Butter bread

Butter bread

BY——Lin Zixu

In the early morning, the sun exposed half of its face on the sea level, the sea surface was reddened by the rays of the sun, the sky was very blue, and the seagulls flitted across the sky in the bitter sea breeze, leaving a clear cry.

Antler Village, a small village at the northernmost tip of Oscontinent, at this time, the owner of a family at the northern end of the village closest to the beach is already busy in the kitchen.

There are two burners on the stove, one for heating milk, and the other for a pan.The pan was hot, and Chris picked up a small piece of butter and put it in the pan. The butter melted quickly. When Chris put a large piece of bacon into the oil pan, when the cold meat met the hot oil, there was a "crack" sound and then burst into flames. The smell of food made the people sitting next to Chris sniff unconsciously, and beside Chris' feet, the puppy Mao Mao had already pricked up his ears and wagged his tail desperately.

"Wow, woof."

"Haha, look at Mao Mao."

"It can't help but stop barking, haha, that's what it is."

Chris flipped the bacon in the pan, then turned to Fluffy and said, "Shhhhhhhhh."

The puppy whined softly, still wagging its tail with its ears pricked up, looking excited.

After the bacon and eggs were fried, Chris placed thinly sliced ​​cheese on the plate, and the milk was already hot. At this moment, the oven made a "ding" sound.

Hill smiled and said, "The bread is baked."

"let me."

Putting the breakfast for two into a large plate, Chris went over and turned on the oven. In an instant, a strong aroma of bread gushed out. On a cold winter morning, not only did Chris’s small kitchen not feel the coldness at all, On the contrary, it is warm and harmonious.

After dividing the bread for two, Chris handed the big plate to Hill, who held it carefully in his hand, and then Chris pushed the high stool with wheels sitting under Hill.

"Let's go, let's have breakfast."

Chris spread a little honey on the toast with a table knife, and Chris handed the bread to Hill, who ate the bread with both hands, and Chris sprinkled salt and pepper on the fried eggs in front of them.The eggs were fried very well, slightly burnt around, and the yolk was half-cooked. Hill cut the fried egg with a fork, ate it with bread, and then used the bread to eat up the remaining egg liquid on the plate.After Chris finished drinking the milk, the white milk froth left on his upper lip made Hill laugh. Chris wiped off the milk froth with his fingers, and laughed too.

"Hey Hey."

At the dining table, the little dog Mao Mao has already eaten up his dog food and is wagging his tail non-stop.

After breakfast, Chris washed the dishes, tidied up the kitchen, and then began to change his clothes and put on a thick sweater. Hill sat on the high stool and looked at him, telling him, "Remember to wear your scarf."

"Yes."

After getting dressed, Chris was ready to go out. When he picked up the woolen hat on the coat rack, Hill showed a reluctant expression.When turning around, Chris keenly caught the flash of expression on Hill's face, and he asked, "What's wrong with you?"

When Hill heard that, he immediately covered his smile and said, "No, it's nothing."

Raising his hand and rubbing the tip of his nose, Chris said, "I'll be back soon, well, at noon."

Hill lowered his head, a strand of silver-white long hair slipped from his ears to his shoulders, he knew that the little friend had a serious business to go out, and he would come back after work, but when Chris went out and was alone at home Hill would feel lonely.

Chris came over and put his hands on Hill's shoulders, and Hill raised his head to face him.Chris wanted to make his friends happy, stuck out his tongue and winked his eyes, and said, "I'll be back soon."

Amused, Hill's blue eyes shone brightly, and he nodded, "Yeah."

"Maomao stay at home, take care of Maomao for me."

Hill nodded.In fact, he knew that he couldn't take care of Maomao, but sometimes it was Maomao, a smart puppy, who took care of him.

Putting on his wool cap and gloves, Chris waved to his friends, then opened the door and went out.Hill slides the bar stool, and when he moves to the window, Chris is no longer in sight.

It is located at the northernmost tip of Osland, and it is very cold in winter. Although there has been no snow in the past few days, the strong north wind has already made people feel the arrival of the goddess of winter.

Using his hands as support, Hill moved his body from the high stool to the bed, and after he sat down, he took out the drawing book Chris had prepared for him on the side cabinet and looked through it.The puppy Mao Mao jumped from the bed to Hill's side, rubbed his head against Hill, and then lay down next to Hill.

