Chapter 113 Beef Hot Pot

When Fan Xiaoxiao heard the old man's roar, the corner of her mouth twitched slightly, and she was so startled that she almost dropped the knife she was using to cut the beef.

"Grandpa, you scared me to death! Just wait a little longer, it'll be done soon!"

"Little girl, don't lie to me." The old man walked over and frowned slightly as he looked at the only pot of soup simmering next to Fan Xiaoxiao.

"Why are you stewing beef bones? Aren't we supposed to be having meatballs?" The old man looked at Fan Xiaoxiao with some confusion. Not seeing the meatballs he had been longing for, a look of disappointment appeared on his face.

"There will be meatballs! Wait a moment! I'm busy here, I'll call you when they're ready!" Fan Xiaoxiao pushed the old man towards the thatched shed with great difficulty.

"Girl, the peppercorns you asked for are ground, and there's anything else you need help with... My goodness, where did all this meat come from?" Aunt Wang walked in carrying a large bowl, looking at the beef by the well with some surprise.

"Madam Ye is here. These were brought by the young master Hei. He said he wanted my sister to do them all, but there are just too many. Half of them are still hanging in the well." Madam Fan smiled at Granny Wang and briefly explained what had happened.

"I see." Aunt Wang nodded and joined the two in their busy work.

About half an hour later, everything was finally prepared. The stove that Uncle Wang had asked to light was also ready.

"Alright, call them to eat!"

"Huh?" Madam Fan glanced at the still raw meat slices and meatballs, and asked Fan Xiaoxiao again, somewhat dumbfounded, "Is...is dinner served?"

Fan Xiaoxiao held the skewers in one hand and sat steadily in front of the stove, her hands constantly turning the meat skewers, nodding without turning her head.

"Okay! Let's eat!"

Madam Fan and Aunt Wang exchanged a glance, both somewhat confused about Fan Xiaoxiao's stunt, but they still went to call everyone over for dinner.

"Haa." Xiao Hei yawned and quickly stood up: "Is dinner ready? I'll go call the master and the old man over."

"I'll go with you."

...

After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, everyone gathered around the small stove by the well.

But no one touched the raw meat slices and meatballs in front of them.

"Eat up! What are you all standing there for?" Fan Xiaoxiao walked over with the first batch of grilled meat skewers. Seeing everyone staring blankly at the pot in front of them without touching their chopsticks, she tilted her head in confusion.

"Baby, isn't this all raw meat? How are we supposed to eat it?"

"How else can we eat it? Let's just leave it like this." Fan Xiaoxiao walked to an empty seat, picked up her chopsticks, and started dipping slices of beef in the pot of beef bones.

As soon as the meat was cooked through, I picked it up, dipped it in some chili and Sichuan peppercorn flakes, and put it in my mouth.

The old man stroked his beard, looking at the colorless meat with little interest. His gaze then shifted to the meat skewers in Fan Xiaoxiao's hand.

"That one you're holding looks pretty good!" With that, the old man quickly went over and placed the meat skewers on the empty plate on the table, but he first ate two skewers himself with lightning speed.

"Mmm!! This is delicious! Oh my! Baby! This is so delicious!"

Seeing his actions, Xiao Hei also took a skewer of grilled meat and handed it to Gu Zhongtai, who was sitting upright.

"Master, try this."

"Ugh, what are you doing giving it to him? This guy doesn't like to eat anything, what a waste!" the old man protested loudly against Xiao Hei's actions.

But Gu Zhongtai's next move was somewhat unexpected for the old man.

He picked up the meat skewer, took a bite, and actually started eating it.

"Master, how is it? Is it delicious?" Xiao Hei looked at Gu Zhongtai's reaction with anticipation.

"So-so." Gu Chongtai curled the corners of his lips, but he still took a second bite.

"Tch! You gave it to me so carelessly! What a waste of a precious resource!"

"Grandpa Fatty, here's Xiao Bao's for you." Xiao Bao placed the meat skewers that Aunt Wang had given him earlier in front of the old man who was a ghost doctor.

“We agreed on this at the market.”

Master Lu and Xiaoyu were slightly taken aback, not expecting that the little dumpling would still remember this matter.

"Hehe! Then I won't be polite!" The old ghost doctor grinned happily when he saw the extra skewers in front of him.

Xiaoyu bit her lower lip, glancing at Xiaobao with a somewhat unpleasant feeling in her heart.

Master Lu then placed the skewers in his hand in front of Xiao Bao.

"Here, eat up, this is mine."

"No, Grandpa Lu, Xiaobao doesn't want it."

Master Lu sighed and was about to speak when Fan Xiaoxiao shook her head at him. Even the Fan family members let Xiaobao behave as he pleased.

Xiaoyu glanced at the old ghost doctor, picked up some raw meat slices, dipped them in the pot, and quickly put them into Xiaobao's bowl.

"Sister Xiaoyu..." Xiaobao opened his mouth, about to speak, when he saw Xiaoyu glare at him fiercely.

Xiao Bao shrank back at her fierce words, and could only pick up the piece of meat and glance at the old ghost doctor again.

"Hey! Kid, those skewers aren't enough! Make some more!" The old man pretended not to see what the two little ones were doing and turned to shout at Fan Xiaoxiao, who was sitting back down on the grill to grill skewers.

"Yes! Young lady! Grill more!" Little Black, who was standing to the side, had obviously also tasted the deliciousness of the grilled skewers and joined the old ghost doctor in shouting.

Fan Xiaoxiao clearly didn't expect the skewers to be so popular. She tried one herself, and although it tasted good, she felt it was missing some aroma.

However, spices were extremely expensive in the Zhou Dynasty... They had already spent a lot of money on pepper last time.

To be honest, she really missed the barbecue of today! The aroma, the sizzling oil, the intense fragrance—only one bite could truly satisfy her.

Unfortunately, it's hard to replicate that flavor now. She sighed inwardly and continued working on her piece.

"Okay! You guys eat some of that hot pot beef first! I didn't know there was so much meat! I didn't get many skewers!"

"Huh? But I really want to eat barbecue skewers!" the old man muttered. Uncle Wang, who was standing next to him, shook his head and picked up a piece of beef to cook in the broth.

"I'll give mine to the old gentleman too. The girl's cooking is always excellent. I'm sure this pot of soup will be delicious."

"Hey! Thanks!"

Uncle Wang smiled, picked up the piece of raw beef, and put it in his mouth just like Fan Xiaoxiao did.

"!!This is delicious too!"

"Really?" The old man looked at him with some disbelief, and then tried it himself, just like him.

"!!!tasty!"

Xiao Bao paused after hearing this, hesitating whether to give the beef in his bowl to the Ghost Doctor.

"Xiao Bao, you eat. There's still plenty of beef. The old man also gave you some." Grandpa Lu rarely showed a slight smile and patted Xiao Bao's head affectionately.

Only then did the child begin to eat his dinner in a relaxed manner.

Half an hour later, everyone had finally eaten their fill. They were all slumped on the spot, feeling rather lazy and unwilling to move.

The old ghost doctor let out a burp and rubbed his stomach: "Kid, your skills are truly amazing! I only took seven days' worth; I'm losing money!"

Fan Xiaoxiao, who was sitting to the side rubbing her stomach, paused slightly.

"Actually, we can take advantage of the situation for a while longer."

Her words stunned everyone, except for the old man who looked at Fan Xiaoxiao with a delighted expression. "Really!?"

"Really!" Fan Xiaoxiao revealed a cat-like smile. She had just been worrying about how to bring up the matter of traveling together with Boss Ye! Now, the opportunity was coming soon!

(End of this chapter)