Han Qiwu looked at a bucket full of raw fish, thinking, you had to cook these before eating, right?
For now, he'd just have to eat some seaweed.
So, when Brother Jing finished his business on the pier, Han Qiwu was tiredly munching on seaweed.
"This seaweed has a mountain pepper flavor? It's spicy, but really tasty."
Brother Jing: "...Is the kid really that pitiful? That seaweed's so salty, won't he choke?"
"Little Wu, are you hungry? I've got some food for you, come and have a bite."
Hearing Brother Jing's voice, Han Qiwu quickly turned and shouted, "No, no, I'll fish for a while longer."
"Hiss... Ha."
This mountain pepper seaweed was sour and spicy, truly delicious.
Before Brother Jing could say anything, a familiar voice echoed from the beach, well known to both Han Qiwu and Brother Jing.
"Uncle, I've come to see you!"
Looking towards the sound, Tang Qingying was walking towards the fisherman's house with a bag in hand.
With delicate features that you could get lost in at first sight, her body perfectly outlined by Louis Vuitton's spring collection. Seeing her was like seeing spring itself, fulfilling every fantasy of a fair maiden.
"Mr. Tang?" Han Qiwu stood up in surprise. Why was she here?
But just then, after sitting for too long, Han Qiwu's feet went numb, and he toppled straight into the ocean beside him.
As he fell into the water, the first image in Han Qiwu's mind was the TV show earlier that morning.
"It's good for making friends, bad to sit for too long"
The early spring sea water was cold, but not as cold as Han Qiwu's heart.
Making such a fool of himself in front of Mr. Tang.
Embarrassing.
Fifteen minutes later.
Han Qiwu came out pale-lipped, wearing Brother Jing's clothes, acting nonchalant as he explained, "Cough cough, sat too long fishing, my legs went numb."
Tang Qingying turned with a smile while picking vegetables, "Han Qiwu, you seem quite skilled at fishing, why didn't I hear about this before?"
"Cough cough, still a beginner, still a beginner," Han Qiwu chuckled awkwardly.
Brother Jing also smiled and asked, "How do you two know each other?"
"He's my teacher."
"He's my student."
Han Qiwu and Tang Qingying said in unison, then glanced at each other.
Brother Jing: "....Why do I have a bad feeling about this?"
"You've been fishing a lot this morning, why don't you use the 'Copper Knife'?" Brother Jing teased Han Qiwu.
Han Qiwu inwardly groaned, wanting to use it but unable to equip it due to level restrictions!
"Well, before using the fishing rod, I need to get familiar with it. I'm still not used to the 'Copper Knife', so it's not convenient to use," Han Qiwu explained honestly.
"Haha, I didn't realize you were so intuitive!" Brother Jing patted Han Qiwu's shoulder, "Qingying is my niece and your teacher, isn't that a nice coincidence?"
"I was planning to check on Han Qiwu's experimental farm, I heard Uncle Niu was overjoyed these days, and that worries me," Tang Qingying's voice was pleasant, even more engaging alongside her words.
"Thank you, Mr. Tang." Though Han Qiwu's body was chilled, his heart felt warm.
Achoo!
The water in February sure was cold.
"That old guy Niu Gang isn't bad, just crafty. After our meal, we'll go see, if it's no good, have him give Xiao Han another piece of land." Brother Jing gestured.
Han Qiwu, listening, felt uneasy, where else could he find land with such rich 'biodiversity'? What if his system disappeared?
No way!
Must stop them!
"No, no, the place Mayor Niu gave me is actually pretty good, has everything I need, convenient for research, and besides, the contract's signed, don't want to trouble you," Han Qiwu quickly said, then shifted the topic, "Brother Jing, do you know where we can catch mandarin fish around here?"
Brother Jing followed Han Qiwu's lead, "Mandarin fish? I caught one in the nearby river a few years ago, haven't seen them lately." As he spoke, Brother Jing looked towards the river, "Haven't had it in a while, kind of miss it."
Tang Qingying got up, shaking excess water from vegetables, smoothing her hair with her wrist, smiling, "That mandarin fish was truly delicious, haven't had anything as good in two years."
"Of course, this part of the river and sea is under my protection, all wild!" Brother Jing felt a sense of pride, but quickly joked, "They've been wild for too long, learned to avoid even my hook, those sneaky fish."
"Seems both Mr. Tang and Brother Jing really want to eat mandarin fish." Han Qiwu noted to himself, the system had a favorability rating.
The system recorded no changes last night, indicating that normal interactions and taking on tasks wouldn't increase favorability.
"So I'll try the gift route, aim to catch a mandarin fish this afternoon, make squirrel fish!" Han Qiwu wanted to seize the chance to earn some good impression from Mr. Tang.
Good manners never hurt.
Boosting favorability must be right.
Once Tang Qingying finished washing the vegetables, Brother Jing threw the greens into a pot of fish soup to boil lightly, and spring mingled with the fish's fresh aroma.
"Time to eat!"
The upside-down dinghy served as a dining table, a pot of milky fish soup in the center, two plates of golden fried small fish brightly standing out, paired with boiled greens, a fisherman's lunch was ready.
"Want some?" Brother Jing picked up a dark jar and asked Han Qiwu.
Smelling the wine, Han Qiwu quickly waved, "Thank you, Brother Jing, but I can't drink."
"Alright then, can't let this good wine go to waste," Brother Jing happily poured himself a cup of baijiu.
"Uncle, drink less, the doctor mentioned it," Tang Qingying frowned.
"No need to convince me, it's my little hobby, relax, I won't head out to sea after drinking." Brother Jing waved dismissively.
"Have to insist!" Tang Qingying took the wine glass, pouring half into her own bowl.
Han Qiwu: "??????"
Convincing someone to drink less by drinking some yourself?
Learned something new.
Brother Jing immediately changed expressions, pitifully complaining, "Niece, three cups for the world's burdens, you only give me half, isn't the world a bit less exciting?"
"Sixteen thousand feet of the world is enough for you," Tang Qingying chuckled, placing a piece of fried fish in Han Qiwu's bowl, "Don't just stare, try some of my uncle's cooking, every spring I crave this taste."
"Thank you, Mr. Tang." Han Qiwu was surprised, picking up his bowl to taste carefully.
This was his first time seeing Tang Qingying so approachable; usually, during stage meetings or class, Tang Qingying portrayed a cool demeanor, speaking succinctly and pointedly. Even at school, Tang Qingying's image was that of an aloof lady PhD, a chill from high up leaving a cold impression.
Looking at the small fried fish in the bowl, Han Qiwu felt an urge to post on social media.