I became the Counterpart of the Winner in a Period Novel

Chapter 409 - 348: Wild Ducks Can Grow Like This Too

This expanse of Gobi Desert truly is a feng shui treasure. For whatever reason, no one has set foot here, leading to an abundance of wild ducks inhabiting this marshland, with wild duck eggs scattered everywhere.

Jiang Mingyue took out a stack of bamboo baskets from her space, and together with Yan Jinzhi, they rolled up their pant legs and began collecting.

"Yan Jinzhi, how do you want to eat them?"

"Up to you." Anyway, whatever this girl cooks is delicious.

"Then I’ll pickle some salted duck eggs, and later bring them to the base to share with Qiao Mingtang and the others."

"Okay."

"Hey! What do you think, if I tell Jixiang, would he be so excited that he’d want to move his family here?"

Yan Jinzhi found it a bit amusing, as she viewed it from her own perspective.

"No! This is their Divine Mountain; not only would they not come to pick duck eggs and catch wild ducks themselves, but even if we did, they would mobilize the whole village to stop us."

Jiang Mingyue felt a chill on her scalp. Sometimes you have to admit that certain things, ingrained as a faith across generations, can become more important than life itself in people’s hearts.

"That’s really a pity!"

"Not a pity! You can prepare them and send them over to Grandma Jixiang."

"That’s true."

They collected over four baskets of duck eggs, and the sight of them brimming over brought a real sense of achievement.

"Ah! A snake—" That thing can make your scalp tingle at any time and place.

Being hugged by the waist, Yan Jinzhi enjoys the warmth and softness of the moment but doesn’t delay even for half a second. In the next moment, the attacking iron-line snake is pinched at its vital spot and its lifeless body is quickly thrown far away.

"It’s fine now! I’ll catch the wild ducks, you go sit on that big rock."

"Yan Jinzhi, just catch a few, don’t hinder their reproduction." Though she wanted to greedily keep them in her space for breeding, the space can only accommodate chickens, rabbits, and fish, nothing else.

But now...

"Ming Yue, give it a try."

Jiang Mingyue had a sudden inspiration and really focused on observing the wild ducks he tossed into the space.

A minute later

Five minutes later

A quarter of an hour later...

The two wild ducks adapted well, showing no signs of sluggishness or suffocation.

They were paddling happily in her fish pond, even more at ease than in their original habitat.

Jiang Mingyue delightedly shared this phenomenon.

"Yan Jinzhi, it worked. They’re all doing well. Quick! Throw some more in. From now on, I’m someone who can eat ducks."

But she was a bit worried about her fish, "Do you think the ducks will eat my fish?"

"Your fish pond reproduces quickly. Even if the ducks eat a few, it won’t matter. By the way, you can raise the price for wild duck meat that has eaten fish."

Jiang Mingyue decisively refused, "No price increase, we’ll keep them for ourselves." Would she want to sell such luxury ducks? And is she someone short on money?

In fact, this aligned perfectly with Yan Jinzhi’s intention.

"Then I want old duck soup."

"Sure, I’ll add some morel mushrooms for you, ensuring it’s delicious. It would be even better with yam."

"Hai Zi Village in Little Stone Commune has it; I’ll ring up and have someone send it over."

Jiang Mingyue found the name familiar, thought for a moment, and finally recalled.

"I thought so. It’s my grandmother’s home. I’ll ask my cousin to handle it. No need for you to do that."

Yan Jinzhi: "..."

They didn’t catch all the ducks into the space, leaving a dozen or so in the marshland to reproduce.

Besides ducks, Yan Jinzhi picked a bunch of wildflowers from the edge.

"So beautiful!"

"I’m glad you like them."

They were indeed lovely, though the type unknown. They looked like Teng Caihong, but not quite, as they had no thorns and were even more vibrant, with bigger blooms.

"Shall we dig some up and plant them in my courtyard?"

"No need to dig." Yan Jinzhi reached out to her, revealing several segments suitable for soil planting.

"But this season might be unsuitable for survival."

"Get them to take root in the space first, then transplant them."

"True."

In the evening, the two simmered old duck soup, fried spring rolls, and steamed fish, making up their dinner.

Feeling stuffed, they held hands and strolled out of the small courtyard. Jiang Mingyue carried a basket, but Yan Jinzhi took it over.

There was some old duck soup left, which Jiang Mingyue brought over to Grandma Jixiang. Also included were snacks earlier gifted by Uncle Mute, which they would likely enjoy.

"Ms. Ming Yue?" From afar, the small boy on the hill waved his little hand at them.

Jiang Mingyue waved back.

"So energetic! Compared to him, Xiao Ran seems more like a calm little old man."

"Each has their merits."

"You’re partial to Xiao Ran."

Yan Jinzhi: "...I’m just being honest."

"Your eyes clearly lit up just now."

Did they? Yan Jinzhi felt touched, not expecting her beloved to notice even this detail.

"Sister, who is he?"

"You can call him big brother!"

The little guy, though initially showing a moment of hostility, quickly mellowed, and obediently called him brother.

"Is Ming Yue here?" From the grid-like window, Grandma Jixiang, leaning on a branch, fumbled her way out, clearly having heard the voice.

Jiang Mingyue hurried to support Grandma Jixiang, noting that smoke was rising from the shack, suggesting they were about to cook. Don’t ask her how she knew, because Jixiang had mentioned that their village only cooked when it was dark.

She longed to ask why not during the day?

Admittedly, certain customs are beyond the understanding of an outsider like her.

"Grandma Jixiang, I prepared too much old duck soup tonight and brought some for you, please don’t dislike it!"

Grandma Jixiang waved her hand, her wrinkled face beaming with extra warmth, "Wonderful! Wonderful! Saved me and Jixiang from cooking. Eh? There’s another person?"

Jiang Mingyue responded with a smile, "Yes. He’s my friend Yan Jinzhi, working at the neighboring experimental base."

Grandma Jixiang replied with three consecutive affirmations.

"Good! Good! Good! He’s a promising young man. People with ability must contribute to the country. Sadly, I’m old, and my eyes are blind, unable to see today’s peace."

Yan Jinzhi and Jiang Mingyue exchanged glances, feeling Grandma Jixiang possessed an unwavering sense of justice, such that her eyes were blinded in the line of duty, yet she bore no complaint and diligently served her life long while remaining grateful for her country’s prosperity.

Yan Jinzhi stepped forward, holding Grandma Jixiang’s hand as if it were aged tree bark.

"Grandma, I’ve reported your story, and soon someone will come to handle it. Rest assured, I’ll be there too. Whatever dreams you hold, feel free to voice them."

Grandma Jixiang slowly smiled, silently yet radiantly, even her missing teeth looked charming.

"Nice, nice. Our country hasn’t forgotten me; that’s wonderful! Young man, thank you! Thank you, Ming Yue!"

"Grandma, this is what the country owes you. It is us who should be thankful."

Yan Jinzhi promptly saluted the old lady with a solemn military gesture.

Leaving behind the snacks, the young pair departed amidst the grandma and grandson’s radiant smiles, as fiery clouds adorned the horizon, equally resplendent.