“I'll go,” Lü Ang stood up, stretching his arms. “Looking for tiny details is too strenuous for me. My eyes are getting tired. Going outside will be a good way to move around.”
Yan Qingwen agreed.
They discussed for a bit longer, then dispersed to carry out their respective tasks.
Lü Ang made a new discovery as soon as he stepped outside—he returned carrying a large metal bucket.
“Hey! That bear left the fish here!” Lü Ang couldn't help but laugh. “Such plump fish!”
The metal bucket contained seven or eight large salmon, still alive, crowded inside the bucket, continuously opening and closing their mouths, foolish and fat.
Teacher Cheng hurried to the kitchen, filled the sink with water, poured the fish in, and prepared to get to work.
“Two for soup, two for steaming, two for pan-frying, and the remaining two… how would you like them cooked?” Teacher Cheng, who had only been able to offer everyone a few bites of instant noodles for breakfast, asked apologetically.
“There are only eight fish, but we have ten people!” Lü Ang grumbled. “This darn game, when it wants to torment us, it throws all sorts of monsters at us, but when it comes to giving rewards, it becomes stingy.”
Teacher Cheng soothed him, “Eight fish are enough.”
“Fine.” Lü Ang patted his large belly and walked out. “I'll go outside and see if there’s anything else…”
The others dispersed as well, each going to search the house.
Bai Youwei had nothing to do, so she sat on the first floor, observing the house—old, vintage, with a hint of eeriness within its coziness, like a dollhouse…
…
The search continued for over an hour.
By the time it ended, Teacher Cheng’s fish was ready. The aroma of fish filled the house, making everyone's mouths water. Who had the heart to continue searching?
Having been here for two days, apart from a few loquats and some noodles, they hadn’t had a proper meal. Although their bodies could endure it, the feeling of hunger was unpleasant for everyone.
Fish soup, fried fish fillets, fried fish nuggets, and more were arranged on the table, their fragrance overflowing.
Everyone gathered around the dining table, eating and praising Teacher Cheng profusely.
“Old Cheng! This fish is amazing!” Tan Xiao devoured the food. “It’s so delicious!”
Cheng Weicai, for once, didn’t act modestly. “I also think this fish tastes quite good. Actually, I usually live alone and rarely cook large portions of fish or meat. But this fish, for some reason, is very easy to cook and doesn’t have a fishy smell. Just a little bit of salt and it tastes wonderful…”
He took a bite of the fish and chewed, saying, “Even the bones are soft. No need to worry about fish bones.”
Everyone else at the table was busy eating and couldn’t speak.
Yan Qingwen thought for a moment, then took a separate bowl and scooped some fish soup. “This fish should be the reward for the first round. It might have some benefits for our bodies. I'll take some up to Li Li.”
Shen Mo asked, “Is his injury serious?”
Yan Qingwen shook his head. “He shouldn’t be in mortal danger. That bandage is our item; it can heal any injury. The only drawback is that it works slowly. If the bandage isn't wrapped long enough, you won’t see the effect.”
Shen Mo understood.
The mud in their hands was also an item, and it worked very quickly, but it could only be used on external injuries, helping to stop bleeding and heal wounds. It was useless for fractures or internal bleeding.
In comparison, the two items each had their advantages and disadvantages.
Yan Qingwen went upstairs and returned to the dining room downstairs shortly after, followed by Su Man.
“I don’t have an appetite.” Su Man sat down at the dining table listlessly, her mind still on Li Li in the attic.
“This is the reward for the first round. It might be helpful for the next round. Eat a little,” Yan Qingwen persuaded her.
Su Man listened and reluctantly took a sip of the soup. Perhaps the taste surprised her; a hint of astonishment flashed in her eyes, and then she began to eat the fish in the soup.
Shen Mo got up and walked to the window, narrowing his eyes slightly. “How many hours are left until summer?”
Yan Qingwen, sensing something, also looked out the window.
In the distant sky, a dark shadow was faintly appearing…