Wang Dabao, upon hearing about his elder brother's numerous orders, calmly said, "It doesn't matter if we stop for a bit longer. Just talk to me."
Inside, however, his heart rejoiced for his family's good fortune.
Seeing Grandpa Meng and Sister Fu return, Qi He, holding the basket, tugged at Yu'er and prepared to run back.
Fu Xinci had already seen them. She waved them to stop and then quickly ran towards them herself.
"Sister, Sister, delicious food!" Yu'er's dejected face finally broke into a smile upon seeing his sister.
"Brother Qi, Yu'er." After greeting them, Fu Xinci took out two oiled paper packets from her small backpack and placed them in their hands.
"Sister Fu, what is this? It smells so good."
"Crispy Yellow Croaker. It's both crispy and fragrant, and very delicious. Brother Qi will definitely like it."
While Qi He was asking Fu Xinci, Yu'er had already opened the oiled paper packet, as if by instinct. Looking at the oily fish meat inside, his mouth began to water before he even took a bite, and clear liquid dripped from the corners of his mouth.
Fu Xinci chuckled at Yu'er's gluttonous look, ruffled his hair, and said, "Eat up."
"Isn't Sister eating?" Although Yu'er really wanted to eat, he saw that his sister didn't have any, so he didn't start.
"I have some here. Yu'er, you eat." Fu Xinci finished speaking and took out another oiled paper packet from her backpack.
The three children, two older and one younger, sat on the grass and began to feast.
"Sister, this fish is so delicious. Even the bones are crispy."
"Indeed." It was Qi He's first time eating such delicious fish. He chewed each bite many times, reluctant to swallow.
Fu Xinci didn't laugh at him but pointed to a larger oiled paper packet in her backpack.
"Sister Fu, what's this for?"
"This is also Crispy Yellow Croaker. Take it back to Uncle Qi tonight."
"Okay." Qi He had intended to eat less himself and save some to take back to his father at the military camp. He hadn't expected Sister Fu to be so thoughtful and plan it all for him.
Fu Xinci didn't say anything, just watched them and smiled. Seeing them finish and lick their fingers with lingering satisfaction, she secretly smiled and took out another oiled paper packet from her backpack.
"Sister, is it more Crispy Yellow Croaker?" Yu'er, not having had enough, eagerly asked when he saw his sister take out another packet.
"This isn't Crispy Yellow Croaker; these are big meat buns." Fu Xinci said, opening the packet to reveal three plump, white buns that were very eye-catching.
Seeing the wide-eyed stares from the two opposite them, Fu Xinci realized that the big meat buns were even more enticing than the crispy fish.
"Sister, I want to eat." Yu'er, having just eaten three Crispy Yellow Croakers, acted as if they had all gone to someone else's stomach. He hugged the big bun his sister handed him and started to devour it.
Qi He was the same. With a bun in his mouth, he managed to mumble, "The meat filling in these big buns is so good, even better than what Grandma makes."
"Mmm, so much meat," Yu'er added between bites, agreeing with Brother Qi.
Fu Xinci: As long as they like it. These buns are made of flour, with meat and vegetables inside, so the nutrition is relatively balanced. She advocated for the elderly and children to eat them more often.
Especially since they were leavened, they were easy to digest and suitable for all ages.
After finishing one big meat bun, Qi He still felt a bit hungry. But when he saw Sister Fu hand him another one, he became a little hesitant.
"Sister Fu, you haven't eaten yet."
"I've already eaten in town. Boys like you need to eat at least two." Fu Xinci didn't say that he was at the age where growing boys could eat their parents out of house and home. She worried that two big meat buns might not be enough for him, thankfully he had the Crispy Yellow Croakers to start with.
Qi He wanted to scratch his head, but catching sight of the oil on his hands, he quickly put his hand down. Fu Xinci took the opportunity to put the meat bun into his hand.
"Sister Fu..."
"I really have eaten." Fearing he wouldn't believe her, Fu Xinci made a childish gesture, patting her stomach. "See? I'm very full."
"Okay." Qi He grinned foolishly, revealing his eight front teeth, then picked up the long-awaited plump white bun and took a big bite.
Fu Xinci was about to tell him to eat slowly, that no one would snatch it, when she seemed to hear something.
"Brother Qi, I'll go check over there." Fu Xinci said, and then with a whoosh, she darted away.
"Wow." Yu'er was used to his sister's speed, but to see her suddenly shoot off again in front of him, he was so surprised he paused for five seconds before calming down and continuing his close combat with the last two bites of his big meat bun.
Fu Xinci had run five hundred meters in one go. When she clearly saw the little creature ahead, she smiled.
"I told you to stay away from here. If someone catches you, they'll definitely roast you."
"Squeak."
Seeing the little creature extend its tiny paws and point towards where Qi Ge and Yu'er were, squeaking incessantly, Fu Xinci guessed, "You want to go there?"
"Squeak."
"Not there, then what do you want?"
"Squeak squeak." The little creature clutched its mouth with its paws, blinking its big, pitiful eyes at her.
Fu Xinci thought: This creature looks exactly like Yu'er waiting to be fed.
Could it be? Fu Xinci pondered the possibility and reached for a big meat bun.
But considering the bun was as large as the creature, she took pity and exchanged it for a Crispy Yellow Croaker.
However, the creature's eyes on seeing the yellow croaker were like a cat's seeing a mouse or a dog's seeing a bone.
Watching the creature drooling like a small river, Fu Xinci kindly picked a large leaf nearby, placed the Crispy Yellow Croaker on it, and then put it beside the creature.
"Squeak squeak." Hearing its cheerful calls, she knew it was in a great mood.
Fu Xinci thought: She had come all this way in front of Brother Qi and Yu'er. If she didn't bring anything back, it would seem a bit unreasonable.
This time she couldn't use the grass snake as an excuse, besides, she had also given up a yellow croaker.
Even though it wasn't big, it was still a fish. Seeing how enthusiastically it ate, displaying its gluttonous image perfectly, Fu Xinci felt even more reluctant to make a losing trade. She listened carefully, scanning the surroundings. Once she was sure, she activated her wood element ability and ran in a certain direction.
Little Beast: I haven't finished eating yet, why are you leaving? This isn't right.
"Squeak squeak." I'm talking to you, hurry back.
"Squeak squeak." I'm talking to you, why are you running so fast, like you're wearing rabbit shoes.