Liu Zheng recited all the ingredients he remembered.

"Salmon."

White Feather Chicken shouted after hearing it.

"Meow at meow!"

San Huamao, who was sleeping sprawled out, shivered awake and instinctively responded.

"Come help out."

"Okay, meow!"

San Huamao then flipped over and trotted over.

"Liu Zheng, you're here, meow~"

It happily greeted, then naturally climbed onto Liu Zheng's shoulder.

"Here I am."

Liu Zheng smiled and patted its head.

"You and Salmon go prepare the ingredients, I'll handle the rest."

White Feather Chicken said.

"Okay, meow! Liu Zheng, let's go there, meow."

San Huamao didn't get down, but began directing right away.

"Sigh~"

Liu Zheng sighed, resigned to his fate as labor.

It seemed that no matter where he went, he would end up being pulled to help out.

Did he have the words 'big pushover' stamped on his face? Or was he some kind of Innate Labor Saint Physique?

After sorting out the necessary ingredients, Liu Zheng washed and prepared them together with San Huamao.

Fortunately, the kitchen had already sorted everything through when the supplies came in, so all the ingredients were fresh and clean, greatly reducing their workload.

After they prepared all the ingredients, White Feather Chicken also finished preparing the spicy hot pot broth.

"Go find an appropriate cart."

White Feather Chicken said, glancing at the ready ingredients.

"Okay, meow."

San Huamao turned and ran into the storeroom, quickly coming back with a two-tiered cart.

The top had the pot, the bottom had the ingredients, just right.

"You can leave now."

White Feather Chicken watched as the person and cat loaded everything onto the cart, then issued an expulsion order.

"Don't be in such a rush to chase us out, see what I've brought for you."

Liu Zheng took out "Laziness" from the System Space.

"When it comes to efficiency, you humans do have some merit."

Looking at the fruit knife in front of him, White Feather Chicken admitted.

"Time is life, my friend."

He said in a strange tone.

"Who said we're friends?"

White Feather Chicken glared at him, then took "Anger" from the knife rack and handed it to him.

"Now it's temporarily yours, take good care of it. When I've gathered the remaining six, I'll come collect it back from you."

White Feather Chicken said.

"Don't worry, I'll take great care of it."

Liu Zheng promised.

If White Feather Chicken truly managed to gather the other six, he'd give "Anger" back to him as well.

But whether White Feather Chicken could find him by then would depend on its luck.

"Off we go. Ah, truly a noble's body, but a runner's fate."

Liu Zheng stored away "Anger," grabbed the cart, and headed straight to the elevator.

This time he didn't need to press it; the elevator conscientiously opened the door on its own.

"Thanks, Elevator Bro."

Entering the elevator, he politely thanked it.

"Bang bang!"

The elevator shook twice in response.

A moment later, the elevator doors opened again, and Liu Zheng pushed the cart into Si Xue's office.

This time the office had changed to a Lake Heart Island theme; instead of a pavilion, there was a large tree, and Si Xue was leaning against it, pretending to sleep.

"Reporting in, boss, your subordinate's here."

He announced robustly.

"Roll over here."

Si Xue opened her eyes and said, her tone somewhat fatigued.

"Boss, I can roll over, but these things are a bit inconvenient."

He scratched his head and said.

"Hot pot?"

Si Xue took a glance and asked.

"Not hot pot, it's a specialty from my hometown, spicy hot pot."

"Sounds like hot pot."

Si Xue pouted, then waved her hand. A gust of cold wind blew directly from Lake Heart Island to Liu Zheng, making him shiver.

As the cold wind dispersed, a cold ice road appeared over the lake.

Liu Zheng pushed the cart onto the ice road, then cautiously proceeded forward.

Luckily, his hooves weren't real goat hooves, and the bottom had a kind of suction cup structure, which greatly enhanced grip.

The cart's wheels also had an anti-slip design, so he safely reached Lake Heart Island.

"Help me up."

Si Xue commanded.

"Yes."

Liu Zheng walked over to her side, respectfully helping her up.

Si Xue didn't hold back, almost putting her entire weight on him, yet he didn't feel any weight, as if what was leaning on him was a ghost.

"You've had a busy holiday."

