Still Dong Wenqiang looked down at Xu Ying as not to show his anticipation , a disdainful sneer on his lips. “Then what are your demands?” he asked.
Xu Ying merely smiled, her expression sweet yet undeniably cunning. “I have always sought revenge,” she declared, her voice deceptively soft. “If Chen Yanran interferes with me, I will retaliate. Doesn’t Chen Yanran yearn to return to the city? You will tell her you can help her.”
“Isn’t this a lie?” Dong Wenqiang’s expression flickered with unease.
Xu Ying clapped her hands, a sound like fate sealing itself. “I hold a grudge against her; you should know what to do! If you are willing, come to the restaurant for lunch tomorrow. If not, simply pretend I said nothing!” With that, Xu Ying returned to her work, leaving Dong Wenqiang to ponder her words. The Dong family, ingrained with selfishness, shared a common temperament. Dong Wenqiang, driven by an almost primal desire to return to the city, would undoubtedly agree.
That afternoon, after work, Xu Ying rushed to buy duck products. The quantity was modest, but thankfully, her space could preserve food, allowing her to stock up for later. Since unlocking the food preservation function of her space, she had made it a habit to cook extra and store the leftovers. Whenever hunger struck, the food would emerge as if freshly prepared—warm and fragrant. Xu Ying yearned to experiment with an all-purpose braised dish, a culinary masterpiece she was once skilled at, now elevated by her system. The thought of Magnum Braised Duck Products made her mouth water.
Upon arriving home, Xu Ying quickly put away her bicycle and hurried into the kitchen. She meticulously prepared and cleaned her chosen ingredients: duck necks, wings, feet, gizzards, heads, and intestines. She even added a selection of vegetarian delights: potato slices, kelp knots, lotus root, and tofu skin, all washed and set aside. The duck parts were soaked to draw out any lingering blood, then drained. Ginger was thinly sliced, and green onions were chopped.
Next, she assembled her spice bag: star anise, cinnamon, licorice, Sichuan peppercorns, and dried chilies. Into a pot, she poured water, adding the duck under cold water, along with ginger slices, green onions, a pinch of peppercorns, and a splash of cooking wine to remove any gamey odor. The mixture was brought to a boil, and the scum was painstakingly skimmed off. After simmering for five more minutes, the duck was removed, rinsed, and set aside.
The pot returned to the heat, then came the cooled duck, followed by the prepared spices, ginger, green onions, dried chilies, peppercorns, rock sugar, salt, light soy sauce, a can of beer, and a touch of dark soy sauce for color. Enough water was poured to cover the ingredients, then stirred evenly. High heat brought it to a boil, then it was reduced to medium, covered, and left to simmer for several dozen minutes.
Finally, the lid was lifted. The duck had fully absorbed the rich flavors of the broth. The heat was increased to reduce the sauce, with constant stirring until it thickened. The spicy duck was ready—a vibrant red, intensely aromatic, and perfectly tender. After the duck, the vegetarian dishes were added, cooking quickly in the flavorful sauce.
The air was thick with the scent of spices and meat. Xu Ying couldn’t resist. She devoured a duck claw, savoring its satisfying chewiness, the flavor seeping deep into her bones, each bite more exciting than the last.
Huo Chen, drawn by the irresistible aroma, found himself at Xu Ying’s door. He hesitated for a moment, then, unable to resist the temptation, knocked.
“Who is it!” Xu Ying, startled, quickly transferred most of the meat into her space, closed the kitchen door, and opened the front door. Who would be looking for her so late? She felt a surge of happiness when she saw him. “Why are you here?”
“I’m here to bring you some firewood and charcoal. There’s no fire in your house, is there?” Huo Chen entered the yard, noticing the absence of smoke from her chimney. His face hardened. On such a cold day, for a girl like her to sleep without a stove would be unbearable. “You can’t be careless living alone. The stove must be lit, otherwise it will be too cold. It’s going to get colder soon, and it will probably snow. What if you catch a cold?”
It was the most words Huo Chen had ever uttered at once, and Xu Ying found herself listening like a scolded child. Yet, she was secretly delighted by his concern. His care, especially, made her heart sing. “I understand. Have you eaten yet? I made some braised meat.”
Huo Chen nodded. “Okay, I will help you light the stove later, otherwise it will be too cold. You are so thin, you will definitely be cold.”
Xu Ying nodded. She had planned to wait until she had a moment to tell her mother to have her eldest brother clean the stove. Now, Huo Chen could take care of it for her. “Thank you!” Xu Ying said, a warm smile gracing her lips.
Huo Chen said nothing, walking towards the house with matches and charcoal in hand. Xu Ying quickly ran to open the door for him. As he reached out, their fingers brushed, and both quickly withdrew their hands. Xu Ying’s heart pounded, a strange, exhilarating feeling.
Huo Chen’s earlobes flushed crimson. Seeing her retract her hand, he quickly reached out and opened the door. The stove was easily cleaned, taking Huo Chen only half an hour. Like the stove slowly warming the room, a small flame of connection ignited between them.
“This will keep the room warmer,” Huo Chen explained, his voice gentle. “Remember to add hot water to this kettle. When you go to work, cover this, and it definitely won’t go out until you get off work. You can even cook here in the future.”
Xu Ying gazed at his profile, illuminated by the flickering flames, her thoughts drifting. Serious men truly were the most handsome. Every feature of his face seemed meticulously carved. Huo Chen felt her gaze and turned to find Xu Ying staring at him. The warmth of the flames filled the room, and Huo Chen’s heart hammered against his ribs. He couldn’t withstand the intense gaze of the woman he loved, no matter how thick-skinned he was. In matters of love, he was incredibly sensitive. Under Xu Ying’s stare, his breathing grew shallow, and his heart threatened to leap from his chest.
“Xu, Xu Ying, I’m hungry,” Huo Chen blurted out, jolting Xu Ying back to reality. Her eyes, still holding their innocent charm, seemed to tickle his heart even more.
“You’re hungry? Then let’s go eat something,” Xu Ying said, guiding him out the door. “You can bring some back later for my parents and Grandma Huo.” Knowing his hearty appetite, Xu Ying brought out a large bowl of braised duck and vegetarian dishes for Huo Chen, ensuring he would be full. Then she packed two more baskets of duck products. One, larger than the other, was for her numerous family members; it looked plentiful but would disappear quickly. The other was for Grandma Huo, primarily for Huo Chen to enjoy.