75: Junglers are the kings of this patch, okay?

"Leave the fish head for me, I'm taking it back."

Gao Xiaofan, with a cigarette in his mouth and hands on his hips, directed Qiu Gu.

Qiu Gu remained silent, hacking at the fish's body with an entrenching shovel, looking aggrieved.

After finishing his cigarette, Gao Xiaofan began picking up dry branches and piling them together, preparing to roast the fish.

There was no other way; without tools, they had to make do.

The two were busy for an hour and finally got to eat hot roasted fish meat. Although the meat of the Bighead Carp wasn't great and there was no seasoning, the two, who had been hungry for half a day, were still very satisfied.

After eating, Gao Xiaofan used a basin to fetch water and douse the fire. After repeatedly checking for sparks, he finally packed up his things.

He retracted the rods, put away the line, and shouldered his backpack. He carried the entrenching shovel with half a fish body hanging from it.

Qiu Gu was carrying the fish head. The best part of a Bighead Carp was the head; such a good thing naturally couldn't be thrown away.

The two chuckled and started heading back to the village.

Meanwhile, screen recordings from the livestream room began to circulate, sparking a flurry of discussions.

"Are all fishermen this brutal? Or am I overthinking it?"

"This... his expression is too savage. I really suspect he's killed someone before..."

"A while ago, he even fished up a corpse. I've heard... criminals always return to the scene of the crime~"

"You guys are exaggerating. Those saying it's brutal haven't caught anything; otherwise, I bet you'd jump into the water and bite it yourself~"

They thought the controversy over slapping the fish would pass quickly, but unexpectedly, it only intensified.

Some even started targeting the Program Production Crew, suggesting that such a brutal person should not have been selected for the guest list.

Eventually, the Program Production Crew had no choice but to wait for Gao Xiaofan in his house.

As soon as Gao Xiaofan returned and saw Qu Lang sitting in the room, he didn't immediately react.

Just as he set down his things, Qu Lang pulled him aside.

"Brother, tell me, did you get into some trouble before?"

Gao Xiaofan blinked, looking completely bewildered.

"What trouble?"

Qu Lang didn't know how to describe it, so he just pulled his phone out of his pocket and held it in front of Gao Xiaofan.

Gao Xiaofan looked at the content, speechless.

"No, I'm a model citizen, okay?"

Hearing Gao Xiaofan's words, Qu Lang nodded in relief; he also believed Gao Xiaofan wasn't that kind of person.

After chatting for a bit, he finally left the house.

Gao Xiaofan took a towel and cleaned himself up before lying down in the room.

Tired, so tired.

He already knew from the bullet comments that Reba had gone to work. After thinking for a moment, he opened his tablet and asked the viewers in the livestream room to go to the other guests' rooms and tell them he was treating them to fish tonight.

Then he tossed the tablet aside and quickly began to snore.

By the time Gao Xiaofan woke up, the sky had already darkened. He groggily climbed up and washed his face behind the house.

Reba wasn't back yet. Gao Xiaofan looked at the fish body on the table and rubbed his chin.

I still need to exchange for a wok. Bighead Carp meat doesn't taste good stewed; it needs heavy seasoning.

Unfortunately, he had no money in his pockets, so he still had to wait for Reba.

Gao Xiaofan naturally knew about the Program Production Crew's version update, so he chose...

...to continue foraging~

The increase in income was indeed happy, but the lack of supplies meant there was nowhere to spend the money.

Clearly, foraging is the golden child of this version, alright?

He didn't believe those guests earning hundreds a day could still stomach a 20-yuan meal.

Fishing, selling fish, raising prices.

Gao Xiaofan carried the fish body to the stream behind the house and began cleaning it.

The body of the Bighead Carp wasn't very tasty. Instead of wasting it, it was better to treat everyone for free. After they ate, he could bring up the matter of a price increase; it was very reasonable.

Having finished his work, Gao Xiaofan sat on a stool with a cigarette in his mouth, waiting patiently.

A moment later, several voices came from outside.

Hua Hua: "Oh wow, Xiaofan is so nice, treating us to fish for free~"

Han Han: "Heh, maybe he's up to no good~"

Hua Hua: "Then why did you come?"

...Gao Xiaofan spoke with Reba and exchanged for a brand new large iron wok and some ingredients.

Everyone was shocked to see the meter-long fish body on the table.

Under everyone's shocked gazes, Gao Xiaofan tossed his head and handled the fish with style.

With a series of chops, he cut it into chunks, put them in a basin, and carried it behind the house.

Oil in the pan, then spring onions, ginger, garlic, star anise, cinnamon, and bay leaves—he threw in all sorts of spices. After the aroma burst out, he tossed in the fish chunks, poured in a large basin of mountain spring water, covered it, and started cooking.

The sky turned completely dark. Several people huddled around the table, hunched over, munching on steamed buns and eating fish chunks.

"Xiaofan, this tastes great! But more importantly, where's the fish head?"

Hua Hua asked while eating.

"Oh, I'm keeping the fish head. I'm planning to make Chopped Chili Fish Head tomorrow."

Gao Xiaofan said nonchalantly.

Everyone froze for a moment, then swallowed their saliva.

The texture of a Bighead Carp's head versus its body was like heaven and earth.

Combined with diced hot peppers... *slurp*.

Han Han swallowed: "Is tomorrow's meal for sale?"

Gao Xiaofan looked hesitant: "It could be, but I'm planning to work tomorrow. I won't have time to cook so much."

Everyone was dumbfounded. Weren't you foraging? Since when did you get obsessed with working?

Hua Hua couldn't help but ask: "No way, Xiaofan, why are you suddenly working? If I had your fishing skills, I'd definitely be fishing."

Gao Xiaofan gave a wry smile: "The task rewards are so high now; it's definitely more cost-effective to do tasks."

Han Han interrupted anxiously: "Stop it, Gao Xiaofan, 100 yuan!"

Gao Xiaofan scratched his head: "Brother Han, I'm sorry, but I heard you're making 800 yuan a day working now. I still want to earn more money."

Thinking of the delicious fish head, the fish chunks in front of Han Han didn't seem so fragrant anymore. He gritted his teeth.

"100 for tomorrow's lunch."

Gao Xiaofan rubbed his chin and nodded reluctantly.

"Fine, just come over tomorrow at noon then."

"I want in too! Here's the money for both of us."

Hua Hua stood up, pulled two large bills from his back pocket, and stuffed them into Gao Xiaofan's hand.

Then everyone present paid up, and they did so happily. After eating, they didn't rush to leave but helped clean up together.

While cleaning, they chatted, fantasizing about tomorrow's delicacy.

In the canteen, Liu Yunning was drinking congee, smelling the fish aroma drifting through the village, feeling like crying.

The Cooking Auntie was getting more and more careless; tonight's dinner was actually just congee and steamed buns.

Liu Yunning sniffed.

Waaaah, it's the smell of braised fish again...

..."Weather station report: Typhoon Aikun has made landfall at the expected time. Its path is as predicted, passing through Hangdong City, Hangxi City, Andong City, and Annan City..."

"Affected by the typhoon, temperatures in many areas have dropped. Everyone, please stay warm~"