https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-8-Chen-Laodaifu-A-Stunning-Discovery/13688141/
Chapter 7: Full Stomach, Then Think of the Future
With the oil now perfectly rendered, Lu Qing began placing the small fish one by one onto the hot stone, slowly frying them.
In fact, it would’ve been better to add a pinch of salt to the oil before frying—this would’ve prevented the fish from sticking. But Lu Qing had noticed earlier: the salt the village elder had brought was coarse and grainy, unsuitable for direct use in frying.
Carefully controlling the heat, he continued frying the fish with steady hands.
The rich aroma wafted through the air, drawing Xiao Yan—who had already finished her flatbread—over to the stone. She sat down, eyes fixed intently on the sizzling fish.
Seeing her eager expression, Lu Qing felt a pang of heartache.
He gently ruffled her hair. “Xiao Yan, just a little longer. It’ll be ready soon.”
“Mmm!” Xiao Yan nodded obediently. “Brother, the fish smells so good.”
“You’ll eat plenty once it’s ready. Today I caught so many fish, enough for you to eat until you’re completely full.”
When the rice in the clay pot finally finished cooking, Lu Qing had nearly finished frying all the fish. He carefully transferred them into a bowl, then poured a small amount of boiled saltwater over them.
And just like that, a simple, rustic saltwater-fried fish was ready.
Lu Qing served two bowls of rice onto the table. “Xiao Yan, dinner’s ready.”
“I’m right here, Brother!” the little girl called out, already waiting at the table.
Lu Qing placed a small stool on the chair, then lifted Xiao Yan up so she could reach the table. Then he selected a few small fish with few bones and placed them on her plate.
“Eat up, little glutton. Remember to spit out any bones—don’t let them get stuck in your throat.”
“Got it, Brother!”
The child, starving with anticipation, immediately grabbed a small fried fish and stuffed it into her mouth, chewing with the frantic speed of a hamster.
Thankfully, Lu Qing had chosen fish with minimal bones—otherwise, she’d have been in trouble.
After swallowing the first fish, her eyes lit up.
“Brother, this fish is amazing! Even better than Mama used to make!”
Hearing this, Lu Qing didn’t feel joy—he felt a sharp ache in his chest.
This fish had only been cooked with a little oil and saltwater. To save resources, he’d even been careful not to use too much oil.
How could something so plain possibly taste that good?
Only someone who had been starving for a long time would find such a simple meal heavenly.
It was clear to him now—Xiao Yan had endured hunger for far too long.
Still, he didn’t show his sorrow. Instead, he smiled. “Good. Then eat more, Xiao Yan.”
“Mm-hmm!”
She stuffed another big bite into her mouth, cheeks bulging like a squirrel’s, barely able to speak through the food.
Lu Qing chuckled and took a fish for himself.
After swallowing it, he raised an eyebrow.
It wasn’t as bad as he’d feared.
Perhaps it was because this ancient world had no pollution—river fish here were naturally fresh and plump.
Even without proper seasoning, the meat was tender and delicious, carrying a unique, earthy flavor.
Both siblings had been hungry for a long time. So naturally, they ate with great speed.
Before long, the rice in the pot and the entire bowl of small fried fish were gone.
Most of it, of course, ended up in Lu Qing’s stomach.
Xiao Yan, though hungry, was still only six or seven—her appetite was limited.
And Lu Qing had deliberately held back, not wanting her to eat too much too fast and upset her stomach.
“Brother, I’m full!”
Xiao Yan set down her bowl and patted her belly, her face glowing with contentment.
She hadn’t felt this full in such a long time.
“Good. Now rest a little. Don’t run around. I’ll go wash the dishes first.”
Lu Qing gave her a gentle reminder before gathering the bowls and utensils.
“Xiao Yan, help me.”
The little girl hopped down from the stool.
“No need. Just sit and rest,” Lu Qing said, gently refusing.
So Xiao Yan stayed put, watching him busy himself with the chores.
Children are naturally sleepy. By the time Lu Qing finished cleaning up and stepped back out, the little girl’s head was already bobbing gently, her eyes drooping.
He smiled, lifted her gently, and carried her to the room.
“Brother… I want to go fishing with you again… the fish… it’s so good…”
As he laid her down on the bed, she mumbled drowsily.
“Alright. Next time, I’ll bring you along,” Lu Qing whispered, tucking her into the patched-up quilt with tender care.
Hearing his promise, she fell silent, sinking into deep, peaceful sleep.
Once he was sure she was asleep, Lu Qing quietly left the room and sat down on a simple wooden recliner in the main hall. The moment he settled in, a wave of relief washed over him.
Today had been exhausting. His body was still weak—only just recovered from illness.
And yet, he’d endured hunger and worked hard—fishing, cooking, everything.
Of course he was tired.
Now, finally resting, he felt the stiffness in his bones ease.
Even drowsiness crept in.
But he couldn’t sleep yet.
There were still things to think about.
After this long day—fishing, cooking, talking with villagers, and sifting through the memories in his mind—Lu Qing had begun to piece together the nature of the world he now found himself in.
First, there was no doubt: he was in a world resembling ancient China.
A time of low productivity.
That much was clear—just look at the iron pot, which was considered a rare treasure.
But beyond that, the details remained fuzzy.
He didn’t know the structure of society, the distribution of power, or who held authority.
All he knew was that there seemed to be no central government, no official courts or bureaucracy.
At least, not in the memories of the original owner of this body.
But that wasn’t conclusive.
The original owner had been a simple country boy—fifteen years old, never left the village, and had never thought beyond its borders.
How could he have known about the wider world?
Still, one thing was certain: towns did exist.
The villagers regularly went to the nearby market town to buy supplies.
Salt, iron—those could only be found in towns.
And in these towns, the most powerful figure was called the City Lord.
But alas, the original boy had never been to a town.
So Lu Qing couldn’t know what life there was really like.
“Looks like I’ll need to visit the town, if I get the chance,” he murmured to himself.
Only by understanding this world better could he decide what path to take in the future.
But for now, that was still far off.
The immediate priority was clear: find a way to sustain himself and Xiao Yan.
After all, he’d already owed the villagers a great debt today.
And those debts had to be repaid.
His greatest asset?
His unique ability.
What could it do?
Lu Qing sat in silence, pondering deeply.
Suddenly, a name surfaced in his mind.
(End of Chapter)
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