Chapter 19

Words : 1332 Updated : Sep 10th, 2025

Lu Qing blinked and searched through his memories for a moment.Only then did he gradually recall memories about the large market. In simple terms, this large market was actually a trade fair formed spontaneously by several large nearby villages. After all, towns were far away, and entering and exiting required paying an entry fee, which many villagers and mountain people were reluctant to spend unless necessary. Therefore, it was unknown when it started or who organized it. Gradually, however, a large market emerged nearby, where villagers from surrounding areas would gather every five days to buy and sell goods. When he was young, the original owner had gone to the market once with his parents, but since Xiao Yan was born, he had taken on the responsibility of looking after his sister and never went to the market again. His memories of the market had become increasingly blurred. Until now, when Wang Da'an mentioned it, Lu Qing recalled some impressions. Wang Da'an said, "People from various villages go to the market, even those mountain folks occasionally come out to buy things. With the big fish you caught, as long as it's not too expensive, someone will definitely want it." In Wang Da'an's view, since Lu Qing had more fish than he could eat, it would be a waste to keep them. It was better to sell them cheaply at the market to make some money. Lu Qing thought for a moment and then nodded, "I'll see. If I catch another big fish next time, I'll take it to the market and see if I can sell it." "It will definitely sell," Wang Da'an said happily. "I've seen people selling fish at the market, but none as big as the one you caught today." Lu Qing smiled, "These big fish aren't something I catch every time." "No matter whether you catch them or not, if you want to go to the market, remember to come and tell me. There are some rules to follow," Wang Dashan reminded him. "Okay, if I decide to go to the market, I'll definitely let you know, Da'an." "Just remember that. I'll be going now." After Wang Da'an left, Lu Qing fell into deep thought. He had overlooked this information about the large market. Perhaps he could start from here if he wanted to learn about the city. "Brother, when can we eat the fish? Xiao Yan is hungry." While Lu Qing was pondering how to gather information from the market, Xiao Yan called out from the side. "Oh, very soon. Once I finish preparing the fish, I'll cook it for you." Lu Qing snapped back to reality and quickly resumed his work. He first chopped the remaining fish into several pieces, preparing to give some to Grandpa Zhang later. During the time he was unconscious, Grandpa Zhang had been taking care of Xiao Yan, and he couldn't forget this kindness. After portioning the fish, Lu Qing picked out the best piece of fish meat. He carefully removed the bones and sliced the fish into thin slices. Then he put a pot on the stove, boiled water, and started making porridge. As for the remaining fish meat, he strung it up with bamboo strips and hung it on a bamboo pole under the eaves to dry, planning to make dried fish. Looking at the long string of fish meat on the bamboo pole, Lu Qing resolved to get an iron pot as soon as possible. And some seasoning! Otherwise, despite having good culinary skills, he couldn't make the most of them without proper tools and ingredients. Seeing such good ingredients going to waste made him feel a bit distressed. After Lu Qing finished his tasks, the porridge in the clay pot was already boiling. Sᴇaʀᴄh the NƟvelFɪre.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality. He first added some salt, stirred it to ensure the salt dissolved, and then carefully placed the fish slices into the porridge. Once they turned white, he immediately turned off the heat. Finally, he added a small spoonful of lard to the porridge, completing the dish. Lu Qing first scooped a bowl of fish porridge for Xiao Yan, fanned it to cool it down, and then placed it in front of her. "Xiao Yan, wait a bit longer. It's still very hot." "Okay, Xiao Yan understands!" Although the little girl was drooling with hunger, she obediently agreed. But her eyes were fixed on the fish porridge without moving. Seeing this, Lu Qing smiled and scooped himself a bowl of porridge. Relying on his thick skin, he scooped a spoonful of porridge with fish slices, blew on it a few times, and put it into his mouth. As soon as the fish slices entered his mouth, he felt a burst of freshness on his tongue, and his face showed surprise. The fish meat was tender, smooth, and fragrant, with a faint oily aroma, unexpectedly delicious. Indeed, high-quality ingredients often required only the simplest cooking methods. He had only added a bit of salt and oil to the fish porridge, not even any scallions, yet it tasted so good. No wonder it was high-grade fish that emitted a strong white glow! One spoonful of porridge gave Lu Qing a feeling of satisfaction. "Brother, can Xiao Yan eat now?" Seeing her brother enjoying the food, Xiao Yan couldn't help but look at him eagerly. Lu Qing touched her bowl and, feeling it wasn't too hot, nodded. "You can eat now, but be careful not to burn your tongue." "Okay, Xiao Yan will be careful!" The little girl was thrilled to hear she could eat. She scooped a spoonful of porridge, carefully blew on it like Lu Qing did, and only put it in her mouth when it wasn't too hot. After one spoonful, her eyes widened. "Brother, brother, this fish porridge is so delicious! It's even better than the shrimp porridge from the morning!" The little girl gestured excitedly, unable to contain her joy. "Of course, you didn't see how hard it was for brother to catch this big fish. It has to be good." Lu Qing said proudly. "Brother is the best!" The little girl was very appreciative and didn't hesitate to praise him. "Since it's delicious, eat more. Grandpa Chen said you need to eat well to grow beautiful hair." "Yes, Xiao Yan will eat a lot. Xiao Yan wants beautiful hair!" The little girl nodded vigorously, her face full of determination. Seeing this, Lu Qing felt a slight ache in his heart. A few days ago, when Xiao Yan was playing outside, some village kids had said her hair didn't look good. When she came back, she had asked him, feeling a bit aggrieved, how to grow beautiful hair. Lu Qing knew that Xiao Yan's hair condition was largely due to malnutrition. He told her that if she ate well and took care of her body, her hair would soon become beautiful. So now, every time Xiao Yan ate, she was very serious and didn't waste a bit. Although, they never really had the luxury to waste anything. After enjoying a delightful meal of fish porridge, both siblings leaned back in their chairs contentedly. Even Lu Qing hadn't expected the fish to be so tender and delicious, an unexpected surprise. He couldn't help but think that if the fish was this good, how amazing would the Red Moon Carp, known for its exquisite flavor, taste? Unfortunately, the Red Moon Carp was a gift he prepared for Old Doctor Chen and couldn't be eaten. After resting for a while, Lu Qing stood up and went to the kitchen. He had one more thing to do. The fish stone from the fish still needed processing.

Chapter 19

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