When Lu Fan returned from the mountains, he carried two wolf cubs in his arms, followed by six pheasants, and a basket of medicinal herbs on his back.
Because of the two wolf cubs, Lu Fan didn't continue searching for pheasants and returned from the deep mountains. He then collected all the mushrooms in the pine forest, which amounted to over a hundred catties, before heading home.
"Lu Fan! Where did you go? I didn't see you this morning!" As soon as he entered the yard, Fan Xue'er rushed over. Anyone who didn't know better would think they hadn't seen each other for ages!
"Wow? Where did you steal two puppies from this morning?" As she pounced over, Fan Xue'er saw the two wolf cubs in Lu Fan's arms and exclaimed with surprise. She loved small pets too!
"Xue'er! These aren't puppies, they're wolf cubs!" Lu Fan said quickly.
"Wolves??" Hearing the word "wolf," Fan Xue'er was startled and immediately took a step back. She looked at Lu Fan with a shocked expression and asked, "Are you sure these are really wolves?"
"Yes! They are two wolf cubs! However, they are still very young, and it's uncertain if they will eat or not, so they won't hurt anyone!" Lu Fan made a small nest for the two wolf cubs next to the pigsty and placed them inside.
"Wolf cubs are also very cute!" Fan Xue'er couldn't help but feel curious and fond of the two little furballs as she looked at them. She went over and picked one up.
"Little Fan! How did you bring back two wolf cubs? Did you go into the mountains?" Zhao Rongrong asked worriedly upon seeing Lu Fan bring back two wolf cubs.
"Mom! Don't worry. I encountered them while picking mushrooms. The mother wolf died, and seeing how pitiful they were, I brought them back," Lu Fan said quickly. Fearing his mother's worry, he didn't dare to say too much.
"Ah! Then what should I feed them?" Zhao Rongrong's maternal instincts kicked in, and the two little furballs were indeed very cute. She went over and picked up the other one. The little wolf cub nuzzled its small head into Zhao Rongrong's arms, as if searching for something.
"Alright! I'll go buy them some milk." Lu Fan hurried to the small store.
In the county town, at the manager's office of Yixiangyuan Hotel, Bai Xuemei leaned on the sofa with a troubled expression, her eyes slightly closed as she pondered something.
*Tap, tap, tap...* A few knocks on the door, and then a career-oriented middle-aged woman walked in. The hotel's financial director, Xu Yang!
"Manager Bai! Ten days of this month have already passed. If we don't think of a solution, our performance... I'm afraid we won't be able to meet that target," Xu Yang said softly and cautiously.
"I know! But I... alas! Perhaps this is just inescapable fate!
Auntie Xu! Ask the kitchen to prepare the pheasant I brought back last time for me. Make it stewed chicken with mushrooms!" Bai Xuemei slowly opened her eyes, her expression filled with helplessness.
For some reason, she suddenly thought of Lu Fan's pheasants and mushrooms. She thought of his cheerful demeanor. Why could others live so happily, while she couldn't? What was the use of earning so much money if she couldn't escape her fate?
"Okay! I'll arrange it." Xu Yang turned and left!
Watching Xu Yang leave, Bai Xuemei gently opened her drawer and took out a small bottle of medicine. It was a bottle of sleeping pills!
"Lin Quan! Even if I die, I won't let you succeed!" A tear flashed in Bai Xuemei's eyes. She closed the drawer, slowly closed her eyes, and leaned back on the sofa.
...
"Manager Bai! Should I bring lunch to you or...?" At noon, Xu Yang appeared in Bai Xuemei's office again, looking at her with a hint of concern.
"Bring it over. And get me a bottle of Wuliangye," Bai Xuemei said, opening her eyes.
"You want to drink?" Xu Yang asked in surprise.
"I haven't been sleeping well lately. I'll drink a little and take a nap," Bai Xuemei said lazily.
"Then... alright!"
Xu Yang turned and left. Shortly after, she returned with a bottle of Wuliangye, followed by a waiter holding a meal tray. The tray contained a large bowl of stewed chicken with mushrooms, a plate of braised beef, and a small bowl of egg noodles.
