
It was such an unprecedented feeling that Melissa could not stop eating.
When she came back to her senses, she had already finished several pieces of mutton.
“I, I… Klein, this is for you…” Melissa’s face flushed and she stuttered.
"I have already sneaked a few bites. That's the privilege of a chef." Klein smiled and comforted her sister. He also took the fork and spoon, ate some of the meat, together with the peas and bread.
Melissa relaxed as she was influenced by Klein’s calm behavior. She then re-immersed into the delicacy.
“It’s so appetizing. I simply can't imagine that it’s the first time you cook.” Melissa glanced at the empty plate on the table and praised.
“Compared with Welch’s chef, there is still a long way to go. When I’m rich, I’ll take you and Benson to the restaurants and we can try something better!” Klein said with some anticipation in his heart.
“Your interview preparation.. eh…” Melissa didn’t finish and suddenly made a satisfied sign. She hurriedly used her hand to cover her mouth and looked embarrassed.
[It is because the stewed mutton with tender peas is just so delicious!]
Klein smiled and decided not to laugh at his sister. He pointed to the empty plates.
“This is your task.”
“Okay!” Melissa hurriedly stood up. She took the plates and rushed out of the door.
When she returned, she opened the cupboard and habitually checked the items such as the seasoning box.
“You have used those?” Melissa was surprised and blurted. She turned to look at Klein, holding a black pepper bottle and a lard jar in her hand.
Klein spread his hands and smiled.
"Just a little bit, but this is the price for delicious food.”
Melissa's eyes sparkled for a moment, she changed her expressions for a few times before eventually biting her lips.
“Let me cook next time."
“Um… You should make good use of the time to prepare for your interview and think about work.”