The cuisine of Bamboo Sea National Village mainly consists of various cured meats, wild game, and a variety of rice-based pastries with different shapes and colors.

Lin Jie's group's dinner consisted of various cured and wild meats cooked with bamboo shoots and other ingredients they dug out by hand.

They had dishes braised, cooked in clay pots, and stir-fried until stewed; each dish had a rich flavor.

The group sat in a bamboo pavilion beside the National Village square, enjoying various ethnic songs and dances while savoring the food, eating heartily.

Lin Miao picked up a piece of meat, examined it closely, and asked, "Brother, what kind of meat is this? It doesn't seem like chicken, pork, or lamb, is it some kind of wild animal? It's quite tasty."

"Perhaps it's wild rabbit meat," An Kemeng also picked up a piece and put it in her mouth.

Lin Jie chuckled and said, "If it tastes good, eat more of it. As for what kind of meat it is, there's no need to know."

"Sometimes knowing would only affect your appetite."

He knew what the dish was—braised bamboo rat meat.

Although it tasted pretty good, he felt uneasy about it and hadn't eaten much.

An Kemeng snorted defiantly, "Brother Jie, don't underestimate me. I'm not that easily scared. I heard they serve a special insect banquet here that's delicious. Should we try it?"

An Kexin shot her a glance and exposed her, "The one who stomped her feet at the sight of a centipede wants to eat an insect banquet? Stop boasting and enjoy normal dishes."

"Sister, that happened when I was fourteen; I'm seventeen now and not afraid anymore!"

An Kemeng retorted and issued a challenge, "If you don't believe me, we'll eat the insect banquet tomorrow and see who's braver!"

An Kexin didn't even bother to respond to her.

At that moment, her phone vibrated on the table. She picked it up, glanced at it, and furrowed her brows.

"What happened?" Lin Jie asked with concern.

"I'm worried about something happening at the company. Dad, to prevent affecting our trip, might keep it from us, so he instructed Ling Mengjiao to summarize the day's happenings and send me a message each evening."

"I didn't expect something to really happen today."

Before the others could ask, An Kexin sighed, "Someone delivered a package to the charity foundation office, and unbelievably, there was a sleeping baby inside!"

"A baby? How old is the baby?"

"Is it a deformed baby?"

"The parents are too cruel."

Hearing this, Zhang Xiaoxiao, Lin Miao, and An Kemeng all exclaimed.

An Kexin softly said, "Ling Mengjiao's message was limited. I don't know the baby's exact condition. It also said the police have been notified, and the baby was taken by the social welfare department."

"This matter has been appropriately handled."

Lin Jie advised, "Kexin, since we're here to have fun, let's temporarily leave the company affairs behind. Uncle An is much more experienced than you, so there's no need to worry."

An Kexin nodded and smiled, "That's true; I still have to consult Dad on many matters."

"Ah..."

She suddenly signaled Lin Jie with her eyes and said, "Look, that person is coming over."

Lin Jie followed An Kexin's indication and saw a middle-aged man walking toward them.

It was the same man frightened away by a snake.

No doubt, now dressed, he looked quite presentable, without any visible fat.

The middle-aged man entered the pavilion, clasped his fists at Lin Jie and An Kexin, and began, "I must thank you both for your help this morning. Thank you."

Lin Jie stood up to greet him politely, "No need to thank us; it was what we should do."

"How is your... companion doing now?"

The middle-aged man chuckled, "Thanks to your help, she managed to control the snake venom and returned here in time."

The local staff said the green snake was a Bamboo Viper, a common venomous snake here with not-so-potent venom. After applying a special herbal remedy, the wound hardly hurt anymore."

She's had an anti-venom injection and is resting in her room. She should be fine by tomorrow."

At this, the middle-aged man hesitated and said, "She's my sister-in-law, having troubles with her husband. So we invited her on this family trip to relax."

We intended to dig up some bamboo shoots in the grove but unfortunately, she was bitten by a snake. Thank you once again for your kind help."

Upon hearing this, Lin Jie understood the implication—that he hoped Lin Jie would keep today's incident secret.

The middle-aged man continued, "To express my gratitude, I'll be paying for your dinner tonight, please don't decline."

