There can't be a Harvest Moon in the RimWorld.

"Hmm... I'll try it another day... What if it actually works? Will I become a treasure hunter?"

Imagine becoming a treasure hunter who travels the world with a fishing rod, casting his line at a shipwreck spot and catching gold and silver treasures endlessly... I'd be rich overnight!

Treasure! I must find the treasure first!

Zach quickly brought out the small barbecue grill left by Gu Le Gu, lit the fruitwood charcoal, and placed two large pieces of light pink tuna on the rack, slowly grilling them over a low flame.

The name tuna might be unfamiliar, but its common name, goldfish, is certainly no stranger. These robust carnivorous fish have a spindle-shaped body, a dark blue-black back, a grayish-white belly, and seven or eight small fins behind both their dorsal and anal fins. Their flesh is tender, delicious, and high in protein, rich in bioactive polyunsaturated fatty acids, making them a popular food on the dining table.

"Marcus, come over and eat it while it's hot!"

Seeing that I was still standing there in a daze, Zack quickly invited me to share the food, trying to make amends in this way.

I walked over and found that Zack's grilling technique was very similar to Gu Le Gu's cooking technique. Both used ordinary ingredients to preserve the original flavor of the fish and bring out the most delicious part of the ingredients.

For example, this grilled tuna belly is first rubbed evenly with salt and pepper and left to marinate for fifteen minutes before being placed on the grill and slowly roasted over a low fruitwood fire, allowing the flames to lick every inch of the fish.

These perfectly marbled, deep pink fish fillets cook very quickly, so there's no time to waste. Once the fish turns a light golden brown, turn them over immediately so that the oil from the fish coats the surface, creating a glossy coating and a beautiful sheen!

I checked the expiration dates of the beer we caught, and it was still within its shelf life. So Zack and I each opened a bottle and watched as rich, delicate white foam quickly emerged, and a malty aroma filled the air.

"Let's eat!" Zack bit into his beer, saw that the grilled tuna was cooked to perfection, picked up some tongs, placed them on the plate, and handed it to me.

I took a bite, and the rich aroma of fish instantly filled the air, its fatty flavor bursting forth. And the taste of the fat was just what brought me the greatest sense of happiness.

This tuna was so big, and the meat was at its firmest and most flavorful stage. It was already delicious after a simple grilling. Zack then skillfully handed me half a lemon, which I squeezed onto the steaming belly of the tuna.

With another bite, you can taste the crispy fish skin, the refreshing lemon flavor, and the tender yet firm fish meat without any fishy smell. The slightly acidic juice further neutralizes the richness of the red meat's fat, transforming it into a thoroughly fragrant aroma.

After finishing my bite, I quickly gulped down a mouthful of beer, letting the light, refreshing liquid fill my chest and abdomen. The beer wasn't particularly aromatic, but it had a pungent, fresh, and pleasant aftertaste, bringing a refreshing and invigorating experience.

At sunset on the beach, watching the sea and sky merge into one, seagulls circling overhead, and listening to the distant, rhythmic waves, while enjoying the freshest grilled tuna and a refreshing sip of beer, feels like drinking a carbonated soda. The exhilarating, numbing sensation washes over your senses, leaving you completely relaxed.

I took a deep breath, feeling as if all the tension and frustration of the past two days had been expelled from my body, and I felt reborn into this world. Of course, this feeling was an illusion brought on by alcohol; this wasn't the set of a movie, and it's impossible for a single meal to bring about such profound enlightenment.

But when I turned my head, I saw Zack chewing fish in big mouthfuls, then chugging down a beer in one gulp, and shaking the beer bottle around as if trying to scoop out another mouthful of beer from the empty bottle.

Seeing that I had finished my grilled tuna, Zack brought out a plate of extremely thinly sliced ​​tuna from the house, which bloomed before my eyes like pink petals.

I copied Zack, picked up a piece and put it in my mouth, then opened my eyes but couldn't speak.

Zack confidently introduced, "This is a piece of fin meat from the upper back, that is, the meat below the fin. Only one or two pieces can be taken from a fish, so it is a very precious piece. It has a delicate and unique texture between medium fat and red fat. Isn't that great!"

As I savored the taste of the tuna sashimi, I exclaimed from the bottom of my heart, "Food truly is something that brings happiness!"

