Chapter 31: Wang Lixian's Offering

"Uncle Fugui, my dad and I brought you some mountain goods."

Before Wang Lixian could speak, Lini'er grabbed a handful of marbles, stood up, and blurted out the answer.

Only then did Chen Ling notice that Wang Lixian was hiding two wild pheasants behind his back, along with two large rabbits, all tied up with straw ropes. As Wang Lixian stood up, Chen Ling also saw a bamboo basket full of green-shelled eggs. They were significantly larger than ordinary chicken eggs and didn't look much like wild bird eggs.

"We caught plenty of game in the mountains, and we couldn't finish it all at home, so I brought some over for you," Wang Lixian said, stubbing out his cigarette as he rose.

Wang Lixian’s family and Chen Ling’s family had been very close since their grandfathers' time. They were distant relatives, and Wang Lixian was essentially Chen Ling’s cousin. After Chen Ling’s father passed away, Lixian had helped him quite a bit. Back when Chen Ling and Wang Susu were getting married, they ran into a troublesome issue, and it was Wang Lixian who had resolved it. Unfortunately, as Chen Ling’s behavior grew increasingly wayward and Lixian had a large family of his own to feed, he eventually stopped paying attention to Chen Ling’s affairs after being disappointed by him several times.

In short, Lixian was an honest, sturdy farmer. With messy hair and thick stubble, he stood before Chen Ling wearing a worn-out, light blue worker’s uniform. He wasn't particularly tall, and his frame was somewhat lean, though not frail. At first glance, beyond the impressions from his memory, Chen Ling felt that this man possessed an indescribable toughness.

"Haha, to think of me when you have something good, Brother Lixian—I’m truly delighted!" Chen Ling walked over, hooked his arm around Wang Lixian’s, and laughed loudly. "Susu, open the door! Tonight, Brother Lixian, Brother Jusheng, and I are going to have a few drinks!"

He knew full well that Lixian had brought the game because of the piece of fresh pork he had sent back with Lini'er last time. But Lixian had a straightforward temperament, and Chen Ling couldn't just point it out directly. Besides, Lixian had helped him so much in the past that Chen Ling didn't want to damage their friendship any further. So, he didn't bother with polite formalities and instead offered a warm welcome.

"You go ahead and drink with Brother Lixian, Fugui. I won't be joining," Wang Jusheng smiled. He wasn't very close with the other villagers; he could manage a greeting if he ran into them, but sitting down for a meal felt awkward, and he wouldn't know what to say.

"Hey, don't say that, Brother Jusheng. You helped me with work, and I won't even treat you to a meal? What kind of person would that make me?" Chen Ling immediately frowned, looking displeased. "Besides, if you go back like this, what would Uncle Five think of me? Get off that bike and stop talking nonsense. Tonight, you're going to taste my cooking."

"Fugui, I really need to go home..." Wang Jusheng was in a bind. His social circle wasn't here. If it were just him and Chen Ling, he could manage—he actually felt quite comfortable around Chen Ling—but adding Wang Lixian to the mix made the idea of sitting down to drink feel truly awkward.

"Enough talk. If your wife gives you trouble, I'll go explain it to her myself." Just then, Wang Susu opened the courtyard gate, and Chen Ling snatched the heavy-duty bicycle from Wang Jusheng, pushing it into the yard.

"Fugui, you..." Wang Jusheng was out of options and had no choice but to follow him into the yard.

Wang Lixian was quite curious to see this; he wondered how Fugui had ended up hanging out with the branch secretary's son. But then he remembered that Wang Jusheng was a police officer, and hanging out with him was better than loafing around in the county town all day. With that thought, he stepped into the courtyard without a word.

"Look at how unobservant Ah Ling is. Brother Lixian, let me help you with those things." Seeing Wang Lixian carrying a pile of goods by himself, Wang Susu hurriedly stepped forward to take some of the weight. As for Lini'er, he had no mind for his father; he was already busy circling the donkey cart, teasing Heiwa and Xiaojin.

"Ah Ling, Brother Lixian’s back isn't good. Why didn't you offer to help?" Wang Susu feigned a complaint. Chen Ling quickly apologized with a smile, and a few words were enough to smooth over the minor awkwardness.

Wang Lixian was astonished. When had Fugui and his wife become so harmonious? Seeing the silent rapport between the young couple, he would have suspected he was seeing things if he hadn't seen Chen Ling hit Wang Susu several times in the past.

"Fugui, don't worry about me. The doctor in the county town said my back can't handle any more alcohol. Just look after Jusheng," Wang Lixian said, setting the basket of green-shelled "eggs" on the ground. "I don't know if these are wild duck eggs or what, but they smell quite fishy when cracked into a bowl. They taste pretty good when stir-fried, though. You two should give them a try." He then prepared to call Lini'er to leave.

"No, no, no! Brother Lixian, why are you acting like this? If we can't drink, we can still eat!" Chen Ling grew anxious, grabbing Lixian’s arm. "No way, you aren't leaving today. Since you’ve brought goods, you have to let you taste my cooking and let me show off a bit."

"That’s right, Brother Lixian. You haven't tasted it before, but Ah Ling’s cooking is actually delicious. He’s been cooking every day lately, and I can't even stomach my own cooking anymore," Wang Susu added from the side.

At this, Wang Lixian went silent. He couldn't help but size Chen Ling up, then exchanged a glance with Wang Jusheng, who looked equally surprised. Their expressions shared the same sentiment: Is this kid really cooking at home? They had thought Chen Ling was just being polite earlier. Outsiders mocked Chen Ling as a useless, lazy bum, but in truth, very few men in the village actually cooked at home, themselves included.

Wang Lixian and Wang Jusheng were both a bit bewildered. "You’re really going to cook?" Wang Jusheng asked, still uncertain.

"Yeah! What’s wrong? Don't trust my culinary skills?" Chen Ling raised an eyebrow and countered.

"Tch, I’ve never eaten your food. Since you’re really going to do it, I’ll have to taste it today and see if it's as good as Susu says!" Wang Jusheng crossed his arms and stood up. "Get to it, then. I’m going to go feed my donkey."

This guy! Once he stopped being formal, he really didn't hold back! Chen Ling smacked his lips, then carried the pheasant and rabbit to the side to prepare them. "Tonight, we’re having braised wild rabbit and stewed pheasant with mushrooms. Actually, two dishes aren't enough... I’ve got fish in the backyard, I’ll make a sweet and sour carp, too."

Lini'er stood to the side, drooling. Good grief, no wonder everyone said Uncle Fugui was a lazy glutton—he sure knew how to eat! Just hearing the names of the dishes was enough to make one’s mouth water!

"Susu, you start the steamed buns. I’ll start cooking in a moment." Chen Ling soaked the dried mushrooms and wood ear fungus from before winter, skinned the rabbit, hung up the pelt, and after cleaning the insides, chopped the meat and marinated it with scallions, ginger, garlic, seasonings, soy sauce, and cooking wine. Then, he and Wang Lixian plucked the pheasant in boiling water. He brought out a clay pot, added the soaked mushrooms, wood ear, and various spices, and set the pheasant to stew.

Even before it was ready, just watching from the side, Wang Jusheng couldn't help but salivate. He looked even worse than Lini'er.

"Lini'er, go buy a few packs of cigarettes for your uncle. I won't let you run errands for nothing; you can keep the change for candy," Wang Jusheng said, swallowing his saliva and handing a one-yuan bill to Lini'er.

"You got it, Uncle Jusheng!" Upon hearing there would be candy, Lini'er didn't hesitate for a second.

"It's dark outside, take your Uncle Fugui’s flashlight."