The Young Master Becomes a Wife Chapter 44 Part 1

Chapter 44: Drunkenness 

After the wedding banquet, life returned to its usual peace and tranquility.

By the tenth month, winter had arrived, and the weather grew increasingly cold. After several overcast days, a heavy snowfall drifted down silently in the middle of the night.  

By the time Jiang Chenghan and Yan Jingshu woke the next morning, the world outside was already blanketed in a thick layer of snow. The air carried a crisp, clean chill, refreshing their spirits with just a few breaths.

It happened to be Jiang Chenghan’s day off, so he stayed home. A couple of days earlier, Zhang Zhao and the others had gone hunting in the woods near Ningcheng and returned with plenty of game. Though Jiang Chenghan hadn’t joined them, they had still sent him a generous portion of fresh venison. He decided to grill it that day, enjoying the snowy scenery.  

After breakfast, he got to work. First, he cut the venison into evenly sized pieces, about the size of a fingertip, and marinated them in a special sauce. While the meat absorbed the flavors, he prepared other ingredients—sliced mantou, potato wedges, chicken wings, dried tofu, and more—ensuring a well-balanced mix of meat, vegetables, and staples.  

As he busied himself in the kitchen, Yan Jingshu wasn’t idle either. He had wanted to help, but Jiang Chenghan noticed his hands turning red from the cold after just a short while holding the knife, so he took it away and made him sit by the stove to warm up, keeping him company with conversation.  

They had eaten breakfast late, and since grilling took time, it wasn’t something they could enjoy immediately. By the time everything was ready, though it wasn’t yet their usual mealtime, they moved everything to the corridor in front of their courtyard. They lit the charcoal brazier and began grilling.  

It was bitterly cold outside, but between the charcoal braziers surrounding them, their thick cotton-padded and woolen robes, and the heavy felt rugs blocking the wind on both sides, they barely felt the chill.

In his past life, to infiltrate a criminal organization as an undercover agent, Jiang Chenghan had fabricated an identity as an out-of-town worker at a night market food stall. To make his cover convincing, he had actually worked at a stall for half a year, secretly learning many skills from the master chef there—grilling being one of them.  

The venison, chicken wings, and other meats had been marinated in a special sauce beforehand for flavor. Skewered on bamboo sticks, they were neatly arranged on plates. Once the charcoal fire reached the right temperature, Jiang Chenghan placed a custom iron grill over the brazier and started with the venison and chicken wings.  

Meat took longer to cook, so he started with those. When the surfaces turned glossy and golden-brown, about half-cooked, he brushed on sauce and sprinkled cumin. Then he added the mantou slices, dried tofu, and vegetables to the grill.  

Yan Jingshu hadn’t been hungry at first, but before long, the rich, smoky aroma of the barbecue made him inhale deeply, his throat swallowing involuntarily.  

“Alright, dig in.” Jiang Chenghan didn’t make him wait too long. The first batch of skewers—meat, vegetables, and staples—was ready, piled high on a plate. He set it before Yan Jingshu, then picked up fresh skewers to continue grilling.  

Yan Jingshu didn’t hold back. He immediately grabbed a venison skewer—but instead of eating it himself, he held it up to Jiang Chenghan’s mouth, letting him take the first bite. Only after Jiang Chenghan had a piece did he start eating himself. Jiang Chenghan had cut the meat into small, bite-sized pieces for Yan Jingshu’s convenience.  

The venison was already incredibly fresh and tender, enhanced by Jiang Chenghan’s secret marinade and the unique charred fragrance of grilling. With Jiang Chenghan’s masterful technique, the meat practically melted in the mouth, so tender it barely needed chewing.  

It was a feast for the taste buds—savory, rich, and exquisitely delicious. Yan Jingshu couldn’t help but narrow his eyes slightly, his expression one of pure satisfaction.  

Seeing his enjoyment, Jiang Chenghan felt a surge of energy, flipping skewers, sprinkling cumin, and brushing on sauce without pause.  

Knowing his own appetite, Jiang Chenghan had prepared over ten pounds of skewers—meat, vegetables, and more—even though it was just the two of them.  

With so much food, grilling took a while, but Yan Jingshu didn’t just focus on eating. Between bites, he made sure to feed Jiang Chenghan as well.  

Barbecue was delicious, but eating it alone could get greasy. It needed to be paired with drinks. Jiang Chenghan stuck to the locally brewed white liquor of Ningcheng—strong, burning like a knife going down, but something he was used to.  

Yan Jingshu wasn’t much of a drinker, but since they were at home, just the two of them, he joined in. He couldn’t handle Jiang Chenghan’s liquor, though, so he drank fruit wine specially brought from the capital—mellow, smooth, not spicy, and less intoxicating.  

But even if it wasn’t strong, Yan Jingshu, in high spirits, unknowingly finished an entire small bottle. By the time Jiang Chenghan noticed, his cheeks were flushed, his eyes glazed and misty—clearly drunk.  

Yet Yan Jingshu himself didn’t realize it. After tipping the bottle and finding no more wine, he tossed it aside, scanned the table, and then focused on Jiang Chenghan’s liquor, reaching for it. Jiang Chenghan quickly stopped him.  

“Alright, alright, no more. Let’s stop here.” Jiang Chenghan hadn’t expected Yan Jingshu to be such a little drunkard. He pulled him into his arms to keep him from grabbing the alcohol, then moved the wine jar and his cup under the table.  

“Mmm… wine… I want wine…” Yan Jingshu’s body was limp as if boneless, leaning against Jiang Chenghan’s chest while still stretching his hand out for the cup.  

Jiang Chenghan had no choice but to grab his hand back. He called Wenjin and Wenxiu over to clear the table and drinks, then scooped Yan Jingshu up and carried him to the bedroom.  

Yan Jingshu squirmed in Jiang Chenghan’s arms, but his drunken weakness had no effect. His obsession with alcohol, however, hadn’t faded. He wrinkled his nose, sniffing around—until his nose reached Jiang Chenghan’s face, and then his mouth latched onto Jiang Chenghan’s lips.  

Jiang Chenghan couldn’t just drop him. Though Yan Jingshu’s bites didn’t hurt, his licking and sucking were torment. By the time he laid him on the bed, Jiang Chenghan—already full of venison and wine—was breathing heavily, thoroughly aroused.