Gu Fuying’s spirits immediately sagged. She knew it; she still hadn’t done well. Fortunately, her disappointment was fleeting, replaced almost instantly by her characteristic lightheartedness. Her attention was soon captivated by Xu Ying’s beggar’s chicken.
Xu Ying picked up a pheasant and rinsed it meticulously with clean water. She then carefully stuffed the prepared ingredients into the chicken through the tail opening, before evenly rubbing salt and a touch of soy sauce over its skin. Then came the highlight: from seemingly nowhere, she produced large, broad leaves and began to wrap the pheasant, then covered the leaf-wrapped chicken entirely with a thick layer of mud.
“Yingying, is this still edible? You’re not going to cook mud, are you?” Gu Fuying’s face was a masterpiece of shock and bewilderment, her expression a mix of awe and disgust.
“Of course, it’s edible! We’re going to roast it,” Xu Ying chuckled. With a second beggar’s chicken similarly prepared, Xu Ying produced some wire and wooden sticks. She carefully inserted the sticks into the large pit they had dug, tied the wire to them, and suspended the mud-encased chickens over the space. Then, she lit the fire within the pit, beginning the half-hour roasting process.
As the flames danced, the mud casing slowly began to harden, and an enticing aroma of roasting chicken wafted into the air. The scent was so tantalizing that everyone’s mouths began to water uncontrollably.
“Yingying, can we eat it yet?” Gu Fuying, unable to contain her hunger, tugged at Xu Ying’s arm. Not only the beggar’s chicken, but also grilled fish, cooked over the open flames, added to the intoxicating mix of scents, making their stomachs rumble in protest.
“The grilled fish should be ready. Taste that first; the beggar’s chicken needs a little more time,” Xu Ying instructed. She had just finished preparing ingredients for fried rabbit meat and began to stir-fry it in hot oil. A handful of seasonings sizzled as they hit the pan, releasing a burst of fragrance. When the rabbit meat was added, a rich, meaty aroma spread through the air, instantly awakening everyone’s taste buds.
Everyone present kept swallowing, their appetites thoroughly aroused. “Yingying,” someone exclaimed, “you said the state-owned restaurant was losing its touch, but we’re all craving your cooking now!”
Xu Ying merely smiled. “Isn’t this already being eaten?” she quipped inwardly. It’s a joke, cooking hurts a woman’s skin. She enjoyed cooking, but only occasionally. The thought of being tethered to a stove all day was unbearable. This, she mused, was simply for the sake of improving favorability. Once that was achieved, her space fully unlocked, the mission complete, and enough money earned, she would retire from such arduous tasks.
“The beggar’s chicken is ready! Get it out! Slowly, don’t burn yourselves!” Xu Ying reminded them.
At the announcement, Gu Fuying’s earlier melancholy vanished. With eager eyes and chopsticks in hand, she watched as the thick layer of mud was carefully chipped away, followed by the delicate removal of the leaves, revealing a perfectly golden, gleaming chicken. The pungent, delicious fragrance assaulted her nose, and Gu Fuying swallowed hard.
Wu Qingsong, amused by her ravenous expression, chuckled. He tore off a chicken leg for her, disregarding the heat. “Don’t burn yourself,” he warned.
Everyone present exchanged knowing glances. It was truly entertaining to watch these two, clearly smitten, yet so oblivious to their own burgeoning feelings.
Gu Fuying took a huge bite of the chicken leg. Her mouth was instantly flooded with flavor. The chicken was incredibly tender and juicy, melting in her mouth and leaving an endless aftertaste. “It’s delicious, so, so delicious!” she cried out, taking another bite, heedless of the heat.
Gu Fuzhu, watching from the side, swallowed hard, but she was too polite to ask for a piece herself, enduring her hunger while gazing at Gu Fuying.
“Here, you should try it too,” Xu Laosan said, tearing off a piece of meat for her.
