Who wouldn’t like a tender little fox cub? If you apply this sentence to the White Moon Fox, then the word “like” might be followed by the word “eat”.
The food could have been swallowed in one bite, but because of Lu Qingjiu's protection, Bai Yuehu decided to let it go after careful consideration. However, not eating it did not mean that Bai Yuehu would tolerate him snatching food from her at home every day - even if it was just one or two pieces that were not enough to fill her teeth.
To appease the White Moon Fox, Lu Qingjiu took Yin Xun and the little fox to town on Saturday to buy a lamb to roast. Yin Xun had gone along specifically to make it easier for Lu Qingjiu to get things, but the little fox, fearing being alone with the White Moon Fox, huddled in Lu Qingjiu's jacket pocket, making it impossible to pull it out. After a long struggle with it, Lu Qingjiu finally let it go.
Ever since he learned the true identity of his own pickup truck, Lu Qingjiu's feelings towards it have become somewhat subtle. Its original form was indeed somewhat unpleasant, but the current pickup truck was still quite cute, especially the way the two orange-yellow headlights flashed, catering to his occasional honking of the horn. Most importantly, the pickup truck had once saved Lu Qingjiu, although... Lu Qingjiu still didn't want to think about how it saved him.
Yin Xun still didn't know what he was sitting on, and just complained about the truck and why his back always felt itchy when he sat in it. Lu Qingjiu thought about it, but decided not to tell Yin Xun the truth, and instead just brushed it off.
Arriving in town, the two picked out a plump lamb and had the owner slaughter it before loading it onto the pickup truck. Lu Qingjiu then went to a nearby market and bought all the spices needed for roasting the whole lamb. He also bought a few pounds of potatoes, onions, and other side dishes to go along with the lamb.
"Can the White Moon Fox finish such a big sheep?" Although Yin Xun knew that the White Moon Fox had a big appetite, he felt that eating the whole sheep was a bit too exaggerated.
"You should be able to finish it, right?" Lu Qingjiu had an inexplicable confidence in Bai Yuehu. Ever since Bai Yuehu came to his house, he had never once said he was full. At most, he would say he was almost full. As for how much "almost" he meant, no one knew. Bai Yuehu's stomach was like a bottomless abyss.
"Oh, I just wanted to avoid roasting too much and wasting it." Yin Xun said, "Okay." This roasted whole lamb can only be eaten when it is freshly roasted. It will definitely not be as delicious the second time.
After buying the things, the two returned to the car and saw the little fox jumping around in the cab as if it was being teased by something. Yin Xun observed for a while outside the car window and said in horror: "What is it playing with?" It was as if the little fox could see something that they couldn't.
Lu Qingjiu had an idea in mind, but he didn't say anything. Instead, he opened the car door, picked up the little fox and stuffed it into his pocket. He patted its head gently to signal it to behave itself.
The little fox was very human-like. After being patted by Lu Qingjiu, it stopped moving and curled up obediently in his pocket.
A few hours later, the three returned to the old house.
Lu Qingjiu parked the car, and Yin Xun helped unload the live animals from the truck. This time, they not only bought food, but also a charcoal fire for roasting whole lamb. Lu Qingjiu rented the iron rack in town and would return it in a few days. Actually, the most authentic way to roast a whole lamb is to roast it in a stove. This way, the lamb is the most delicious, but that's not available here, so they had to make do.
Lu Qingjiu went into the kitchen and started to prepare the mutton, and asked Yin Xun to take the little fox cub out to play.
Although the little fox felt a little safer after spending the past few days together and no longer had to follow Lu Qingjiu every day, it still didn't dare to go into the yard when Bai Yuehu was around unless someone was with it.
The mutton used in the roasted whole lamb needs to be marinated for a period of time. Lu Qingjiu plans to prepare it now and roast it in the evening. The meal may not be until eight or nine o'clock.
In addition to roasted lamb, he also prepared some other dishes. The weather was hot, and lamb was a warming food, so it would be best to pair it with some cold dishes like smashed cucumber to cool down.
Lu Qingjiu was cooking with her head down when Yin Xun came over and said, "Qingjiu, there are guests at your house."
