Chapter 9: Delicious Fish Soup Wins Hearts

Chapter 9: The Fish Soup is Delicious and Tempting

The family bustled into the courtyard, and there stood Yan Fengan in a blue robe, hands clasped behind his back, his gaze fixed thoughtfully on the lingering red glow of the sunset in the distant sky.

The fading sunlight fell upon his tall, slender frame, adding a lonely air to his figure. One look at him made it clear he was a delicate, scholarly man.

At the sight of him, the Yan family, who had been chatting and laughing, all fell silent at once. Yan Fengan snapped out of his thoughts and walked slowly toward them, saying to Yan Shichang and Chen Lanfang, "Father, Mother."

Hearing this greeting, even Yan Shichang's stern expression softened slightly. "The wind is strong outside. Why aren't you lying down inside?"

Yan Fengan replied, "You were gone for a long time, and I got worried, so I came out to check."

Yan Fuqiu hefted the barred rock chicken in his hand. "With me and Big Brother here, what's there to worry about? Do you think we'd let anyone bully us?"

He Jin reached out and pinched Yan Fuqiu's arm. "You big lug, why would Third Brother worry about you? He's worried about his husband, Wen Xi."

Noticing everyone's gaze fall on him, Wen Xi felt his cheeks grow hot.

Yan Fengan knew he was easily embarrassed, so he gave a faint smile and changed the subject.

"Did you get this chicken from the Zhao place?"

Yan Fuqiu nodded proudly. "Big Brother and I caught it together. Pretty impressive, huh?"

As soon as he said it, he regretted it. Their younger brother always looked down on their roughhousing, and he was probably going to call them crude again.

Yan Fengan looked genuinely impressed. "Truly impressive. I sure don't have the skills you two have."

Such modesty from him was rare. Yan Fuqiu beamed. "Third Brother, what are you saying? You might not be as strong as us, but you're way better at your studies."

Yan Fengan replied, "Maybe that's what they mean by 'to each their own.'"

The brotherly love was nice to see, but they were all tired and hungry, so this wasn't the time for back-patting. Yan Wangchun, who was a bit impatient, spoke up, "Oh, you two, cut it out with the 'strengths' talk. Dad, Mom, what should we do with these chickens?"

The two chickens were loud and plump, and it wasn't clear if they laid eggs. Chen Lanfang didn't plan to kill them just yet. "Put them in the coop with the others for now."

"Absolutely not!" Yan Shichang interjected. "Chickens are mean to newcomers. If you put them in our coop, they'll raise a ruckus all night. Tie them up in the backyard for now, and we'll figure it out tomorrow."

Yan Wangchun thought that made sense and went with Yan Fuqiu to tie up the chickens in the backyard.

It was getting late, so Chen Lanfang hurried to the kitchen to start cooking.

Even though she offered to cook, her daughters-in-law weren't about to let her do it all by herself.

Wen Xi watched Li Wan and He Jin—one starting the fire, the other cleaning the rabbit—and slipped into the kitchen to clean the little fish he'd caught in the river that day.

After soaking in a wooden basin for over an hour, the fish had spat out all the sand from their mouths. Their scales were so thin he didn't need to scrape them; he just snipped open their bellies and cleaned them out.

He'd caught them mainly for soup. After cleaning them, he fried them in a pan. Once they were lightly golden, he put them in the clay pot set aside for Yan Fengan's meals, added some ginger slices, filled it with water, and put it on the stove to simmer.

He worked quickly and skillfully, nothing like his usual timid, simple-minded self.

Chen Lanfang watched him, her heart full of mixed feelings, and started to think things over.

Fresh pot rabbit needs fresh lettuce to taste right, but it wasn't in season, and there was no substitute at home. In the end, Chen Lanfang made a fermented black bean and chili rabbit dish with what she had, plus three seasonal veggies.

The little fish didn't take long to cook. By the time her dishes were ready, Wen Xi's fish soup was ready too.

The broth from the fried fish was milky white and smelled amazing. As soon as it hit the table, the two kids crowded around, sniffing and yelling, "So good, so good!"

