Chapter 43: A New Way to Trade

Regardless of whether it was logical for a tiger to proactively feed humans, the fact remained that Qiao Yitong was indeed being fed.

In Area C, Mrs. Norma provided various rations specifically for Big Orange, including a significant number of wild chickens.

Having bred through generations in Area C, they had formed a sizable population.

In short, Big Orange had never gone hungry in Area C.

Now that the wild chickens had been brought over, everyone’s attention shifted to the two birds once the initial shock of Big Orange’s presence subsided.

“Who was the one talking about wanting stewed chicken with mushrooms when they saw the mushrooms earlier? It looks like you’ll actually get to watch them eat it.”

“Lu Cheng and Deng You just found mushrooms today, and Big Orange personally delivers wild chickens? I’m starting to suspect a script again.”

“If it’s a script, I’m curious how they control a tiger’s actions. Surely they didn’t hire someone to play the tiger?”

“Forget it, no point overthinking. I’m already watching this variety show as a sci-fi movie. After all, too many illogical things have happened since it started, haven’t they?”

“Exactly! Why think so much? Isn’t it great as a food livestream? I’ve already ordered takeout – braised chicken! Just waiting for Sister Tong to start the fire and cook.”

The viewers were right.

When Big Orange arrived with the two chickens in its mouth, Qiao Yitong looked at the available ingredients and indeed planned to make stewed chicken with mushrooms.

Since returning from the wild boar hunt, they had eaten several meals consisting of ribs and other pork dishes.

Moreover, this group had no self-control when it came to eating. Fearing they would go hungry, she tended to cook a bit more for every meal.

But this group, especially Deng You and Lu Cheng, scraped the bottom of the pot every single time.

While the ribs were delicious, eating like that for several meals was hard on the body. Too much grease created a heavy physical burden.

This went against a Culinary Cultivator’s pursuit of balance between food and the diner.

Today, having these mushrooms and chicken was perfect.

Stewed chicken with mushrooms provided a rich, savory broth and was packed with nutrients.

Not only could it replenish the nutrients their bodies had been lacking recently, but the simmering process would also make the various nutritional components easier to absorb.

The people of this world were all ordinary humans who could not cultivate and had no way to use Spiritual Power to cleanse and condition their bodies.

Food was their best method for physical maintenance.

With these thoughts in mind, Qiao Yitong looked at the two wild chickens Big Orange had brought. After a moment’s consideration, she tossed one back to Big Orange.

“Roar?” Big Orange huffed in confusion.

Qiao Yitong lifted one wild chicken. “One is enough for us.”

Confirming that she wasn’t rejecting him, Big Orange felt relieved and lay down obediently nearby, quietly watching Qiao Yitong’s movements.

As Big Orange retracted its intimidating aura, Lu Cheng, who had been hovering nearby looking rather disheveled, cautiously approached.

“Sister Tong, should we help process the chicken?” Lu Cheng asked.

As he drew near, his peripheral vision remained fixed on Big Orange. When the tiger turned its head to give a warning glance, he immediately jumped back to maintain his distance.

Seeing his reaction, Qiao Yitong simply tossed the chicken to Lu Cheng.

After catching the chicken, Lu Cheng scurried away to a safe distance and began processing the bird.

Not far away, the Doctor, who usually preferred to stay low-key and avoid getting involved in too many affairs, silently walked over to lend a hand.

As everyone busied themselves with their respective tasks, a scene of tranquil beauty once again unfolded before the audience.

It was time for the “Idyllic Island Life” segment.

Blue sky, white clouds, the sea, and the beach.

The environment alone was enough to form a beautiful painting, not to mention that Qiao Yitong and the others on the island were all exceptionally good-looking.

Ever since they got the small house, they no longer had to live in squalor.

Despite wearing the same one or two sets of clothes that were starting to look worn, it couldn’t hide the top-tier visuals of the people on the island.

And now, surrounding this group was a majestic tiger.

Though it felt somewhat like a fantasy, everyone had to admit it was an enviable scene and lifestyle.

Some viewers even pressed the screenshot button repeatedly when the camera pulled back for a wide shot, capturing numerous images.

Qiao Yitong was still selecting mushrooms.

Qi Qing had already taken the mushrooms Qiao Yitong had picked out for the meal and headed to a nearby water source to wash them.

