To welcome He Si's joining, Ji Shiyou went to great lengths, personally entering Mingyue's space.
He picked fresh ingredients and selected the seasonings he needed from the supplies.
According to the original host's memories, He Si didn't seem to have any particular favorite foods.
Mingyue searched for a long time, only finding a memory about food.
One morning, before going out, she heard He Si tell Ren Youbei that he wanted to eat spicy crab.
Ren Youbei said that He Shi didn't like spicy food, so she wasn't planning to make it.
As a result, He Si, who had always been submissive to Ren Youbei, uncharacteristically argued with her.
His attitude was particularly firm, stating that if there was no spicy crab for dinner that day,
He would have Ren Youbei take He Shi and get out of the house, never to return.
Seeing how persistent He Si was about spicy crab in the memory, willing to argue with Ren Youbei just to eat it, Mingyue knew he must love it. She told Ji Shiyou.
Knowing what He Si liked to eat, Ji Shiyou treated it like a major enemy and asked Mingyue to send him into the space.
He went to the place where supplies were stored, then to the planting area where various crops were grown, and headed straight for the river in the space.
For spicy crab, live crabs were best, but that was impossible in the apocalypse.
Even frozen crabs were nowhere to be found in the outside world, let alone live ones.
But he remembered that when the apocalypse began, he and Mingyue had collected supplies.
They had specifically gone to the agricultural university in Linhai City and looted all the seeds and saplings there.
They had also thrown all the young poultry and livestock, as well as aquatic fry, that had been bred in the laboratory into the space.
Because the food stored in the space was piled up like a mountain, enough for them to eat.
This matter was only known to him and Mingyue, and over time, even he had forgotten about it.
However, the spicy crab reminded him of it, and as soon as he entered the space, he rushed to check.
If there were fresh crabs, it would be great, and it would earn him extra points with his future father-in-law.
Ji Shiyou ran all the way, heading upstream along the small river in the space.
That was where the mountain in the space was located. No one else had been there; it was the source of the river.
The water flow there was gentle, the water was not deep, and there were scattered pools.
He had originally scattered the aquatic fry he collected here.
He wondered if they had all died, hoping they hadn't. Ji Shiyou silently prayed, as this was crucial for his good impression in front of He Si.
"Is this a newly developed variety?"
Looking at the crabs the size of pot lids crawling around the edge of the pool,
And shrimp as thick as his arm in the water, their size clearly exceeding his understanding of aquatic life, Ji Shiyou was a bit stunned.
He thought the aquatic fry he and Mingyue collected were a new variety researched by the agricultural university, which was why they were like this.
In reality, it wasn't as he thought. Mingyue's space was full of spiritual energy.
The fry they brought in were just ordinary varieties, and only in the space would they grow so rapidly and become so large.
But no matter what, the ingredient problem was solved. He caught two particularly large crabs.
He also caught ten shrimp as thick as his arm, feeling incredibly happy. With these, winning over his future father-in-law was a certainty.
"Cough, cough, cough, cough, cough!"
The Mingyue team's camp was enveloped by the choking smell of chili. Everyone stood a hundred meters away, watching Ji Shiyou busy himself alone.
"I can't take it anymore, Tian Chang, what kind of chili did you plant for Old Ji in the space?
The smell is so strong, even I, who loves spicy food, can't stand it. This isn't chili, it's biological warfare."
Jin Xi's eyes and nose were running, and he coughed until his face was red, asking Tian Chang.
Ji Shiyou had put a lot of thought into this meal. To make the ultimate spicy crab,
He had planted chili in the space, with Gong Que sowing, Tian Chang accelerating growth, and Bu Zhi watering.
He also had Ba Jiu use his fire ability to dry it, and Qiu Wenqing use his wind blades to chop it into chili powder. It was a full team effort.
It was just that Tian Chang had used a bit too much force during the growth acceleration, making the chili excessively spicy, unbearable for everyone.
"No way? I think it smells delicious!"
Mingyue hadn't wanted to leave. She didn't feel it was that spicy and had been pulled over by Tian Chang.
She even took a deep sniff, the pungent aroma entering her nostrils, a look of enjoyment on her face.
However, when the dish was out of the pot, everyone gathered around because it was too fragrant.
"I feel like I could eat a whole basin by myself."
Looking at the spicy crab and spicy shrimp on the table, Gong Que swallowed a large mouthful of saliva.
There was nothing he could do. The white crab and shrimp meat was submerged in red oil, dotted with emerald green chopped scallions.
The numbing, spicy, fresh, and fragrant aroma filled his taste buds, making his saliva gush out like a spring, and he could only keep swallowing.
Bu Zhi was even more direct. He didn't speak, his lips tightly sealed, for fear that if he opened his mouth, his saliva would flow out.
He directly reached out his hand for the crab meat he had been eyeing for a long time. His stomach was growling, unable to resist the temptation of the rich aroma.
"Sit properly, no stealing."
However, as soon as his hand reached out, Ji Shiyou mercilessly slapped it away, giving him a warning look.
Bu Zhi quickly sat down obediently, trying his best to swallow his saliva, his eyes still fixed on the piece of crab meat.
"Dinner is served, Uncle He, welcome to the Mingyue team.
I specially made spicy crab and spicy shrimp, please try them?"
His expression was different from when he had warned Bu Zhi. Facing He Si, Ji Shiyou had a fawning look.
He personally picked up a piece of crab meat and placed it in He Si's bowl, acting like a eunuch serving the Empress Dowager, hunched over, his face full of anticipation.
"Hmph, sycophant! My crab meat!"
Bu Zhi muttered softly. The piece Ji Shiyou had put in He Si's bowl was the one he had been eyeing for a long time.
Seeing the crab meat go into He Si's bowl, Bu Zhi felt as if his heart had been ripped out. He was heartbroken and quickly looked for a new target.
"Uncle He, please try it. Does it suit your taste? Try it quickly. If you like it, I'll make it for you again in the future."
Ji Shiyou didn't sit down. He stood by He Si's side, not eating himself.
His face was full of nervousness, afraid that He Si wouldn't like the spicy crab he made.
Seeing He Si staring at the piece of crab meat, not putting it in his mouth for a long time, he became anxious and urged him enthusiastically.
He Si couldn't refuse Ji Shiyou's enthusiastic gaze. He slowly picked up the bowl.
Frowning, he picked up a small piece of crab meat and put it in his mouth.
Before he could swallow, he suddenly spat it out, his face covered in sweat, and he coughed violently. The sound suggested he was coughing up his lungs.
"Uncle He, are you alright?"
Ji Shiyou was terrified. He quickly patted He Si's back, helping him catch his breath.
He also got a bottle of water, opened it, and handed it to He Si's mouth.
However, he felt very disappointed. Was his cooking that bad? But looking at everyone else eating with gusto, it didn't seem like it was bad.
"Uncle He, is my cooking too unpalatable?"
Mustering his courage, Ji Shiyou, still apprehensive, asked his question.
"It's not your fault. I'm naturally unable to eat spicy food, not even a little bit. It has nothing to do with you."
He Si's words surprised Ji Shiyou. He looked up to see Mingyue, who was holding a piece of crab meat and gnawing on it with a greasy mouth.