Guan Hai'er was speechless for a long time after hearing my words. She looked at me with teary eyes and suddenly threw herself into my arms, sobbing, "Brother Ye, we can definitely survive, right!"
Wow, Guan Hai'er doesn't look like much on the outside, but she's quite something on the inside!
She's on par with Luo Yaqin.
Feeling Guan Hai'er's warmth, I smiled and made a joke to change the subject.
"With your brother here, surviving is no problem. Hai'er, was it comfortable when I was scrubbing your back just now? Did you get your hands dirty while picking things up? Shall we go inside and wash them again?"
As soon as I finished speaking, Guan Hai'er jumped out of my arms as if she had been electrocuted. Thinking of something, she glared at me, both shy and annoyed.
"Brother Ye, you're so indecent, you... you pervert!"
Sigh, it's not easy for me to try and divert attention, only to be misunderstood.
Under my banter, Guan Hai'er quickly forgot her fright. I took her to search the backpacks left by the two women who had fled earlier.
Not only did they contain the food we had just gathered, but there were also two bottles of water.
A good haul!
I glanced at the sky and decided it was time to head back, so I took Guan Hai'er with me.
On the way back, I specifically paid attention to the path, hoping to find some food, but found nothing.
In the cave, Luo Yaqin and Shangguan Yao were sitting by the fire, lost in thought, with no idea what to do.
Upon seeing us return, Luo Yaqin greeted Guan Hai'er and then pouted, complaining to me in a low voice, "That damn Pan Lili took the pot with her. Tonight, we'll have to grill again."
The word "grill" now makes my molars ache.
Before, we had no choice but to eat grilled food for several days in a row. It made me so angry that I developed sores all over my mouth. Now, after only a few days, we have to start again.
Guan Hai'er also had a look of exasperation upon hearing this. But there was nothing they could do. She sat on the ground and began to prepare the wild chicken. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
What should we do without a pot? I stood at the cave entrance, feeling somewhat dejected.
Suddenly, I saw Qu Xiangyun return carrying several water-filled bamboo tubes.
Bamboo tubes? There's a solution!
I turned around and said excitedly to Luo Yaqin, "We have bamboo here, why don't we make a steamer? What do you think!"
Everyone looked at each other at my suggestion. Shangguan Yao said hesitantly, "Lu Ziye, you make it sound so easy. How would any of us know how to make a steamer!"
I smiled slightly at her and picked up a knife, walking outside.
"Just because you don't know how to make one, doesn't mean I don't! I'll show you how it's done when I get back."
I went into the bamboo grove, selected a few newer bamboo stalks, cut them into sections, and brought them back to the cave.
Shangguan Yao stood with her arms crossed, looking unconvinced, ready to see me make a fool of myself.
"Lu Ziye, you used to work in security. What do you know about weaving steamers?"
This young lady really looks down on people. If nothing else, the local craftsmen in the village wanted to take me as an apprentice when I was young. If I hadn't had other aspirations, I would probably be a master craftsman by now.
With a few swift cuts, I peeled the bamboo and smoothed it according to its grain.
Then, I cut off a strip and formed it into a circle as a base, making two small notches at the ends and firmly inserting the sides.
Seeing my proficient movements, Shangguan Yao fell silent.
She watched me with anticipation, waiting for the finished product.
With the base in place, the rest of the work was much easier. In no time, I had made a simple steamer.
Guan Hai'er gasped in amazement from the side, looking at me with admiration and clapping continuously, "Brother Ye, how do you know how to do everything? You're so, so amazing!"
I raised an eyebrow and glanced at her, "Brother just doesn't like to show off. There's much more I can do!"
Guan Hai'er's face instantly turned red again, thinking of something, and she glared at me resentfully.
What's wrong?!
Damn it, could this girl be imagining the back-scrubbing incident from earlier? Tsk, tsk, tsk, thinking about it makes my heart flutter. I wonder, if I called all these women over.
And have a bath together.
I'll scrub their backs one by one.
Tsk, tsk, tsk, it sounds wonderful!
But for now, I could only hand the steamer to Guan Hai'er, waiting for her approval.
Guan Hai'er looked the steamer over and, blushing, gave me a thumbs-up, saying, "Today, I'll make you all a 'Steamed Chicken with Fruits and Flowers'. I guarantee you'll eat your fill."
To be fair, Guan Hai'er's cooking is truly excellent.
We had all eaten the "Steamed Chicken with Fruits and Flowers" that Guan Hai'er had made with cassava, and we were all too full to move.
It was now late at night. After dinner, we chatted for a while and then prepared to sleep.
For some reason, I tossed and turned and couldn't fall asleep. I am now the backbone of our group, and even if I feel confused, I cannot show it.
Just as I was pondering our group's way out, I felt a soft body suddenly snuggle into my arms. I looked down and saw Qu Xiangyun looking up at me with a seductive smile.
"What is this..."
Damn!
Before I could finish speaking, she kissed me, her mouth sealing mine. I felt a nimble little snake pry open my mouth and playfully slip inside.
How could I back down!