Free Web NovelChapter 667: Chapter 667: Spicy Hot Pot
The assistant looked over at Liu Ji, who was handling things smoothly, then turned back to the siblings beside them, "I didn’t expect Mr. Liu to be so... approachable."
The brother and sister: "..."
Da Lang and Second Lang, who were surrounded by aunts and older women, breathed a sigh of relief when they saw their mother and uncle outside the crowd. They quickly escaped the clutches of the aunts and women and ran over.
"Mother!" Both brothers felt a bit aggrieved and indignant.
Qin Yao smiled and patted their heads, and only then did their spirits lift.
Liu Ji turned around and saw his wife had come out. He quickly cupped his hands in a salute to the enthusiastic neighbors:
"Sisters and aunts, we’ll chat again next time, for now, I must take my leave."
Everyone politely insisted on a few words, then nodded friendly towards Qin Yao.
With such an interesting husband, this home’s wife must also be good-natured. They were eager to see her join them.
Qin Yao smiled and nodded back, responding to everyone’s enthusiasm. After confirming with the assistant the time to meet the homeowner for negotiations the next morning, she left with her family.
It was already dusk, and the private school in Kuanzheng Square had let out. Students trickled out, laughing and playing, creating a lively atmosphere.
In this long-awaited setting, Da Lang and his siblings envied from their perch by the car window.
They secretly looked forward to the interesting things that might happen after moving in.
On the way home, Liu Ji bought some chili peppers, and a spicy hot pot was immediately planned.
Hot oil was poured into the pan, the spices were stir-fried for aroma, then chili peppers were added for a fiery stir-fry. An indescribably enticing aroma wafted out, and the helpers Ah Wang and Yin Le were sneezing and swallowing secretly.
Fresh pork belly was sliced into thin pieces by Ah Wang, marinated briefly with cooking wine and soy sauce for flavor, and then arranged on a white porcelain plate. The bright red meat looked like a flower blooming in white porcelain.
With so many people in the house, five large plates of meat were prepared.
There were also several side dishes cleansed by Yin Le, filling the table to the brim.
Qin Yao and Qin Feng didn’t stay idle either, lighting the charcoal stove to a roaring flame.
To avoid damaging the wooden tabletop, three bricks were placed on it first, and the blazing charcoal stove was placed on top.
"Make way! The hotpot base is coming!"
At Liu Ji’s shout, the crowd around the table quickly made room, knowing the hotpot base was the main attraction tonight.
A pot of fragrant spicy red oil was steadily placed on the charcoal stove, with a few segments of white and green scallions and red dates floating on top, looking utterly enticing.
The four Da Lang siblings brought out bowls of cooked white rice, placed the chopsticks down, and Yin Le fetched the wine resting in the well since yesterday, completing the setup.
As night descended, the candlelit hall was brightly illuminated, as big and small gathered around the hotpot table.
The young ones took bites of meat and soup, whispering words only they understood.
The adults savored their drinks and meat, discussing hopes and dreams for the future.
A warmth flowed through everyone’s hearts, making them feel lazy to the bone, as if soaking in a blissful hot spring.
Qin Feng looked at the smiling faces around him, not wanting to leave at all, and was even more reluctant for his sister’s family to move away.
"Why don’t we all just live here?" Qin Feng suggested after two cups of wine, his voice hoarse.
Qin Yao just smiled, knowing very well what he proposed was impossible. She sighed lightly, feeling an ache in her heart.
"Brother-in-law, have some meat." Liu Ji picked up a piece of freshly scooped pork belly and placed it into Qin Feng’s bowl, wrapping an arm around his shoulders with a grin:
"There will always be a room for you at home, brother-in-law. You can come anytime you want, live here for a lifetime if it makes you happy!"
He knew how to win hearts without spending a dime, and his words hit Qin Feng right in the heart, causing delight to overflow. He gave Liu Ji’s back a hearty slap and said excitedly, "Good brother-in-law, I knew I didn’t misjudge you!"
Liu Ji lifted a full bowl of wine and suddenly stood up, "Brother-in-law, a toast to you from your brother-in-law!"
"Alright!" Encouraged, Qin Feng joined in without hesitation, waving off the cup for the wine jug to toast back.
Qin Yao watched these two men competing to drink, anticipating the inevitable outcome. Predictably, with two muffled thuds, both collapsed onto the dining table.
Unhurriedly, she picked up the half-filled wine jar, gulped it down "ton ton ton," wiped her mouth with satisfaction, and called for Ah Wang to help carry these two lightweights back to their rooms.
Qin Feng didn’t drink to oblivion; as Qin Yao lifted him, he opened his eyes groggily, stubbornly insisting, "I’m not drunk, sister let go, I can walk."
In reality, his steps were unsteady, as if dancing on air.
Yet still, his competitive spirit remained, looking back for his dear brother-in-law’s figure. Seeing Liu Ji being carried on Ah Wang’s shoulders like a soft noodle, fast asleep, he laughed triumphantly "hahaha."
In her heart, Qin Yao scoffed: So childish.
Maintaining an unruffled expression, she clapped a hand over Qin Feng’s incessantly laughing mouth, as the noise hurt her ears.
That lightweight Liu Ji, didn’t manage to get up at all the next morning.
Contrarily, Qin Feng recovered well, but each time he thought of his foolish antics the previous night, his face flushed under Qin Yao’s teasing gaze.
The siblings set out together to meet with the homeowner in the western part of the city, involving a back-and-forth negotiation for nearly half an hour, finally settling the deal at five thousand eight hundred taels of silver.
Payment was settled on the spot, with the silver provided by Qin Feng and the deed written in Qin Yao’s name, left in her care.
Qin Yao said nothing this time, considering it merely safeguarding this house for her brother. If Qin Feng hit hard times, this property could at least be worth a few thousand taels of silver.
Later on, Qin Feng spent another eight thousand taels to purchase two bustling street shops in the south of the city, one being a two-story building, and the other a medium-sized single-storey store.
Both shops were rented out, ensuring immediate rental income upon purchase.
Originally, he wanted to buy a farm estate, but time ran short. With so many days delayed in the Capital, Qin Feng had to leave urgently, lest he missed the ship to Su City.
On the day Qin Feng left, Qin Yao and her husband personally took the kids to send him off at the docks, watching until his boat departed before leaving.
The siblings agreed to spend the New Year in the Capital together, thinking of the reunion at the end of the year eased the parting sentiment greatly.
Qin Feng decided firmly to cut ties with Yanhong once he reached Su City.
Traveling with Uncle Qi to Wang City, he’d make a serious effort to handle the competitors eyeing their family salt mine.
Then, he’d join his sister’s family in the Capital, spending New Year light-hearted and unburdened.
Gazing into the distance, the Capital was already enveloped in a dense sea fog, and the figure he sought had become a black dot smaller than an ant. A slight shift of his gaze, and it blended into a crowd of small black dots, no longer distinguishable.