Once the food was on the table, the Yan family sat down.

Yan Fengan had recovered well over the past few days. Though his meals still had to be prepared separately, he no longer had to eat in his room.

It was rare for the whole family to sit together for a meal, and the elderly couple at the head of the table both showed hints of joy.

The two little ones still ate at their small stools. After a while, Tao'er came over with her bowl, hiding behind He Jin, and whispered, "Daddy, I want to drink fish soup."

He Jin patted her head and coaxed her gently, "That's for Uncle Xiao Xi to make for your Third Uncle. Tao'er, be good. Daddy will make you some another time."

Tao'er's eyes couldn't hide her longing for the fish soup, but she nodded obediently and said sweetly, "Then I'll drink it next time."

Her voice was soft, but everyone at the table heard it clearly.

Wen Xi opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but then thought better of it. With so many people in the family, even a trivial matter like this wasn't his to decide.

If He Jin wouldn't let the child drink the soup, Wen Xi certainly didn't dare say anything.

His brothers and sisters-in-law had worked hard over the years to support their parents, manage the household, and fund his studies. Yan Fengan was deeply grateful for their efforts, and his affection extended to their children.

Seeing Tao'er so obedient, his heart softened. "If you want to drink, then drink. No need to wait until next time." He reached out to Tao'er. "Give me your bowl, and Third Uncle will ladle some for you."

Tao'er hesitated, glancing at her father and daddy, but her craving for the fish soup won out over any other feelings. She carefully handed her bowl to Yan Fengan.

Tao'er was not yet four years old, and the small fish had more bones than meat, so Yan Fengan only ladled her some soup. "Drink slowly, mind the heat."

Seeing Tao'er get fish soup, Tiezhu immediately brought his bowl over. "Third Uncle, I want some too!"

"Little glutton, you want everything." Li Wan made a show of patting his bottom lightly.

"Tiezhu found the rabbit today, so he deserves praise. Besides the soup, Third Uncle will give you a fish as a reward, alright?"

"Yay!" Tiezhu was so excited he nearly jumped. "Tomorrow I'll go back there and check. Maybe I'll find another rabbit!"

Yan Wangchun tapped his nose. "Look at you, all puffed up. Things aren't that easy."

Chen Lanfang laughed. "Alright, alright, enough chattering. Eat up before the food gets cold."

The two children sat together, chattering away about how delicious the fish soup was. Wen Xi listened, a smile tugging at his lips, feeling as pleased as if he had drunk the soup himself.

Just as he was feeling happy, several pieces of rabbit meat appeared in his bowl. Wen Xi looked up to see who had given them to him, and then noticed Yan Fengan placing a small fish in his bowl as well.

"You worked hard today and got hurt. Eat more to build your strength."

The mark on Wen Xi's face from the slap was still visible. Chen Lanfang added, "That's right. This fish soup is the most nourishing. Later, Xiao Xi, you should drink more too."

Wen Xi hadn't expected to get any of the fish soup. He was about to politely decline when Li Wan spoke up, "Third Brother, you don't know how fierce Xiao Xi was at the Zhao place today. He grabbed that old Zhao woman by the hair and gave her a beating."

He Jin joined in, "And he called you a white crane, and Zhao Shoutian a toad."

Wen Xi nearly bit his tongue at that. It had happened, sure, but hearing it from their mouths made it sound so awkward.

"Is that so?" Yan Fengan looked at Wen Xi, who had nearly buried his head in his bowl, unable to imagine this timid, quail-like person saying such things.

"With so many witnesses, how could it be false? Honestly, Xiao Xi, you've really impressed me this time."

"Repay kindness with kindness and enmity with enmity—that's what it means to be part of our family. Come, eat more."

Chen Lanfang was fair to all, placing food in each of her three daughters-in-law's bowls.

Wen Xi's bowl was piled high with food, and his heart was warmed, but afraid his emotions might show, he quickly lowered his head and took a few bites of rice.

For the first time in his over a decade of life, he realized that eating together as a family could be such a harmonious and happy affair—no exclusion, no insults, and no one complaining that he ate too much.

