Join Our Black Wind Pirate Crew
The leaves rustled, gasps of surprise filled the air, and disbelief filled everyone's eyes.
The Old Scholar Tree waved its hand at them and said:
Hello everyone! Dear friends, would you like to join our team?
Do you want to have legs? Do you want to be able to walk?
"Anything is possible if you join our Black Wind Pirate Crew."
The trees stared at it, dumbfounded.
Zhou Wanwan smiled and said, "I can let you walk, but you have to help me clear this wasteland. Are you willing?"
The trees nodded quickly; many of these trees were hundreds of years old.
Zhou Wanwan fed them energy, and soon they were able to walk unsteadily, though they were definitely unsteady at first.
But you'll get better with practice.
Zhou Wanwan looked at them and said:
"The land on this island is very fertile; all you need to do is turn over all of this land for me."
I will leave a few trees to show you how to do it.
Zhou Wanwan pointed directly to the five trees and said, "You stay here and help them. I will leave you a lot of jade."
The trees all nodded and said:
"Don't worry! We understand, it will only take 10 days."
We can then search the entire island, and while we're at it, we can dig a river.
They're no longer content with just digging wells; they're digging rivers instead, which is much faster.
Zhou Wanwan nodded and said, "Okay, then we'll head back first."
Along the way, the Old Scholar Tree and the Old Ancestor caught a lot more seafood before finally returning to shore.
Once ashore, the Old Ancestor and the Old Scholar Tree resumed their salt-making process.
Zhou Wanwan then asked Zheng Xing'an to start cooking. She chose two groupers, which have few bones and tender meat, and steamed them directly with just a little salt and ginger slices. The result was snow-white, delicate, and so fresh that it didn't need much seasoning.
She also took a few red sea bream, whose flesh was delicate and sweet. She used them to stew, and the resulting fish soup was milky white. Every sip was full of the freshness of the sea fish.
There were also a few yellow-footed trevally, with tender meat and no fishy smell. She simply pan-fried them until the outer skin was slightly yellow, while the meat inside remained soft and tender, melting in her mouth.
The last few sea bass were thick-fleshed and had few bones. She simply braised them, and they were flavorful and tender, a dish that both the elderly and children loved.
There were also boiled Dahai, grilled oysters with garlic, seaweed soup...
Zhou Wanwan took a bite of the Dahai and exclaimed, "This tastes absolutely amazing! It's so fresh!"
Zheng Xing'an took a sip and said, "I think their salt is better. It tastes different from ordinary salt; it has a faint, refreshing fragrance. What do you think?"
Gu Sinian nodded and said, "This fish is indeed quite fresh, but the salt seems a bit different too."
As Zhou Qinghe ate, she nodded and said, "Delicious, so delicious! How can it be so fresh?"
We enjoyed the meal very much; the seafood had been kept in the sea beforehand.
Zhou Wanwan spent the night by the sea, and in the evening, they lit a campfire.
Zhou Wanwan brought out milk tea, and everyone enjoyed the aroma of the milk tea and the fruit, creating a unique and delightful experience.
Zhou Qingyan said, "Next time, could we bring Zhixia along too?"
Zhou Qinghe nodded and said:
"Bring that little girl, Feng Yueyao, along too."
That little girl hasn't been going out much lately; she stays home embroidering every day. What's the point of embroidering?
Zhou Qingchen's face flushed slightly. "Then shall I bring Sister Yunshu along too, okay?"
All the brothers looked at Zhou Wanwan, Zhou Wanwan smiled and said:
"Isn't that a bit inappropriate?"
We'll bring them out after the wedding; I'm afraid it will frighten them now."
Feng Yueyao was used to it, after all, she saw those big trees walking around in the mountain village every day.
But the other two had never seen anything like this before!
She was afraid of scaring them.
Zhou Qingyan nodded and said, "Okay, I understand."
Zhou Wanwan took a sip of her milk tea, looked at the distant Dahai, and said, "I never thought I'd have such a relaxing time. It feels so good to live by the sea."
Gu Sinian looked at her and asked, "Do you really like the Dahai?"
"Yes, it feels very comfortable and therapeutic, especially listening to the sound of the waves; it completely relaxes me."
The next morning, Zhou Wanwan was woken up early by Gu Sinian: "Wanwan, watch the sunrise..."
Zhou Wanwan groggily got up and went outside. Gu Sinian draped a cloak over her shoulders and said, "It's too cold in the morning, be careful not to catch a cold."
Zhou Wanwan nodded, took his hand, and said, "Brother Sinian, hurry up."
The two ran quickly to the shore, then looked up and stopped in their tracks.
A red sun is slowly rising from the sea, its rays spreading across the entire surface, shimmering like scattered gold dust.
The sky and the sea merge into one, gentle yet magnificent, with even the wind carrying a faint warmth.
Zhou Wanwan stared blankly at the sunrise, Gu Sinian stared blankly at her.
After a long while, the two finally came to their senses. Zheng Xing'an called out from not far away, "Miss, breakfast is ready!"
Today's breakfast was seafood instant noodles.
Seeing that the instant noodles contained several kinds of seafood, Zhou Wanwan chuckled and said, "Xing'an, you really know me. This instant noodle smells so good!"
After finishing their instant noodles, they took the seafood home.
Last night, the Old Scholar Tree and the Old Ancestor didn't sleep a wink.
They produced more than ten barrels of salt directly; the speed was truly astonishing.
When they returned to the mountain stronghold, they found it surrounded once again.
Zhou Wanwan looked at these people and said:
Where did all these people come from?
I feel like I've been behaving pretty well lately! I haven't offended anyone!
The Old Scholar Tree frowned and said:
"Yeah! I also find it strange. We're on the Nie Family's territory every day, eating and drinking for free."
Where did these people come from?
Zhou Wanwan walked over and looked at the soldiers, saying, "Hello, may I ask where you are from?"
The soldiers looked at her coldly and said:
"You little brat, get out of here! Do you even know where you are?"
This is Black Wind Stronghold territory; the bandits here are all utterly wicked.
Zhou Wanwan looked at him and said, "Why do you say that? The bandits of Black Wind Stronghold never rob."
The surrounding soldiers laughed loudly:
"What bandit doesn't rob?"
This is an order from the imperial court; this time, we must utterly defeat these bandits."
Zhou Wanwan asked curiously, "Who was sent this time?"
The soldier straightened his back and replied loudly, "Of course it's Great General Xiao Bang!"
The soldier beside him, his face full of respect, eagerly spoke:
"Our General Xiao is a true god of war!"
Back then, on the battlefields of Northern Frontier, taking the head of a general from among thousands of troops was as easy as taking something out of a bag.
He terrified the enemy, and the entire border, stretching for thousands of miles, was guarded by him alone, as secure as an iron barrel.
Many so-called invincible warriors could not last three rounds against him.
With a distinguished military record, he was respected and feared by everyone in the court and among the common people.
Dealing with these petty bandits is as easy as crushing ants for Great General Xiao!
Another soldier scoffed, his face full of disdain:
"What a waste of talent! This bunch of filthy bandits doesn't deserve to be used by our regular elite troops!"
That's a complete waste of time.
We traveled day and night, covering a journey of more than ten days, from the Beijing garrison.
This time, we must wipe out this gang of thugs completely, leaving no one alive, not even a single one will escape!
The leading soldier said coldly:
"With General Xiao in command, this battle is a sure thing. These bandits won't be able to escape even if they had wings!"
Zhou Wanwan blinked and said:
Wow! Hearing you say that, Great General Xiao is really amazing! Are you hungry? Do you want to eat something?
I brought a lot of sea fish, all freshly caught from the beach.