Era: Rise from the Wilderness

"Who taught you this?!"

"You'd better watch your step next time!"

"Don't touch what you shouldn't touch, and don't take what you shouldn't take!"

"Did you hear that?"

He tacitly approved of his son's use of "funds" to treat others, but also drew a vague line.

This is a one-time exception; there will be no next time. And you must "be mindful of the limits."

"Hehe, got it, Dad!"

"I know what I'm doing!"

Li Yunjing chuckled, knowing that he had gotten past his father's hurdle, thus saving face while tacitly acquiescing to the "unspoken rules."

He said no more and focused on driving.

The van merging briskly into the bustling traffic and pedestrian flow of the town center streets at dusk.

The sound of bicycle bells filled the air as people hurried home with their shopping baskets after get off work. Food stalls along the roadside set up their stoves, and the aroma of cooking oil mixed with the smell of food wafted through the air.

Li Yunjing skillfully maneuvered the steering wheel, weaving through the slightly chaotic traffic, heading directly towards the largest and most well-stocked farmers' market at the east end of the town.

Li Yunjing observed the surroundings, parked the bread cart in a relatively spacious open space outside the market, locked the doors, and walked briskly into the bustling market with his father.

He bypassed the vegetable stalls, glancing only briefly at the mountains of potatoes and radishes, and the vibrant green rapeseed and celery, before heading straight for the area deep within the market, where the salty, briny smell of the sea was most intense.

The further you go in, the more complex and distinct the smells in the air become.

The damp earthy smell, the fresh aroma of vegetables, the gamey smell of the live poultry area, the greasy smell of the pork stall... were all eventually covered by a salty, savory, and sweet scent belonging to the sea.

The sounds of people seemed amplified here: the sounds of bargaining, the fishmongers' booming quotes, the rustling of plastic bags, the gurgling of water from the aerators, and the occasional "splashing" of fish struggling and slapping the surface of the water, all intertwined to create a lively and noisy symphony of the marketplace.

Li Yunjing squeezed among housewives carrying baskets, thrifty old men and women, and other shoppers like himself, his eyes quickly scanning and comparing the seafood stalls.

He quickly identified a stall located further inside, where the goods looked exceptionally fresh and had a relatively complete selection.

The stall owner was a middle-aged man with dark skin, a weathered face, and wearing a waterproof apron. He was deftly packing fish for a customer.

In front of the stall, several large red plastic basins and white foam boxes filled with seawater formed a small "ocean world".

The most eye-catching creatures were the lively prawns, which bounced restlessly in the water, their slender whiskers and powerful claws occasionally breaking the surface, bringing up glistening water droplets that sparkled in the setting sun.

Beside it, plump conches lay quietly on a layer of crushed ice, their dark brown spiral shells thick and glossy. Occasionally, one could see a conch opening slightly twitching, releasing a small string of fine bubbles.

The clams were densely packed in another shallow basin, their grayish-white shells slightly open, revealing a bit of tender yellowish-white flesh inside, slowly opening and closing with their breath.

What caught Li Yunjing's eye the most was a large yellow croaker hanging on an iron hook above the stall, covered with a damp cloth. It was plump, with intact scales, and still shimmered with an enticing golden luster under the dim light.

The fish's eyes are clear and bright, and its gills are bright red. It's obviously a top-quality fish that was just caught today, and it's probably quite expensive.

"Boss, two pounds each of prawns, whelks, and clams, please!"

"It has to be alive and fresh!"

"Weigh that big yellow flower for me too!"

Li Yunjing squeezed to the front of the stall without much hesitation, making his purchase decisively, his tone carrying an unquestionable air.

When it comes to fresh seafood, freshness is everything!

Price is not the primary consideration.

The stall owner saw that he was a knowledgeable young man, and that he immediately asked for the most expensive yellow croaker. He knew that a big customer had arrived, so he dared not neglect him.

A smile immediately spread across his face: "Okay! This guy definitely knows how to eat!"

"Just a moment, I'll pick out the best one for you right away!"

He deftly picked up the net and precisely scooped out the most active and uniformly sized shrimp from the shrimp basin. He shook off the excess water and poured them into a thick black plastic bag to weigh them.

Then they carefully selected the largest and fattest conch and the clams that had spit out all the sand.

Finally, he carefully removed the large yellow croaker from the hook, weighed it on a fair scale, and quoted a price that made several middle-aged women buying vegetables nearby turn their heads.

Li Yunjing didn't even blink, readily took out his money, counted it, and paid the bill.

As he took the heavy plastic bags, still carrying the coolness and fresh scent of the sea, he began to imagine the scene at the dinner table that evening.

Dad sipped his wine while enjoying the seafood, and Mom grumbled as she ate, "You're wasting money again," but she had a smile on her face while she ate heartily... This "farewell feast" had to be lavish!

Li Hongfeng watched from the side without saying a word, but looked pleased.

Let your son celebrate however he wants!

Today, I'll listen to my son this time!

The two didn't sell anything else. They carried their "spoils" back to their car, started the engine, and loaded the van full of seafood back into the twilight streets.

This time, we are truly heading home.

Not long after, I opened the door and was greeted by the familiar aroma of food mixed with the warmth of home.

But tonight will be different.

Li Yunjing waved the bag in his hand, a smug smile on his face: "Mom, extra treat tonight! A seafood feast!"

"what?"

He Ling looked at the seafood in her son's hand with some surprise, then complained, "Why did you two buy seafood? I've already cooked dinner!"

"Hahaha!"

Li Hongfeng laughed and explained, "My son saw I'm going on a business trip tomorrow and wanted to treat his old man so he wouldn't miss out on seafood from his hometown while he's away!"

As he spoke, Li Hongfeng couldn't stop laughing.

His son's filial piety made him happier than anything else!

"that is!"

Li Yunjing also carried the groceries into the kitchen, saying, "Besides, our family needs to improve our living conditions!"

His voice came from the kitchen, and his parents smiled at each other.

The kitchen quickly became the "main battlefield" for the father and son.

The mother, He Ling, voluntarily gave up the "head chef" position and only assisted from the side.

Li Yunjing looked somewhat comical as he tied on his mother's faded floral apron, but his movements were exceptionally nimble.

He rolled up his sleeves and carefully washed the prawns in front of the sink, using scissors to cut off the whiskers and sharp rostrum, and removing the black vein.

The conch and clams were poured into water with a little salt added to allow them to continue to purge the mud and sand.

The water gurgled and washed over every line on the seashell.

Meanwhile, the father, Li Hongfeng, was processing the large yellow croaker by the pool on the other side.