Hill flipped through the album with one hand, and gently stroked the black fur on Mao Mao's body with the other.

Just half a month ago, Hill had never imagined that one day he would be so close to the furry beast with a warm body temperature, not only was he not afraid, but he trusted it very much.

Hill is a mermaid boy rescued by Chris.

Half a month ago, Chris was fishing on the coast not far from his home. His luck was very good that day, and he harvested one after another. He stayed until it was completely dark and was reluctant to go back.

Maomao found a dark shadow on the beach. Chris couldn't see it clearly in the night. He thought it was driftwood or other sundries washed up on the beach by the waves and ignored it. Maomao, who kept barking, finally let Chris run over. After checking it out, when he saw clearly what was lying on the beach, he inhaled in shock.

It was not driftwood that was washed on the beach by the waves, but an injured mermaid boy.

Chris found that the mermaid boy was still breathing and his heart was beating. He ordered Maomao to watch over the mermaid boy, and then ran home by himself, and then ran back with the bed sheet and the flatbed cart.Chris wrapped the injured merman in a sheet, put it on a flatbed and took the merman home.

The injury on the mermaid boy made Chris’s heart tremble. There were two deep bite wounds on the blue fish tail covered with fish scales. There are also some deep and shallow scars on the back and back, and the blood oozing out is half clotted.

Using a new bed sheet to make a bandage and digging out all the medicines in the house, Chris tried his best to heal the mermaid. He also used thin wood chips to make a bracket and bandaged the torn tail fin of the mermaid.After doing all this, the mermaid boy who was lying on the bed still didn't wake up.

Chris stood by the bed and took care of the mermaid who hadn't woken up yet.The mermaid in front of me has silver-white hair that reaches waist length. Judging from her appearance and body length, she should be a young mermaid with a childish face and delicate features. She is a beautiful boy. The body is very strong, the year-round life in the sea has made this mermaid boy have strong muscles in his arms, chest, and waist, and his body curves are very beautiful.

Looking closely at the scale-covered blue fish tail below the mermaid's waist, and looking at his own hands and feet, Chris sighed in his heart, it's amazing, it's amazing!Simply incredible!

Putting his hand to the mermaid's nose again, the lukewarm breath brushed over Chris' fingertips, and Chris touched the mermaid's wrist again. The temperature of the skin let Chris know that he was still alive.Chris felt relieved, feeling relieved.

Noticing that there was still some fine sand that hadn't been cleaned up on the mermaid's body, Chris brought another basin of hot water over, and he gently wiped the mermaid's cheeks, shoulders and neck with a hot towel. At this moment, there was a sudden silence Lying mermaid, eyes opened!

The blue eyes, the light reflected in, as if the stars fell in them, Chris was shocked, such beautiful eyes!

Before Chris woke up from the surprise, the mermaid lying there stood up abruptly. He grabbed Chris' arm tightly and opened his mouth to bite. The painful Chris yelled "Aww".

"Ah..."

"Woof, woof," the owner cried out in pain, and Mao Mao also cried out, baring his teeth and preparing to attack.

Chris stared at the mermaid with wide eyes, screaming in his heart how could he treat his savior like this. At this time, the mermaid was also looking at him with wide eyes, his clear blue eyes were full of hostility.

In an instant, Chris understood that the mermaid didn't know whether he was an enemy or a friend, so he took the initiative to attack.Resisting the pain, Chris shut his mouth, and at the same time he ordered Mao Mao: "Moomao, be quiet, don't bark."

The barking stopped, the room was quiet, the merman was still clinging to Chris' arm, his shirt soaked with blood.

Hiss, it hurts.Chris frowned, still gritted his teeth and endured.

Finally, the mermaid let go of her mouth, and also let go of Chris' hand.The two of them looked at each other, and the hostility in the mermaid's eyes faded.

"Who are you? A furry beast!"

The mermaid spoke, and the crisp young voice was very pleasant, like some kind of musical instrument.

Hairy beast?What is a furry beast?Chris wondered, and when his fingers caught his hair, he seemed to understand a little bit. For creatures whose lower body is covered with scales, human beings seem to be called furry beasts.

"I, my name is Chris."

The mermaid stared at Chris, his body still on alert.

