Gu Qingcheng was worried that Du Lanyue wouldn't be accustomed to the food, but to her surprise, Lanyue ate with gusto.
Gu Qingcheng smiled and said, "This meal on the boat is simple, by necessity. Once we reach Peach Blossom Island, I'll treat you to a proper feast."
"This is already wonderful. During the famine and chaos, being able to eat a hot meal with dishes and meat was like a delicacy from heaven."
Du Lanyue ate without any pretense, showing it wasn't forced.
Gu Qingcheng mused, that was true. Those who survived the disaster had all been baptized by hardship, so everyone's mindset was very positive.
They were generally adaptable and resilient, able to endure hardship. They had shed some of their former superficiality. Even those from wealthy families now understood the value of food and had a deeper appreciation for family affection and friendship.
Perhaps this was the intoxicating brew that emerged from the hardship and trauma left by the great natural disaster?
Gu Qingcheng felt a surge of emotion.
Du Lanyue finished the bowl of rice Gu Qingcheng had served her, not leaving a single grain, and even drank all the soup.
Her pragmatic demeanor greatly impressed Gu Qingcheng, further bridging the gap between them.
After the meal, seeing that the boat was full of crew members, Du Lanyue took the initiative to wash the bowls, and Gu Qingcheng couldn't stop her.
However, this Du Lanyue only increased her good impression.
Making friends, how should one put it?
Gu Qingcheng had made many friends in modern society, but some were "green tea," some were "white lotuses," some were overly sensitive, some were vain, some were pretentious. Of course, there were also friends like Du Lanyue, who were simple, amiable, and down-to-earth.
After washing the bowls, Du Lanyue asked curiously, "Young Master Gu, why didn't the boat crew make some fish soup using readily available ingredients?"
"Ah? This?"
Gu Qingcheng was momentarily at a loss for words.
"Oh, I don't mean the broth is bad. I just mean, since the conditions are right, being on the water, why not make some fish soup to supplement everyone's nutrition?"
Du Lanyue explained that her family's merchant ships always did this, which was why she was curious.
Gu Qingcheng thought for a moment and decided not to hide it. "Because I have a psychological shadow, I dislike eating fish from the water."
"What happened?"
Gu Qingcheng frowned and said, "Are you sure you want to know?"
"Yes, tell me."
As Du Lanyue spoke, her tone became a little coquettish.
Gu Qingcheng found Du Lanyue quite endearing at this moment, not like an older sister, but more like a younger one.
So she said with a smile,
"If I tell you, perhaps you won't dare to eat fish anymore. What then?"
"If the reason is valid, then I won't eat it. I don't particularly love fish anyway." Du Lanyue's curiosity was piqued even further.
Thus, Gu Qingcheng recounted the incident of the zombie horde she had witnessed earlier to Du Lanyue.
At first, Du Lanyue couldn't figure out what a zombie horde had to do with fish. Then, she suddenly thought of fish as food…
She couldn't help but say with a wry smile, "I see. I understand. Alas, I won't dare to eat fish again in the future.
Fortunately, I didn't eat much fish before anyway. If I did, it was farmed fish."
Du Lanyue suddenly remembered that after the disaster, her father hadn't bought fish from outside. He had only bought some fish fry and raised them in their pond, catching them when they wanted to eat fish.
Before, she and her sister didn't understand why their father did this. Wasn't catching fish themselves troublesome? There were many large and fresh fish in the market, so why raise them?
Now, she suddenly understood. Father must have had a similar shock to Young Master Gu, which was why he didn't dare to eat fish from the rivers.
However, never eating fish was unrealistic, so he simply raised his own.
Du Lanyue then spoke of this matter, and Gu Qingcheng, upon hearing it, laughed.
"Your father is so wise. That's a good idea. Why didn't I think of it?"
Actually, Gu Qingcheng didn't lack fish to eat. Her Mount Cat Supermarket had an endless supply of deep-sea seafood. But raising fish to eat was also a good idea.
As they spoke, Peach Blossom Island loomed closer.
Standing on the deck and looking into the distance, a tiny black shadow grew larger before their eyes.
As they approached, they saw countless blooming peach blossoms covering the mountain cliffs and ravines.
The peach blossoms were single-petaled and double-petaled. A gentle breeze blew, scattering petals that fell onto the water, creating a romantic and beautiful scene.
Gu Qingcheng thought, if such beautiful scenery were in modern society, it would definitely be a popular spot for check-ins.
Alas, even with cameras now, they wouldn't dare to take them out for photos.
Du Lanyue was also stunned by the beautiful scenery, murmuring, "It's so beautiful. Peach Blossom Island truly lives up to its name!"
Their ship docked at the pier.
Forty to fifty merchant ships of various sizes were moored at the pier of Peach Blossom Island. One could sense a strong commercial atmosphere on the island. Some merchant ships were loading cargo, primarily fabric.
Gu Qingcheng observed that the fabrics loaded onto other merchant ships were mainly cotton cloth, with very little silk. This was understandable. Nowadays, except for a few wealthy individuals who could afford silk robes, most people were content with cotton clothing.
Because the ship was connected to the shore by a narrow wooden plank, Du Lanyue hesitated, looking at the trembling, narrow plank.
Seeing this, Gu Qingcheng extended her hand, took hers, and said,
"Don't be afraid, I'll hold you."
Gu Qingcheng, having practiced archery for many years, had calluses on her hands. As she held Du Lanyue's hand, she felt a slight roughness.
But this strong, callused hand gave her a sense of immense security. Led by Gu Qingcheng, she smoothly disembarked.
Wang Dapeng, Da Xiong, and the other guards were positioned around them. Seeing this entourage, the islanders knew that Gu Qingcheng's group was not to be trifled with, and no one dared to provoke them.
Wang Dapeng asked a local on the shore and learned that the most bustling commercial street on the island was called Peach Blossom Street. He then hired two carriages at the pier, and they set off by carriage.
Gu Qingcheng and Du Lanyue shared a carriage, while Wang Dapeng and Da Xiong rode in another. They all knew that Young Master Gu had a cleanliness obsession and disliked riding with burly men who carried the strong scent of sweat.
Although Gu Qingcheng hadn't said it, those with discerning eyes understood, and they willingly boarded the other carriage.
"Sister Lanyue, are you tired today? If you are, we can find an inn to rest first, and then go out for a stroll in the evening."
"That would be nice." Du Lanyue was delighted by this suggestion. Strolling during the day wasn't as enjoyable.
As night fell and lanterns were lit, the atmosphere would become more vibrant. She imagined walking slowly with Gu Qingcheng through the city streets, chatting intimately, and felt a flutter of excitement.
Gu Qingcheng was indifferent. She was not in a hurry and prioritized Du Lanyue's well-being, letting her have a good night's sleep to regain her energy.
"Peach Blossom Inn, Peach Blossom Street. Heh heh, the islanders here certainly have made full use of the name 'Peach Blossom'."
Gu Qingcheng smiled as the carriage stopped and she looked at the inn's name.