He had never received protection from anyone growing up, and when bullied, no one stood up for him. After this incident, he finally felt like he was really part of the Yan family.

It wasn't until the bright crescent moon climbed above the treetops that the day truly came to an end.

After the lights were out, the air carried the usual chill of autumn. Wen Xi lay stiff as a board, like a corpse, not daring to move.

The doctor who came for a follow-up said Yan Fengan's mind was already no different from an ordinary person's. Aside from the herbal medicine to strengthen his constitution, he could stop taking the calming sedative once he finished the current bottle.

Yan Fengan had finished all the sedatives the previous night, so tonight he no longer had to endure that suffering.

He was fine, but Wen Xi was a nervous wreck. At the slightest sound from Yan Fengan, Wen Xi would tense up, not daring to make a peep.

Yan Fengan sighed, couldn't help doubting what Li Wan had said at the dinner table. Could someone as timid as Wen Xi really have hit someone?

That sigh reached Wen Xi's ears, making him even more nervous. He couldn't help tensing up, clenching his fists, ready to defend himself.

Yan Fengan couldn't take it anymore. He propped himself up and said, "If it's that hard for you, go sleep on the floor."

Without a word, Wen Xi rolled up his blanket and got ready to sleep on the floor.

He had only meant to provoke him with those words, never expecting Wen Xi to actually follow through. Yan Fengan was completely speechless, grabbing the back of his collar and saying, "The autumn nights are cold and damp—do you really want to sleep on the floor?"

Wen Xi replied softly, "Isn't that what you told me to do?"

He doesn't listen when he should, and now he won't listen when he shouldn't. Yan Fengan said helplessly, "Just lie down properly. We haven't finished our twenty sentences for today, and since neither of us can sleep, keep me company and talk."

Wen Xi hesitated for a moment, then freed himself from Yan Fengan's grip and slowly lay back down.

He wasn't used to starting conversations, but he wanted to get those twenty sentences over with. After thinking for a long while, he said, "Mom was taken advantage of by Liu Jinhua, so I helped her out by pulling that old hag's hair."

"At least you know to help out—so you're not a total fool. But I bet your hands and feet were shaking the whole time."

"How did you know?" Wen Xi turned his head in surprise, and the two faced each other, their breathing tangled together.

Yan Fengan's voice was slightly lower than during the day: "It's obvious."

The words sounded like they were mocking his cowardice, so Wen Xi quickly added, "I also hit Zhao Shoutian. He slapped me, and I hit him back with a few broom swipes—that counts as revenge."

"That's the way. Even animals show their teeth when they're hurt, so why not humans? After the scene you made today, anyone thinking about messing with you will think twice." After affirming Wen Xi's actions, Yan Fengan added, "But why would Zhao Shoutian attack you for no reason?"

These words made Wen Xi somewhat reactive, but before his emotions could gather, they were dispersed by Yan Fengan's next sentence.

"What I mean is, did you accidentally offend him before, or was he acting on someone's orders?"

Wen Xi paused for a moment, carefully recalling what Zhao Shoutian had said, and picked out the key point: "He said I stole my brother's marriage, so maybe he was standing up for my brother."

Yan Fengan understood immediately, his tone turning colder: "That brother of yours is quite something. Clearly a snob who only knows how to enjoy comfort and has no idea of hardship, yet he pretends to be an innocent victim. How come all the good things in this world have to go to him?"

Having spent this much time together, Wen Xi had never heard him speak in such a cold tone, especially when the person in question was Wen Liu. He couldn't help murmuring, "You never used to talk about him like that."

"Wrong. I've always hated him."

Wen Xi was about to retort when Yan Fengan suddenly pulled up his blanket and covered him, yawning and saying, "It's getting late. Let's sleep."

Perhaps infected by the weariness in his voice, Wen Xi yawned as well. In the midst of their conversation, his nervousness had unknowingly dissipated, and his stiff hands and feet finally found a comfortable position to rest.

Listening to Yan Fengan's steady, shallow breathing, fatigue swept over Wen Xi, and his eyelids met lightly as he fell into a deep sleep.