Chapter 20

Tian Yao set the fish bones aside and said to Yu Nian, “Tonight we’ll have hot pot. We can use the fish bones to make the broth.”

Yu Nian was completely clueless when it came to cooking and could only agree with whatever Tian Yao said. “Are you sure you want to use the chili peppers Little Dad left behind?”

Tian Yao nodded. “Of course. I want you to try the most delicious thing I ate when I was little too.”

The fish was very large. Tian Yao filleted four pieces of meat. He minced the remaining fish meat, then began chopping it on the cutting board. He pounded it into a paste, mixed it by hand, and then asked Yu Nian to fetch him two eggs. He only used the egg whites, stirring in one direction until the mixture became sticky and elastic. Then he repeatedly slapped and threw it until the fish paste gained a firm, resilient texture.

He heated a pot of water. Once it boiled, he formed the fish paste into balls and cooked them until they turned into tender, snow-white fishballs. This was his first time making them, and it was a success.

His Little Dad was good at painting, but Tian Yao’s own hands-on skills were also quite impressive.

He divided the fishballs into several portions: one for Aunt Shun’s house, one for Liu Zhi’s house, one sent to the Village Chief’s house, and the last kept for themselves.

After he delivered the fishballs, they all gave him something in return: pastries Sister-in-law Zhang had brought back from her main household, steamed bowls that Liu Zhi had made, and dried fruits from the Village Chief’s house.

By the afternoon, visiting other homes was no longer permitted. Every family stayed in their own house, reuniting as a whole. They lit the stove, gathered around it, and roasted some peanuts and dried fruits beside it. The air was filled with fragrant aromas.

In their room, Tian Yao and Yu Nian also lit the small charcoal stove. The fish soup for the hot pot, simmering with the window open, had already turned a milky white. Following his Little Dad’s method, Tian Yao was dry-roasting the chili peppers in a pan without oil or water. The process made him cough for a long time before he finally managed to roast the peppers until their skins were lightly browned but not burnt.

He found a mortar and pestle, pounding the roasted peppers into fragments. This time, instead of being choking, it released an exotic, tantalizing fragrance.

He brought the mortar to Yu Nian’s nose for him to smell. “What do you think? It’s not too hard to accept, is it?”

“Very fragrant.” It was Yu Nian’s first time smelling this scent. It was fascinating, and it also made his mouth water with anticipation.

Tian Yao beamed. “Then I didn’t do it wrong.”

He carried the bubbling hot pot into the room, along with all the prepared ingredients. The small table was soon laden with food.

There were potato slices, pieces of meat sliced as thin as cicada wings, the fishballs made yesterday, tofu, and tofu skin. It looked incredibly sumptuous.

“How did you celebrate New Year’s in the past?” Tian Yao asked.

Yu Nian sat there. Under the heat of the charcoal fire, the constantly simmering soup emitted billowing steam, making Tian Yao’s face seem somewhat blurred and unreal behind it.

Last year’s New Year, he was still Young Lord Yu of Yuancang Prefecture, first in talent and learning, and first in family status. Yet in just one short year, his family had been destroyed, his life was ruined, and he had this broken body, needing Tian Yao’s care in every aspect of life.

From their first meeting until now, Tian Yao had been the one giving. From insisting on massaging his legs every night, to risking danger to hunt a wild boar to buy him a wheelchair, to setting up spirit tablets for his parents. Every single thing was already beyond what a simple ‘thank you’ could ever repay.

Tian Yao bit on his chopsticks, still waiting for his answer.

“Nothing special. Listening to Father’s lectures, being nagged by Mother for a bit, going to the Ancestral Hall to offer incense to the ancestors, and in the evening, strolling through the lantern fair with some good friends.”

“There’s a lantern fair in Yuancang Prefecture on New Year’s Eve? It must be so lively.” Tian Yao saw that the first slice of meat was cooked and used his chopsticks to place it in Yu Nian’s bowl. The bowl contained the dipping sauce Tian Yao had mixed with the prepared chili peppers.

