Li Family Village wasn't large, but it wasn't small either, and news certainly traveled fast. After he gave his TikTok username to that auntie in the morning and they followed each other, word had already spread to most of the villagers.
Many people came to 'like' his posts. Some who didn't know how to type even asked others to leave comments for them.
This was largely due to the excellent rapport Li Xiang had already built.
Of course, some people gossiped, like Li Jintang's family. It was Li Jintang's wife who had secretly suggested that Li Xiang might get Cai'Er pregnant.
Naturally, this talk reached Jiang Cai'Er's parents, and the old couple was quite upset for a time. However, their anger wasn't directed at Li Xiang and Cai'Er, but at the gossips.
Never mind that Li Xiang and their daughter were as close as siblings; even if they were truly a couple, they felt it wouldn't be unacceptable.
Li Xiang had a good character, was handsome, and was a college student. Although the Li Family was a bit poor, they weren't the snobbish type.
They were marrying off their daughter, not selling her. As long as their daughter was happy, the man she chose truly treated her well, and he was a person of good character, they could accept it.
On their way home, Li Xiang and Jiang Cai'Er ran into many of the village aunties. The two were quick with a pleasant word, greeting everyone warmly, and everyone cheered Li Xiang on!
Li Xiang was deeply moved.
'In the big city, you don't know anyone. Every day is just the same commute back and forth, cooped up in a ridiculously expensive single room, slaving away like a beast of burden. I don't even know how I made it through those days. It's so much better back in the village!'
After they got home, Li Xiang told Jiang Cai'Er to work on her homework, while he grabbed the High-Density Blade and headed for the bamboo forest on the mountain behind his house.
'I promised Cai'Er I'd make her something delicious, and that's exactly what I'll do. Something she can't get anywhere else—the kind of thing money can't buy!'
He made his way to the spot he had previously marked as the location of the Tier Two Golden Thunder Bamboo. Selecting a stalk at the very edge, he swung the High-Density Blade. With a sharp CRACK, the bamboo, as thick as a bowl, snapped and fell.
He inspected the blade's edge. It was still gleaming and sharp, without a single nick or dent.
Li Xiang was growing more and more fond of this blade.
'If it were forged into a different shape, it would probably be considered a regulated weapon, and I wouldn't be able to carry it around. But this is a Chopping Knife—it's just a farming tool!'
The Apocalypse hadn't arrived yet, and Extraordinary Particles hadn't begun to emerge. These Golden Thunder Bamboos only held the potential to mutate in the future; for now, they were still just ordinary bamboo.
Besides, as long as the roots of a plant like bamboo remained, it could always grow back.
'Normally, I'd be reluctant to chop any down, but I have an honored guest, don't I?'
System: "Congratulations, Host, for felling one stalk of Tier Two Golden Thunder Bamboo. You have received a surprise reward: three Tier One Exotic Grass Snow Skirt White Jade Mushrooms."
Three was too few. Steeling his resolve, Li Xiang chopped down three more stalks in quick succession, harvesting twelve Tier One Exotic Grass Snow Skirt White Jade Mushrooms. That was enough to make a single dish.
'I can't chop any more. If I wipe them out, it'll be a huge loss. It's better to be sustainable and let them grow back slowly.'
'This kind of Mutated Spirit Grass from the system probably comes from the future or an Otherworldly Space, delivered directly to the system's inventory. It's the real deal. If Cai'Er eats it, it'll be incredibly good for her. It might even enhance her Spiritual Power and intelligence. Then, when she takes the college entrance exams in two years, she'll be able to get an even better score.'
As for the bamboo he had cut, he would drag it back and leave it in the backyard. It could be used to make all sorts of things.
Afterward, Li Xiang drove into town to buy more groceries. When you're treating a guest, two or three dishes just won't cut it; you need at least seven or eight.
On the way, he passed a temporary market set up in a small grove by the road. Both the sellers and buyers were farmers from the surrounding villages. This little market had sprung up because the main town and the county seat were both quite far away.
