A drizzling rain fell, its chill seeping through cracks and leaving hands and feet icy.
This year, the only real opportunity to earn money lay in the autumn fox furs. Other game hadn’t been profitable, so Shen Xuanqing poured all his energy into tracking foxes, never letting his focus waver. Only yesterday’s rain had kept him indoors.
Having lived together for so long, Lu Gu understood his determination. Though he couldn’t contribute much himself, he did his best to ensure Shen Xuanqing had good meals when he returned.
Over this past month, Shen Xuanqing had spent most of his time outdoors, seldom eating proper hot meals. With the rain keeping him home today, Lu Gu had been busy since morning - washing vegetables, chopping ingredients, even bringing out the oil jar to cook a few proper dishes.
Oil was always precious. Even though their family could afford it now, they still tended to use it sparingly when cooking.
The peppercorns and leaves gave a numbing aroma to the dish, while dried chilies added a spicy kick, making the braised rabbit meat thoroughly satisfying. Shen Xuanqing had a high tolerance for spice, so Lu Gu prepared a whole pot to suit his taste.
Two salted duck eggs brought from home were sliced open, their yolks oozing rich red oil.
Stir-fried water celery had a refreshing flavor that helped cut through the richness of the meat. Lu Gu had also found two wild cucumbers in the mountains. Sliced and blanched, they were served without seasoning, soft yet clean-tasting.
For just the two of them, these few dishes were more than enough.
Outside, the rain pattered and the autumn wind whistled, but inside the main hall, their faces were flushed from the hearty meal. Lu Gu wasn’t good with spice, after a few bites of braised rabbit, his lips turned red and sweat beaded on his brow.
“Let me get you some water to rinse off the chili oil,” Shen Xuanqing said, standing up to fetch a bowl from the kitchen.
The clay stove sat under the eaves outside the main hall, its embers still glowing beneath a pot of boiling water. The weather was cold, so drinking cooled water wasn’t advisable. They often ladled hot water directly from the pot.
After mixing warm water, Shen Xuanqing set it in front of Lu Gu.
Having been away most of the month, he knew Lu Gu couldn’t hunt rabbits or pheasants himself, though he occasionally managed to catch a fish or two. Today’s meal was a rare treat, so he wanted Lu Gu to eat his fill.
As he sat back down, he almost suggested using less chili in future dishes. But then it struck him that this was Lu Gu’s way of caring for him, so he swallowed the words. Instead, he picked out two pieces of meat for Lu Gu and placed them in the water bowl. “Eat more. If the chili oil gets too strong, we can just change the water.”
“Mm.” Lu Gu nodded. After fishing the meat out of the water, the spice was indeed milder. His eyes curved into a faint smile.
Shen Xuanqing picked up his bowl and gazed at the rain outside. “By my count, the rice harvest at home should be done. With the sunny days earlier, I hope they’ve dried it properly.”
Knowing he was worried about the grain getting damp, Lu Gu said, “The new house has plenty of space, the main hall is wide. If it rains, Mother and Eldest Brother will surely roll up the rice and pile it under the eaves.”
“Mm.” Shen Xuanqing knew this too. Then he added, “When we go back down, we’ll have new rice to eat. We’ll ask Mother to make her braised long beans with red sauce, it's perfect over rice.”
Lu Gu had steamed rice for them today, though it was last year’s grain. The thought of fragrant new rice and the savory braised long beans made him nod eagerly. Wei Lanxiang’s braised long beans were delicious.
Guaizi, Da Hui, and Da Hei were also eating rabbit meat. Yesterday, during a lull in the rain, Shen Xuanqing had taken them out and caught three plump rabbits. With today’s downpour, all three dogs were filthy, their fur matted with mud.
The cold weather made it impossible to bathe them. When they returned yesterday, worried they might catch a chill, Lu Gu had lit a brazier so Shen Xuanqing and the dogs could huddle around it for warmth.
Guaizi, who usually clung to people, seemed to sense the cold yesterday. He sat obediently by the fire without causing trouble or shaking water onto anyone. Lu Gu had even praised him for it.
“I wonder how much Zhao’er has grown by the time we go back,” Lu Gu said after sipping honey water.
Shen Xuanqing chuckled. “At most, we’ve been gone a month and a half. How much could he have grown?”
Unlike before, Lu Gu no longer felt embarrassed when laughed at. He knew Shen Xuanqing wasn’t mocking him, just amused by his words. Smiling, he said, “I meant he must have gotten chubbier. Eldest Sister-in-law has plenty of milk, Zhao’er is sure to be plump and fair.”
“Naturally.” Shen Xuanqing nodded. Babies ought to be plump, their roundness was a sign of good health. They would slim down as they grew older.
The meal was thoroughly satisfying, especially with a bowl of sweet honey water to drive away the damp chill.
After tidying the kitchen, there was still time to spare. Rainy days left little to do. Lu Gu considered needlework, but Shen Xuanqing had already gone to lie down in the room. After a moment’s thought, he followed.
With so much time apart this month, a quiet longing had taken root in his heart, making him want to stay close to Shen Xuanqing a little longer. Yet his timid nature made him shy, his hesitation showing on his face. Fortunately, the moment Shen Xuanqing saw him sit by the bed, he pulled him down without a word and wrapped him in his arms.
Nestled in Shen Xuanqing's embrace, Lu Gu heard Guaizi whining outside, almost like a howl of protest against the rain. But the noise soon faded. Knowing the dog’s habits, Lu Gu guessed he’d probably curled up on his burlap sack to sleep.
“We didn’t bring a heated brick. The quilt is much cozier,” Shen Xuanqing murmured, perfectly content with his husband in his arms. His entire body relaxed, his voice slow and lazy. Then he nuzzled Lu Gu’s cheek with his nose, his starry eyes crinkling with a bright smile.
[热砖/暖砖 (rè zhuān/nuǎn zhuān): heated bricks wrapped in cloth]
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