Chapter 145: A Somewhat Different Kind of Beauty

Watching the scene before him, Yusheng felt his heart nearly break. Sigh... considering Dad still has several other "children" to look after, I suppose I won't hold this against you for now.

Yusheng sat down on the ground with practiced ease, clearly intending to wait for Zhong Di. The message was obvious: "Dad, go ahead and finish your work; I’ll wait here, but you’d better make it up to me later!"

"Yusheng, go on, go find yourself something to eat," Zhong Di said, waving a hand at him before diving back into the guesthouse to begin another round of tidying up.

See! Dad really doesn't love me anymore. Not only does he not love me, he treats me like this—he won't even feed me! Sigh... from this moment on, I am a lonely dog, commonly known as a "single dog." It seems it’s time to go find a little lady-dog to keep me company.

Woof!

With two barks, Yusheng scampered off.

As for Zhong Di, he continued to provide water and food for the Pallas's cats. Since they ate a lot, they naturally produced a lot of waste, and scooping the litter was unavoidable; if he didn't, bacteria would breed quickly, and he feared the cats might get sick. Fortunately, the power of the chicken meat and the effectiveness of the "Quicksand Fairy Buds" were remarkable; the Pallas's cats remained energetic and healthy, with no issues at all.

Some time ago, after much internal struggle, Zhong Di had decided to test the waters himself and drank a small amount of the water infused with Quicksand Fairy Buds—only a tiny bit. He didn't know if it was just his imagination, but every time he showered lately, he seemed to be dirtier than before. Of course, it might just be a trick of the mind. In any case, it appeared the Quicksand Fairy Buds were harmless to humans, and as for the benefits, they remained unclear, but it was certainly safe to feed to the cats.

*Whimper!*

Suddenly, Da Mao arched his back, assuming an attacking stance. It happened so fast that Zhong Di didn't even have time to react. In a flash, Da Mao lunged, pinning a small mouse that had emerged in the corner. Good grief, to dare show its face in a Pallas's cat's territory—that little mouse certainly had guts. Seeing how lively the cats were, Zhong Di felt reassured and stepped out of the room.

Suddenly finding himself alone, Zhong Di felt a sense of ease in both body and mind. He didn't particularly enjoy socializing; he usually felt exhausted after making small talk. Having the place to himself today made him feel wonderful. He started by taking a shower, and after scrubbing himself thoroughly, he began to prepare lunch.

When things were quiet, everything was pleasant. Ever since Uncle Qian’s place became crowded, Zhong Di had lost interest in going there to fish. He decided to ask around later to find out when it was less busy; if he really wanted to go, he would just pick a quiet time.

After a moment of thought, Zhong Di happily decided on his lunch menu: steamed seafood! Don’t ask why—it was simple, fast, and delicious. He still had some frozen oysters, lobster, and mitten crabs, but to ensure freshness, he specifically went to the fish pond to net some other live seafood.

Observing the state of the fish pond, Zhong Di noticed that the shellfish gathered in areas with plenty of loose sand, while they were scarce or absent where the sand was thin. He concluded that these shelled creatures were quite fond of sandy areas; perhaps it was simply easier for them to survive there. His older sister had mentioned before she left that the river sand wouldn't arrive until September 1st—which was tomorrow. Having waited this long, a few more days didn't matter. When they dug the pond, they had shaped it like a pot lid; perhaps adding a ring of sand would eventually form a beach. With this thought, he carried his bucket back to prepare his meal.

Most of the seafood he had netted consisted of clams, along with a small octopus that looked a bit wilted—it was a miracle it had survived this long. Perhaps, with consistent feeding, these creatures would truly adapt to the environment. After all, the Northwest region, especially that vast desert, had once been an ocean long ago—surely they could adapt!

*Wait, scratch that "surely"...*

Bird's eye chilies, cilantro, scallions, minced garlic... As he steamed the seafood, Zhong Di whipped up his dipping sauce. Steaming was a wonderful way to eat seafood; it preserved a small amount of delicious, concentrated juice. Take the oysters, for example: after prying the meat out, there would be a few drops of juice left in the shell. Don't let the small quantity fool you; it was incredibly flavorful and intensely savory.

Humming a little tune, Zhong Di slowly chopped the chilies and placed them in a bowl. Once the seasonings were ready, he squeezed in a bit of lemon juice. Perfect! That was the soul of the dish.

By then, the seafood was ready. Zhong Di took it out, and perhaps because his appetite was a bit large, he needed a small basin just to hold it all. No, it wasn't a large appetite; it was just the shells—there was a lot of inedible bulk, and once you added up just the edible parts, it really wasn't that much. As for staples, Zhong Di didn't even consider them; living on a farm, there was no fear of going hungry—he could just eat whenever he felt like it.

After shelling the seafood, Zhong Di took his bowl and chopsticks out to the Herb Garden and set them on a small table. He had bought this table specifically for himself—it was just the right size for two. In the center of the table was a small recessed pot; he could place his food inside and light a solid alcohol burner underneath to keep the dish gently heated, ensuring he never had to worry about the food going cold and losing its flavor.

In addition to the seafood, he had prepared some fruit—watermelon, cantaloupe, mangoes, and strawberries. The farm kept these in stock alongside their own produce; they were all market-priced and clearly labeled as being bought from outside.

Everything ready, Zhong Di turned on a small speaker and played some relaxing music. Mmm... oysters had to be eaten fresh. He downed the whole thing, adductor muscle and all—it was incredibly satisfying. Each bite offered a different texture and a unique flavor experience.

After a few oysters, he picked up a lobster, peeling it in a leisurely manner. These lobsters weren't farm-raised; they had large claws and smaller bodies, but the meat was firmer and more "Q-弹" (bouncy), with a much better texture.

Zhong Di ate while listening to the music. When he was nearly full, he lay back on a recliner for a nap, rising only to snack on more fruit or seafood when he felt peckish again. From time to time, he would gaze at the beautiful scenery around him—the vibrant peonies, the delicate dayflowers, and the lush green mint.

Yet, to Zhong Di, all these things were just strings of data. This one was nitrogen-deficient, that one lacked potassium... This flower was competing for resources with that one; this one was emitting an alluring honeyed scent to attract bees, tricking them into carrying its "soldiers"—bah, its pollen—to the female flowers to do battle.

He couldn't help but feel that the beauty he saw was quite different from what others perceived.

"You certainly lead a comfortable life," a voice suddenly rang out by his ear.