Yu Nian stared at the red specks clinging to the meat slice. Under Tian Yao’s gaze, he picked it up and put it in his mouth.

The moment the chili peppers entered his mouth, an intense, burning sensation spread from within. A bit of heat rose behind his back. But the meat, soaked in the savory fish broth, tempered the burning. The novel mouthfeel made him unable to control himself, and he reached for another slice.

Tian Yao’s eyes shone brightly as he watched him. “So? How is it?”

“It’s hard to describe. A very unique flavor.” Yu Nian set down his chopsticks. Tian Yao quickly handed him the fishball soup he’d made earlier. “But it really makes you want to keep eating.”

Tian Yao refilled his empty bowl and only then began eating himself. The moment the intense, pungent flavor invaded his own mouth, his eyes reddened.

Yu Nian thought he wasn’t accustomed to the taste and hurried to pour him water, but Tian Yao merely rubbed his eyes. “I just miss them a little.”

Just like before, moving into their room made him miss them. Seeing the things they left behind made him miss them. Before, he would cry. Now, it was much better. It was just that today was a day for family reunion, and sometimes a feeling would arise – if only Father and Little Dad were still here. Usually, he would have a cry alone for a bit. It was just that today, there was someone else by his side.

But Tian Yao’s emotions came and went quickly. Soon, his attention was captured by the steaming hot pot. The fish soup was savory, the meat was rich and fragrant, the vegetables were crisp and refreshing. Even without a huge table full of New Year’s Eve dishes like other families, the two of them still ate very well.

“Yu Nian, Little Dad’s handbook drew many things about chili peppers. I think his handwritten notes must have written about them too. If I can figure it out, I can definitely make many delicious things.”

Yu Nian didn’t want to dampen his enthusiasm, but there was currently a very serious problem before them. “When spring begins, let’s try and see if we can plant some?”

Tian Yao patted his chest. “I’m very good at growing vegetables.”

Yu Nian simply smiled at him.

The night deepened. Outside, snow began falling again. The room was very warm. Well-fed, Little Gray prowled around the room, sometimes biting its tail, sometimes licking Tian Yao’s hand.

“Once spring comes, I’ll take it up the mountain. It’s about time it learned to hunt.” Tian Yao rubbed Little Gray’s dog head. “Otherwise, it’s grown so big for nothing.”

Yu Nian glanced at Little Gray’s physique. It was indeed much larger than other dogs its age. Tian Yao spoiled it too much; practically every time Little Gray came to him, he gave it food. So it was overweight.

“Don’t go into the deep mountains anymore.” Yu Nian was already full and set down his chopsticks. “It’s very dangerous.”

“You’re worried about me?” Tian Yao leaned closer to him, lifting a smiling face to look at him.

Yu Nian didn’t answer him directly, just glanced at his neck. The room was warm, so Tian Yao wasn’t wearing his heavy outer garment. Following Yu Nian’s gaze, Tian Yao touched the scar left from when he’d fought the wild boar. The newly grown flesh was a deeper color than the skin around it, but touching it no longer brought any sensation.

“The deep mountains are still too dangerous.” Yu Nian helped him clear the bowls and chopsticks. “If possible, it’s fine to seek another livelihood.”

Tian Yao stopped his movements and sat back down in his chair. “Before, I was alone, so I never thought about seeking any livelihood. I went outside to do manual labor, but because I’m a Ger, I stopped going after a while. But in those few years, I saved a little silver. I originally planned to renovate the house, but then that incident happened.”

“After that, I just occasionally went up the mountain. I could catch some game to trade for money in town. And so life just continued like that.”

Tian Yao sighed. “But then you came. I felt like my life finally had a goal to strive for.” His expression was very serious. Having come this far, he might as well say a bit more, mostly his vision for the future. “I’ll work even harder. Next year, our goal is, first, to heal your legs. Then we’ll save a bit more money, make a trip to Yuancang Prefecture, and bring Father and Mother back. And in the summer, we’ll build the kang bed properly.”

