Beastmaster: I'm really just a forest ranger

Chapter 428 Happy New Year at this moment

In this languid atmosphere, the distinctive "quack quack" of ducks drifted in from afar outside the window, growing clearer and closer to the ear.

Chen Yuan's spirits lifted, and he immediately sat up from the sofa.

Pushing open the door, I saw Runrun Duck walking proudly at the front, head held high, while Youmi flew beside it, its round eyes full of pride.

Chen Yuan raised his head and looked behind the two little guys—he saw several frog-like pets of different sizes and species hopping and skipping behind them in a not-so-neat line.

Each frog carefully cradled a plump, lively fish, its scales shimmering in the setting sun, using its long, elastic tongue or simply its forelimbs.

These spirit fish were all quite large and looked extremely fresh.

Reaching the center of the yard, Runrun Duck stopped and, like a victorious general, pointed with its wing at the open space in front of it, then quacked at the frogs.

The frogs obediently placed the spirit fish they were carrying one by one onto the clean ground.

The fish, out of the water, still wriggled and thrashed against the ground in resentment.

After releasing the fish, the frogs seemed to be handing over a task, croaking a few times at Runrun Duck and Youmi, then turned around, lined up, and hopped away, quickly disappearing into the river leading to Mingyu Lake.

Runrun Duck then turned around and flapped its wings vigorously at Chen Yuan, quacking loudly!

I, Duck Duck, have successfully completed my mission!
Tonight I'm going to eat one, no, two spirit fish!

"Coo-choo~"

Youmi glanced at the spirit fish that were still struggling on the ground, and slowly made a three with her paw.

Chen Yuan couldn't help but chuckle: "There are only seven spirit fish in total, and you two little ones want five of them. What are we going to eat?"

After saying this, Chen Yuan stared intently at the two little ones for a moment with a scrutinizing gaze, and said in a low voice, "Moreover, based on what I know about you, you two must have eaten several spirit fish by the lake."

"quack!"

"Coo-choo!"

Upon hearing this, the two little ones shook their heads frantically in denial.

Chen Yuan chuckled: "Still trying to deny it? I can smell the fish on your breath."

"Coo-choo~"

Youmi remained unmoved, her expression unchanged, and continued to shake her head in denial.

"Gah?"

Duck's eyes widened in disbelief. She quickly lowered her head and opened her mouth, trying to smell the fish in her mouth.

After smelling for a long time, the duck couldn't detect any taste in its mouth. Moreover, it rinsed its mouth with lake water when it left Mingyu Lake, so it should have no taste.

So the duck, looking puzzled, looked up at the farmer and asked, "Quack?"

"Chirp."

Yumi, standing to the side, pressed her paw against her forehead, looking utterly speechless.

Stupid duck!
Silly duck!
I won't go on missions with you anymore!
"Haha, alright, enough joking. Now that the spirit fish has arrived, let's start preparing the New Year's Eve dinner." Chen Yuan chuckled, then had the little ones carry the spirit fish into the kitchen. He tied on an apron and began preparing the New Year's Eve dinner.

The kitchen was gradually filled with a rich, mouthwatering aroma of food.

Wearing an apron, Chen Yuan was busy in an orderly manner. Soup was simmering on the stove, the pot was bubbling, and New Year's goods were frying in the oil, making an enticing sizzling sound.

For tonight's New Year's Eve dinner, he plans to use those fresh spirit fish as the main dish, along with some delicious spirit plants and traditional New Year's dishes, making some minor modifications to both preserve the festive atmosphere and suit the tastes of his family's little foodies.

He had a clear plan for the seven plump and delicious fish: the two freshest ones would be steamed to highlight their original freshness; the two with thick flesh would be braised in soy sauce to make a rich and flavorful dish; and the other three would be made into spicy and appetizing grilled fish to satisfy different tastes.

On the cutting board, chopped scallions, ginger, and garlic emitted a pungent aroma, and various seasonings were neatly arranged.

Beside him, the Morning and Evening Flower Fairy remained quietly suspended in mid-air, accompanying him like a little helper.

Its slender arms waved gently, and fine, soft golden dust naturally fell around it. This dust contained pure life energy, which silently merged into Chen Yuan's body, dispelling the slight fatigue brought on by his continuous busy work, and keeping him in a state of high spirits.

Outside the kitchen door, the faint sounds of a celebratory gala playing on the living room television could be heard, mixed with the slightly hoarse quacking of Runrun duck and Youmi's unrestrained laughter.

The two little ones were sprawled out on the soft sofa without any regard for appearances, surrounded by a pile of snacks. They were watching funny videos and laughing so hard they were doubled over, occasionally grabbing a potato chip or a piece of candy and stuffing it into their mouths, thoroughly enjoying themselves.

Busy Chen Yuan couldn't bear to see the little ones so carefree, so he waved his hand and said, "You two, come and help me deal with the spirit fish."

"Gah?"

"Coo-choo!"

