Evening.
After working on the beach all afternoon, Song Liuhua was exhausted, her back aching and legs sore.
Returning to their campsite on the flat ground.
Feng Shan, Song Yuan, and Feng Yi grinned widely, their smiles so broad their eyes nearly disappeared.
On Feng Qing’s typically expressionless face, a rare curve appeared, looking somewhat peculiar. Song Liuhua quickly tugged at Feng Ci’s arm, “Look at Feng Qing, is he smiling?”
Feng Ci noticed the mischief in her eyes and gently tapped her nose with his finger. “Naughty.”Song Liuhua clung to Feng Ci’s arm.”
Feng Shan led the team in tallying the day’s harvest.
The total catch of green-shelled crabs, green-shelled shrimp, and various miscellaneous fish amounted to three thousand five hundred jin, significantly less than other families. Feng Wu, Feng Liu, and the other clan members looked disheartened.
Thinking of the prey snatched by the Li Family, they gritted their teeth in frustration.
Feng Shan patted Feng Wu’s shoulder meaningfully.
He eagerly anticipated sharing the turtle eggs upon their return.
Qin Ye’s team had a plentiful haul today, including two thousand five hundred jin of green-shelled crabs, three thousand jin of green-shelled shrimp, and five hundred jin of second-grade green-scaled fish. After instructing the kitchen to prepare a feast, he changed into a dark red casual outfit and personally invited Feng Ci, “I had them prepare some green-shelled crabs. Let’s have a drink tonight, brother.”
He then asked Song Liuhua, “Will you join us?”
“Of course, I will.”
Always one to never turn down a free meal, Song Liuhua agreed without hesitation.
Qin Ye raised an eyebrow. “Alright, I’ll have the kitchen add a second-grade green-scaled fish soup for you.”
The Qin Family’s campsite was no different from the Feng Family’s. The dining area had nothing but tables and chairs. On a square wooden table, each person had a massive green-shelled crab, while a large platter in the center held dozens of jin of green-shelled shrimp.
As Feng Ci chatted with Qin Ye, his fingers deftly peeled the green-shelled crab, placing the snow-white crab meat on the plate in front of Song Liuhua. She ate slowly and deliberately.
Neither of them found this unusual, but Qin Ye found it grating. After a moment’s thought, he decided to keep quiet. Feng Ci’s partner had a sharp tongue, and offending her could lead to prolonged nagging.
A woman’s heart is as deep as the ocean.
Qin Ye asked Feng Ci, “There are plenty of shrimp and crabs in the lake. I plan to send someone back to the city to fetch some spirit replenishing pills and stay here a while longer. What are your plans?”
Feng Ci pondered for a moment. “We don’t plan to return either. I’ll have someone find a way to purchase some spirit replenishing pills and send them over.”
Curious, Qin Ye looked at Feng Ci. “Where will you buy spirit replenishing pills?”
A team required a considerable amount of spirit replenishing pills. Given that Feng Ci was injured, his cultivation had declined, and he was marginalized within the Feng Family, who would sell him quality pills?
Feng Ci continued peeling the crab, his movements uninterrupted, and gently placed the crab meat on Song Liuhua’s not-yet-empty plate. “I have my ways.”
“After all we’ve been through as brothers, you’re keeping secrets from me? Feng Ci, that’s not right.”
Feng Ci smiled faintly but did not respond.
Feeling somewhat dismissed, Qin Ye pursed his lips.
Just then, a Martial Spirit Master from the Qin Family brought over fish soup made from second-grade green-scaled fish. The milky-white broth was garnished with a few wild vegetables. Though Song Liuhua had already eaten an entire large green-shelled crab and was quite full, the enticing aroma prompted her to drink a full bowl without hesitation.
Qin Ye said proudly, “How is it? Tastes good, right?”
Song Liuhua patted her stomach, acknowledging the soup’s quality. “It really is quite good.”
