Immortal Takeout - Chapter 11

Ta Nuo wasn’t snatched by the fish—naturally.On the contrary, he dove underwater, circled around, and surfaced with two small fish he’d accidentally caught. Unfortunately, these fish were far too tiny, barely two fingers wide. Perhaps stunned by the rain, they floated belly-up on the surface, allowing Ta Nuo to scoop them up. Because the fish were so small, when Ta Nuo came ashore, one slipped through the gaps between his claws.

What a pity!

He stared longingly at the remaining fish in his claws, lost in thought. No wonder Otter Mom always said, “dreaming is one thing, waking up is another.” Luckily, the little fish was still dejectedly blowing bubbles, looking reasonably fresh. He carefully placed it on the shore, where it stood in stark contrast to the two giant fish Ta Xing had caught.

Still, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. A fish is still a fish, and even the smallest fish is still meat. Ta Nuo rubbed his face, regained his confidence, and decided to press on with his victory, striving for more.

Ta Xing followed him ashore, standing behind Ta Nuo with an expression that seemed to want to say something but held back. It appeared he didn’t want to dampen his younger brother’s newly kindled fighting spirit.

The entire morning was spent alternating between diving and scooping fish. By noon, the rain had subsided and Dayue Lake began to clear up. Ta Nuo sprinkled sea salt over himself, then meticulously rubbed every inch of his fur. After tidying up, he began to tally today’s haul: five small fish, each about an inch wide. They were all unknown small fish, insignificant little creatures, dazed and disoriented from the downpour, weakly bubbling as they gasped for air.

Ta Nuo went back to the house and picked up a small bamboo basket. He neatly stacked the fish he had caught in the basket – well, it looked good, at least the bottom of the basket was full.

Ta Xing couldn’t bear to watch any longer and gave Ta Nuo the largest crucian carp he’d caught. It was the season when crucian carp were plump and delicious. With just one added, the entire basket overflowed. The tail wouldn’t fit inside, so it hung over the edge, dripping water steadily and twitching from time to time.

Ta Nuo was thoroughly satisfied. Carrying the overflowing basket of fish, he donned his rain-proof straw hat and cloak, boarded his handmade canoe, and drifted with the breeze, swaying gently downstream all the way to Liujia Village. He disembarked, carefully concealed the canoe with grass, then made his way with practiced ease to Da Luo’s Grocery Store.

The Da Luo Grocery Store was connected to the young boss’s living quarters. The shop front faced the road on the sunny side, while the rear courtyard housed a tiled house and small courtyard. He stood watching the shopfront for a moment. No one was inside. The store wasn’t large. A bamboo pole held up a green canopy above the entrance, bearing the brush-painted characters “Da Luo Grocery Store.” A small stuffed cat doll hung from it, its tail quietly dripping water in the fine rain.

The main entrance featured a wooden counter where a white ledger lay open, a white porcelain bowl sat, and a glass jar brimming with cheap chocolate candies stood. Both sides were piled high with assorted beverages and bottled water. Beneath the counter, a glass display case held hard and soft-pack cigarettes of varying prices alongside chewing gum whose expiration date was long forgotten.

Further inside, the light dimmed, revealing several tall shelves reaching up to the ceiling. The narrow gaps between them allowed only a ladder to pass. Goods were displayed strangely, divided into irregular compartments by wooden planks. It resembled less a general store and more a traditional Chinese herbal medicine shop.

Ta Nuo had previously visited the general store at Mr. Luo’s invitation. Each shelf appeared chaotic at first glance, yet adhered to strict naming conventions and placement rules. Human goods were prominently displayed, while hidden areas contained rare items favored by the little demons, organized by function.

Beyond fast-moving goods like cigarettes and beverages, the shop’s human trade was actually quite poor. Unlike ordinary convenience stores where humans could freely browse and select items, this general store operated on an order-based system. Simply put, you told the owner what you wanted, and whatever he brought out was what you got—no picking or choosing. In the material-scarce days of old, such a shop could still adequately meet humans’ daily needs; However, as human living standards rose, demands for daily necessities rapidly increased. The outdated and antiquated Da Luo Grocery Store had long been abandoned by nearby residents.

Of course, judging by the owner’s carefree attitude, he didn’t seem to mind the shop’s dismal business. Ta Nuo stepped inside and noticed the ledger on the counter listed prices for various beverages in bold, sweeping calligraphy. “The owner is busy, pay and serve yourself” was boldly highlighted in large characters, strikingly conspicuous. A few scattered coins lay in a white porcelain bowl beside it.

He thought to himself, the folk customs here are still quite simple and honest.

The shop was empty, so Ta Nuo had to go around to the back of the courtyard. A huge pear tree stood there, and a tender new shoot had somehow climbed over the wall, its head crowned with a pale pink bud. Ta Nuo stood on tiptoe and gently sniffed it. By April, the whole courtyard would be filled with the scent of pear blossoms. Come autumn, sweet, juicy fruit would be ready to eat.

He took off the straw hat on his head, shook off the water droplets, and placed it under the eaves. Then he gently knocked on the iron door knocker.

Knock knock knock—

The thick wooden door panel emitted a dull thud. Soon, faint rustling sounds came from inside, and the door creaked open.

It was White Umbrella.

White Umbrella tilted the umbrella handle at an angle, quietly observing Ta Nuo.

Ta Nuo bowed slightly and greeted politely, “Hello, is Mr. Luo home? I’m here to discuss…”

Before he could finish, the door slammed shut. Ta Nuo blinked, touched his nose, and continued knocking. After another moment, the door opened once more.

This time, the handsome young boss appeared.

