Chapter 28: Miao Cuisine!

Ergou hesitated for a moment after hearing this, then earnestly began to help.

After all... he didn't want to eat them.
And nobody was forcing him to.

When Sanwa and Xiaoya saw their older sister busy in the water, working up quite a sweat, they exchanged a glance and slowly moved closer. They started helping by moving stones and holding the bamboo basket.

Auntie Wang, worried about the children, didn't rush off. After filling her water bucket, she sat under a nearby tree, keeping an eye on the creek every now and then. *Sigh! I wonder if that girl Ruyu is truly better now.*

In the creek, Bai Ruyu and the others were having a grand time, flipping over large stones and small ones alike.

"Sister! Quick! There are some here too!"
"Sister! Sister! Look here, is this a peach blossom worm?"
"There seem to be some here as well!"

They found that the insects weren't as scary as they had thought; the process of searching for them was actually quite fun. Working in unison, they soon filled the bamboo basket with more and more peach blossom worms. There was already enough for more than a full platter.

Bai Ruyu straightened her aching waist, a look of satisfied contentment on her face. She never expected to taste this delicacy again. Ever since she left the Miao village, she had been buried in work. She never had time to cook, surviving on takeout or instant noodles, or sometimes skipping meals entirely, let alone preparing such rare treats.

"Alright, that’s just about enough. Let’s head up," Bai Ruyu said, shaking the water from her hands and signaling the three to head to the bank.

Ergou’s face was covered in sweat. He splashed some water on his face, feeling much cooler, before climbing out. Seeing this, Sanwa and Xiaoya immediately dunked their faces into the water to cool off before following.

"We’ll go pick some wild vegetables to take home, and we’ll have peach blossom worms with wild greens for lunch."

In the Changrong Kingdom, farmers rarely grew many vegetables. For one, seeds were expensive; for another, there was the issue of land. Grain was pitifully scarce, and people could barely fill their stomachs. Who would bother growing vegetables? In this dynasty, vegetables and fruits were luxuries that only the wealthy could afford. Because the rich had their own estates and money, they naturally paid attention to nutritional balance. Farm families mostly survived by foraging for wild greens or picking wild fruits in the mountains. Even if they had money, they wouldn't spend it on vegetables or fruits; they would only buy more grain, as filling one's belly was the top priority.

[Sea Fish: Host, do you and these little actors know which wild greens are safe? Don't eat just anything; be careful of poisoning.]
[Rabbit Teeth: Does anyone in the chat know about wild greens? Let’s supervise the host online and make sure they’re careful.]
[Foraging is My Hobby: Leave it to me! You can tell by my name.]

Seeing the comments from her "Gods of Wealth," Bai Ruyu felt a warmth in her heart.

***

As for foraging, she wasn't some naive novice.

"Ergou, take your sister and your younger siblings back early. I’m heading home now," Auntie Wang said with a smile as she saw them leave the water, ready to forage.

"Got it! Take care on your way, Auntie," Ergou said, waving his hand with a smile.

A short while later, to the surprise of the "Gods of Wealth" in the livestream, the four returned home with a bountiful harvest.

[Foraging is My Hobby: You have to be kidding me. A four-year-old girl already knows her wild greens? I’m feeling a bit defeated.]
[Never Discourage Anyone: Don't feel defeated. Some four-year-olds are already performing equestrian stunts! There’s a lot you don’t know.]
[Foraging is My Hobby: Hey, you upstairs, please mute yourself!]

Bai Ruyu had gathered plenty of bitter greens. These greens were very bitter and certainly wouldn't taste good if just blanched, so almost no one bothered to pick them. But Bai Ruyu was different; she had purchased quite a few seasonings from the system store. If prepared correctly, this dish wouldn't just be delicious—it would also help clear internal heat.

Walking down the mountain path, perhaps because it was nearing noon, they didn't run into anyone. Once home, Bai Ruyu rolled up her sleeves, filled a large basin with water, and placed the bamboo basket inside to wash and pick out the debris.

