While those around were still bewildered, Li Zhichen tightened her grip on the fishing rod with one hand, found the right angle, and suddenly jerked it up!
A black crucian carp as thick as an adult's arm leaped out from beneath the ice. Then it plopped onto the ice surface, its huge tail thrashing violently, making a deafening noise!
The ice fell silent for a moment, and then a chorus of exclamations erupted from the crowd.
"Good heavens... What a huge fish!!"
The man who had scolded Li Zhichen just now stood there, stunned. He blinked desperately, unable to believe what he was seeing.
Could this woman really catch a fish with just a wooden stick?? How was that possible?!
Young Master Guo also stared fixedly at the big fish, his face extremely ugly.
How did Li Zhichen manage to catch a fish?? She didn't even have any bait!
He then looked at his own fish basket. The small fish in it were like shrimps compared to Li Zhichen's big one!
But then he thought, the rule of the competition was that the one who caught the most fish would win. Although his fish were small, he had caught far more than Li Zhichen. The champion must still be his!
So Young Master Guo sneered and taunted, "You're just lucky, woman! Fishing requires skills. Do you think you can always be this lucky?"
Before his words had faded, Li Zhichen's fishing rod suddenly twitched!
Then the dry grass roots tied to the top of the fishing rod fluttered like butterflies, one after another!
Those around widened their eyes and stared intently at the fishing rod in Li Zhichen's hand and the ice surface, not daring to blink!
Li Zhichen let out a couple of snorts and lazily lifted her eyelids.
She raised her hand and reeled in the rod!
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A fresh and lively atmosphere rushed towards them. One after another, thick wild big fish fell onto the ice surface like dumplings, making crackling noises. It was an extremely spectacular sight!
Everyone couldn't help but gasp in amazement. Even the old man stood there, stunned, muttering to himself, "I've been fishing and hunting for so many years, but I've never seen such superb ice - fishing skills! It's truly amazing!"
Watching the once - empty bamboo basket beside Li Zhichen gradually fill with big fish, Young Master Guo finally couldn't hold it together. He counted the fish with trembling lips, and his face instantly turned as pale as paper.
He had lost.
Li Zhichen had not only caught exactly ten fish, but each fish was astonishingly large in size and weight!
The onlookers' excitement instantly soared. Cheers and exclamations mingled in the air above the ice!
Some fishing enthusiasts even rushed to Li Zhichen's side, asking her the secret of her fishing skills!
Just then, the two incense sticks had burned out completely. The old man recalled his earlier comments on Li Zhichen. His face turned first red then white, feeling extremely ashamed.
Sure enough, there's always someone better!
He coughed twice and announced loudly, "The competition is over! This young lady is undoubtedly the champion! Does anyone have any objections?"
Everyone looked at each other. They admired Li Zhichen so much that they wouldn't dare to raise any objections!
For a moment, the only sound on the ice was the wind.
A soft "ding" sounded. Suddenly, the system prompted, [Congratulations to the host for increasing your influence in this world. You are specially rewarded with 2 points!]
Li Zhichen raised an eyebrow. She didn't expect such a pleasant surprise!
At the same time, she got the heavy silver in hand. Her eyes instantly curved into crescents.
She picked up the bamboo basket full of big fish and skipped towards the other side of the river.
It wasn't until Li Zhichen's figure became a tiny dot and disappeared in the distance that the people on the ice finally came to their senses, constantly exclaiming and praising.
What they had seen and heard today would be enough for them fishing enthusiasts to reminisce about for some time!
After leaving the riverbank, Li Zhichen didn't return to the dilapidated temple immediately. Instead, she turned towards the town's medical clinic.
Although the ointment she had brought from the apocalypse could eliminate the bedsores on Qi Lixiao's body, it might not be enough to completely cure them. If the condition relapsed, Qi Lixiao would surely suffer again.
Li Zhichen described Qi Lixiao's symptoms in detail to the doctor. She noted down all his dietary taboos and precautions one by one, and took the several sets of herbal decoctions prescribed by the doctor, which cost her two taels of silver.
After leaving the medical clinic, Li Zhichen also bought some daily necessities like bowls, basins, oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar in the market. The silver she had just earned quickly dwindled to half.
