After Qian Wang left, Mi Guo asked,
“Sister, don't you think Qian Wang is too much of a flatterer? Could he become a treacherous official like you described?”
Gu Qingcheng smiled and replied,
“Little brother, you've watched too many palace dramas and are applying them well.
Don't worry, he's just good at reading people. He's not a treacherous official for now. As for what kind of person he'll be in the future, we'll observe. But we're not afraid. With the system in place, he can't be too bad. As long as he's not utterly evil, it’s good enough.”
Gu Qingcheng had tested Qian Wang's loyalty and found him to be satisfactory, so she wasn't worried.
“Well, as long as you're clear-headed, I'm relieved,” Mi Guo mumbled.
Seeing that all the triangular sheds had been successfully erected, Gu Qingcheng walked around to inspect.
Everyone was a skilled refugee, building their shelters quickly and sturdily, clearly adapted to "wilderness survival."
Gu Qingcheng was relieved that the sheds were built and everyone wouldn't have to sleep in the open tonight.
“Young Master Gu, please accept these skewers of earthworms.”
As Gu Qingcheng passed by rows of sheds, feeling the villagers' tranquility and vitality, a child ran up and handed her several skewers of earthworms.
Gu Qingcheng recognized him as the child she had given Di Du Hong Tang to. Seeing his cheerful face now, she felt a surge of happiness. She patted the child’s fluffy head and asked,
“Why are you giving this to me?”
“It's delicious. Good for roasting. Gou Sheng eats them too.”
Uh, this kid's name is Gou Sheng?
People in the countryside believed that giving a child a humble name made them easier to raise, so Gou Sheng wasn't too unusual. It was better than Gou Dan or Chou Ya.
The child apparently wanted to thank her, so he gave her earthworms that he himself was reluctant to eat.
Looking at the earthworms, which resembled centipedes and were threaded onto skewers with their legs still wiggling, Gu Qingcheng looked grateful and said,
“Gou Sheng, I appreciate your kindness. You should roast them and eat them yourself.”
“Oh, you naughty child, how can you be so impolite? Young Master Gu is from a wealthy family and has eaten all sorts of delicacies. How could he possibly eat your worms?”
At this moment, Gou Sheng's mother quickly rushed over to scold her son, afraid of offending the noble guest.
“Actually, I quite like eating earthworms. But I feel children should get more nutrition. I can't take away what you cherish. Alright, I'll take the earthworms, but I can't take advantage of the child either!”
Saying this, Gu Qingcheng took out half a pill of her Da Li Wan that she had left over from that day and popped it directly into the child's mouth.
“Young Master Gu, what is this?”
Gou Sheng swallowed it whole, not yet tasting anything particular.
“It's candy. After you eat it, you'll be strong and healthy,” Gu Qingcheng winked mischievously at him.
Interactions between people are a form of destiny. She found this child likable, and after eating the Da Li Wan, he would surely grow up safe and sound.
Gu Qingcheng wouldn't be stingy with her offerings to a grateful child.
“Thank you, Young Master Gu.”
Gu Qingcheng gladly accepted the earthworms in Gou Sheng's hand, patted his head again, and left.
“Gou Sheng, was the candy Young Master Gu gave you delicious?” his mother asked casually. She certainly didn't doubt Gu Qingcheng's goodwill.
“It was delicious. I can't quite describe the taste. It melted in my mouth.”
Gou Sheng felt warm all over, comfortable from the Da Li Wan, but he didn't know it was the Da Li Wan causing the change.
Gu Qingcheng returned to the triangular shed to find Mi Guo already starting a bonfire and preparing to cook.
“Brother, what are we eating tonight?”
“Roasted earthworms.”
Gu Qingcheng handed him the skewers of earthworms she had collected.
“Wow, you dug these? And you were patient enough to skewer them?” Mi Guo asked, surprised.
Gu Qingcheng explained the origin of the earthworms, and Mi Guo was quite happy to hear it. He said,
“I was so angry with those who betrayed us at lunch, feeling that my good intentions were misunderstood. Hearing about this now makes me feel much better. It was all worth it.
How about we roast some meat tonight? And cook extra to give to Village Chief Dai?”
“Okay.”
Gu Qingcheng didn't deliberately restrict her own food and drink. After all, she had already given everyone the rations and meat they needed. She couldn't possibly possess top-tier ingredients and then deliberately eat poorly.
Besides, everyone had implicitly accepted her noble status. No one dared to comment on what she ate or drank.
If she didn't indulge herself, she wouldn't be happy!
If she was happy, then there would be a sense of satisfaction!
Gu Qingcheng took out the squid skewers, lamb skewers, beef skewers, pork belly skewers, chicken wings, leeks, and cauliflower she had prepared earlier from the storage cabinet...
She then mixed a "soulful sauce" with Yong Chun Lao Cu, one of the Four Famous Vinegars, ancient soy sauce, minced garlic, and bird's eye chilies.
Mi Guo took out the barbecue rack and placed it over the bonfire. The aroma of the roasted meat wafted for miles, making a group of children drool.
After roasting the meat, Mi Guo first sent 30 skewers to Dai Fa. He and Gu Qingcheng each ate over 30 skewers before feeling full.
Mi Guo specifically and carefully roasted the earthworms Gou Sheng had given them. Although they found the appearance of the roasted earthworm skewers a bit frightening, the taste was quite good. Each bite was filled with the savory aroma of roasted meat, tasting similar to fried silkworm pupae.
A group of children were drawn by the smell of roasted meat.
There were about thirteen or fourteen children, ranging from four to just over ten years old.
However, they all looked thinner and smaller than their actual ages, with yellowish hair and short stature, all due to malnutrition.
The children felt fortunate just to smell the roasted meat and dared not hope to eat any. They had been watching from beside the grill, but none dared to ask for any.
They all knew that meat was precious and unaffordable for the poor.
Seeing their longing gazes at the roasted meat, Gu Qingcheng decided to grill another large batch of skewers and share them with the children.
The children were completely taken aback that Gu Qingcheng would roast meat for them, and for a moment, no one stepped forward.
“Gou Sheng, come here, this skewer of meat is for you,” Gu Qingcheng called out when she saw Gou Sheng among the onlookers.
“For me?” Gou Sheng's eyes lit up, disbelieving.
“Eat it quickly while it's hot, it's delicious. We've already eaten our fill, and this extra meat is all for you!”
Gou Sheng took the skewer, still not believing it was his. But after seeing Gu Qingcheng nod, he hesitantly took a bite. Immediately, he squinted his eyes in satisfaction, his cheeks bulging, eating with great joy.
Seeing Gou Sheng truly receive roasted meat, the other children's courage grew. Gu Qingcheng called them over and distributed the skewers to them.
In the end, each child ate about three skewers of roasted meat. Mi Guo had packed the meat tightly onto the skewers, with about two ounces of meat per skewer, so three skewers amounted to six ounces. The children ate until they were full.
When they dispersed and returned to their respective sheds, their parents, seeing their oil-stained mouths, wondered what had happened.
They explained that they had eaten roasted meat from Young Master Gu, and even their parents expressed envy:
“My goodness, Young Master Gu is so kind to you, even sharing roasted meat. Your father hasn't eaten a substantial piece of meat in almost a year.”