Just then, Electric Flying Cat walked gracefully through the living room. It glanced sideways at Runrun Duck and Youmi, who were being bossed around by the farmer, and grinned.

Then she raised her head, walked lightly through the corridor, and came to the courtyard filled with the aroma of food and the cold air.

Electric Flying Cat gently flapped its wings and silently flew to the branches of a tall, clear fruit tree in the yard. It chose a spot with a wide view and sat down alone.

Snowflakes drifted down gently, adorning its soft, fluffy fur, but it remained oblivious, simply gazing quietly towards the east.

At this moment, snowflakes are falling, the north wind is howling, and the world is a vast expanse of white.

On the other side, Coke was having a blast with Sprite.

They chased and ran tirelessly around the spacious yard, sometimes suddenly accelerating, startling several larks that were standing in rows on the telephone poles, causing the larks to chirp and fly into the sky.

Sometimes it would try something new. Cola would signal Sprite to jump onto its back, and then, with all four legs pushing off, the air around it would surge, carrying Sprite low over the yard, and even soaring into the sky to experience the thrill of a brief flight.

"Wang Wang!"

Sprite clung tightly to Coke's fur, whimpering with a mixture of fear and excitement, the two dogs having a great time playing together.

In stark contrast to the cheerful atmosphere was Egg, who stayed alone in the quietest corner of the yard.

It did not engage in any entertainment, but instead used this time for tedious and arduous skill training.

It summons rain clouds time and time again, perhaps practicing its subtle manipulation of water-based energy, its gaze focused and sharp.

It glanced at Cola and Sprite chasing and playing, then swept its gaze over the farm members who were playing on their own, and let out a barely perceptible hum: "An-ang!"

Hmph, vulgar pleasure.

My goal is to become the supreme and strongest dragon; how could I waste my time on such frivolous games!
In the Abyss Dragon's Cave, although it had defeated most of its kind through its efforts, there were still a few that it could not defeat. Just facing them directly was enough to make it feel a strong sense of oppression, so much so that it dared not challenge them.

It wasn't even the strongest dragon.

After leaving the Abyss Dragon's Cave, Eggy reflected deeply on his mistakes and resolved to train even harder to become the strongest dragon as quickly as possible.

This sense of urgency and desire to become stronger burned within it like a flame, allowing no room for complacency.

Time flowed quietly amidst the aromas of cooking in the kitchen, the laughter in the living room, the playful sounds in the yard, and the diligent study in the corner. Before long, it was evening, and the clouds on the horizon were tinged with magnificent colors by the setting sun. The Frost Giant, who had been standing guard near the gate like a statue, raised its heavy head, its icy blue eyes gazing into the distance along the path leading to the farm entrance, where two familiar figures gradually appeared.

Chen Weiyi was carrying several bags and slowly walking towards the farm, with Hanlie Niu following closely beside him.

The Frost Giant slowly stood up and walked heavily to the gate. The shadow cast by its huge body immediately enveloped Chen Weiyi, who was approaching.

It bent slightly, stretched out its rock-thick arms, and extended its huge palms in front of Chen Weiyi, letting out a low roar with a questioning tone: "Roar?"

Chen Weiyi chuckled and patted the Frost Giant's cold fingers: "Alright, then I'll leave it to you."

He skillfully placed the items he was carrying into the Frost Giant's palm, which the giant carefully closed, turned around, and strode back to the storeroom inside the house.

A short while later, Chen Weiyi walked straight into the kitchen, washed his hands, and naturally tied on another apron, starting to assist Chen Yuan in preparing the ingredients.

While he was busy, he said, "There are folk performances in town tonight, including dragon dances and stilt walking. It looks like it's going to be very lively. There will also be a fireworks display later. Shall we go and check it out?"

Chen Yuan was putting fish into the steamer when he heard this and nodded with a smile, "Okay, after we finish eating, let's go and see what's going on."

He then asked, "Where's Wenhao? He said on the phone what time his flight was? He should be here by now, right?"

He had barely finished speaking when he heard a familiar voice coming from the farm gate: "Grandpa! Brother! I'm back."

Chen Wenhao, looking travel-worn, stood at the door with a smile on his face, carrying a backpack and dragging a large suitcase, undergoing a thorough inspection by Tie Touwa.

After confirming that the humans in front of him posed no threat, Tie Touwa stepped aside to let Chen Wenhao enter the farm.

Chen Wenhao chuckled: "Our family's security system is much stricter than the school's."

The next moment, YaYa and YouMi sprang up from the sofa like two bolts of lightning and rushed to Chen Wenhao's side, sniffing around his suitcase and backpack, using both their duck beaks and cat paws to try to find any hidden snacks or treats.

Chen Wenhao opened the box, both amused and exasperated: "Stop rummaging through it, I really didn't bring any food this time, just some daily necessities and a change of clothes."

The two little ones turned the box upside down and found that it only contained everyday items. They immediately deflated like punctured balloons, drooping their heads and letting out disappointed cries, which made Chen Wenhao laugh out loud.

