Chapter 78: The Dog Is Hungry, the Boss Eats First
Chapter 78: Chapter 78: The Dog Is Hungry, the Boss Eats First
Suddenly, Gou Aotian’s nose twitched.
The wind carried a familiar scent. Gou Aotian looked up and saw Lu Wu watching him from a short distance away.
"WOOF WOOF WOOF!"
’Master, you’re back!’
Gou Aotian leaped up, wanting to jump into Lu Wu’s arms for some pets.
Unfortunately, a small bird blocked his path midway.
"CHIRP!"
’My name is Huohuo. You’re Xiao Wuwu’s dog, which makes you my dog. From now on, call me Boss. I’ll have your back.’
Huohuo’s claws were sharp. They dug into Gou Aotian’s head, making his eyes water with pain.
Gou Aotian had wanted to fight back, but after sensing the gap in raw power between him and Huohuo, he shamelessly submitted.
’Master is so good to me. She went on a trip and brought back a granddaddy for her dog... no, a great-grandma. Master must really love me.’
Lu Wu, who had been playing with the dog and bird in the courtyard for a while, smiled to herself.
She felt a certain heroic grandeur, like a great hunter with her hound on the left and her falcon on the right. All she needed was a bow, and she could gaze to the northwest and shoot for the heavens.
Amused by her own thoughts, Lu Wu realized Uncle Li wasn’t home.
Unable to find him, Lu Wu tidied up the house and prepared to rest.
She hadn’t relaxed at all during her seven days of running a stall in the Secret Realm.
Because Lu Wu had left so abruptly, many of the people waiting for her at the exit didn’t see her.
Now, new posts looking for Boss Lu were popping up on One World Communication.
Meanwhile, Boss Lu herself was fast asleep at home with her two pets.
"KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!"
Lu Wu was woken by a series of knocks on the door.
Dahuang went to open the door on his own.
The dog pushed the door open with his head, revealing Uncle Li’s aged face.
Smiling broadly, Uncle Li’s wrinkled face looked like a withered yellow chrysanthemum.
"Uncle Li."
Lu Wu greeted him. "Did you need something?"
’It’s only been a few days, but he’s as spirited as ever.’
"What, I can’t come see you unless I need something? You ungrateful little girl,"
Uncle Li grumbled.
He had pulled quite a few strings for this little girl.
Otherwise, given the stir she’d caused in the Secret Realm, there was no telling how many people would have come knocking on her door.
’It was exhausting.’
Lu Wu chuckled.
She wasn’t stupid. Just because she didn’t ask about certain things didn’t mean she didn’t know.
"You’re just in time, Uncle. Stay and have dinner with me."
Back home, Lu Wu was completely relaxed.
There were still some ingredients in the house, which had been preserved with Spiritual Power and remained fresh.
Cured meat and pea sticky rice—a special delicacy.
The cured meat, smoked during the New Year, was paired with soft, fragrant peas and cooked with sticky rice. Every time she made it, Lu Wu could eat two large bowls.
But the sticky rice needed to be soaked first.
While it soaked, Lu Wu diced the cured meat. The surface of the meat had an alluring reddish-brown color, and its smoking process gave it a unique flavor.
When sliced open, it had a rich, oily sheen. The fine grain was intricately interwoven—a mark etched by time.
The lean parts were the color of rose, while the fatty parts were translucent like amber.
It was beautiful.
You could tell just by looking at it that it would be delicious.
Uncle Li tore his eyes away with great difficulty. To distract himself, he offered to help Lu Wu shell the peas.
The green, jewel-like peas rolled into a white porcelain bowl, fresh and sweet. Lu Wu washed them clean.
She diced the soaked shiitake mushrooms and minced the scallions, ginger, and garlic, setting them aside.
Next up was the usual routine.
Heat oil in the wok.
Ever since she’d gotten the Glazed Fire, she could control the cooking heat exactly as she pleased, which made things much easier for Lu Wu.
At the appearance of that flame, Uncle Li’s eyes flickered, a look of admiration flowing through them.
’This little girl is incredible.’
