The whole roast lamb is a delicious dish that takes a lot of time, so it needs to be put on the grill early to start cooking.

For the thicker parts of the meat, make small cuts with a knife to help it absorb flavors.

Apply a layer of sesame oil followed by a layer of marinade, while slowly brushing and grilling.

Chen Yuanqiu watched eagerly, grinning and saying, “Third brother, do you want to take a break? I’ll brush it, I think I’ve learned how.”

“You think you’ve learned it just by watching?”

“Mm-mm-mm!”

Seeing the youngest’s impatience, Chen Yuping remembered a comment he had seen online.

Eyes: I’ve learned!

Hands: Not really.

Brain: What did I just see?

“Third brother, what are you laughing at?” Chen Yuanqiu scratched his forehead and said with a smile, “I really learned, it’s easy! A layer of sesame oil, then a layer of marinade.” He gestured with his hands, getting more animated: “Flip the lamb occasionally, layer by layer.” The more he talked, the more excited he became: “Third brother, let me give it a try!”

“Go ahead, I’ll watch and guide you. You’re in charge of this lamb today.”

Chen Yuanqiu was thrilled to hear this, his eyes sparkling: “Great!”

Roasting a whole lamb isn’t particularly difficult. Mastering the heat is key, but the marinade must also be just right.

It took Chen Yuping half an hour to perfect a small bowl of marinade.

This marinade was perfect for roasting a whole lamb, but it could also be used for pork belly, fish, potato slices, and various vegetables. All were equally delicious.

After teaching the youngest how to brush the lamb, and seeing him doing it quite well, Chen Yuping felt at ease letting him take charge. He reminded Father Chen to monitor the heat: if the charcoal wasn’t enough, remember to add more, if it was too hot, it could burn, but if it was too weak, it wouldn’t get that crispy outer layer.

Father Chen was a skilled firemaster. During busy farming seasons when the kids were younger, he would come home a bit early to help his wife with the cooking while they chatted about everyday life.

Back then, life was tough, and they were poor, but their hearts felt a gentle sweetness.

They didn’t have pork belly, but there were two fresh fishes and a live chicken brought by the eldest.

“Roasting a whole lamb takes at least two hours. How about we start with two fishes and a chicken to fill our stomachs? Can we finish it all? Then let’s make lamb offal soup and lamb blood pudding.” It was New Year’s Eve, and just having roasted lamb and soup for lunch seemed a bit too simple. Chen Yuping thought it over: they had plenty of lamb blood, and they could also roast some potatoes and vegetables from the garden to balance things out.

“We can finish it! Definitely! We’re a big group, so it’s fine even if dinner is a bit late. We’ll stay up late anyway. We’ll eat dinner in the first half of the night and have dumplings in the second half. We won’t need breakfast tomorrow, and we can just sleep in.” Chen Yuanqiu laid it all out clearly.

Dad Chen chuckled: “We don’t mind, do what you like. Just have fun!”

“I’ll get potatoes from the cellar,” Chen Yuandong said, getting up to leave. “I’ll also grab the chicken and fish.”

Liu Guixiang smiled and chimed in, “I’ll pick some greens from the garden.”

Cui Yuanjiu was playing with the kids, so he put them back in the bamboo bed and said, “Second brother, I’ll go with you.”

Chen Yuping mixed a new marinade, adjusting it since the one used for the lamb wouldn’t suit fish and chicken, which needed their own unique flavors.

He didn’t mind the trouble. With his skill, he enjoyed cooking, especially when the family savored his dishes. It brought him joy and a sense of accomplishment, a small kind of happiness.

Cui Yuanjiu carried the live chicken, while Chen Yuandong had the potatoes and fish. The two made their way to the well behind the house.

“Eldest brother, how’s the lamb offal cleaning going?”

“Looks quick enough.” Cui Yuanjiu joked, squatting down to work. He drained half a bowl of chicken blood, and tossed it into the wooden bucket. He headed into the kitchen with a pot of boiling water to scald the chicken and remove its feathers.

Chen Yuandong was also skilled at handling fish.

The two unconsciously positioned themselves on either side of Zhang Zhiwei, who felt a bit awkward.

