The Strong Female Lead Versus The Most Miserable Male Lead

Chapter 153: Chapter 153: Longevity Noodles

Nian Shutong arranged for Ha Ha to chop down trees, then went to smoke the cured meat to the right of the small wooden house, a bit further away in an isolated spot. There was a forest there, backed by mountains and situated on higher ground.

She planned to use the cleared area to place a preservation warehouse to store food.

Ha Ha ran off particularly happy, eager to work again as he had no desire to rest.

Watching Ha Ha’s cheerful figure, Nian Shutong sighed once more.

“Xiao He, what do you think Ha Ha’s Commander did to train Ha Ha?”

“I really want to meet them, to have them train two more Ha Ha’s for me.”

...

Fu Yunhe felt a pang in his heart at this question, as he had no idea himself.

Previously, when someone told him Ha Ha’s speech was annoying and his thought processes were strange, he was unhappy because he thought Ha Ha was merely honest, a bit simple-hearted.

But now, he finally understood that person’s expression back then.

Probably wondering if the Commander was blind.

Nian Shutong was just making conversation. When she accepted someone, she tended to view them favorably, like Ha Ha at the moment.

It was a feeling similar to being proud of one’s own child.

She decided not to rest either, mainly because she wasn’t very tired, and got up to chop trees as well.

“Ms. Nian Shutong, please wait a moment, Rubble has a question.”

“Go ahead.”

“Ms. Nian Shutong, what are we having for dinner? Rubble is about to upgrade. In the Mechanical Clan, upgrading is akin to celebrating a birthday for interstellar humans, and Rubble can finally eat real food.”

For the first time, Nian Shutong heard anticipation and eagerness in Rubble’s voice, and she said with a smile, “Don’t worry, you’ll definitely like it. Let’s keep it a surprise, okay?”

“Rubble does not like surprises.”

“Hmm?”

“Rubble can accept it.”

Nian Shutong nodded in satisfaction, and as she walked past Rubble, she reached out towards Rubble with her hand, palm downward, fingers gently curling a few times.

Just as Rubble bent his head in cooperation, Nian Shutong patted him on the top of his head.

“Good, go have fun,” she said as she patted and then left to chop trees.

Rubble stood there in the bent-over position, his hand over his heart, as if it wasn’t jumping as much anymore.

Indeed, Rubble wasn’t sick.

Fu Yunhe watched the interaction between the two and for some reason, felt a tinge of envy.

Despite being the first to arrive, it seemed that Silly Wolf and sharp-tongued Rubble were accepted faster than himself.

Illogical.

After all, he had spent so much money.

Never mind, he thought, he’d continue to earn money. One way or another, it would pay off, and Rubble didn’t actually go to play, but instead went to his workshop.

The Wang Fu family too wasn’t very tired and everyone started getting busy.

Watching those preparing soy sauce, turning over fermentation jars, airing things, watering bean sprouts and malts, and picking beans.

Nian Shutong, already cutting trees, turned to look at the bustle and stopped her chopping momentarily, genuinely wanting the others to rest.

She shook her head lightly and continued her work, multitasking by communicating with Daodao.

“Daodao, what should Rubble eat for his birthday?”

“Master, you could make longevity noodles, it’s just…”

“What is it?”

“Daodao wonders if you, Master, can make them.”

Daodao was thinking, making dumplings was already a struggle, and hand-pulled noodles seemed even harder.

Nian Shutong didn’t boast; she first watched a video. After watching, she fell silent.

No wonder Daodao doubted her; she doubted herself.

How could such a soft and pliable thing be stretched continuously? She really disliked these delicate and skillful tasks.

Having memorized the steps, Nian Shutong stopped chopping trees.

She went to the kitchen, gathered several basins, a chopping board, pots, bowls, and some water, and placed them all into the Space Button before leaving.

Seeing the Space Button, Nian Shutong remembered it was Ha Ha’s and sent a message directly to Fu Yunhe.

“Buy me a Space Button, I’ll pay for it,” she habitually turned to Fu Yunhe as it was more convenient.

“You want to give it back to Ha Ha? I think he wouldn’t want it, in his eyes, making you happy is what brings him the most joy.”

“I know, that’s why I’m buying him another one.”

“Then you need to make it clear to him,” Fu Yunhe replied and then went to place the order first.

Nian Shutong turned and went over to Ha Ha’s side, “Ha Ha, I’m planning to return the Space Button to you, in case…”

Ha Ha, who had been looking down at his work, suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with sadness.

“Do you want me to leave? I can’t go, I need to stay with you.”

Nian Shutong had never seen a wolf looking so wronged, and it was the first time she noticed Ha Ha’s eyes were quite large, brimming with tears.

“Don’t cry, don’t cry, I’m just… thinking of giving you a new one, so it’s easier for you to carry stuff. I wanted to check with you first.”

Ha Ha’s tears turned into laughter, a simple, silly smile revealing his rows of teeth.

“Give! Everything Ha Ha has is for you, I want whatever the good people give me.”

“You silly…” Silly Wolf.

Nian Shutong also rubbed Ha Ha’s head, turned around, and, with a slight upward curve at the corners of her mouth, happily headed to the other side of the stream.

There, she first treated the Giant Bird creature, which guarded the home. Now that it had grown a layer of feathers, the Giant Bird creature was finally seeing hope and was much friendlier toward Nian Shutong.

This unconventional Human spoke the truth and wasn’t too bad.

After treating the Giant Bird creature, Nian Shutong found a flat spot for herself and chopped a large rock to use as a table.

“Let’s begin.”

“Sure, master, good luck.”

Nian Shutong had a serious expression, flipped her hand, and poured the flour into the bowl, added water, and began kneading the dough.

She was going to practice making Longevity Noodles.

There was no deep reason behind it; she just wanted to celebrate Rubble’s birthday.

Once she thought about it, she did it.

“Master, this dough is too runny.”

“It’s okay, it will make the broth thicker.”

“Master, this one is too tough.”

“It’s okay; it’s for making knife-shaved noodles.”

“Master, it broke again.”

“Once more.”

“It broke.”

“No worries, again.”

“How about we just eat a bowl of noodles? They don’t all have to be in one piece, right?”

“How can that be? Longevity Noodles are all about the symbolism.”

Nian Shutong didn’t give up at all, nor was she discouraged or anxious, she kept going at it steadily, wasn’t this progress?

A bowl of noodles, from midday, she kept at it until it was nearly dusk.

“Ha ha ha ha ha! Done!”

In the forest that blocked out the sun, a yellow glimmer sneaked through the leaves, landing upon a white porcelain bowl.

A wisp of steam rose gently from the bowl, where the light yellow, clear broth hinted at its extraordinary nature, and inside, the noodles were piled up in spirals as if climbing skyward.

“Let’s go, back home.”

Nian Shutong carefully packed a bowl of noodles into the Space Button, then gathered up all other belongings.

She moved with astonishing speed, unleashing her Spiritual Power as if it was free, eager to get back to the small wooden house a step faster.

At that moment, the small wooden house already had smoke curling up from its chimney.

On the opposite side of the stream, Nian Shutong stopped for the first time, looking towards the other side.

Human, home, smoke.

Laughter, whispered voices, the crisp sounds of firewood crackling.

In the glow of the setting sun, a tranquil scene gradually unfolded like a scroll.

This truly was… home.