On the other side, Lu Cheng and Deng You were bleeding and plucking the chicken.

They didn’t have many special skills, but they had an endless supply of brute strength.

Once they had cleaned the chicken thoroughly and buried the waste properly, the next step of the process fell to the Doctor.

The Doctor possessed a level of manual dexterity that rivaled Qiao Yitong’s.

However, while both were equally skilled, their temperaments while butchering the chicken were entirely different.

Qiao Yitong’s movements were fluid, possessing the natural flow and composure of a professional chef.

The Doctor gave off a completely different vibe.

Every one of his movements seemed precisely calculated. With long, steady fingers and an expressionless face, he disassembled the bird.

His professional, cold precision was almost unsettling to watch, making one’s heart tremble slightly.

Yet under those movements, the chicken was accurately partitioned into uniform pieces and placed on the cutting board.

With the prep work finished, the rest was up to Qiao Yitong.

She had already selected the necessary seasonings from her room and brought them to the campfire on the beach.

She skillfully placed the Stone Pot onto the campfire rack.

She poured in a bit of the previously rendered lard. Once the oil began to shimmer with light smoke, the chicken pieces went into the pot.

With the aid of Spiritual Power, Qiao Yitong’s control over the fire’s temperature was unrivaled. The collision of hot oil and chicken produced a sizzling sound that echoed from the pot, accompanied by the immediate release of a rich meaty aroma.

Qiao Yitong watched the chicken pieces in the pot until they turned golden brown. When every piece of meat began to radiate an enticing color, Lu Cheng, who was leaning over to watch from the side, swallowed hard and looked toward Deng You.

He was done for. He was already salivating from the very start.

Deng You glanced at him sideways. Usually, he would seize any chance to needle Lu Cheng, but right now, even his sharp tongue was silenced.

Truth be told, he was craving it too.

Watching Sister Tong cook required a truly immense amount of willpower.

Otherwise, one would lose control and try to swallow the food while it was still half-finished every single time.

Once the chicken was seared, the rest of the process went much faster.

She tossed in seasonings that served as substitutes for onion, ginger, and garlic. A fragrance even more intense than the original aromatics wafted from the pot, instantly setting off the senses of everyone on the beach.

The mushrooms followed immediately after.

The fresh savoriness of the mushrooms melded with the meatiness of the chicken and the unique, rich bouquet of the seasonings. Layer upon layer of heavy, enticing scents drifted into everyone’s nostrils.

At the smell of it, someone’s stomach gave a loud, audible growl.

Qiao Yitong adjusted the structure of the campfire slightly, allowing more air to flow in and making the flames grow larger.

She stir-fried the ingredients rapidly, ensuring their flavors fused together completely.

Then, she added fresh water, covered the Stone Pot, pulled out a few logs from the fire to adjust the heat, and let it simmer over a low flame.

Qiao Yitong stepped back, her fingers tapping lightly against her side as she monitored the pot.

As time ticked by, the broth began to thicken. The tenderness of the chicken and the deliciousness of the mushrooms permeated each other, sending a rich, mellow aroma drifting out.

The soup bubbled and rolled. As the minutes passed, the clear water gradually transformed into an appetizing milky white color that looked incredibly smooth and rich.

Everyone’s senses were firmly held captive. Their entire focus was pinned on that pot of soup, leaving room for nothing else.

Finally, Qiao Yitong sprinkled a layer of green herbs on top.

They didn’t know what it was, but shortly after it was added, a faint hint of freshness joined the already fragrant mushroom soup.

The tenderness of the chicken, the silkiness of the mushrooms, and the richness of the broth.

Every element stimulated their senses.

A gust of wind even carried the scent directly toward the camp where Director Song and his crew were stationed not far away.

Director Song, who was currently gnawing on Compressed Biscuits, twitched his nose. Instantly, his stomach began to yearn.

He had always felt he didn’t have much of a desire for gourmet food. As long as he could eat his fill, it didn’t matter what it was.

But at this moment, looking at the bland, tasteless Compressed Biscuits in his hand, his mood became complicated.

Really, why did he come to this island?

Why was he torturing himself like this?

Was it just so they could eat Compressed Biscuits in misery while watching the guests taste every delicacy the island had to offer?

Director Song’s mental state was on the verge of collapsing.

But he wasn’t the only one feeling that way.

