Han Qiwu looked at a bucket of raw fish, thinking he must cook it before eating, right?
So for now, he could only eat seaweed.
Thus, when Brother Jing finished practicing and looked toward the dock, Han Qiwu was wearily eating seaweed.
"Is this seaweed really mountain pepper flavored? Spicy and delicious!"
Brother Jing: "... Is this kid that pitiful? That seaweed is so salty, isn't he going to choke?"
"Little Wu, are you hungry? I got something to eat, come over and have a bite."
Hearing Brother Jing's voice, Han Qiwu quickly turned and shouted, "No, no, I'll fish a little longer."
"Hiss… Ha."
This mountain pepper seaweed was sour and spicy, really tasty.
Before Brother Jing could say anything, a familiar voice to both Han Qiwu and Brother Jing came from the beach.
"Uncle! I came to see you."
Following the voice, he saw Tang Qingying walking toward the fisherman's inn with a bag in hand.
Her delicate features were captivating at a glance, and the Louis Vuitton spring haute couture flattered her lovely figure. Seeing her was like seeing spring itself, fulfilling all your fantasies about a beauty.
"Mr. Tang?" Han Qiwu stood up in surprise. Why would she be here?
But just then, Han Qiwu, who had been sitting for too long, felt a tingle in his foot and fell straight into the sea beside him.
As he fell into the sea, the first thing that came to Han Qiwu's mind was this morning's TV program.
"Good for making friends, bad for sitting too long."
The early spring seawater was ice cold, but even that couldn't compare to the chill in Han Qiwu's heart.
Making such a fool of himself in front of Mr. Tang.
It was a disaster.
Fifteen minutes later
Han Qiwu stepped out of the house, lips pale, wearing Brother Jing's clothes, and pretended nothing was wrong as he explained, "Cough cough, I fished too long, and my foot went numb."
Tang Qingying, who was picking vegetables, turned her head and smiled, "Han Qiwu, you seem pretty good at fishing. How come I never heard you mention it before?"
"Cough cough, just a beginner, just a beginner." Han Qiwu smiled a bit embarrassed.
Brother Jing also smiled and asked, "How do you two know each other?"
"This is my teacher."
"This is my student."
Han Qiwu and Tang Qingying said in unison, then exchanged a glance.
Brother Jing: ".... Why do I have a bad feeling about this."
"You sure fished a lot all morning. Why not use the 'Copper Knife'?" Brother Jing looked at Han Qiwu with a half-smile.
Han Qiwu was internally moaning, I'd love to use it, but how do I equip it without having the required level?
"Well, I need to familiarize myself before using a fishing rod. Right now, I'm not too familiar with the 'Copper Knife,' so it's inconvenient to use it." Han Qiwu explained with an earnest look.
"Haha, I didn't realize you had such talent!" Brother Jing patted Han Qiwu's shoulder with his large hand, "Qingying is my niece and also your teacher, what a coincidence."
"Originally, I planned to check on Han Qiwu's experimental field's condition. I heard Uncle Niu was overjoyed these days. When he's happy, I get worried." Tang Qingying's pleasant voice along with her words made for even sweeter listening.
"Thank you, Mr. Tang." Though physically cold, Han Qiwu felt warm inside.
Achoo!
The February seawater was really cold.
"Niu Gang isn't bad, he just overthinks things. After eating, let's all go check it out together. If it doesn't work, let him give Xiao Han a new plot." Brother Jing waved his hand.
Upon hearing this, Han Qiwu immediately felt uneasy. Where else could he find such biodiverse 'wilderness' besides this? What if it messes up the system?
No way!
It must be stopped!
"No, no, the land Mayor Niu gave me is quite good, has everything I need, and is convenient for my research. Besides, the contract is signed, so let's not bother you." Han Qiwu said hastily, then quickly changed the subject, "Brother Jing, do you know where we can catch mandarin fish around here?"
Brother Jing indeed followed Han Qiwu's line of thought, "Mandarin fish? A couple of years ago, I caught one in the nearby river, but I haven't seen any these last two years." As he spoke, Brother Jing looked up at the river, "Haven't had it in a long time, I kind of miss it."
Tang Qingying stood up, flicked water off the vegetables, brushed her hair off her forehead with her wrist, and said with a smile, "That mandarin fish was really delicious, I haven't had anything that good in the last two years."
"Of course, this river and sea area are under my care, it's pure wild!" Brother Jing felt a sense of pride, but the next second he cursed with a smile, "After being wild for so long, they get smart, and don't even bite my hooks, those little fish bastards."
"Mr. Tang and Brother Jing seem to really want to eat mandarin fish." Han Qiwu noted mentally, recalling that the system showed the favorability status without change last night.
The system recorded no change last night, indicating that normal communication and taking tasks won't increase favorability.
"Then let's try giving gifts. Later today, I'll try to catch a mandarin fish and make squirrel mandarin fish!" Han Qiwu thought of this as a chance to win back some favor in front of Mr. Tang.
No harm in giving gifts.
Boosting favorability can't go wrong.
After Tang Qingying finished washing the small bok choy, Brother Jing tossed them into a small pot of reserved fish soup for a quick blanch, letting the scent of spring compete with the fresh fish aroma.
"Time to eat."
The overturned little sampan served as a table, with a pot of milky fish soup in the center and two plates of golden fried fish catching the eye, complemented by blanched small bok choy, completing a fisherman's lunch.
"Want a bit?" Brother Jing picked up a black jar and asked Han Qiwu.
Smelling the wine, Han Qiwu quickly waved his hand, "Thanks, Brother Jing, I don't drink."
"Then never mind, I won't let you waste this good wine." Brother Jing poured himself a satisfying cup of strong liquor.
"Uncle, drink less, didn't the doctor say so?" Tang Qingying frowned slightly.
"No need to persuade me, I just have this little hobby, don't worry, I'll definitely not go to sea after drinking." Brother Jing waved his hand in response.
"This must be advised!" Tang Qingying took the wine cup and poured half into her bowl.
Han Qiwu: "??????"
Is this how advising people to drink less works?
Learned something new, learned something new.
Brother Jing's face instantly changed, and he complained pitifully, "Niece, these vast worldly pleasures reduced to half a cup, doesn't that lessen the pleasures?"
"Sixteen thousand feet of worldly pleasures aren't enough for you to savor?" Tang Qingying shook her head with a smile, picked up a piece of fried fish, and placed it in Han Qiwu's bowl, "Don't just watch, try my uncle's cooking. Every spring, I yearn for this taste."
"Thank you, Mr. Tang." Han Qiwu was a bit surprised as he picked up his bowl and savored it.
It was his first time seeing Tang Qingying in such a personable manner. Usually, at stage meetings and lectures, Tang Qingying had a very aloof demeanor, speaking concisely and getting straight to the point. Even in school, Tang Qingying's image was that of a cool and detached doctorate, a bit like the loneliness of being on top.
Looking at the small fried fish in the bowl, Han Qiwu felt an urge to post it on social media.