“Feeling tired?” Chen Yuchun asked gently, noticing his husband slowing down. “There’s just a little left, you need to push through. Yuanjiu and Yuanqiu are almost done with the lamb, and they’re about to finish the chicken and fish. You’ve just got this bowl of lamb offal…”

Chen Yuandong glanced over: “Eldest brother-in-law, wait for me to finish cleaning this fish, and I’ll teach you how to wash the lamb offal?”

“No need, I can do it. Your eldest brother just taught me.” Seeing his younger brother-in-law lift the kitchen knife, which was quite sharp and still stained with blood, a strong fishy smell made Zhang Zhiwei dizzy.

Cui Yuanjiu smiled and asked, “I’m done here, how about you two?”

“Just this potato left,” Chen Yuandong replied with a smile. “What about you, eldest brother?”

“I’m almost done too.”

Chen Yuping stepped out of the kitchen: “Is the chicken and fish ready? Bring them in so I can marinate them. Eldest brother-in-law, how’s the lamb offal washing going?”

“Almost there, just a bit left.”

“Hurry up, I’ll roast the potatoes and greens first. You need to be quicker, we can’t let anything go to waste on New Year’s Eve.” Chen Yuping teased but didn’t want to put too much pressure on him.

Chen Yuchun laughed: “If he could waste something, I wouldn’t let him eat even with potatoes and greens. He could sell the wasted items for money!”

Everyone laughed at this.

In the meantime, Zhang Zhiwei finally finished washing the bowl of lamb offal.

“Chun ger, I’m getting a bit stiff,” he said, his legs tired from squatting.

Zhang Yuchun quickly reached out: “Slow down, I’ll help you, lean on me.” He was so gentle and caring.

“Eldest brother-in-law, is it comfortable to lean on brother’s shoulder?” Chen Yuping winked.

Zhang Zhiwei chuckled, a bit foolishly.

“Thanks for your hard work, eldest brother. Make sure to have a couple more bowls of lamb offal soup and pudding later.” Chen Yuping went to the well: “I’ll get the lamb offal, you help the eldest brother into the kitchen.”

He roasted potatoes and greens, with layers of sesame oil and marinade, then sprinkle with cumin powder.

Chen Yuanqiu watched, drooling: “Third brother, what did you sprinkle on top? It smells amazing.” He sniffed a couple of times: “It’s really fragrant!”

“That’s the spices your Brother Jiu brought back, we can’t find them here. It’s perfect for meat, especially lamb. They pair excellently!” Chen Yuping couldn’t help but feel tempted. “Come on, let’s start with the roasted potatoes and greens.”

“You can eat potatoes and greens like this?” Liu Guixiang was surprised after tasting it. “Third brother really knows how to think, the vegetarian skewers you made before were delicious. Who would have thought roasted potatoes and greens could be this good?”

Father Chen nodded: “It’s interesting, it pairs nicely with a bit of liquor.”

“I’ve got liquor, I’ll go grab it.” Cui Yuanjiu specially bought two pounds from Shen Village.

Chen Yuanqiu mumbled with a mouthful of potato, “I want to drink too!”

“Where’s your time for that? You need to brush the lamb!” Chen Yuping teased him.

“Ah????” Suddenly remembering, Chen Yuanqiu lost all his enthusiasm.

Dad Chen said, “I’ll save you a little, just focus on brushing the lamb properly.”

“Only a little? What’s the point?”

“If your third brother praises your lamb brushing skills, I might save you more.” Father Chen sipped some liquor, enjoying the moment with his eyes squinted.

Chen Yuanqiu was thrilled: “Third brother, come and see! Is my lamb brushed well enough?”

“It’s still early, take your time. I’ll go make the lamb offal soup.”

After the soup was ready, they moved on to roasting fish and chicken.

Even with the window cracked for ventilation, the small kitchen was still filled with a rich aroma of roasted meat.

The four little ones lounging on the bamboo bed were the most pitiful. Dazhuang managed to taste a bit, while Cao ger, An ger, and Qiaoniu could only watch longingly, drooling at the corners of their mouths, trying to climb toward the adults.

