Han Qiwu stared at a bucket of live fish. This thing surely needs to be cooked before eating, right?
For now, it seemed seaweed was the only option.
So, when Brother Jing finished meditating and looked toward the dock, he saw Han Qiwu munching on seaweed with a tired expression.
"This seaweed is actually pickled chili flavor? Spicy and tangy, so delicious."
Brother Jing: "... Is this kid really that pitiful? That seaweed is salty as hell. Doesn't it overwhelm him?"
"Little Wu, are you hungry? I have some food here, why don't you take a bite?"
Upon hearing Brother Jing's voice, Han Qiwu quickly turned his head and shouted, "No need, no need, I'll fish a while longer."
"Sss… ah."
This pickled chili seaweed, with its sour and spicy taste—truly divine.
Before Brother Jing could say anything, a familiar voice rang out from the beach, one that both Han Qiwu and Brother Jing recognized instantly.
"Uncle! I've come to see you."
Following the voice, they saw Tang Qingying walking toward the fisherman's house with a package in one hand.
Her delicate features were captivating at first glance. The Louis Vuitton spring couture accentuated her graceful figure. Seeing her felt like seeing spring itself, fulfilling every dream of an elegant beauty.
"Mr. Tang?" Han Qiwu stood up in surprise. Why was she here?
But just as he stood, Han Qiwu, who had been sitting too long, felt his foot go numb and directly tumbled into the sea beside him.
As he fell into the water, the first image that popped into Han Qiwu's mind was the morning horoscope on television:
"Auspicious for making friends; inauspicious for prolonged sitting."
The early spring seawater was icy cold, but not as cold as Han Qiwu's heart.
He had made such a fool of himself in front of Mr. Tang.
It's over.
Fifteen minutes later
Han Qiwu walked out of the house, lips pale, dressed in Brother Jing's clothes. He tried to act nonchalant, offering an explanation: "Ahem, I sat fishing for too long, my legs went numb."
Tang Qingying, who was picking vegetables, turned her head with a smile and said, "Han Qiwu, you seem pretty good at fishing. Why haven't I heard you mention it before?"
"Ahem, just a beginner, just a beginner." Han Qiwu chuckled awkwardly.
Brother Jing also smiled and asked, "So, how do you two know each other?"
"This is my teacher."
"This is my student."
Han Qiwu and Tang Qingying replied in unison, then exchanged a glance.
Brother Jing: "... Why do I have a bad feeling about this?"
"You've been fishing all morning, kid. Why not use the [Bronze Blade]?" Brother Jing looked at Han Qiwu with a sly grin.
Han Qiwu groaned inwardly. It's not that I don't want to use it, but I don't have the level to equip it!
"Well, you see, I need to familiarize myself with the basics of fishing before using a different tool. I'm still not quite comfortable with the [Bronze Blade]," Han Qiwu explained earnestly.
"Haha, didn't expect you to be so perceptive!" Brother Jing gave Han Qiwu a hearty slap on the shoulder. "Qingying is my niece and also your teacher—what a small world."
"I was planning to check out Han Qiwu's experimental field anyway. I heard Uncle Niu's overjoyed these days. When he's that happy, I get nervous," Tang Qingying said with her melodious voice, making her words all the more pleasing to the ears.
"Thank you, Mr. Tang." Although Han Qiwu's body was cold, his heart felt warm.
Achoo!
The seawater in February was really cold.
"That old fellow Niu Gang isn't bad, just a bit too crafty. After lunch, we'll head over together. If it doesn't work out, we'll have him swap the plot for Xiao Han," Brother Jing said, waving his hand.
Hearing this, Han Qiwu immediately panicked. Where else would he find a plot with such rich 'biodiversity'? What if the system stopped working?
No way!
It must be stopped!
"No need, no need. The plot Mayor Niu gave me is pretty good—it has everything I need and is perfect for my research. Plus, the contract's signed. Let's not trouble everyone," Han Qiwu hurriedly said, quickly changing the subject, "Brother Jing, do you know where to catch mandarin fish around here?"
Brother Jing naturally followed Han Qiwu's lead. "Mandarin fish? I caught one in the nearby river a couple of years ago, but haven't seen one since."
As he spoke, Brother Jing glanced toward the river. "Haven't eaten it in ages. I kind of miss it."
Tang Qingying stood up, shook the water off the vegetables, brushed her forehead with her wrist, and smiled brightly. "That mandarin fish was truly delicious. I haven't tasted anything like it in years."
"Of course. I oversee this whole river and sea! It's all wild catch!" Brother Jing was brimming with pride but quickly followed it with playful scolding: "Too wild now; they've gotten smart and don't fall for my hook anymore, those little fish brats."
"Mr. Tang and Brother Jing seem to really want mandarin fish." Han Qiwu made a mental note. Last night during the system settlement, he had noticed a favorability metric.
The system reported no changes, which indicated that normal interactions and tasks didn't increase favorability.
"Then I should try the gifting route. This afternoon, I'll aim to reel in a mandarin fish and make a squirrelfish dish!" Han Qiwu also wanted to use this chance to regain some standing in front of Mr. Tang.
After all, no one minds a thoughtful gift.
Raising favorability is never a bad thing.
Once Tang Qingying finished washing the vegetables, Brother Jing tossed them into a small pot of reserved fish soup to blanch. The springtime aroma mingled with the fish's freshness, bubbling up eagerly.
"Lunch is ready!"
An overturned dinghy served as a dining table. A milky-white pot of fish soup sat in the center, flanked by two plates of golden-fried small fish and some freshly blanched vegetables. A simple fisherman's lunch was complete.
"Want some?" Brother Jing picked up a dark earthen jar and gestured toward Han Qiwu.
Catching a whiff of the liquor, Han Qiwu quickly waved his hands. "No thanks, Brother Jing. I don't drink."
"Suit yourself. No need to waste the good stuff on you." Brother Jing happily poured himself a cup of baijiu.
"Uncle, drink less. Didn't the doctor tell you so?" Tang Qingying frowned slightly.
"Don't worry about it. I just have this one little indulgence. Besides, I never go to sea after drinking," Brother Jing dismissed her concerns with a wave.
"This must be stopped!" Tang Qingying grabbed the cup and poured half of its content into her own bowl.
Han Qiwu: "???."
So this is how one stops someone from drinking too much? What a lesson learned.
Brother Jing's expression instantly changed. He pitifully complained, "Niece, the boundless red dust of life calls for three cups of liquor. With this half-cup, doesn't that leave me with less red dust to enjoy?"
"Sixteen thousand feet of red dust isn't enough for you to savor?" Tang Qingying smiled as she shook her head, placing a piece of fried fish into Han Qiwu's bowl. "Don't just stare—try my uncle's cooking. Every spring I look forward to this taste."
"Thank you, Mr. Tang." Surprised, Han Qiwu picked up his bowl to savor the dish.
It was his first time seeing this approachable side of Tang Qingying. Typically, during departmental meetings or lectures, her aura exuded aloofness. Her speech was sharp and to the point. Even at school, Tang Qingying maintained the image of an icy, intellectual woman, a "cool PhD" figure who epitomized unapproachable elegance.
Looking at the golden-crisp fried fish in his bowl, Han Qiwu suddenly felt the urge to post it on his social media.