Chris curled his lips, and looked down at the bitten right arm. Well, I just treated the wounds of the mermaid, and now I have to apply medicine to myself.

Raising his eyes, Chris looked at the mermaid and asked, "What about you? The mermaid."

The mermaid was startled, "Huh?"

"I already told you the name, should you tell me the name too?" Chris looked at the bedside again, bent down and picked up the puppy and put it on the bed for the mermaid to see, "Here, It's called Maomao."

The mermaid lowered her eyes and glanced at the black puppy standing on the bed, who was looking up at him and wagging its tail. Then she raised her eyes and looked at Chris. The boy in front of him was attacked by him just now, but he didn't fight back at all, and showed Out of friendship, can you trust him?

"Hill."

Chris tilted his head to look at Hill, then asked, "Hey, how are you?"

The mermaid who woke up suddenly realized his physical condition at this moment, and suddenly fell to the side. Chris shot in time, held the mermaid's ribs to support him, and then helped him to lie down.

"You're badly hurt," Chris said.

Hill noticed his body at this time, looking at the fish tail wrapped in a light blue striped bandage, he raised his head and looked at Chris questioningly, "It's you..."

Chris nodded, "Well, I didn't have enough bandages at home, so I tore a sheet," and then he immediately added, "It's very clean." Then Chris said, "I put medicine on your wound, but I don't know Whether it is effective for mermaids, I hope it will be effective."

Propping his body on his elbows and half sitting up, Hill stretched his arms and checked his fish tail. When he found that the torn tail fin was also properly wrapped by brackets and bandages, he raised his head, showed grateful eyes, and said softly Said: "Thank you."

At this moment, Chris proudly crossed his hands on the back of his head, "Hey, I've bandaged it pretty well."

"Thank you very, very much." It was already confirmed that Chris was not hostile, and the expression on Hill's face eased a lot. He sincerely thanked the human teenager who saved him.

"Hahahaha, you're welcome, you're welcome." The solemnity in Hill's tone made Chris a little shy, and he covered it up with a haha.

"Sorry, your arm..."

"Ahhh...!" At this moment, Chris realized his bitten arm from complacency, and lowered his arm with a cry of pain.

"I'm sorry, I'm really sorry, I..." Hill said apologetically, full of guilt.

"It's okay, it's okay, ah, let me see..."

Taking off his vest and shirt, Chris checked the bite on his right arm with his bare upper body. The tooth marks were deep and the skin was broken, but it didn't look serious.

"Ah, let me see if there is any medicine." Chris rummaged through the medicine cabinet with one hand.

"I'm really sorry..." Hill was on the verge of crying when he saw the hole in Chris's arm.

Stopping his rummaging hands, he waved at Hill, and Chris said, "It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter, you just woke up and were afraid, I understand, I understand."

"Sorry……"

Seeing Hill's blue eyes glistening with tears, Chris hurriedly said, "It's okay, Ann, I don't hurt."

After applying some powder, Chris wrapped his arm with the remaining bandage and put on his shirt.

"I said, are you... are you hungry?" Wanting to care about the injured mermaid in front of him, he just woke up, and there are still many questions to ask him, Chris thought and thought, and asked this first.

"I..." Hill touched his abdomen.

Chris raised his hand, "I understand, I understand, just wait a minute, I'll be right there." Then he ran out quickly, Mao Mao followed closely behind him.

Hill lay back on the bed, turned his head and looked around the environment. This is a human room, the furniture is simple and the environment is clean, he observed carefully, the old furniture, the wooden stools that look like handmade, The peeling paint on the head of the bed, and the patched and frayed sheets under his body all tell Hill that this family is not rich. However, the boy used good sheets to make a bandage to treat him.

Also, the boy named Chris's big brown eyes exuding innocence.

The boy who saved him, was a good man.

Hill was thinking alone, when Chris came back, holding a tray in his hand, and said as he walked: "It's too late, there's no time to get anything, you can eat some bread mats to pad your stomach. Speaking of which, I don't know that mermaids can eat Something, but the bread should be fine."

Chris approached, bringing a sweet smell of bread and milk, and Hill couldn't help swallowing.He was injured and soaked in sea water for half a day. His physical strength was exhausted and he really needed food.

"Come on, let's eat."

