Yuan Huiru smiled at them: "I went to town this morning and only returned at noon, so I missed you at the village entrance."
"We rested after arriving. We should have been the ones to visit you, Godmother."
"You’ve had a tiring journey, resting is only natural. No need for you to make the trip when I could just come over."
Ji Taoyu smiled.
He turned his attention to the kitchen, where a small bucket of lively shrimp jumped about, alongside twenty-odd plump fish with round, bulging bellies—each no larger than a palm.
"We had heavy rain recently, and many shrimp escaped from the family’s shrimp pond. Your father saved these for you, saying he wanted you to have them when you returned. We were worried they’d die outside the pond, but you came back just in time."
Huang Manjing looked at her child and smiled. "As for those rice-field fish, your father bought them from the villagers at noon."
Ji Taoyu’s mouth watered just looking at them. "What else are we having?"
"We slaughtered a hen and a duck. Your father also went to the butcher’s—got lucky and found freshly slaughtered pork. He brought back a leg, along with kidneys, tripe, tenderloin..."
Huang Manjing pointed at the stove: "See for yourself if there’s anything else you’d like to eat. While there’s still time, tell your father to buy it."
"That’s enough. Any more, and I won’t even think about saving some for New Year’s."
Ji Taoyu wiped his hands and tied on an apron: "I’ll cook the fish. This season’s rice-field fish is plump and sweet. I’ll use some pickled vegetables to make a sour fish stew."
"I just pickled some string beans recently. They’re not too sour now, perfect for eating."
Ji Taoyu acknowledged and was about to take the fish to clean when he raised his brows and noticed Huo Shu standing stiffly to the side.
With a smile, he shoved the heavy basin into Huo Shu’s hands.
Huo Shou hadn’t taken a nap. After tidying the room, Uncle Fan and their fellow villagers worried that leaving the horses outside overnight might not be safe, so they suggested to Ji Yangzong that they fix up the stable.
Ji Yangzong took a few men to chop trees in their family’s hills, planning to expand the livestock shed. With so many hands, it’d likely be done by evening.
They left Huo Shou behind to watch the horses, not letting him join. Feeling idle and unsure what to do, he wanted to find his brother but noticed Huo Shu hadn’t left his room since returning. He didn’t dare knock.
So he went out to check on the horses, only to find them filthy after the journey. Seeing streams everywhere in the south, he fetched a few buckets of water from the river to wash them.
By the time he was nearly done, one of the Ji family’s laborers came to tell him they had a well at home—no need to fetch water from so far away.
Now, returning, he saw his brother finally up and, of all things, scaling fish in the yard, helping with dinner.
He stole glances at Ji Taoyu, Huang Manjing, and Yuan Huiru chopping and cooking in the kitchen, then at Huo Shu meticulously scraping fish scales.
A scene like this, of a family cooking together, was something he hadn’t witnessed in years.
No wonder his brother, despite having the means to survive on his own, hadn’t returned to the northern frontier and chose to stay in unfamiliar Tongzhou.
This was his home.
A strange feeling welled up in Huo Shou’s chest.
"What are you doing hiding over there? Come chop firewood."
Hearing Huo Shu’s voice, Ji Taoyu also glanced at Huo Shou, who was lingering awkwardly in the distance, and furrowed his brows slightly.
"Huh?"
Lost in thought, Huo Shou jolted at his brother’s voice, momentarily thinking he was talking to someone else. When he looked up and saw Huo Shu staring right at him, he scratched his head. "Oh… right."
Huo Shou went over and split a few logs with the axe when Ji Taoyu came out holding a bowl.
"Try this sausage. How does it taste? It was smoked this year."
Ji Taoyu stuffed a slice into Huo Shu’s mouth. Huo Shu’shands still covered in fish scales.
"Mhm."
"'Mhm' isn’t a flavor. What does it taste like?"
"Fine."
Ji Taoyu shot Huo Shu a look. That told him nothing. He turned and carried the bowl to the yard. "A-Shou, try this. I made it for New Year’s."
Huo Shou hadn’t expected to be included in this warm family moment. Flustered at being asked to taste the dish, he reached for the sausage. Ji Taoyu handed him chopsticks, and after fumbling twice, Huo Shou finally picked up a piece.
"Well?"
Huo Shou blinked, dumbfounded. "It’s… fine…"
Ji Taoyu pursed his lips. "You two brothers, honestly. If Wenliang were here, he’d tell me straight whether it’s too salty or too bland."
Huang Manjing laughed from the side. "Why trouble them? Let your father taste it, his tongue’s the sharpest."
By evening, dinner was ready just as the makeshift stable was completed.
Once the horses were settled inside, everyone relaxed.
With so many people, two tables were set up in the yard for space and coolness.
Huo Shu brought out the liquor he’d bought in Lianping Prefecture. Since returning from the trade journey, tonight’s meal was the most peaceful and satisfying they’d had.
Ji Taoyu ate a whole rice-field fish and plenty of his favorite shrimp, tasting every other dish until his stomach was round and full.
Having skipped lunch, he’d nibbled while cooking all afternoon, leaving him too full to eat much at the table.
The summer heat kept the dishes warm, unlike in autumn and winter when they’d cool too quickly.
It was perfect for a feast—if only his stomach weren’t so small. Once full, he left the table, leaving the drinkers to their revelry.
Uncle Fan and the others, tasting southern delicacies for the first time, devoured them eagerly.
Fish and shrimp like these were rare even for wealthy households, let alone common villagers like them. To eat their fill now was pure joy.
Ji Yangzong was delighted too, the northerners could all hold their liquor.
Since Huo Shu started trading, he’d had no son-in-law to drink with. Tonight, he could finally indulge.
Glasses clinked, and the yard grew livelier than during New Year’s celebrations.
The last time so many had gathered for a feast was at Ji Taoyu and Huo Shu’s wedding.
Ji Taoyu sprawled lazily under the pavilion, fanning himself.
Next to the yard’s large cluster of evening primroses, even without mosquito repellent, the pests weren’t too bad.
After passing through Yuchang Prefecture, the mosquitoes back home seemed trivial.
Traveling really did toughen a person up.
Thank you for the update!!
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