Even without the stimulation of the scent, the netizens could vaguely sense the deliciousness of the soup just from the visuals and the reactions of Lu Cheng and the others.

“It’s over, it’s over. My hands just won’t listen to me. I should have left the moment I saw her start the pot, but I couldn’t help being curious. I had to stay a bit longer, and now I’m screwed. I want to taste that fresh soup so bad, but we don’t have those mushrooms here.”

“Another dish learned! Thank you, Teacher Qiao, for teaching me how to make so many kinds of food.”

“I’m a bit curious, how are those people who said they were going to follow along and learn to cook doing now?”

“Don’t even bring it up. My mental state is gone. I already finished my attempt at a replica and posted it online. For details, please go to the Douhua Forum¹, ‘Kitchen Explosion’ sub-group.”

“As someone who has made multiple attempts, I can responsibly tell everyone: give up on trying to learn gourmet cooking through this live stream. I have a lot of free time and I study Qiao Yitong’s cooking every day, hoping for a one-to-one replica. But it’s impossible. Many of her spices are ground and extracted from things she dug up on the island herself. I have no idea what the components are. So even if I replicate the steps, the taste is just average. It never reaches that world-shaking reaction Lu Cheng and the others have.”

“Actually, is there a possibility… that Qiao Yitong’s cooking isn’t actually that good? After all, for people who can get on this show, it shouldn’t be hard to act out some surprised reactions, right?”

“I’ve been praising her along with everyone else, but to be honest, I also think the reactions of those people on the island are a bit exaggerated. Seriously, even if the food is good, so what? How could there be such an over-the-top reaction? I’ve never had one myself. Whenever I react like that, it’s just to be polite and supportive.”

“Hahaha, everyone is just playing along with the memes. Is someone actually taking it seriously that Qiao Yitong’s food is that good? We all know how it is.”

“It’s understandable that they’re faking it. After all, everyone on the island needs to rely on Qiao Yitong right now. Since she’s feeding them, it’s only normal for them to provide some emotional value in return.”

“I don’t think you can be so absolute about it. Just because we haven’t eaten it doesn’t mean it’s not real. Just looking at the presentation, the food Sister Tong makes is definitely top-tier.”

…

The crowd in the Live Stream Room was deep in discussion.

But no matter what they said, for Lu Cheng and the others, they were about to have a very real, very delicious meal.

Once the food was ready, Qiao Yitong gripped the wooden handle of the Stone Pot and lifted it off the fire.

To the group, this movement was a signal.

Lu Cheng was already mentally rubbing his hands together in anticipation.

This time, however, Qiao Yitong acted differently than before. Instead of taking her portion and leaving to eat elsewhere, she served herself half a bowl of the fresh soup and began sipping it slowly right there.

Since she didn’t leave, the others watched her expectantly, but no one dared to move to serve themselves.

“Hahahahaha, why is this frozen frame so funny? It feels like seeing the social hierarchy among animals.”

Qiao Yitong looked at them and said, “Go ahead and eat.”

It wasn’t like they were strangers, so why were they being so reserved?

Qiao Yitong was puzzled.

That single sentence from her immediately made the others happy.

The group stepped forward impatiently. Once Lu Cheng had ladled out a brimming bowl, he took a spoonful and put it in his mouth. The tender chicken fell right off the bone with one bite, and the delicious juices exploded across his palate.

Lu Cheng exhaled hot steam while simultaneously grabbing a mushroom with his chopsticks, unable to wait.

These mushrooms were no ordinary things either.

Having fully absorbed the savory broth of the chicken, the mushrooms had become smooth and succulent yet remained pleasantly chewy. The rich aroma slid down his throat, warming him to his very core.

Every person there who tasted it showed an expression of pure satisfaction.

This satisfaction was so profound that their eyes narrowed slightly, their brows relaxed, and the corners of their mouths curled upward.

Qi Qing was no exception. She had always maintained a more reserved persona, but right now, under the temptation of such a delicacy, no persona could withstand the body’s most primal instincts.

She could feel her entire being buzzing with excitement because of the delicious food in her mouth.

As she ate, she said indistinctly, “This is too good. This is the best chicken and mushroom stew I’ve ever had in my life!”

Every word came from the heart, undeniably genuine.

The others all nodded frantically in agreement.

