Four people had caught quite a few crabs.
The guest courtyard was right next to the kitchen, with all the necessary cooking utensils and seasonings ready, making it very convenient to cook by themselves.
Qu Yanning took charge of the cooking, while the other three were responsible for washing the crabs.
After cleaning the crabs thoroughly, the large ones were picked out and tied together with a rope, ready for steaming.
The smaller crabs were halved and coated with starch, prepared to be made into spicy crabs.
Qu Yanning was bustling in the kitchen with intense focus, while the other three lingered outside, noses twitching at the aroma, eagerly waiting.
When the crab shells turned a deep red, Qu Yanning tasted the seasoning, then plated the crabs and carried them out.
Zhao Dongqi somehow found a bottle of wine. The three of them sat together in the courtyard’s pavilion, already draping arms over each other’s shoulders, drinking.
When they saw Qu Yanning approach, their eyes immediately locked onto the spicy crabs in his hands and couldn’t look away.
Qu Yanning placed the spicy crabs in the center and said, “The steamed ones need a bit more time. Let’s eat these first.”
Zhao Dongqi stared fixedly at the crabs, asking, “How could you be so heartless? Shouldn’t we wait and eat together?”
Qu Yanning waved his hand, saying it was fine and that the steamed ones would be ready soon.
He wiped his hands on his apron and returned to the kitchen to check on the crabs.
Xie Qi was already perched on a stool by the kitchen, waiting. Steam rose from the pot, carrying the fresh, sweet scent of the crabs.
“Are you hungry?” Qu Yanning crouched down and gently bumped noses with him.
Xie Qi rubbed his cheek against Qu Yanning’s and meowed, eyes burning as they stared at the steamer.
Qu Yanning pinched his ears and laughed, “You little glutton, I’ll save you the biggest one later.”
Lifting the steamer lid, the crabs were neatly arranged inside, all steamed to an enticing red.
Qu Yanning picked out the two largest crabs, blowing on them to cool as he peeled off the shells and extracted the meat.
The meat from the two crabs filled a small dish. Qu Yanning laid the crab meat aside to cool, prepared a small bowl of dipping sauce, and carried both out along with the steamed crabs.
Xie Qi flicked his tail excitedly, eyes eagerly fixed on the small dish of tender white crab meat.
Qu Yanning took off his apron, returned with the cat in his arms, and sat down in the pavilion to enjoy the midnight snack with the others.
Zhao Dongqi stared longingly toward the kitchen. When Qu Yanning finally finished, he called him over, “Hurry up. It won’t taste good once it cools down.”
Qu Yanning sat with the cat on his lap, letting the cat settle comfortably. He used chopsticks to pick up a piece of crab meat, offering it to the cat as a treat.
Nearby, the little Taoist stared enviously at the small dish of pristine crab meat and said, “Being a cat is really great.”
The elder Taoist tapped him on the head, placing a crab in his bowl with a stern face, “Stop talking nonsense.”
The little Taoist secretly made a silly face and began peeling and eating the crab himself.
Perhaps because of the island’s pure water and soil, the crabs there tasted exceptionally fresh and delicious.
Everyone ate so fervently that they barely had time to speak; the pavilion was filled only with the crisp crack of shells being broken and the slurping of crab juices.
Especially Zhao Dongqi, who sucked the spicy crab sauce so thoroughly, it seemed he might even lick his fingers clean.
Xie Qi sat on Qu Yanning’s lap, tail swaying happily as he accepted offerings and urged Qu Yanning to eat for himself.
Crabs, fine wine, the bright moon, and a cat— Qu Yanning sipped his wine with a contented squint, feeling utterly at ease.
That night passed in exquisite satisfaction. After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Qu Yanning carried the cat back to his room to rest, leaving the three others eagerly waiting for their next meal.
……
As expected, Qu Yanning overslept again. He rolled around on the bed with the cat, burying his face in its fluffy belly and taking a deep breath.
Xie Qi was tickled by the inhalation and, displeased, pushed at him with his soft paws, four gentle paws pressing against Qu Yanning’s face.
Qu Yanning, gleeful and relentless, grabbed the paws and showered them with kisses.
Xie Qi quickly retracted his paws, tucking them under his belly, ears twitching nonstop.
Qu Yanning smiled warmly, poking at him, then stretched and got up. Outside, the sun was already high. Glancing at the clock on the wall, it was already two in the afternoon.
That was definitely a good, long sleep.
After tidying up, he strolled lazily to the competition grounds. The second competition was already halfway through.
