The Legend of the Fishermen of Sicily

Today is the day Lucia comes to Marzamemi to deliver goods.

Because he got more than a dozen crabs from Leo last week, the little glutton had already decided that he had to give him a "return gift" this week.

This had nothing to do with any "secret" between them; it was simply out of gratitude for the crabs he had given them.

So plump and delicious!

But getting the items to Leo was a problem—she didn't know where Leo was.

Rukia first asked Marco, the owner of the coffee shop.

The heavy rain left the café empty, and a frustrated Marco replied with "How should I know?" before storming off.

Lucia went to see Savile again. Surely the rain wouldn't affect the tobacco shop's business?

Marco smoked several cigarettes in that short time...

But when Salvi heard Lucia asking about Leo, he became very wary, fearing that his sugar daddy had been robbed.

He told Lucia that there was no one named Leo in Malzamemi and that she shouldn't ask around.

Despite being turned down twice, Lucia didn't give up and went to the general store again. Nicholas was the villager she knew best in Marzamemi.

Nicholas was also in a terrible predicament because of the rain. He couldn't leave the vegetables outside, and the grocery store was in complete chaos. His wife, Veronica, kept scolding him for not being able to manage even a few baskets of vegetables.

Nicholas, seething with anger, mentioned the shipyard, pointed in a direction, and dismissed Lucia.

Fortunately, they finally found the person!

"I'm here to deliver goods in Marzamemi today." Lucia smiled broadly when she saw Leo, completely forgetting that she had spent an hour wandering around in the muddy Marzamemi because of Nicolas's casual pointing.

"Is there something you need?" Leo asked.

He didn't call to order anything this week.

Rukia picked up the bag in her hand and said somewhat embarrassedly:

"I picked up your crabs last week, so I brought you some things."

Leo just "taught Rosalia a lesson" yesterday—don't keep going back and forth, aren't you tired?

Seeing that Rukia had also come to "return the courtesy," he instinctively refused.

"Really, you're too kind."

Lucia knew her sudden visit was inappropriate, but Leo had given her far too many crabs, so she stammered an explanation:

"These are things Marzamemi doesn't have. Didn't you say you wanted to order some food in the future? How do you order what's available outside? And you have to try them too..."

Leo's eyes lit up as he looked at the bag in her hand:

"Is there food inside?"

The little glutton nodded.

Not only the food, but also everything she loves to eat.

Leo's face lit up like a flower, and he forgot all about the "Aren't you tired of going back and forth like this?" and invited:

"Come, come, sit down and let's talk!"

......

The shipyard was too messy, and the bedroom was too private, so Leo took Lucia to the dining area by the sea.

Rukia was amazed by the dining environment.

If she could see such a beautiful sea view every day, her appetite would definitely be better.

"You like the sea?" Leo asked curiously, seeing Rukia staring intently at the sea as soon as she arrived.

Rukia nodded and said:

"I like it, don't you?"

She chose to come to Sicily to work hard because of the sea.

Leo nodded as well:

"I love it. I've loved the sea since I was a child."

Rukia said wistfully:

"I've loved it since I was a child. I like houses where you can see the sea as soon as you open the window."

Leo raised an eyebrow in surprise.

Isn't this the mindset of people like us who have grown up inland?

Confined by reinforced concrete for too long, we yearn for a free and unrestrained life...

Do locals also have this mentality?

Rukia also realized that she wasn't close enough with Leo to talk about such private topics, so she introduced him to the "gift" she had brought today, which was the real business.

She noticed two tomatoes and a few slices of bread next to the bag and asked curiously:

"You haven't eaten yet?"

Leo nodded:

"Yes, I haven't had a chance to eat yet."

Lucia guessed that it was her sudden visit that interrupted Leo's sacred mealtime ritual, and thoughtfully said:

"I won't keep you from cooking any longer. I just came to deliver some things. Now that I've delivered them, I'm going back."

Leo politely replied:

"No problem, no problem. I don't cook. I can finish that stuff in two bites."

Rukia paused in her steps, as if she had heard something terrifying:

"Is that a few slices of bread and two tomatoes your lunch?"