After placing the items down, the waiter left immediately. Xu Yang stood by, looking concerned, and did not leave.
"Why is the food so fragrant today?" Bai Xuemei exclaimed in surprise as she opened the covered bowl. An enticing aroma wafted towards her.
"The food is very delicious today. Drink less alcohol and eat more vegetables," Xu Yang said urgently from the side.
"Mmm!" Bai Xuemei responded verbally, but her hand had already reached for the Wuliangye.
Her other hand hesitated by the drawer, but ultimately, she twitched her delicate nose and chose to pick up her chopsticks. After all, the aroma was too tempting.
"Mmm! This meal is surprisingly delicious! Auntie Xu, you should try some too!" Bai Xuemei tasted a mushroom, and the flavor, infused with the chicken's essence, was elevated to another level. The texture lingered in her mouth, leaving a long-lasting aftertaste.
"Since it's so delicious, eat more. You shouldn't drink this wine anymore, okay!" Xu Yang quickly took the Wuliangye away from her.
"With such delicious food, wouldn't it be a shame without wine? Auntie Xu, have a drink with me.
By the way, what did the chef put in this dish? Why is it so delicious?" Bai Xuemei got the Wuliangye back and suddenly asked.
"It's the same as the usual preparation. According to your instructions, it uses the pheasant and mushrooms you brought back," Xu Yang said from the side.
"Oh! The pheasant and mushrooms I brought back! Lu Fan's raised pheasants..." Bai Xuemei's eyes suddenly lit up. She reached out and took out her phone, found the number, and dialed it directly.
Lu Fan was in the greenhouse, researching how to grow mushrooms. The mushroom cultivation bags brought by Master Wu made things easier, but Lu Fan still wanted to add his own ingredients: pine sawdust and spirit liquid water.
*Ring, ring, ring...* His phone suddenly rang. Taking out his phone, he saw it was Bai Xuemei calling.
"Sister Xuemei! Did you eat my stewed chicken with mushrooms?" Lu Fan asked as soon as he answered the phone.
"You... how did you know?" Bai Xuemei asked in surprise.
"If you didn't eat the stewed chicken with mushrooms, why else would you think of me! Hehe!" Lu Fan said with a grin.
"Tsk! You're right about that." Bai Xuemei rolled her eyes. This kid actually had some self-awareness. "I need fifty pheasants. Can you provide them to me?"
"Big sister! Let's not even talk about whether I have fifty pheasants. I just want to ask, can you earn one or two million with fifty pheasants?" Lu Fan let out a wry smile. Fifty pheasants would mean taking all his breeding stock. The problem was, even if he took all of them, you wouldn't earn five million!
"What else do you know?" Bai Xuemei's expression turned slightly cold. She slammed her chopsticks onto the table. It seemed Lu Fan knew some of her affairs?
"Sister Xuemei! I also know a way to earn five million within twenty days. Do you want to know?" Lu Fan said immediately.
"Twenty days... you can earn five million? Are you bragging without paying taxes?" Bai Xuemei's suspicion that Lu Fan knew a lot was further confirmed.
"How will you know if you don't try? Just tell me if you want to know!"
"Yes! Of course, I want to! If you can't do it, I'll make you die with me! Hmph! Tell me! What's the method?" Bai Xuemei gritted her teeth. Although she didn't believe it at all, she still wanted to know the method. What if she could actually do it? Then she wouldn't need to prepare sleeping pills.
"I found a doctor for you to make medicinal cuisine," Lu Fan said immediately.
"Get lost! Medicinal cuisine is everywhere, and I haven't seen a single one that can earn a million a month!" Bai Xuemei was so angry she almost jumped up. She had really overestimated this kid!
"The medicinal cuisine I'm giving you can not only cure all diseases, but it can also cure common ailments with just one meal. Most importantly, it can be as delicious as stewed chicken with mushrooms," Lu Fan added immediately.
"Lu Fan... come here, right now. I'll have another drink with you. I want to see if you can fly to the heavens." Bai Xuemei gulped down a mouthful of Wuliangye. I want to get drunk too... and then brag about something that will make me happy.