Chapter 224

In Qin Zhanhong's view, some things can be decided purely by preference; there's no need to over-analyze the reasons.

Translation: In Qin Zhanhong's perception, some things can be based solely on likes and dislikes; there's no need to clarify the reasons so clearly.

We need to keep natural English, not padded.

Although she occasionally recalls what happened that day in this pond and gets angry enough to want to hack Chen Wujì to pieces, she always respects her own inner choice and never makes things hard on herself.

Translation: Although she occasionally recalls what happened that day in this pond and gets angry enough to want to hack Chen Wuji to death with random knife strikes, she always respects her own inner choice and never makes things difficult for herself.

In her view, since they've already made a choice, there's no point in leaving things ambiguous and planting seeds of trouble for the future, ending up in a situation where they've been physically together countless times but never truly connected emotionally.

Translation: In her view, since they've already made the choice, there's no need to leave things ambiguous, planting a thorn for future days, leading to a result where although their bodies have intertwined countless times, they can never truly connect hearts.

That bastard who dared to forcibly claim her—she decides to keep him for life!

Translation: That shameless man who dared to forcibly occupy her—she decides to occupy him for a lifetime!

Him, you can't escape!

Translation: Him, don't even think of escaping!

Watching Chen Wujì stare blankly, Qin Zhanhong smiled lightly and asked, "What's up? Did my words strike you like an arrow, piercing your weak and immature heart?"

Translation: Watching Chen Wuji dazed there, Qin Zhanhong gave a charming light laugh and asked, "What's up? My words are like a sharp arrow piercing your weak and immature spirit?"

Chen Wujì chuckled, "I'm not that fragile; I'm just thinking you really don't seem like a girl from a noble aristocratic family at all."

Translation: Chen Wuji chuckled, "I'm not that fragile; I'm just thinking, you really don't seem at all like a lady from an aristocratic family."

"Which eye of yours sees me as not like that?" Qin Zhanhong said, hands on her hips, revealing a beautiful view.

Translation: "Which of your eyes sees me as not like that?" Qin Zhanhong said, hands on hips, revealing a beautiful view.

Having just eaten his fill, Chen Wujì stared blankly, then laughed, "Your bearing is similar, but your mannerisms aren't quite the same."

Translation: Having just eaten his fill, Chen Wuji stared blankly, then smiled, "Your bearing is similar, but your mannerisms aren't quite."

"I practice martial arts and engage in killing; naturally I'm not like that. Always putting on airs, speaking in refined phrases, nitpicking every word— I can't learn that." Qin Zhanhong said disdainfully, "I'm going to be a female general."

Translation: "I practice martial arts and engage in killing business, so naturally I'm not like that. Always putting on airs, speaking with affected refinement, biting over words as if about to run out of breath—I can't learn that." Qin Zhanhong said disdainfully, "I, this young lady, am going to be a female general."

Chen Wujì teased with a light laugh, "You're already a female general; your recent galloping almost made me dizzy—I'm all confused."

Translation: Chen Wuji teased with a light laugh, "You're already a female general; your recent galloping almost made me dizzy, all confused and bewildered."

"You..." Qin Zhanhong blushed, "The matter is past, but don't be sharp-tongued—I act decisively, but... I can't say it."

Translation: "You..." Qin Zhanhong suddenly blushed, "The matter is past, but don't be sharp-tongued; I act decisively without dragging things out, but... I can't say it."

Chen Wujì burst out laughing, "She really is quite straightforward."

Translation: Chen Wuji burst out laughing, "She really is quite straightforward."

Feeling a bit annoyed, Qin Zhanhong suddenly noticed a shadow gliding beneath the water and lunged forward.

Translation: Somewhat annoyed, Qin Zhanhong suddenly noticed a shadow flashing underwater and lunged forward with a plunge.

After several rounds of pursuit, she managed to catch a small salamander.

Translation: After several consecutive rounds of pursuit, she successfully caught a small tadpole fish.

"I caught it! I caught it! Quick, light a fire—we're eating it now!" Qin Zhanhong exclaimed, her excitement making her look like a lively, energetic child.

Translation: "I caught it, I caught it, quick quick quick, light a fire, we're eating it now!" Qin Zhanhong was extremely excited, her posture like that of a lively, spirited child.

Chen Wujì was admiring her posture, while some dishonest impulses began to stir again.

Translation: Chen Wuji was admiring her posture, while some dishonest parts were stirring again.

Qin Zhanhong's clothes were still disheveled and wet, making every movement a breathtaking sight.

Translation: Qin Zhanhong's clothes weren't tidy, and being wet, every movement was an absolute scenery.

