Once the three of them had finished getting settled, Wang Sheng said he wanted to take everyone to the cafeteria for dinner.
Tang San shook his head. "I don't have any money... I'll just eat the dry rations in the dorm. You guys go ahead."
"Money? What's that?" Xiao Wu asked curiously.
"..."
He hadn't expected Tang San and Xiao Wu to both be broke. Wang Sheng couldn't help feeling a little awkward.
They were all Work-Study Students, so he could just about afford to treat the two of them to a meal. But he couldn't leave Huo Yuhao out, either! And there was no way he could afford to treat all three!
Old Jack had given Huo Yuhao some money when he arrived, but he wasn't planning to spend it here.
From what Wang Sheng had said, the food in the cafeteria wasn't very nutritious, and the nutritious dishes were far too expensive.
Xiao Wu really wanted to go, but seeing that Huo Yuhao wasn't making a move, she stopped in her tracks.
Seeing that no one was doing anything, Wang Sheng gritted his teeth and was just about to say something when Huo Yuhao cut him off.
Huo Yuhao looked around at everyone and asked, "Do any of you know how to catch fish?"
A few of them nodded. Huo Yuhao turned to Xiao Wu and smiled. "I'll make up for the grilled fish I owe you today."
The group made their way to a small river not far from the school. It was just a short walk from the academy gates.
The water was shallow, barely reaching their calves, and so clear they could see the rocks and fish on the riverbed.
Some of the older Work-Study Students had recommended the spot. Whenever the weather was hot, they often came here to play in the water.
Huo Yuhao looked over the surroundings and nodded in satisfaction. Then he immediately started assigning everyone tasks.
Those with experience went into the water to catch fish.
He went off to gather dry branches and leaves for firewood.
"Xiao San, help me find a few thick branches and whittle them straight. We'll use them to skewer the fish."
Everyone got busy, except for one person who couldn't do a thing.
So Xiao Wu, who couldn't do a thing, stood by the river and watched the others catch fish.
Every now and then, she even called out directions. "Down there, down there! Oh, it got behind you..."
The fishers couldn't help feeling that catching fish was especially exhausting today. Maybe that was the difference between working willingly and working under supervision.
Huo Yuhao gathered some dry branches and leaves, tore the leaves into pieces, then found some dry grass and mixed it in. Just like that, he had a simple pile of tinder ready.
Just then, Tang San finished preparing the branches and brought them over. Huo Yuhao looked at how neatly they had been whittled and nodded.
"Thanks for all your hard work. Sit down and rest for a bit. I'll get started once they've caught some fish."
Then he went to find a few thick branches to use as a grill.
Tang San found a large rock and sat down, watching Huo Yuhao busy himself.
"It's been so long since I had your grilled fish. I didn't expect to get some on the very first day of school."
Huo Yuhao smiled. He had seen how awkward Wang Sheng felt, so he'd offered to treat everyone to grilled fish. He couldn't very well make Wang Sheng pay for everyone by himself.
They were all Work-Study Students, and none of them had much money. It was enough that Wang Sheng had wanted to treat them.
Before long, Xiao Wu came hopping over to the two of them. The people following her each carried four or five green-scaled fish.
Huo Yuhao nodded. "That should be enough. Everyone, take a break here. I'll start grilling now."
The sky gradually darkened. A bonfire sprang up by the river, casting light over the children gathered around it.
They all watched in unison as Huo Yuhao skillfully scraped off the scales, gutted the fish, and threaded them onto the whittled branches. Before long, he had prepared more than twenty fish.
He rubbed the seasonings he'd brought into the fish bellies, stuffed in a few leaves of perilla gathered from the woods, then set the fish on the branch-made grill.
The grill wasn't very big. It could hold four fish at most, barely enough, but under Huo Yuhao's expert control of the heat, the distinctive aroma of grilled fish soon filled the air.
Xiao Wu sniffed, her eyes lighting up. "That smells so good! Yuhao, the first one has to be mine."
