Volume 2 Chapter 19.2 The Marvelous Ingredients
Being asked out of nowhere, Shao Qing was a bit surprised and blurted out: “Someone clever, obedient, and thoughtful.”
Then she became silent. Probably because of that sc.u.m Lin Qifan, she was now on guard against men that appeared like sunshine and were gentle and tender. But because of her control over her desire, she began liking that type she couldn’t handle.
To speak plainly, it was the type that Shao Qing understood well. Only those men could give her a sense of security.
Silent for a while, Shao Qing added another phrase: “and also likes children.”
Calculating within his mind, Yan Qiyue felt that besides the last clause, he met all the criteria. Furthermore, liking children is something that can be developed.
Yan Qiyue became a lot more relaxed. Then given an inch and taking a mile, he advanced towards Shao Qing, looking at her impatiently: “Tell me about your history. Even though I have never asked about your past, I really do want to know.”
With nothing she really wanted to conceal, Shao Qing chose a few things from her past to tell Yan Qiyue. For example, that she was an orphan, has been in the military for a bit, and was currently single with a child.
The light from Yan Qiyue’s eyes was lighting up the entire place. Towards that man who could make Shao Qing willingly give birth to him, he was just envious of death. However, since Shao Qing at present is single, then that must mean that man was already dead.
Even though that was the speculation, Yan Qiyue wasn’t at ease. So he feigned ignorance and asked: “When I come to live with you, the father of the baby won’t be against it right?”
With her head lowered she ground her fingernails upon hearing what Yan Qiyue said. Lifting her head she smiled: “You don’t have to probe. He isn’t by my side. I’m afraid that at present he probably thinks I’m dead. But that’s even better. Nevertheless, appearing before him the moment when he is most proud of himself, then taking away everything will make it way more meaningful.”
When Shao Qing smiled and her eyes becoming like crescents, she appeared particularly gentle. Yet, Yan Qiyue felt a bone-chilling cold. At the same time, the jealousy he felt towards that man became hate.
What could he have done to cause Shao Qing to be like this? Shao Qing must have been really hurt for her to hate him this much.
Once he met that man, he had to help Shao Qing vent her anger!
“Let’s stop chatting. I think you should still sleep a bit. We still have to hurry on our journey early tomorrow.” Shao Qing forced Yan Qiyue on the quilt. Yan Qiyue still wanted to say something but seeing Shao Qing’s dark gaze he quietly laid down expressing his willingness to sleep.
His thoughts swirled in the air. Originally planning on thinking about the matter until the sunrise while he closed his eyes, once he closed his eyes he immediately fell asleep.
Once he was awake, it was already the next day. Opening his eyes, he could hear the crackling of the firewood beside him. Rubbing his eyes, he saw that there was a small pot above the fire with something boiling inside. Shao Qing was sitting on the other side of it, slicing mushrooms with her knife. After cutting it into small pieces, she threw them into the pot.
Recalling the matters of last night and how that knife had sliced the white bug, he instantly lost his appet.i.te.
Following Yan Qiyue’s gaze to the knife in her hand, she suddenly realized what he was thinking and explained: “I washed it.”
Not thinking about all the zombies and people that knife had killed, he grabbed a pitcher of water to wash his face. Then he sat by Shao Qing’s and waited for breakfast.
Shao Qing didn’t need to eat. So there was only one reason why she was awake so early and that is for him. Thinking that Yan Qiyue’s heart melted.
She had made mushroom congee for Yan Qiyue. The rice was new and she even added some dried meat sliced to shreds. There were even some chicken gizzards and wild pheasant.
The wild pheasant was caught when she went picking for mushrooms to prepare breakfast for Yan Qiyue. If she were to make stew, then it was probably the best as a supplement. Adding some ginseng, stewing it until the pheasant was cooked, then taking it out to tear into strips and finally cooking it a little bit more guaranteed a delicious with tender meat. The most crucial point about this stew was that it was full of nutrients.
However, in the wild, there wasn’t so much idle time to prepare such a complicated dish. So, Shao Qing just cut the pheasant into pieces and added mushrooms. The taste was still pretty good.
The congee was extremely delicious. From the very first bite, Yan Qiyue was filled with love from the congee Shao Qing made for him especially. His eyes lighting up, he finished the entire pot of congee all by himself. Finally, especially satisfied, he reclined back on the quilt and rubbed his belly.
His flat belly was now slightly bulged out. Giving off the impression that it would be rather smooth, Shao Qing couldn’t help but sinfully extend her right hand and lift up Yan Qiyue’s shirt to touch his stomach.
His soft supple skin was a first-rate sensation.
After eating his full share and also being touched on the belly, Yan Qiyue seemed a bit moved. He can’t eat meat, but drinking some soup is fine right? Throwing a flirtatious glance at Shao Qing: “Baby, whip me~”
That final syllable and his undoing of the b.u.t.ton, as well as his snow-white chest revealed, was quite seductive. Shao Qing gave a small smile and reached out her hand.
