Chapter 151: The Expressive Lin Hongzhuo

Xia Yan was also somewhat surprised that Zhu Yan would say such a thing. Could it be that Wang Baoguo saving her last time had brought the two of them closer?

Zhu Yan picked up her soda, took a sip, and explained, "I just spoke without thinking a moment ago. As for how much he drinks, I couldn't care less..."

Realizing how that sounded, she quickly changed her tune, "How much he drinks has nothing to do with me."

Xia Yan and Lin You exchanged smiles without saying much more. Over-explaining this matter would only produce the opposite effect.

Lin You shifted to the side, making room for Xia Yan on the bench. "Hurry up and sit down to eat with us."

"There's still one dish left. I'll go get it."

"Mom, I'll do it!"

Putting down his chopsticks, Lin Hongzhuo stood up and hurried after her toward the kitchen.

Xia Yan didn't stand on ceremony. "The dish is a bit hot. You go help Mom dish out the rice instead."

"Okay."

Entering the kitchen, Xia Yan lifted the heavy lid of the iron pot. Rice cooked in a traditional earthen stove with carefully controlled heat tasted much more fragrant than rice from an electric cooker. At the very bottom lay a thin layer of crispy, golden crust, which was crunchy and fragrant—something all the children loved to eat.

Xia Yan picked up the spatula, scraped up the crispy rice crust, put it all onto a plate, and handed it to Lin Hongzhuo. "Take the rice crust out first."

"Okay, Mom, I'll be right back!"

The little fellow ran outside carrying the plate and handed it to Lin You. "Dad, hold this!"

Then he scampered back to the kitchen with bright spirits. Lin Hongzhe had just returned with the wine and glanced at his younger brother running back toward the kitchen. This little brother of theirs really knew how to win people's favor.

Lin Hongzhuo walked into the kitchen, pulled over a wooden stool to stand on, and began scooping rice for everyone.

"This is for Dad, this is for Mom, and this is for Big Brother..."

Lin Hongzhuo muttered to himself while dishing out the rice.

After filling bowls for everyone else, Lin Hongzhuo finally scooped a portion for himself, though the amount was rather small. "Mom said we should eat more dishes and less rice!"

Xia Yan couldn't whether to laugh or cry. That was what she told him, yet the portions she gave to his older brother and younger sister were quite generous.

Xia Yan's final dish was braised meat. She had marinated these beef offal items since yesterday—beef tripe, intestines, and lungs were all included, looking exceptionally appetizing.

The moment it was served at the table, everyone was captivated by the aroma.

Xia Yan picked out a piece of braised beef for each of the children. Although the offal was also delicious, it was better not to let the children eat too many internal organs.

Finally, she picked up a piece of beef heart and placed it in Lin You's bowl.

"Why am I eating beef heart?"

"You are what you eat."

Xia Yan chuckled. "I couldn't find any pig brains, otherwise I would have cooked up a dish of brains for you."

Meeting Xia Yan's gaze, Lin You looked at her, failing to catch her meaning at first. "What do you mean?"

"Dad, Mom is telling you to use your heart and grow some brains." Lin Hongzhuo took a large bite of the braised beef, which was meltingly tender and fully infused with flavor, almost making his head spin with delight.

Wang Baoguo nearby couldn't help laughing out loud and gave Lin Hongzhuo a thumbs-up. "Your explanation is spot on, Big Brother. Finally, someone has found a way to handle you."

Lin You was left amused and helpless, taking a bite to chew.

Seeing him eat, Xia Yan asked, "How is it?"

Lin You took a small taste. This was his first time eating beef heart, but the flavor far exceeded his expectations. Having been braised overnight, even the heart had thoroughly absorbed the spices while retaining a wonderfully crisp and tender texture.

His wife's culinary skills were truly peerless.

After chewing thoroughly and swallowing, he said, "Delicious!"

"Try this next. This is beef intestine; it's even better and has a great chew to it."

Xia Yan picked up a piece of beef intestine and put it in Lin You's bowl.

Lin You gave her a deep look. He had previously eaten the stir-fried pork large intestines with stinky tofu that Xia Yan made—a dish she called "Double Stinky."

Although it smelled pungent, it tasted heavenly when eaten. Lin You had managed to polish off half a bottle of wine over that single dish.

With eager anticipation, he popped the beef intestine into his mouth. Xia Yan had cleaned it meticulously; there was not the slightest trace of gamey odor, only the rich fragrance of the braised marinade combined with the intestine's unique texture. The sensation...

Lin You felt that he truly deserved to drink three bottles of wine tonight.

Seeing Lin You eating in silence, Wang Baoguo picked up a piece of beef intestine to try. Once he started, he simply couldn't stop. Even Zhu Yan, who usually avoided internal organs, grew curious about the flavor upon seeing Wang Baoguo's ravenous appetite.

Taking a bite, she was amazed.

"Xia Yan, how did you make this dish? Even the beef intestine has absorbed so much flavor! It's too delicious."

"I'll teach you when I have time."

"You promised." Zhu Yan didn't slow down her chopsticks while speaking.

"Auntie Zhu! Uncle Wang! Eat slower! My brother, sister, and I haven't even finished a single piece of meat yet."

Seeing that half the plate of braised food was already gone, Lin Hongzhuo sped up his eating, fearing there would be nothing left if he fell behind.

"Once it's finished, just have your mom make more. Xia Yan, I really think it's a huge waste for someone with your culinary skills not to open a restaurant." Zhu Yan didn't stop her chopsticks because of Lin Hongzhuo's remark.

Xia Yan smiled. "You aren't the first person to tell me that. When we have the opportunity to go to the city later, if we're going to do business, we'll do it on a large scale. You can't make much money in this small town."

"Sister-in-law, your ambitions aren't small at all. But I believe you'll definitely succeed. When I retire from the army, I'll come help you out, and you mustn't chase me away then."

Wang Baoguo ate a piece of beef heart and took a sip of wine. It was truly magnificent.

"Rest assured, if that day ever comes, I'll definitely call on you to help!"

As the drinks flowed and the dishes emptied, the table of food was practically polished clean. Wang Baoguo and Zhu Yan finished off the very last bit of braised sauce mixed with rice before reluctantly putting down their chopsticks.

"With appetites like the two of you, if you ever end up together, the household would need an extra-large rice jar to survive."

Looking at the two of them sitting side by side, Xia Yan thought they looked more and more like a couple.

Wang Baoguo loved hearing that and patted his chest. "Sister-in-law, you know what? When I went to the South, I learned rice-cultivating technology. The yield is guaranteed to be sky-high, definitely enough to eat."

Zhu Yan rolled her eyes at him playfully. "How boring."

Perhaps emboldened by the wine, Wang Baoguo joked, "Not at all. I think I'm quite interesting. Would you like to get to know me a little better?"

Riding the wave of the alcohol, Zhu Yan half-jokingly replied, "Alright then, I'd love to see just how interesting you are!"

Xia Yan and Lin You exchanged glances once more, reading two words in each other's eyes: There's hope.

Yet when Zhu Yan woke up the next morning, clutching her slightly dizzy head, regret washed over her completely.

After dinner, once Xia Yan had finished tidying up the kitchen and emerged, the children had already gone back to their rooms to sleep.

Xia Yan boiled another pot of water, planning to take a bath.

After cooking a whole table of dishes, her clothes were permeated with the smell of cooking oil, and she certainly didn't want to sleep smelling like grease.

Just as Xia Yan settled into the large wooden soaking tub that Lin You had custom-made for her, someone knocked on the bathroom door.

"Wife! Here are your clean clothes!"