Lift the merman up onto the upright pillow, and Chris brings him the food.

The warm toasted buttered bread exudes a sweet aroma. Hill held the bread and took a bite. The bread was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, with just the right amount of sweetness mixed with the aroma of butter. "It's delicious." Hill Almost cried again.

"That's because you're hungry," Chris said, putting on a grown-up air.

"Thank you for saving me and giving me back the food." The mermaid boy once again thanked him sincerely.

"Hey hey hey, you're welcome, you're welcome."

After eating a large piece of buttered bread and drinking a cup of hot milk, the mermaid boy looked much better and his mood became more stable. He wanted to say something to Chris, so he stretched out his hand and gently pulled Chris's sleeve to signal him Sit down on the edge of the bed.

"Chris, I have something to ask you, is that okay?"

"Say it." Chris responded straightforwardly.

"Thank you for saving me, and at the same time, please don't tell anyone that you found me, can you? Anyone!" Hill emphasized, looking at Chris seriously.

Chris nodded immediately, "Of course, I didn't intend to tell anyone, oh," he thought of something, and pointed to the corner of the bed, "Maomao doesn't count."

With the assurance from the human youth, Hill seemed less nervous than before, relaxed and smiled, "Of course, Mao Mao doesn't count."

"Let me tell you about me, I think, there are some things you also want to know." The mermaid boy narrated his story.

The mermaid group that Hill belongs to lives in the waters near the continent of Oss. Every October, the group migrates to the warm waters in the south to avoid the cold winter in the north, and returns to the north along the ocean current in April of the following year.This time, the migrating mermaids encountered an unexpected storm, and Hill and his tribe were separated. When he swam alone to the southern destination, he encountered a big shark. After a fight, Hill escaped with his life. , but also suffered serious injuries and was washed up on the beach near Chris's house by the waves.

After listening to Hill's story, Chris frowned and looked at the heavily bandaged fish tail in front of him, and then looked at Hill, "I'm afraid you can't go into the sea anymore, your injury is so serious." The fish tail was bitten, The scales fell off and the tail fin was torn. Hill's injury was indeed serious.

Hill nodded, also frowning deeply and looking melancholy.

"You can stay at my house this winter to recuperate." Chris said at this time.

"Hey……?"

"Stay here, let me take care of you." Chris said enthusiastically, Mao Mao seemed to be echoing his master, and barked "Wow".

"Is it possible?" Hill didn't expect that he would be so lucky. Not only did he escape from the mouth of a ferocious shark, but he was also saved by such a warm and kind human teenager.

"There's nothing wrong with it. I think your injury should be almost healed by April next year. At that time, your clansmen should follow the ocean currents and return to your home in the northern seas. At that time, you will find your clansmen and follow them. Let's all go home together, it should be fine."

What Chris said was exactly what Hill thought in his heart. He nodded involuntarily, then shook his head again, hesitated and said, "I will cause you trouble."

Chris shook his head again and again, "No, it's okay, it's okay, let me take care of you."

"Is it really possible?"

"En." Chris nodded heavily, with a serious expression, and Maomao also barked at this time.

Hill smiled shyly, accepting the kindness of the human teenager, "Then, thank you."

"Hey, you're welcome."

The mermaid boy had already introduced himself, and Chris felt that he should also talk about his situation.Chris told Hill that this village is called Antlers Village, which is located at the most northwestern tip of Oscontinent. The village is very small, with only a few families and a dozen people, most of whom are young and old. "All adults go to the nearby Lugang Township. I went to work in the city.”Chris's father was a sailor who died in a storm at sea a few years ago. His mother is now working in the city of Sale, far away from here. Chris is the only one in the family now.

"I, I was very scared just now, so I bit you. I was afraid that you wanted to catch me and sell me." Hill lowered his eyes and said softly.

Chris nodded in understanding, "I understand, I know you're afraid. Yes, there are people who catch mermaids and sell them as pets, but I'm not that kind of person. When I saw you as a mermaid on the beach, I already decided not to Tell anyone. Don't worry, I will never betray you! I will hide you in my house, hide you well, and when your injury heals, I will send you away."

The youth's promise is pure and solemn.

Hill stared at the human teenager in front of him with those blue eyes, full of gratitude, "Thank you."