Luo Xiang looked like he hadn’t rested well, dark circles were clearly visible under his eyes, and his thick, soft hair appeared disheveled. Even in the chilly spring air, he wore only a short-sleeved shirt and thin trousers. Standing near him, one could feel the astonishing heat radiating from his body.

Caught off guard by the sudden appearance, Ta Nuo froze, his voice stumbling as he spoke. “Hello, hello. I, I’d like to discuss a partnership...”

Bang—

The door slammed shut again.

Ta Nuo’s head drooped. After a moment’s thought, he bent down and emptied the fish from his bamboo basket. Mimicking Otter Brother’s manner, he arranged them neatly beneath the door by size, laying them out as beautifully and solemnly as possible. Then he stood up and knocked patiently once more.

This time, it took a while before Luo Xiang answered. He still wore that cold, impatient expression. Before Luo Xiang could refuse, Ta Nuo preempted him, calling out loudly, “I’m here to deliver fish!”

His cheeks flushed crimson as he spoke. In this situation, giving a gift was almost like offering a bribe, and doing it in broad daylight seemed inappropriate.

Luo Xiang stared at the large crucian carp for a long moment, then lifted his head, raising an eyebrow slightly, he said, “Go into the kitchen, the second room on the right.” He stepped aside and made way.

Ta Nuo was utterly confused. Was he supposed to deliver the fish to the kitchen? Though it felt odd, the young boss’s acceptance of the fish marked the beginning of their friendly relationship. Ta Nuo quickly put the fish away and jogged into the kitchen, carrying the small bamboo basket.

The Luo family’s kitchen looked neat but not very clean. It was covered in dust, as if it hadn’t been used in a while. An old-fashioned stove stood by the door. It was cold, and the burner was free of ash—clearly abandoned. A massive ceramic water jar held not a single drop. Beside it stood a new gas stove, fully stocked with pots, bowls, and ladles.

Ta Nuo stood awkwardly in the vast kitchen, gesturing silently to the young boss with his eyes, asking where he should place the fish.

Luo Xiang yawned, looking listless. He nodded toward the old stove with his chin and said, “Dinner at five.”

With this ambiguous remark, Luo Xiang turned and left the kitchen, leaving He Nuo bewildered and holding an umbrella that looked like a supervisor.

Huh? What did that mean?

Ta Nuo crouched on the floor, rubbing his face for a moment before finally achieving enlightenment about the young boss’s deeper meaning: He wants me to cook dinner for him!

Ta Nuo paced nervously. There was nothing here, the gas tank was empty, the water barrel was empty, the spice jars were empty. What was he supposed to cook with? He wandered around the kitchen, the curious umbrella trailing behind him. Finally, with no other options, he decided to just dive in and start preparing the fish. At least there were knives in the kitchen.

He placed the large crucian carp in a stainless steel basin, then carried the cleaver, cutting board, and small stool out to the eaves. He rinsed the fish briefly with rainwater dripping from the roof, then made several test cuts with the knife, unable to find a way to make a clean start.

True to his word, Ta Nuo didn’t like fish. Though he’d watched his otter mother cook fish, he’d never tried it himself.

Ta Nuo stood there frowning with worry, knife in hand. The white umbrella swayed nearby, occasionally twisting to shake off raindrops that landed on its surface, only to send them splattering right onto his face. The icy rain dousing his face suddenly sobered him up. Right, if I can’t do it myself, I could ask for outside help. He scrambled to his feet, scooped up the crucian carp, and planned to sneak it home to ask his mom to braise it.

Ta Nuo nodded toward the white umbrella and called out, “Tell the young boss I’m heading out now.” With that, he lifted his leg to head for the door.

The white umbrella mistakenly thought Ta Nuo was trying to sneak away. It hurriedly spun around and dashed into the inner room. Before long, Luo Xiang reappeared, blocking Ta Nuo’s attempt to cheat by seeking outside help.

“This is the first time I’ve heard of a gift being taken back.” Luo Xiang’s voice was soft, but it weighed heavily on Ta Nuo’s ears, making him unable to lift his head.

Ta Nuo was breathless, head bowed, clutching the crucian carp tighter as he whispered in defense, “But there’s nothing in the kitchen…”

Luo Xiang gave a cold laugh, saying nothing.

Ta Nuo nearly lost his footing.

Finally, Luo Xiang moved first. “Follow me,” he said, turning toward the kitchen. Ta Nuo hurried after him, fish clutched in his arms.

Luo Xiang stepped inside slowly, drawing the Qiankun pattern with his right hand and the Three Mountains pattern with his left, gently exhaling the energy of heaven and earth. In an instant, a blazing flame erupted in the stove, transforming it into a brand new look. Suddenly, a dragon roared, and a silver dragon burst through the window, swirling and plummeting, landing in the water tank and transforming into clear, cool water.

Luo Xiang gave Ta Nuo a brief glance, signaling him to proceed.

Ta Nuo stared in utter disbelief.

Fire without fuel, water without source! To apply such power to mundane kitchen tasks was nothing short of squandering natural resources!

He clutched the crucian carp tightly, hesitated for a moment, then tremblingly raised the fish. “How about… killing the fish too, while we’re at it?”

…

Moments later, Ta Nuo was dragged by the collar and tossed out of the house. His first bribery attempt had failed.

He slowly scrambled to his feet, rubbing his sore bottom, muttering to himself, “When I get home, I’ll have to ask Mom to teach me how to cook fish.”

Ah, when will this rain ever stop?

He raised his face, drowning in the sky-filled drizzle. The air carried faint, sweet whispers of spring.

The three stages of spring rain: First, otters sacrifice fish; second, wild geese arrive; third, plants begin to sprout.

Spring had truly arrived.

Author’s Note:

① Otter’s Fish Offering: From “Xia Xiaozheng”, describing how otters catch fish and arrange them in display, resembling a ritual offering.