Chapter 93 - 91: Icebreaker

Jiang Si shook her head. "Let’s see if we can blast it open first. The ice might be thicker than we imagine."

’If it were that easy to blast through, there’d be no need for dedicated Icebreakers.’

But still, it sparked a glimmer of hope that they could get the yacht out of there.

Jiang Linhai immediately volunteered. "Then how about I go with you to the cruise ship and look around?"

Just as Jiang Si was about to nod, a hurricane suddenly whipped up again.

The newly fallen snow was whipped into the air, reducing visibility to less than two meters.

The ground was also treacherous. For safety’s sake, Jiang Si said, "Let’s just wait for the wind to die down a bit."

"Okay."

When they got back inside the cabin, Qin Shen, who must have overheard them, said, "I’ll go."

’He wasn’t afraid of the cold or the ice, but he was still just one person. How could he not get tired?’

Jiang Si shook her head and refused. "Once the storm lets up, I’ll go with you." As soon as she finished, she felt her voice sounded exceptionally gentle, not quite like herself. She quickly added, "And if we find any usable machinery, I can just use my space to bring it right back."

"Mm."

Qin Shen didn’t press the matter.

Seeing everyone return, Shen Baoying began to chatter. "I just finished clearing the snow, and now it’s coming down again. It doesn’t give you a moment to breathe. Niu Niu is in good spirits, though. How about we have mutton hotpot tonight?"

Hotpot and a sip of strong liquor were the perfect pairing for this cold weather.

Everyone was craving it, and Niu Niu cheered, "Yay, hotpot!"

It was in moments like these that she seemed like a truly lively and innocent child.

Everyone unanimously agreed to have hotpot.

Shen Baoying went into the kitchen and got busy.

Just as Jiang Si was about to go in and help, Qin Shen also walked in. "Need a hand?"

Before Jiang Si could refuse, Shen Baoying shoved a yam into each of their hands. "Help Mom peel these. I’m allergic to yam."

Jiang Si nodded, and Qin Shen grunted in affirmation.

Shen Baoying’s face instantly bloomed into a radiant smile, and Jiang Si’s eyes widened.

’My mom is acting like she’s his mom.’

A warmth spread through Jiang Si’s chest. She stole a glance at him. A smile still hung on the corner of Qin Shen’s lips, and she couldn’t help but smile herself.

The vegetable patch inside her space was mostly ready for harvesting.

Fresh eggplants, tomatoes, cucumbers, chives, peppers, baby bok choy, garland chrysanthemums, and asparagus lettuce... Jiang Si went into her space and picked a large basket in no time.

Shen Baoying would find a way to preserve any leftovers that weren’t used that day.

She used the finest lamb bones to simmer the soup base, and Shen Baoying gradually finished preparing the other side dishes and snacks as well.

Jiang Si and Qin Shen continued to act as Shen Baoying’s assistants, and in no time, the tabletop was laden with all sorts of ingredients.

There was something for everyone.

The table had a lazy Susan, so everyone could easily get to the dishes they wanted.

Shen Baoying’s fried sticky rice balls, dipped in brown sugar, were fragrant, sweet, soft, and chewy. They were devoured the moment they were brought to the table.

The cold tripe salad was bracingly spicy and crisp, which was exactly to Jiang Si’s taste.

Qin Shen, who didn’t look like he handled spice well, also ate quite a bit under Shen Baoying’s constant encouragement.

Once the lamb bone broth was fragrant and savory, Shen Baoying poured pickled vegetables into the pot. "Pickled vegetables and hotpot are a match made in heaven. Quick, everyone, put some meat in and try it."

Jiang Si started with the thinly sliced lamb, then added some meatballs, fish tofu, and sausages that required a longer cooking time.

With his leg injury still unhealed, Jiang Chengwu had to stay in his wheelchair. Worried he wouldn’t be able to reach, everyone made sure to raise his position so he could eat happily with them.

Niu Niu was drinking plum juice made by Shen Baoying. Seeing Jiang Si drinking sake, Jiang Chengwu wanted to have a couple of sips himself, but Zhang Qingfang gave him a light smack on the head. "Drink what? Don’t you know you’re not healed yet!"

Zhang Qingfang’s fierce demeanor immediately intimidated Jiang Chengwu, who obediently started drinking plum juice with Niu Niu.

He was clearly a big, burly man, but his sheepish expression was oddly cute and made everyone want to laugh.

Jiang Linhai took out a bottle of red wine he’d found on the cruise ship and said to the old man, "Dad, once you’re recovered, we’ll open this bottle of ’82 Lafite."

Jiang Si couldn’t help but smile. "An ’82 Lafite? This is much more expensive than Lafite. It’s an exclusive vintage for royal supply."

Jiang Linhai chuckled. "Did you hear that? Even better than Lafite."

Full and warm in the stable environment, it was easy to get sleepy, especially after a morning of hard labor.

Jiang Si was feeling lazy, too. ’You have to cherish the good days, because you might not get them later,’ she realized. She decided to take a nap, and then get up to teach everyone how to survive in this world of ice and snow.

’Different environments require different survival methods. You have to learn what you need to, just in case.’

Jiang Si had just stood up when she heard Shen Baoying say to Qin Shen, "Sisi had another one of her episodes last night. Since she just had some alcohol, I’m worried. Xiao Shen, could you help Auntie and walk her back to her room? I still have some things to clean up in the kitchen."

Jiang Si was instantly baffled. ’The bedroom is only a few steps from the lounge. How could anything happen to me?’

’If she was really that worried, she could have just asked Jiang Linhai to walk me.’

’Even a fool could tell she had an ulterior motive.’

And yet, the whole family pretended not to hear, looking up at the ceiling and secretly smirking.

Jiang Si sighed internally. Just as she was about to refuse on Qin Shen’s behalf, she heard his characteristically calm and steady voice say, "Okay."

The smiles on everyone’s faces grew wider. Even Niu Niu sensed the shift in atmosphere and gave Jiang Si a knowing wink.

Jiang Si’s cheeks burned. She hurried back to her room with Qin Shen following close behind, seeing her all the way to the door.

As the door closed, Jiang Si dove under her covers.

’If she included her age from her past life, she was practically an old woman, yet she was actually feeling her heart flutter.’

’She had no idea if the motive for all of Qin Shen’s actions was the energy stone inside her.’

Jiang Si decided she needed to play it cool. ’Haste makes waste,’ she thought.

They kept the yacht’s engine running constantly to prevent it from failing in the cold.

When Jiang Si woke up, she taught everyone some basic snow survival skills. Seeing that the snow had stopped, she and Qin Shen went aboard the cruise ship to search for any machinery that could break the ice.

Cruise ships always had various contingency plans for emergencies.

But this particular cruise ship had no ice-breaking machinery, only some drill bits.

There were no explosives either, which made sense. They were dangerous goods, so it was normal for a cruise ship not to have any.

Unexpectedly, however, they found some firearms and ammunition in a fifth-floor guest room.

This supply of guns and ammunition would last them a long time. Jiang Si was delighted, as it was just enough to fill the newly added square meter in her space.

Just as they were preparing to head back, Qin Shen’s expression suddenly grew serious.

Jiang Si asked anxiously, "What is it? Are you feeling unwell?"

She thought Qin Shen was about to lose control and transform again.

Qin Shen shook his head and pulled Jiang Si out onto the deck. There, on the horizon where the sea met the sky, a small point of light had suddenly appeared.

Jiang Si raised the binoculars to her eyes, which then shot wide. It was an Icebreaker.