"Our village is very small, and the location is remote, and there are usually few outsiders coming. You live in my house, and no one will know. After recovering from your injuries, you can find your family members and go home with peace of mind in spring."

Chris’s words filled Hill’s heart with comfort and expectation.

"Go to rest, you must be very tired too, go to sleep. Tomorrow I will go to the town and ask the doctor what kind of medicine is better for trauma, don't worry, he won't know anything else. I think we still need medicine, what? I don’t need any medicine, I’m afraid your injury will be slow to heal. I will make good food for you to eat, my cooking skills are great. Hehe.”

Hearing the bragging of the human boy, the mermaid boy smiled, "Okay, thank you, I will trouble you these days."

"Oh, don't be too polite." Chris blushed a little, smiled and stepped back to leave. He tripped over a small bench he didn't see and almost fell down. His startled hands swiped in the air several times before he could hold it Balanced, Hill laughed out of the funny look on his face.

"Be careful."

"It's okay, it's okay, hey, Mao Mao, let's go, let the guests rest."

Covering the mermaid boy with a thin blanket, watching him close his eyes, Chris walked out of the room lightly and turned off the light.

The skin is covered under the blanket, and the warmth is gradually growing. This is a completely different feeling from the deep sea water, and the bed under him does not shake.Hill closed his eyes, feeling a sense of security after wandering.This winter has been unable to swim to the south, and Hill hopes to stay in the human boy's home with peace of mind until next spring.

The next day, when Hill woke up, he opened his eyes and saw that the door of the room had been pushed open from the outside. Chris was looking in through the crack of the door, and the puppy Mao Mao was also poking in at his feet. Its fluffy little head.

"Good morning." Seeing Hill woke up, Chris said first.

"Hi, good morning."

Pushing open the door, Chris came over, Mao Mao followed him closely, and then jumped on the bed, sniffing Hill, the puppy wagging its tail made Hill feel very interesting, he tried He stretched out his hand to stroke Maomao, the puppy let Hill touch it docilely, and stretched out his tongue to lick Hill's fingers.

"Haha." Hill couldn't help laughing.

"Maomao likes you." Chris said.

Under the fingertips is the soft and warm fur of the animal, which feels incredible to Hill.Hairy beasts, how strange, and looking at Chris with short curly hair, Hill found it even more unbelievable that he actually lived in a human home.

"Ah, I was so scared when I was attacked by a shark, I really thought I was going to be killed by it, and I would never see my people again, but now, now..."

"You are safe," Chris said immediately, "You are safe, I will take good care of you, don't worry."

"um. Thank you."

In this way, the human boy rescued and took in the mermaid boy, and Hill stayed at Chris's house.

Hill was injured, and Chris went to Lukang Town for this reason, bringing back not only new bandages, medicine, but also a lot of food.He happily showed Hill the new medicine.

"The doctor said that this medicine is very effective in treating trauma."

After boiling hot water, Chris cleaned the wound for Hill, put on new medicine, and rewrapped it with a bandage.After doing this, Chris told Hill, "The doctor said that this kind of trauma will take about three months to heal, and new flesh will grow from the wound. However, you are a fish...but I think it will be fine, you It's bound to get better."

Hill nodded, "Thank you."

"Hey, you are being polite again. Oh, by the way, I also asked the doctor about the patient's diet. I will make you something that is good for your recovery. Don't worry."

"Ah."

That night, Chris made oxtail soup and beef stew for Hill.The oxtail soup has a strong aroma and is very pleasant to drink. Hill feels his whole body is warm. The stewed beef is rich in gravy, and the beef has a little tendon in it, which makes it a bit springy when bitten down. Chris added a little bit to the beef stew Red wine not only tastes good, he also thought that maybe alcohol can make Hill's wound less painful, so that Hill can sleep peacefully at night.

"Do you think it's delicious?" Chris couldn't help asking if he wasn't sure whether his friends of other races would accept his food.

Hill nodded, "It's delicious and delicious."

"Ha, just eat as you like. I bought oxtail and beef bones, and I will make soup for you every day. After drinking this soup, your wound will heal faster. In addition, you should eat more meat. After eating meat, your wound will be healed. It will heal faster too, understand?" Chris folded his hands on his chest, imitating the posture of the town doctor.

"Ah."