Si Xue remarked in a matter-of-fact tone.

"I truly deserve to die for troubling the boss."

Liu Zheng said with his head lowered.

But he quickly realized that lowering his head wasn't a great idea because Si Xue was wearing a loose spaghetti strap dress today, with nothing underneath.

After a lightning-quick glance, he snapped his head back up as if shocked.

"You are quite thick-skinned, when did I ever say I was concerned about you?"

Si Xue said indifferently, seemingly unaware.

"The boss's care for subordinates is known to all, and I always keep it in mind."

Liu Zheng said righteously.

"Ha, you remember the wrong things. Do you know that the Minister of the Security Department called to complain about you, and the Office even sent a letter asking me to improve management and not to cause them trouble?"

Si Xue said.

"What are the Security Department and the Office anyway, daring to disturb your rest. Don't worry, boss, next time I'll clean things up so well they won't have to bother you."

He said indignantly.

"Aren't you the one disturbing my rest?"

Si Xue said with a straight face.

"Hehe, so I specially prepared some homestyle food for you, hoping to make up for the blunder."

Liu Zheng said shamelessly.

"If it's not tasty, you're my midnight snack today."

Si Xue said coolly.

"Don't worry, if it's not good, I'll cook myself."

He promised, patting his chest.

"I hope so. Where's the fishing rod?"

Si Xue asked.

"Right here."

Liu Zheng quickly took out the Dragon Fishing Pole.

"You can start cooking now."

Si Xue took the Dragon Fishing Pole and started fishing.

"Alrighty."

He uncovered the pot and placed the skewered ingredients inside.

The pot had a grid-like divider inside, just perfect for separating different ingredients.

"Oh shoot, I forgot the fire."

Once he was done, he realized he hadn't asked White Feather Chicken for fuel.

"Uh, boss..."

Liu Zheng began awkwardly, but before he could finish his sentence, Si Xue flicked out a small flame.

"Thanks, boss."

He covered the pot and placed the pressure cooker over the flame.

Without a stove, he used his tentacles as support, alternating two by two.

Thankfully, it was a pressure cooker and the flame was strong enough, and soon the aroma of cooking started wafting through the air.

The aroma wasn't the only thing wafting, since Liu Zheng's four tentacles also smelled delicious.

"Don't waste it, throw them in too."

Si Xue said as if she had eyes in the back of her head.

"Sure."

Liu Zheng chuckled bitterly, pulled out "Anger," used a cart as a cutting board, and chopped his three tentacles into small pieces, skewering them as well.

"There's one more."

Si Xue suddenly said.

"Boss, if I cut any more, I'll have to hold the knife with my mouth."

"I don't mind."

Si Xue said nonchalantly.

"Alright then."

Since the eater didn't mind, what else could he say?

Liu Zheng held "Anger" in his mouth and chopped the last tentacle into pieces.

Perhaps it was due to having been cut by the Seven Treasures Wisdom Sword earlier, his flesh took a lot longer to regenerate, and for the rest of the time, he relied on his mouth along with other parts to get things done.

Not sure what Si Xue thought, but if it were him, he surely couldn't eat it.

"Is it ready?"

Si Xue asked suddenly.

"Ready, boss."

Liu Zheng replied.

"Oh."

Si Xue swiftly reeled in, and something that looked like a cross between rock and meat was flung onto the shore.

This piece was similar in color to cow liver, semi-transparent, and upon closer inspection, seemed to hold an embryo inside with eyebrows and eyes, but it clearly wasn't human.

"Chop it up too and throw it in."

Si Xue instructed.

"Boss, what is this?"

"This is Shimeat."

Si Xue replied.

"Classic of Mountains and Seas·Western Sea" records: North of the Bright Open is the Shimeat, Bead Trees, Painted Jade Trees, Dark Jade Trees, Immortal Trees. Phoenixes and Luan Birds all wear veils.

Some believe Shimeat to be Tai Sui, or what is commonly referred to as the Meat Lingzhi.

But others think they're not the same thing.

In Liu Zheng's view, this Shimeat was indeed a bit different from the Tai Sui he had seen in reality.

"Wait a minute, isn't this the Mini People's friend?"

He suddenly remembered.