Lu Qingjiu asked: "Guest?"
Yin Xun said: "I don't know him, but he seems to be from the same hometown as Bai Yuehu."
Lu Qingjiu paused when he heard this. Bai Yuehu's fellow countryman? Bai Yuehu's fellow countryman must be a fox? A furry fox... Lu Qingjiu's eyes lit up as he thought of something and asked, "Where is it?"
Yin Xun said, "Why are you so excited? We're in the yard."
Lu Qingjiu said: "I'll go take a look."
He washed his hands and joined the fun in the yard. As Yin Xun had said, a stranger had arrived. He was a very handsome man. Although his expression was very serious, his eyes and eyebrows were full of charm. Especially his peach blossom eyes, which were slightly downcast, revealing a bit of sadness, making others feel reluctant to embarrass him.
But Bai Yuehu, who was only interested in food, was obviously not buying it. Facing the beauty's tearful and pleading attack, he continued to lie in his rocking chair, not even opening his eyes.
"Mr. Bai." The man's voice was clear and pleasant, with a hint of pleading, "Please help me. As long as you promise me, I'm willing to do anything for you."
Yin Xun stood behind Lu Qingjiu, tilting his head to watch the gossip with Lu Qingjiu. He whispered, "Hey, what's going on? This person is so beautiful. Qingjiu, why don't you go out? The vixen is trying to seduce Baiyuehu."
Lu Qingjiu glanced at Yin Xun and thought that Bai Yuehu herself was a vixen, so why would she be afraid of being seduced?
After the man said this, he was actually about to kneel down, but Bai Yuehu opened his eyes and gave him a neutral look, and his movements froze instantly.
Bai Yuehu said, "Speak nicely and don't act in front of me."
The man was stunned: "What?"
Bai Yuehu's tone was a little cold: "Do you want me to say it a second time?"
As soon as he said this, Lu Qingjiu, who was watching the excitement from the sidelines, saw the charming smile on the man's face disappear, and his demeanor subtly changed. The man sighed and spoke, a move that choked both Yin Xun and Lu Qingjiu. "Mr. Bai, today, we'd like to ask you for a favor. Is that possible?" This rough Shandong accent made Lu Qingjiu feel like he'd been struck by lightning. Yin Xun was clearly also deeply disturbed, and he held onto Lu Qingjiu's arm for a long time without letting go.
"No." Bai Yuehu said, "Our house is too small to accommodate you."
The man said, "My child is timid and is always bullied at home. If you promise me, I can..." When he said this, he leaned close to Bai Yuehu's ear and whispered a few words.
Bai Yuehu opened his half-closed eyes lazily. He glanced at the man but still did not respond.
The man's eyes turned, but suddenly he turned his head to look at Lu Qingjiu and Yin Xun who were standing by the door peeking. Being caught watching the gossip, Lu Qingjiu and Yin Xun were a little embarrassed, so they gave the man a restrained smile.
The man walked directly towards Lu Qingjiu. He stopped in front of Lu Qingjiu and said in Mandarin: "Mr. Lu."
Lu Qingjiu, who was named, said, "Ah, hello."
"My name is Su Yan." The man smiled at Lu Qingjiu, "I've heard a lot about you."
When they were closer, Lu Qingjiu noticed that there was a small teardrop mole at the corner of the man's eye. This teardrop mole actually added a bit of lovable temperament to him - if he didn't speak Shandong dialect with that accent.
"I've heard a lot about you." Lu Qingjiu asked, "Do you know me?"
"Ah..." Su Yan seemed to realize that what he said was a little inappropriate, and immediately changed his words, saying with a smile, "I have heard someone mention it."
Lu Qingjiu said: "Oh, okay."
As Su Yan was speaking, a small white head popped out of his shirt pocket. It was the little fox cub that Lu Qingjiu had picked up from the roadside. However, after its fur was cut short, it looked a bit like a VIP. The little fox chirped a few times and turned to look at Su Yan.
