Transmigrated Into an Ancient Famine Novel as a Scumbag Alpha (ABO, GL) - Chapter 29

Chapter 29

Ye Qing selected two four-pound fish from her space and dealt with them there.

The two fish she took out were already dead. Ye Qing speared them with the makeshift fish fork, pretending she’d just caught them from the lake. After setting this up, she walked back cheerfully, carrying the fish.

The lake was too dark, and without a torch, cleaning the fish there wasn’t practical. Ye Qing decided to handle them back at camp.

Jiang Jinhuang had started steaming the rice. She saw a figure approaching and soon recognized Ye Qing, holding two large fish, still dripping and fresh-looking.

Jiang Jinhuang was stunned. Had Ye Qing really caught fish?

Yangyang spotted the fish too and bounced excitedly. “Yay! Sister Ye caught big fish!”

Jiang Jinhuang glanced at her sister, smiling helplessly. Kids were so easily pleased.

Ye Qing approached with the fish. “Jinhuang, grab a wooden basin. The fish need cleaning.”

“Okay,” Jiang Jinhuang replied, her eyes fixed on the fish. They looked huge. She couldn’t believe it—catching fish in such a dark lake was hard, yet Ye Qing got two. Was her luck that good?

Jiang Jinhuang took a basin from the cart, unable to resist asking, “How did you catch them? The lake’s so dark. Could you really spear fish?”

Ye Qing’s eyes darted cleverly, and she said casually, “Maybe I’m just lucky. Don’t worry about the details. We’ve got food.”

As they spoke, Yangyang ran to Ye Qing, squatting to poke the fish curiously. The fish, recently dead, twitched from nerve reflexes, startling her.

Yangyang hid behind Ye Qing, still excited. “Sister Ye’s so awesome! We’re eating fish tonight!”

Ye Qing looked at Yangyang, her eyes softening. “Yeah, wait a bit, and you’ll have fish soup.”

“Yay! I love Sister Ye the most!” Yangyang, hearing about food, snuggled against Ye Qing playfully.

Seeing her sister’s joy, Jiang Jinhuang’s heart softened. Whether she believed it or not, Ye Qing had brought back two big fish. Without Ye Qing, her sister might not even have rice, let alone fish.

She stepped closer to Ye Qing, saying softly, “Thanks for your hard work.”

Ye Qing smiled. “Not hard. I need to eat too. You and Yangyang rest. I’ll clean the fish.”

“Okay,” Jiang Jinhuang nodded. She disliked handling animal innards and didn’t insist.

Ye Qing tossed the fish into the basin and began cleaning one, skillfully scraping scales and removing innards. She kept the swim bladder and fish oil, discarding the rest. She handled the second fish the same way.

Yangyang ran to Jiang Jinhuang, tugging her sleeve and looking up. “Sis, Sister Ye’s so cool! She can do anything!”

Jiang Jinhuang looked into her sister’s bright eyes and nodded gently. “Yeah, she’s really capable.”

At least in wilderness survival, Ye Qing was far better than her, a fact Jiang Jinhuang didn’t deny.

Yangyang grinned, hopping back to Ye Qing, squatting to watch her work.

Ye Qing didn’t shoo her away, slowing her movements and occasionally teaching. “See, scrape the scales like this, or they’ll get everywhere.”

Yangyang nodded earnestly, watching intently as if she were learning, though her small hands couldn’t help.

Ye Qing soon cleaned both fish with her dagger.

“Jinhuang, pour water to rinse the fish,” Ye Qing said, her hands fishy from cleaning.

“Okay,” Jiang Jinhuang replied, grabbing a water gourd from the cart.

She opened it, pouring water into the basin.

Ye Qing rinsed the fish once, turning the water pinkish. She asked Jiang Jinhuang for another gourd to rinse again. With endless spiritual spring water in her space, she wasn’t stingy.

Jiang Jinhuang, thinking the nearby lake made water easy to get, didn’t hold back, pouring the second gourd’s water into the basin. Ye Qing rinsed again, ensuring the fish was clean, then dumped the water.

After cleaning, Ye Qing used her dagger to remove the fishy lines from both sides, improving the taste.

“I’ll get more water,” Jiang Jinhuang said, heading to the lake.

“Wait, no need. It’s too dark and unsafe. I’ll go later,” Ye Qing said, unwilling to use untreated lake water, which could cause illness. She’d fill the gourd with spiritual spring water.

Jiang Jinhuang glanced at the dark lake, nodding. “Alright.”

She set the gourd down and sat, watching Ye Qing. A complex feeling arose. She was starting to find Ye Qing hard to understand. The person she once despised now protected them repeatedly, even considering their safety. What was Ye Qing thinking?

Ye Qing threaded one fish onto a clean branch to roast later.

Catching Jiang Jinhuang staring, she asked casually, “What? Something on my face?”

Jiang Jinhuang looked away, shaking her head. “No.”

Ye Qing didn’t press, propping the branch by the fire to roast slowly, preserving flavor without burning, though it took time.

After preparing one fish, Ye Qing took out the iron pot. In the cold outdoors, a bowl of fish soup would be satisfying. Without green onions or ginger, she worried it might be fishy.

