The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress - Chapter 80

Chapter 80: Chapter 80 Eating in the Wild
Xavier nodded and added, “I don’t know how to cook.”

Hera found herself torn between laughter and exasperation at his response. ‘So that’s why he volunteered to fish while leaving the cooking to me,’ she thought, realizing the reason behind his actions.

After regaining her composure, Hera nodded at Xavier and accepted the fish he was offering. “Make sure to catch more so everyone else can eat too,” she reminded him.

Xavier simply nodded in response and resumed spearfishing without saying another word.

Hera carefully placed the two fish on the large leaf she had cut and followed the direction Bry had indicated, where wild mushrooms could be found. She made sure to cut additional big leaves so she could carry back more mushrooms if she found a lot.

As Hera wandered, she stumbled upon clusters of wild shallots and small wild garlic plants. While not as large as those cultivated by farmers, they boasted enough aroma to enhance the flavor of her meal.

Nearby in the moist soil, Hera discovered some wild ginger, adding to her collection of foraged goods. She continued to gather anything edible or suitable for seasoning that she came across. The cameraman trailed silently behind her, both impressed by her resourcefulness and quietly lamenting her seemingly endless stroke of luck.

Foraging for wild edible plants in the forest wasn’t an easy task, yet Hera appeared as though she were plucking them from a well-tended garden.

Before long, Hera reached the southern part of the forest where a large, moist log lay covered in moss and white edible mushrooms. Visibly elated, she wasted no time in inspecting the mushrooms to confirm their edibility. Satisfied with her findings, she began gathering them eagerly, wrapping them carefully in the leaves she had brought along.

Recognizing that the leaves she had brought along were insufficient to accommodate her entire foraged haul, and finding the load too cumbersome to manage with just her hands, Hera scanned her surroundings. She soon spotted some long, sturdy leaves nearby, perfect for fashioning into a makeshift basket.

It didn’t need to be overly sturdy since Hera only required the basket to hold all the items together while she carried them in her arms, ensuring that nothing would spill out.

She did not waste time and immediately sprang into action after forming a plan in her head.

[JustPassingBy: What?! Don’t tell me, she already knew about the Variety Shows location and prepared beforehand? Or is she Tarzan who knew her way in the forest like the back of her head?]

[AuntieNextDoor: Hey dude. Don’t spout nonsense here, no one would know anything about the location in advance just like the previous guest of the show… Learning survival skills in the wild is entirely feasible; there’s already abundant material available for self-education on the subject… (;￢＿￢)]

[PasserbyGod: Indeed, let’s avoid jumping to conclusions. While Hera appears comfortable in the forest, it’s premature to assume it’s her first time here. We should keep an open mind and gather more information before making any judgments.]

In less than five minutes, Hera deftly crafted a makeshift medium-sized basket from the sturdy leaves she found. Testing its durability, she ensured it could hold all her foraged items securely. Satisfied with her creation, she carefully arranged the items inside before heading back to where the others were waiting.

Upon her return, Hera noticed Xavier still in the water, fully engrossed in spearfishing. He seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself, having already caught more than ten fish, in addition to the one they had earlier.

Bry continued to search for twigs, while Xavier’s guide assisted him in gathering dry branches to ensure they had enough firewood. Hera set down her foraged items and began gutting the fish by only making a small incision enough to remove the insides without removing the scales, ensuring they wouldn’t overcook when placed over the fire.

After gutting and cleaning 12 fishes meticulously, Hera glanced at Xavier, who was still spearfishing tirelessly. They now had 4 sizable fish surplus to their needs.

“Brother Xavier, you can stop now,” she called out, her words slipping out a bit too casually. Hera immediately realized her slip of the tongue, feeling a hint of embarrassment, but it was too late to retract.

Hera remembered Athena saying that among the male leads, Xavier was the one who hated being too close to women the most because of the schemes always happening in the entertainment industry behind closed doors. Moreover, Xavier was known to dislike being addressed too familiarly.

She nervously glanced at Xavier, fearing she may have overstepped, but he appeared oblivious, engrossed in his spearfishing. Hera breathed a sigh of relief.

“Mr. Montague, you can stop catching fish now. We have plenty to go around.”

Xavier reluctantly ceased his spearfishing, his demeanor suggesting he could have continued all day. He sullenly joined Bry, who was busy arranging the bonfire. Hera couldn’t help but find Xavier’s sulking demeanor a bit endearing, eliciting a soft chuckle from her lips.

“Why don’t you lend me a hand sharpening some sticks for the fish?” Hera suggested, extending a Swiss knife from her tactical bag towards Xavier. She then passed him the freshly washed sticks, which appeared suitable for cooking the fish.

The older guide approached Hera, observing her as she pulled out spices from her belt bag. He smiled knowingly, recognizing her preparedness, and asked the question that had been on everyone’s mind since earlier. “You seem to be quite accustomed to this, don’t you?”

Hera, without looking up as she massaged rock salt onto the fish, responded, “I used to venture into the wilderness with my grandpa or go on fishing trips.”

The old man couldn’t help but let out a hearty laugh. How many girls would go on fishing trips with their grandfathers, let alone into the wilderness? This gave him a favorable impression of Hera.

So he offered her some help, but Hera only gave him a rechargeable plasma beam lighter with a long nose to make starting a fire easier. She also asked him to build a stand for the soup. He appeared confused, wondering how Hera planned to make soup when they hadn’t brought along a pot.

He was surprised to see Hera pull out a circular silicon plate from her belt bag, almost as big as her face. Then, with a simple pull, it transformed into a pot.

Hera had brought along a foldable, heat-resistant silicon pot suitable for camping. The old man couldn’t help but laugh again, impressed by the resourcefulness of the young woman.

[JustReading: What is she, Doraemon?!!! How come she has everything in her belt bag?!]

[JustAMan: Haha, bro, you just echoed my thoughts exactly! 😂😂]

[NatureisLove: Dude, you got me laughing there… It did not cross my mind until I read your comment. She really does fit the bill of being Doraemon’s real-life version 😂😂😂]

[AuntieNextDoor: I didn’t know about all these things. I’ll search for everything she’s using so that I’m well-prepared for camping trips in the future.]

[HeraismySister: @AuntieNextDoor Yeah, I did not know of these things too… We usually bring many portable things but it was still a little bulky and heavy to carry when we go camping… It was an eye-opener for me…]

While Hera was preparing the fish, the cameraman received a radio message from their Director regarding the viewer’s request for information about Hera’s belongings inside her bulky belt bag.

Approaching Hera, the cameraman began his inquiry.

“Ms. Ainsley, it seems that the crews are curious about the contents of your belt bag, such as the lighter and portable pot. Could you please share what these items are and where you acquired them?” The cameraman, intrigued by Hera’s tools, found himself personally interested, knowing they could be invaluable during his outdoor shoots, where cooking might be necessary. He couldn’t also disclose the fact that they are livestreaming so he used the other crew as a shield.

After hearing the cameraman’s inquiry, Hera briefly glanced up from her task but continued working as she responded, “The lighter our guide is using is a rechargeable plasma beam lighter. I bought it online; it’s affordable and quite durable.” She then gestured towards the pot. “As for this, it’s a foldable heat-resistant silicon pot that comes with three foldable silicon cups. Also affordable and durable.” Hera pointed at the Swiss knife in Xavier’s hand, providing further explanation as she seemed to almost pull out everything from her belt bag.

She appeared like an adorable child enthusiastically sharing about her cherished hobby and treasured possessions. Unbeknownst to her, everyone, including the usually silent Xavier, was attentively listening to her every word.