After a flurry of activity, lunch was finally ready.
Xue Yuantong had done most of the work, with Jiang Ning helping out now and then. For the last dish, he moved the dining table into the main room.
Xue Chuchu and Xue Yuantong washed their faces and gathered around the table, ready to eat.
The neighbor's dog caught the scent and could only watch helplessly, unable to come closer. Jiang Ning found it a nuisance and had used a spell to restrain it beforehand.
The dog could only smell the food, suspended between bliss and agony.
Xue Yuantong picked up half a crab and bit into the roe. The rich, plump, fragrant, crisp-yet-soft texture nearly brought tears to her eyes.
Looking at the crab roe again, it gleamed warmly under the sunlight and gave off a thick, mellow aroma.
She simply could not resist the temptation and eagerly took another bite.
The crabs Jiang Ning had caught from Tiger Perch Mountain were not particularly large, but they were solidly built and packed with roe. One could take a huge bite out of them.
Compared to Xue Yuantong's indulgence, Xue Chuchu was much more restrained. She used her chopsticks to pick up a piece of lettuce that had been cooked with the crab.
The lettuce had absorbed the crab's unique freshness and fragrance. It was refreshing and wonderfully crisp, leaving Xue Chuchu deeply satisfied.
After finishing the roe from half a crab, Xue Yuantong saw Xue Chuchu eating vegetables and urged, "Chuchu, what are you spacing out for? Eat the crab!"
Xue Chuchu smiled reservedly. Even when faced with crabs raised on spiritual energy, her good upbringing and willpower still allowed her to remain restrained.
Jiang Ning finally understood. It was not enough for Xue Yuantong alone to eat crab—she would