Chapter 54: Chapter 54: Turns Out to Be a Foodie
Pink, romantic bubbles seemed to float in the air between them. They didn’t dare to meet each other’s gaze, and if their eyes happened to cross, they would instantly dart away.
"Then... well, just tell me, do you really have a cold?" Zhao Nuanyue asked, her head lowered. She was very shy, but her concern won out. "Denying you’re sick and avoiding the doctor is a bad idea."
Hua Yusen looked at Zhao Nuanyue’s bashful face, and his heart warmed. In this cold winter, at least there was one young woman who cared for him and worried about him.
"I’m really not sick. Put the medicine away," Hua Yusen said. "It may not be expensive, but it’s hard to get. You might need it later. I’ve already cleaned two fish, so what should we make to eat today?"
Even though her face still felt hot, Zhao Nuanyue kept telling herself, ’This is all just so Hua Yusen will protect me and my brother. There are no... other intentions...’
This attempt at self-persuasion wasn’t convincing in the slightest. Even she didn’t believe it.
Now that Hua Yusen had changed the subject, Zhao Nuanyue felt a wave of relief, tinged with a hint of disappointment. She lowered her head, thought carefully, and said, "The fish are huge. We can’t just eat them as salted fish, and we don’t have much grain. Why don’t we make fish balls? We can throw in some cabbage, and it can be both a side dish and a staple meal. It’s delicious, nutritious, and will warm us up in the winter."
’Delicious and nutritious?’
Hearing those two words, Hua Yusen’s eyes lit up, and he grinned. "Great! Let’s make fish balls then! If they’re good, we can make a bigger batch. We’re short on grain, but the river is full of fish. We can get more as long as we’re not afraid of the cold."
Catching fish had been difficult at first, but then his luck had turned, and he’d managed to get a lot. Hua Yusen felt he had vaguely figured out a method and would be able to catch even more in the future.
Zhao Nuanyue inwardly snickered when she heard him.
’Hmph, that was all thanks to me!’
The Special Ability she’d received from the Old Dragon King came with a mission: she had to use it to bring blessings to the people of Nianqiao Village, never for profit or to harm others. For this reason, Zhao Nuanyue could only use her Special Ability to gather information and catch fish.
Still, just being able to use this power to fill their bellies was a rare blessing in itself.
Now, she could not only feed herself and her brother but also help others, and in turn, secure the future protection of Hua Yusen and Elder Gu.
’So far, it seems I’ve gained more than just protection. I’ve also developed feelings I don’t dare speak aloud... an infatuation.’
"Okay!" Zhao Nuanyue nodded. "For the elders, we can make a cabbage and fish ball soup. It’ll be very warming. And for us at home, we don’t just have to boil them in soup. We can roast them or pan-fry them. They’re delicious that way!"
"Mhm!" Hua Yusen nodded eagerly, his mouth already starting to water at the description.
Since leaving Jincheng City and before arriving in Nianqiao Village, Hua Yusen had barely eaten a single decent meal. Now, Zhao Nuanyue was able to use simple ingredients to make food that was both delicious and nutritious. It helped replenish his energy and nourish his body, which was still weak from his previous serious injuries.
He knew his speedy recovery was partly thanks to her. In his mind, he awarded Zhao Nuanyue another point, and his fondness for her grew.
’The girl I like is just this capable and this wonderful!’
Zhao Nuanyue was surprised but also secretly delighted to see the joyful expression that always appeared on Hua Yusen’s face when they talked about food. ’So he’s a foodie after all,’ she thought. In her past life, Hua Yusen had often come over for dinner, saying how much he loved her cooking.
She didn’t understand why. She had asked Hua Yusen several times but never got an answer.
Looking at the scene before her now, Zhao Nuanyue was a little puzzled. ’Could it be that my cooking just happens to be a perfect match for his palate?’
"What are you thinking about? You seem a million miles away," Hua Yusen said, his curiosity piqued when he saw her spacing out. "It’s getting dark early. We should probably speed things up."
"Oh, right!" Zhao Nuanyue tapped her head. ’What am I thinking about? We’re just friends now, not like the intimate relationship from my past life.’ "I’ll get right on it!"
Zhao Nuanyue used a sharp kitchen knife to scrape the fish meat off the bones, making a whole basin of fish paste.
Zhao Nuanyue found some flour to use as a binder, then had Hua Yusen start boiling a pot of water while she began cooking the fish balls.
As the plump, white fish balls, each four to five centimeters in diameter, began to float to the surface of the large pot of hot water, Hua Yusen caught their fragrant aroma. There was no fishy smell at all, and he finally understood why Zhao Nuanyue had added so many seasonings.
The seasonings were all things she had foraged on the mountain, a skill she’d learned from the villagers in her past life. It was a frugal way to make the most delicious food possible out of simple ingredients.
In the evening, they had the fish ball soup, and Hua Yusen ate three whole large bowls, feeling completely satisfied.
Zhao Nuanyang was a growing young man with an astonishing appetite, and he polished off two and a half bowls. Even someone as petite as Zhao Nuanyue ate an entire large bowl.
In an era of scarcity, the feeling of a full stomach was truly wonderful.
After dark, Zhao Nuanyue prepared a large clay pot of fish ball soup for the elders, adding chili and pepper powder, and asked Hua Yusen to deliver it.
However, Zhao Nuanyue was still worried. After all, Wang Dadan, Accountant Li, and Liu Lanhua were back in the village. Who knew if they would try to cause trouble?
So, Zhao Nuanyue told her brother to stay inside and not come out, deciding to go with Hua Yusen to deliver the food herself.
Zhao Nuanyue walked in front, with Hua Yusen about twenty meters behind her.
Wearing her reed shoes, Zhao Nuanyue trudged ahead, her steps unsteady, with Hua Yusen following behind her.
Fortunately, it was so cold that all the villagers were holed up in their homes. No one was out at all.
Therefore, their journey was very smooth.
Upon arriving at the shack, they found the elders huddled together for warmth, shivering uncontrollably. They had only eaten two bowls of thin paste during the day, which did nothing to sate their hunger, and the cold was biting. None of them dared to fall asleep, fearing they might never wake up.
Hua Yusen arrived, took out a key, and unlocked the door to the shack to go inside.
Zhao Nuanyue stood guard outside, watching for anyone who might approach.
When Gu Qingyu saw Hua Yusen arrive, he said with a faint smile, "Everyone, get up. Let’s have something to eat and warm ourselves."
Although Miao Dahai had someone send over more dry straw in the evening, without food in their stomachs, it did little to ward off the cold. They still felt freezing.
Everyone opened their eyes, and their faces lit up with joy when they saw Hua Yusen.
"Xiaohua, you’re here! Thank you for coming. I’m so hungry my stomach is in knots," said He Qiang. He was in his forties and in the prime of his strength, making his need for sustenance even more urgent. He stood up and began helping to ladle the soup into bowls for everyone.
