A long time passed before Leng Ruo Li and Jun Mo Han returned to the island. Everyone rushed to surround them.
“Li’er, did you find Ye Er?” Leng Jin Yu asked first.
Upon hearing this, Leng Ruo Li shook her head.
“Father, the Prince and I searched all the surrounding waters but couldn’t find Ye Er. He is missing.”
“Sigh…”
Leng Jin Yu let out a long sigh. He frowned and said, “Ye Er survived the man-eating vine incident, so he’ll be fine this time too.”
The others, upon learning that Ye Er was not found, became disheartened.
Especially the guards from Leng Wangfu, who had been brothers in arms with Ye Er for over ten years. Hearing that Ye Er was missing today, they were undoubtedly heartbroken. Moreover, they knew in their hearts that Ye Er was likely beyond saving this time.
Seeing everyone’s grim expressions, Leng Ruo Li tried to comfort them.
“Don’t worry, try to think positively. Although we haven’t found Ye Er yet, there are other residents nearby. Perhaps he was rescued by residents from another island.”
“Yes, everyone, don’t be anxious. We’ll search the surrounding waters again later. For now, quickly set up our accommodation for tonight. We’ll be descending the mountain tomorrow.”
Leng Jin Yu said hastily to lighten the mood.
After hearing him, everyone returned to their positions and continued working, quickly setting up the more than ten tents that Leng Ruo Li had thrown out earlier, and then preparing dinner.
Leng Ruo Li instructed several guards to dig several smokeless stoves according to her method for cooking large pots of food.
With the help of two young maids and Ye Ying Yin Chen, Leng Ruo Li prepared a large pot of rice, a large pot of braised chicken, and a large pot of vegetables. Originally, Leng Ruo Li wanted to make the dishes more exquisite, but with so many people accompanying them this time, and all of them being men with large appetites, she had to resort to large-pot cooking.
Just then, she had a stroke of genius. Glancing at the seaside, an idea suddenly came to her. They were by the sea, and the sea and shore were filled with ingredients for cooking – fish, shrimp, crabs, shellfish… and so many other small seafood that they were practically underfoot. She had overlooked these seafood delicacies earlier due to her urgency in searching for the Hua clan’s settlement. Now that they were living by the sea, everyone would have a feast.
Moreover, this was the ancient times, sparsely populated, and without industrial wastewater pollution. The seafood here would be much fresher and more delicious than modern seafood.
At this moment, Leng Ruo Li quickly gathered those who were free and instructed them to each take a large plastic bucket to the seaside to catch fish, dig for shellfish, and collect sea cucumbers… The more than ten of them each returned with a bucket full of seafood.
After they brought back the seafood, Leng Ruo Li taught everyone how to clean these small seafood. Under her guidance, everyone quickly learned and immediately picked up the tools Leng Ruo Li had prepared, and they all processed the seafood together.
Leng Ruo Li assigned everyone tasks, and each person processed the seafood at a good pace. Some handled squid and small fish, some handled shellfish like scallops and oysters, and others were responsible for cleaning all the seafood. The scene was very lively.
After everyone had finished cleaning all the seafood, Leng Ruo Li transformed them into various delicacies: steamed, stir-fried with sauce, spicy stir-fried, and even a mixed stew…
Leng Ruo Li made all these seafood dishes fragrant and delicious, which helped to alleviate half of everyone’s suppressed mood.
“Li’er, Father never knew that these hard dried seafood could be so delicious when cooked. Father would not have thrown away the seafood people sent to the manor before.”
At this moment, Leng Jin Yu mumbled while eating an oyster.
“Then, if someone sends seafood to the manor in the future, you can call your daughter back to cook it for you.”
Leng Ruo Li said with a sweet smile.
“Mm-hmm, in any case, if anyone sends seafood to the manor in the future, Father will definitely not waste it.”
Leng Jin Yu nodded eagerly, as if shaking a sieve.
“Girl, how is your brain wired? Why are you so clever and capable of doing everything? You can even make these things that I never touched before so delicious. Girl, you are truly amazing.” Ming Jiu Xiao also praised Leng Ruo Li while eating.
However, his words were met with criticism from Jun Mo Han.
“Of course. Whose consort do you think she is? Anyway, someone like you who doesn’t distinguish between genders can’t make such delicious food.”
Upon hearing Jun Mo Han’s words, Ming Jiu Xiao’s face instantly turned as dark as ink.
“You, you… are you deliberately going against me, you icicle?”
Jun Mo Han heard this and raised his eyebrows proudly, about to speak.
But he was tugged at the sleeve by Leng Ruo Rui beside him, reminding him.
Leng Ruo Li also looked at Jun Mo Han with a cold gaze. “You really are something. You can’t even keep your mouth shut while eating. As a highly respected prince, why are you so petty? Your magnanimity shrinks so much whenever you see Ming Jiu Xiao.”
Jun Mo Han was instantly angered.
“Then why doesn’t he think about why this Prince targets him specifically and not others?”
“Alright, Your Highness, let’s discuss whatever it is after we finish eating. We still have a task to do, and Ye Er hasn’t been found yet.”
Leng Ruo Rui quickly intervened to stop their argument.
“Yes, Your Highness,楼主 (Louzhu - Lord of the Pavilion/Sect Leader), we don’t know if Ye Er is alive or dead yet. Later, under the cover of night, everyone will go into the sea to find Ye Er. Your Highness and Li’er also have other things to do, so let’s not waste time and eat quickly.”
Leng Jin Yu also spoke at this time. He was the oldest among them and the father-in-law of Leng Wang, so his words carried considerable weight, and everyone respected him greatly.
Now that Leng Jin Yu and Leng Ruo Rui had spoken, and his wife was also displeased, Jun Mo Han dared not act rashly. He could only sit obediently, eating the seafood Leng Ruo Li had given him, and sulking.
In fact, Jun Mo Han wasn’t displeased with Ming Jiu Xiao just because he dressed effeminately. It was because Ming Jiu Xiao had abducted his bride on their wedding day, which was the root of their animosity. Every time Jun Mo Han thought of this incident, he would get angry, even though this ‘demon’ had apologized to him many times.
Leng Ruo Li and Ming Jiu Xiao both knew that Jun Mo Han’s grudge stemmed from the incident on their wedding day.
Afterward, everyone quickly finished their meal. Apart from the Leng Wang couple who went to the larger island to scout for information, four people were left to guard the main camp. The rest of the people were to go into the sea to search for Ye Er.