Chapter Thirty-One: Kissing
In the golden autumn of August, the lotus flowers along the Zhuoshui River are in full bloom, their pink and white petals creating a beautiful display. Some eager children have already gone into the water to pick lotus pods.
Behind the Xiong family's old house, the two brand-new brick and tile houses were finally completed.
With its blue bricks and gray tiles, and doors and windows painted to a glossy shine, the house appears exceptionally bright and grand under the clear summer sun.
The soil in the yard has been compacted and leveled, and it will soon become a cozy little home as vegetable seeds are gradually added.
The Xiong family didn't hold a grand banquet; they only invited a few laborers who helped build the house, as well as the closest members of the Zhang family. It was the first time the two families had reunited before the wedding, as the house was completed.
The kitchen was filled with a rich, mouthwatering aroma.
Zhang Liuyi put on an apron and took on the role of head chef without hesitation.
Her skills have become increasingly refined through her experience setting up a stall and managing her daily work.
Today, she specially selected a piece of high-quality pork belly with alternating layers of fat and lean meat.
She carefully charred the pig hair off the pork skin on a hot iron wok, then scraped and washed it clean.
She put a small handful of glistening rock sugar into a pot and simmered it patiently over low heat. When the syrup turned amber and fine caramel bubbles appeared, she quickly placed the whole piece of pork belly skin-side down into the pot.
The pork skin quickly turned an enticing bright red color in the scalding hot caramel coloring.
She carefully turned it over, making sure every inch of skin was evenly colored.
The meat chunks, coated with caramelized sugar, were scooped out and allowed to cool slightly.
Zhang started a separate pot, added enough water, put in the meat chunks, a few bay leaves, two star anise, and a pinch of fennel seeds. Finally, she scooped up a large spoonful of her homemade, bright red and oily fermented bean paste and poured it generously into the pot.
The aromas of soy sauce, meat, and sugar blended together instantly, dominating the entire kitchen.
Cover the pot with a heavy wooden lid, bring it to a boil over high heat, then remove some firewood and reduce the heat to low to simmer.
While the meat was stewing, she deftly picked and washed a large handful of crisp and tender green vegetables and a few fresh wild mushrooms.
Heat oil in a pan, sauté minced garlic until fragrant, then add greens and mushrooms and stir-fry quickly. Add only a little salt to enhance the flavor, preserving the natural sweetness and freshness of the ingredients to the greatest extent.
The vibrant green vegetables and mushrooms sizzle in the hot oil, releasing the fresh scent of the mountains and fields.
Next came a simple bowl of egg drop soup.
Beat a few eggs, stir them in boiling water to create fine egg flowers, then sprinkle with a small handful of rock sugar. It's sweet and refreshing, perfect for cutting through the richness of other foods.
"Watch out for this girl, that smell is making my stomach rumble!"
A laborer who was helping out peeked out from the yard, laughing and joking.
Zhang Liu smiled and said, "Almost done, the meat will be ready to eat in a little while longer!"
Knowing the men would definitely be drinking that night, she quickly fried a bowl of peanuts.
Pour a small bowl of peanuts into a warm oil pan and fry over low heat. When the crackling sound gradually subsides and the peanuts turn golden and crispy, quickly remove them and drain the oil.
While it's still hot, pour it into a hot and sour sauce made with aged vinegar, a little soy sauce, finely shredded carrots, and chopped cilantro, and mix well. The sour, fragrant, and crisp taste is the perfect accompaniment to drinks!
As the sun set, in the main room of the new house, two square tables were pushed together and covered with a clean coarse cloth.
The dishes were served one by one.
As the eldest men of both families, Old Man Xiong and Zhang Dahe naturally sat at the head of the table.
Zhang Dashan, Zhang Liuji, Xiong Zixiang, and several laborers took their seats in turn.
The women all sat next to their husbands or fathers.
"Start eating! Start eating! Don't be shy!"
Old Man Xiong was the first to pick up his chopsticks, take a piece of roasted pork, and call out to everyone.
"Wow! This meat!" Zhang Dahe followed closely behind, his chopsticks precisely picking up a piece of roasted pork with alternating layers of fat and lean meat. The piece of meat trembled on the chopsticks, the bright red sauce almost dripping.
He couldn't wait to put it in his mouth. With just a gentle sip, the rich skin and tender lean meat melted on his tongue. The rich aroma of soy sauce, the subtle sweetness, and the flavor of spices blended perfectly, making it fatty but not greasy, and lean but not dry.
"Mmm, delicious! It's fucking delicious! It melts in your mouth! Yi-jie's cooking is amazing!"
Everyone picked up their chopsticks, and soon, exclamations of praise filled the air.
"Delicious! This meat is cooked to perfection!"
"The stir-fried vegetables are crisp and fresh! The mushrooms are delicious!"
These peanuts are a perfect match for alcohol!
Xiong Zixiang's gaze followed Zhang Yili, who was busy in the kitchen and the main room.
Seeing that she had finally sat down, he immediately picked up the serving chopsticks, steadily picked up a piece of meat, and placed it in the bowl in front of Zhang Xiaoyi.
"You've worked hard, eat more." The gesture was natural and smooth, filled with concern.
Seeing this, Mrs. Song was delighted. She quickly picked up a large chopstick of mushrooms and put it in the bowl, saying lovingly.
"Sister Yi, you must be exhausted today. Eat up! Eat more! These mushrooms are so delicious!"
Looking at the pile of dishes in the bowl, and then meeting Xiong Zixiang's deep gaze and Song's loving smile, Zhang felt a warm feeling in her heart, her cheeks flushed slightly, and she responded softly.