Zack chuckled, "Hahaha, this is my masterpiece. Everyone praised it before Gu Le Gu boarded the ship!"

I nodded and said, "That's indeed a good idea. If you want to defeat Gu Le Gu, I'll teach you a way!"

"any solution?"

"Next time I cook, I'll coat the Gu Le Gu (a type of fried tofu) with egg wash, then breadcrumbs, and deep-fry it until golden brown and crispy. Drain the oil and it'll be delicious. The old folks and kids alike will love it, and even the neighbor's kid is drooling with envy!"

"Why is the ingredient 'Gurako'?!"

Chapter 219 Teaching a Man to Fish

Ultimately, Gu Le Gu's cooking plan fell through. I think my suggestion was very feasible. Defeat can be achieved on both a spiritual and material level. Some might think that subduing the opponent on a spiritual level, forcing the once superior enemy to submit, is a victory.

I believe that defeating an opponent materially is a greater victory than defeating them spiritually.

Instead of gathering a bunch of followers and worrying that they might turn against you when their ambitions grow, it's better to resolve the problem in advance with some decisive measures.

However, Gu Le Gu is indeed innocent.

“Marcus, I think you could be rich just from fishing skills,” Zack said, picking his teeth as he gazed at the sunset, reminiscing about something trivial.

I lazily basked in the breeze and casually replied, "I can't fish for the rest of my life, can I? I'm not some monster like Gu Le Gu who can catch sea kings."

“Gu Le Gu is different. The enlightenment he has gained from being a decadent and dissolute rich young master to becoming the world-renowned fishing king is beyond your imagination.” Zack sighed. “I never thought that casually teaching him to fish would change his life.”

At this point, Zack glanced at me and said, "I always have this feeling that something about you is more remarkable than what I witnessed when you were a rising star. That something, whether it's an aura or a special quality, is completely unfathomable to me."

If what you're trying to say is about my mental pollution tendencies, I think you'd better stop here.

"What can I do? I just run a runaway ranch, and I haven't even grown many proper agricultural products. But that doesn't stop me from being an enthusiastic, illiterate bystander."

I shook my unsteady body, listening to the howling sea breeze: "I am a formidable and fearless warrior, so it's normal for you to feel ashamed. But why are you praising me like this? Is something the matter now?"

Zack scratched his head sheepishly: "You figured it out..."

Nonsense, you practically have your fawning written all over your face, and I still can't see through it. You might as well throw those hands on the ground and stomp on them like a light bulb.

"Actually, the supply of grain along this route has been decreasing lately. Even with my help, the brothers can only transport 30% more. I suspect the pest infestation in the area is getting worse. If the town stops producing grain, we'll definitely run out of food."

"Are you asking me about the food?" I suddenly realized.

Yesterday's fierce battle almost made me forget that the town was also facing a pest infestation. I don't know where the experts Mr. Dick hired are, but I definitely have to take on the responsibility on the front lines and bravely shoulder the burden of supplying the town with food.

This was something I had promised Zach before.

"Don't worry, after you told me about this, I've expanded the planting area significantly. The produce we grow is not only enough to feed the townspeople, but exporting it to earn foreign exchange is not just a dream."

I confidently assured myself that some of my crops should be nearly ripe; based on the sowing time, at least…

“Great, Marcus! What did you plant? Wheat? Pumpkins? Or those amazing potatoes from before?” Zack laughed loudly, patting my back enthusiastically.

But when I thought about the details, I broke out in a cold sweat instantly.

Something seems off. Did I miss something?

What's going on? Something feels off.

"Quick, Marcus! I need to tell everyone this news. You're the biggest hero!"

Under Zack's constant urging, I carefully considered my words and slowly opened my mouth, as if asking a completely unrelated question.

"Zack... what do you think... how about feeding the residents carrots?"

"Radish? Great! Everyone likes to eat this as a vegetable, right?" Zack laughed heartily.

I shook my head: "No... I mean, what do you think about feeding the townspeople radishes for three days?"

"……you mean?"

I said apologetically, "I didn't expect the food shortage to happen so quickly. Now I have good news and bad news. Which do you want to hear?"

Zach asked tentatively, "What's the bad news?"

