Sludge suction system

Bai Pingping and Xia Mu finally managed to escape the lotus flower formation and arrived at the entrance of the cave.

"Father, Father, Xia Mu and I have come to welcome you out of seclusion!" Bai Pingping stood at the entrance of the cave, cupping her hands to her mouth and calling out loudly into the cave. Her clear and melodious voice echoed through the valley.

After a moment, a hearty laugh came from inside the cave: "Haha, Father's out!" With the laughter, a tall, handsome middle-aged man slowly walked out of the cave. His eyes were bright and his face was full of loving smiles.

"Pingping, what happened to you two? Why are you so disheveled?" The middle-aged man looked at his daughter and Xia Mu and couldn't help but ask with a smile. Bai Pingping's clothes were somewhat disheveled, and her hair was also a little messy; while Xia Mu was covered in dust, with a few beads of sweat on his forehead.

Hearing her father's question, Bai Pingping pouted and said with a mournful expression, "Father, how dare you say that! It's all because of that lotus formation you set up in front of the cave. I haven't visited you in so long that I completely forgot about it. As a result, Xia Mu and I had to struggle through the formation and almost got trapped inside!"

Xia Mu quickly chimed in, "Yes, Valley Master. Pingping and I really used all our strength to break through this lotus formation. Look at us now, we're in quite a sorry state."

The middle-aged man laughed again, then gently tapped Bai Pingping's forehead with his finger and said, "Who told you not to practice your skills properly? You've even forgotten the most basic formations. With skills like yours, you still dream of going out into the world to roam and uphold justice? That's just wishful thinking!"

"By the way, Father, have you made any new progress in your seclusion this time, studying medicine? Also, why do you never let me go into the cave to take a look?" Bai Pingping's eyes were full of curiosity.

"My medical skills have improved significantly. My Big Dipper Needle technique has become even more refined. When I use it on healthy people, it can prolong their lives. When I use it on seriously ill people, it can restore their vitality and make them no different from healthy people," Bai Yan said, stroking his beard.

"Such amazing acupuncture technique, Father, when will you teach me? I want to learn too! Please, Father, please, Father!" Bai Pingping grabbed Bai Yan's arm and shook it repeatedly, trying to get Bai Yan to grant her request.

"Here, this is the secret manual for using the Big Dipper Needle that I wrote down in the cave. Don't say that your father is hiding something good from you. You're just so naughty." After saying that, he used his finger to gently stroke Bai Pingping's nose and looked at her with a doting expression.

Bai Pingping took the manual of the Big Dipper Seven Star Needles and smiled happily at Bai Yan, "I knew Father was the best. You are the best father in the whole world."

Watching Bai Pingping's radiant smile, Xia Mu was momentarily lost in thought. It had been so long since he'd seen his beloved Pingping, smiling so happily, her smile so captivating. He wished he could see Pingping's smile forever. Xia Mu could only bury this love deep within his heart; he was willing to protect Bai Pingping forever.

"Girl, I'm starving! I'm craving your roast chicken and your osmanthus wine. Hurry up and make a feast for your father, my stomach is growling!" Bai Yan rubbed her belly and giggled.

"That's easy! Let's go back quickly. I'll personally cook a big feast for Father to celebrate his recovery!" As she spoke, she gestured exaggeratedly, indicating a large table of food.

The three left the cave and headed towards the bamboo house in White Bird Valley.

Bai Pingping is going to show off her culinary skills and prepare a sumptuous feast for Bai Yan.

As soon as she stepped into the kitchen, Bai Pingping rolled up her sleeves, her eyes revealing focus and gentleness. She first grabbed a plump, healthy free-range chicken with glossy plumage, and with swift, skillful movements, bled, plucked, and gutted it, demonstrating her competence. After washing the chicken, she placed it on the cutting board, then took coarse salt and gently rubbed it all over, as if giving it a pure white snow dance. The salt grains evenly coated the chicken, removing any fishy smell and enhancing its flavor, revealing its initial savory aroma.

Xia Mu wasn't idle either. He fetched clear stream water and washed all the necessary vegetables, arranging them neatly. His movements were light and efficient, and in no time he had a basket full of vegetables.

While marinating the chicken, Pingping said to Xia Mu, "Xia Mu, this lotus leaf roasted chicken is my father's favorite! He loves the roasted chicken wrapped in lotus leaves from our White Bird Valley. It smells so good." As she spoke, she wiped her drool, which made Xia Mu laugh out loud.

While the chicken was marinating, Bai Pingping went to the lotus pond. The pond was filled with lotus leaves swaying like green umbrellas, their vibrant color almost dripping with moisture, and a delicate fragrance lingering in the air. She carefully selected several large, tender, and intact lotus leaves, and also picked a few newly blooming lotus flowers, placing them on the dining table in the bamboo house. She washed the freshly picked lotus leaves with clean water, then blanched them in boiling water, making them even more supple.

The chicken was now marinated. Bai Pingping placed the iron wok over the stove and, once it was warm, poured in a little rapeseed oil. As the oil heated slightly, she added ginger slices, instantly releasing a fragrant aroma. She then placed the chicken in and slowly pan-fried it over low heat. The chicken skin gradually turned golden brown under the oil, sizzling as the fat seeped out and the aroma became irresistible. Pingping gently rotated the wok to ensure the chicken was heated evenly until it was golden red and crispy, looking incredibly appetizing.

Xia Mu helped add firewood, skillfully controlling the heat to keep the fire at the perfect temperature. Pingping smiled and said to Xia Mu, "Thanks to your help in controlling the heat, the heat is crucial for frying this chicken. Too high a heat and the skin will burn; too low and it won't have that crispy texture." Xia Mu smiled and replied, "Sister, you flatter me. I will definitely be careful with the heat."

The pan-fried chicken was set aside to cool, then blanched lotus leaves were spread out, and the chicken was placed on top. The remaining oil from the pan was then drizzled over it, instantly enhancing the aroma. Next, it was wrapped layer by layer in lotus leaves, as if concealing a delicacy, and placed in a steamer over high heat. Soon, steam rose, and the delicate fragrance of the lotus leaves mingled with the tenderness of the chicken, filling the air with an irresistible aroma.

While the lotus leaf-wrapped roast chicken was still steaming, Pingping led Xiamu to an osmanthus tree and directed him to dig out a jar of aged osmanthus wine. It was osmanthus rice wine that she and Xiamu had sealed together last autumn. Pingping opened the seal, fanned the wine with her hand, and exclaimed, "It's truly fine wine! Father will surely love it!" With that, she had Xiamu carry the osmanthus wine back to the bamboo house.

An hour later, the lotus leaf-wrapped roast chicken was ready. Pingping gently opened the steamer, and the fragrant steam from the lotus leaves, carrying the aroma of the chicken, wafted out. She carefully took out the lotus leaf-wrapped roast chicken, placed it on a tray, and unwrapped the lotus leaves. The roast chicken was glossy, the meat tender and juicy, and the fragrance of the lotus leaves had already permeated its very bones.

Bai Pingping also cooked a few delicious dishes.

Before long, Pingping and Xiamu had neatly arranged the lotus leaf-wrapped roasted chicken, steamed fish, stir-fried cured pork with bamboo shoots, mixed seasonal vegetables, and osmanthus wine, along with a few fragrant lotus flowers, instantly filling the table with tempting colors, aromas, and flavors.

"My daughter is such a good cook!" Bai Yan, who had been dozing off, was awakened by the aroma of the food and walked towards the table.