Chapter 34: Fried crickets

Yan Sen had barely reached the doorway when he was startled by a blood-curdling scream from inside. It sounded like someone was being slaughtered. Alarmed, he quickened his pace, bounding into the house.

Before he could ask what was happening, Thomas came bounding toward him like a frantic monkey, clutching Yan Sen's arm in a death grip. His wide-eyed expression looked as though he had witnessed an alien invasion.

"Get off me!" Yan Sen growled, peeling Thomas' fingers off one by one. "What's wrong with you?"

Thomas, still trembling, pointed toward the kitchen with a shaky hand. "She… she… she…"

Yan Sen shot him a skeptical look, then decided to investigate on his own.

In the kitchen, Qin Li stood by the stove, frying something that smelled surprisingly good. Beside her, Schrödinger, the cat, pawed at her leg, alternating between meowing and licking her hand whenever she tossed him a morsel.

The scene was picturesque, bathed in warm afternoon sunlight. It was so serene that Yan Sen wondered what could have sent Thomas into hysterics.

He cleared his throat, and Qin Li turned to see him. "Oh, you're back!" she said cheerfully.

His gaze swept over her. She looked perfectly fine—no missing limbs, no signs of distress. "Did you finish weeding?" he asked.

Qin Li shook her head casually. "Nope. Took the afternoon off."

He frowned, puzzled, but before he could say anything else, she gestured toward a plate on the counter. "I made some snacks. Wash up and try them!"

After washing his hands, Yan Sen returned to find Thomas huddled in the corner, clutching a handkerchief and muttering warnings. "Don't do it! You'll regret it for the rest of your life!"

Curiosity piqued, Yan Sen ignored him and approached the plate Qin Li had prepared.

The food was golden and crispy, emitting a tantalizing aroma. Whatever it was, it looked appetizing, though it was hard to tell what lay beneath the fried coating.

Qin Li pushed the plate closer to him. "Go on, try it. It's not poisonous."

Without hesitation, she popped one into her own mouth, crunching down with obvious delight.

Yan Sen hesitated briefly but decided to give it a try. He picked up one of the morsels, tossed it into his mouth, and bit down. It was crispy, savory, and surprisingly delicious—better than potato chips.

He reached for another.

Qin Li smirked. Now that's a real man!

Meanwhile, Thomas was pacing frantically, incredulous. "You're actually eating it?!"

"What's wrong with it?" Yan Sen asked, nonchalantly chewing.

Thomas pointed an accusatory finger. "Do you even know what it is?"

"Crickets," Yan Sen replied, unfazed. "Or cicadas?"

Qin Li, taken aback by his calmness, confirmed, "Crickets."

Thomas looked ready to faint. "You knew, and you still ate it?! That's disgusting!"

Scoffing, Qin Li rolled her eyes. "What's the big deal? If you keep whining, I'll eat you next—boiled, fried, or grilled. Your choice."

Thomas clutched his mouth in mock horror and retreated to the corner, thoroughly silenced.

Yan Sen's lips quirked into a faint smile. "You Chinese are geniuses. I've seen thousands of crickets in my life but never thought of eating them."

Qin Li wasn't sure if he was complimenting or mocking her. She shrugged. "Back in my parents' day, food was scarce. Bugs were a cheap source of protein. We even caught crickets for fun when I was a kid."

Thomas, still recovering, asked weakly, "Why crickets? Why not other bugs?"

"Because crickets are the most handsome," Qin Li joked.

Thomas recoiled. "They're hideous! Just looking at them kills my appetite."

"They're ugly but tasty. Why don't you try one and see for yourself?"

Thomas shook his head vehemently. "No way!"

"Are you a man or not? It's just a bug, for heaven's sake."

"A gross bug," Thomas corrected.

Qin Li leaned back, arms crossed. "Fine. If you don't eat one, no dinner for you tonight. And guess what's on the menu? Your favorite—braised pork knuckle."

Thomas froze, torn between his revulsion and his love of pork knuckle.

"Fine! You win!" he groaned dramatically, picking up a cricket with trembling fingers. "Look at it—its head, its legs, its wings. You just tossed it into oil! This is barbaric! You're the real creator of dark cuisine!"

Qin Li tapped his head with a spatula. "Less talking, more chewing!"

Grimacing, Thomas shut his eyes and tossed the cricket into his mouth, fully intending to swallow it whole.

"Chew!" Qin Li barked. "Three times, or you'll eat three more!"

Whimpering, Thomas reluctantly bit down. To his surprise, the cricket wasn't as horrifying as he'd imagined. It was crispy, flavorful, and… not bad at all.

"See? Not so bad, right?" Qin Li teased.

Thomas swallowed and reached for another cricket. "If I pretend it's a potato chip, it's… okay."

Grinning mischievously, he sprang up and flung open the window. "Hey, everyone! Come try this delicacy Qin made!"

The smell had already attracted attention, and with Thomas's loud proclamation, the rest of the film crew came rushing in.

Qin Li sighed. What she had hoped would be a private feast was quickly turning into a public spectacle. She handed out skewers, each with a single fried cricket.

"What is it?" someone asked nervously.

"Crickets!" another replied, horrified.

There was a collective gasp.