"All right!" Chen Wujì looked away and climbed onto the shore.

Translation: "Good!" Chen Wuji withdrew his gaze and went ashore.

We didn't come out hunting today; Qin Zhanhong can do whatever makes her happy—having a picnic is fine.

Translation: Today we didn't come for hunting; Qin Zhanhong can do whatever makes her happy, a wild cookout is fine too.

Qin Zhanhong smiled contentedly, but after glancing at the fish in her hand, she suddenly felt something was off.

Translation: Qin Zhanhong smiled contentedly, but after looking at the fish in her hand, she suddenly felt something was off.

She examined it closely for a while but couldn't tell, so she asked Chen Wujì, "Hey little troublemaker, this fish looks a bit different—is it the tasty one?"

Translation: She examined it carefully for a while, yet still couldn't tell, so she asked Chen Wuji, "Hey little troublemaker, this fish looks a bit different to me—is it the tasty one?"

"It's not that one, but this one is also delicious," Chen Wujì replied.

Translation: "Although it's not, this one is also tasty," Chen Wuji said.

"Really? Hehe, that's fine—at least I finally caught one." Qin Zhanhong felt satisfied with her catch.

Translation: "Really? Hehe, that's fine; at least I finally caught one." Qin Zhanhong was already quite satisfied with her achievement.

Chen Wujì gathered some dry twigs, built a fire by the pond, washed a stone slab, then placed the cleaned crab and salamander on it to grill.

Translation: Chen Wuji gathered some dry firewood, built a fire by the pond, washed a stone slab, then placed the cleaned crab and tadpole fish on it to grill.

While that was cooking, he gathered a few medicinal herbs nearby, washed them, and added them to the mix.

Translation: Taking advantage of this, he also gathered a few medicinal herbs nearby, washed them clean, and added them in.

Since we lack seasoning, we'll just use the herbs to make up for it.

Translation: Without seasonings, let's just make do with the medicinal herbs.

"Can we eat this claw-waving bug?" Qin Zhanhong sat by the fire, holding up her skirt, watching the flames while also toasting her clothes.

Translation: "Can this claw-waving insect also be eaten?" Qin Zhanhong sat by the fire, holding up her skirt, watching the fire while also roasting her own clothes.

"Sure, you haven't seen anyone eat this before?" Chen Wujì asked.

Translation: "Sure, you haven't seen anyone eat this before?" Chen Wuji asked.

He was busy piecing together his own clothes.

Translation: He was piecing together his clothes.

Qin Zhanhong had torn both his inner and outer garments to shreds, so he could only patch them together into one piece.

Translation: Both inner and outer garments had been torn by Qin Zhanhong into a sorry state; he could only piece two pieces into one.

The essential parts were covered, but it ended up looking somewhat like a lion dance costume.

Translation: The parts that needed covering were covered, but it looked somewhat like a lion dance costume.

Qin Zhanhong shook her head, "I've never seen this bug before."

Translation: Qin Zhanhong shook her head, "I've never seen this insect before."

"This is a mountain crab, and it tastes very fresh and sweet," Chen Wujì said.

Translation: "This is called mountain crab, and it tastes very fresh and sweet," Chen Wuji said.

He thought that given Qin Zhanhong's experience, she would definitely know this, but it seems even the Dayu nobility didn't eat crab—perhaps only coastal commoners did.

Translation: He thought that given Qin Zhanhong's knowledge, she would definitely know this; it seems even the Da Yu nobility don't know how to eat crab, perhaps only seaside commoners would.

"Really? Then I'll have to give it a proper try later." Qin Zhanhong's eyes sparkled with excitement; out in the mountains she set aside her role as a royal city affairs officer and felt completely like herself again.

Translation: "Really? Then I'll have to give it a good try later." Qin Zhanhong's eyes sparkled, full of excitement; in these mountains and wilds, she also set aside her identity as an Imperial City Department marriage official, seeming to have fully returned to herself.

Soon, the makeshift barbecue was ready.

Translation: Soon, the crude barbecue was ready.

Chen Wujì grabbed a crab, let Qin Zhanhong try it first, and showed her how to eat it.

Translation: Chen Wuji grabbed a crab, let Qin Zhanhong try it first, and incidentally taught her how to eat it.

Otherwise, he worried she'd just bite into it outright.

Translation: If he didn't explain, he worried she'd just pick it up and start gnawing.

Actually, if your teeth are strong enough, you could do that.

Translation: Actually, if her teeth are strong, it's also possible.

But it would be somewhat unpleasant.

Translation: But it would be somewhat uncomfortable either way.

