Li Xiangdong and several others were roasting venison inside the house.
A large brass basin contained half a basin of burning charcoal. On the red and white embers sat a fine wire mesh, on which was piled a generous amount of finely sliced venison.
The side of the venison facing the charcoal fire was already sizzling with oil, and the meat on top was still bright red.
Li Xiangdong held a pair of tongs, turning the venison over and over from time to time. When he saw that some pieces were cooked, he would hand them to the people gathered around him.
Ning Ruoruo, Li Ping, Zhang Huan, Li Jiabao, Li Yan, and Xiao Leizi sat around the copper basin, watching Li Xiangdong's movements with bated breath.
If Li Xiangdong puts his meat into someone's bowl, that person will look at the person next to them with a smug look, and then eat it with great relish.
"Barbecue?"
As soon as Zhao Sufang saw Li Jin enter the room, she frowned and asked, "Did you finish eating so quickly?"
Li Jin said casually, "I haven't eaten yet!"
Zhao Sufang knew that this person had encountered something unpleasant, but she didn't press the matter. She just smiled and said, "You're lucky to have the chance to eat venison."
Li Jin washed his hands and sat on the kang (a heated brick bed). Li Lan handed her father a bowl of stewed venison and a white steamed bun. "Dad, eat this first to fill your stomach. I don't know when we'll be able to eat roasted meat in Xiangdong!"
He added, "These little devils haven't even had a bite yet!"
Ning Ruoruo felt a little embarrassed and wanted to give up her seat to Li Jin.
Before Li Jin could refuse, Zhao Sufang smiled and pressed her back down, "Go sit down and eat!"
Li Xiangdong also said, "Once the charcoal is ready, the grilling will be quick. You can sit here and eat first."
Liu Junbo gave Li Xiangdong a wink, but Li Xiangdong pretended not to notice.
Because the venison leg meat was too lean, Li Xiangdong brushed a layer of oil onto the grill, so that the roasted meat would be tender and not dry.
The oil dripped onto the charcoal, making a sizzling sound, and then a wisp of white smoke rose up.
Li Xiangdong grilled the meat faster and faster, and soon everyone was eating it.
Li Zhen recently read Dream of the Red Chamber, and there was a chapter in it that described Jia Baoyu and Shi Xiangyun roasting venison at Luxue Hermitage.
Cao Xueqin was describing a snowy day where everyone was in a warm house, chatting and laughing as they ate roasted meat.
She vaguely remembered that the chapter was called "A world of crystal, white snow and red plum blossoms, a beautiful girl with rouge and perfume cutting and eating fishy food."
She recounted the scene to everyone, and Li Jin laughed and said, "We are quite different from them!"
"What's wrong?"
"They are the feudal ruling class eating meat, while the working people are outside freezing and shoveling snow. We, on the other hand, are working people eating meat and enjoying the snow in warm houses! So, we are very different!"
Li Lan helped Chen Zaohua put a piece of golden-brown roasted venison into her bowl, then agreed, "Father is absolutely right."
Li Xiangdong said with a smile, "We also have a red plum tree in our yard. Why don't we learn the game from the classic novel and have the loser go and cut the red plum tree?"
How do you play?
"What games are we going to play?"
"Let's play hide-and-seek. I found a really secluded spot these past couple of days."
"Oh no, I think we should go for the 'chui'!"
Li Ping suggested.
Li Jiabao strongly disagreed and immediately retorted, "Fifth Sister, you only want to play what you're good at! I think it's better to fan Yuanbao."
Watching the children chatter and offer various suggestions.
Li Xiangdong immediately gestured for them to stop, "Can you all keep quiet for now, comrades!"
"I suggest we play a word chain game, okay? Of course, we don't have to stick to idioms; proverbs and allegorical sayings are fine too."
Li Ping immediately raised his hand in agreement, while Li Jiabao was a little dejected. "Second brother, you did this on purpose, didn't you? I just can't remember those four-character phrases!"
Li Xiangdong gave him a cold glance, and from his 36.5-degree lips came out two words that sounded like minus 20 degrees: "Serves you right."
The others had no objections and all expressed their agreement.
Li Xiangdong began, "A timely snowfall promises a bumper harvest."
Li Jin continued:
"Young and vigorous."
Zhao Sufang said:
"Soliciting nonsense."
Li Zhen said:
"With a clear conscience."
Liu Junbo quickly swallowed the scalding hot venison in his mouth and continued, "Soaring ambitions!"
Li Zhen smiled and poured him a glass of cold water. "Drink some cold water quickly, or you'll burn your throat."
Liu Junbo sweetly took the water from Li Zhen's hand and took a big gulp.
Ning Ruoruo continued Liu Junbo's words, "The clouds have parted and the fog has cleared."
Li Jiabao had been scratching his head, afraid that he wouldn't be able to keep up. But as soon as Ning Ruoruo finished speaking, a brilliant idea flashed in his mind, and he immediately raised his hand, "Me! Me!"
Everyone else looked at him with smiles, "Speak up!"
Li Jiabao raised his chin and said, "That's enough, there's nothing to see here!"
After saying that, he glanced at everyone and asked, "What do you think?"
Liu Junbo had just taken a sip of water, and before he could even swallow it, he heard Li Jiabao say something that made him laugh so hard he spat out the water.
Li Xiangdong quickly moved to the side.
Liu Junbo sprayed all the water on Li Jiabao.
Seeing Li Jiabao soaking wet, the others exchanged glances, and then, without anyone noticing, they all burst into laughter.
Li Jiabao wiped his face and said with a wronged expression, "What's so funny?"
Liu Junbo quickly grabbed a towel to wipe Li Jiabao's face and said to the others, "Let's go, there's nothing funny!"
This made the others laugh even harder.
In the end, it was Liu Junbo who took Li Zhen to the outer courtyard to cut plum blossoms.
The snow outside was falling gently, swirling down from the sky, turning the whole world into a blanket of white.
Everything outside became so fluffy, so soft, so pure, so full; the whole village seemed to have become a fairy tale world.
Liu Junbo, holding an umbrella, walked with Li Zhen in the courtyard.
The umbrella tilted towards Li Zhen's side, and soon a thin layer of snow fell on Liu Junbo's left shoulder.
Two rows of footprints, one large and one small, were left in the yard, walking side by side.
Those who were full played on the kang (a heated brick bed), while those who weren't full continued to roast meat.
A short while later, Li Xiangdong looked up and saw Liu Donglai and Li Zhen walking side by side through the glass window.
Li Zhen held two plum blossoms in her arms, bright red with strong branches, tender yellow stamens, and bright red petals. Combined with Li Zhen's handsome appearance, graceful figure, and scholarly air, and the surrounding white snow, it truly resembled a beautiful traditional Chinese painting.
Huh?
Why is Liu Junbo next to me just grinning like an idiot?
Looking at his dazed and confused appearance, is he still the same capable Secretary Liu from before?
Looking more closely at Li Zhen beside her, one might notice a faint blush on her cheeks, perhaps due to the red plum blossoms.
Li Xiangdong's heart skipped a beat. Could it be...?
Just then, Li Lan said to Zhao Sufang with a smile, "You've finally figured it out."
Zhao Sufang nodded in satisfaction, but Li Jin's expression was somewhat complicated.
Li Xiangdong: So everyone figured it out...
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