It wasn't there every day; if it rained heavily, no one would show up.
Li Xiang was in luck today. He saw someone selling live fish that had supposedly been caught in the river just last night. There were culter and crucian carp, so Li Xiang bought a few.
He also saw someone selling lamb that had been freshly butchered. It was extremely fresh with only a faint gamey smell, so Li Xiang bought a few pounds and also a section of lamb spine.
The Miao Race actually has many dietary restrictions—for example, avoiding lamb, beef, pork, dog meat, chicken blood, chicken liver, and chicken legs—but Jiang Cai'Er didn't follow them.
After all, she wasn't purely of the Miao Race; she was half Han and a modern young woman besides.
Her mother might have followed those customs, but Jiang Cai'Er wasn't particular about them.
For one thing, the majority of students at her school were Han, and the cafeteria didn't offer many choices. If she were truly strict about her diet, she'd starve. And even if she didn't starve, she'd end up malnourished.
If her energy levels dropped, her grades would surely suffer.
Li Xiang bought a few blocks of tofu, and figuring he had enough, he skipped the trip to town and headed straight home.
By the time he got home, it was getting late, so Li Xiang started cooking right away.
The new, semi-open kitchen in the backyard was brighter and cleaner.
He had taught himself how to build the wood-fired stove. It had been working well for a few days, though he wasn't sure how long it would hold up. In any case, if it collapsed, he could just build another one.
Jiang Cai'Er acted as his sous chef, while his grandmother was in charge of feeding the fire.
Tending the fire was a skill in itself, one that required a wealth of experience. Knowing when to make the flames burn hotter and when to let them die down was an art.
With his grandmother managing the flames, Li Xiang never had to say a word; the heat was always perfect.
The first dish was braised culter.
The culter was wild-caught and perfectly fresh. After being cleaned, several scores were made along its body, then it was rinsed and set aside.
A moderate amount of rapeseed oil was poured into a wok. Once the oil was hot, the fish was placed inside and pan-fried until both sides were golden brown. This step made the skin crispy while also removing any fishy taste.
Next, he stir-fried the aromatics. Leaving a base of oil in the wok, he added sliced ginger and garlic, along with chopped scallions, and stir-fried them until fragrant.
He poured in enough water to cover the fish, then added cooking wine, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, sugar, and salt. Once the sauce had reduced and thickened, the dish was ready to be plated.
Li Xiang's skills were truly excellent. Once plated, the dish was perfect in color, aroma, and flavor, looking absolutely mouth-watering.
The second dish was crucian carp and tofu soup. The resulting broth was as white as milk, delicious, rich in calcium, and perfect for all ages. One of the secrets was to stew it over high heat—the stronger the fire, the whiter the soup. And the power of the Li Family's wood-fired stove went without saying.
The third dish was Boiled Lamb. As it was served, a generous handful of dried red chilies, cut into small segments, was scattered on top. This was then drizzled with hot oil infused with the fragrance of Sichuan peppercorns and numbing peppers, making the dish burst with an incredible aroma.
The fourth dish was the main event: Tier One Exotic Grass Snow Skirt White Jade Mushroom Stewed with Pork Ribs.
Because it was made with a Tier One Spirit Grass, this dish had an aroma completely distinct from the others. As Jiang Cai'Er helped bring it to the table, she couldn't resist taking a deep sniff. "Brother Li Xiang, this dish smells amazing! It's making my mouth water!"
Li Xiang laughed. "If it smells that good, then eat up! Think of it as showing your support for me!"
"I never knew you were such a good cook! I don't remember you being this capable before, haha."
Li Xiang explained, "When I was working out of town, I cooked for myself every day, so I just got good with practice." 'Life in the big city is tough,' he thought. 'You have to save where you can. Eating out every day costs a fortune.'
'Besides, after the Apocalypse comes, fewer people will be running restaurants; almost everyone will have to cook for themselves. In an age where you can't even be sure you'll survive the day, just stepping outside will be fraught with danger. Who could possibly count on ordering takeout?'