Su Yan said, "I told you not to run around. Your fur is like this..." He obviously didn't know that the fur was cut by Lu Qingjiu, and thought it was bullied by someone. "Who messed up your fur like this? Tell me later, and I'll teach it a lesson when I get back."
Lu Qingjiu coughed dryly, his expression a little embarrassed.
Su Yan didn't notice Lu Qingjiu's discomfort. He took the little fox cub out of his hands and said, "Mr. Lu, I want to foster Su Xi with you for a while."
Lu Qingjiu said: "Well... aren't you here to take it home?"
Su Yan said: "I would like to, but judging from its appearance, it doesn't seem to be willing to go home with me."
Lu Qingjiu was stunned.
Su Yan gave a wry smile and briefly explained the situation. Of course, because Yin Xun, an outsider, was present, he was more tactful, referring to Su Xi as a pet. Lu Qingjiu understood perfectly. Su Yan had many children, and Su Xi, the youngest, had been sickly since childhood. Even at the age of transformation, he couldn't transform into a human. The spirits believed in the law of the jungle, and even though they were siblings, Su Xi was still easily bullied. Before, they were all just fox cubs, and no matter how much they bullied, they wouldn't go too far. But after his siblings transformed into humans, Su Xi became even more vulnerable.
Although these little foxes have turned into humans, they are still young at heart and do not know how to hold back when they attack. This time, they threw poor little Su Xi into Shuifu Village - because they have a rumor among their people that there is a big monster that eats foxes in Shuifu Village, and they want Su Xi to lure the monster out.
"Oh, I see." Lu Qingjiu said, "Did Yuehu agree?"
"This house is yours, so naturally you have to agree first." Su Yan said politely, "Of course, Su Xi is my little fox after all, and we will pay for his upbringing every month."
Seeing that Bai Yuehu had no intention of objecting, Lu Qingjiu nodded in agreement: "Okay." He did not ask how much the cost of raising the baby was. After all, a fox cub could not eat much.
Su Yan breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Lu Qingjiu agreed. He said, "Thank you so much, Mr. Lu."
"You're welcome." Lu Qingjiu originally wanted to invite Su Yan to dinner, but he was worried that Bai Yuehu would be unhappy, so he didn't say it in the end.
Su Yan handed Su Xi to Lu Qingjiu and left. Lu Qingjiu went back to the house to continue making his roasted whole lamb. Only Yin Xun was still immersed in Su Yan's Shandong dialect and couldn't extricate himself. Finally, he came to a conclusion that no matter how beautiful a woman is, as long as she speaks in a dialect, it will make people feel as if their souls are dislocated.
In the evening, Bai Yuehu and Yin Xun set up the iron rack in the yard. After burning the charcoal, Lu Qingjiu put the mutton that had been marinated for several hours on it.
The mutton was fresh, with various spices and seasonings added to it. The fat sizzled as it roasted over the flames, and drops of oil dripped down the meat onto the charcoal, making a puffing sound. The rich aroma lingered throughout the courtyard, and everyone in the family sat in the yard, watching Lu Qingjiu grill the meat.
Xiao Hei and Xiao Hua also watched eagerly, slurping their saliva from time to time. The little fox sat on Yin Xun's lap, its beautiful blue eyes never leaving the mutton. Lu Qingjiu was worried they were hungry, so he made some fried rice for them to fill their stomachs. However, the few people staring at the mutton did not move much, except for Bai Yuehu, who had a big appetite and never worried about being full, holding the bowl and stuffing mouthfuls into his mouth.
After roasting for about two hours, Lu Qingjiu confirmed that the mutton was cooked, so he took out the iron plate and placed the mutton on it. He then sprinkled the prepared chopped green onion, cumin and chili powder on it and said, "Should I cut it or can you guys just do it?"
It tastes better when cut with a knife, but it will destroy the texture of the mutton. It is not so convenient to eat if you tear it with your hands, but the torn mutton is all in strips and you can fully taste the original taste.
"Tear it apart." said Bai Yuehu.
Lu Qingjiu said, "Okay." He put down his knife and fork, and then they all went to wash their hands and started eating.
