Immortality Vital Essence

Liu Chang'an found a fat duck in the kitchen, boiled it until it was 80% cooked, and prepared other ingredients. After the duck had cooled down, he removed all the bones, shredded it into large and small pieces, and simmered it in the duck broth. He added three qian of salt, half a jin of wine, and mashed yam. Before taking it off the heat, he added diced shiitake mushrooms, ginger, and chopped green onions. After thinking for a moment, he added a little chili.

In South Hunan, it's not uncommon to find chili peppers in soup.

This dish is called "Muddled Duck," which is neither quite soup nor quite stew, but it is actually seasoned to a perfect consistency, with distinct flavors, rich layers of taste, and is not actually muddled at all.

Liu Chang'an made this dish with a deeper meaning, and he hopes Liu Yuewang will understand it.

After dinner, Liu Yuewang didn't grasp the true meaning of "muddled duck," but she did realize that Liu Chang'an's culinary skills were indeed extraordinary. No wonder An Nuan was so confident; it seemed Liu Chang'an had quite a few tricks up his sleeve to win over a beautiful girl like An Nuan. They say that to win a man's heart, you must first win his stomach. Doesn't a woman's stomach have the same effect?

What reassured Liu Yuewang even more was that she had just heard them say that Liu Chang'an had applied for a biotechnology major. Although Xiangtan University several famous experts and professors in this field, it is still quite difficult for graduates of this major to find high-paying jobs. A master's degree is the minimum requirement... If Liu Chang'an has difficulty finding a job in the future, he can start his own business, such as opening a tailor shop or a private restaurant.

Whether it's a tailor shop or a private restaurant, you need a wide network of connections or the influence to set trends in your social circle. Liu Yuewang happens to have both. Whether Liu Chang'an opens a tailor shop or a private restaurant, she can help him out. That way, An Nuan won't end up with a boyfriend who can't make money.

Is it wrong to want your daughter's boyfriend to be a high earner? No, Liu Yuewang is quite assertive about this reality.

After dinner, An Nuan drove Liu Chang'an home.

"The dish I made today is called 'Confused Duck,' which is meant to convey the message to your mother. She can be a little oblivious on the surface, but don't interfere. I feel she won't understand," Liu Chang'an said to An Nuan.

An Nuan chuckled, realizing her mother would never understand. "I'll explain it to her when we get back... Your ancient way of doing things is too futile for modern people. Look... there are still some peonies over there. Here, take one home."

Peony is also known as Keli. In ancient times, when people gave peonies to guests, it could be to express their feelings of separation or to tell them to get lost.

When you return, I will present you with a clump of "Wenwu," which is another name for angelica.

The ancient campus of Xiangtan University is planted with a variety of plants, including peonies and angelica in some areas. However, peonies are more prevalent, and the trees here are also exceptionally tall, giving it a completely different atmosphere from the newly built campus.

"You should go home early. I'll take a walk some more." Liu Chang'an didn't pick any peonies. The night was deep, and the path beneath the towering trees was exceptionally quiet.

"You don't want me to accompany you on your walk? You must not like me anymore," An Nuan said, dissatisfied.

"It's late at night, and I'm more likely to encounter female ghosts when I'm alone. With you here, the female ghosts have some self-awareness and know they can't tempt me, so they won't come out. You've ruined my plans," Liu Chang'an said helplessly.

"That's exactly what I want! That's exactly what I want!" An Nuan proudly grabbed Liu Chang'an's hand and shook it back and forth.

The two strolled and chatted, and when the topic turned to the female ghost, An Nuan recounted some of her childhood experiences. Some said that Mount Lu was filled with yin energy, while others said that its feng shui was excellent, and that the green hills were fortunate to bury loyal bones. After the Xinhai Revolution, the cemetery here was the final resting place for many fallen soldiers, including Huang Xing, Cai E, Jiang Yiwu, Liu Daoyi, Chen Tianhua, Jiao Dafeng, Chen Zuoxin, and Yao Hongye. This ensured that Mount Lu's noble spirit endured, and that evil spirits dared not approach, thus bringing peace of mind and tranquility, which was beneficial to one's studies.

"Do you believe in ghosts?" An Nuan felt she should talk about something scary so that it would be more appropriate for her to get closer to him than because she particularly liked to cling to him.

"Never seen one." Liu Chang'an thought for a moment, "I've seen Longevity people, and zombies though... Vampires probably exist too, but ghosts don't seem to be a very scientific existence."

"Does that mean Longevity beings, zombies, and vampires are scientifically possible?"

"Of course." Liu Chang'an pointed to himself, his expression serious. "I am Longevity being. Absorbing my essence might grant you a chance to Longevity. Even if you don't achieve Longevity, slowing down aging and maintaining a youthful appearance is very effective."

An Nuan shook Liu Chang'an's arm and laughed, "You're so annoying, you never say anything serious."

"Didn't I say I wanted you to Longevity with me? You'll definitely have to absorb my essence." Liu Chang'an had always taken this matter very seriously.

"But what exactly is essence?" An Nuan felt as if she had returned to the time when she was his deskmate, listening to his nonsense and rambling all day long, which made her very happy.

"Every living organism possesses essence, which can be considered a state of being alive. Look at these large trees before you; they are typical examples of abundant essence. Humans are the same. Young people have abundant essence, but as the essence replenished daily gradually cannot keep up with the loss of essence, they begin to age." Liu Chang'an frowned slightly. "Many things, when science cannot explain them, are explained with some mysterious terms, which seem to make sense, but are actually just nonsense."

"Then you're talking nonsense?"

"Essence is everywhere in the body; there's a lot in saliva and blood, and even in excrement, though it's thin and turbid, not as pure as blood, and saliva is slightly less so." Liu Chang'an couldn't explain his condition using current scientific methods. As he said, using some mysterious terms would make it easier for others to understand.

"You scoundrel!" An Nuan's cheeks were flushed. Liu Chang'an had even told her to absorb his essence. She couldn't very well drink his blood, could she? That would only leave her with saliva!

Under what circumstances would you suck on someone else's saliva? Kissing, of course! So, after all this tangent, was he talking about two people preparing to kiss?

But what preparation is needed for this? Shouldn't it just happen naturally? Like this quiet, tree-lined path, the girl beside me with a slightly blushing face, the fragrance emanating from her, the gentle breeze caressing my cheek—isn't it just that he naturally put his arm around her shoulder, his focused and deep eyes gazing at her, forcing her to close her eyes and suppress her reserve, and then he kisses her?

Liu Chang'an didn't say much. The secret of Longevity had been the delusion of all mankind for thousands of years, and a few words were just scratching the surface.

"Who's being a scoundrel?"

Han Zhizhi cut in from the side path, chuckling.

"You," An Nuan said immediately.

"I'll borrow Nuannuan from you tomorrow," Han Zhizhi said to Liu Chang'an. She was going to have surgery tomorrow, and she was a little anxious even though her mother was with her. She needed An Nuan to come with her.

"I admit she's mine." Liu Chang'an nodded generously.

An Nuan playfully hit Liu Chang'an, but sweetly didn't deny it. Anyway, she had already made a hitting gesture, so Han Zhizhi should interpret it as An Nuan's denial; she wasn't anyone's Nuan Nuan.

If Han Zhizhi ignores An Nuan's denial, that's Han Zhizhi's problem; why should she immediately explain?