’To think she could even tame this fire.’
’As expected of my good granddaughter.’
Meeting Uncle Li’s look of vicarious pride, Lu Wu added the diced cured meat to the hot wok with cool oil, stir-frying until the fat rendered. Then she added the minced scallions, ginger, and garlic to release their fragrance.
As wisps of smoke curled up from the wok, a rich aroma began to fill the air.
Lu Wu added the shiitake mushrooms and peas in succession, stir-frying them before adding the right amount of soy sauce and white sugar for seasoning.
The spatula clanged against the iron wok.
With each clang, Uncle Li stared, completely mesmerized.
The bird and dog, who had been playing in the courtyard, were now squatting quietly at the kitchen door.
CHIRP!
’I’m hungry! I wanna eat!’
WOOF WOOF WOOF!
’I’m hungry! Boss gets to eat first later!’
The exchange between the two goofballs made Lu Wu glance over, her eyes softening.
The sticky rice was done soaking. She drained it, added it to the wok, and stir-fried it evenly with the other ingredients. The pure white grains were gradually stained a ruddy, sauce-like color.
After pouring in just enough water to cover the ingredients, Lu Wu put the lid on the wok.
"Now we wait,"
Lu Wu said, clapping her hands and signaling for both man and beasts not to be impatient.
This wasn’t the first time Uncle Li had experienced this agonizing wait. He passed the time by making idle chitchat with Lu Wu.
But as the aroma in the air grew more and more enticing, Uncle Li completely lost interest in conversation.
He hadn’t been able to resist and had finished all the ice powder Lu Wu left for him on the second day after she left.
For the next few days, he could barely stomach any other food.
When he saw that the cultivators in the Secret Realm got to eat ice powder every day, and even beasts could join in, Uncle Li was filled with regret.
Now that the little girl was finally back and had brought a new delicacy with her, Uncle Li couldn’t spare a single thought for anything else.
GULP. GULP.
Saliva was practically flooding his mouth.
Gou Aotian slurped up his drool. Seeing the puddle on the floor, he shyly shifted his body to cover it with his butt.
’I didn’t do it on purpose.’
’I was just so hungry!’
"You all!"
Lu Wu chided them with a laugh and lifted the lid.
The moment the lid came off, the savory aroma of the cured meat, the fresh scent of the peas, and the umami of the shiitake mushrooms all merged into a rich fragrance that washed over them.
Uncle Li leaned in and took a few deep sniffs, a look of utter besottedness on his face.
After being steamed, the grains of sticky rice were plump. Lu Wu used the spatula to mix everything together, then sprinkled some chopped scallions on top as a garnish.
At her side, Uncle Li was already waiting with his bowl.
Lu Wu simply stepped aside and let Uncle Li serve himself.
He didn’t hold back, filling his bowl to the brim, pressing the rice down again and again until it was nearly overflowing before he finally put down the spatula.
Lu Wu then served a portion for Dahuang and Huohuo, and finally, one for herself.
Just then, two figures appeared, squatting on the threshold.
The warm rice gave off clouds of steam, which mingled with its mouth-watering aroma.
Uncle Li had learned his lesson. He immediately activated an Array, making sure no one could fight him for his food.
Not even caring that it might burn his mouth, Uncle Li dug in.
The grains of rice were distinct and translucent, having absorbed the oils from the cured meat and the essence of the other ingredients. The texture was soft, sticky, and fragrant.
Some people don’t like sticky rice, finding it too gummy.
But Lu Wu savored it.
The cured meat, in particular, was rich but not greasy, its savory flavor perfectly balanced. It elevated the texture of the sticky rice to another level.
Add to that the soft, sweet peas and the tender, juicy shiitake mushrooms, and every bite was a delightful surprise.
"Perfect in color, aroma, and taste" was the most fitting description for this dish.
"Sho good, sho good!"
"CHIRP!"
"WOOF!"
The man and two beasts all gave it the highest praise. Watching the scene before her, Lu Wu’s eyes crinkled with a smile.
As a cook, she felt honored to receive such high affirmation for her skills.