Chu Dingjiang shook his head helplessly and secured the suckling pig onto the iron spit.
Once everything was prepared, he noticed An Jiu idling nearby and promptly ordered, "Go wash those Vegetable Fungus."
An Jiu shook her head and stretched out her palm, showing him the stamped seal. "If this gets washed off, I won’t be able to go back."
Chu Dingjiang glanced at it and chuckled. "Gao Dazhuang really knows how to make life difficult for people."
Gao Dazhuang himself only carried a tiny seal, easy to conceal, but he had made things miserable for those sent outside. The stamp smudged at the slightest sweat, making it a real hassle to protect.
Chu Dingjiang brushed a thin layer of oil over the suckling pig, then started the fire before taking a basket of mushrooms to wash. When he returned, he saw An Jiu lying sprawled in the grass like a pampered lord, cradling her hand.
Noticing the water stains on his clothes, An Jiu grinned.
As Chu Dingjiang approached, she sighed regretfully, "Actually, I really like playing in water too."
As if he had been playing around all this time!
Chu Dingjiang flicked his wet hands at her, splashing water deliberately. Yet she didn’t even flinch, leaving him with no fun in teasing her.
He pulled a cleaned pheasant from the basket, stuffed it with chestnuts, mushrooms, and seasonings, sewed the cavity shut, and then placed it in a clay pot to simmer.
While both dishes were still cooking, he washed some wild greens, boiled water, blanched them briefly, drained them, and tossed them with seasonings and a few drops of sesame oil.
The aroma wafted through the air. An Jiu, who had been basking in the sun with her eyes closed, twitched her nose and drifted over, immediately pinching a few strands to pop into her mouth.
Chu Dingjiang didn’t stop her. He stood to turn the roasting pig, but when he turned back, nearly the entire plate of greens had vanished into An Jiu’s mouth.
Watching her cheeks bulge, he pointed at the tiny remaining portion. "After all that work, this is all you’re leaving me?"
Comparing the portion to Chu Dingjiang’s burly frame, An Jiu agreed it was too little. "Then I’ll pick some more for you."
She had spotted similar greens in the grass earlier.
"Go on, but protect your precious hand!" Chu Dingjiang teased.
So An Jiu wandered off, one hand held aloft, while she bent over to pluck wild greens from the grass.
Watching her hunched figure, Chu Dingjiang felt a surge of paternal pride, as if watching his own daughter grow up.
In his past life, he could never have imagined indulging a woman like this.
The Hua Clan of the Warring States was a massive family, with dozens of brothers and cousins. Everyone fought for prominence, everyone bore the weight of familial duty—genuine affection was rare. Raised in such an environment, he became a schemer, consumed by calculations, never sparing time for familial warmth. Even his marriage had been a transaction. Only after years of forced solitude did he realize he needed warmth in his life.
In this world, to care for someone and to be cared for in return—both are happiness, both bring peace.
Chu Dingjiang snapped out of his thoughts, smiling as he turned the suckling pig.
Soon, An Jiu returned with a handful of greens.
Chu Dingjiang washed them, blanched them swiftly, and tossed them with seasonings. The crisp, fresh aroma rose from the tender greens. An Jiu stared at them solemnly for a moment before turning her attention back to the roasting pig.Chu Dingjiang loved watching An Jiu pretend to be profound while doing something silly. With a mischievous grin, he scooped up a large bite of wild vegetables and deliberately sighed in enjoyment, "Wild greens taste best in this kind of weather."
An Jiu pursed her lips and reached out to poke the roasted suckling pig.
Chu Dingjiang lightly tapped her fingers with his chopsticks. "Your hands are covered in dirt—do you still want to eat later?"
An Jiu silently turned away to torment the wildflowers beside her. Compared to interacting with people, she preferred solitude, so Chu Dingjiang didn’t disturb her. He enjoyed having company but didn’t necessarily need much conversation.
By the time she had ravaged a large patch of wildflowers, the suckling pig was half-cooked.
Chu Dingjiang brushed honey over it with a basting brush. He had learned this method during his travels—others used it for roasting chicken or lamb, but he didn’t care for the sweet-and-salty flavor, finding it odd. After trying it a few times, though, he discovered that while he couldn’t accept sweet-and-salty lamb, it paired wonderfully with suckling pig.
Chu Dingjiang was usually easygoing, seemingly unrefined, but when he chose to be particular, he could rival even the most fastidious scholars. For instance, for this outdoor feast, he had set up a low couch on the ground, spread with a woolen rug, atop which rested a small table. Even the tableware was exquisite, high-quality white porcelain—lustrous and fine as jade, seemingly translucent in the sunlight, some pieces adorned with elegant orchid motifs.
In addition, he had brought two jars of wine.
Noticing An Jiu staring at the porcelain, Chu Dingjiang remarked, "This is Yue Kiln White Porcelain from the Tang dynasty. Once, I stumbled upon an ancient kiln, where two sealed chambers had perfectly preserved their contents—two batches of top-quality ceramics. I sold most to a porcelain dealer but kept this set for myself."
Though he didn’t obsess over wealth, he knew that both grand ambitions and daily necessities required money, so he never passed up easy opportunities to earn it.
When the meat was nearly done, Chu Dingjiang took An Jiu to wash their hands by the river.
An Jiu turned her head, staring unblinkingly at his handsome face reflected in the shimmering water, her expression almost dazed.
A wild duck flapped its wings and took off. The sunlight was splendid, the breeze skimming the water and grass, stirring ripples and petals. The stream mirrored the image of a perfect couple—talented man and beautiful woman.
The atmosphere couldn’t have been more romantic. As Chu Dingjiang scooped water, he gave her a faint, charming smile, his back to the sun, his gaze deep and mesmerizing. His allure didn’t lie in mere good looks but in the seasoned richness of aged wine and the profound depth of a life well-lived.
That faint smile alone was enough to intoxicate any woman.
An Jiu’s usually resolute, icy gaze softened, as if warmed by the sunlight, her face wearing a rare, gentle smile.
Chu Dingjiang held her hand and slowly leaned in.
"Chu Dingjiang," An Jiu murmured.
"Hmm?" His voice was low, slightly husky, carrying an indescribable allure.
He tilted his head, eyelids lowering, his lips almost brushing hers—when suddenly, in a rare moment of emotion, she sighed, "You’re so much like my mom… except for… this flirtatious smile."
Even Chu Dingjiang, who remained unshaken in the face of catastrophe, nearly choked on centuries-old blood. Taking a deep breath, he bit her lightly and tugged her hand indignantly. "Let’s go eat!"
An Jiu was still lost in the tenderness of him washing her hands—just like something her mother used to do when she was little.
They returned to the couch.
An Jiu sat cross-legged, watching as Chu Dingjiang began slicing the meat.Hmm... lips slightly pursed, chin tense, as if angry?
Chu Dingjiang had long noticed her scrutinizing him, thinking that given all his hard work serving her, she ought to offer at least a word or two of comfort. So he deliberately kept a stern face.
After a while, An Jiu finally spoke, but what she said was, "After shaving your beard, your expressions are much easier to read. That's not very good for a politician, is it? A long beard was better."
Having said her piece, An Jiu felt her advice was quite reasonable. (To be continued...)
PS: Yuan Bupo's new work, "The Prince Seeks a Relationship," book number: 3101490. The world's most corrupt official has fallen. As the second generation of a corrupt family, Yu Huan accompanies his father in bidding farewell to grand mansions and lavish luxuries, exiled to the northern frontier to gnaw on coarse buns and sleep on straw mats. As he left, Yu Huan kept looking back, still pining for the domineering and dashing Prince Cheng in the palace.
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