The Delicate Darling with Her Rough Man-Chapter 100 - 99: Helping You
Chapter 99: Preparing Dinner
For lunch, Gu Jiaojiao made herself a simple dough-drop soup.
In the evening, Gu Jiaojiao took out one of the rabbits she had marinated earlier.
She planned to make spicy rabbit and a side of sweet and sour eggs. Once Leng Yuan returned with the meat she’d asked for, she would also make stewed pork with pickled cabbage.
Adding a couple of pieces of tofu would make it even more delicious.
Gu Jiaojiao didn’t have any tofu at home, so she packed up a jin of soybeans and went to the village tofu-maker’s house to trade for a block.
When Gu Jiaojiao returned with the tofu, she saw Leng Yuan coming home, carrying a large bundle of firewood on his shoulder.
Gu Jiaojiao hurried forward to open the door.
"Why did you go up the mountain? You must be so tired!"
’To think he’d worked all day, only to come home and chop firewood.’
Hearing his little woman’s complaint, a slight smile touched Leng Yuan’s lips. The firewood on his back didn’t feel heavy, but her words warmed his heart.
"It will likely snow in the second half of the month, and we won’t be able to go into the mountains then. I’ll bring some back every day from now on, and it should last us a while."
’I’ll stock up more when I’m on leave,’ he thought.
Gu Jiaojiao sighed. They relied on firewood for heat, so they had to stockpile it. Feeling sorry for her husband, she decided the only thing to do was make him more delicious food. She resolved to add extra chili to the spicy diced rabbit later.
Leng Yuan went to the woodshed and stacked some of the thick, neat logs, putting the rest under the eaves. The whole bundle probably weighed two hundred jin.
"Next time, we should borrow Aunt Zhao’s handcart. We can haul a lot more that way."
Leng Yuan was silent for a moment before nodding. "I’ll figure something out."
Gu Jiaojiao nodded.
She never doubted his words. This man gave her a complete sense of security.
"Where’s the meat I asked you to buy?"
Leng Yuan took a paper-wrapped package from on top of the firewood and handed it to Gu Jiaojiao.
Gu Jiaojiao listed the dishes she was making for their guest.
Three meat dishes was an incredibly lavish meal, something one might not even get during the New Year.
Coupled with Gu Jiaojiao’s excellent cooking skills, Leng Yuan felt a flicker of anticipation.
Gu Jiaojiao heated up some water, and Leng Yuan took it to the woodshed to wash up. By the time he came out, she had already started cooking and urged him to go get Chen JianShe.
Leng Yuan grunted in acknowledgment and left.
He returned by himself a short while later.
Gu Jiaojiao glanced over but didn’t see Chen JianShe. She asked, puzzled, "Where’s Chen JianShe?"
A dangerous glint entered Leng Yuan’s eyes.
’My little woman...’ he thought, an ironic smile playing on his lips. ’Ever since I got home, she asked about me a couple of times, and then it’s been all Chen JianShe this, Chen JianShe that.’
"Jiaojiao, you seem very concerned about JianShe."
Gu Jiaojiao belatedly registered the exceedingly dangerous tone in his voice. Recalling how he had tormented her last time, she instinctively shrank back.
"Hehe, not at all, honey. Why don’t you go to the room and work on your article? I’ll call you when dinner is ready."
That one syrupy-sweet "honey" was enough to make the man’s eyes darken considerably.
But Gu Jiaojiao, oblivious, even gifted him a brilliant smile before turning back to the kitchen to continue her work.
Leng Yuan stared at the kitchen doorway for a moment but didn’t go in to help.
’I need to cool down.’
He returned to their room, took out some paper, and began to write.
’Writing can calm a person down!’
In the kitchen, the chilies and Sichuan peppercorns were ready. The oil was hot. The rabbit meat, chilies, and peppercorns went into the wok together. With a SIZZLE, a spicy fragrance mingled with the aroma of meat and instantly filled the entire room.
The kitchen door was open.
The aroma drifted straight out into the courtyard.
Thankfully, they had no nearby neighbors, or the smell would have made children cry with hunger.
Inside the room, the window was open. Leng Yuan was sitting by it, writing. He had just finished two lines when the overpowering aroma wafted in. His pen paused. He got up, closed the window, and sat back down to continue writing. But after just two more words, he was stuck.
His mind was completely filled with the scent of delicious food.
With a helpless smile, he set his pen on the desk, stood up, and headed straight for the kitchen.
The kitchen wasn’t large, and Leng Yuan’s tall frame made it seem even smaller as he walked in.
Gu Jiaojiao was a little confused. "What’s wrong? I don’t need your help here. Go on, get back to your work."
The newspaper office had called a couple of days ago to press him for his articles, asking him to mail two more pieces over in the next couple of days.