Chris did not change his daily life just because of the addition of a temporary member in the family. He still went to the beach to fish or catch seashells every day, and went to the town several times a week to do some odd jobs within his ability.Chris told Hill that the daily expenses of the family were remitted by his mother who worked in a hotel in Sale, but he was no longer a child and could not rely solely on his mother. He was also doing odd jobs to earn living expenses.

"I thought about staying at home to take care of you, but if I don't go out or go to the town, someone will definitely ask, and it may arouse suspicion, so I still have to go out." Chris explained.

"Thank you for being so considerate of me."

Snowing.

Hill continued to live in Chris' home to recuperate from his injuries.Every day, Chris changes Hill’s dressing and bandages. Seeing the wound gradually heal and grow new flesh, Chris and Hill are very happy.

In order to let the injured friend get back to health as soon as possible, Chris cooked three meals for Hill in different ways. Chris was originally quite talented in cooking, but now he is cooking to make the mermaid friend eat nutritiously. Put your heart into it.After simmering oxtail soup for a few days, Chris thought that Hill might get tired of eating it. He changed the menu and had a delicious steak with porcini mushrooms, cauliflower and sweet peas as a side, and he also made clams and eggs.At first, Chris was worried that Hill might not be used to the steak fried in butter. As a result, Hill ate it very deliciously. He not only ate up the side dishes, but even dipped the sauce on the plate with bread.

"How do you like it?"

Hill smiled and nodded, "Well, the fragrance is so strong."

"Eat more meat and your body will get better."

Mermaids in the sea, the staple food is all kinds of fish and seashells. As a mermaid, Hill is the first time to eat stewed eggs with clams. The unique sweetness of seashells melts into the egg whites, almost making people want to swallow them with their tongues. .

"Well, this is delicious."

Chris was happy, "I'll go clam digging every day if you like."

Chris prepares nutritious meals for his mermaid friends every day, such as fried sea fish, grilled lamb chops, and stewed chowder. While cooking, he complains that he can no longer go into the sea because of the cold, otherwise he can catch more fish , Catch sea crabs and cook them for Hill.

"Don't mind these anymore, I already eat very well." Hill felt very sorry, this family is not rich, with one more of him, Chris needs to spend a lot of money this winter.The living expenses were remitted by Chris's mother. Chris said more than once that it was enough for the two of them plus Mao Mao, and Chris himself could do odd jobs to make money, but Hill was still uneasy.

Chris told his friends that it was nothing.The independent life has honed the tenacity and ability of this 16-year-old boy. He can not only cook, but also repair doors and windows, clean chimneys, dig fences, build roofs, pave roads, and many other things.Hill was amazed by the variety of life skills that Chris displayed from time to time.

"Huh, come, come." Chris brought a large pot of hot chowder to the table, the heat was overflowing, the smell of the food sprayed into his nose, and the fur kept turning around under the table.

"Maomao, don't make trouble, you have dog food."

There was baked butter bread in the small bamboo dill. Chris put the bamboo dill on the table and sat down opposite Hill.

Hill also likes the chowder cooked by Chris. Chris uses beef bone and white radish soup as the soup base. Various mushrooms, potatoes, kelp, shellfish and sea fish are cooked in the soup. A large pot of steaming and fragrant, with buttered bread, very delicious.

In the early days of Chris's house, Hill always seemed panicked and nervous, and he was afraid of being discovered by other humans.Now, after a period of peace under the care and protection of Chris, Hill trusts Chris more and more, the wounds on his body are getting better, and Hill's mood is getting lighter and better.Looking at the smile from the heart on Hill's face, Chris felt relieved.

Hill and Chris couldn't be happier when they saw new scales start to grow on Hill's fish tail.

"That's great. At the beginning, I was always worried about what to do if the scales didn't grow well. Without the protection of the scales, your fish tail may hurt if it's directly immersed in seawater." Chris held Hill's hand in relief Said.

Hill nodded happily, constantly examining the new scales on his fish tail, they will grow up, and the new scales will grow the same as before.

"Thank you for your care."

Chris blushed again, and said with a smile while stroking the back of his head, "Nothing, nothing."