Qu Yanning watched for a while. Today’s competition was basically a stronger version of yesterday’s.
Yesterday, they were searching for stones; today, they were searching for “Dragon Veins.”
Poor contestants — they had probably turned the entire mountain upside down over the past two days.
Qu Yanning stood at the outer edge. Inside, Zhao Dongqi spotted him and squeezed through the crowd to join his side.
“The competition is almost over. I knocked on his door this morning ten times, but he wouldn’t wake up.”
“He drank last night and slept deeply,” Qu Yanning said. He had also had a couple of drinks yesterday.
The wine was good, but Qu Yanning’s tolerance was low; two drinks had put him out for the entire morning.
“Though there’s not much to see today,” Zhao Dongqi said, “the real action is tomorrow.”
“What’s tomorrow’s competition?” Qu Yanning asked.
“Divination and calculation,” Zhao Dongqi said, glancing around and lowering his voice, “The rumors might not have been false after all. From the third competition, it’s obvious — they’re going to be looking for a person.”
He explained, “If someone really is missing, they have to find a way to locate them.”
Zhao Dongqi thought it made sense and stopped worrying about it. He pulled Qu Yanning away to look elsewhere.
******
The third competition took place in the front courtyard’s garden, with contestants waiting in the yard after the second round.
The third round was personally hosted by Qu Qing Shui. The spectators whispered softly, seeing the gravity of the event — it seemed the Qu Family had truly lost their son.
The competition rules stated that this round involved divination and calculation. A servant carried a tray with an article of clothing, which Qu Qing Shui received.
“Each person has the time of burning one incense stick.”
A red incense burner was placed on the table. The red incense slowly began to burn.
Contestants stepped forward by number, each using their own unique method on the clothing.
The garment was an ordinary piece of clothing, but the contestants spared no effort — they chanted unfamiliar words, prayed to the clothes, and some even bit their fingers to smear blood on the fabric, eyes closed as they recited incomprehensible incantations.
Qu Yanning watched the lively scene on the competition stage and smiled as he stroked the cat.
After all contestants had taken their turn, Qu Qing Shui instructed the staff to distribute paper and pens for everyone to write down their answers.
Frowns appeared on many faces as if they had encountered an insurmountable problem. Qu Qing Shui stood at the front, hands behind his back.
Someone whispered in his ear. He furrowed his brow, signaled to the judges, and then turned and walked toward the main courtyard.
In the main courtyard, Qu Jian Ling supported a woman who looked somewhat haggard, speaking softly to console her.
“If your health is not yet recovered, just rest well in the yard. Qing Shui is handling it. If there is any result, they will naturally come and inform us.”
Wei Feng Qing shook off his hand, her gentle eyes filled with thin anger.
“You’re just trying to soothe me. Everyone says Xiao Ning is gone, but whether my son is alive or not— don’t I as his mother feel it in my heart?”
Qu Jian Ling sighed.
“I say Xiao Ning is not gone. Qing Shui has gathered most of the Feng Shui World together to search, even Second Master Xie has stepped in. If they still can’t find him this time, then who could?”
Wei Feng Qing’s eyes reddened.
“You just don’t want to believe me.”
“Uncle, Aunt,” Qu Qing Shui called from the courtyard gate, interrupting their quarrel.
Qu Jian Ling looked over and asked, “Has it ended? How did it go?”
Qu Qing Shui shook his head.
“No result. I was going to ask if you two wanted to go see for yourselves.”
Qu Jian Ling sighed again and helped Wei Feng Qing sit down, gently patting her back.
“Aunt, your health isn’t good; it’s better not to go. Just wait and see.”
Wei Feng Qing leaned against him, silently.
Qu Qing Shui sighed lightly, his face clouded with worry.
“I understand.”
In the front courtyard, after handing in their answers, the contestants quietly exchanged thoughts, familiar with each other.
Zhao Dong Fan, as the eldest son of the Zhao Family, had been gifted since childhood and was fully supported by the family.
Among the young talents in the Feng Shui World, he was undoubtedly outstanding. He was confident in his abilities, but today’s competition made him waver for the first time.
He discussed his thoughts on the exam with a close friend.
“Dead Hexagram?”
His friend nodded.
Zhao Dong Fan exhaled in relief. Though he couldn’t understand why Qu Family would use the clothing of a dead person for their divination, at least he was sure Qu Qing Shui hadn’t made a mistake.
Thirty-five answer sheets were submitted.