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Observing the little one’s mischievous expression and smirking grin, Chen Feng felt annoyed. This little thing was sometimes incredibly innocent and, at other times, full of imagination. Today, she discovered it even had a touch of delusion.
She scolded it, saying, “What nonsense are you talking? I’ve already told you, he and I are from two different worlds. He’s in the heavens, and I’m in the underworld. How could we possibly be together? In my previous life, the gap between Liu Xudong and me wasn’t even this wide, and I was still miserably dumped. Living a second life, I won’t be foolish enough to stumble in the same place and reach for the high branches again. Besides, it seems he already has his eye on another woman. It might not be long before he takes a wife. Oh, poor little Yan will have another stepmother. What a pity.”
Speaking with a tone of helplessness, Chen Feng shook her head and extracted one-fifth of the wood shavings, storing the rest in her spatial pouch before exiting.
As she exited the space, she heard the Golden Swallow stubbornly remark, “I’m a relationship and psychological analyst. How could I have misjudged him…”
Chen Feng then went to the storeroom and brought out two large blocks of frozen mutton, instructing Xue Dagui to use a slicer to shave the meat. Slices made using a slicer were not only thinner than those cut with a knife, but they also curled, making them visually appealing and easy to pick up.
The chicken broth had thickened, so Chen Feng prepared the hotpot ingredients, then added the chicken broth and continued to simmer. Of course, while adding the broth, she also included the agarwood shavings.
As the evening darkened, large snowflakes began to fall from the sky. The aroma wafting from the kitchen window made people pause to take a deep breath.
Old Zeng, smelling the increasingly tantalizing scent, remarked, “Heavens, I’ve lived for so many years and have never smelled such a wonderful aroma.”
Chen Feng and others were bustling in the kitchen. Seeing the snowflakes growing larger outside, she felt even more delighted. It was the perfect weather for enjoying hotpot.
The menu was not extensive. For meats, there were mutton rolls, shrimp, pork balls, and fish balls. For vegetables, there were Chinese cabbage, bean sprouts, lotus root slices, shiitake mushrooms, glass noodles, and tofu skin. To make it easier for their family and guests, Chen Feng had specially made four homemade charcoal stoves and four hollow square tables.
The Chen family couldn’t afford silver frost charcoal, so Mrs. Luo had someone bring some over from Tangyuan.
In the main room, there was a table set for hotpot, with Chen Ming, Lu, Dabao, and Steward Luo accompanying Chu Lingxuan. In the eastern room, two tables were set—one for hotpot and the other for braised and stir-fried dishes. Mrs. Wang accompanied Mrs. Luo, Mrs. Wei, Mama Song, Mrs. Zeng (Mrs. Jiang, Zeng Shuang’s Wife), and Auntie Mu. Another table was set for hotpot in the back room, for the male servants, welcoming the presence of Old Zeng and others.
The room was filled with the fewest people, yet there was an abundance of dishes—six plates of mutton rolls, four plates of fish balls, four plates of pork balls, and various vegetables, yet it still wasn’t enough. Six more plates of mutton rolls were shaved, and two small basins of vegetables were washed, but despite the effort, both the meat and vegetables were completely consumed, and only then did everyone put down their chopsticks.
Except for Dabao, who openly satisfied his small appetite, the others hardly touched the mutton rolls. Of the twelve plates of mutton, almost all had ended up in Chu Lingxuan’s stomach, with only a small portion consumed by Dabao.
Occasionally peeking out, Chen Feng felt a tinge of anxiety, fearing that he might develop a stomach disorder due to overeating.
After finishing his meal, Chu Lingxuan wiped the sweat from his forehead with a silk handkerchief, looking extremely content. He smiled at Chen Feng, saying, “Ms. Chen, your culinary skills are truly exquisite, and your creations are irresistible. This hotpot is even better than the one I had at the Hongyun Hotpot restaurant in the capital. My grandfather will be coming from the capital for the New Year in a few days, and he absolutely adores fine cuisine. When he arrives, I’ll ask you to prepare more hotpots like this to please him.”
Chen Feng nodded in agreement, finding it somewhat amusing, wondering if she was to prepare the hotpot for him or for his grandfather.
Chu Lingxuan then turned to Steward Luo and said, “I brought back ten fat lambs from Dingzhou this time. Tomorrow, send two over… No, leave one at home and send the rest over.”
Steward Luo bowed in acknowledgment.
Chu Lingxuan took his leave, and Mama Song wrapped Chu Hanyan in a silk blanket. Chu Lingxuan received Chu Hanyan from Mama Song and held her in his arms as they all left. Chen Feng then had Shanzhi and Xue Dagui escort the little tigers back home.
It was unclear when the heavy snowfall had stopped, leaving a thin layer of snow on the ground. The sky was adorned with twinkling cold stars, creating a serene and bright atmosphere.
As they left Luyuan, the wind grew stronger. The cold wind swept across the open fields, brushing past the snow-laden branches with a whistling sound.
Perhaps it was because of his daughter nestled against his chest, but Chu Lingxuan felt an unusual warmth in his heart. For years, even on summer nights, and even when surrounded by many people, he had felt a deep sense of loneliness and desolation in his heart. But at this moment, not only did he feel warmth, but also a peculiar sense of contentment.
“Auntie, Dabao.” Chu Hanyan called out in his ear.
Chu Lingxuan stopped and turned around. At the entrance of Luyuan, stood two figures— one tall and one short. In the twilight, the two figures were gazing in their direction.
Seeing them turn around, the shorter figure raised his arm and waved enthusiastically towards them.
“Giggling…” two distinct, gentle laughs sounded in Chu Lingxuan’s ears.
It was the laughter of his daughter! His daughter was laughing out loud.
Hearing his daughter’s laughter for the first time, Chu Lingxuan was overwhelmed with excitement. He glanced at his little girl, who was smiling with joy, looking at the two figures in the distance. She softly said, “Like, Auntie… Dabao.”
Chu Lingxuan felt both joy and a tinge of heartache, and he asked, “Does my little girl not like Daddy?”
Chu Hanyan hugged his neck, redirected her gaze, and gently pressed her cheek against his, saying, “Like… Daddy.”
Chu Lingxuan burst into laughter and said, “Good girl, Daddy likes you too.”
“Also… like… Auntie, Dabao.” Chu Hanyan said in a soft, coaxing voice, then urged again, “Daddy, say…”
In the twilight, the little girl’s eyes sparkled as she looked at him, full of anticipation.
“Um… well…” Chu Lingxuan looked back at the two figures and whispered into Chu Hanyan’s ear, “Sweetheart, Daddy is a man, and there are some things that are hard to put into words.”
Although Chu Lingxuan didn’t say the words the little girl wanted to hear, his warm breath blew into her ear, tickling and warming her, making her feel playful, and she giggled sweetly.
Chu Lingxuan looked at the short figure still waving at them and to the tall figure before turning back and walking towards Luyuan.
It wasn’t until Chu Lingxuan and his daughter turned past a few barren trees, and the figures were no longer in sight, that Dabao lowered his hand.
Chen Feng smiled and said, “We can’t see them anymore. It’s time to go inside.”