The others swallowed secretly, too. Judging by the smell alone, it was bound to taste great.
They hadn't expected the new kid to be not only a great fighter but also a great cook. Everyone saw Huo Yuhao in a new light.
Xiao Wu sat beside him, staring intently at the grilled fish turning in Huo Yuhao's hands. She was even breathing more quietly, afraid of disturbing him—if not for the way she kept swallowing.
"All right. Careful, it's hot." His voice sounded like heavenly music, drawing the entranced group back to reality.
Xiao Wu immediately perked up and looked up as Huo Yuhao handed her a grilled fish.
She reached out and took it. Looking at the golden fish in her hands, she swallowed hard, opened her mouth, and took a big bite.
"Mmph! It's hot!"
Her adorable little face scrunched up, and her mouth kept working as if she were afraid the fish might escape.
Her pained expression left everyone exchanging uncertain glances.
"Boss, is the fish biting you in the mouth?" Wang Sheng asked cautiously.
A moment later, Xiao Wu finally managed to swallow the fish despite the heat. Without stopping to speak, she took another big bite.
Huo Yuhao handed out the other three fish, too. Seeing Xiao Wu's reaction, the others finally understood and joined the ranks of those devouring the grilled fish.
"Whew, Yuhao, your grilled fish is way too delicious. My stomach's about to burst."
Huo Yuhao ate the grilled fish in his hand and shot a sideways glance at Xiao Wu, who was rubbing her round, bulging belly.
"..."
Of course it was. He grilled four fish at a time, and Xiao Wu ate one every round. They were all still kids, and their appetites weren't that big. Wang Sheng, Tang San, and the others had been full after two fish.
Only Xiao Wu had battled on to the final round...
Wang Sheng let out a satisfied burp and looked at Huo Yuhao with admiration.
"I never knew your grilled fish was this delicious, Yuhao. You should sell it! I bet it would be a huge hit."
"I could give it a try."
Huo Yuhao had already been thinking along those lines. For one thing, the ingredients were easy to find. For another, setting up a stall was convenient and would earn him experience. It really suited his current circumstances.
"Who would've thought grilled fish would be the key to making a fortune?" Huo Yuhao shook his head with a wry smile.
"Yay! Does that mean I'll get to eat Yuhao's grilled fish every day from now on?"
Xiao Wu couldn't help raising her hands and cheering. She wrapped her arms around Huo Yuhao's neck and bounced a few times, making his face turn bright red. Everyone burst out laughing. The meal of grilled fish brought the Work-Study Students much closer together.
What kind of schemes could a bunch of kids have? They gathered around after a meal of grilled fish and chatted about life and their dreams.
"Tang San, what do you want to do in the future?"
Wang Sheng started the conversation, and everyone was curious. The three newcomers were each more impressive than the last.
"Me? I haven't thought that far ahead. If I had to say, I'd like to earn enough money to open a Blacksmith Shop for my father in the busiest part of town."
Tang San thought for a moment, then answered with a smile.
"What about you, Boss?" Everyone turned to Xiao Wu and egged her on.
"I want to defeat the bad guys and avenge my mother." At the mention of her mother, Xiao Wu's expression grew a little sad.
"Sorry, Boss. We didn't mean to..."
"It's fine." Xiao Wu shook her head, and everyone turned to Huo Yuhao.
Huo Yuhao saw them looking at him and scratched his head, seeming unsure what to say. After a moment's thought, he looked up at the sky.
The stars filled the sky, scattered across the black curtain, beautiful beyond compare.
"I hope I can stay with my companions forever."
After they returned to the dorm, someone came to fetch Tang San at Grandmaster's request. When he came back, he told everyone he'd be leaving with Grandmaster for a few days the next morning to train. They understood, though they were a little envious. Having someone give you private lessons really was something else!
Huo Yuhao realized that Tang San was getting ready to obtain his First Soul Ring. A sense of urgency welled up inside him. He was falling behind now, too. It was time to head to the Star Dou Great Forest and find Brother Sky Dream.