Chapter 86 The Meatballs Are Tired of Dancing
The golden rays of the sun lazily spread across the courtyard, casting a warm glow on the fence and corners of the house.
Xu Zhili pushed open the creaking courtyard gate, bringing with her the scent of the mountains and forests and... a strong stench of blood!
Almost the instant the door opened, Xu Zhian, who was playing with toys on the small stone stool, suddenly looked up.
The pungent smell of rust hit him, and his face turned pale instantly. Like a startled fawn, he staggered back two steps, his clear eyes instantly filled with panic.
But worry immediately overwhelmed fear. He bit his lip, then rushed forward two steps. He reached out halfway and then pulled back, only daring to tightly grip the hem of his clothes. His gaze was fixed on the glaring dark red on Xu Zhili's cheek, and his voice trembled almost imperceptibly.
"Sister! Are you...are you hurt?" The worry in her eyes was so intense it was almost overflowing.
Xu Zhili's heart skipped a beat, thinking to herself, "How come this little guy's nose is even more sensitive than a hunting dog's?"
She quickly adjusted her expression, flashing a reassuring smile with a hint of helplessness: "Don't be afraid, An'an, I'm fine. I didn't bleed a drop of my own. It was just some blood that got on me when I was carrying the prey. Look."
She deliberately spun around in a small circle, her movements nimble, and asked, "Are you alright all over?"
Xu Zhian, however, refused to listen. Her little brows furrowed into a knot, and she stubbornly circled around Xu Zhili again and again. She stood on tiptoe and carefully gestured with her little hands on Xu Zhili's arms and back, as if she could check the wound from a distance. She muttered to herself, with a childlike seriousness and deep concern.
"Sister lied. The smell was too strong. Next time, you have to be more careful. If... if you get hurt, An'an will cry. She'll be so worried."
By the end, his voice had trembled slightly with a barely perceptible sob.
A warm current suddenly surged into Xu Zhili's heart, dispelling the fatigue and tension brought by the mountains and forests.
Her heart melted completely. She reached out and ruffled her little brother's fluffy head gently, her gesture filled with affectionate reassurance: "I know, I know. Our An'an cares so much about his older sister. I promise I'll be extra careful next time, see!"
She magically walked towards the kitchen and casually took out several fresh ingredients from her spatial storage.
A plump pheasant, a handful of fresh mushrooms—"Sister's hard work today wasn't in vain. Tonight I'll make your favorite meatballs and a fresh mushroom soup, okay?"
"Okay, okay!"
Xu Zhian's eyes instantly lit up as if two little stars had fallen into them. His previous panic and worry were immediately dispelled by immense joy. He skipped and jumped behind his sister, his little face full of anticipation. "Sister is the best!"
Looking at her younger brother's pure and innocent smile that instantly brightened her mood, Xu Zhili couldn't help but laugh out loud, and her fatigue seemed to lessen a bit.
She simply lowered her head and sniffed her clothes, which were stained with wolf blood; the strong, pungent smell made her brows furrow slightly.
But I need to wash it quickly, the smell is too strong.
Stepping into the slightly dimly lit room, a familiar sense of security enveloped me.
She deftly started a fire and boiled water. The leaping flames in the stove dispelled the chill brought by the deepening twilight and also reddened her cheeks, which were covered with a little dust.
While waiting for the water to boil, she dragged her tired body to sit on an old wooden chair. As soon as she relaxed, the thrilling scenes from the mountains and forests during the day rushed into her mind.
The gray wolf's eerie green pupils, the sound of its sharp teeth cutting through the air, Xie Yunze's tense profile as he stood in front of her, the glaring red heart on his shoulder and ankle felt like it was being gripped by an invisible hand, and a chilling fear crept up her spine.
She subconsciously touched a bruise on her arm that she didn't know when she had bumped into something, her fingertips feeling slightly cold.
Thankfully... thankfully it's all over, thankfully we're all back alive. This thought, filled with the relief of surviving a disaster, weighed heavily on my heart.
"Glug glug..." The iron pot made a cheerful sound.
Xu Zhili composed herself, poured the boiled water into the bathtub, added some cool well water, and carefully tested the temperature with the back of her hand.
The misty steam quickly spread, blurring the simple window frames.
She shed her heavy outer and inner garments, which were stained with the aura of death, and, weary and still tense, slowly stepped into the warm water.
As the warm water gently enveloped her aching limbs, Xu Zhili sighed contentedly, as if every inch of her bones was greedily absorbing the warmth and tranquility.
Tensioned nerves, like dry branches soaked in warm water, gradually stretch and relax.
She sank her entire body down, leaving only her shoulders and neck exposed, closed her eyes, and let the water carry away the lingering fishy smell and the chill of the mountains and forests from her skin.
However, Xie Yunze's pale face and blood-stained shoulder stubbornly lingered in my mind's eye.
The way he pursed his lips to endure the pain, the resolute figure of him swinging the knife... it was so clear it seemed to be right before my eyes.
"I wonder how his injury is... Is that doctor reliable? Did he treat it properly?"
She stirred the water unconsciously, muttering to herself, a deep sorrow etched on her face.
This worry, like steam, lingered in the small bathroom, refusing to dissipate.
She was only able to pull herself out of her chaotic thoughts when the water gradually cooled down.
Get up, dry yourself off, and change into clean, soft cotton clothes.
Her long, wet hair was loosely tied up with a simple wooden hairpin, with a few stray strands hanging down her neck, carrying the fresh moisture from her bath.
Turning around, I went into the kitchen. The fire in the stove was reignited, and warm light filled the small space.
She skillfully tied on her apron, picked up a kitchen knife, and began to chop the meat with a rhythmic thud.
The rhythmic sound of the knife blade striking the cutting board is a uniquely comforting rhythm found only in home.
While focusing intently on the work at hand, chopping the fresh meat into fine mince, the thrilling moments of the day unconsciously replayed in his mind.
I really need to be more careful from now on, and I can't let An'an live in fear like that anymore.
She silently warned herself, but her movements became even gentler and more delicate.
Before long, the rich aroma of meat filled the kitchen with the rising steam, domineeringly overpowering the faint, lingering smell of blood.
Xu Zhian, like a kitten that has caught the smell of fish, had already moved a small stool to sit at the kitchen doorway. She rested her chin on her hands, staring longingly at the meatballs rolling in the pot. Her little nose twitched, and she couldn't help but swallow her saliva. Every now and then, she would ask.
"Sister, sister, are the meatballs tired from dancing? Can they be taken out of the pot yet? An'an's tummy is singing!"
Xu Zhili was amused by her younger brother's greedy look. She gently tapped his nose with the back of her flour-covered hand and laughed, "Little glutton, sing a little longer, and let Wanzi take another hot bath. It'll be ready soon!"
Finally, the steaming hot, plump meatballs were served in a large, rough porcelain bowl, the rich broth still bubbling gently.
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