Desert Island Infrastructure: Claiming the System Brings Many Blessings

Chapter 22 The Walking Amplifier

"Get stronger with a kiss? That's too outrageous!" Yang Mimi found it unbelievable.

Fan Yubing shrugged: "Look at these two suns, the square coconut, and the tree that naturally grows into a plank—aren't they all absurd? This world itself is abnormal, so it's not surprising that there's a system here."

Yang Mimi thought about it and agreed, so she nodded and continued eating the mango.

Qin Chuan placed the fruit on the open ground of the camp, and then went to the water trap he had set up the day before.

I was lucky today and caught a big sea fish weighing over ten pounds. It was grayish-blue all over and had hard, thick scales.

During the pupil scan, Qin Chuan noticed a detail: the fish was marked as level 2.

[Otherworldly Rockfish, Tier 2 Ingredient. Firm flesh, rich in protein. Provides a buff upon first consumption.]

Level 2 ingredient. This is the second food item above level 1 that Qin Chuan has encountered since arriving on this island.

Qin Chuan returned to the camp and greeted everyone: "Ladies, this is our main meal for this morning!"

After saying that, Qin Chuan picked up a folding knife and began to gut the fish.

His knife skills were very rough. With one cut, he opened a large gash in the fish's belly, and the internal organs and blood gushed out, splattering all over his hand. The fish scales were also scraped off, leaving a pitted and uneven surface, as if a dog had gnawed on them.

Yang Mimi watched for a while, and the more she looked, the more her brows furrowed.

I finally couldn't hold back anymore.

"Stop, stop, stop! Are you killing the fish or dismantling it?"

Qin Chuan turned and looked at her: "What's wrong?"

Yang Mimi stood up, supported herself on the wooden stake, walked to Qin Chuan's side, and reached out her hand.

Give me the knife.

"You still have a wound on your hand."

"It's alright, food preparation is my specialty, I could do it with my eyes closed."

Qin Chuan hesitated for a moment before handing over the folding knife.

Yang Mimi took the knife, squatted down next to the fish, first looked at the overall shape of the fish, pressed the elasticity of the fish meat with her fingers, and then opened the gills to check it.

"This fish has very good flesh; you can't just cut it randomly, you have to cut it along the grain."

As she spoke, she began to act. Her movements were swift and clean, a stark contrast to her previous state of weakness, when she could barely walk.

The fish scales were scraped off one by one, neatly and cleanly. The fish belly was cut open along a precise line, and the internal organs were completely removed, leaving the fish meat without a single tear.

Qin Chuan squatted down beside him, staring in disbelief.

His knife skills were even better than those of the chefs he had seen in the martial arts school cafeteria.

After cleaning the fish, Yang Mimi turned to Liu Yifei and asked, "Are there any plants around here that can be used as seasonings? Like ginger, scallions, or garlic?"

Liu Yifei thought for a moment, "I think I saw a plant near the edge of the woods yesterday. Its roots look a lot like ginger. I'll go dig some up and try it."

"Great! Go, go, go, dig up more!"

Liu Yifei got up and walked towards the woods.

Yang Mimi then looked at Lin Shishi: "Is there salt on those rocks by the sea?"

Lin Shishi said, "Seawater dries up and forms salt; there should be some on the rocks."

"Please scrape some back for me, the more the better."

Lin Shishi also got up and left.

Fan Yubing leaned against the doorway, watching Yang Mimi directing everyone, and a slight smile curved her lips: "You certainly don't hold back."

Yang Mimi said with a grin, "Cooking is something for professionals. You guys take care of the errands, and I'll take care of the delicious food."

Fan Yubing snorted, but did not refute.

Liu Yifei returned quickly, bringing a small bunch of root plants that did indeed resemble ginger and had a spicy smell.

Yang Mimi took a small sip and nodded: "It's usable."

Qin Chuan glanced at it and indicated that there was no problem.

