Rebirth: Slice-of-life Cultivation Chapter 1735 - 950: Bonds Shattered

By the riverside and within the humble kitchen, the midday sun was steadily climbing higher.

Xue Yuantong, with meticulous care, was preparing to steam a batch of crabs. Beside her, the twins observed her every precise movement, absorbing the lessons.

"Add slices of ginger onto the steaming rack," Xue Yuantong instructed, her voice calm as she placed a piece of ginger atop the awaiting crabs.

In a surprising turn of events, one of the crabs, with surprising agility, extended its claw and firmly gripped the ginger slice. The synchronicity between the elements was, indeed, flawless!

Xue Yuantong then posed a question to the children, "What would you call this peculiar occurrence?"

Chen Siyu, after a moment of contemplation, offered her insight, "A wife's innate defensive mechanism?"

Tongtong tilted her head, a look of confusion on her face, "What do you mean?"

Fortunately, Chen Siyu, possessing a shred of conscience, decided against further misleading the young minds and steered the conversation back.

Xue Yuantong resumed her task, layering ginger slices upon the crabs. Subsequently, she secured the pot lid, adding both ginger and cooking wine to the water within. The art of steaming crabs, she mused, was far from complicated.

Behind the warmth of the stove, Jiang Ning diligently tended to the fire.

Chen Siyu, feeling an urge to experiment, turned to Tongtong. "Tongtong, you possess a small induction cooker nearby that appears to be unused. Might I trouble you for a few crabs? I am quite eager to attempt the process myself!"

Xue Yuantong, with a benevolent smile, agreed. "By all means, go ahead and give it a try!"

Chen Siyu beamed, delighted at the prospect of not only indulging in delicious food but also acquiring culinary skills at Tongtong's residence.

With newfound enthusiasm, she happily set off to prepare her own steamed crabs.

While Chen Siyu was solely responsible for her own culinary endeavors, Xue Yuantong bore the responsibility of orchestrating the entire luncheon's progression. Thankfully, she had Chen Siqing by her side, a capable assistant.

"Once the water reaches a rolling boil, invert the crabs in the pot," Tongtong directed, her instructions clear.

The snakehead fish, having transitioned from its original oval shape to thin slices, was now thoroughly marinated. Tongtong poured oil into the earthenware pot and introduced the marinated snakehead fish for frying.

After frying, she carefully removed the fish and arranged it on a grill pan alongside crisp celery, delicate lotus root slices, and refreshing cucumber. Then, she commenced stir-frying the foundational ingredients. Throughout this process, her attention briefly diverted to the roasted pigeons sizzling by the entrance.

Through the swirling haze of smoke, Jiang Ning observed her diminutive form bustling about the kitchen. Despite her small stature, she exhibited remarkable competence, possessing the kind of capability that could single-handedly orchestrate a grand New Year's Eve feast, imbuing him with an inexplicable sense of tranquility.

In the very next instant, Jiang Ning's gaze fell upon her as she surreptitiously, and with evident delight, licked honey from her fingers behind his back. That feeling of serene trust instantly evaporated.

"Tongtong, what exactly are you doing?" Jiang Ning inquired, his tone laced with suspicion.

Xue Yuantong turned, her pink tongue darting out to lick her lips. "I'm roasting pigeons, what else would I be doing?"

"The honey is intended for the pigeons, you know," Jiang Ning reminded her sternly.

Xue Yuantong's inner monologue raced: 'After all, wouldn't the pigeon ultimately end up in my stomach anyway?'

Jiang Ning, choosing to disregard her silent retorts, turned his attention to his mobile phone. He noticed Chuchu had finally responded with a simple, terse "Okay."

Her communication remained characteristically cool and distant.

Jiang Ning declared, "Chuchu has concluded her schooling. It is now time for you to unveil your full capabilities."

"Understood!"

Tongtong vigorously continued stir-frying the base ingredients. She then poured in half a can of beer, followed by water, bringing it to a boil. Subsequently, she carefully ladled out the rich broth and generously doused the grilled fish with it.

With a final clap of her hands, she announced, "It's finished!"

Simultaneously, by the serene riverbank, a small, wild pond lay exposed.

What was once a pond of considerable depth, approximately two meters, had been unceremoniously drained down to a mere centimeter or two by Lin Zida and his companions. The water was so shallow, in fact, that they could clearly discern the subtle ripples created by the fish as they shifted.

Zhuang Jianhui halted the water pump, and an immediate, profound silence descended upon the assembled group.

"Alright, let the fish catching commence!" Zhuang Jianhui boisterously proclaimed the official start of the day's activity.

For this purpose, he had thoughtfully brought along a bucket specifically designated for holding their catch.

Gong Jin and Wang Yong promptly waded into the shallow pond, eagerly initiating the fish-catching competition.

Xu Wenyi stood at the pond's edge, her eyes wide with amazement at their boundless energy. The pond, measuring nearly ten meters in length, had been emptied by their combined efforts.

Zhuang Jianhui chuckled heartily. "Wenyi, would you care to give it a try? I suspect you've never had the chance to catch fish before, have you?"

Xu Wenyi's eyes gleamed with nascent curiosity. Having grown up in the bustling city, she had only ever heard tales from the older generations; she had indeed never experienced such an activity firsthand.