Leo blinked innocently.

Is there a problem?

......

Five minutes later.

Rukia placed the transformed bread and tomatoes on the table, sighing regretfully.

"There are too few seasonings, and I didn't bring anything that can be eaten directly, so I'll have to make do with this for now."

Lucia chopped the tomatoes, added some seasonings and olive oil, and then toasted the bread in a frying pan.

The same ingredients, just in a different form, transformed a pheasant into a phoenix.

Leo's heartfelt praise:

"Even after all this, it's still considered passable? Then what would it be like if it weren't passable?"

Rukia said seriously:

"You can put a fried egg on it, put cheese on it, melt the cheese and spread it on top. There are also many ways to season it, sweet, sour, spicy... you can eat it however you want."

Leo mentally commented, "Old foodie," and then asked for his opinion:

"So, what flavor of ketchup do you think tastes the best?"

After the heavy rain, the tomatoes need to be dried immediately in preparation for making tomato sauce.

But Leo hasn't decided what flavor to make yet.

He has also discussed this issue with several locals in the past few days.

But each of them had their own preferred taste, and each claimed that theirs was the best, making it difficult for Leo to make a decision.

Rukia was as serious as if she were in a job interview:

"The choice of flavor depends on the occasion. If you eat pasta frequently, make the traditional original flavor. The sauce is rich and coats the pasta well, and the leftover broth absorbs the essence of the vegetables and seafood, making it even more flavorful. You can spread it on bread for a double enjoyment of the sauce. If you want something simple, make the basil and bay leaf flavor. Just wash some vegetables, mix them up, and it's delicious. Based on my personal experience, seasonal vegetables from all seasons are suitable, especially in winter when citrus fruits are in season. Adding some fruit adds more layers of flavor."

After a heated discussion, Leo decided to make the basket of tomatoes he bought into two flavors: basil and bay leaf, and spicy.

Because Rukia used the most words, adjectives, and vivid metaphors when describing these two flavors, it shows that they are her favorites.

Leo believed in Lucia's "food intelligence," believing that anyone who could make tomatoes and bread taste amazing must be a culinary master.

......

The tomato sauce symposium has come to a successful conclusion, and Rukia is heading back.

The thought of the food she had just mentioned made her mouth water. She took a piece of fruit candy from her pocket and put it in her mouth to satisfy her craving.

"Go back now, no need to see me off." She said goodbye to Leo, who had seen her off at the shipyard gate.

Leo humbly replied:

"I don't have much talent for cooking, so if I run into any problems making tomato sauce, I might have to trouble you."

Rukia gave an OK sign.

To make the most of every ingredient in the world is the ultimate mission of us rice cookers!

Rukia waved her hand:

Goodbye, Leo!

Leo was startled; he seemed never to have introduced himself by name.

But then I thought, if I don't know her name, how could Rukia find this place?

He watched Rukia leave, then smiled and sniffed.

Goodbye, citrus-flavored girl!

......

In the afternoon, the rain started to fall again, drizzling down.

Rukia returned to Noto after dark.

Vera, upon seeing her return, immediately launched into a tirade:

"I already informed the merchants in Marzamemi in advance that if it rains these next two days, we should deliver it next week. Why do you insist on making this trip? Several mountain roads have been washed away; it's so dangerous..."

Rukia cutely stuck out her tongue:

"I checked that the 'Almond Path' to Marzamemi hadn't been washed away before I went there."

The little glutton has a unique way of remembering food routes.

To get to Marzamemi, you have to pass through an almond grove, but the "Peach Tree Path" already has an owner, so it's been renamed Almond Path.

Vera glanced at her:

"But you're not going on this trip; you can rest at home. I made a salted cod salad; would you like some?"

"Eat, eat, eat!" Lucia chased after Vera as she left.

"Go change your clothes first. Look how dirty you are, covered in mud. You must have had a tough day."

"Since you know I've suffered outside, let me have a bite to eat first. I'm starving."

"You know you'll suffer, why are you still going?"

"They have important things to do!"

"The boss won't appreciate your kindness!"

"I...I don't need him to remember my good deeds..."