I Can See Through All Things' Information Chapter 7 Full Belly, Contemplating the Path Ahead
Previously on I Can See Through All Things' Information...
Observing that the oil had reached the right temperature, Lu Qing began meticulously placing the small fish into the pan to fry them over a gentle flame.
In truth, adding a pinch of salt to the oil beforehand would have been ideal to keep the fish from sticking to the surface.
However, Lu Qing had noticed the salt recently delivered by that uncle was full of coarse grains, making it unsuitable for direct use in the frying process.
By carefully managing the heat, Lu Qing continued to slow-fry the catch.
The drifting scent drew Little Yan over; she had already finished her pancake and now sat nearby, her eyes fixed greedily on the stone slab where the fish sizzled.
Lu Qing felt a pang of sympathy seeing her so focused on the food.
He reached out and affectionately ruffled the little girl’s hair.
"Little Yan, just be patient for a moment longer. You’ll be eating very soon."
"Okay!" Little Yan chirped with an obedient nod. "Brother, the fishy fish smells incredible."
"If you like the smell, make sure to eat plenty. Brother caught so many today that Little Yan can eat until she's full."
By the time the rice in the clay pot was steamed through, Lu Qing had finished frying most of the fish.
He gathered them into a bowl and seasoned them by pouring over a bit of salt water.
With that, a simple dish of salt water fried fish was complete.
Lu Qing scooped out two portions of rice and carried them to the table.
"Little Yan, time for dinner."
"I’m already here, Brother!"
The little girl was already waiting expectantly at her spot.
Lu Qing placed a small stool atop her chair and lifted her onto it so she could reach the table comfortably.
He then selected several small fish with fewer bones and placed them in her bowl.
"Go ahead, you little glutton. Be careful to spit out the bones; don't let them poke you."
"I know, Brother!"
Driven by hunger, the little one immediately popped a fried fish into her mouth, her cheeks moving rapidly like a hamster's as she chewed.
It was fortunate that Lu Qing had picked the ones with fewer bones, or she surely would have been pricked in her haste.
After swallowing her first bite, Little Yan’s eyes widened in surprise.
"Brother, this is so tasty! It’s even better than what Mother used to cook!"
Hearing those words didn't bring Lu Qing joy; instead, a wave of melancholy washed over him.
The fish had been prepared with nothing but a splash of oil and salt water. To conserve resources, he hadn't even dared to use much oil.
How could such a basic dish truly be that delicious?
When one is starving, even the simplest meal tastes like a feast.
Little Yan must have suffered through so much hunger lately to find this plain salt water fried fish so exquisite.
Suppreessing his emotions, Lu Qing simply smiled and said, "I'm glad you like it. Eat up, Little Yan."
"Mhm, mhm!"
The little girl stuffed a huge spoonful of rice into her mouth, her cheeks bulging so much she could only nod in response.
Lu Qing chuckled and picked up a fish for himself.
Upon taking a bite, his eyebrows lifted in surprise.
The flavor wasn't nearly as mediocre as he had anticipated.
Perhaps it was due to the lack of pollution in this ancient world, but the river fish possessed a superior quality.
Despite the minimal seasoning, the flesh was sweet, fresh, and carried a distinct, pleasant flavor.
Both siblings were famished, so they ate with great speed.
Before long, the rice in the pot and the bowl of fish had been completely finished.
Naturally, Lu Qing consumed the lion's share.
Regardless of how hungry she was, Little Yan was only a six or seven-year-old child with a small stomach.
Lu Qing also made sure to limit her intake slightly to ensure she didn't overeat and cause herself pain.
"Brother, Little Yan is stuffed!"
The little one set her bowl down and patted her tummy with a look of pure contentment.
It had been a long time since she felt this full!
"Since you're full, take it easy and don't run around. I'm going to wash the dishes," Lu Qing instructed.
He began gathering the utensils and bowls from the table.
"Little Yan will help you, Brother!"
The little girl hopped down from her stool.
"No need, just sit and rest," Lu Qing replied, declining her offer.
Children tire easily; by the time Lu Qing finished tidying up and returned, the little girl’s head was already drooping as she drifted off.
Lu Qing smiled warmly, lifted her gently into his arms, and carried her to the bedroom.
"Brother... Little Yan wants to go fishing with you again... the fish was so good..."
As Lu Qing lowered her onto the bed, she murmured sleepily.
"Alright, next time I go, I'll bring you along," Lu Qing whispered softly.
As if reassured by his promise, Little Yan fell into a deep, peaceful sleep without another word.
After confirming she was asleep, Lu Qing stepped out and sank into a simple lounge chair in the main room, letting out a sigh of relief.
He had been incredibly busy today, and his body—which was still recovering and quite frail—was feeling the strain.
Between the hunger and the physical labor of fishing and cooking, he was exhausted.
Lying there, he felt a sense of comfort, and drowsiness began to pull at him.
However, he forced himself to stay awake. There were things he needed to consider.
Based on his interactions with the villagers today and the fragmented memories of the body's previous owner, Lu Qing had started to piece together the nature of this world.
First, it was clearly a setting reminiscent of ancient China.
Furthermore, it was an era of very low productivity.
The fact that a simple iron pot was considered a luxury item was proof enough of that.
But his understanding ended there.
There was so much Lu Qing still didn't know.
He was clueless about the social hierarchy, the power structures, or who held the mandate of rule.
It seemed as though there were no formal government bodies like courts or official bureaus in this immediate area.
At least, no such concepts existed in the memories he had inherited.
Of course, that didn't mean they didn't exist at all.
The original host was just a simple youth who had never stepped foot outside his village.
How could someone who had never seen the wider world understand such complex societal structures?
While the existence of a central government was unclear, he did know that towns existed.
Villagers would travel to nearby town markets to trade for essentials like salt and iron.
In those towns, the City Lord was supposedly the highest authority.
Unfortunately, even at fifteen, the original host had never visited a town, leaving Lu Qing in the dark about what they were actually like.
"I'll need to find an opportunity to visit the town myself," Lu Qing whispered.
Only by gaining a clear picture of this world could he decide on a future path.
But that was a concern for another day.
The immediate priority was survival for himself and Little Yan.
He had also incurred several debts of gratitude to the neighbors today that needed to be repaid.
His primary tool for success was undoubtedly the unique superpower he possessed.
What were the full capabilities of this power?
As Lu Qing sat in silent contemplation, a specific name suddenly surfaced in his mind.