"The bad news is that if there's no other food for the next three days, we'll be eating radishes for the entire three days! There won't be any side dishes!"

"...What kind of news is this?! Why is this happening?! What good news? There must be some good news you're hiding from me, right?" Zack looked at me frantically, his eyes filled with the expectation that I was lying.

"The good news is, there are plenty of radishes!"

"This is not good news at all!"

Zack slams the table!

…………

"Tch, they clearly don't know anything. Do you know how hard I've tried?"

I walked home, disgruntled. Finally, Zack said he'd try to procure some other food, then, looking worried, urged me to hurry back to the ranch and keep an eye on the nearly ripe radishes. He couldn't handle any more stress; if something went wrong with the radishes, he couldn't even imagine what would happen.

I'm not worried at all. It's just food. Even if my ranch yields nothing, I'm confident I can use the colonist system's amazing fishing method to feed the whole town with the catch from the sea!

But what random things might be caught during the process is anyone's guess...

The timeframe was so short; I definitely hadn't expected it. I had thought the pest infestation wouldn't threaten Mineral Town quickly, at least a week or two. That would have been enough time to plant two crops of potatoes and harvest a whole warehouse full of grain!

As a result, the town was affected in just three days. So, the first batch of ripe potatoes I harvested were those indescribable radishes. Pineapples and strawberries wouldn't be harvested until the fifth day, and potatoes wouldn't ripen until the sixth day.

This means that during the three-day time difference, everyone will have to eat radishes to get by!

"Oh, if only the jays and their tribe could make contact with me."

I desperately hope that the jays and their flock can reappear, bringing with them the large quantities of grain grown by the tribe to trade with us and ensure the town's food supply.

It's okay if I can't afford it, I'll just donate a Doctor Dort and Father Carter! Doctor Dort ravages the body, Father Carter corrupts the soul, he has both spiritual and material power, such a great contribution, it's not too much to ask for a few tons of potatoes, is it?

I had considered giving them jay seeds before; as the saying goes, "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." Even if I spent all my money buying them tons of food, it certainly wouldn't be enough for them. On the contrary, once I taught them how to grow potatoes, they could happily go fishing when there was no food!

...Wait, something's not right.

That should mean everyone can squat together and happily munch on potatoes!

The most important thing in life is to be happy. What, you're not happy?

Then I'll cook some potatoes for you!

Chapter 220 Cuckoo in the Nest

Lost in thought, I rushed back to the ranch before dark.

I was pleased to see that the once desolate pasture was slowly starting to show signs of life.

In the distance, a suspicious, strange creature was squatting in the field, like a giant toad lying on the ground, occasionally rolling around on the spot, silently listening with its ears close to the leaves, looking like a silly fool playing at the edge of the village.

"Kappa, what are you doing? Didn't I tell you to hide? Get up right now!"

I called out to it from afar, hoping to give this strange creature a warning. I'd already warned it to be more discreet, yet it dared to lie there so brazenly. What if it got discovered?

If it's not me who comes back this time, but Zack who's picking up the goods, a neighbor who's just dropping by, or some other guest who's wandered into the ranch by mistake, how am I supposed to explain it?

Is this a camouflage mini Jeep?

To everyone's surprise, the kappa remained completely unmoved, only saying in a high-pitched voice, "Master, stop chanting. I'm doing as you say! I heard you! I heard you!"

"..." Was I reciting the Tightening Spell?

Should I storm up to it and slap it, yelling, "You damned beast! What did you hear?!"

Fine, let's give Gots some face. This kappa was purified from the remains of a Deep One. Even if he's not Gots' father, he's still Gots's orphaned brother from Zaun. He deserves the respect he deserves.

"What did you hear, brother?" I walked up calmly and saw a green kappa lying on the ground, its ear pressed against a radish leaf, staring blankly ahead.

"Master! I can hear the voice of the plants! Quickly teach me the secrets of farming!" the kappa exclaimed excitedly, his ears never leaving the leaves.

I stood to the side and kindly reminded him, "Apprentice, if you keep listening like that, I don't know if there are any plant sounds, but that stink bug is about to crawl into your ear..."

"what!!!!!"

A stink bug silently crawled across its face, almost crawling into its ear before it could react. The kappa's supposed sound was probably made by this little creature.