Chapter 48: What Do You Have to Trade?
On the other side of the island, six people sat around the fire, dividing up their dinner and water. Supplies were scarce, and no one got very much.
“Tomorrow will be better. I set a fish trap by the shore—maybe we’ll catch a few big ones,” Gu Hua said to reassure them.
Wen Li smiled gently. “You’re so clever, knowing even this kind of old-fashioned skill.”
Gu Hua replied modestly, “Not at all. I just have a wide range of hobbies. I dabble in a bit of everything.”
Wen Li nudged Tang Xin beside her. “You should learn from Hua Hua and actually do something. Don’t just sit there staring off into space.”
Tang Xin bit her lip and reluctantly nodded.
“I wonder how Chi Qian and the others are doing,” Luo Fan sighed helplessly. “Probably still sulking over the gold. She’s got quite the temper.”
Gu Hua’s smile deepened. “Yes, Qian Qian has always been like that—straightforward and simple.”
The subtext, of course: reckless and brainless.
Luo Fan suggested, “Why don’t we bring them something? After all, we came here together. It wouldn’t be good to let things stay so tense.”
Gu Hua and Ling Qian could hardly wait to see Chi Qian’s group in trouble, so they immediately stood up.
In the end, the six of them went together.
When they found them, Chi Qian’s group was happily barbecuing.
A bonfire crackled as they grilled seafood around the fire, with opened coconuts piled on the side, each one stuck with reed straws.
Chi Fengxiao fanned the flames with palm leaves while roasting octopus, muttering, “If only we had cumin and sesame—this would smell heavenly.”
Shen Jing was cooking soup in a pot. “Some wild onion, ginger, and garlic for flavor—it’s already amazing. The taste is so pure.”
Shen Jiashu declared, “Tomorrow I’ll try harder to find more seasonings!”
Chi Fengxiao glanced at Chi Qian, who was lounging under a tree sipping coconut juice, and laughed.
“Lying down so comfortably, huh? Want me to feed you dinner later too?”
Chi Qian blinked innocently. “Really? That’s so embarrassing… Thank you, Uncle.”
“…?”
Shen Jing chuckled. “Qian Qian worked hard today. Xiao Chi, just feed her a bit.”
“Uncle, if your hands get tired, I can help!” Shen Jiashu chimed in, holding his bamboo chopsticks, eager to compete.
Chi Fengxiao: “…Go on, get lost. Who said my hands are tired? Don’t even think about stealing this job.”
Gu Hua’s group just stood there, eyes wide.
The aroma of seafood grilled with onion and garlic was overwhelming, curling into their nostrils.
Their mouths watered uncontrollably.
So fragrant…
What were they eating?
It clearly wasn’t wild fruit.
Chi Fengxiao spotted them and immediately fired a shot: “Well, well, no wonder the crows wouldn’t shut up just now. Turns out it was bad luck walking straight to my door.”
Gu Hua forced a dry laugh. “Uncle, we were worried you didn’t have food, so we thought we’d bring some over.”
“Oh, please. How could we dare touch your food? What if you demand gold again, and then cling on like leeches, impossible to shake off?”
Luo Fan tried, “Brother Chi, how about we trade? That seafood looks incredible.”
Chi Fengxiao smirked playfully. “Trade? And what exactly do you have to offer? Hm?”
Before coming, Gu Hua had been full of confidence.
But now…
Their wild fruits and half a bottle of water looked downright pathetic next to coconuts and a full seafood feast.
Like poor relatives showing up uninvited to freeload.
At that moment, Chi Qian asked, “Have you all eaten yet?”
Thinking there was hope, Luo Fan quickly answered with a smile, “Not really, we just had a little snack earlier. Are you going to invite us to dinner?”
“Good, then.” Chi Qian smiled sweetly. “Since you haven’t eaten, make sure to have plenty of this roasted sea breeze. It’s a specialty—you can’t get it anywhere else.”
She added seriously, “I suggest opening your mouths wide and savoring every bit.”
Luo Fan: ?
Are you the devil?!
[Luo Fan thought: I was just about to sit down, and you hit me with this?]
[Even through the air, I can smell it—how can you not give me a bite?!]
[So this is what Gu Hua meant when she said they’d regret it? True, I regret it… regret not walking a few extra steps with them.]
[Qian Qian: No way I’d walk more steps. At most, I’ll roll over to tan evenly in the sun.]
Gu Hua’s group left as quickly as they came, defeated and embarrassed.
For Chi Qian’s group, it was an unexpectedly delightful pre-dinner show.
The seafood tasted even better afterward.
Once they were full, they crawled into tents to sleep.
The bonfire still burned, keeping them warm through the night, as the island’s temperature dropped sharply after dark.
When the tide rose, the fire went out.
Chi Qian’s group had set their tents higher up, so the rising seawater didn’t reach them.
Gu Hua’s group wasn’t so lucky.
One by one, they were woken by the cold, forced to climb up trees and huddle, shivering and questioning life choices.
By sunrise, the tide still hadn’t receded.
Chi Fengxiao poked his head out of the tent. “Qian Qian, you awake? Everything okay over there?”
Chi Qian wrung out her wet pants and sighed gloomily. “Right now, I just wish I were a turtle.”
“…? What happened?”
“If I were a turtle, I wouldn’t have gotten pinched by a crab the moment I woke up. I swear I almost tore its claw off.”
Chi Fengxiao stifled a laugh. “When the tide goes out, Uncle will cook it for you.”
“I already confiscated its weapon and kindly tossed it back into the sea. As they say, leave some room for mercy—you never know when you’ll meet again.”
Meanwhile, the poor crab floated helplessly in the water: SO? Your version of mercy is sending me back to jail? Without my claw, what’s the difference between me and a salted fish?!
Over on the side, Shen Jing worried. “Who knows when the water will recede. Luckily, we put our pots and bowls in the trees yesterday, or they’d be gone.”
Shen Jiashu rubbed his eyes. “Dad, what do we eat if there are no ingredients?”
“That’s easy.” Chi Qian pulled a bamboo pole from the top of the tent, placed it on the water, and hopped on.
She stood steadily, her body not swaying at all.
Shen Jiashu’s mouth dropped. “Sister Qian, you’re amazing!”
Even Chi Fengxiao was stunned, clapping. “Qian Qian, look at you—such balance!”
“Because I never eat for free.” Chi Qian put on a mysterious air, then leaned on her bamboo pole and walked away.
Chi Fengxiao belatedly turned to the Shen father and son. “Wait… was she just throwing shade at me?”
The Shen family men both gazed silently at the sky. Ah, such a beautiful blue today.
[Blessing for us 8AM warriors! First thing in the morning we see Sister Qian’s fresh, dewy little face—instantly in a good mood]
[No way, is this girl… crossing the sea on a single bamboo pole?!]
[Seriously, is there anything she doesn’t know how to do??]
[!!! Holy crap, what is she doing now!!!]
She hadn’t slept well the night before—the tent had pressed uncomfortably into her back—so Chi Qian just wanted to stretch her body.
It was something she did every morning, a habit left over from her years in the cultivation world.
Maybe because of that, her body was far stronger than the average person’s.
She gripped the bamboo pole in one hand, stood balanced on one leg, then suddenly lifted the other leg high over her head, grabbing her ankle with her hand.
