The next day, just as dawn broke, Old Jin led Qi He and the others on their journey to the capital.
When Fu Xin Ci woke up, she realized someone was missing from home.
After breakfast, Fu Xin Ci remembered she hadn't visited the valley in days. After informing her grandfather, she headed out.
She didn't dare tell Fang Shi, fearing refusal.
After days away, the valley had changed significantly. The lush greenery was now dotted with signs of human activity.
The land intended for planting had almost all been cleared, and houses were rising from the ground.
Fu Xin Ci stood on the hillside, not rushing down into the valley, but scanning the surroundings for her companions.
Seeing her friends on a nearby slope, heading in her direction, she waved enthusiastically.
"I'm here."
Upon seeing Xin Ci, her friends quickly gathered around, eager to share the day's adventures.
"Right now, wood-element ability users are the most sought after here."
"It's just that everyone's level is too low. Definitely eighty years old... willing but unable."
"Alas, everything is good after we got here, except for the fact that we can't upgrade our abilities."
"Tch, people can't be too greedy. Compared to our old lives, which would you choose: not being able to upgrade your abilities or our current life?"
"I'd definitely choose my current life. Even without abilities, I'd be content."
Pang Dun Er finished speaking, looked up at the blazing sun, wiped his sweaty face, and then, puffing out his ample belly, shouted loudly, "I'm willing to be roasted like a dog by the sun!"
"Pfft." Everyone laughed.
The captain stood beside Pang Dun Er, patted his thick shoulders and his bulging stomach, reminding him again, "You need to lose weight."
"Captain, can we talk about something else?"
"No, you must lose weight," the captain said, then looked at Fu Xiao Niu, "Xin Ci, it's hot these days, don't bring us meat."
"Captain, you're asking for my life."
"Pang Dun Er, how dare you. Because of you, we all have to go without meat," Xiao Ai almost cried, "My beloved meat!"
"Yes, remember this favor," Xu Jia Can also chimed in, "I'm so lonely without meat."
Fu Xin Ci remained silent, watching them clown around. When they had calmed down a bit, she spoke.
"Eating seafood should be fine. Those things probably won't make you gain weight."
"Mm-hmm, Xin Ci is right."
Her friends nodded enthusiastically.
"Also, beef and ribs don't have that much fat. As long as you don't eat the fatty parts, it should be okay."
"Right, Xin Ci is absolutely right." Pang Dun Er now wished he could call Xin Ci his great-aunt; she understood him so well.
As Fu Xin Ci spoke, she led her friends to sit under the dense shade of the trees and laid out a checkered tablecloth on the grass.
Knowing good food was coming, the friends gathered around. Even the captain, who had been so stern, had a smile creasing the corners of his eyes.
Fu Xin Ci knew the captain was strictly supervising Pang Dun Er's weight loss, so her dishes were all boiled.
"Sea shrimp and clams, Pang Dun Er can eat these."
"Thank you, Xin Ci. Xin Ci is the best."
Fu Xin Ci smiled and then brought out a pot of boiled ribs. Everyone's eyes followed. "When I boiled these ribs, I only used ginger and scallions to remove the fishy smell. I didn't add anything else. You can dip them in minced garlic and black vinegar."
"This way, the original flavor is even better," the captain liked this kind of preparation.
Fu Xin Ci then brought out a basin of thinly sliced braised beef, placing it directly in the center of the tablecloth.
Pang Dun Er: "Heaven is going to destroy me."
Captain: "You can have two slices of braised beef. You can only look at the ribs."
"Just one piece, okay? Just one," Pang Dun Er began to bargain with the captain.
Seeing his pleading eyes, the captain took out his dagger and cut off all the fatty parts from the ribs.
"Captain, that part is the most delicious. Don't cut it off!"
"Eat it or not? If not, forget it."
"I'll eat it." To get a taste of the ribs, Pang Dun Er relented.
Finally, Fu Xin Ci brought out a plate of pickled cucumbers, meant to cleanse their palates.
"Xin Ci, these pickled cucumbers are delicious, so crisp. Do you have any more?"
"Yes," Fu Xin Ci said, taking out a medium-sized glass jar filled with more than half its volume of pickled tender cucumbers.
She then handed Captain a paper-wrapped large piece of beef and two pig tails, "These are for Uncle Xu and Uncle Sun."
"Good stuff. Uncle Sun and Uncle Xu will love them."
"My dad will definitely say: If only we had beer, a drink would be so refreshing."
"I overheard them discussing something again these past two days."
"Researching winemaking."
"I have some wine here too. Take a few bottles for Uncle Sun and Uncle Xu."
"Xin Ci, no need. If Uncle Xu and the others can really figure out how to make wine, it will be a good thing." The captain didn't say: they need to be self-reliant.
Fu Xin Ci thought about it. In the region of Liaodong, if Uncle Xu and the others could truly brew pure grain liquor or fruit wine, their business would surely flourish.
The captain thought for a moment, then said to Fu Xin Ci, "Xiang Tong has also held meetings with the town residents these past few days, asking about their skills. They've all shared what they can do, as the town might establish small factories or workshops in the future."
"That's a good idea. The finished products can not only be self-sufficient but also be taken out to exchange for silver."
"Mm, Xiang Tong thinks the same way."
When everyone had eaten their fill, Fu Xin Ci placed a bag in front of them.
"Is there anything else to eat?" Food lovers always talked about food.
But when Pang Dun Er opened the bag, he almost exclaimed, "Xin Ci, where did you get so many crystal cores?"
"These are what other mercenary teams traded me for supplies before. You said at the time you didn't want to trade them over yet, fearing other mercenary teams would be jealous."
"So you saved up this many?"
"More than this. There are three more bags like this."
"Wow, Xin Ci, I love you to death!" Xiao Ai and Yang Xin Jie hugged Fu Xin Ci, jumping with joy.
Xu Ru Yi: "There's no room for me."
"You can just watch. Otherwise, Xin Ci's small frame can't withstand the three of you roughhousing her."
The captain could see that Xin Ci was being tossed about by Xiao Ai.
"Captain, quickly put away this bag of crystal cores," Xu Jia Can had seen them earlier, "Many of them are level two."
Following Xu Jia Can's words, the captain left a few crystal cores outside and put the rest into his ring.
When Xiao Ai realized she had been a bit over the top, she gave a sheepish chuckle to cover her impulsiveness.
"Xin Ci is still the best," Yang Xin Jie almost hugged and rubbed Fu Xin Ci again.