Taking out one of the small bowls that hadn’t been given away last time, she said, “Since you’re treating, I’ll give you one.”
Qin Ye was about to refuse, but Song Liuhua interjected, “Don’t underestimate it—it has great uses. Opportunities like this won’t come twice.”
Qin Ye didn’t believe her at all. “It’s just an ordinary bowl—what great use could it possibly have? But since you’re sincerely offering, I’ll reluctantly accept it.”
Song Liuhua snorted, “I’ll wait for you to regret it.”
Qin Ye was dismissive. “A bowl? Worth regretting?” He casually tossed it into a corner of his storage ring, thinking he’d use it to water chickens later.
Feng Ci reminded him, “Qin Ye, you should keep that bowl safe.”
Qin Ye paid no heed, responding offhandedly while privately chuckling that Feng Ci had become his wife’s yes-man since marrying, always surprising people.
The next day, the hunt at West River continued.
After a night’s sleep, Song Liuhua felt sore all over and decided not to go out today.
The Artifact Refiners Feng Xuan, Feng Rou, and Feng Liu, rarely having leisure time, went out to gather water vegetables and dig for shellfish. In the refining room, Feng Su quietly crafted spirit replenishing pills, while Feng Li watched the cheering women and children outside with great envy.
Soon after, a pfft sound signaled a batch of medicinal herbs had been scorched.
Considering the two hadn’t had much chance to explore since arriving, Song Liuhua urged them to go out and play for a while.
Feng Su looked worried. “But… we’re running low on spirit replenishing pills.”
Feng Li’s hopeful expression faded. “True.”
Song Liuhua waved a hand. “Go on… With such a shortage, the handful you two could refine won’t make much difference. Feng Ci will figure out the spirit replenishing pills.”
Hearing this, Feng Li’s eyes lit up. “Thank you, Madam!”
Once Feng Su finished her current batch, Feng Li excitedly pulled her outside, their clear laughter audible from afar.
Song Liuhua took out two Refining Cauldrons, planning to multitask—Elixir Crafting with her left hand and Artifact Crafting with her right.
While this might be challenging for others, for her, it was as easy as having hands. After all, she just messed around—failure was commonplace, she didn’t even bother controlling the fire carefully, let alone focusing fully.
The only downside was not having free hands to eat, drink, or read storybooks.
Half an hour later, the Artifact Crafting cauldron’s lid blew off successfully. Song Liuhua glanced calmly, not even batting an eye, and continued with her Elixir Crafting. Gradually, a soul-piercing stench wafted over, like someone who hadn’t washed their feet in ten years.
Song Liuhua gagged repeatedly, layered ten handkerchiefs, and lifted the lid to find a pot of black, sludge-like liquid resembling ditch water.
Feng Shan, having tasted success before, found another stretch of beach and scoured it for red turtle eggs. After digging numerous sand pits, he found not a single red turtle egg and only a few shellfish.
Frustrated, he went off to hunt green-shelled crabs and green-skinned shrimp instead.
As Song Liuhua approached, Feng Shan wrinkled his nose and asked disdainfully, “Madam, what’s that smell on you? It’s awful!” His loud voice drew curious stares from others.
Embarrassed and angry, Song Liuhua glared at him. “Couldn’t you keep it down!” Did he have to make her die of shame?
Feng Shan belatedly realized his blunder and explained to the crowd, “My nose is off—I smelled wrong. Madam doesn’t stink; she smells lovely.”
The onlookers cast meaningful glances.
Song Liuhua: Might as well not have explained.
Feng Ci heard the commotion and slowly walked over. As he approached, he caught a peculiar smell. Seeing his wife’s embarrassed expression and Feng Shan’s foolish grin, he immediately understood the cause.
He took Song Liuhua’s small hand in his and asked, “What happened? Did you concoct something strange again?”
Song Liuhua gave him an appreciative look, as if to say he knew her well. She pulled a jar from her storage ring and said, “You always understand me. Let me show you something amazing.”