The system, sensing her concern, reassured her in her mind, “Don’t worry, dear. These fish were raised in spiritual spring water. They won’t be fishy even without extra seasonings. Eat with confidence.”

Relieved, Ye Qing cut the other carp into pieces, heated oil in the pot, and fried the fish. Soon, its aroma spread.

She added water, producing a milky broth, then seasonings and a splash of strong liquor to reduce fishiness, waiting for the soup to finish.

Yangyang squatted by the fire, hands under her chin, eyes fixed on the pot.

Her gaze flicked between the roasting fish and the soup, not wanting to miss anything. Her nose twitched, sniffing the aroma, swallowing hard with audible gulps, clearly ravenous.

“Sister Ye, when can we drink the soup?” Yangyang couldn’t wait, looking up at Ye Qing eagerly.

Ye Qing stirred the soup gently with a wooden spoon, glancing down with a slight smile. “A bit longer. It’s not ready. It needs to simmer for flavor.”

Yangyang said “Oh” disappointedly, but her eyes stayed glued to the steaming pot.

Her big eyes darted between the roasting fish and soup, as if debating whether to eat the fish or drink the soup first.

Jiang Jinhuang, watching her sister’s greedy look, laughed. She rubbed Yangyang’s head, saying softly, “Don’t rush. I’ll cool the soup for you when it’s ready, okay?”

Yangyang nodded vigorously, eyes still locked on the pot, as if staring would make it cook faster.

Ye Qing, amused by the little glutton, flipped the roasting fish and waited for the soup.

“The fish needs more time, but the soup’s almost done,” Ye Qing said, feeling hungry after a long day.

“Okay, soup first,” Yangyang said seriously.

Ye Qing and Jiang Jinhuang laughed. Having such a kid around was fun.

Nearby refugees, smelling the aroma, were envious, but Ye Qing’s fighting skills kept them at bay.

Those trying to fish at the lake returned empty-handed. In a famine, even an earthworm would be eaten. Without bait, catching fish was nearly impossible.

As Ye Qing waited for the soup, figures approached in the dark, barely visible.

Jiang Jinhuang grabbed Ye Qing’s sleeve, warning, “Ye Qing, someone’s coming.”

Ye Qing pulled her knife from the ground. “Got it.”

She stepped forward, pointing the knife. “Who’s there? Come closer, and I won’t be polite.”

The figures shuffled into view. Many ancients had night blindness, but Ye Qing, a transmigrator, lacked no vitamin A and saw clearly.

One person was pushed forward—a middle-aged woman about forty. Seeing Ye Qing’s knife, her legs gave out, and she collapsed.

“Miss, don’t misunderstand! We mean no harm,” the woman stammered.

“Then why are you here?” Ye Qing stayed vigilant, knife still aimed.

“Miss, we’re begging. Can we have your fish innards and scales?” the woman continued.

Ye Qing frowned. She didn’t want the innards, guessing they’d use them as bait.

She nodded. “Fine. Get a basin, and I’ll give them to you.”

The woman, delighted, had a young man bring a wooden basin.

Ye Qing, still cautious, said, “Put the basin in the middle and step back. Don’t come closer.”

“Okay, okay, go,” someone urged the man.

Frightened by Ye Qing’s knife, the man, desperate from hunger, wouldn’t have dared approach otherwise. He shakily placed the basin and ran, fearing Ye Qing’s attack.

Ye Qing walked over, grabbed the basin, and returned to where she’d discarded the innards. Using a branch, she scooped the innards and scales into the basin, then placed it back.

Stepping back, she said, “Take it and leave. Don’t come near again.”

“Yes, yes, thank you, miss,” the woman said, relieved. They wouldn’t dare approach again.

They took the innards and headed to the lake, likely to use them as bait.

Ye Qing ignored them, returning to the soup. The milky broth bubbled, its aroma spreading.

She ladled some into a bowl, tasting it. The soup was rich, not fishy, and delicious.

Yangyang stared, smacking her lips, and asked, “Sister Ye, is it good?”

Ye Qing glanced at the little glutton, smiling. She filled Yangyang’s bowl, cooled a spoonful, and held it to her mouth. “Try it. Careful, it’s hot.”

Yangyang eagerly sipped, her eyes lighting up. “Yummy! So fragrant!”

“Yeah, drink a bit to warm up. I’ll get you fish later,” Ye Qing said, feeding her more.

Jiang Jinhuang watched, studying Ye Qing. She seemed genuine in caring for Yangyang, but how? The old Ye Qing despised them.

It felt strange. Where did the pork come from? Why only one horse of five? Ye Qing had too many secrets, but thankfully, she showed no hostility toward her and Yangyang.

With no other choice, Jiang Jinhuang knew she and Yangyang needed Ye Qing to survive the journey south. Staying with her was safer, though she hated admitting it.

While feeding Yangyang, Ye Qing noticed Jiang Jinhuang staring. Smiling, she said, “Why stare? Get some soup.”