Attempting to entice Xu Wenyi further, Zhuang Jianhui then turned his attention to the long-haired, straight-haired Yin Yu, his confidence seemingly restored. "Fancy a go?"

He was certain this particular young lady wished to witness his spirited performance.

Zhuang Jianhui was acutely aware that his successful progress had, along the way, attracted a multitude of envious glances. Fortunately, he had always possessed a robust and resilient spirit.

Yin Yu offered a gentle compliment, "You are truly remarkable."

Zhuang Jianhui merely offered a casual smile, allowing a portion of the underlying frustration within him to dissipate. "Just some basic skills, really."

"Got it! Damn, it’s a catfish!" Gong Jin exclaimed, his hand firmly grasping a slippery, dark-colored fish, his excitement palpable.

Wang Yong chimed in with praise, "Brother Jin is unbelievably skilled! To manage such a slippery creature is truly impressive."

A cautionary note was quickly added, "But do be cautious of the yellow catfish; its spines can easily inflict cuts on your hand."

Gong Jin scoffed, "What strength do I possess to be harmed by such a thing?"

Observing the ostentatious display from the bank, Zhuang Jianhui couldn't help but muse, 'If I hadn't drained the water, what would your abilities amount to?'

Without delay, Zhuang Jianhui shed his shoes and waded into the pond to join the fish-catching endeavor.

The exhilaration of catching fish manually surpassed that of angling, and for a fleeting moment, even the atmosphere felt charged with life.

Meanwhile, at the River Dam Bungalow.

Jiang Ning had arranged the dining table in the hall, with a view overlooking the vast expanse of wheat fields.

The spread for lunch was quite generous, featuring roasted wild snakehead fish, honey-glazed tender pigeon, steamed crab, stir-fried greens, and a refreshing cold tomato salad.

Just as the dishes were arranged, a black electric bicycle zipped into the bungalow's front yard.

"Chuchu!" Tongtong called out, "Come and eat!"

Instantly, her eyes widened in surprise, "Chuchu, did you buy a cake?"

Xue Chuchu descended, a slight pout on her lips, "Jiang Ning asked me to bring it."

Xue Yuantong turned her gaze towards Jiang Ning.

Jiang Ning clarified, "Your mother requested me to bring it."

Chen Siyu nudged her sister, whispering, 'Why is a cake packaged with so many layers?'

A warmth spread through Xue Yuantong's heart; her mother had teased her that morning, but it turned out she had indeed purchased a cake. 'Mom is the absolute best.'

At this moment, her mother's standing in her heart rocketed to rival Jiang Ning's.

"Did you get cola?" Jiang Ning inquired, taking a large bottle of cola from Xue Chuchu's grasp.

Xue Chuchu instinctively drew her hands back slightly.

Jiang Ning noted her reaction but offered no comment.

"Let's eat."

"Time for dinner!"

The five of them gathered around the dining table, and upon seeing the lavish dishes, a flicker of delight crossed Xue Chuchu's eyes.

Tongtong began to explain to her, "This pigeon was caught by me, this snakehead fish is..."

Chen Siyu interjected, raising her hand, "Me!"

By the wild pond.

"Haha, look at how many we've caught, the bucket can barely contain them all!"

Gong Jin straightened up, his face smudged with mud, appearing somewhat disheveled, yet his exhilaration was palpable.

"I suspect there aren't many large fish remaining, just some elusive ones. I nearly snagged a yellow catfish earlier, thankfully I reacted swiftly!"

Xu Wenyi, observing from the bank, commented, "Not only is the bucket overflowing, but the basin is nearly full too. Shouldn't we be heading back?"

The abundance of fish was more than enough for a feast, and a pang of hunger struck her; delaying their return meant potentially missing the optimal time for preparation and cooking.

Zhuang Jianhui responded, "There should be a few tricky ones left in the pond; allow me to catch them first. As for the overflowing basin..."

A brilliant idea struck Lin Zida, "I recall there's a large fishing net in the tricycle!"

He clambered up the bank, announcing, "We can just place the fish into the net later; leave the net submerged in the water, and the fish won't suffocate. It's similar to how we manage fish when angling."

Zhuang Jianhui agreed, "Excellent, it's your plan. Let's have a fish feast at noon!"

Subsequently, Lin Zida carried the large fishing net to the far end of the ditch, which was sealed with mud bags and connected to the Hui River.

Xu Wenyi approached, offering, "Let me assist."

"No need, it's quite straightforward."

Lin Zida expertly secured the fishing net, immersing its mesh into the water.

He then proceeded to empty the contents of the bucket into the net, unleashing a torrent of thrashing fish—snakehead, bluefish, catfish—that splashed and darted, a truly impressive sight.

Next, Lin Zida retrieved the basin and tipped all the remaining fish into the net as well, declaring, "Mission accomplished."

Suddenly, a sharp "snap" echoed, signifying something had broken.

Lin Zida felt a jarring sensation, and a sense of impending disaster washed over him.

He hastily tugged at the fishing net, only to pull out a tattered, ripped net, his mind falling into a state of confusion.

'Blast it, where have all my fish gone?'

Xu Wenyi remarked with a touch of dramatic flair, "Trouble! Even Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei would be at odds over this predicament!"