“One!”
“Two!”
“Three!”
Lu Zheng and Liu Qingyan did not even need to move, those white fish would automatically rush into the waterless space formed by the water-repelling pearl.
Lu Zheng simply took a large wooden bucket from the gourd, waited for the white fish to rush in, then reached out and grabbed them, throwing them into the wooden bucket.
To prevent them from struggling and jumping about, Lu Zheng also casually cast a binding spell on each white fish.
Preserving life and freshness, and keeping them still!
However, just as they had caught seven or eight white fish, feeling that it was about enough, and were preparing to float up to the shore, something suddenly fell from above.
A nearly transparent silk thread, a jet-black iron hook without any sheen, bait emitting a faint spiritual energy.
“Eh?” Lu Zheng could not help but raise his eyebrow, “Has Xiao Zhou come too?”
“Is that his fishing rod?” Liu Qingyan asked.
Lu Zheng nodded and said, “Yes, what a coincidence, in that case, let us catch a few more fish.”
Lu Zheng no longer waited for the white fish to come automatically, but instead cast the transportation technique, catching another seven or eight fish, all packed into the wooden bucket.
Then, Lu Zheng and Liu Qingyan held hands with the water-repelling pearl, heading together towards the water surface.
…
In the deep pool of the valley, a small boat rocked gently.
Hu Zhou held a purple bamboo fishing rod about a zhang long in his hand, fishing while boasting to Gao Junyu beside him, “At that time, I was watching how Master prepared the fish, and I have already learned it, wait and see, I will show you my skills later.”
But Gao Junyu clearly did not believe him much, “Last time when you barbecued the goat meat, you said the same to me, but what did you end up barbecuing? Charcoal?”
“That time was an accident, this time it absolutely will not happen!” Hu Zhou defended, “Barbecuing requires a bit of skill with the heat, this time it is just steaming, I am definitely able to do it well.”
“Is that so?” Gao Junyu pursed her lips, expressing doubt.
The last time Hu Zhou hosted Lu Zheng, Lu Zheng had already given some pointers to his cooking skills, so while travelling in southern border and encountering fresh ingredients, Lu Zheng would show a little handiwork, not only satisfying his own appetite but also letting Hu Zhou benefit.
Thus, after Lu Zheng left, Hu Zhou, who thought he had learned from watching Lu Zheng cook and was now capable himself, invited Gao Junyu over, preparing to show off and conquer her stomach.
The result was, of course, amusingly disastrous.
But Hu Zhou was not discouraged, thinking it was because he chose the wrong method last time, plus he was a bit out of practice, that was why the accident happened.
This time it was different, it was just steaming white fish, was it not simply putting water at the bottom, fish on top, then steaming for the time it takes to burn a stick of incense?
So simple, if he could not do it well, would he not be a fool?
As for Lu Zheng seeming to have processed the fish before steaming…
It seemed he just removed the innards and emptied the water… right?
Yes, just like that!
So upon hearing Gao Junyu’s doubts, Hu Zhou refused to accept it, “You can rest assured, absolutely fresh, paired with the tender meat of the white fish itself, it will make you swallow your tongue.”
“Fine, I will believe you one more time.” Gao Junyu could not help but lick her lips.
Speaking of which, she also had half black bear bloodline in her, and she had a particular fondness for tender fish meat.
“The bait has already been lowered, now we just wait for the white fish to…”
The words were only half said when Hu Zhou’s expression suddenly changed, his gaze sharpening.
“There is something coming up from the water!” Gao Junyu let out a soft exclamation, and with a flip of her hand, she gripped her personal bright silver coiled dragon spear.
The next moment, whoosh!
Two figures burst out from the water surface about ten-odd zhang away from the small boat.
“Master!?”
“Lu Shi!?”
Seeing Lu Zheng’s figure, Hu Zhou and Gao Junyu both exclaimed softly in unison.
“Seeing the fish hook, I knew it was Xiao Zhou, oh, Gao girl is here too!”
Lu Zheng pulled Liu Qingyan along, and the two stepped several times in mid-air before landing in the small boat floating on the pool.
“Reel in the line, I have already caught more than a dozen fish, enough to eat.” Lu Zheng smiled.
Hu Zhou also saw the large wooden bucket in Lu Zheng’s hand, so he said okay and began to reel in the line.
While reeling in the line, he bowed to Liu Qingyan in greeting, grinning foolishly as he said hello, “Mistress good!”
“This is my wife, Liu Qingyan.” Lu Zheng introduced her to Gao Junyu, then turned to introduce the other to Liu Qingyan, “Gao Junyu, Gao girl, is Xiao Zhou’s fiancée.”
“Greetings to Liu Shi!” Gao Junyu hurriedly set down her long spear and cupped her hands in salute.
“Gao girl good!” Liu Qingyan also nodded gracefully, smiling in response.
Lu Zheng looked at the two, “Are you not getting married on the tenth?”
Gao Junyu nodded, “Yes, today is already the sixth, is it not?”
Lu Zheng: ???
Hu Zhou explained, “Master, the customs in southern border are different from Da Jing, and moreover, Feixiong Mountain and Dingfeng Mountain are too far apart, so there is no wedding procession step, on the tenth day, we will directly hold the ceremony and get married.”
So that was it, Lu Zheng nodded in understanding.
Moreover, everyone was not an ordinary person, there was no rule about not seeing each other before the wedding, since Gao Junyu had come to Dingfeng Mountain, Hu Zhou brought her out to find something delicious.
“In that case…” Lu Zheng smiled.
“In that case, I will make steamed fish for everyone.” Hu Zhou took it upon himself boldly, “If Master has something to do, the disciple will handle it, and moreover, last time I watched Master do it, I have already learned.”
Liu Qingyan could not help but smile upon hearing this, “Xiao Zhou has become sensible.”
Hu Zhou scratched his head and grinned foolishly.
Gao Junyu also smiled lightly, quite satisfied with Hu Zhou’s performance.
Lu Zheng raised his eyebrow but did not stop Hu Zhou’s good intentions, “Alright then! For this meal, I will just eat.”
“Master, you can rest assured!”
…
With an embroidered spring knife in hand, Hu Zhou skilfully skinned and scaled, gutted and opened the belly, then placed them on a rack to drain the water.
Lighting the firewood, Hu Zhou brought over a specially made iron pot, water at the bottom layer, in the middle an iron plate full of holes, which he had specially asked the village blacksmith to forge.
Lu Zheng did not mind Hu Zhou’s side, but accompanied Liu Qingyan chatting with Gao Junyu on the side.
Gao Junyu had only been to Yongzhou, never entering the hinterland of Da Jing, so chatting with Liu Qingyan now, she was like a curious child.
Liu Qingyan was much more attentive than Hu Zhou, having been to many places, plus listening to tunes and reading books, she had plenty to talk about.
One spoke of matters in the central plains, the other of interesting things in southern border, chatting like close girlfriends, endlessly.
Lu Zheng just listened to the gossip on the side, with drinks, melon seeds, peanuts all laid out.
Then as the two women chatted, they got to the topic of Hu Zhou boasting about his cooking skills, Gao Junyu mentioned how last time Hu Zhou invited her to eat barbecue, then barbecued the goat meat into charcoal.
“He said steaming is simple, this time he must let me taste the freshness.” Gao Junyu smiled, “Now with Lu Shi present by coincidence, it is perfect to judge, see how much of your skill he has learned.”
Barbecued meat into charcoal?
Lu Zheng suddenly had an ominous premonition.
The next moment…
“Master! Mistress! Junyu! The steamed fish is ready, come quickly and taste my handiwork!”