Gu Fuzhu blushed, glancing at the others who hadn’t started eating yet. She felt a little embarrassed. “Everyone hasn’t eaten yet. Would it be bad if I eat now?”
Xu Laosan burst out laughing. “It’s okay! There are no adults here, so we don’t have to worry so much.”
Xu Laoer chimed in, smiling, “I’m tired just thinking about it so much. It’s just us. We don’t have so many rules. Just take whatever you want to eat.”
A smile bloomed on Gu Fuzhu’s face as she truly relaxed. “Then I want this chicken wing. I love chicken wings!”
“I want duck feet, I like those!” Lu Daya, now completely comfortable, declared. Shitou and Huzi were even bolder: “Give my Aunty a big chicken leg! She’s been cooking, it’s the hardest part!”
At Huzi’s suggestion, Huo Chen instead gave Xu Ying a chicken wing. He then turned to Shitou, correcting him gently, “Your sister-in-law likes to eat chicken wings.”
Shitou, however, was unconvinced. “How do you know? You’re definitely lying! Chicken legs have a lot of meat; my sister-in-law must love meat!”
Shitou was quite mistaken. Xu Ying preferred to gnaw on bones, those with skin and rich flavor. While the chicken itself was fragrant, the meat alone could sometimes be a bit bland. Xu Ying glanced at Shitou. “Your Aunty likes to chew bones,” she clarified.
“Is’nt that a puppy do !” Huzi blurted out, innocently insulting his Aunty.
Xu Laoer lightly tapped Huzi’s head. “Idiot! The bones are so fragrant, they taste delicious.” He, too, enjoyed them, recognizing a shared preference with his little sister.
“Spicy potatoes and five-spice chicken are ready!” Xu Ying announced, and everyone quickly made way. Wu Qingsong and Huo Chen carried the two large pots, setting them down on a stone slab.
“It’s delicious! It would be even better with steamed buns,” someone mused.
“Nonsense! It’s only better with rice! There’s so much soup; it’ll definitely be great mixed with rice.”
“I think it’s delicious with noodles, mixed right in the pot!”
The group of friends gathered, eating and chatting, their faces beaming with contentment.
Late in the afternoon, as the sun began to dip below the horizon, Gu Fuzhu and the others realized they couldn’t stay any longer. They tidied up the garbage, put out the fire, and headed down the mountain with their belongings. Shitou and Huzi, brimming with the joy of their day, skipped and bounced their way home. At the bottom of the mountain, everyone dispersed, heading back to their own houses.
As Xu Ying and her group arrived home, they immediately sensed a heavy atmosphere. Guests were present: the Xu father’s sister had arrived. The air inside the house was thick with tension, almost suffocating. Father Xu’s face was grim; he merely glanced at his daughter as she entered.
Mother. Xu, however, managed a strained smile for her daughter. “Have you had lunch?” she asked.
“Yes, we have. Aunty, when did you get back?” Xu Ying asked, a hint of curiosity in her voice. In previous years, her aunty was always the last to return, never this early.
“I got back at noon,” Aunt Xu replied, her smile clearly forced. Her eyes were red and swollen, as if she had been crying recently.
Mother . Xu subtly winked at her daughter, signaling her to remain silent. Aunt Xu, meanwhile, looked at Father Xu, a silent plea for help in her eyes.
Xu Ying’s curiosity was piqued. She settled down, observing Aunt Xu. “Why isn’t my sister-in-law back?” Xu Ying asked, looking around, realizing that her sister-in-law’s children also seemed to be absent.
Mother Xu glared at her daughter. This girl truly had a knack for stirring things up.
“If he doesn’t come back, I’m going to divorce him!” Aunt Xu declared angrily.
The words struck Xu Ying like a shockwave. Her Aunt and her uncle had always seemed to have a harmonious relationship. They were free lovers, cultured people, and paid special attention to romantic gestures. This was completely unexpected.