Chapter 10 She…seems too abrupt.

The firewood Lin Yiwan used was bought from a firewood seller in Shiyang, but she rarely used the stove, so she didn’t buy much. 

She used dried leaves collected from the courtyard to start the fire.

A match scraped against the matchbox, a ‘whoosh’ as the flame ignited, and the dry leaves crackled. The man shoved a few pieces of firewood into the stove.

The orange-red firelight illuminated his profile, outlining his sharp features.  His high nose cast a faint shadow in the firelight, his deep eyes focused and serious.  Under his methodical control, the flames in the stove burned brighter and brighter.

Lin Yiwan pursed her lips, slowly accepting the fact that the man who had once struck fear into the hearts of his enemies was now helping her kill fish and build a fire.

She withdrew her gaze, picked up the pot scrubber from the stove, and washed the pot twice.  When the pot was hot, she put a piece of pork in.

The milky white lard sizzled in the hot pot, a unique aroma filling the air.  When the oil was half-hot, she added the prepared scallions, ginger, and garlic.

With a ‘hiss’, the scallion segments curled slightly in the oil, the ginger slices turned translucent, and the garlic quickly turned golden.

Thanks to the long-term servitude inflicted upon her by Lin Weimin and his wife, Lin Yiwan had learned to cook at a young age. 

She had since developed excellent culinary skills. Even simple dishes were incredibly delicious.

She added homemade fermented soybean paste, frying it until the oil turned red.  She added the fish head and bones, and the aroma in the kitchen became even more intense.

Xie Lin held the firewood, watching the slender figure in the smoky kitchen skillfully adding various seasonings to the pot.  Her movements were effortless, as if she had done it countless times.

The kitchen was quiet, neither of them spoke, yet there was a faint sense of warmth, diluting the awkwardness of their changed circumstances.

“Brother Xie Lin, can you eat spicy food?”

Suddenly, the woman’s soft voice rang out.  Her slender hand held a handful of dried chilies, her watery eyes inquiring as she tilted her head to look at him.

Xie Lin’s gaze paused imperceptibly on the chilies in her hand, then he nodded.

“Yes.”

Lin Yiwan smiled slightly.

“Then I’ll add them.”

Saying this, she sprinkled the chilies into the pot. The fish, adorned with red chilies, looked even whiter and brighter.  How could water-boiled fish be delicious without chilies?

The boiling hot oil was scooped up and poured over the chilies and Sichuan peppercorns.  With a ‘sizzle’, the spicy aroma instantly filled the air.

The finished water-boiled fish was placed on the outdoor stone table. A simple dinner was ready.

On a summer evening, the earth, after a day of baking, steamed with heat. The kitchen was like a steamer; only under the locust tree in the courtyard was there a hint of coolness.

Lin Yiwan first served Xie Lin a bowl of rice, then served herself a small half bowl.

“Brother Xie Lin, this is water-boiled fish. Try it and see if it’s delicious.”

Perhaps because he helped her kill the fish and build the fire, Lin Yiwan lost her initial awkwardness and discomfort.  Her voice even had a more lively tone.

“Okay.”

Xie Lin picked up his chopsticks, paused, and then picked up a piece of snow-white fish. As soon as it entered his mouth, the tender and smooth fish melted on his tongue, accompanied by the fresh, spicy flavor bursting in his mouth. Xie Lin’s ears instantly turned red.

“Is it delicious?”

Lin Yiwan blinked, looking at him expectantly.

Xie Lin swallowed the fish, his throat burning slightly.

“Delicious, your cooking is very good.”

His voice was slightly hoarse, but his expression remained unchanged.

Receiving his affirmation, Lin Yiwan was like a little girl praised by her teacher, her watery eyes shining brightly!

“If you like it, eat more.”

Whether it was the joy of rebirth or the happiness of being affirmed by him, before Lin Yiwan realized it, she had already picked up a piece of snow-white fish belly and placed it in his bowl.

Their eyes met on the piece of fish belly in Xie Lin’s bowl, and Lin Yiwan’s face subtly reddened.  She… seemed too abrupt.

Xie Lin glanced at her slightly flustered face, a smile slowly spreading in his eyes.  After a pause, he picked up the fish belly and ate it.

Seeing him eat it, Lin Yiwan breathed a sigh of relief.  Not daring to randomly serve him more dishes, she buried her head in her rice.

After dinner, fine beads of sweat gradually appeared on Xie Lin’s forehead, seemingly steamed out by the heat, slowly sliding down his cheeks.  The water-boiled fish and side dishes were all eaten clean.

After Lin Yiwan cleaned up the dishes, she drew a bucket of water from the well.  Inside the bucket was a small bowl.

Opening the lid, it contained a bowl of plum juice. Lin Yiwan poured two cups, and they sat at the stone table, slowly sipping.

The sweet and sour, cool plum juice entered her mouth, Lin Yiwan contentedly squinted her eyes, clearly enjoying it.

Xie Lin’s gaze fell on her pretty face. Her already red lips were slightly swollen, and her watery eyes still held traces of tears.  She had clearly been affected by the spice.

“You can’t eat spicy food, yet you put so many chilies?”

Lin Yiwan still had plum juice in her mouth, relieving the spiciness. Hearing this, she mumbled, “Water-boiled fish has to be spicy to be authentic; otherwise, people will laugh.”

Xie Lin was both helpless and amused.

“It’s fine if you like it, why care about other people’s opinions?”

Lin Yiwan was stunned, as if she hadn’t expected him to say that.  In her previous life, no matter what she did, she would be criticized. 

Even making water-boiled fish was deemed not spicy enough. 

No one had ever told her that it was fine if she liked it, that she didn’t need to care about others’ opinions.

Blinking quickly, suppressing the slight sourness, she smiled, “Okay, I’ll put less chili next time.”

But her slightly hoarse voice clearly had a nasal tone, like a stray kitten, lost, wronged, and helpless.

The slender fingers on the stone table moved slightly, then he picked up the plum juice and took a large gulp. The sweet and sour juice inexplicably had a hint of bitterness.

“When are you off work?”

“I’ve taken a few days off, I’m free.”

Although she didn’t know what he wanted to do, Lin Yiwan honestly replied.

“Good, get ready, I’ll pick you up at the compound on Sunday.”

Hearing this, Lin Yiwan’s heart tightened.  Was he taking her home to meet his parents?

After her rebirth, she had only focused on avoiding risks and finding Xie Lin, but she had overlooked that, although they rarely met, he actually lived in the Song family’s compound.

In other words, she was going back to her previous life’s in-laws’ house to meet Xie Lin’s adoptive parents!

This was awkward…

“What, is it inconvenient?”

Seeing her seeming hesitation, Xie Lin asked.

Lin Yiwan shook her head.

“It’s okay, Sunday is fine.”  An ugly daughter-in-law always has to see her in-laws.

Xie Lin nodded, “After we get back to the compound, I’ll take you to the department store to buy things.”

“Buy things?”

Lin Yiwan blinked, a little confused.

“Yes, things for the wedding.”

The word “wedding” was spoken softly, but Lin Yiwan still blushed.

“Oh… okay…”

Although she had been married before, she didn’t know the procedures.  Because that wedding was truly too hasty to recall.

After making arrangements, it gradually grew dark. Xie Lin didn’t stay long and left. 

After all, without a wedding, it wasn’t appropriate for him to stay too long.