"Is that all the meat? It's not even enough to fill a tooth gap." Qin Zhanhong opened the crab shell following Chen Wujì's method and muttered.

Translation: "Just this little meat? It's not even enough to fill a tooth gap." Qin Zhanhong opened the crab shell following Chen Wuji's method and muttered.

Chen Wujì laughed, "You eat this for the flavor, not to fill your stomach."

Translation: Chen Wuji laughed, "With this, you eat for the flavor; using it to fill your stomach definitely won't work."

Qin Zhanhong took a bite, her eyes brightening, "So fresh! I love it!"

Translation: Qin Zhanhong took a bite, her eyes slightly brightening, "So fresh! I like it!"

In moments, she devoured the few crabs on the stone slab, satisfied, she curled her pinky at the corner of her mouth, then glanced at the pond: "This is what a true outing should be—food, drink, fun—how wonderful, so relaxing..."

Translation: The few crabs on the stone slab were swept away by her in an instant; satisfied, she hooked her pinky at the corner of her mouth, her gaze drifting to the pond, "This is truly a proper outing—food, drink, play, wonderful, so comfortable..."

"I once attended one of their so-called refined gatherings; after that, I never wanted to go again. A bunch of people spouting empty formalities, utterly boring. No matter what you see, if it's even slightly interesting, they have to comment with those pretentious phrases—it's dreadfully dull."

Translation: "I once attended one of their so-called elegant gatherings; after going once, I never wanted to go again—a bunch of people endlessly saying 'zhī hū zhě yě,' extremely boring. No matter what they see, if it's slightly interesting, they have to utter 'zhī hū zhě yě,' terribly dull."

Seeing her expression, Chen Wujì understood, "You keep an eye on the fire; I'll go catch a few more—you can eat as many as there are in this pond."

Translation: Chen Wuji, seeing her expression, understood her meaning, "You keep an eye on the fire; I'll go catch a few more—however many are in this pond today, you can eat as many as you like."

"Got it, hurry up, hehe."

Translation: "Got it, hurry hurry, hehe."

As Chen Wujì stepped into the water, he suddenly heard a growl from the nearby woods—it was that old tiger who understands human affairs.

Translation: Chen Wuji had just entered the water when he suddenly heard a roar from the nearby thicket—again, that tiger who understands human affairs.

After hearing it many times, Chen Wujì had become familiar with its voice.

Translation: Having heard it many times, Chen Wuji has become familiar with its voice.

Qin Zhanhong jumped in shock, instantly standing up, "Little troublemaker, there's a tiger!"

Translation: Qin Zhanhong, however, was startled, jumped up instantly, "Little troublemaker, there's a tiger!"

"It's fine, he's an old friend—relax and eat your meal," Chen Wujì reassured.

Translation: "It's fine, an old friend; relax and eat your meal," Chen Wuji soothed.

Qin Zhanhong:?

Translation: Qin Zhanhong:?

"An old friend?" she wondered if she'd misheard.

Translation: "An old friend?" she doubted she'd heard wrong.

Chen Wujì nodded, "Indeed, he's an old friend. Nothing's wrong—he won't hurt us. Before, he'd never fought the wolf pack; I helped him out and treated his wounds, so we've got a bit of a bond."

Translation: Chen Wuji nodded, "Indeed, it's an old friend; nothing serious, it won't harm us. This tiger previously had a scuffle with a wolf pack but didn't win; I helped a bit and treated its injury, so we have some acquaintance."

Qin Zhanhong stared, astonished, "Little troublemaker, have you always been this brave? You rushed into a tiger-wolf fight to help the tiger and even treated its injuries? I feel like you're telling me a story!"

Translation: Qin Zhanhong stared wide-eyed, "Little troublemaker, have you always been this brave? In a tiger-wolf clash, you rushed to help the tiger and even treated its wound? I feel like you're telling me a story!"

"Some coincidences, but it's true," Chen Wujì said.

Translation: "Some coincidences, but the matter is true," Chen Wuji said.

Such an outrageous thing is indeed hard to believe when you hear it.

Translation: Such an outrageous thing—hearing it really makes it hard to believe.

Adding that the tiger is very worldly-savvy and often brings him gifts makes it even harder to believe.

Translation: Moreover, if you add that this tiger is very worldly-wise, often bringing him gifts, saying it out loud makes it even harder to convince people.

While the two were talking, several men in coarse cloth, holding Long Spears, suddenly burst out of the thicket shouting for help. Their accent was very strange, as if they were speaking Zhongyuan with their tongues pressed.

"Qiang People!" Qin Zhanhong suddenly said in a deep voice.