Chapter 35: Exclusive to Jinjiang 1/2

As the sun gradually set, the temperature in the wilderness dropped quickly. Shi Zhang casually put on a coat, concealing his figure, and reverted to the appearance of a modest gentleman.

The sky was filled with a purple evening glow, prompting many people to stop and take photos.

“Today’s weather is good. We should be able to see the starry sky tonight,” Chang An said to his daughter.

Xiaoyu jumped with joy and ran to the car. “I want to take out the telescope!”

Ouyang Xi was preparing barbecue supplies nearby and asked, “Can you install it yourself? Do you need Dad’s help?”

Xiaoyu’s voice came from a distance: “I’ll try first.”

Just now, Shi Zhang and Song Fuzhi hadn’t finished organizing things inside the tent when they ran over to get a kite.

Now they returned to the tent, laid down a moisture-proof mat, followed by an inflatable mat, and finally, Shi Zhang took out two sleeping bags, one next to the other, and placed them inside the tent.

“Are we sleeping like this tonight?” Song Fuzhi asked.

Shi Zhang paused for a few seconds. “We can also zip the two sleeping bags together.”

The sleeping bags were chosen by two people.

Shi Zhang already had one, and Song Fuzhi felt that adding another double sleeping bag would be inconvenient, so it was better to buy another single sleeping bag.

The same model as the one Shi Zhang bought, the two sleeping bags could be zipped together to form a large sleeping bag for two people to sleep in together.

No one knew if sleeping together outdoors would be drafty, so two single sleeping bags were more flexible.

However, looking at the spacious tent now, Song Fuzhi’s concern was not about whether it would be drafty or not.

… But the space is so small that if we squeeze into one sleeping bag, the only possible position is to sleep while hugging each other.

It seemed a bit unsafe.

Song Fuzhi hesitated for a while. “Let’s still sleep in two separate sleeping bags.”

“Sure,” Shi Zhang agreed readily.

After setting up the tent, Ouyang Xi and the others were already shouting and preparing food.

Food was distributed among the three families.

The Ouyang family was responsible for bringing meat; Shi Zhang’s group brought fruits and main dishes; and Boss Zhong carried a box of drinks and several boxes of alcohol.

Song Fuzhi looked at the several boxes of alcohol and was astonished; Zhong Ziyan was truly generous.

Camping is like a grown-up’s version of playing house, and the process of setting up various equipment and food is very therapeutic.

Fresh and plump fruits were placed on a folding table, surrounded by seven reclining chairs. The aroma of grilled meat wafted from the grill, sizzling with the distant chirping of birds in the nearby woods.

“Come on, let’s eat meat!”

Ouyang Xi brought a plate of fragrant lamb skewers, but no one reached for it immediately.

“Take it.” Ouyang Xi was surprised and extended the plate again.

Zhong Ziyan raised an eyebrow, looked at Song Fuzhi and Jin Xiaonan, and laughed, “So polite? Can’t let loose, huh?”

“Then I’ll take it first. You guys hurry up and eat.”

Zhong Ziyan didn’t stand on ceremony; he picked up a skewer and started munching.

Soon, Shi Zhang finished grilling on his side.

“Lamb chops.”

Shi Zhang placed the plate on the table.

Zhong Ziyan directly reached for the chopsticks.

“Wait a moment.”

Shi Zhang, holding the barbecue tongs, gently blocked Zhong’s chopsticks to the side.

Shi Zhang lowered his eyes, picked up a lamb chop, and put it in Song Fuzhi’s bowl.

“Garlic-flavored, with a bit of spice.”

Having cooked for Song Fuzhi for so long, Shi Zhang had long understood his taste preferences.

He liked garlic, liked spice, and had a strong palate.

Zhong Ziyan watched the two of them and laughed directly: “Mr. Shi, what’s your intention? A private feast? Not acting anymore?”

Shi Zhang nodded openly and said, “Yes.”

