Chapter 476: Chapter 476: An Unusual Little Red Carp

A young person who enjoys reading is clearly eager to learn!

"It’s no trouble. It makes an old man like me happy to see a young person who enjoys reading," Professor Liang said with great emotion. "The ones who think reading is useless are utter fools. Only when the opportunity is lost do they realize you can never read enough, and by the time they want to regret it, it’s already too late."

Zhao Nuan Yang often heard his sister say such things. He hadn’t been particularly moved by it before, only thinking that more studying was always a good thing. Besides, in his dull life, what else was there to do but study?

"Yes, thank you for your lesson, Professor Liang." Zhao Nuan Yang nodded. "I’ll take this book, then. I’ll come visit you again another day."

"Go on, then. Pack the book up carefully and don’t lose it," Professor Liang instructed, feeling quite gratified as he watched Zhao Nuan Yang’s departing figure.

After Zhao Nuan Yang returned home, Little Red Carp was especially happy. She followed her brother around, waiting to see the book.

Zhao Nuan Yang was worried Little Red Carp might damage or dirty the book, so he folded a paper cover to protect it. Then he instructed her, "Little Red Carp, books are very precious. You have to be extra careful when you read it."

"Mhm, mhm, I will." Little Red Carp nodded, quickly promising her brother, "When I read, I won’t drink water or eat snacks. I’ll just sit on the stone stool and put the book on the stone table to read it. How does that sound?"

"Good, Little Red Carp is the best." Zhao Nuan Yang handed the book to his little sister, relieved. "Go on and read. I’m going to help our sister prepare for the New Year!"

"Sis, we’re making this much stuff today?" Zhao Nuan Yang was a bit stunned when he saw the kitchen full of ingredients and looked at his sister.

"Haha, I thought we wouldn’t have anything to make for the New Year this year, but your brother-in-law brought so much. It’s more than enough," Zhao Nuanyue said with a smile. "You, go dig up a basin of radishes. We’re also going to fry radish balls and meatballs today."

"Alrighty!" Zhao Nuan Yang loved making these New Year’s foods with his sister. He could eat them fresh from the wok, and they tasted especially good. It made him feel incredibly happy.

They had made them at home before, so Zhao Nuan Yang knew how to prepare the radishes. With his help, Zhao Nuanyue’s work went much faster. By the time the radish filling was done, Zhao Nuan Yang was already mincing meat for the meatballs.

For lunch, Zhao Nuanyue casually made a bowl of egg noodles. The three siblings had a simple meal together.

Little Red Carp sat by the stone table, completely engrossed, and continued to read the `Earth Book` that so fascinated her. As she read, she imagined how magnificent and majestic the ancient era must have been. So many strange and wonderful things appeared one by one in her mind’s eye.

Little Red Carp felt a touch of regret for not being born in that era!

Zhao Nuanyue occasionally glanced outside at the engrossed Little Red Carp and quietly asked Zhao Nuan Yang, "Nuanyang, after reading that book of myths, do you think Little Red Carp will start getting wild ideas?"

"Uh... I think she will," Zhao Nuan Yang said. "But that’s how kids are. They love fantastical ideas. Besides, Little Red Carp is a type of spirit monster herself. She’s drawn to these things, and reading these books helps her understand the world of spirit monsters."

"But... the records and descriptions in those books aren’t necessarily accurate! They’re legends!" Zhao Nuanyue was slightly worried, afraid that Little Red Carp’s thoughts would be led astray. "What if she gets too curious about the things inside and wants to go out and find them?"

"I honestly didn’t think that far ahead." Zhao Nuan Yang was stunned. "If Little Red Carp really left, how would that be any different from having our hearts torn out?"

"I know," Zhao Nuanyue said with a bitter smile. "It’s not that I want to stop Little Red Carp from pursuing the mysteries of her world, but I hope she only leaves after we’ve both passed away. I can’t even imagine how grief-stricken I’d be if she left."

Zhao Nuan Yang couldn’t help but look outside at Little Red Carp as well. He finally let out a long sigh and said, "Sigh, Sis, let’s not overthink it. Little Red Carp is still young. Since she likes reading it, let her read. Worrying about her leaving now is just borrowing trouble. If that day really comes, and leaving would be good for her, then as her loving sister and brother, we would support her decision, even if it breaks our hearts. We wouldn’t stand in her way."

How could Zhao Nuanyue not understand this reasoning!

It was just that anyone could say such things so easily, but when it came time to actually do it, it would be incredibly difficult.

Zhao Nuanyue fell silent, choosing to avoid the thought.

’I’m not going to think about it. I’ll just focus on living in the now.’ Zhao Nuanyue shook her head, trying to cast aside the chaotic fears and distracting thoughts in her mind.

The present was what mattered most. She loved Little Red Carp, she loved Zhao Nuan Yang, she loved Hua Yusen, and perhaps in the future, she would have her own children. The only thing she could truly hold onto was the now.

That afternoon, with Zhao Nuan Yang’s help and the thorough preparations they’d made beforehand, they got a lot done.

They started by frying peanuts and shelled sunflower seeds, then began on the radish balls, followed by the meatballs. At the very end, there was still a bit of dough and some oil left over. Zhao Nuanyue rolled the dough into flat sheets, cut them a little thicker than regular noodles, then sliced them into five-centimeter-long pieces. She fried those in the wok as well, and they also turned out to be delicious.

Everything was deep-fried and fragrant. Since resources were scarce, everyone loved greasy food.

When Hua Yusen got home, he saw the kitchen packed full of food.

"My goodness, you spent the whole day making this much for the New Year?" Hua Yusen said in surprise. "You really didn’t have to rush so much. There are still two or three days until the New Year!"

Zhao Nuanyue was indeed a bit tired, but she was in high spirits. "Since we were already frying things, we might as well do it all at once. It’s more trouble to split it into several batches. We’ll have a simple dinner, because after we eat, we still have to make flaky pastries!"

"Sis, why don’t we make them tomorrow?" Zhao Nuan Yang knew his sister hadn’t taken a break all day and must be exhausted.

"No, the dough has already risen and the filling is ready. If we wait until tomorrow, it will affect the texture, and the flavor won’t be as good," Zhao Nuanyue refused. "It’s fine. I’ll sit on a stool tonight. With everyone helping, it’ll go quickly."

Little Red Carp ran in from outside and said excitedly, "I’ll help too! I know how to make them!"

"Alright, Little Red Carp will help too. In a little while, you can help us taste-test!" Zhao Nuanyue said with a laugh. This was Little Red Carp’s most important job. Anything that earned her approval was guaranteed to taste amazing.

"Sis, I’m a big girl now, don’t underestimate me! I really know how!" Little Red Carp protested. "I’m going to show off my skills later and let you see how amazing I am."

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