Going around in circles, Tian Yao’s goals still revolved around him.

“And yourself? Is there anything you want to do? Don’t just think around me.”

Tian Yao’s face went blank for a moment. He thought about himself. “Last year, when I made a wish for the New Year, it was to marry myself off this year and fulfill my Father’s wish. And now it’s been fulfilled.”

“Tian Yao.”

Tian Yao lifted his eyes to look at him.

“What you just said, it’s still for others. What do you want to do?” Yu Nian looked into those eyes that always seemed so bright.

“Me?” Tian Yao scratched his head. “I want to buy land. I want to renovate this house.”

“Alright, then let’s work hard in that direction.”

Tian Yao smiled. He cleared the bowls, washed them clean, then heated hot water to soak Yu Nian’s feet. The footbath basin was large. Before, Tian Yao always helped Yu Nian soak his feet, but today, Yu Nian asked him to soak his too.

Gers nowadays mostly had dainty figures. Tian Yao, from his appearance, truly didn’t seem like a Ger. His stature was taller than most Gers, and his features were also more resolute than most.

That was why people had spread rumors before, saying he was ugly and fierce-faced, a demoness.

But Tian Yao had a pair of very small feet. Their two pairs of feet soaked in one basin; Tian Yao’s feet were a whole size smaller than Yu Nian’s. He placed his feet on top of Yu Nian’s. “Your feet are really big. My Father said that people with big feet are blessed with good fortune.”

Yu Nian merely curved his lips slightly. Good fortune? He looked at Tian Yao’s small feet resting on the tops of his own. Perhaps.

“Little Dad said that in his hometown, soaking your feet on New Year’s Eve means in the coming year you’ll be able to ‘catch mouths’ – wherever there’s good food, you’ll run into it.” Tian Yao lifted his foot and tapped the water in the basin.

The snow fell heavier and heavier. Tian Yao could almost hear the sound of snow weighting and snapping branches outside the window. There were two charcoal braziers burning in the room: one placed beside the bed, and one placed in the corner beside Little Gray’s bed.

He curled up under the covers and took Yu Nian’s hand that was resting outside the blanket into his own. “At Zi hour later, I still have to go out and light the firecrackers. Do you think I should sleep first or just stay up until the time comes to go out?”

“Sleep first. When the time comes, I’ll call you.” Yu Nian’s hand was held in Tian Yao’s grip, and he didn’t pull away.

Tian Yao obediently closed his eyes. “Then I’ll sleep first.” Tian Yao fell asleep very quickly. Yu Nian looked at his sleeping face for a moment, then also closed his eyes.

At midnight, Tian Yao was woken by the sound of firecrackers echoing through the village. Little Gray was also startled awake by the noise and barreled toward the door, barking loudly.

Tian Yao quickly soothed it. Then, draping his heavy coat over his shoulders, he took out the firecrackers he’d prepared long ago and went into the courtyard. He used a fire striker to light the firecrackers. Then, crackling and popping, the sound resounded through the sky, before gradually fading into the mountain forest, disappearing entirely.

Tian Yao shivered, quickly calling Little Gray back to the room. Feeling his way in the dark, he climbed into bed with a body full of cold air. He didn’t dare press close to Yu Nian, afraid of transferring his chill to him.

Outside, the snow was heavy. The pure white snow brought a faint glow beside the window. He turned his head to look at Yu Nian. Compared to when he’d first arrived at this home, the gloom on Yu Nian’s face had disappeared. Now his whole person was calm, gentle, and at ease.

The firecracker sounds earlier didn’t seem to have woken him. His breathing was still very steady. Tian Yao shifted a little closer to him, his gaze traveling from Yu Nian’s widow’s peak down to his lips. In the end, he couldn’t quite hold himself back.

He didn’t dare do anything else. He just leaned down and gently touched his lips to Yu Nian’s. Then he quickly burrowed back under the covers, his palms covered in sweat.