164: Chapter 164 Longchuanfang

"Ah... so Longchuan Workshop is this way."

"Yeah. Compared to the restaurants and snacks on Baihui Street, Longchuan Workshop is actually more secluded, but half of the xia people in all of Oronia are here."

Zhou Hong carried the bag he had just gotten from Dunkerque's pastry shop, looking at the somewhat dim street.

He then turned to look at Li Ming. Originally, Li Ming hadn't wanted to go out at this hour, but when he asked Zhou Hong where there was good food, Zhou Hong mentioned that there were several small shops in Longchuan Workshop near his home that tasted quite good.

As expected, compared to the standard academy meals provided by the school, Li Ming still preferred stir-fry.

Fortunately, the theorem that 'a Ship Girl's tastes will subconsciously follow her Commander's' always held true; after all, even Teacher Stuart had admitted it personally.

Because of this, Li Ming held considerable expectations for normal, everyday dishes.

---After all, Z23 was going back for her rotation next month. Not only would the home be without a head chef, but there was also the addition of Laffey. Although Li Ming could cook, it was really limited to the concept of 'knowing how'; it would take some time for him to actually be able to cook well.

Li Ming held his phone in his left hand and pulled Alert with his right, with A6 following behind him.

On Zhou Hong's side, he was accompanied by a black-haired Ship Girl currently wearing a female naval uniform, though Li Ming didn't know which country it belonged to.

At least, it didn't belong to any country in his memory.

Jiu Hai, a light cruiser, didn't belong to the Federation or the Empire. The Xia country was also impossible, since the Xia Empire had collapsed before modernization.

Following Zhou Hong to Longchuan Workshop, it appeared much brighter than the surrounding dim streets, situated as it was next to the factory district.

Through an agreement with the power plant and Oronia officials, Longchuan Workshop was connected to the power grid. Thus, while they couldn't ensure every household had electricity, they could still guarantee power for public facilities and lighting.

Refining fuel for lighting from various waste oils in the sewage pipes had also become one of the few means of employment in Longchuan Workshop.

Some of the fuel would be taken away by Oronia officials for recycling, but the vast majority of the remainder was used for lighting purposes.

Zhou Hong's family was one of the few Xia families that could afford electric lights. Relying on the academy's stipend, Zhou Hong did his best to support his younger brother's and sister's education.

But even so, Li Ming still saw dense clusters of cameras connected to cables on the electric lights.

After a moment of silence, Li Ming squeezed the hilt of the Tang Dao at his waist, then placed his left hand on the hilt to be ready for any sudden situation.

Although the interior of Longchuan Workshop lacked the prosperity of a modern city, it could still be considered bustling.

The xia people lived traditional lives, almost undisturbed by the outside world, with few ups and downs.

This area, like Baihui Street, was located on the coast at a certain distance from the harbor. The soil was damp, and next to it was a river channel that had been widened due to river transport needs.

This was the edge of the city. The saline-alkali land not far away was where Li Ming was going to develop next. His purpose for coming here today, besides buying food and learning culinary skills, was to scout that area out.

That being said, the three of them still followed Zhou Hong to his home to sit for a while first.

The good news: Zhou Hong was a good older brother.

The bad news: Zhou Hong usually came home very late, so it was actually his younger sister who cooked at home.

Zhou Hong placed the snacks on the table and asked Jiu Hai to help watch the house, while he took Li Ming to the shops he had recommended.

"...This is the place I mentioned. Uncle Wang!"

Zhou Hong called out to the middle-aged man in the shop.

"Eh, Little Zhou, you are..."

"This is my friend Li Ming, and these two are his family and Ship Girls."

The middle-aged man with a square face looked at Li Ming, then looked at Alert and A6.

A6 was expressionless as usual.

Alert waved a greeting.

"Good, good, come in quickly!"

Uncle Wang broke into a smile.

Following Zhou Hong into the small shop, Zhou Hong explained their purpose to Uncle Wang.

The middle-aged man gave Li Ming a surprised look, then looked at the young Alert and A6, showing a hint of a complex expression. "Of course you can. Come in and learn, kid."

"I want to learn too!"

"Reporting, I also..."

"Uh, okay, everyone come in!"

The middle-aged man didn't reject them because of their appearance—perhaps because they were cute enough?

Regardless, several people entered the back kitchen.

"How many people are you cooking for?"

"Uh..." Li Ming began to count on his fingers.

Two for Finn, two for Ronan, two for Cliff, and one for Teacher Lenella. Kano, Z23, Alert, and A6.

"Old Zhou, your place..."

"I'm definitely eating at home," Zhou Hong shook his head. "You guys stay busy, I'm heading out first."

"Sure."

Watching Zhou Hong leave, Li Ming came up with the number.

"Ten portions to go, and two people eating here."

"...Twelve people..."

The middle-aged man had a strange expression. No wonder he had to learn; this was probably...

So Li Ming began to take over the stove, with the middle-aged man guiding from the side...

"Do you have the basics down?"

"Uh, I know a little, and I mainly know a bit of stir-fry."

A6 and Alert were beside him chopping and washing vegetables, watching Li Ming heat the wok.

"Stir-fry... you look a bit familiar, kid, but I can't recall who you are for a moment."

"I'm not sure either." Li Ming shook his head. Seeing the wok was hot and all the water had boiled off, he began to pour oil—ordinary lard, no big deal. "I'm not a local."

"Not a local? No, I've definitely seen you... but why can't I remember..."

"My suggestion is to just not think about it." Li Ming took the prepared vegetables and looked at the middle-aged man.

"First dish, stir-fried eggplant."

"Alright..."

——————

"Okay then, Alert, be careful..."

"I know!" Alert picked up the thermal bag and tucked it into her rigging space. "Then Commander, how will you two get back?"

"Anshan will come to pick us up, don't worry."

Li Ming replied, patting her hat. "Go on now."

After seeing Alert off, Li Ming and A6 sat in the shop.

"It feels like I haven't talked to you in a long time."

"It doesn't matter, Sir."

"I think it does matter." Li Ming watched A6 use her bowl and chopsticks skillfully and suddenly smiled. "I haven't tutored you in your academic subjects for a long time. I asked Logic to help you catch up before; did you do it?"

"Response: Y-yes, I did."

A6 immediately looked away, appearing a bit guilty.

"A6 is being naughty~" Logic's voice came from Li Ming's earpiece. Although the middle-aged man keeping accounts at the counter couldn't hear it, the sharp-eared A6 had already turned red from her cheeks to the tips of her ears.

Li Ming smiled. "Let's eat."

After dinner, the two prepared to walk along the seaside of Longchuan Workshop towards the saline-alkali land.

Passing near Zhou Hong's house, however, they discovered something.

"It's exceptionally lively..." Li Ming quickly pulled A6 into the shadows, squinting at the entrance of Zhou Hong's house.

...

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