66: Thoughts on eating fish

The cheers below the stage still hadn't stopped. Shen Xiaochuan looked down at the list and raised his hand to signal: "Next, Chen Yan, responsible for intelligence analysis."

Chen Yan stepped out of the crowd with steady steps. He stood before the high platform and looked up at Shen Xiaochuan.

"You don't say much, but you're reliable," Shen Xiaochuan said. "Last time you led the team to raid three Divine Domains of Kimchi Country, it was clean and efficient; this time you detected NATO's movements in advance, which is a great contribution."

Chen Yan nodded: "It's what I should do."

Shen Xiaochuan paused, his tone softening slightly: "Old Karl told me you want to change your surname?"

The surroundings instantly fell silent as everyone's eyes fell on him.

Chen Yan took a deep breath: "No one cared for me since I was a child, and I wandered for three years. It was Skydome City that took me in. You gave me a position and brothers. I want to... officially become one of your people. I want to take the surname Shen, is that okay?"

Shen Xiaochuan looked at him and smiled: "Sure."

Someone gasped, then whispered: "He really changed it? This is acknowledging him as a father..."

Shen Xiaochuan took out a bronze medallion from his robe, with a clear "Shen" character engraved on it: "From now on, your name is Shen Yan. That villa in the East District belongs to you, and you will also manage half of the Bear Bone distribution rights. If anyone has an objection, have them come to me."

Chen Yan took the medallion, his hands trembling slightly. He gripped it tightly and said in a low, raspy voice: "Thank you... Father."

The whole place went silent for a moment, followed by an even more enthusiastic uproar.

Shen Xiaochuan patted his shoulder: "Don't thank me, you earned it yourself."

He turned his gaze to the next person: "Lolia."

Lolia stepped forward quickly, still wearing her blacksmith's leather apron, her face stained with charcoal ash, and her hair singed short by the fire.

"Your improved version of the sky-rending blade saved seventeen lives on the front line," Shen Xiaochuan said. "It's not just weapons—you also led people to repair three hundred pieces of damaged equipment overnight."

Lolia lowered her head: "I didn't want them to lose their lives because of equipment problems."

"You have a good heart." Shen Xiaochuan handed over a land deed. "The Artisan Mansion in the West District is yours. If your workshop needs to hire people in the future, just report to Old Karl."

Lolia took the land deed, her eyes turning red: "Can I ask a question?"

"Speak."

"Can I... see with my own eyes the day the Huaxia Divine Kingdom illuminates the Ten Thousand Races? Not in a dream, but truly standing on this land, watching our flags planted across the starry sky."

Shen Xiaochuan nodded seriously: "I will make sure you live to see that day."

Lolia bit her lip and said nothing. As she turned to leave the stage, her shoulders trembled slightly.

Next was Ling Feng. His left arm was wrapped in bandages, and he walked with a slight limp. Shen Xiaochuan handed him a resource pack full of supplies for healing and recovery.

"Don't go to the battlefield until your injuries are healed," he said.

Ling Feng clenched his fist: "Brother Shen, once I'm healed, I'll definitely lead the charge again!"

Old Karl walked onto the stage leaning on his cane. Shen Xiaochuan placed a silver medal and a voucher for triple salary into his hand.

"The warehouse was in such chaos, and you stabilized it," Shen Xiaochuan said. "Without you, we wouldn't even be able to have this meal tonight."

Old Karl smiled, his face full of wrinkles: "These old bones of mine can still work for another ten years."

Finally, it was Lilith and Lilia. The twin sisters walked onto the stage holding hands.

"You two," Shen Xiaochuan said. "During the war, you cooked, delivered meals, and inventoried ingredients, sleeping less than three hours a day. The kitchen is now for your exclusive use, and you'll receive an extra five hundred faith points every month."

Lilia suddenly raised her hand: "Um... I have something to say."

"Speak."

"The fish... it's the Jade Bamboo Fish I caught. I thought it would be fine just to boil it, but I didn't expect the taste to be wrong."

Shen Xiaochuan had just picked up a piece of fish and put it in his mouth when his brow immediately furrowed.