Chris made all kinds of food for Hill in different ways, fried pork chops, roast chicken legs, milk and eggs every day, he bought cheese and cheese, and made cakes for Hill who likes sweets. Of course, Hill’s most praised Bread and butter is pretty much a staple for mermaids these days.

Food becomes a bond, connecting the human teenagers and the mermaid teenagers, deepening their friendship, trusting and loving each other.

Not only are three meals a day taken care of, but Chris also prepares a little supper at night. There is an oven at home. In addition to making bread, Chris also bakes some biscuits and other small desserts.Boil the milk, mix it with brewed black tea and sugar, make a fragrant milk tea, and then share it with Hill.The mellow milk fragrance blends with the sweetness and astringency of black tea, with a hint of sweetness, forming a different taste. Hill was fascinated by milk black tea almost immediately. He sipped slowly with a porcelain cup in his hand, his face A happy smile overflows the ocean.

On a cold winter night, Chris baked biscuits, made sweet milk tea, and leaned side by side under the bedroom window with his little mermaid friend. Sometimes they listened to the radio together, and sometimes they simply turned off the lights. The two quietly looked at the moonlit sea in the distance outside the window, and Hill rested his head on Chris' shoulder.

"Do you miss home? Do you miss your tribe?" Chris asked.

"Yeah." Hill nodded.

"After winter, it will be soon. You will definitely go home and reunite with your tribe." Chris said reassuringly.

"Ah."

Putting his hand on Hill's shoulder, Chris said, "What do you want to eat tomorrow?"

"whatever."

"I'll make ragout."

"Okay."

Throughout the snowy winter, Hill stayed at Chris's house to recuperate from his injuries. Chris hid Hill very well. He carefully guarded the secrets belonging to him and the mermaid boy, so that no one would notice that there were too many people in Chris's house. a member.

When the ice on the sea surface begins to melt, when the treetops begin to sprout new green shoots, when the wind blowing against the face is no longer so biting, winter is about to pass and spring is coming.

Chris was very happy. He took Maomao to clear the snow in the yard, and then climbed to the roof to clear the snow and residual ice. He followed the townspeople out and chopped back a lot of firewood, which was stacked neatly on the side of the yard.A hunter in the neighboring village gave Chris half a hare, and he happily discussed with Hill how to eat it. The mermaid who didn't know how to cook meat blinked in confusion, and Chris couldn't stop laughing.

The dinner that day was braised rabbit meat and buttered bread. Chris also cooked kelp soup. The fresh and tender rabbit meat sauce was rich and fragrant, and the remaining gravy was not wasted. Chris cooked potatoes with the gravy as a dish.

It’s spring, the ice on the sea is gradually melting, Chris seems to be getting busy, and often goes to the town to do casual work, Hill stays at home, and can only stare at the sea and the distant islands through the window. A little boring.

Noticing Hill's depressed mood, and also understanding the hardships of hiding at home for a whole winter to recuperate, Chris plans to quietly take Hill out for a "walk".

When Chris told Hill about his plan to take Hill out, Hill's first reaction was to refuse, and he frowned in refusal, "If someone sees me..." Can I be safe and not To be found by anyone to spend the entire winter in a human village, Hill thought it was a miracle.

"It's okay, it's okay, no one will see it, believe me," Chris told Hill. There were not many families in Antlers Village, most of them were old or young. Although the weather is still cold in spring, everyone basically Most of the time, I will stay at home and take a nap. If I go out during this season, no one will see me.

"Where are you taking me?" Hill asked.

Chris tells Hill that he wants to take him up to a nearby disused lighthouse.

Hill's eyes widened in surprise, his mouth half-opened, "Ha, what? A lighthouse?"

Pushing Hill to the kitchen window, Chris pointed out the window to show Hill, "Here, there it is."

To the west of Antler Village, on a high ground by the sea, stands a tall lighthouse.

Chris told Hill that the lighthouse has been abandoned for a long time, and children in the village would occasionally go there to play. There is a chain ladder with pulleys in the tower, which can carry people up. far away.

"I think it's a pity that you have come to land, but you can't go anywhere. It's a rare opportunity. You can go to the lighthouse with me. It's very high and you can see beautiful scenery."

Chris's persuasion made Hill nodded.

After lunch, Chris paved the small flatbed, took out a long coat for Hill to put on, and wrapped Hill from head to toe with a large turban that his mother left at home.