Chen Yuan poked his head out from the kitchen: "Alright, Wenhao, put the things away first, take a rest, the food will be ready soon."

As the last rays of the setting sun were about to sink behind the western mountains, and the sky was dyed a warm orange-purple hue, a striking golden-red streak appeared in the distant sky, flying toward the farm at an extremely fast speed.

The streak of light drew closer, quickly revealing the shape of sparks.

It gracefully landed in the center of the courtyard, folding its magnificent wings.

Then, the Ice Fox and the Flame-Tailed Fox nimbly jumped to the ground, curiously looking around at the farm they hadn't seen in a long time.

Its nose twitched slightly as it sniffed the unfamiliar scent of the pet and the aroma of food in the air, appearing both wary and curious.

Not long after, heavy footsteps sounded again outside the farm gate, and the bear father and bear cub arrived on time.

However, the door god Iron Head Baby indifferently glanced at them, and the fierce aura emanating from within made the two bears tremble with fear.

Fortunately, Spark and Cola appeared in time to vouch for them. Ironhead re-examined them and assessed their threat level before silently stepping aside to allow them to enter.

"Crack."

When the bear father and cubs entered the yard, they saw a variety of unfamiliar pets, each with a powerful aura. Even the usually carefree bears couldn't help but feel a sense of fear.

It's a pity that Bear Dad, who is a tyrant in the wild and has even punched Zhuang Jianbai and kicked a group of beast tamers, is somewhat humble in this small farm.

But seeing the familiar Coke wagging its tail in welcome, they felt a little more at ease and quietly lay down in a corner.

Soon, the bear cub joined in playing with Coke and Sprite.

Looking at the increasingly lively scene in the courtyard, Chen Yuan wiped the fine sweat from his forehead, a smile spreading across his face. He raised his voice and announced to everyone inside and outside the house and to the pets:
"Alright! All the guests have arrived! Everyone get ready—dinner will be served shortly!"

"quack!!!"

"Coo-choo!"

The sumptuous New Year's Eve dinner was finally ready and served one dish at a time on the large rectangular dining table.

In an instant, the entire restaurant was filled with a rich and enticing aroma.

The table was laden with a dazzling array of steaming hot and brightly colored dishes, a true feast for the eyes and nose.

In the very center sits the fattest steamed fish, its body covered with emerald green scallions and tender yellow ginger shreds, and wafting an irresistible aroma after being drizzled with hot oil.
Next to it is a braised fish with a thick, glossy red sauce, bubbling gently. The sauce coats the firm fish meat, making it very tempting.

On the other side is a fragrant grilled fish, its skin crispy and sizzling, garnished with red dried chili peppers and green cilantro, making it incredibly tempting.

In addition, there were several large dishes that were delicious and visually appealing.

But in order to make it easier for the little ones to enjoy the delicious food, Chen Yuan neatly arranged a series of sturdy iron basins, polished to a shine, on the ground.

Each bowl was filled with delicious food specially prepared for them, tailored to their individual tastes:
There are staple foods that mix top-quality pet food with tender chunks of meat, crispy and fragrant pet snacks, and even delicious fish chunks specially prepared for Runrun Duck and Youmi.

All the little ones sat obediently around their food bowls, their mouths watering, but they all resisted the urge.

They simply sniffed the aroma filling the air, making soft, restrained gurgling sounds, eagerly awaiting the signal to feed them.

Chen Weiyi looked around, his gaze slowly sweeping over his children and grandchildren sitting around him, then over the group of pets waiting quietly beside him like family, and finally landing on the night sky outside the window, occasionally illuminated by fireworks.

He didn't offer any lengthy sentiments or blessings, but simply raised his glass, filled with the clear, cool liquor, and said with a smile:
"Alright, everyone's here. Enough said, let's wish for our family's safety and well-being, and for a Happy New Year!"

"Happy New Year!" Chen Yuan and Chen Wenhao said at the same time.

"Ow!"

"quack!"

"Coo-choo!"

This command ignited the enthusiasm of the entire audience.

The little ones immediately cheered and jumped for joy in various tones. Cola, who couldn't wait any longer, was the first to bury his head in his food bowl and start eating heartily.
Duck and Youmi couldn't wait to pounce on their special fish pieces;

Even the usually reserved Morning and Evening Flower Fairy gracefully landed beside the food bowl, sipping the specially made nectar.
For a moment, the sounds of chewing, satisfied humming, and joyful shouts rose and fell, intertwining with the laughter and conversation at the main table.

Whoosh—bang!

Whoosh—bang bang bang!

Outside the window, the fireworks display to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new year began on time over Xuanhe Town.

Clusters of dazzling fireworks burst forth, like colorful flowers, instantly illuminating the dark night sky.

Brilliant light streamed through the windows, illuminating every smiling face brimming with happiness and contentment, perfectly blending the warmth inside with the festive atmosphere outside.

Happy New Year!

(End of this chapter)