A fishy smell rushed straight into his nostrils.

He didn't spit it out but slowly swallowed it.

"This fish can't be boiled directly," he said. "It needs to be soaked in salt water for twelve hours, then scrubbed three times with ginger juice, otherwise it's toxic."

Lilia lowered her head: "I didn't know... no one ever taught me."

Shen Xiaochuan put down his bowl and faced the crowd: "From today, the 'Skydome City Dietary Research Institute' is established. Led by Lilith, gather those who can cook to specifically study the processing methods of Exotic Beast ingredients. Removing the fishy smell from Jade Bamboo Fish is the first task."

He looked at Lilith: "Your sister is honest but doesn't know the rules. You'll be the person in charge, alright?"

Lilith puffed out her chest: "Alright! I'll record the preparation method for every material and make a manual to distribute to everyone!"

The crowd burst into applause. Lilia quietly wiped away her tears and hugged her sister.

Shen Xiaochuan stepped down from the platform, picked up a plate of roasted meat, and walked toward the city gate.

He knew Yang Lie hadn't come.

A dark figure stood at the city gate. His armor was worn, and his spear leaned against the wall. Yang Lie gazed at the firelight in the square, motionless.

Several commoners approached with wine jugs: "Sir, have a drink, thank you for guarding the city."

"I don't need to eat these things."

"But you're a living person too!" a child shouted. "You killed so many enemies and saved our whole family!"

Shen Xiaochuan walked over, took the wine jug, and filled a bowl.

He handed the bowl to Yang Lie: "You shouldn't just guard the altar. You belong to this world of mundane life. Even if you can't drink this wine, you have to learn to taste it."

Yang Lie stared at the bowl of wine, not moving for a long time.

Then he slowly reached out and took the bowl.

His hand was trembling.

He didn't drink it but turned and poured the wine onto the stone steps in front of the city gate.

The wine flowed into the cracks between the bricks and seeped into the soil.

"That's right," Shen Xiaochuan nodded. "Remember, you are a living person, not a cold ghost."

Footsteps came from behind. Ling Feng, Chen Yan, Old Karl, and the others had all come, even Lilith had run over.

More and more commoners gathered, forming a circle around the city gate.

No one spoke.

Yang Lie looked up and looked back at this city for the first time.

The firelight shone on his face, reflecting an old scar.

"I... I want to stay here."

Shen Xiaochuan smiled: "Actually, you've already been one of us for a long time."

He turned and walked back, passing through the crowd and returning to the center of the square.

The bonfire was still burning, and the aroma of meat mixed with the smell of wine drifted in the night sky.

He picked up a piece of freshly roasted meat and took a bite.

The taste was right.

But he knew that just tasting good wasn't enough.

No matter how many resources there were, it was a waste if one didn't know how to use them.

The strong can win a battle, but governing a world relies on systems.

He looked toward the distant kitchen tent, where Lilith had already begun leading people to record the list of ingredients.

He touched the copper gear on his cuff and whispered: "Becoming strong is not the end. Making everyone strong is the hardest part."

The crowd continued to celebrate.

Laughter, the sound of clinking glasses, and the shouts of children intertwined.

Shen Xiaochuan stood in the corner, no longer going up on stage.

He saw Old Karl sitting by a wine barrel, drinking while checking the inventory list.

He saw Chen Yan pointing at the blueprints for the new houses.

He saw Ling Feng playing drinking games with others, losing a large cup of wine and downing it with a grin.

He smiled and looked down at his palm.

The coordinates of the mineral vein carved by Zhao Wuwei still remained on his palm.

At that time, he only wanted to become strong.

Now he knew that becoming strong was not the ultimate goal. Making everyone strong together was the true challenge.

He looked up at the sky.

The galaxy was brilliant.

On the city wall, Yang Lie gripped his spear once more. This time, his back was very straight.

Shen Xiaochuan stepped forward.

Ahead, a group of children gathered around a fire, competing to eat roasted fish.

One of them took a bite and suddenly frowned:

"Why is this fish still bitter?"