“Really!” Yan Qiushu nodded vigorously. After thinking a bit, she suggested, “Why don’t we invite Pingyu to dinner tomorrow, and you can chat while you eat?”

“Why tomorrow?” Dongdong’s eyes sparkled with curiosity. He immediately caught on and asked eagerly, “Can’t it be today?”

Who would want to wait for food when they could eat sooner?

Yan Qiushu spread her hands in mock helplessness: “Because I need to prepare!”

Dongdong swallowed hard, clearly excited, and asked eagerly, “Sister Shu, what delicious food are you going to make?!”

Yan Qiushu smiled, “Barbecue!”

With the cold winter and heavy snowfall, it was the perfect time for barbecue!

But the main challenge with barbecue is figuring out where to place the charcoal stove and how to keep the grilling plate safe and clean.

While hot pot was already a common meal in ancient times, adapting it for barbecue required some modifications since the bottom of a pot can sink, but a charcoal grill cannot, so a special iron plate must be created.

Yan Qiushu followed her cravings.

She really wanted to enjoy hot pot, especially the rich and spicy beef oil version. However, due to the limited availability of chili peppers in this era, she had never truly experienced it.

Barbecue, on the other hand, didn’t require many chili peppers. A mix of other spices along with salt and peppercorns was generally sufficient.

Yet, a good barbecue needs a variety of meats, so she decided to prepare chicken, pork, and lamb. With snow falling and the temperature around zero degrees, she planned to freeze the meat overnight to slice it thinly.

That evening, Yan Qiushu took Dongdong out for a quick meal. The next day, she had someone cut the frozen meat. When it’s still hard, it can be sliced thinly and then sprinkled with various seasonings for marinating.

At noon, the Xiao family’s housekeeper brought out the special barbecue pot she had requested.

The pot featured an inverted iron lid insulated by wood at the bottom. On top was a round iron sheet with a hollowed-out edge, slightly bulging in the center, and polished to a shine. It was made in the same way as a large iron pot but had a different shape.

To prevent sticking, she had applied lard to it and let it sit overnight.

The pot also included a large iron hook for easy charcoal replacement.

Its design resembled a modern barbecue table.

Yan Qiushu was thrilled and decided to replace the original dining table in the restaurant with it.

As lunchtime approached, Shui Yu asked what they should prepare.

All Yan Qiushu could think about was barbecue!

Roasted eggplant would be good too!

Even better if they grilled shrimp!

“Girl?!” Shui Yu nudged her, raising her voice slightly. “What do you want to eat later?”

Yan Qiushu felt a bit guilty for ignoring cute Dongdong and replied decisively, “Let’s have barbecue at noon!”

Shui Yu was surprised: “Ah?”

Yan Qiushu added, “It’s boring to eat alone. Call Aunt Xu; let’s eat together!”

Once she made up her mind, she was resolute. After all, eating was her only real hobby.

Given the opportunity, she wouldn’t want to hold back.

In no time, the charcoal stove was lit, the iron rack was set up, and the meat was ready to be roasted.

The meat was thin and tender, sizzling on the iron plate. The pork belly turned golden brown, releasing its fat, while slices of lamb and chicken surrounded it.

There was no need for extra oil; the chicken quickly changed color and curled up when it hit the hot surface.

The three of them gathered around the stove, the heat soon warming their faces. They didn’t even need the charcoal stove to feel cozy before the meal began.

Yan Qiushu had been eagerly waiting, and as soon as the meat was cooked, she couldn’t resist grabbing some.

When she tasted it, the tender pork belly melted in her mouth. A few chews revealed a delightful blend of salty, fragrant, and mildly spicy flavors, causing her to squint in pleasure.

After finishing a piece, she noticed Shui Yu was still focused on grilling and hadn’t taken any meat for herself.

The large black iron sheet was already filled with various roasted meats.

She passed the grilled meat to them, saying, “Don’t just roast it; eat it while it’s hot.”

“Thank you, young lady,” Shui Yu smiled shyly but still insisted on filling her plate again before taking small bites.

In addition to the marinade, Yan Qiushu had prepared extra seasonings: one a dry blend of various spices and salt, and the other a mix of sesame oil and minced garlic.

She dipped a piece of roasted pork belly into the dry seasoning, and as the powder coated the meat, she bit into it. The seasoning cut through the richness of the pork belly, creating a crisp texture that softened with each chew, mingling fragrant, salty, and spicy flavors.

This was a different kind of delicacy compared to the usual meat dishes!

It was novel yet incredibly satisfying.

They devoured the tender meat enthusiastically. Shui Yu immediately nodded after finishing hers, exclaiming, “Delicious!”

Aunt Xu, more reserved, also took bite after bite, nodding in agreement, “Mm, delicious!”

“Then eat more!” Yan Qiushu encouraged with a smile. However, feeling that thin slices might not be enough, she stacked two or three pieces together and dipped them in garlic mash. This bite burst with meaty and garlicky goodness, enhancing the flavor!

After their lunch, which lasted more than half an hour, Yan Qiushu noticed it had started snowing outside without her realizing.

A thin layer of white covered the ground, and snowflakes densely fell from the sky. The ancient buildings outside were blanketed in snow, creating a beautiful scene.

Yan Qiushu stared at it for a long while, then rubbed her round belly, smiling contentedly.

With a full stomach and the heavy snowfall, it was the perfect time for a little post-lunch rest!

Meanwhile, a five-year-old child far away at Imperial College looked out the window at the falling snow with an excited smile.

Sister Shu must be preparing barbecue for dinner!

Slurp!

He had never tasted barbecue but imagined it must be delicious!