After putting his things away, Ergou took the initiative to go to the kitchen to start the fire. Sanwa and Xiaoya each moved a small stool and sat beside Bai Ruyu, helping to clean and pick the wild greens. They were all hardworking children; they didn't need to be told—they simply found work to do. Seeing them so thin and small, yet so well-behaved and sensible, Bai Ruyu felt a sudden, sharp pang of heartache.

She lowered her head and began skillfully cleaning the peach blossom worms. Once washed, she headed to the kitchen. Ergou had already added some water to the bottom of the pot. Bai Ruyu washed the pot again, then produced a 5L barrel of peanut oil out of thin air.

A single barrel of peanut oil cost her 80 gold coins! Truly, without the "Gods of Wealth" in her livestream, she would have had to work for another year or two before she could afford vegetable oil. Thinking of this, Bai Ruyu felt a sense of relief as she poured the oil into the pot. She could pour the remaining oil into an earthen jar and return the empty bottle to the system for 5 gold coins. The system was surprisingly fair sometimes.

Ergou glanced at his sister from time to time, seeing things appear and disappear out of thin air. He didn't say a word, acting as if he hadn't seen anything. Bai Ruyu didn't call him out on it. In fact, after her late-night talk with her father, she knew someone had been watching from behind. It was the three little ones. Since they didn't ask, she wouldn't explain.

As the oil began to heat up, Bai Ruyu quickly dropped the worms into the pot and told Ergou to lower the fire slightly.

***

To make the peach blossom worms delicious, the frying process was crucial. If the heat was too high or the time too long, they would burn and turn into something resembling charcoal. If the heat was too low or the time too short, they wouldn't be fried through or crispy, and they wouldn't be fragrant—they would just be soggy and unappetizing.

"Oh my! My two little darlings, you went up the mountain to pick wild greens so early?" Mother Jiang’s voice drifted from the courtyard into the kitchen. "What is that smell? It's so fragrant!"

Xiaoya said in her milky voice, "Sister is frying bugs. She says they're delicious."

What? Frying bugs? Mother Jiang’s eyes widened, and she froze in her tracks.

Bai Xiuming, who had followed her in, frowned tightly. *Could it be that Sister Yu is...* He hurried to put down his belongings and walked into the kitchen, just as Bai Ruyu was tasting the worms for seasoning. To make them taste good, she had to fry them with salt so the flavor would soak in.

"Sister Yu! Don't!" Seeing his daughter eating bugs, Bai Xiuming’s face turned pale. He was terrified she might get sick.

[Deep Affection: Don't panic! She's an expert.]
[Fly Everyone: Don't be afraid! If you're really scared, I don't mind helping to taste-test.]
[Rabbit Teeth: Hey, you upstairs, your abacus beads just hit me in the face.]

"Father? You're back." Bai Ruyu swallowed the worm and smiled. "I just made something good. You should taste it in a moment."

Bai Xiuming remained silent, staring intently at her complexion. After a long moment, he let out a long breath. *As long as she's okay! As long as she's okay!*

"Father, don't be afraid. A talented person told me about this, and they even showed me how to eat them." She picked one up and offered it to him. "Try it, I’m not lying to you."

Bai Xiuming swallowed hard, staring at the black insect before him. He closed his eyes and opened his mouth. This was his daughter feeding him; it didn't matter what it was. Just eat it!

As he chewed, Bai Xiuming suddenly opened his eyes. "It’s actually... quite fragrant."

Ergou stood up and moved closer. "Sister, I... I want to try one too." His sister and father had both eaten them. As one of the men of the house, how could he be afraid?

Bai Ruyu smiled and fed him one. Ergou tensed up, putting it into his mouth with trepidation, and then his face was filled with surprise.

[Miao Spicy Girl: Haha, looks like they approve of our Miao cuisine.]

The chat was buzzing with activity, and gifts kept pouring in.

"What are you all sneaking in the kitchen!" Mother Jiang stepped through the doorway and glanced into the pot. She immediately froze in place!