Everyone's words were filled with relief and teasing, mainly because Hu Lanfang showed no symptoms of zombification, which put everyone at ease, and the scene was instantly filled with laughter.
"Hey, I'm injured and still need to eat well. Son, what are we having for dinner tonight?"
After feeling relieved, Hu Lanfang's first thought was food.
Indeed, any worries that couldn't be solved by one meal would certainly be solved by a second meal. It was time for the second meal.
"Mom, what do you want to eat? I'll make whatever you want," Mi Guo said happily upon hearing Hu Lanfang had an appetite.
Many delicious foods flashed through her mind, and finally, Hu Lanfang chose a delicacy that no one expected.
Her most craved food was actually grilled squid.
However, to her surprise, when Gu Zhaobei heard she wanted grilled squid, his face lit up with a sweet smile, immediately raising Gu Qingcheng's "Level Three Alert for Dog Food."
Could grilled squid have some romantic story attached to it? Was it related to her own existence?
"If it were other dishes, I'm not as good as Mi Guo, but since it's grilled squid, I'll do the grilling. Mi Guo definitely can't make that taste."
Gu Qingcheng's teeth were about to fall out from the sweetness.
It was indeed dog food.
But Mi Guo was a bit slow-witted. He said a little indignantly,
"Dad, why do you say that? What flavor can't I make?"
He was the little culinary genius of the family now. He could cook anything. He didn't believe his dad when he said he couldn't make it.
"Ha, it's not that you can't make it well. It's like this: the grilled squid your mother mentioned is the kind I took her to eat at a barbecue stall outside our university. That place was incredibly popular among students, mainly because of the good quality of the ingredients and the affordable prices.
The grilled squid was their signature dish. They were generous with the use of high-quality oak charcoal, so the grilled squid had a faint fragrance of oak.
Gu Zhaobei's explanation finally put Mi Guo's mind at ease, and he nodded.
"Mi Guo, of course you can't make it. The main flavor of this dish is the stinky, sour smell of love."
Gu Qingcheng added seriously.
"You mischievous girl! You're so naughty. This is the taste of first love."
Gu Zhaobei whispered affectionately to his daughter, then looked up and exchanged a sweet glance with Hu Lanfang, letting out a silly chuckle.
Gu Qingcheng couldn't bear to watch.
"Dad, I'll make the other dishes, and you just do the barbecue."
Mi Guo's passion for cooking was unparalleled.
"Okay," Gu Zhaobei agreed.
It wouldn't be right to just have barbecue, they needed some staple foods. Since Mi Guo was happy to cook, they let him have his way.
"Mi Guo, we still have leftover tuna from yesterday. How about another serving of tuna?"
Gu Qingcheng found the sashimi from yesterday so delicious that she was still craving it.
The tuna was too large, so they only ate a portion of it yesterday. Gu Qingcheng had put the rest into the storage cabinet.
After all, in the storage cabinet, time was frozen, so the food always remained fresh and didn't degrade with time, making it even more secure than a refrigerator. The taste was exactly the same as when it was first put in, even after being taken out to eat.
"Okay. Since we're having seafood, I'll go for a light and refreshing style," Mi Guo said.
Although Hu Lanfang said she needed to eat well to recover, she couldn't have rich, greasy food now. Such food would be hard to digest.
Mi Guo was diligently preparing.
It was just a small wound, really. Hu Lanfang said it like that to lift everyone's spirits. Seeing everyone busy and smiling, Hu Lanfang was also touched.
She realized that the best life was having her family by her side, all willing to do their best to make her happy.
Hu Lanfang's eyes welled up. In fact, she had already believed yesterday that if she had truly turned into a zombie, her family would have taken care of her and would have desperately worked to develop an antidote until it was found.
Hu Lanfang felt like the happiest woman in the world, surrounded by her loving family, she was incredibly fortunate.
Gu Zhaobei had set up the barbecue stall under the powerful ventilation system in the kitchen and was already busy. The aroma of grilled squid wafted through the air.
Besides grilled squid, there were also pork belly, lamb, long beans, and about a dozen other barbecue ingredients. All the pre-prepared skewers were brought out.
With the excellent ventilation system, all the oil smoke was extracted, leaving only the aroma in the kitchen, with no pungent smell of barbecue fumes.
An hour later, all the dishes were ready.
The family sat around the table, chatting and laughing, it was incredibly cozy. The contrast was stark, as just yesterday they were in a bleak and desolate situation. It was evident that this family couldn't function without anyone.
Gu Zhaobei opened a bottle of original Baileys and mixed it with 7 Up. This was their preferred way of drinking as a couple, providing a mild alcoholic boost without turning them into drunkards and leading to a disaster movie of drunken behavior.
Gu Qingcheng and Mi Guo were, of course, forbidden to drink alcohol. They each had two cans of sugar-free cola, which was quite refreshing with the barbecue.
"Wow, Dad's grilled squid really has an unusual flavor. It's seasoned just right, and it indeed carries a faint oak fragrance that completely masks the fishy smell of the squid," Mi Guo praised.
He had to admit that men really could be skilled when it came to love. Mi Guo silently took note.
"Hehe, your mother said she spent 500 yuan to learn how to make Three Cup Chicken from a master chef. Actually, I spent 300 yuan to learn this grilled squid from the barbecue stall owner."
Gu Zhaobei couldn't help but reveal this long-held secret.
"What? So that's how it is! No wonder I thought this taste was exactly like the one from the barbecue stall owner at school. I thought you were exceptionally talented, but it turns out you paid to learn too."
Hu Lanfang finally solved a long-standing puzzle and revealed a sweet smile.
Gu Qingcheng was completely stuffed with dog food.
After eating and drinking her fill, she had another can of cola and let out a very satisfying burp.
"We can go back to Phoenix Village tomorrow."
Gu Qingcheng announced this news to everyone with a hint of longing in her eyes.
Thinking back, Phoenix Village was truly a paradise.
Even if life on the boat was good, humans were terrestrial animals and couldn't live on a boat forever.
The next day, the journey was smooth, and the Gu family embarked on their return trip.
As the water had risen to the level below the entrance to Phoenix Village, they directly sailed the boat there and disembarked.
After landing, Gu Qingcheng glanced around to ensure no one was watching, then put away the boat. The four of them set off uphill towards home.
An hour later, the four arrived at the pass of Phoenix Village.
The person on duty at the pass today was not Fu Dadi, but another member of the hunting team.
Gu Qingcheng greeted him and asked him to inform Dai Fa that they had returned. She said she would see them again in a week, and the guard quickly acknowledged.
After being isolated for a week at home, Gu Qingcheng then had Mi Guo ring the bell to summon the squad leaders.