Lin Shishi also scraped a small pile of sea salt from the rocks. It was very rough and contained sand, but it was better than nothing.

Yang Mimi cut the fish into several pieces, laid slices of wild ginger on the bottom, sprinkled sea salt, and then split open a coconut, squeezed out the coconut juice and poured it over the fish.

Then she found two flat stone slabs, heated one over the campfire, and used the other as a lid.

"This is called stone slab pan-fried fish. When you don't have a pan, a stone slab is the best substitute," Yang Mimi explained, squatting beside the campfire and adjusting the heat. "Wild ginger removes the fishy smell, sea salt enhances the flavor, and coconut milk locks in the moisture. It's simple, but the taste is just as good."

Qin Chuan sat down next to him and began to smell a fragrance that was completely different from before.

He used to grill fish by himself, which involved skewering the fish on wooden sticks and turning them over over a fire. The result was dry and tasteless, with nothing but a burnt smell.

Yang Mimi's fish, pan-fried on a stone slab, has distinct layers of aroma.

First comes the spiciness of wild ginger, then the sweetness of coconut milk, and finally the freshness of the fish itself.

The three flavors mixed together, filling my nose, and my mouth was practically watering.

About twenty minutes later, Yang Mimi lifted the stone slab, revealing the fish meat fried to a golden brown, with juices bubbling and sizzling.

"Alright, eat."

Qin Chuan picked up a piece of fish and put it in his mouth.

The texture of the fish was completely different from before. The outer layer was slightly charred, while the inner layer was tender. The sweetness of the coconut milk and the saltiness of the sea salt were just right, and the spiciness of the wild ginger lingered on the tip of the tongue before dissipating, leaving a refreshing aftertaste.

Honestly, none of the restaurants Qin Chuan had eaten at on Earth had fish that tasted this good.

The moment I swallowed it, a system notification popped up:

[Eat Tier 2 Ingredient: Otherworldly Rockfish (processed with advanced cooking). First consumption + cooking bonus, benefits doubled! Strength +6, Health +6.]

Qin Chuan's eyes widened suddenly.

Doubled?

He had previously consumed level 1 ingredients, and the initial benefit was usually +1 to +2. This rockfish was a level 2 ingredient, so its base benefit should be around +3. However, after Yang Mimi's cooking, the benefit doubled, becoming +6.

Qin Chuan glanced at his attribute panel again.

Strength jumped from 30 to 36, and health jumped from 20 to 26.

Yang Mimi's cooking skills are far superior to his.

Qin Chuan's mind was in turmoil. His own cooking level was 1, and his creations only provided basic bonuses. Yang Mimi's creations, however, doubled the bonuses, meaning her cooking level was at least 2 or higher.

This woman is practically a walking amplifier.

Qin Chuan put down the fish in his hand, and his gaze towards Yang Mimi changed.

The initial reaction of "we've found another survivor" has transformed into "this is a key talent who must be protected."

Yang Mimi was squatting by the campfire distributing fish to the others, unaware of Qin Chuan's gaze.

"Come on, everyone, have a taste. The seasonings are a bit simple, but I think it tastes alright."

Fan Yubing took a bite, raising an eyebrow: "Delicious. A hundred times better than Qin Chuan's."

Qin Chuan: "..."

Lin Shishi also took a bite and whispered, "It's so delicious... Honey, you're amazing!"

Liu Yifei chewed on the fish without saying a word, but she ate very quickly, finishing one piece and then taking another.

Yang Mimi beamed with delight at the praise: "Of course! Cooking is my specialty. Just give me the ingredients and seasonings, and I can make you feel like you're in a five-star hotel on this deserted island."

Qin Chuan silently took another piece of fish, eating it while pondering something.

His cooking level is 1. How can he level up? Can he level up by eating food made by others, or does he have to cook for himself?

From now on, Yang Mimi will be the most important logistical backbone of this camp.

More important than anyone else.