Lin Jie was about to refuse, but An Kexin spoke first, "We'll accept your gratitude."

The middle-aged man visibly relaxed, exchanged a few polite words, and took his leave.

Once he was some distance away, An Kexin explained, before Lin Jie could ask, "Ajie, this dinner cost is a hush money. If we don't accept it, he might not sleep well for days."

Lin Jie nodded understandingly.

These people are just unfamiliar tourists. Their family relationships and future developments are none of Lin Jie's concern, so he has no intention to intervene.

He warned, "Miaomiao, Kemeng, don't talk recklessly. Such situations can easily lead to violent disputes and unexpected accidents."

An Kemeng and the others had already learned from Lin Jie and An Kexin what had happened in the morning.

"We are not like those gossipy women on TV..."

An Kemeng retorted and disdainfully said, "Hush money is just a dinner cost, this guy is stingy."

"I really don't get why his sister-in-law is into him. Stingy, ugly, and full of fat!"

"That's what they call 'to each their own'!"

Zhang Xiaoxiao laughed, "As for being stingy, maybe the guy wants to be generous but just can't."

"For many married men, their discretionary money is very limited. Perhaps this hush money dinner was paid for by his sister-in-law."

Lin Miao chuckled and said, "Xiaoxiao, Kexin, I know of two colleagues at the company who rigorously control their husbands' finances."

"One of them gives only ten yuan for breakfast each day, and only gives it day by day!"

"Another gives six hundred yuan a month for pocket money. At the end of the month, the husband has to report his expenses, and only without mistakes or concealments will he get the next month's pocket money."

Hearing this, An Kemeng found it amusing, glanced at Lin Jie then at An Kexin, and asked, "Sister, after you marry Brother Jie, will you control his finances, control his spending?"

An Kexin just laughed, rolled her eyes at her, and said, "Kemeng, think carefully, does controlling Ajie's spending make sense?"

"Why wouldn't it work?"

An Kemeng asked puzzled, "Without money, Brother Jie can't do much. He can't even host dinners."

Lin Miao gave An Kemeng a pretty little cake and laughed, "Little Mengmeng, are you silly?"

"Think about it, does my brother need to pay when he goes out for dinner now? Many people would fight to pay for him."

An Kemeng was slightly stunned, then suddenly realized, "Yeah, with Brother Jie's medical expertise, many people would cozy up to him."

"Not just for meals, if he lacks anything, just mention it and people would eagerly deliver it."

She exclaimed as if discovering a new continent, "Brother Jie, you can do whatever you want!"

Lin Jie tapped her forehead and laughed, "Aren't you naive! In this world, no one can truly do whatever they want."

Just then, Lin Jie's phone rang.

He took out his phone and saw it was a call from General Meng Yang.

Upon connecting, General Meng Yang's cheerful voice came through the phone, "Expert Lin, thank you! You've helped the nation avoid a significant loss. I've been authorized to express gratitude to you on behalf of the military."

Lin Jie politely replied, "I only did what I could, it's not much of an achievement."

Meng Yang spoke formally, "What's difficult for some is easy for those who know. For you, it might have been an easy task. But without you, we might have suffered immeasurable losses."

"Judging by the results, Expert Lin, you made significant contributions, no need to be humble. Your achievements are highly recognized by the leaders."

He paused, and solemnly said, "Expert Lin, I'm formally asking if you have intentions of joining the military?"

"Joining the military?"

Lin Jie couldn't help but murmur before declining politely, "General Meng, my physique can't withstand military training. I've been used to being free and casual all my life, plus I'm a shareholder of Anlin Hospital, I can't leave."

Meng Yang gently explained, "Expert Lin, in your situation, if you transition to military personnel, you'd certainly be a senior technical officer in our army, and wouldn't need to partake in regular training."

"Moreover, your actual circumstances will be considered by the military."

Lin Jie once again declined politely, "How could I let the military make exceptions for me? That's not right! In the future, if there's anything you need me to help with, I won't refuse."

Meng Yang pondered for a moment on the phone, "Okay, I'll report your thoughts to the leaders."

"Expert Lin, one more thing, Lie Huo has submitted a commendation request for you to the leaders."

"Due to your unique status, how to reward you is still being discussed. However, the final decision will be made in the coming days."

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