Rice and Shrimp

Yao Wei's pot didn't have a lid, but the frying pan was just the right size to cover it.

So Lu Xi'an asked Yao Wei, "Do you have anything suitable to hold these river shrimp?"

Yao Wei found her bowl from the car, washed it, and handed it to Lu Xi'an.

Lu Xi'an sighed. He hadn't expected Yao Wei to have a bowl. It was a shame that all the ceramic bowls in the Tan Village Entrance Shelter had been smashed by those two people.

"If you have a bowl, then this frying pan is mine to use. I'll use it as my bowl from now on, okay?"

He asked.

"Okay."

Yao Wei nodded, having no objections.

With limited conditions and tight resources, it was only right to utilize everything that could be used.

Lu Xi'an poured the shrimp from the frying pan into Yao Wei's bowl, then took the frying pan and placed it steadily on the pot, preventing steam from escaping once the water inside heated up, which would slow down the cooking of the rice.

Yao Wei simply took her bowl to the river, scooping up the small river shrimp spoonful by spoonful, draining the water before pouring them into the bowl. This way, she didn't have to run back and forth to the pot.

However, the shrimp in the river had been attacked one after another and had become like birds startled by a bow. Yao Wei found it increasingly difficult to catch them, and to catch shrimp, she had to run farther and farther.

Fortunately, this woman was very patient. Even if she had to run farther and wait for a while, she could still calm her mind.

Thus, the shrimp in the bowl grew more numerous under her diligent catching.

She walked farther and farther, but she could still gradually smell the fragrance of the rice wafting from the pot, and she couldn't help but swallow her saliva.

Lu Xi'an found Yao Wei's appearance somewhat amusing.

Then he, too, swallowed his saliva.

How long had it been since he had smelled such a fragrance?

Ever since he left the North, left Wanhu Village in Dongmen County, he hadn't found any edible rice.

He had encountered some sporadically in certain places, but under the unpredictable weather, they had long since spoiled and, according to Doggy's appraisal, were completely inedible.

Even the rice found in the cellar of Wanhu Village in Dongmen County was old rice that had been frozen for who knows how long. It couldn't compare to the aroma that wafted from this vacuum-sealed, preserved rice once cooked.

"Just a little longer, just a little longer."

Lu Xi'an lifted the frying pan to check. The rice was almost done, but it could be cooked a little longer.

At this moment, the sky was slightly dim, but it hadn't completely darkened yet. The firewood could last a while longer.

"Caught enough shrimp. Don't rush. Wait for me to stir-fry them for you."

Lu Xi'an said to Yao Wei.

"Mm."

Yao Wei nodded, carried her bowl back, and set it down. She knelt on one knee by the fire, adding and changing the firewood.

This was a skill Lu Xi'an hadn't mastered.

Lu Xi'an used to make fires for warmth, but his methods were always very crude.

After all, he hadn't experienced such things in his past life. It was only after coming to this world that he slowly figured things out and gained some experience.

Seeing Yao Wei working now, he watched her intently, observing and learning.

Under Yao Wei's tending, the fire burned more vigorously, and the rice was soon cooked.

Lu Xi'an moved the pot aside and then placed the frying pan on the stove.

The moisture from the shrimp in the pan had already evaporated, but the bottom of the pan had condensed quite a few water droplets from being placed on top of the rice pot.

When heated by the fire, these quickly dried up.

The frying pan was already warm, and with a hot pan and cold oil, there was no need to wait further.

Lu Xi'an asked Yao Wei to get the oil, salt, and soy sauce from the car. He first poured in a little oil, heated it slightly, then poured in the river shrimp from the bowl and began to stir-fry.

He didn't have many seasonings. The inventory in the Shelter was rather meager. Perhaps people in the old era didn't have time to prepare more seasonings when preparing for the Shelter.

But fortunately, stir-fried shrimp didn't require that many seasonings; it could be made simply.

"Actually, pork can also be rendered for oil. The meat from wild boars, though a bit tough, should also yield some oil—as long as there's fat on it,"

Lu Xi'an said as he stir-fried, "Other animals too—chickens, ducks, cows, sheep, they should all work. If we run out of oil in the future, we can hunt and render it."

"Mm."

Yao Wei nodded very seriously.

She stared intently at Lu Xi'an's movements as he stir-fried in the pan.

Just now, Lu Xi'an had been watching her actions to learn; now it was her turn to watch and learn carefully.

However, the river shrimp stir-fried quickly. In just a short while, they turned bright red. The shrimp, coated in oil, began to release a shrimp aroma, causing both Yao Wei and Lu Xi'an to involuntarily twitch their noses.

Afterward, Lu Xi'an drizzled in soy sauce, sprinkled in salt, and gave it another toss, and the shrimp were considered stir-fried.

Yao Wei had already washed and dried the spoon. Lu Xi'an and Yao Wei took the spoon, scooped up a small amount of shrimp, and tasted it.

The taste was just right, indicating his seasoning was well-balanced.

"Alright, mission accomplished."

Lu Xi'an's mood improved greatly with the long-awaited enjoyment of his taste buds.

He and Yao Wei got a bowl. He served rice for Yao Wei, then added stir-fried shrimp. Thus, a bowl of stir-fried shrimp with rice was ready.

Looking at the food, white rice covered with red, steaming hot, Lu Xi'an suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of accomplishment.

In this world, in this environment, to be able to make such a dish, it really wasn't easy!

"Here."

He handed the bowl to Yao Wei.

Yao Wei had already taken her spoon from the car and washed it.

She glanced at the bowl Lu Xi'an handed her, then at the pan, then put the spoon in and said, "You use the bowl, I'll use the pan."

She also felt that eating from the pan wouldn't be practical.

Lu Xi'an, however, smiled and said, "It's fine, I'm used to this. I used to eat from plates, which are pretty much the same as this pan."

After speaking, he forcefully shoved the bowl into Yao Wei's hands.

Yao Wei really wanted to know when and where Lu Xi'an ate from plates, but she still wasn't used to asking questions.

Seeing that Lu Xi'an had already dumped the remaining rice into the pan and mixed it with the stir-fried shrimp to eat, she had no choice but to give up on using the bowl herself.

"It's getting dark."

She looked up at the sky and said.

"Mm."

Lu Xi'an knew what she meant.

So, the two of them put out the campfire together.

The sky hadn't completely darkened yet, but the sun was setting, and visibility had become dim.

The firewood was completely blackened, with not a single spark visible. But the pile of charred firewood seemed to still radiate residual heat.

The two sat by the pile of firewood, letting the night curtain envelop them, and enjoyed the delicious food in their bowls under the scattered starlight appearing in the sky.

Actually, compared to his previous life, this bowl of stir-fried shrimp with rice wasn't that delicious.

The stir-fried shrimp had a slightly tough texture and was too dry, not a dish that went well with rice.

Lu Xi'an remembered that in his previous life, when eating rice, his favorite accompaniments were shredded potatoes in vinegar sauce and scrambled eggs with tomatoes.

But this wasn't his previous life anymore, so how could his standards be so high?

This bowl of stir-fried shrimp with rice had oil and meat, it was river bounty, and it had rice, replenishing his carbohydrates.

In this world, what could be a greater enjoyment than this meal?

"How is it?"

As they were eating heartily, Lu Xi'an asked.

"Mm."

Yao Wei's mouth was full of food, and her reply was muffled.