Rebirth: Slice-of-life Cultivation

Above the big rock, Jiang Ning, in order to enhance the hot pot experience, had not controlled the smell, letting it drift freely.

The people scattered across the mountain caught whiffs of the scent that were so rich it made the crowd restless.

Originally, everyone had struggled to reach the summit in the middle of the night, famished, many having only nibbled on dry rations to fill their stomachs. Now wrapped in clothes, shivering through the night, and then this happened.

The aroma of the tomato pot was outrageous, and people instantly recognized it--tomatoes cultivated in Hu Qi Mountain’s sacred land emitted a fragrance that no ordinary person could resist.

Even under normal circumstances, the scent would be hard to ignore, let alone in such harsh conditions.

Many tourists cursed under their breath.

Someone became a self-proclaimed guardian of justice, speculating with malice, "Why can he cook hot pot? It’s forbidden to bring lighters up the mountain, and to start fires!"

During their climb, they had to go through a ticket checkpoint that inspected lighters to prevent forest fires and significant damage.

If someone blatantly broke the rules and started a fire, they would be punished!

Some with good eyesight said incredulously, "They’re using an induction stove!"

"Induction stove, are you kidding? It’s all rocks around, where’s the electricity?"

"Not sure."

The aroma from the tomato pot cooked by Jiang Ning wafted far and wide, even reaching Yu Wen and others in the distance.

Huddled beside a large rock to shield from the wind, Yu Wen took a deep breath of the fragrance, "Do you smell it?"

Jiang Yanan replied, "A bit."

Yu Wen countered, "It’s more than a bit, it’s incredibly fragrant!"

Dong Qingfeng concluded, "Someone is cooking hot pot..."

He helplessly said, "How could those people think of cooking hot pot on the mountain top? Isn’t that just asking for trouble?"

Their party fared slightly better, having eaten instant noodles, but a single cup of instant noodles could hardly fill a stomach. They had managed until now, but lured by the scent, they started to salivate once more.

Yu Wen mentioned in the travel group chat, "Did you guys smell it? It’s the scent of tomato soup."

The tomato base for the hot pot was ready, and Yang Sheng dipped a slice of tofu in. She bit into the boiling yet tender slice, where the tofu absorbed the tangy and sweet tomato broth, providing an incomparably delicious taste.

After eating a piece of tofu, the chill from the mountain wind felt much less biting.

She dipped several pieces before taking out her phone to reply to Yu Wen, "Smelled it, indeed very fragrant."

Seeing Yang Sheng’s eager response, and recalling how she was often targeted by Yang Sheng, Yu Wen couldn’t help but feel a bit of schadenfreude:

"Aiyo, we ate instant noodles earlier, so we feel a bit better. I remember you didn’t eat anything, did you?"

She guessed Yang Sheng might be extremely envious since others around Yu Wen waiting for the sunrise were cursing in their cravings.

After sending the message, Yu Wen finally felt she had one-upped Yang Sheng.

She took on an educative tone, "Next time don’t be stingy, eat when you should. See how foresighted I am?"

Meanwhile, Tang Fu saw these messages and looked at Yang Sheng in surprise, wondering why she didn’t tell her?

Yang Sheng said, "I’m uploading photos now, the internet’s not too fast."

Yu Wen typed a couple more sentences before finally seeing the photo. It showed a boiling tomato pot, bright red and not greasy, steaming, and through her phone screen, Yu Wen felt as though she could smell that rich fragrance.

She indeed smelled it, for the fragrance had long enveloped the mountaintop.

Yang Sheng commented, "The tofu is very tender after being cooked."

Xue Yuantong suggested, "You should try the fresh fish slices. They’re even more tender!"

Yu Wen fell silent.

Jiang Yanan felt embarrassed; she was used to Yu Wen’s high-handed attitudes usually ending in misfortune.

Yu Wen kept quiet for a good while, "You guys eat hot pot without me."

Afraid of her saying more, Jiang Yanan quickly said, "It was you who said there wasn’t enough space, and chose to split up."

Yu Wen stopped talking altogether.

She decided to focus on waiting for the sunrise. It was just a hot pot, after all.

Who hadn’t eaten one before?

After watching the sunrise, she’d go have hot pot for lunch with the squad leader!

At this point, Guo Kunnan, who had disappeared for a while, finally spoke up in the group chat:

"Damn, it’s you guys eating?"

Tang Fu asked, "Where did you go?"

Guo Kunnan felt thrilled inside; the long-legged Tang Fu actually cared about him, a rare occasion!

He started wishing he could go to her right then, to tell her in person that he was there.

Unfortunately, a bird in hand is worth more than ten in the bush. Guo Kunnan’s current position was excellent, surrounded not only by a yoga-pants-wearing lady but also several pretty college girls, donning hats like those worn by Western ladies of high society, elegant and beautiful.

He was too pleased to want anything else.

At that moment, Dan Kaiquan and Brother Nan were together, and compared to his buddy’s furtive glances around, Dan Kaiquan was a lot calmer.

...

Jiang Ning’s little hot pot station received attentive gazes from many tourists.

Damn it, the tomato pot’s fragrance became stronger the longer it cooked; the tourists could hardly bear it and were close to snatching the pot away, but rules prevented anyone from taking such actions.

Some became so enraged they considered leaving, but the mountaintop was crowded with people there to watch the sunrise, making it impossible to leave.

Moreover, if they left, there would be no chance of finding another spot to enjoy the sunrise. freёnovelkiss.com

Some covered their noses and mouths, trying not to inhale the intoxicating scent, but 90% of the population, unable to even quit smoking, could hardly resist such temptation. Before long, they continued to suffer and enjoy it.

Xue Yuantong dipped a slice of bamboo shoot, and its crunchy texture combined with the tangy sweetness was unforgettable.

"Amazing!" Xue Yuantong expressed sentimentally, "All the trouble to climb to the peak of Taishan was worth it!"

Yang Sheng and Tang Fu deeply agreed; everyone who had hiked there had gone without sleep for a night.

Jiang Ning asked, "But why does it seem like you had no trouble at all?"

Xue Yuantong scoffed, "Hmph, just admit whether you climbed or not."

Jiang Ning didn’t argue with her but instead fumbled in her bag and pulled out half a watermelon.

Tang Fu, ever so sensible, was puzzled, "You still have more?"

She was well aware of the size of Jiang Ning’s backpack. How could it possibly hold so much stuff?