"Thank you, Auntie, thank you... Brother Zixiang." She buried her head in her food, taking small bites, but couldn't help but smile sweetly.
After several rounds of drinks and five courses of food,
The men's conversation grew increasingly lively, and they drank even more heartily.
Zhang Dahe brought out his treasured liquor, broke the mud seal, and the strong aroma of the liquor instantly filled the air.
"Come on! Liu Ji! Xiang Ge'er! Let's have a drink, you guys!"
Zhang Dahe, his face flushed, raised his glass with great enthusiasm.
“Celebrating the completion of the new house! And also wishing… hehe, good things are coming soon!” He glanced meaningfully at Xiong Zixiang and Xiaoyi, who was engrossed in eating.
"Cheers!" Zhang Liuji was already flushed and his neck was thick from drinking, but he was full of energy and downed his drink in one gulp.
Xiong Zixiang smiled and raised his glass, clinking it with Zhang Liuji's. His voice was steady: "Brother Liuji, you've worked hard! This house is beautifully built!" After saying that, he tilted his head back, emptying his glass completely.
"Great! That's awesome!" the crowd cheered.
Zhang Liuji, slightly drunk, grabbed Xiong Zixiang's hand and slurred, "Xiang... Brother Xiang! I... I only have this one sister! I'm... I'm entrusting her to you! If... if you dare to bully her... I... I... I'll never forgive you!"
His eyes were unfocused, yet he tried hard to convey the authority of an elder brother.
Xiong Zixiang grasped Zhang Liuji's hand in return, squeezing it firmly, his eyes clear and solemn: "Brother Liuji, don't worry! I, Xiong Zixiang, swear to God, I will never betray your trust in this lifetime!"
The women only took a small sip of their wine and then stopped drinking.
Song and her aunt chatted quietly, while Li Xiulan took care of Xiao Nan, who was feeling sleepy.
Zhang Yili sat quietly beside Xiong Zixiang, listening to the men's drunken ramblings, some bold and some incoherent, and looking at the composed profile of the man beside him. He felt a sense of peace he had never felt before.
The more he drank, the more intoxicated he became.
Zhang Dahe and Zhang Dashan, arms around each other's shoulders, reminisced about their wild youthful antics, their laughter echoing through the air.
Zhang Liuji slumped onto the table, muttering unconsciously, "Good wine... good brother-in-law..."
Several laborers were also staggering, their faces red and necks bulging as they made fist gestures that no one could understand.
As night deepened, the banquet finally came to an end.
Song, her aunt, and Li Xiulan quickly cleaned up the mess.
Zhang Yili helped the drunkards, who were still staggering and shouting "I'm not drunk... let's go again...", to settle them down on the makeshift straw mats.
Zhang Liuji was carried back to the Zhang family home by Zhang Dahe and Zhang Dashan, still muttering to himself, "New house... good..."
The main room fell silent instantly, leaving only a mess of cups and plates and the strong smell of alcohol.
Zhang turned around and found Xiong Zixiang still sitting at the table.
Unlike the others who made a ruckus, he simply leaned quietly against the wall, arms crossed, head resting against the wall, mouth slightly open, emitting even and deep breaths.
Zhang Liuyi's heart instantly melted.
She tiptoed over, worried that he might be uncomfortable sleeping like that, and even more worried that he might catch a cold due to the heavy dew at night.
"Brother Zixiang? Brother Zixiang?" she called softly twice, trying to wake him up and take him back to his room.
Xiong Zixiang showed no reaction, but his breathing remained long and even.
He was drunk, yet as quiet as a child; his usually cold and hard features softened in his sleep.
Thick eyelashes cast soft shadows under her eyelids, a straight nose, slightly parted thin lips… Zhang Yi stared at them, becoming somewhat mesmerized.
Her heart started racing, and her cheeks began to burn.
As if guided by some unseen force, she reached out, her fingertips trembling slightly, and carefully stroked his cheek.
The skin was rough, bearing the marks of years of exposure to wind and sun; the fingertips could clearly feel its rough texture.
But it was precisely this roughness that gave her a unique, reassuring aura of a mature man, a sense of reliability.
Her fingertips traced the contours of his cheek and slowly slid down to the corner of his mouth.
The warm breath from the alcohol wafted out, and her gaze was drawn to it like a magnet, locked tightly on those slightly parted lips.
An unprecedented, immense, and unfamiliar impulse overwhelmed her reason like a tidal wave.
In the quiet main room, only the sound of his even breathing and his own heartbeat could be heard.
She seemed to be drawn by an invisible force, holding her breath and bending down...
Her soft lips, filled with shyness, gently touched his warm, dry mouth.
The sensation was so intense, it felt like an electric current was running through his body, which instantly startled Zhang Yi.
She jerked away as if she had been burned!
His ears, cheeks, and even his entire neck turned bright red instantly!
She clutched her wildly beating heart, so ashamed she wanted to disappear into the ground!
Good heavens, this is not something a young lady should do. What did she just do?
She actually... she actually stole a kiss from Zixiang.
A mix of immense shame and a secret sweetness left her at a loss.
She glanced nervously at Xiong Zixiang, who was still fast asleep, and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that he was completely unaware.
She quickly took off her floral-patterned coat, which was stained with some cooking fumes, and draped it over Xiong Zixiang's broad shoulders.
Having done all this, he dared not look back again, turned around and ran out of the main room as if fleeing, rushing into the deep night and returning to the Zhang family.
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