Yan Qiyue’s body immediately tightened, waiting for Shao Qing to give him suffering and delight. But, Shao Qing just fastened his b.u.t.ton: “No joking. There’s still a monster hiding within the dark. Be good. After we clean up, we have to hurry on.”
Yan Qiyue’s eyes widened. Wait a second, the script wasn’t supposed to be like this. He was already thirsty to the extreme.
Shao Qing continued to put away the items and already finished washing the pot and bowl and placed it away in her s.p.a.ce. Furthermore, she was already thinking about how when she returned to the base she would have to procure a bunch of things to replenish the items within her s.p.a.ce.
Yan Qiyue could only stare at Shao Qing as she cleaned up. Waving her hand towards him: “Let’s go. Once we leave this forest we’ll be safe.”
That creature wouldn’t follow them all the way to the base. So as long as they leave this forest, they should be able to cast off that thing.
Yan Qiyue stood up exasperatingly slow, following Shao Qing. The trees in the forest were dense, even the gra.s.s on the ground was deep enough to almost reach a person’s knee.
That was the gra.s.s they usually saw, but there were some parts where the gra.s.s was nearly as tall as a person. Shao Qing didn’t dare enter those gra.s.s. Who knew what kind of thing was hidden in there. If they got hurt, then that would really make them cry.
All the way up to noon, the creature did not pop up once. At this time, Shao Qing made stewed mushrooms and chicken. The wild chickens in the forest were especially strong and delicious, so Yan Qiyue was very satisfied.
If it weren’t for the case that there was no way to preserve it, he would have captured a few to take back so Shao Qing could cook a few more for him.
It has already been two days since the sneak attack that night. Detouring, Shao Qing has already returned back to the Chinese Enkianthus location and has easily collected a Chinese Enkianthus. Using a thin branch as a pole and a string to string the fruit stem, she made a lantern.
Once night arrived, the light from the lantern was weak but the faint pink colour was beautiful and it didn’t attract wild animals. It was like killing two birds with one stone.
When the fourth day came along, they were nearing the edge of the forest. Yet, they still haven’t run into Qiao Mo and the rest. On the other hand, that large white bug also didn’t appear so Yan Qiyue a.s.sumed it had given up.
But even though it didn’t show up, the two of them didn’t show any traces of letting their guard down. After all, this is concerning the safety of their lives.
With no difficulty, she pinned a flower-patterned snake that was trying to launch a sneak attack to the ground. Lifting up the lantern, the sun had already set. Variation creatures should be coming out to hunt soon. Making a prompt decision, Shao Qing said: “Let’s stop here. You need to eat some food to replenish your energy. We’re not going to rest tonight. We are going to travel throughout the night and get out of the forest. We aren’t too far.”
Yan Qiyue nodded his head. Volunteering to serve as patrol, Shao Qing used the materials she had on hand and killed a few snakes and flayed their skin and took out their gall bladders.
The more poisonous a snake, the fresher and tastier the meat. Before when Shao Qing was in southeast Asia ‘exercising’, she would often gather a bunch of different local ingredients and eat a variety of wild game.
Handling snakes was no big deal. Extracting the venomous fangs and its poison sack, the remaining meat was not poisonous at all. There was also no need for a lot of condiments or seasoning. Just adding in some oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar made the pot a delicacy.
After skinning eight snakes, it still wasn’t ready to be eaten. Pushing away from the underbrush, she picked up two frogs. These ones she picked up were poisonous, the wart on its back oozing out the liquid. But don’t judge it by its appearance. After skinning it, it could also be eaten.
When people are in desperate times, they would be willing to eat anything. Shao Qing had a teammate who was rather proficient in these. She had just stewed frog with radish, not using any other materials andit was still amazing.
Shao Qing added a bit of chicken stock to give it more flavour, then the meat stew was done. Milky white soup with meat chunks floating around, the sweet smell wafted outwards. Calling Yan Qiyue over, she poured a bowl for him: “Try it.”
Yan Qiyue came over to give it a try. The meat was tender. Biting into it, some of the soup would even squirt out. A mouthful of flavour, it was even better than the exotic delicacies he’s had before.
Yan Qiyue couldn’t help but take a sip of the soup. The soup tasted absolutely fresh and savoury. Even though there were no additional seasonings. The freshness was good enough.
Inhaling the soup, he drank it all until there was not even a single drop remaining. Wiping his mouth and patting his belly, he asked Shao Qing curiously: “What kind of meat was it? It tasted really good, but I couldn’t tell what flavour it was.”
Slowly putting away the pot she replied: “The big piece is a frog, the small piece is a snake. Debone them, cut it up, and stew it.”
“I thought that the taste was different….” Yan Qiyue stiffened. Suddenly realizing that the things Shao Qing said sounded like frogs and snakes, his stomach immediately began to feel sick. Should he puke…..?