Leisurely Traveler with Check-in System

Chapter 331 - 142: Immersive Hiking and Camping (Second Update)

Zhu Qingyue clearly lacked experience in this area. The list Li Younan gave her didn’t specify whether it was for a double or single tent, so she naively chose a smaller single-person tent. However, it was sturdy enough, only a bit cramped when placing equipment. But this didn’t really matter, as Zhu Qingyue’s petite frame actually found warmth in the cozy space.

Li Younan first demonstrated setting up a tent for Zhu Qingyue with his own, pitching it both steadily and securely.

Li Younan didn’t intend to directly take over the task and handle everything for Zhu Qingyue. Doing so would sharply decrease her camping experience. Besides, although Zhu Qingyue didn’t seem very down-to-earth, she was, deep down, a girl with quite a bit of pride, something Younan was well aware of.

After setting up his tent, Li Younan patiently watched Zhu Qingyue pitch hers, planning only to assist if she encountered difficulties.

When Zhu Qingyue chose the campsite, she hesitated for a moment before placing her tent... right next to Li Younan’s.

After choosing the site, she sneakily glanced at Li Younan. Seeing he had no particular reaction, she felt relieved and boldly continued setting up camp.

Overall, pitching a tent didn’t require much technical skill. Zhu Qingyue quickly set it up by herself, with Li Younan only helping towards the end with the wind ropes.

Next, it was time to prepare dinner.

They naturally brought plenty of rations, all packed with essential nutrients. These compressed foods weren’t particularly tasty, and they weren’t planning to eat those tonight.

The conditions on the road weren’t too harsh, certainly not extreme. With an altitude of less than 4000 meters, they could cook and process the semi-prepared foods they brought along.

Li Younan didn’t have Zhu Qingyue bring a stove; he took a mountain gas canister from his backpack.

This type of mountain gas canister is almost impossible to explode unless it’s thrown directly into a fire. One canister lasts about four hours. Li Younan prepared two, which would be enough for cooking meals throughout the entire journey.

Li Younan opened up the small cooking pot, melted some oil, and started cooking.

Seeing Li Younan busy, Zhu Qingyue didn’t idle. She carried a water jug to the nearby stream to fetch water.

At such high altitudes, streams mostly consist of glacial meltwater from icy mountains.

This water source is ideal for outdoor use, with hardly any impurities, skipping the need for filtration. Once boiled, it’s essentially ready to drink.

Of course, with the higher altitude, the boiling point of water doesn’t exceed 90 degrees Celsius, so a mini pressure cooker is essential, which Li Younan naturally brought along.

Their dinner was very simple. Two small pots of steamed rice, each holding a cupful, served as individual portions. This was followed by two cans of heated luncheon meat and wild greens that Li Younan picked.

But even with such a sparse meal, eating in this environment brought immense satisfaction.

Zhu Qingyue nibbled slowly from the small pot, tasting the wild greens Younan had gathered. She had to admit, the pure, natural greens tasted excellent, much better than any vegetables she’d eaten before.

Curiously, she asked, "Why aren’t such delicious greens grown on a larger scale?"

Li Younan casually replied, "The reason is simple. The environment required for their growth is hard to simulate in greenhouses, or the cost of doing so is too high, much simpler to gather them in the wild." He smiled, "So, make the most of this rare opportunity."

Zhu Qingyue quietly nodded. She noticed a grain of rice clinging to the corner of Li Younan’s mouth and let out a soft chuckle.

She gazed into the distance.

Their camp was a good distance from other hikers or off-road vehicle groups, ensuring no one disturbed them. The surroundings were very tranquil.

Her mood was no longer as tense as when she first entered the area.

So far, the experience wasn’t much different from a slightly distant camping trip. The only difference was a deeper immersion and a more leisurely pace.

The reason for this experience could be summed up in one thing: the man in front of her.

For a moment, an inexplicable sense of happiness welled up quietly within her.