Although this was Lu Qingjiu's first time making mutton, it was a great success. The skin on the outside was crispy, and the meat inside was tender and chewy. The marinade had thoroughly marinated the meat, and since it was fresh mutton, the mutton didn't have a strong smell at all, and everyone enjoyed the meal very much.
While eating, Lu Qingjiu had to take care of his three animals. Not to mention the little fox, Xiao Hei and Xiao Hua also needed to eat meat, but they were also good at taking care of themselves. Lu Qingjiu threw a piece of meat to the three of them and they shared it.
The lamb probably weighed about thirty or forty kilograms. Lu Qingjiu was an ordinary person after all, so he was full after a while. Yin Xun then withdrew from the battle, leaving Bai Yuehu alone to continue eating. The lamb meat was dwindling at a noticeable rate. Lu Qingjiu looked at Bai Yuehu's belly, which was still flat, showing no signs of growth.
Yin Xun, who was quite fearless, whispered beside him, "Look at Bai Yuehu's disappointing belly..."
Lu Qingjiu: “…” He wanted to laugh, but tried hard to hold it back.
The White Moon Fox always ate with speed and quality. When it finally stopped, all that was left of the mutton was a large skeleton, almost devoid of any flesh. Lu Qingjiu picked out a large bone and handed it to the little fox to grind its teeth. However, the bone seemed even bigger than the little fox itself, and it struggled mightily to hold it in place, completely unwilling to let go. After biting it, it was pulled so hard that it staggered. Yin Xun laughed unceremoniously beside him.
After dinner, Yin Xun and Bai Yuehu cleaned up the leftovers, and Lu Qingjiu went to the yard to pick some grapes. The grapes were gradually ripening, and the crystal clear grapes hanging on the branches looked particularly lovely. Lu Qingjiu had tasted them before, and his grapes were very sweet, with a hint of acidity in the sweetness, making them a great after-meal dessert.
He picked the grapes, rinsed them briefly, and brought them to the yard.
"I won't eat anymore. I'm going back first." Yin Xun said, "See you later."
Lu Qingjiu said, "See you later." He hesitated for a moment and said, "By the way, Yin Xun, I might have to go back next month."
Yin Xundao: "Go back to the city?"
"Yeah." Lu Qingjiu responded.
"Okay." Yin Xun said, "How many days will you be gone? Don't worry, I will cook well after you leave." After he said this, Bai Yuehu, who was sitting next to him to rest, glanced at him, and Yin Xun quickly shrank his neck.
"Maybe two or three days." With several mouths to feed at home, Lu Qingjiu didn't dare to stay away for too long. However, he had to go back for this matter, so he informed Yin Xun in advance and asked him to take care of the White Moon Fox. Although he said he was taking care of the White Moon Fox, the worst case scenario was that the two of them would just have to eat instant noodles for two days.
Yin Xun nodded and went back.
After Lu Qingjiu and Bai Yuehu finished their grapes, they also planned to go to bed. However, when Lu Qingjiu stood up and prepared to leave, Bai Yuehu suddenly asked, "What are you going back there for?"
Lu Qingjiu paused: "Something happened at home..."
Bai Yuehu saw the hesitation on Lu Qingjiu's face and said calmly, "It's okay if you don't want to say it."
Lu Qingjiu pursed his lips, his voice was a little low, but what he said shocked people's hearts. He said: "I have to go back to visit my parents' graves."
Bai Yuehu asked, "Grave sweeping?"
"Yeah." Lu Qingjiu said calmly, "My parents had an accident when I was in college."
Bai Yuehu was quiet for a moment: "Can you tell me what's going on? ...It doesn't matter if you don't want to."
Lu Qingjiu sighed. This incident had been a huge blow to him at the time, so he had never wanted to talk about it. But now, when Bai Yuehu asked about it, his heart was filled with a near-dead calm. He turned around, walked back to Bai Yuehu, and sat down again. "I was still in college at the time. It was one summer vacation, and my parents came back to visit my grandma. Suddenly, a landslide occurred, and they were both gone."
Bai Yuehu listened quietly.
