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Chapter 7: Full and Contemplating the Road Ahead
Chapter 7: Full and Contemplating the Road Ahead
Seeing that the oil was ready, Lu Qing began to carefully place the small fish into the pan, slowly frying them.
Adding a pinch of salt to the oil before frying would have been ideal, as it prevents the fish from sticking to the pan. However, the salt that the uncle had brought earlier had coarse grains, unsuitable for direct use in cooking.
With careful control of the heat, Lu Qing slowly fried the fish.
The tantalizing aroma wafting through the air caught the attention of Xiao Yan, who had already finished her scorched pancake. She sat close by, her eyes fixed on the fish sizzling on the stone slab.
Lu Qing's heart twinged at the sight of her eager expression.
He ruffled her hair affectionately.
"Xiao Yan, wait a little longer. It'll be ready soon."
"Okay!" Xiao Yan nodded obediently. "Brother, the fish smells so good."
"If you like the smell, you'll enjoy the taste. Eat as much as you want. I caught plenty of fish today, so you can fill your tummy."
By the time the rice in the clay pot was ready, Lu Qing had also finished frying most of the fish.
He transferred the fish to a bowl and poured a bit of salted water over them.
And with that, a simple dish of salted fried fish was ready.
Lu Qing served two bowls of rice and placed them on the table.
"Xiao Yan, let's eat."
"I'm here, brother."
The little girl had already taken her seat at the table, eagerly awaiting the meal.
Lu Qing added a small stool to her chair and lifted Xiao Yan onto it so she could reach her bowl comfortably.
He then placed a few small fish, carefully selected to be free of bones, onto her rice.
"Eat up, little glutton. Remember to spit out any bones you find so you don't hurt yourself."
"Okay, brother."
Xiao Yan was ravenous and immediately picked up a fried fish, popping it into her mouth and chewing rapidly like a little hamster.
Fortunately, Lu Qing had chosen fish with minimal bones, preventing any accidental pricks.
After swallowing the first fish, Xiao Yan's eyes widened in delight.
"Brother, this fish is so delicious! It's even better than what Mother used to make!"
Lu Qing's heart sank at her words, and he felt a twinge of sadness rather than happiness.
The fish had barely been seasoned with oil and salted water, and he had even skimped on the oil while frying to conserve their supplies.
How could such a simply prepared dish be that tasty?
Only when one is hungry does everything taste delicious.
It was clear that Xiao Yan must have gone through a period of hunger and deprivation, causing her to find even this humble dish irresistibly appetizing.
However, Lu Qing didn't show his emotions and simply smiled, saying, "I'm glad you like it. Then eat as much as you want, Xiao Yan."
"Yes!"
Xiao Yan's mouth was stuffed full, and she could only nod vigorously in response.
Lu Qing smiled and picked up a fish for himself.
After swallowing the first fish, he raised his eyebrows in mild surprise.
The fish wasn't as bad as he had expected.
Perhaps it was because the ancient environment was free from pollution, allowing the river fish to thrive and develop a superior flavor.
Despite the minimal seasoning, the fish meat was fresh and tasty, making the simple dish surprisingly delightful.
Both siblings had been hungry for a long time, so it was no surprise that they devoured their meal quickly.
Soon, the rice from the clay pot and the bowl of fried fish were completely devoured, mostly by Lu Qing.
Xiao Yan, despite her hunger, was still a small child of six or seven years old, and her stomach could only hold so much.
Moreover, Lu Qing deliberately controlled her portions to prevent her from overeating and upsetting her stomach.
"Brother, I'm full!" Xiao Yan declared, putting down her bowl and patting her belly with a satisfied smile.
It had been a long time since Xiao Yan had felt so pleasantly full.
"Rest for a while and don't run around. I'll go wash the dishes," Lu Qing instructed.
Chapter 7: Full and Contemplating the Road Ahead
"Xiao Yan, you can help your brother, too."
The little one hopped off the stool, eager to lend a hand.
"No need, just sit there and rest," Lu Qing gently refused.
Xiao Yan obediently sat back down on the stool, watching as Lu Qing continued his tasks.
Children tend to get sleepy easily, and by the time Lu Qing had finished tidying up, Xiao Yan's head was already nodding off bit by bit.
Lu Qing smiled and gently picked her up, carrying her to the bedroom.
"Brother, I want to go fishing with you again. The fish are so tasty," Xiao Yan mumbled drowsily.
Lu Qing had just put her down on the bed when she murmured, half-asleep.
"Alright, next time we go fishing, I'll take you with me again," he replied softly, his voice full of affection.
Lu Qing tucked her in with the patched quilt and gently assured her, "Get some rest now, little one."
Hearing her brother's promise, Xiao Yan fell into a deep sleep without another word.
After confirming that Xiao Yan was asleep, Lu Qing quietly left the room and sat down in a simple recliner in the living room, feeling a sense of relief.
He had been quite busy today, and his body was still recovering from his illness, leaving him weak.
On top of that, he had endured hunger while doing various chores, from fishing to cooking.
It would be a lie to say he wasn't exhausted.
Now, as he reclined in the chair, he felt a sense of comfort and relaxation.
He even felt a wave of sleepiness wash over him.
However, he couldn't afford to sleep just yet.
There were still some matters he needed to ponder.
Through the day's activities, interactions with the villagers, and the memories in his mind, Lu Qing had deduced a general idea of the world he now found himself in.
Firstly, without a doubt, he was in a world similar to ancient China.
Moreover, it was a world with low productivity, as evidenced by the fact that a simple iron pot was considered a rare commodity.
However, that was the extent of his certainty.
There was still much he couldn't be sure of.
For example, he didn't know the social structure, power dynamics, or who held authority in this world.
All he knew was that this world seemed to lack concepts like imperial courts or government offices.
At least, there were no such concepts in the original owner's memories.
Of course, this wasn't absolute.
After all, the original owner was just an ordinary, naive teenager who had never left his village.
He had never contemplated the vastness of the world beyond, so how could he have knowledge of such concepts?
However, while Lu Qing couldn't be sure about the presence of imperial courts or government offices, he could confirm the existence of towns.
The villagers usually purchased daily necessities, like salt and iron, from the markets in the nearby towns.
The most powerful figure in these towns seemed to be someone called the "City Lord."
Unfortunately, even though the original owner was fifteen years old, he had never been to the city, so Lu Qing had no way of knowing what the towns were like.
"It looks like I'll have to make a trip to the town when I have the chance," Lu Qing muttered to himself.
Only by gaining a thorough understanding of this world could he decide on the best path forward for himself and Xiao Yan.
Of course, such thoughts were a bit premature at the moment.
The most pressing matter was finding a way to support himself and Xiao Yan.
After all, he now owed quite a few favors to the villagers, and those favors would need to be repaid.
His most significant advantage at the moment was the mysterious ability he possessed.
What could he do with this ability?
Lu Qing sat in quiet contemplation.
Suddenly, a name popped into his mind.
(End of Chapter)
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