Chapter 99 The Tortoise Reciting Sutras
Qi Chenyan could clearly hear the thunderous thumping of his own heart.
"I was just too stupid."
Yu Li handed the hen to him, saying, "As the saying goes, there are 360 professions, and every profession can produce an expert. Everyone has their own strengths."
"For example, you are good at diplomacy, speak ten languages, and can debate with foreign media on your own, but these are things I can't do."
"I know how to catch chickens because I grew up with my grandma. These chickens were raised by my grandma and me. Catching them is as easy as eating for me."
As she spoke, Yu Li patted her chest and said, "And if you want to learn, just come to me. With your intelligence and quick wit, I guarantee you'll be a master in just two days. You'll even surpass me and leave me, your master, on the beach."
Qi Chenyan took the hen and chuckled softly.
His young wife always manages to defuse awkward situations effortlessly and naturally from various angles, making people feel neither uncomfortable nor uneasy.
"Wait a minute, come here and bend down a little."
Although Qi Chenyan was somewhat puzzled, he still followed her instructions, took two steps closer, and bent down.
Yu Li tiptoed, raised her hand, and plucked the thorn from Qi Chenyan's head.
When he pulled his hand back, there was a chicken feather between his two fingers.
The two looked at each other and burst out laughing.
Just as Qi Chenyan was about to straighten up, Yu Li told him to wait a moment.
He pulled his sleeve over and wiped Qi Chenyan's right cheek back and forth with it.
After wiping the dirt off her face, Yu Li finally withdrew her hand, satisfied.
"Alright, the dirty bun has turned back into the handsome and charming Director Qi."
Qi Chenyan's eyes and brows were bathed in the afterglow of the setting sun, filled with a tender and affectionate smile.
He raised his hand and ruffled Yu Li's hair.
"Then thank you in advance, Master Yu."
Yu Li made a gesture that said, "Young hero, don't be so polite."
Grandma, who had been watching the young couple's flirtatious exchanges, realized that the sun was about to set and if they continued like this, they might not get any chicken soup until tomorrow.
"Xiao Yan, do you know how to pluck chicken feathers?"
Qi Chenyan then withdrew his gaze from Yu Li and said politely, "I don't know how, but I can learn."
Grandma was very satisfied with Qi Chenyan's answer, because many young people nowadays, even if they don't know the answer, will pretend to be something they're not.
However, one would not sense such a restless atmosphere from Qi Chenyan.
He is like a fine vintage wine, refined over many years. Just seeing him or being in contact with him brings an inexplicable sense of peace and trust.
Qi Chenyan indeed didn't know how; he didn't even know the first step.
Grandma patiently taught her from the beginning: "First, hold the chicken's feet and the base of its wings still. Then, make a 1 to 2-centimeter diagonal incision at the blood vessel under its jaw, which is what we commonly call the 'three tubes'."
"Then turn the chicken upside down and let the blood flow into the bowl until the chicken stops struggling completely."
Cutting a throat is not difficult for someone who already has some culinary skills, and Qi Chenyan completed the first step smoothly.
"Next, put the chicken in hot water and soak it for no more than one minute. Lili, you time it. Once the time is up, take the chicken out immediately to prevent the skin from rotting."
Yu Li gave an OK sign and took out her phone to use the countdown function on the alarm clock.
Fifty seconds later, Qi Chenyan took the chicken out, and sure enough, plucking the feathers became much easier.
Yu Li squatted down and asked, "Are you tired?"
Qi Chenyan said he wasn't tired and moved the small stool he was sitting on out to Yu Li.
"Don't squat, sit on the stool, don't tire yourself out."
Yu Li saw that Qi Chenyan was already covered in sweat from his busy work, but he was still worried that her legs would go numb if she squatted down.
She pushed the small stool back, saying, "I'll only squat for a little while, but you'll be pulling for quite a while. You sit down."
As the two were pushing and shoving a small stool back and forth, Grandma, unable to bear it any longer, came to their rescue.
"It's settled, it's settled. The one thing we have plenty of at home is a small stool."
Yu Li took the small stools, one for herself and one for Qi Chenyan, and turned to her grandmother to joke, "Grandma, you don't understand, this is just the fun we young people have in getting along."
Grandma: "All I see is you two showing off your love in front of this old woman."
Yu Li exclaimed in an exaggerated "Wow!" "Wow! Grandma, you actually know how to show off your love! That's so trendy!"
"That's right, your grandma has learned a lot in her lifetime, you should learn from her."
Yu Li covered her ears first, "I don't want to listen to this bastard's rambling."
Then she covered Qi Chenyan's ears, saying, "You shouldn't listen either."
Qi Chenyan chuckled softly.
After joking around for a while, Yu Li took a towel and sat down next to Qi Chenyan to wipe his sweat.
"You can rest for a while if you're tired."
Qi Chenyan shook his head first, "The smell of plucking chicken feathers is very strong. Don't stay next to me for too long, or you'll feel uncomfortable if you get irritated by the smell."
"How could that be? I've known how to kill chickens and pluck feathers since I was a child. I can do it so fast, without even blinking... Ugh—"
Before she could finish her boasting, Yu Li suddenly felt nauseous, quickly covered her mouth, and ran towards the bathroom.
Qi Chenyan's expression changed instantly. He put down the chicken he was halfway through pulling and chased after it immediately.
He even forgot that his hands were covered in chicken feathers and smelled foul, and he was only concerned about Yu Li's safety.
"Lili, are you alright? I'm coming in."
Despite his worries, Qi Chenyan maintained his proper manners and knocked on the door first.
Yu Li vomited up everything she had eaten on her way to catch the train that day.
While vomiting, she still had time to think, "I should have known better than to eat so much on the way."
Is this what they mean by "extreme joy turns to sorrow"?
Hearing Qi Chenyan knocking on the door and saying he wanted to come in, Yu Li immediately panicked and quickly turned on the tap to rinse the water.
He said to the person outside, "No need, I'm fine, I've finished throwing up."
But this time, Qi Chenyan still insisted on coming in.
"I'm sorry, but I'm still a little worried."
Qi Chenyan apologized, but when he walked to her side, he first checked her expression.
Her face was noticeably pale, even her usually rosy lips were bloodless, and her forehead was covered in a fine sheen of sweat from vomiting.
Qi Chenyan supported her lower back with his large hand, and while supporting her, he first touched her forehead.
Are you still feeling very uncomfortable?
Yu Li was actually putting on a brave face; she had just vomited and was feeling a bit dizzy.
But perhaps it was her personality, she instinctively shook her head first.
Qi Chenyan didn't ask any more questions. Instead, he bent down and picked the person up in his arms.
"Yu Li, you need to rest."
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