“It's so tough, I can't bite through it. It really tastes awful...”

Henry Clark said helplessly, “It's just boiled in plain water, and the only seasoning is salt. Of course it tastes bad.”

“Mm, I don't mind the taste...”

“Enough, there's no way I'm giving it to you.”

“How about roasting it instead?”

“How I eat it is my business. Don't even think about it today, just watch.”

Henry Clark struggled to finish the wild boar meat. It was bad, but at a time like this, he couldn't be picky. Just look at Ashley Grant—even watching someone else eat, she looked both resentful and satisfied.

After finishing the meat, Henry Clark stood up and said to Ashley Grant, “Come with me, I'll give you something nice.”

“I'll wait for you here.”

“No, I'm afraid you won't be able to resist eating raw meat.”

He couldn't see her expression clearly, but from Ashley Grant's embarrassed look, Henry Clark knew he'd guessed her intentions.

Ashley Grant had already eaten something, so why did she still look like a starving ghost?

That's because after eating just a little, it only whets your appetite and makes you feel even hungrier.

Chapter 6: Happiness Comes from Comparison

Henry Clark's stone house had only two rooms: the outer room for chores, and the inner room with a kang, which served as the bedroom.

The kang in the inner room was covered with dry grass, and on top of the grass was a rolled-up sleeping bag and a backpack.

Henry Clark opened the backpack and took out a small plastic package.

“For you.”

Ashley Grant took the plastic package, then exclaimed in surprise, “A toothbrush! Where did you get it?”

“Obviously, it's from my own supplies. Go brush your teeth, but use the toothpaste sparingly. This tube has to last at least five days.”

Holding the toothbrush kit in both hands like a treasure, Ashley Grant was overjoyed. At that moment, Henry Clark also took out a small bar of soap and placed it in her hands.

“It's all yours.”

The toothbrush and soap were disposable hotel toiletries, but at a time like this, they were definitely treasures.

Ashley Grant was so happy she almost jumped for joy, but then she suddenly realized something and shouted, “Do you have shampoo? You must have some, right?”

There was shampoo, of course, but he couldn't give it to her.

Henry Clark put on a stern face and said, “I know girls like to be clean, but right now the temperature is at most one or two degrees, and we can't boil enough water for you to wash your hair. Do you want to freeze to death?”

Ashley Grant pleaded, “Please, I'm not afraid of the cold.”

“Hmm?”

Henry Clark just grunted, and Ashley Grant immediately didn't dare say more. But after a while, she pleaded again, “Really not possible?”

“No! Come on, go brush your teeth and wash your face. You smell terrible.”

Ashley Grant really did smell bad.

No matter what, being able to brush her teeth was already a blessing. Ashley Grant still happily followed Henry Clark to the small stream running through the village.

If it were summer or autumn, the stream would have plenty of water, but now there was only a thin trickle, so little that if you tried to scoop it up with your hands, the gravel would scrape your skin.

But Henry Clark had already dammed up a small pool, so there was plenty of water in it. And there was a step below the pool, so you didn't even have to squat to wash your face—just stand below the pool.

Seeing the washing spot, Ashley Grant couldn't help but sigh, “You've really fixed this place up nicely.”

Henry Clark filled the lunchbox with water, tossed in a handful of sand, and shoved it into Ashley Grant's hands, saying, “First, clean your lunchbox. Then use it to brush your teeth. After brushing, fill both the kettle and the lunchbox with water. Once we boil it, you can drink it.”

“My lunchbox?”

Henry Clark glanced at Ashley Grant and said, “It's yours now. From now on, this mess kit is yours. Take good care of it—if you break it, you won't have another.”

How precious is a mess kit with a kettle? Just think about why nomads in ancient times treated iron pots as treasures.

Ashley Grant's eyes sparkled with gratitude as she exclaimed, “Brother, thank you! You're such a good person.”

“Are you cursing me? Is there any need to hand me a 'good guy card' so quickly? Want to borrow a mirror too?”

Ashley Grant suddenly looked a bit annoyed. She shot Henry Clark a glare, then focused on scrubbing her lunchbox clean before starting to wash her face vigorously.

She kept washing and washing, scrubbing her neck while washing her face, and washing up to her elbows when cleaning her hands. She used up almost half the bar of soap, making Henry Clark feel a pang of heartache, before finally raising her head again.

With confidence, Ashley Grant said, “Let me borrow the mirror.”

Henry Clark was actually stunned.

He had to admit, camouflage—or rather, protective coloring—was really effective. The Ashley Grant who had just been covered in dirt and snot looked really pretty after cleaning up.

Pretty wasn't enough to describe Ashley Grant; she was extremely pretty, super pretty.

Seeing Henry Clark a bit dazed, Ashley Grant finally smiled smugly and said, “Let me borrow the mirror.”

“Uh, oh, here's the mirror. Uh, you can have it.”

“Have it?”

“It was for signaling for help anyway, but it's useless now. You might as well use it as a mirror. I mean, just as an ordinary mirror.”