Song Fuzhi didn’t feel embarrassed either and said, “Thank you,” before quickly finishing the lamb chop in three bites.

He nodded sincerely and said, “Delicious.”

Shi Zhang smiled as he watched him.

Song Fuzhi snatched the barbecue tongs from Shi Zhang’s hand and stood up. “Take a break. I’ll do it for you.”

Shi Zhang shook his head and said, “I’m not tired.”

Song Fuzhi glanced at him and said, “Then come with me. Let’s grill together.”

The words of the husband were like royal decrees, and Professor Shi obediently followed.

Watching their backs, Jin Xiaonan pursed his lips and asked softly, “Sister, what flavor do you like? I’ll help you grill.”

Zhong Ziyan leaned over and whispered a few words into his ear. The fair-skinned boy blushed instantly, his gaze avoiding it, and he stammered, “Then, then we’ll eat that flavor later.”

Ouyang Xi and Chang An went to set up the telescope for the little girl, leaving only the two of them by the grill.

Song Fuzhi asked, “Come on, Mr. Shi, order your dishes. What kind of meat do you like?”

Shi Zhang smiled and asked, “Chef Song, do you offer private chef services?”

Song Fuzhi nodded.

Shi Zhang ordered a few varieties: beef steak, chicken wings, chicken gizzards, and pork liver.

Song Fuzhi asked, “Do you like eating offal?”

Shi Zhang responded with an “Hmm,” saying, “I like most of them, except for intestines.”

Song Fuzhi silently noted this, smiling, “Well, we’re quite different in this regard. I don’t like offal.”

“That works out well,” Shi Zhang said, “no need to fight over food.”

Song Fuzhi smiled and asked him how well-done he wanted it, what seasonings to add, and whether he wanted it spicy.

He knew Shi Zhang preferred milder flavors, but now he learned that even in barbecue, Shi Zhang didn’t particularly like to use cumin; he preferred the original taste.

Today, he learned more about his husband’s preferences.

After the private chef duties, the two grilled a lot more meat, and they specially grilled honey-flavored chicken wings for the children.

The deep blue night gradually descended, and orange lights lit up.

Finally, the three families sat neatly around the table. The hotpot was simmering, emitting white smoke and creating a warm atmosphere.

“Come on, Big Jin.”

Zhong Ziyan opened a can of dog food for the Golden Retriever, and the dog immediately wagged its tail, rubbing affectionately against Zhong Ziyan’s hand.

“Come on, Little Jin.”

Zhong Ziyan picked up a shrimp with chopsticks and handed it to Jin Xiaonan, who lowered his head and said, “Thank you.”

Chang An laughed, “Big Jin, Little Jin, quite neat. But why does it sound a bit strange?”

Jin Xiaonan said, “Big Jin is already an old dog, older than me. Calling him Big Jin is appropriate.”

Chang An thought to herself that it wasn’t what she meant. The names Big Jin and Golden sounded similar, and this boy seemed quite cheerful.

Song Fuzhi asked, “How did Zhong Ziyan and Student Jin know each other?”

Zhong Ziyan looked at Jin Xiaonan and said, “You tell them.”

“Oh, um.” Jin Xiaonan seemed a little embarrassed. “It’s just that day; I changed the route for walking the dog, took Big Jin to play at the lakeside park, and ran into Sister during her jog. The next day, when I went again, I bumped into her again. We met several times in a row, and that’s how we got to know each other.”

Chang An was amused. “Did you take the initiative to strike up a conversation?”

“Well, not really!”

This kid was really thin-skinned; he blushed a bit at the slightest questioning. Jin Xiaonan said, “It’s just that Big Jin chased after her for a while. I told Big Jin not to chase anymore, and then I started talking to Sister.”

“Oh, you told Big Jin not to chase, and now it’s your turn.”

Jin Xiaonan rubbed his ear and made a sound of agreement.

Shi Zhang, who had been quietly listening on the side, suddenly laughed.