Lu Cheng couldn’t help but marvel. Sister Tong was simply too miraculous. From the very first day he had tasted her cooking, he had been constantly stunned by the power of her food.

Logically speaking, a person’s palate should become spoiled.

When one grows accustomed to delicacies, the taste buds remember the sensation, and they should become less sensitive to the stimulus the next time.

He had worried before that if he got used to such amazing food, he might stop appreciating the flavor after a few times.

But now he knew he had overthought it.

Sister Tong’s cooking completely shattered that conventional wisdom. With every different dish, she seemed to wipe his sensory memory clean, providing a brand-new stimulus and experience every single time.

Every tasting felt like the first time. His taste buds were still intensely stimulated, bringing a fresh and shocking sensory impact.

The feeling was truly magical and overwhelming.

Naturally, under the stimulation of such deliciousness, Lu Cheng once again became the type of person who ate from his bowl while eyeing the pot.

He gulped down the food in his bowl while monitoring the situation in the pot, terrified that someone might snatch the rest away if he wasn’t careful.

Just then, someone indeed reached for the ladle, intending to scoop from the pot.

As if someone had stepped on his tail, Lu Cheng shot out his hand and blocked the ladle with his chopsticks.

The other party didn’t struggle but simply held the position.

Realizing something was off, Lu Cheng slowly looked up.

It was Qiao Yitong, who had finished half a bowl of soup and was now trying to serve herself some mushrooms and chicken.

Lu Cheng froze and swallowed hard.

“Tong… Sister Tong, you… please, go ahead.” Lu Cheng backed away.

His instinctive food-guarding behavior had just slammed right into a brick wall.

“Hahahahaha!”

-Hahahaha, I can’t breathe. Why is Lu Cheng so funny?-

-You little brat, you used to guard your food and steal from others every day. Why don’t you dare snatch it now?-

-Of course he doesn’t dare. Not only does he not dare, he’s terrified Sister Tong will revoke his eating privileges in the future.-

While things were lively and cheerful on their side, the wonderful atmosphere caught the attention of Zhou Yifei, who was sneakily fetching water nearby. He couldn’t help but look over.

He saw the group’s relaxed, vacation-like attitude.

Every one of them was clean. Their hair was washed and fresh, unlike his group, whose hair was matted into greasy clumps and whose bodies gave off a sour, rancid stench.

Moreover, everyone was currently gathered around the Stone Pot.

The aroma occasionally wafting from the pot made his mouth water uncontrollably.

His stomach growled. When one is starving, the temptation of gourmet food can truly make a person see red with envy.

He couldn’t resist moving a little closer toward them to peek at what was in their pot.

Chicken and mushroom stew.

It looked delicious.

Come to think of it, it had been a very long time since he had eaten a proper meal.

On this island, the best thing they could eat was the occasional fish they caught.

But no matter how good it was, they had grown sick of fish long ago.

Especially fish with almost no seasoning. It had reached the point where he wanted to vomit just looking at a fish.

He wanted a bite of their food so badly…

Just one bite. Truly, just one bite would do.

Besides, he wasn’t like the others. He had never actually offended Qiao Yitong. Even when everyone was bashing her online, he hadn’t participated because he didn’t follow that kind of news.

In that regard, his record was perfectly clean.

So why couldn’t he go over?

The more Zhou Yifei thought about it, the more he felt his logic was sound. He immediately set down the half-filled water container and cautiously crept toward Qiao Yitong and the others.

“Tong… Sister Tong,” Zhou Yifei called out to her from a significant distance.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to approach politely before speaking; it was just that a massive tiger was lying lazily ahead of him, and he didn’t dare get any closer.

Qiao Yitong had just finished eating. She raised her cool, indifferent eyes and looked over.

Seeing her look his way, Zhou Yifei’s eyes lit up.

“Sister Tong, I’d like to talk to you about something,” Zhou Yifei said.

As he spoke, he gathered his courage to walk toward her.

However, when he got within ten meters of Qiao Yitong, Big Orange suddenly stood up and let out a low roar as a warning.

Zhou Yifei’s face turned pale instantly, and he froze in place, not daring to move.

Qiao Yitong gently patted Big Orange’s head to show him it was fine, then looked back at Zhou Yifei. “What do you want to say? Come here.”

Seeing this, Zhou Yifei was even more terrified.

