Chapter 5: Enjoying Delicious Food

Evening.

Pan Mengyan and Jiang Ruoxi walked excitedly to the fishing cage by the pond, ready to harvest their evening meal. Carefully, they moved the stones above the fishing cage and gently lifted it, eagerly checking inside. Silver flashes shimmered within the fishing cage, where at least seven or eight fish swam happily. Their faces lit up with joy as they quickly brought the fishing cage to the shore, picked up a nearby pottery jar, and poured the fish into it.

When they had emptied all the fish, they were pleasantly surprised to find twelve in total! These fish were about five to six centimeters long, small but appeared healthy and lively. Seeing their success, the two exchanged smiles, their hearts filled with a sense of accomplishment. Next, they dug up some earthworms from the soil, placed them back into the cage, and submerged it in the water again. After finishing this, they went to the nearby fishing enclosure to see if there were any other catches. Although the number of fish in the enclosure wasn’t as high as in the fishing cage, there were still five.

Then, they picked up sharp stone knives and skillfully began processing the fresh fish. Carefully, they sliced open the bellies, removed the innards, placing them into the fishing enclosure, and wrapped the cleaned fish in leaves to keep them from getting dirty. After handling all the fish, they carried the leaf-wrapped fish and a pottery jar filled with clean water back to the bonfire. Fortunately, although the flames had weakened, they hadn’t gone out completely.

Pan Mengyan found a clean stone slab, washed it thoroughly, and placed it on the ground. She arranged half of the fish on the slab, propping them up with branches to let them roast slowly near the fire; the other half she put into the pottery jar with an appropriate amount of water to start stewing.

Half an hour passed, and the entire cave was filled with an enticing aroma of fish that made mouths water. Even Gouzi, who had been waiting quietly nearby, was drawn by the scent, licking his lips repeatedly.

As time went on, the fish over the fire sizzled, releasing a tempting fragrance. Pan Mengyan observed the roasting fish closely and, deciding they were done, carefully used a branch to push them off into Gouzi’s pottery bowl. Seeing food being served, Gouzi immediately stood up excitedly, wagging his tail as he ran to the bowl and began devouring the meal ravenously.

Watching Gouzi’s desperate, starved demeanor, Jiang Ruoxi felt a pang of pity and softly asked, “How did he survive all alone in this cave as a dog?” Her eyes were full of sympathy and concern, as if she could sense the hardships and loneliness he had endured.

Pan Mengyan let out a light sigh, his eyes reflecting compassion for Gouzi’s plight, and comforted him, “Yes, it’s truly pitiful. But from now on, if he stays with us, I promise we’ll make sure he lives a happy life and gets plump and healthy!” His tone was firm and warm, bringing an inexplicable sense of reassurance.

Jiang Ruoxi nodded slightly, a gentle smile blooming on her face as she said, “Mm, that’s good. Let’s hurry and start our meal. We haven’t eaten anything all day, and my stomach has been growling with hunger for ages.” With that, she eagerly picked up a grilled fish and took a large bite. Though lacking seasoning, driven by hunger, she still ate with great relish, savoring the satisfaction brought by the fish.

The fish was incredibly delicious, without a hint of earthy smell, only the rich aroma of fish meat permeating the air. The two ate with immense enjoyment, savoring the tasty grilled fish one after another. After finishing several pieces, they left the remaining fish bones for Gouzi, then picked up the fish soup beside them to slowly appreciate its flavor.
The fish soup had turned milky white like snow after simmering, emitting an enticing fresh fragrance. Jiang Ruoxi carefully scooped up a spoonful of soup, gently blew on it to cool it down, and then brought it to her mouth. Instantly, the exquisite fish flavor filled her entire mouth, intoxicating her completely. Every drop of the broth was saturated with the essence of the fish, delivering an unparalleled taste experience.

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