Chen Yuping couldn’t forget these four little darlings and quickly brought out some prepared food.

It was fragrant, steaming chicken porridge, thick and rich, tender and smooth.

“Take a break, I’ll feed him,” Cui Yuanjiu said, picking up Cao ger.

Chen Yuping felt a bit tired: “That’s fine, just be careful, it’s hot.”

“I’ll pay attention.”

“I’ll hold Qiaoniu, you feed her.” Chen Yuandong was not afraid of being laughed at: “It’s too hot, I dare not feed her, what if my daughter gets burned.”

Liu Guixiang said while stirring the porridge: “You have to hold her steady. This child is very strong, especially when eating, she cries like a little tiger cub.”

“I’ll hold her hands and feet and tie them to my arms. You can feed her without worry, don’t be too close to the porridge bowl.”

“Mm, hold it tight.”

Chen Yuchun called out, “Zhiwei.”

“Ah?” Zhang Zhiwei, who was busy chewing the roasted chicken, responded without even raising his head.

“Hold An ger, I’ll feed him porridge.” Without waiting for his consent, Chen Yuping stuffed his youngest son into his husband’s arms, “Hold him tight.”

“My hands are all greasy.” He had just torn off a chicken wing and was chewing it.

“Wash it quickly.”

Zhang Zhiwei listened to his voice that he could not refuse, hesitated for a while, and finally got up, washed his hands honestly, and held An ger honestly.

The four little kids were so full of food that they could finally eat the roasted whole lamb.

 “This is the roasted whole lamb that I brushed!” Chen Yuanqiu was so proud that he couldn’t help but feel proud. It was just that he didn’t have a tail behind him. If he had a tail, it would probably be raised to the sky: “Hahaha, look at this crystal color, it’s so shiny and full! Do you smell the tempting aroma? This is the roasted whole lamb that I brushed! Look at the skin, so crispy. Put the meat and skin in your mouth and take a bite. The sizzling aroma is even more delicious than eating oil residue. The taste is amazing! I roasted it, hahahaha, my craftsmanship can be regarded as that of a god.”

They were so happy that they almost went crazy.

“You’re right, lamb and cumin powder are a perfect match.” Cui Yuanjiu took a bite of roasted lamb and was instantly amazed by the deliciousness. He leaned over to Chen Yuping’s ear and whispered: “Try a piece too.” He handed the lamb in his hand to him.

Chen Yuping didn’t hesitate much. He opened his mouth and took a bite. He nodded: “It’s roasted very well and very tasty.”

“The fatty meat is delicious. Crispy and fragrant on the outside, tender and hot on the inside, and it melts in your mouth. Father has a very good grasp of the heat. It’s much more delicious than the roasted whole lamb I’ve eaten outside.”

“Youngest also applied the sauce well.”

“It’s mainly because you applied the sauce well, and the taste came out.” Cui Yuanjiu tore off another piece of fat and lean lamb: “Try this piece of meat again, the fat and lean parts taste completely different from the fatty meat just now. “

Father Chen smacked his lips and took a sip of wine: “The fatty meat is still delicious, with rich oil and rich meat juice. It is just right to eat with wine.”

“I still prefer to eat the fat and lean part, preferably with skin. The more you eat, the more fragrant and delicious it is.”

Father Chen listened, and quickly pulled a piece of fat and lean mutton with skin and bones for his wife: “You will definitely like this.”

Chen Yuandong and Liu Guixiang, the couple, are also very loving. Even Chen Yuchun and Zhang Zhiwei, maybe because it is in Chen’s house, or maybe Chen Yuchun has changed his attitude. Anyway, Zhang Zhiwei obediently serves his eldest son, picks the most tender meat, tears it with chopsticks and lets it cool slightly. Then, eats from time to time or Chen Yuchun feeds him. The two occasionally communicate in a low voice, and the atmosphere is also rare and warm.

 On the bamboo couch, three little babies were huddled together. They were full and a little sleepy.

Chen Yuanqiu, who was immersed in the delicious food, suddenly felt that the kitchen was a little quiet. He looked around and was stunned for a moment, staring at the lamb leg in his hand, and then glanced at the empty side.

Should he find a companion?