Chapter 656: Sharing with the Army

Xu Zengyi began racking his brains, thinking of those beautiful women he once knew.

Although he never openly spoke of love and romance, there were indeed several girls he had been close with, but time has flown like a white horse passing a gap, seas turned to fields, and he no longer knows how they are now.

At their age, those once gorgeous and talented women have probably already settled down to attend to their husbands and educate their children, right?

The high-spirited Xu Zengyi, upon thinking of these, suddenly beat a retreat.

If they have already settled down, would it be inappropriate for him to write a letter now?

But after a glance at Chen Wuji, who wore a gloating expression, Xu Zengyi's fighting spirit surged again; even if the other party had already settled down, he would still send that letter, at worst enduring a scolding.

As someone called a Poisonist, he also accepted that title; what are a few curses? Those few curses are nothing compared to the word "bachelor".

At the age of no confusion, among the harshest insults, "bachelor" surely ranks first.

"My lord, what are you still looking at?" Xu Zengyi asked.

Chen Wuji's gaze made him feel a little uneasy inside.

Chen Wuji smiled and said, "I see you've figured it out, haven't you?"

"I don't need to think about that; I'm just trying to decide whom to choose—there are too many beauties, and too much time has passed—I need to think seriously." Xu Zengyi said.

"Then think it over; I'll be waiting to congratulate you, and I'll surely give you a big red envelope when the time comes. By the way, I'll keep the osmanthus tea for myself, so I won't compete with you for the Solomon's seal and horny goat weed." Chen Wuji laughed, turned away from the fire, greeted Chen Wuyi, and dove into the woods.

When the two emerged again, a backpack had appeared out of nowhere, filled to the brim with Solomon's seal and horny goat weed.

Although Chen Wuji really didn't need these two items, as a hunter, how could he pass up seeing such good things in the mountains?

He doesn't need them; they can be left for Xu Zengyi!

He has always been weak and indeed needs proper nourishment.

"My lord, you don't need this, do you?" Xu Zengyi said teasingly.

"I prepared it for you, so you won't be unable to find it when you truly need it." Chen Wuji said, walking to the pond's edge to check the water level; although it was the most primitive drainage method, the efficiency was still decent, the water level had already dropped by half, and after a short wait it would be about time to go into the water and catch fish.

Xu Zengyi immediately didn't want to speak.

Seeing his angry puffed-up look, Chen Wuji couldn't help but chuckle, "What's mine, I also need to take, right? While I'm young, I should supplement more, so I won't be old and just sigh while holding my waist."

Xu Zengyi shook his head and turned his gaze to the fire.

Forget it, better to just stare at the tea.

He didn't want to continue discussing this issue with Chen Wuji.

That would be hurtful.

Chen Wuji took the opportunity, using the vines he had just pulled from the woods, and began weaving fish baskets.

When they went into the mountains, they brought knives and bows, never considering anything in the water.

Fortunately, as a professional hunter, weaving a few baskets now is no trouble.

These fish can still end up in our mouths.

Xu Zengyi had finished brewing wild tea in a bamboo cup, and first brought the osmanthus tea over to Chen Wuji.

"Thank you, sir!" Chen Wuji laughed.

Xu Zengyi clasped his hands in salute, turned, and walked away.

He decided to temporarily avoid speaking with Chen Wuji, lest they bring up topics of beautiful women and unfaithful lovers.

Chen Wuji chuckled.

This military advisor's demeanor is actually kinda cute.

This topic can be brought up often in the future.

He placed the scorched-black bamboo cup on one side to cool, then Chen Wuji picked it up and took a sip.

The flavor is quite complex, but it's actually quite drinkable.

The osmanthus flavor is strong, mixed with a fresh bamboo aroma, entering the throat sweet and crisp.

These are completely natural; one sip makes Chen Wuji feel as if he has plunged into a bamboo forest full of osmanthus trees.

After two sips he was already hooked, and the cup was empty in the blink of an eye.

"Sir, give me another cup, it's delicious!" Chen Wuji raised his cup and shouted to Xu Zengyi.

Xu Zengyi slowly rose, took Chen Wuji's cup, and quickly retreated back to the fire side.

Chen Wuji almost couldn't hold back his laughter, shook his head, and continued with his task.

To be honest, he was really curious about what Xu Zengyi's beautiful female confidante looked like.

By the time Chen Wuji had nearly finished weaving the fish basket, the water in the pond had also mostly drained.

It wasn't that Chen Wuji's primitive drainage method was particularly fast; mainly, the pond itself wasn't large, and even with continual inflow from above, the combined effect was quite noticeable.

Even a single bamboo pipe's flow could easily outmatch the inflow from above.

Chen Wuji took off his shoes, rolled up his pant legs, and dove into the pond.

"Catch fish!"

Although the pond is small, there are plenty of fish; a glance reveals over ten of various sizes.

The larger ones weigh about five or six catties, the smaller ones about two or three catties.

When his feet touched the hard rocks at the bottom of the pond, Chen Wuji suddenly felt as if he had returned to Xishan Village.

He returned to those days when life gradually improved, with a lovely wife and concubines in his embrace, each day full of hope. That brief period should be considered Chen Wuji's most relaxed and contented time since his transmigration.

It's just a pity that the good times were all too brief.

Those days were clearly just last year, yet Chen Wuji now only has the right to reminisce.

He bent his waist, slowly reached down, and firmly, precisely, and fiercely scooped a fish up from the water.

Chen Wuyi immediately handed over the basket, saying, "Family Head, what kind of fish is this? It looks quite pretty."

"I don't recognize it, but it's surely delicious." Chen Wuji said.

He didn't know how to describe a fish, but this one is indeed quite handsome, with a bit of catfish appearance and a bit of trout's demeanor; hard to put into words, but if it looks tasty, that's enough.

Chen Wuji spent about half an hour feeling around in the pond, then brought out roughly twenty fish of various sizes.

In the evening they had fish for roasting and for soup, but likely there was no extra meal for the soldiers.

With just these few fish, even if all were used to make soup, the forty thousand soldiers probably couldn't taste any fish flavor. Huo Qubing could manage a wine spring, but Chen Wuji couldn't produce a fish spring; although doing so might have similar meaning and effect, it seems unnecessary.

"At least we didn't come back empty-handed." Chen Wuji chuckled and sighed, and everyone headed back to camp.

As they were approaching the main camp, Xu Zengyi suddenly said, "My lord, should we distribute a few of these fish to the soldiers? The fish you caught personally, shared with all the troops, would also be a great joy."

Chen Wuji startled; he had just dismissed that idea, never expecting Xu Zengyi to bring it up again.

"With just these few fish, how would we divide them? Even if we made soup, could the forty thousand soldiers even taste any fish flavor?"