Chapter 403 - 340: Clue?
The two men’s hair was a mess, as if someone had yanked on it.
Sitting by the hot pot, the two old men stared intently at the pot before them.
Most of the beings here might not know what this was, but these two old men did.
You could tell from their clothes that they knew about human society.
Beach shorts, flip-flops, and hair like a bird’s nest.
"It smells so good! Old Snake Freak, you’re not fighting me for it this time! Or else I’ll peel off your snake skin!"
"Why should it be yours? Finders keepers! Anyone who sees it gets a share! You think I’m afraid of you?"
The two men glared at each other, neither willing to back down.
But the two of them didn’t seem to notice the owner of the hot pot.
Wen Ying sat to the side, took out a pair of chopsticks, and ate a slice of beef, followed by some cilantro. Then, she contentedly watched the two old men argue, not saying a word.
After a staring contest, they seemed to give up—perhaps out of exhaustion, or maybe because they could no longer resist. After all, the aroma was just too wonderful.
One of the old men looked at Wen Ying with displeasure, his nose in the air. "Are you today’s caregiver?"
"Why didn’t you report to us when you arrived? Do you realize this makes us very unsatisfied?"
"That’s right! And if we’re not Satisfied, do you know what the consequences will be for you?" the other old man chimed in.
Wen Ying just nodded as she ate.
"I’m the caregiver, yes, but right now..."
The two of them stared at her eagerly, as if waiting for an invitation to eat. They could, after all, just grab the food with their hands, but that would ruin the delicious meal.
’One must be serious when it comes to good food!’
’Besides, sticking your hands into that steaming broth would ruin them, wouldn’t it?’
"Right now is my mealtime. Why don’t you two wait until I’ve finished eating before we discuss caregiver business?"
The two men instantly started fuming, glaring at Wen Ying. "Who gave you permission to eat here! I’m going to report you! You failed to leave us Satisfied, so according to the rules, we can do with you as we please! Understand, little girl?!"
Wen Ying feigned thoughtfulness before coming up with an idea. "In that case, how about I invite you two to try some? It’s nothing fancy, but if you’re not interested, I won’t insist."
Wen Ying was only halfway through her sentence when one of the old men shot out his hand and snatched the chopsticks right out of hers.
Wen Ying was speechless. ’...That’s a bit much, isn’t it?’
Wen Ying took out two more pairs of chopsticks. "Seniors, these are new. Shall I cook some food for you?"
"No need!" The old man who spoke already had a mouthful of beef, with oil dribbling from the corner of his lips.
He then dumped two whole boxes of beef and lamb into the pot, cooked it all in one go, and then scooped everything out into his own bowl with his chopsticks.
The other old man, however, didn’t follow suit. Instead, he glanced at Wen Ying’s bowl and copied her, mixing a bowl of dipping sauce for himself.
Only then did he cast a contemptuous look at the old man stuffing his face with meat. "How crude!"
He picked up a single slice of pork belly, coated it thoroughly in the dipping sauce, and then placed it in his mouth to savor it slowly.
"Now *this* is a delicacy!" he added, not forgetting to make a pronouncement.
The other old man, his mouth stuffed with food, froze. ’How can I lose to this damn geezer at a time like this?’ he thought.
So, after forcing down his mouthful, he also began to copy the other, slowly savoring the meal.
Wen Ying didn’t interfere with the two old men’s antics in the slightest, simply focusing on her own food.
’After all, these are small portions, and they go quickly. With three people eating, one of us is bound to go hungry, right?’ she thought.
The two old men went back and forth, secretly competing, which made them eat very slowly.
By the time they snapped out of it, Wen Ying had already eaten half the meat and vegetables. The two of them became frantic, casting aside all ceremony and snatching at the food, even in front of a human who clearly knew how to eat.
But after they had finished, they looked at Wen Ying with dissatisfaction, as if she had stolen something precious from them.
"There’s a human saying: ’Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.’ Have you two seniors ever heard it?"
Hearing this, the gazes they gave her grew even more hostile.
’We haven’t even started grilling this little brat, and she’s already turned the tables on us?’
Of course, they had heard the saying. The two had studied quite a bit of human culture, so they knew exactly what it meant.
"Little human girl, you were the one who invited us to eat this hot pot, weren’t you?"
Wen Ying blinked and nodded. "Of course."
"Did you two seniors enjoy the meal?"