I Can See Through All Things' Information Chapter 7 Full Belly, Contemplating the Path Ahead
Previously on I Can See Through All Things' Information...
Observing that the oil had reached the right temperature, Lu Qing began to meticulously place each small fish into the pan, letting them fry at a slow pace.
In truth, a pinch of salt added to the hot oil beforehand would have been ideal to keep the fish from clinging to the bottom.
However, Lu Qing had noticed that the salt recently delivered by that uncle consisted of coarse grains, making it ill-suited for direct use in frying.
With careful attention to the flame, Lu Qing continued to slow-fry the catch.
The drifting scent drew Little Yan over; she had already finished her pancake and now sat nearby, her gaze fixed intently on the sizzling fish atop the stone slab.
A wave of sympathy washed over Lu Qing as he watched her.
He reached out and affectionately ruffled the young girl's hair.
"Little Yan, be patient for just a moment more; it will be ready to eat very soon."
"Okay!" Little Yan replied with an obedient nod. "Brother, the fishy-fish smells incredible."
"Since it smells so good, make sure to eat your fill later. Brother caught plenty today, more than enough for you to be satisfied."
By the time the rice in the clay pot was steamed through, Lu Qing had finished frying most of the fish.
He gathered them into a bowl.
Following this, he drizzled a bit of saltwater over the heap.
With that, a simple dish of saltwater fried fish was complete.
Lu Qing served two portions of rice and placed them on the dining table.
"Little Yan, come eat."
"I'm coming, Brother!"
The little one was already stationed at the table, waiting expectantly.
Lu Qing placed a small stool atop the chair and hoisted Little Yan up so she could reach her meal comfortably.
He then selected several small fish with fewer bones and placed them in her bowl.
"Eat up, you Little Glutton. Be careful to spit out the bones; don't let them prick you."
"I know, Brother."
The girl was so famished that she immediately popped a fried fish into her mouth, her cheeks moving rapidly like a hamster's as she chewed.
It was fortunate that Lu Qing had picked the ones with few bones, or she surely would have been poked.
After swallowing her first bite, Little Yan’s eyes widened in surprise.
"Brother, this is so tasty! It’s even better than what Mother used to cook!"
Hearing those words didn't bring Lu Qing joy; instead, it brought a surge of melancholy.
This fish had been prepared with nothing but a bit of oil and salt water; he hadn't even dared to use extra oil for fear of wasting it.
How could such a basic dish truly be "delicious"?
When one is starving, everything tastes like a delicacy.
Little Yan must have endured so much hunger lately to find this plain saltwater fried fish so exquisite.
Hiding his inner turmoil, Lu Qing simply smiled. "I’m glad you like it. Eat more, Little Yan."
"Mhm, mhm!"
The child shoveled a massive clump of rice into her mouth, nodding vigorously with puffed-out cheeks, unable to speak.
Lu Qing chuckled and picked up a fish for himself.
As he tasted it, his eyebrows rose in surprise.
The flavor wasn't as poor as he had anticipated.
Perhaps because this ancient world was free of pollution, the river fish possessed an exceptional quality.
Even with minimal seasoning, the flesh of the small fried fish was vibrant and savory, offering a distinct, pleasant flavor.
Since both siblings were ravenous, they ate with great speed.
Before long, the rice in the pot and the bowl of fried fish were completely finished.
Naturally, the bulk of the food went into Lu Qing’s stomach.
Despite her hunger, Little Yan was only six or seven years old; her capacity was limited.
Lu Qing also purposefully managed her intake to ensure she didn't overeat and upset her stomach.
"Brother, Little Yan is stuffed!"
Setting down her bowl, the little girl patted her stomach with a look of pure contentment.
It had been a long time since she felt this full!
"Now that you're full, take a break. Don't go running around while I go wash the dishes," Lu Qing instructed.
"Little Yan will help you, Brother."
She hopped down from her stool.
"No need, just stay here and rest," Lu Qing declined.
Obediently, Little Yan sat back down and watched her brother busy himself with the chores.
Children tire easily; by the time Lu Qing finished tidying and returned, the little one’s head was already drooping as she drifted off.
Smiling, Lu Qing lifted her gently and carried her toward the bedroom.
"Brother... Little Yan wants to go fishing with you again... the fish was so good..."
As he settled her onto the bed, she murmured sleepily.
"Alright, next time I go, I'll bring you along," Lu Qing whispered back.
He tenderly tucked her under a quilt covered in patches. Hearing his promise, Little Yan fell into a deep, silent sleep.
Once he was certain she was out, Lu Qing stepped quietly into the living room and sank into a simple reclining chair, feeling a wave of relief.
He had been working hard all day, and his body—only recently recovered—was still quite fragile.
Between the hunger and the labor of fishing and cooking, he was genuinely exhausted.
Resting on the chair felt immensely comfortable, and he felt a pull toward sleep himself.
However, he forced himself to stay awake; he needed to think.
Based on his memories and his interactions with the villagers today, Lu Qing had formed a basic understanding of his current environment.
First, he was undoubtedly in a world resembling ancient China.
Furthermore, it was an era of very low productivity.
The fact that a simple iron pot was considered a luxury item proved as much.
Beyond that, his knowledge remained sparse.
There were many details Lu Qing couldn't yet verify.
He was clueless regarding the social hierarchy, the distribution of power, or the identity of the rulers.
It appeared that this world lacked formal government bodies like a royal court or local magistrate offices—at least, no such concepts existed in the previous host's memories.
Of course, this wasn't certain.
The original host had been a sheltered youth who had never stepped foot outside the village.
He had never even considered the scale of the world, so how could he understand political systems?
Still, while courts were a mystery, he knew that towns existed.
Villagers would travel to nearby town markets to purchase essential supplies.
Goods like iron and salt were typically only found there.
In those towns, the City Lord held the highest authority.
Regrettably, even at fifteen, the original host had never visited a town, leaving Lu Qing in the dark about what they were actually like.
"I should find an opportunity to visit the town," Lu Qing whispered to himself.
Only by understanding this world could he determine his future path.
However, such plans were for the future. The immediate priority was survival for himself and Little Yan.
He also owed several favors to the neighbors that needed to be settled.
Currently, his primary asset was the supernatural ability he possessed.
What exactly were the limits of this power?
Lu Qing mused silently.
Suddenly, a specific name surfaced in his mind.