"It's just a bug," Qin Li explained patiently. "Don't let the looks fool you—it's packed with protein and good for asthma, bronchitis, headaches, baldness, and, well… let's just say it's great for men."

"For… men?" Thomas repeated, eyes wide.

"Yep! My dad ate these all the time before he had me. Coincidence? I think not."

Her impromptu sales pitch worked like a charm. Driven by a mix of curiosity and the promise of health benefits, the crew cautiously took a bite—and were pleasantly surprised.

"It's… actually good!" someone exclaimed.

One by one, they all dug in, eagerly reaching for more.

By the end, the entire afternoon's haul of crickets had been devoured.

"This country," one of the crew members marveled, licking their fingers, "is truly a culinary powerhouse. They've redefined what it means to be a foodie."

As soon as Qu Dani stepped through the door after work, she called out, "I heard you made something delicious for the Germans again today?"

Qin Li, still lounging in the kitchen, replied nonchalantly, "Fried crickets."

Qu Dani froze mid-step. "I thought it was something good. You actually had the guts to serve that?"

Qin Li shrugged. "Looks gross, tastes amazing. Like stinky tofu."

Even for someone as accustomed to bold flavors as Qu Dani, this was a step too far. She glanced out the window, eager to change the subject. "How's your ditch digging coming along?"

Qin Li stretched with a groan, twisting her shoulder. "I'm sore all over! Didn't feel it this morning, but now my whole body aches—can't even stand up straight."

Qu Dani smirked. "Serves you right. You're really farming now? What's next, a tan so dark you'll be unrecognizable?"

"I put on sunscreen," Qin Li countered. After a pause, she added, "Honestly, I think farming is kind of fun. It's tiring, but if I manage to grow something, it'll feel really rewarding."

Qu Dani rolled her eyes. "It's not that easy, you know. You think you have a magical pocket dimension or something? Look, you're only here for a month. Half of it's already gone. Why waste your time? Just coast for the rest of your stay."

Her words hit Qin Li like a deflated balloon. "You're right. Why am I working so hard?"

Seeing her sudden slump, Qu Dani softened. "Or… you could stay. Have you thought about that?"

Qin Li shook her head firmly. "No way. I'm more suited to city life."

Her response was resolute, but deep down, a seed of doubt lingered. The thought of staying here, in this tranquil countryside, growing crops and living a simple life, wasn't entirely unappealing.

"Eh, I've got the time. Might as well keep going," she said with a half-smile. "It's just a little experiment to see if I can grow anything."

Qu Dani shoved her playfully. "You're such a softie pretending to be tough."

"Ow!" Qin Li yelped. "Be gentle! I'm already sore!"

With a snicker, Qu Dani rummaged through a drawer, pulled out a medicinal patch, and slapped it onto Qin Li's shoulder. "Don't think I don't know you. You'll say it's just for fun, but then you'll go, 'Oh, the sprouts are growing! I have to stay and see them bloom!' And then, when they bloom, it'll be, 'I have to wait until they bear fruit!' Before you know it, you'll have rooted yourself here permanently."

Caught off guard, Qin Li could only chuckle awkwardly.

The next morning, at the crack of dawn, the rooster's crow dragged Qin Li out of bed. Determined, she declared she'd finish weeding the rest of the field today.

From the window, Yan Sen watched as she worked tirelessly, her wide-brimmed hat shielding her from the sun as she knelt in the dirt.

Thomas, sipping tea, wandered over to the window as well. "Why don't you lend her the plowing machine? It'd be so much faster."

In Germany, labor was expensive, so nearly every agricultural task was automated. A plot of land this size could be tilled by machine in an hour or two. Watching Qin Li toil by hand was like watching someone churn butter in the age of electricity.

Thomas smirked, guessing Yan Sen was enjoying a little payback for all the times Qin Li had teased him.

Yan Sen, his expression unreadable, abruptly changed the subject. "Is your thesis done?"

"No…" Thomas mumbled.

"Then why are you loafing around here? If you don't graduate by Christmas, you'll be back here working the fields with me."

Thomas gasped. "No way! I'm going to NASA!" He bolted, leaving Yan Sen to chuckle softly.

Turning back to the window, Yan Sen's gaze landed on Qin Li once more. He had deliberately withheld the fact that a plowing machine could make her task effortless. The harder she worked, the more she'd appreciate the fruits of her labor—and perhaps, the more reluctant she'd be to leave.

It wasn't just her cooking that he'd grown attached to, though he couldn't deny his palate had been spoiled by her culinary skills. Without her, he'd either have to eat out every day or suffer through Thomas's cooking. Neither option was appealing.

But what else could persuade her to stay? The idyllic scenery? Financial incentives? His… charm?

A sly smile crossed his face as an idea formed. It was shameless, but it just might work.

Qin Li was knee-deep in her work when a shadow fell across her. Looking up, she saw Yan Sen approaching, his jacket slung over his shoulder and his muscular frame clad in nothing but a tight tank top.

She blinked. What the…?

Her gaze drifted downward to his toned abs, the faint sheen of sweat catching the sunlight. Qin Li swallowed hard, wiping at her nose as if trying to hide her reaction.

It's already hot enough—why crank up the heat?