His teasing gaze shifted to Zhong Ziyan. “I remember someone saying they didn’t like to run outdoors before. They mentioned too many mosquitoes and uneven roads and suggested going to the gym instead.”

Zhong Ziyan responded calmly, “That was before. I changed my mind later.”

Ouyang Xi quickly picked up on it and asked, “When did you change your mind?”

Zhong Ziyan, who could answer sharp questions from many media outlets without hesitation, fell silent for a few seconds and then smiled and said, “The first time I met Jin Xiaonan.”

Even though they knew the answer, hearing it directly from Zhong Ziyan’s mouth elicited a collective “wow” from the crowd.

Jin Xiaonan, on the other hand, became the most surprised. His eyes widened as he looked at Zhong Ziyan, unable to find words.

Silly boy, this would probably keep him happy for the next week or so.

“Oh, how sweet!” Chang An sighed with a smile. “Suddenly, I feel like falling in love.”

Ouyang Xi’s deep voice resonated: “Aren’t we in love now?”

“Getting married brings a different feeling, right?”

Zhong Ziyan answered Ouyang Xi, but her eyes were on Shi Zhang and Song Fuzhi.

This statement, however, triggered contemplation in Song Fuzhi.

He originally thought marriage was mundane, similar to his parents’ experience.

Everyday chores, trivialities of life, and being more like family than lovers—however, he keenly felt the gradually emerging excitement.

Song Fuzhi didn’t respond to Zhong Ziyan; instead, he turned to look at Shi Zhang. In Shi Zhang’s ink-dark eyes, a subtle glimmer flickered.

It was as if they didn’t need many words; just looking at each other conveyed understanding.

“Wow, my princess!”

The innocent words of the little girl suddenly interrupted the adults’ conversation.

Chang An turned around, and there was Xiaoyu squatting next to Big Jin, sticking stickers on him.

The big golden retriever obediently sat on the ground, wagging its tail and sticking its tongue out, covered in shiny little stickers.

Jin Xiaonan was the first to burst into laughter, quickly reaching for his phone, saying it was too cute.

Chang An apologized helplessly, saying it caused trouble for Big Jin.

Jin Xiaonan said it was okay; Big Jin seemed quite happy.

With the child’s interruption, no one remembered the marriage-related questions.

Xiaoyu said she was thirsty, and Zhong Ziyan quickly brought up the drinks and beer she had brought.

“I almost forgot; we haven’t even had a drink yet!”

Zhong Ziyan handed orange juice to the little girl, and the adults each got a bottle of wheat juice.

When it came to Song Fuzhi, Zhong Ziyan hesitated for a moment and asked, “Does Professor Song drink alcohol?”

Song Fuzhi readily said, “I do.”

Then he joked, “Why, don’t I look like someone who drinks?”

“No,” Zhong Ziyan laughed. “Professor Song seems so upright, it’s hard to imagine you drunk.”

Song Fuzhi had indeed never been drunk. He only knew he had a decent alcohol tolerance, but he didn’t know the exact amount.

Chang An sighed. “Ah, today Xiaoyu is here; we can’t drink much. We’ll go for a drink on the way back at night. Let Grandma pick up Xiaoyu first.”

Ouyang Xi tapped his wife on the head and said, “Drink less.”

A little wine for pleasure, everyone opened their drinks and raised their glasses.

Six bottles of beer and one bottle of orange juice

The little girl curiously clamored to drink too. Her mother used chopsticks to dip a little for her to taste, and her little face immediately wrinkled, saying it tasted awful.

Jin Xiaonan brought a guitar from the car, surprising Ouyang Xi: “You guys even brought a guitar?”

“How can camping be without a guitar?”

Jin Xiaonan casually sat on a chair, one foot relaxed, plucking the strings.

The young man, with a tall figure, kept his round eyes on Zhong Ziyan. “What do you want to hear?”

Xiaoyu couldn’t sit still and went to fiddle with her own astronomical telescope, shouting, “Mom, is that Pegasus?”