Li Zhichen didn't feel bad about it. Silver should be spent on what really mattered. In this world, nothing was more important than Qi Lixiao's health.
A vendor saw Li Zhichen, a delicate young girl, carrying so many things. He kindly asked, "Can you carry all these things by yourself? Do you need some help?"
Li Zhichen thanked him with a smile and declined his offer.
When she reached a corner and made sure there was no one around, she stuffed all the things into her spatial bracelet at once. Instantly, she felt much lighter and strode towards the dilapidated temple.
...
Inside the dilapidated temple, Qi Lixiao was lying quietly on the bed, his dark eyes staring blankly at the temple door.
He had been awake since Li Zhichen left. It had been nearly an hour. For some reason, Qi Lixiao felt a bit empty inside.
Perhaps because he had been paralyzed for so long, his hearing had become extremely sharp. When he was in the small courtyard of the Qi Xianwang Mansion, he could clearly hear and know everything the servants said and did in the yard. He just found it annoying.
But at this moment, Qi Lixiao couldn't quite explain his own feelings. As long as there was the slightest sound outside the door, he would laboriously lift his eyes to look.
Seeing that there was still nothing outside the door, Qi Lixiao would then withdraw his gaze, and his whole being would fall back into silence.
This went on and on. Finally, footsteps sounded inside the dilapidated temple.
Qi Lixiao looked out through the crack in the door. Sure enough, he saw that familiar and lively figure. Almost at the same time, his heart settled back into place, and even a hint of joy and comfort welled up inside him.
It had only been two days, but Qi Lixiao was surprised to find that his dependence on Li Zhichen was much deeper than he had thought.
As soon as Li Zhichen entered the dilapidated temple, she rushed into the kitchen in a hurry. She cleaned the old water tank thoroughly and then put all ten big fish into it.
Watching the big fish wriggling and jumping, Li Zhichen was in an unexpectedly good mood and hummed a little song softly.
Qi Lixiao's eyes had been on Li Zhichen. It wasn't until the cheerful singing got closer that he quickly shifted his gaze. His weak fingers gently fidgeted with the bed sheet, hiding all his emotions.
The temple door was gently pushed open. Li Zhichen walked into the room, bringing with her the cold frost and snow. She thought Qi Lixiao was asleep, so she slowed down her steps and quietly climbed onto the bed with the ointment in her hand.
Unexpectedly, as soon as she lifted Qi Lixiao's quilt, the man beneath her moved, as if he had just woken up.
Li Zhichen was a bit happy. With a gentle look in her eyes, she whispered, "Are you awake? I'll wipe your body and apply the medicine."
Without waiting for Qi Lixiao's response, a pair of dexterous little hands undid his robe and took off his fur trousers.
Li Zhichen checked the bedsores on Qi Lixiao's body. She thought to herself that the anti - inflammatory ointment was really effective. The skin that had been ulcerated on Qi Lixiao yesterday was almost healed, although it was still a bit red and swollen.
As the saying goes, practice makes perfect. Li Zhichen fetched a warm wet cloth and skillfully wiped Qi Lixiao's body.
Her little hands started from Qi Lixiao's chin and carefully wiped all the way down, with gentle movements, not missing a single spot.
After wiping his body and applying the medicine, Li Zhichen massaged Qi Lixiao's body as usual. Her soft fingertips kneaded from his shoulders to his arms, and then moved from his abdomen to his thighs.
Qi Lixiao's eyelids fluttered, and his Adam's apple rolled slightly. He felt a bit parched.
Wherever Li Zhichen touched, there was a strange tingling sensation, which gradually grew hot.
Li Zhichen didn't notice Qi Lixiao's strangeness at all. While massaging, she chattered away to Qi Lixiao like a lark.
"Just applying the ointment isn't enough. You need to have a good diet. I caught a lot of fish today. I'll cook fish soup for you later!"
Qi Lixiao frowned. It was still snowing outside, but Li Zhichen had gone fishing just to supplement his nutrition?
His eyes lingered on Li Zhichen's cheeks, which were a bit red from the frost and snow. His calm heart was like a still lake suddenly disturbed by a stone, irresistibly rippling with waves.