Rice and Shrimp

Yao Wei's pot had no 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 a bowl in 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. Unfortunately, all the bowls in the Tan Village Entrance shelter had been porcelain, and those two people had smashed every last one.

"If you have a bowl, then I'll keep this frying pan. I can use it as a bowl from now on, okay?"

He asked.

"Okay."

Yao Wei nodded, having no objections.

Resources were scarce and conditions limited, so they ought to make use of everything they could.

Lu Xi'an poured the shrimp from the frying pan into Yao Wei's bowl, then took the pan and set it firmly over the pot. That would keep steam from escaping once the water inside heated up, helping the rice cook faster.

Yao Wei simply took the bowl down to the river, scooped up the tiny shrimp a spoonful at a time, drained off the water, and tipped them into the bowl. That way, she no longer had to keep running back to the pot.

But after being ambushed again and again, the shrimp in the river had become skittish. They were getting harder and harder for Yao Wei to catch, and she had to go farther and farther afield.

Fortunately, she was very patient. Even when she had to go farther and wait a while, she could still settle down and focus.

Before long, the bowl was filling up with the shrimp she caught.

She kept walking farther away, but gradually the aroma of rice wafting from the pot reached her. She couldn't help swallowing.

Lu Xi'an found Yao Wei's expression a little amusing.

Then he swallowed too.

How long had it been since he'd smelled something so fragrant?

Ever since he'd left the north and passed through Wanhu Village in Dongmen County, he hadn't found any rice that was fit to eat.

He'd come across a little here and there, but the fickle weather had already spoiled it. Doggo had confirmed that it was inedible.

Even the rice they'd found in the cellar in Wanhu Village, Dongmen County, had been old rice that had been frozen for who knew how long. It couldn't compare to the aroma of this rice, which had been vacuum-sealed and kept that way until now.

"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 use a little more time.

The sky had grown dim, but it wasn't completely dark yet, and they still had enough firewood to keep the fire going for a while.

"You've caught enough shrimp. Don't rush. Wait for me to fry them for you."

Lu Xi'an said to Yao Wei.

"Mm."

Yao Wei nodded, brought the bowl back, and set it down. Then she crouched beside the fire and added fresh wood, replacing the burning pieces.

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

He knew how to make a fire for warmth, but he'd always done it rather crudely.

He'd never had to deal with any of this in his previous life. After coming to this world, he'd gradually figured things out and picked up some tricks.

Now, as he watched Yao Wei work, he paid close attention, eager to observe and learn.

With Yao Wei tending it, the fire burned a little hotter, and the rice was soon ready.

Lu Xi'an moved the pot off the fire and set it aside, then put the frying pan on the fire stand.

The water from the shrimp had already evaporated from the pan, though quite a few droplets had collected underneath from resting on top of the rice pot.

They dried up quickly over the fire.

The frying pan had already warmed up, so there was no need to wait before adding cold oil.

Lu Xi'an asked Yao Wei to get the oil, salt, and soy sauce from the car. He opened the oil, poured in a little, and once it had warmed slightly, tipped in the shrimp and began stir-frying them.

He didn't have many seasonings, and the shelter's supplies hadn't offered much variety either. Perhaps people in the old days hadn't had time to stock up on more seasonings before preparing to take shelter.

Fortunately, tiny shrimp didn't need much seasoning. They were simple to cook.

"Actually, you can render fat from pork, too. Wild boar meat is a bit tough, but you should still be able to get some oil out of it—as long as there's some fat on it."

Lu Xi'an spoke as he stir-fried. "Other animals should work too. Chicken, duck, cattle, and sheep, probably. When we run out of oil, we can hunt and render some."

"Mm."

Yao Wei nodded earnestly.

She watched Lu Xi'an's movements as he stir-fried, completely absorbed.

A moment ago, Lu Xi'an had been watching her and learning from her. Now it was her turn to watch and learn.

But stir-frying river shrimp didn't take long. In just a little while, they had turned bright red, and the little shrimp, coated in fragrant oil, began to smell delicious. Both Yao Wei and Lu Xi'an couldn't help sniffing the air.

Then Lu Xi'an poured on some soy sauce, sprinkled in salt, and stir-fried everything once more. The shrimp were done.

Yao Wei had already washed and dried the spoon. Lu Xi'an asked her for it, then scooped up a few shrimp to taste.

The seasoning was just right. He seemed to have a good handle on it.

"All done. That's a success."

His taste buds were finally getting a treat again, and Lu Xi'an was in high spirits.

He asked Yao Wei for the bowl, served her some rice, and added a helping of shrimp. That made a bowl of rice with stir-fried shrimp.

Looking at the steaming food, the white rice topped with red shrimp, Lu Xi'an suddenly felt a strange sense of accomplishment.

In a world and an environment like this, he'd managed to make a meal like this. It really hadn't been 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 was handing her, then at the frying pan, and put the spoon inside. "You use the bowl. I'll use the pan."

She also thought it wouldn't be very convenient to eat from a pan.

Lu Xi'an smiled. "It's fine. I'm used to this. I used to eat off plates, and that's not much different from a frying pan."

Then he firmly pressed the bowl into Yao Wei's hands.

Yao Wei was curious about when and where Lu Xi'an had eaten off a plate, but she still wasn't used to asking questions.

She saw that Lu Xi'an had already tipped the rest of the rice into the frying pan and was mixing it with the shrimp, so she had to give up on letting him use the bowl.

"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 fire together.

It wasn't completely dark yet, but the sun had set, and the world had grown dim.

The firewood was completely charred, without a single spark left. But the pile of blackened wood seemed to still give off warmth.

They sat down beside it and let night settle around them. By the faint stars appearing in the sky, they enjoyed the food in their bowls.

Compared to the food he'd eaten in his previous life, this bowl of rice with stir-fried shrimp wasn't all that delicious.

The shrimp were a little tough and too dry. It wasn't exactly a dish that went well with rice.

Lu Xi'an remembered that in his previous life, his favorite dishes to eat with rice had been vinegar-braised shredded potatoes and tomato scrambled eggs.

But this wasn't his previous life. How could he afford to be so picky?

This bowl of rice with stir-fried shrimp had oil and meat, and the shrimp were fresh from the river. It had rice, too, giving them carbohydrates.

In a world like this, what could be better than a meal like this?

"How is it?"

As they both dug in, Lu Xi'an asked.

"Mm."

Yao Wei's mouth was full, so her answer came out muffled.