“Okay,” Jiang Jinhuang snapped back, filling a bowl and sipping. The soup was fresh and not fishy, surprisingly delightful.

Ye Qing fed Yangyang a bowl, then picked a piece of fish belly with few bones, carefully removing them. She handed it to Jiang Jinhuang. “Check for bones.”

“Okay,” Jiang Jinhuang inspected, confirmed it was bone-free, added half a bowl of soup, and gave it to Yangyang.

Yangyang sat on the blanket, clumsy with chopsticks but fine with a spoon.

Holding her bowl, she scooped soup and fish, eating contentedly.

Ye Qing took a bowl of soup with a big piece of fish, sipping slowly by the fire.

The soup was great, the fish tender and sweet, noticeably different from ordinary fish.

After a bowl, Ye Qing got rice, seeing Yangyang finished her soup. She filled Yangyang’s bowl with half a serving of rice and a spoonful of soup.

Yangyang took it, saying, “Thanks, Sister Ye.”

“No need. Eat up. There’s roasted fish later,” Ye Qing smiled.

“Okay,” Yangyang nodded, eating her soup-soaked rice with a spoon.

Ye Qing ate the fish head and another bowl of soup before stopping.

Jiang Jinhuang ate two pieces of fish, a bowl of soup, and half a bowl of rice.

Yangyang finished her last bowl, set it down, patted her belly, and leaned into Jiang Jinhuang, whispering, “Sis, today’s my happiest day.”

Jiang Jinhuang rubbed her head, smiling. “You seem happy every day.”

“Hehe,” Yangyang nuzzled into her sister’s arms.

The meal left all three satisfied, but half a pot of soup and rice remained.

Jiang Jinhuang eyed the leftovers, feeling they were too extravagant when others starved. “Ye Qing, let’s save the soup and rice for breakfast.”

“Yeah, we can put uneaten roasted fish in the soup and heat it tomorrow,” Ye Qing said, in a great mood after a proper meal.

After nearly half an hour, the roasted fish was golden on both sides. Ye Qing brushed oil and flipped it several times.

Seeing it ready, she lifted the branch.

The fish skin was crispy, its surface glistening with oil, emitting a tempting aroma.

Yangyang, smelling it, patted her belly, thinking she could eat more. The roasted fish smelled too good to resist.

Ye Qing noticed, chuckling. “You’ve eaten a lot. Try a piece, but no more, okay?”

Yangyang nodded obediently. “Okay, just a taste.”

Ye Qing glanced at Jiang Jinhuang, who was smiling at her.

Caught off guard, Ye Qing thought Jiang Jinhuang’s rare smile, as the female lead, was stunning.

She looked away after a glance. With Jiang Jinhuang’s -130 favorability, staring might be seen as harassment. Better stay safe.

Ye Qing picked a piece of fish belly for Yangyang, removed the bones, and had Jiang Jinhuang check it. Yangyang ate, her eyes sparkling.

The roasted fish differed from the soup’s fish. The crispy skin and tender, sweet flesh were a delicious contrast.

Ye Qing handed another piece to Jiang Jinhuang. “Try it.”

Jiang Jinhuang nodded, taking it. Though full, the fish’s aroma tempted her. She loved its taste instantly.

Ye Qing ate a large piece herself. It was delicious, but she couldn’t eat more. She asked Jiang Jinhuang, “Want more?”

Jiang Jinhuang shook her head. “Full.”

“Okay, I’ll put the rest in the soup for tomorrow,” Ye Qing said, removing the remaining fish and adding it to the soup.

She took the iron pot off, covering it with a wooden lid, and removed the clay pot with the leftover rice for breakfast.

Yangyang, full and too happy to sleep, sat by the fire with them.

Ye Qing added more branches, making the fire blaze.

Yangyang leaned into Jiang Jinhuang, chattering, “This is great. I wish we could eat meat every day.”

Ye Qing laughed at the little carnivore. “Okay, I’ll try to get you tasty meat every day, alright?”

“Yay! Sister Ye’s the best! She finds meat and fights bad guys!” Yangyang raised her fist excitedly.

Jiang Jinhuang wrapped her sister’s fist, smiling helplessly. “We’re in the wild. Meat every day is tough for your Sister Ye.”

“Yeah, Sister Ye works too hard,” Yangyang blinked pitifully.

Ye Qing smiled. “It’s not tough. I’ll manage.”

Explaining the meat to Jiang Jinhuang was the hard part. Yangyang was easy to convince, but Jiang Jinhuang was suspicious of where her supplies came from.

With -130 favorability, Ye Qing couldn’t reveal her secrets to Jiang Jinhuang.

The gourd was empty. Ye Qing grabbed it, pretending to fetch water at the lake, but filled it with spiritual spring water.

As she tidied up, Jiang Jinhuang called, “Ye Qing, rest. I’ll wash the bowls.”

Ye Qing, exhausted, nodded. “Call me if anything happens.”

Jiang Jinhuang agreed.

As Ye Qing lay in her blanket, ready to sleep, Jiang Jinhuang looked at her, saying softly, “By the way, I remember you took five horses into the woods. Why’s there only one left? Where are the others?”