Such a fierce, powerful tiger was actually so obedient to Qiao Yitong?

Was Qiao Yitong some kind of immortal?

Realizing this, he felt an even deeper pang of regret. Why hadn’t he recognized the situation earlier and clung to Qiao Yitong’s coattails first?

At the same time, he lamented in his heart that choosing a side was a matter of utmost importance, no matter the circumstances.

Pick the wrong side once, and you have to pay the price.

Zhou Yifei cautiously approached Qiao Yitong. Once he was close enough, he put on a sycophantic smile and asked, “Yitong, can I join you guys?”

“No,” Qiao Yitong replied.

She was always crisp and decisive when rejecting people.

Zhou Yifei stood there, speechless.

“Why not?” His gaze drifted back to the Stone Pot of fresh soup that hadn’t been finished yet. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard.

He was starving for it; he desperately wanted a taste.

“We have enough people,” Qiao Yitong said.

Five people was just right. She had no desire to admit any more outsiders into her circle.

Zhou Yifei felt a sharp pang in his chest, but the aroma of that soup was simply too tempting. Refusing to give up, he said, “I don’t have to join the group. Just… if you could just give me a single sip of soup. Really, I don’t need much, I just want one taste.”

Qiao Yitong raised an eyebrow slightly at his words.

Seeing this, Zhou Yifei’s hopes immediately surged.

“Truly! I noticed you’ve all been looking for different types of plants these past few days, right? I can help search too. If I find something, can I trade it for a sip of soup?” Zhou Yifei repeated his offer.

Qiao Yitong paused, looking at the leftover soup.

In truth, because the Stone Pot Lu Cheng had made was so large, there were always leftovers from the meals she prepared.

Most of those leftovers ended up in Lu Cheng’s stomach.

In the long run, that wasn’t necessarily a good thing.

Furthermore, in her previous world, the delicacies she created were themselves a vital means of bartering for resources.

She was no stranger to this mode of transaction.

Moreover, the island was vast. Given the speed at which Lu Cheng and Deng You were exploring, they might not fully map the entire place by the time the show finished filming.

Having one more person to trade with meant one more source of labor.

It was all benefit and no harm.

With that thought, Qiao Yitong nodded. “Fine, I agree to the deal. You will forage for rare plants on the island and bring them here to trade. If any of them are useful to me, I will give you a corresponding amount of food based on their value. It might be a sip of soup, or a piece of meat. Of course, if you’re lucky enough to find something S-rank, you can join us for the next meal.”

As Qiao Yitong spoke, Zhou Yifei’s eyes grew brighter and brighter.

“Then… what if I work hard all day but don’t find anything useful?” Zhou Yifei asked, unable to help himself as the possibility occurred to him.

“If you find nothing, you get nothing,” Qiao Yitong said indifferently. “This is a business transaction. I only care about results, not the process. Any problems with that?”

This was an absolute gamble for Zhou Yifei.

How was he supposed to know what Qiao Yitong found useful?

If he spent an entire day working himself to the bone and came back with a full pack, only for Qiao Yitong to say none of it was useful, he would have fetched water with a sieve². He would truly have nothing to show for it.

But Qiao Yitong held the soup.

She had a monopoly on the market; he had no say in the matter.

He didn’t even have the right to negotiate. To Qiao Yitong, his presence or absence made little difference, but for him, his mental state on this island was nearing a breaking point.

If he didn’t get a taste of something delicious soon, he might not make it through. Even if he got off the island, he would likely be left with psychological scars.

He had to accept.

Zhou Yifei managed a bitter internal smile. In the end, who was to blame but himself for not choosing Qiao Yitong from the start?

If he had only come over sooner, he would at least be in the same position as Deng You.

Deng You had to go out and look for things every day too, but regardless of whether he found anything, he was fed. He got full bowls of food and never went hungry.

“No problem,” Zhou Yifei said with difficulty.

“Additionally, I will only inspect your trade goods at specific times. Do not disturb me at any other time, or the deal is off.”

Zhou Yifei’s expression grew even more bitter. “Understood.”

“You can continue living in your previous camp, but do not move any closer to me. I don’t like noise.”

“Alright.”

“You can tell your companions what I’ve said. The terms of the trade are the same for them. If there’s nothing else, you may leave.”

With those final words, Qiao Yitong issued a blunt dismissal.

Translator’s Notes