Of course, they couldn't let a guest do the cooking himself. Even if the guest was a better cook than they were, they couldn't do that, because they were still filming a show.
Cooking was also a chance for the cast members to show what they could do. Even if Qin Yue herself was a little worried, she wouldn't willingly hand that opportunity over to someone else so casually.
Besides, it made no sense for a guest to visit someone's home and cook for the host.
After saying that, Fu Yunyi realized he had misspoken. He cleared his throat and said, "I was joking. But shouldn't we first figure out what dishes we can make for lunch?"
Qin Yue had already looked into that. "Before Ranran and Wang Chengran left, I asked the production team with them. Our vegetable patch has green beans, cucumbers, and tomatoes. I think they planted some perilla and scallions, too. The production team also said someone grows watermelons and sweet melons next to the vegetable patch. If the owner is willing, we can buy some. I gave Ranran ten yuan to buy some if it works out."
"We also have a mu of corn. That field is for tasks. Ranran and Wang Chengran's task is to harvest corn, and they earn points by the jin."
Fu Yunyi asked, "Then can we eat the corn from that task ourselves?"
Qin Yue said, "Keeping a few ears for ourselves should be fine?"
Xia Zhiyi turned to look at a staff member nearby.
The staff member had been beside them the whole time and had heard their conversation clearly. Meeting Xia Zhiyi's gaze, they nodded.
Xia Zhiyi said, "That means we can."
Qin Yue said, "I was planning to make scrambled eggs with tomatoes, smashed cucumber salad, and stir-fried green beans."
Fu Yunyi fell silent for a moment, then asked, "Why is it all vegetarian?"
Qin Yue said, "...The task list includes feeding chickens, ducks, pigs, and horses. There is meat, but... do you know how to kill a chicken?"
Slaughtering a pig was out of the question. That took skill, and attempting it without experience could be life-threatening.
Yet the moment Qin Yue said that, Fu Yunyi actually looked straight at Xia Zhiyi.
Xia Zhiyi said, "...Hmm?"
Fu Yunyi rubbed his chin and said sincerely, "I don't know why, Xia Zhiyi, but I feel like you definitely know how."
Xia Zhiyi said, "..."
Well... but...
Xia Zhiyi said helplessly, "I do."
What Xia Zhiyi didn't say was that he could actually cook, too.
But there was no need to mention that.
He was here to film a show, not make enemies.
For that matter, never mind cooking-even if the production team issued a house-building task, Xia Zhiyi could build one within half a month.
After experiencing so much, what couldn't he learn if he put his mind to it?
Aside from Zhou Kai, none of the other cast members had any grudge against Xia Zhiyi. His physical skills alone were enough to draw attention. There was no need to steal everyone else's opportunities to shine, too.
Once she confirmed that Xia Zhiyi knew how to kill a chicken, Qin Yue breathed a sigh of relief. "Then let's catch a chicken. Oh, right, we need boiling water to prepare it, don't we? Don't use the water in the kettle yet. I'll boil some water now."
With that, Qin Yue turned and went into the kitchen to get to work.
Fu Yunyi took Xia Zhiyi to where the chickens were roaming. Just as Fu Yunyi was about to speak, Xia Zhiyi deftly caught a chicken and looked at him, holding it in one hand. "Done."
Fu Yunyi said, "..."
Huh?
Was it that simple?
The surrounding staff were speechless.
Before the cast arrived, they had tested every situation the cast might encounter or experience on this mountain several times. Catching chickens had been one of them.
But considering that the person catching the chicken was Xia Zhiyi...
Oh, then that made sense.
Teacher Xia was skilled, after all.
So Fu Yunyi swallowed what he had been about to say, and the two headed back.
Seeing that no one else was around, Fu Yunyi finally asked the question he had been holding in for ages. "Xia Zhiyi, um... do you take disciples?"
Xia Zhiyi's steps paused slightly. After a moment's thought, he understood what Fu Yunyi really meant. "You want to learn, Brother Fu?"
Fu Yunyi nodded.
Xia Zhiyi asked, "...What I did yesterday?"
Fu Yunyi nodded again.
Xia Zhiyi said, "Sorry."
Fu Yunyi was a little disappointed, but he had no intention of blaming Xia Zhiyi. "I see. It's fine, I understand. Such powerful martial arts must be some secret that can't be passed on..."
Hearing that, Xia Zhiyi knew he had misunderstood and explained, "It's not really a secret that can't be passed on. It's just that Qinggong depends first on talent, second on aptitude, and third on age."
Fu Yunyi fell silent for a moment, then asked, "About the age-roughly how old would someone have to be?"
Xia Zhiyi said, "...You'd have to start before twelve or thirteen at the latest."
That was the absolute latest. If someone's innate constitution wasn't suited to it, they wouldn't be able to fly even if they started learning at three.
The reason was simple, too. Qinggong... required internal force.
In other words, learning Qinggong meant learning internal cultivation, which had high requirements for aptitude.
External cultivation had relatively lower requirements. Most martial artists these days practiced external cultivation. As for whether anyone still practiced internal cultivation, Xia Zhiyi wasn't sure either.
At least, he hadn't understood these distinctions in his first life. Now, he had only recently returned and hadn't encountered anyone who did so yet.
After Xia Zhiyi said that, Fu Yunyi knew he had no chance at all.
But neither of them had muted their microphones while talking, so the livestream viewers heard the entire conversation clearly, too.
[Ah! I just had my twelfth birthday! Teacher Xia, does that mean I can learn?]
[Brother Fu! Don't just ask about age! Ask him what he means by talent and aptitude!]
[Qinggong! Teacher Xia personally confirmed that it's Qinggong!]
[So does Teacher Xia mean he's willing to teach?]
[I want to learn! I want to learn! I want to learn!]
[Can you learn this Qinggong through online classes? If so, please teach me right now, Teacher Xia, sob sob sob!]
[Is this real? Wasn't yesterday a publicity stunt?]
[I've been dazed ever since I saw Xia Zhiyi and Fu Yunyi fly yesterday, and I'm even more dazed today. Someone slap me awake. Am I really not dreaming?]
The comments were hotly debating it. Although some still insisted Xia Zhiyi was pulling a publicity stunt and crafting a persona, plenty of people believed he really knew martial arts.
It would have been one thing if Xia Zhiyi hadn't hinted at this before, but now that he had shown an inclination to take disciples and teach, of course some people were getting excited.
Although they all knew, even from behind their screens, that becoming his disciple wouldn't be that easy even if they wanted to learn... how would they know unless they tried?
Some people were already frantically tagging the production team in the comments, asking them to pass the message along.
Director Gong was discussing the cottage's living conditions with Fu Chi. After hearing what a staff member said, he paused, thought for a moment, and still decided they couldn't go along with the viewers.
"We can't open that door. Those are his own skills. Whether he takes disciples is his business. He can't be pressured into it by the audience."
"Tell the others not to bring this up with him. Whether he refuses or agrees, it puts the kid in a difficult position. There's no need."
Fu Chi said, "Why not ask him first?"