"Other villagers also disappeared. A search and rescue team came, but they couldn't even find a body," Lu Qingjiu said. "A few years later, my grandmother also passed away. I built a cenotaph for my parents in the city...but my grandmother's grave remains in the village."
"Landslide?" Bai Yuehu asked. "What month did it happen?"
"August," Lu Qingjiu said, "It was the peak rainfall season, so it's normal. I just didn't expect it to happen to my parents." His tone was filled with bitterness, "I..."
Bai Yuehu said, "My condolences."
There are some things that don't need too much words, because no matter how many words there are, they can't soothe the great pain. There is no such thing as empathy in the world.
Lu Qingjiu was somewhat grateful that Bai Yuehu did not show any sympathy. In fact, during the time when this incident happened, whenever he met someone he knew, he would see that unpleasant emotion in their eyes.
"This child is so pitiful. He lost both his parents when he was only in his twenties."
"Yeah, it's so pitiful. I heard he doesn't have many relatives at home."
"She's just an elderly grandmother, right? I have to go back and take care of the funeral myself..."
Lu Qingjiu had become numb to such words. He was a little angry at first, but later he no longer had the desire to argue. Returning to the village alone and accepting the fact that his parents' bodies were gone had already consumed too much of Lu Qingjiu's energy, and he matured quickly.
Another reason why Lu Qingjiu was so close to Yin Xun was that Yin Xun helped him a lot when he was in trouble, and the two of them had a tacit understanding on this matter. After Lu Qingjiu came back, he never mentioned it, obviously because he was afraid of touching upon Lu Qingjiu's sad memories.
"That's pretty much the situation," Lu Qingjiu said. "So I have to go back every August to visit the grave. It only takes a day or two to go back and forth, so it's quick."
Bai Yuehu asked, "Do you want to drive back by yourself?" Generally speaking, driving a long distance is quite tiring, but their family's situation is special. If Lu Qingjiu really wants to drive back, he can just let the small truck change its state and he doesn't have to drive it himself.
"Driving? No way." Lu Qingjiu said.
"Let him take you back." Bai Yuehu's attitude was firm. "It won't take much time. It's more convenient than the train."
Lu Qingjiu said: "But..."
Bai Yuehu said, "Go early and come back early."
Lu Qingjiu: "..." Yeah, if he were gone for a few more days, who knows what a miserable scene he would see when he came back. What Yin Xun made is poisonous, and the White Moon Fox will definitely not eat it. It would be fine if the White Moon Fox didn't eat it, because he is a fox spirit and won't starve to death anyway, but there are other things at home that need to eat, especially that palm-sized fox cub. Lu Qingjiu is really afraid that Yin Xun will feed it to death... How can he explain to his family then?
"Okay, then I'll go to sleep first." Lu Qingjiu said, "Good night."
"Good night." said Bai Yuehu.
Lu Qingjiu slept well that night and didn't have any strange dreams. He slept soundly until the next morning.
He didn't know if it was because he ate too much mutton in the summer, but when he got up, he felt his nose was itchy, and when he rubbed it, he saw blood on his hands.
"Ah!" Lu Qingjiu hurried to the front yard with his nose turned up. After cleaning the blood off his hands, he found two pieces of paper and stuffed his nostrils with them. When Yin Xun came back, he also had two pieces of paper stuffed in his nose. When they saw each other's embarrassed appearance, they couldn't help laughing.
"You have a nosebleed too?" Yin Xun's tone was nasal.
Lu Qingjiu said: “Yes.”
"Maybe it's because mutton is too nutritious." Yin Xun said vaguely, "We eat mutton, right?"
Lu Qingjiu: "...What do you mean by that?"
Yin Xun said, "No, I was just saying it casually." He sniffed and changed the subject, "What are we having for lunch today?"
"What do you want to eat?" Lu Qingjiu thought for a moment and said, "By the way, where did you go to catch the fish that day? Did you go with Bai Yuehu?"
"No," Yin Xun replied, "I met Bai Yuehu on the way back with fish, and I helped him carry the bag."
"Oh." Lu Qingjiu said, "Is that so." He glanced at Yin Xun and saw that his friend had a calm face, so he didn't ask any more questions.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
