The whole family noisily entered the courtyard, only to see Yan Feng'an, dressed in a blue robe, standing with his hands behind his back under the eaves, gazing with a slightly solemn expression at the lingering red glow on the distant horizon.
The setting sun's afterglow fell upon his tall, slender frame, lending him an air of loneliness. One look at him and anyone could tell he was a delicate, frail scholar.
The moment they saw him, the Yan family members, who had been chatting and laughing, all fell silent at once. Yan Feng'an collected his thoughts and slowly walked toward them, calling out to Yan Shichang and Chen Lanfang: "Father, Mother."
Hearing this address, Yan Shichang's stern face softened a little: "The wind is strong outside. Why aren't you lying down inside?"
Yan Feng'an said, "You were out for so long without returning, and I was worried, so I came out to have a look."
Yan Fuqiu weighed the reed-flower chicken in his hands: "With me and Big Brother here, what is there to worry about? Could it be you're afraid we'd be at a disadvantage?"
He Jin reached out and pinched Yan Fuqiu's arm: "You're a big, burly man—why would Third Brother worry about you? He's worried about his husband."
Seeing everyone's gaze land on him, Wen Xi's cheeks grew hot despite himself.
Yan Feng'an knew he was thin-skinned, so he gave a faint laugh and changed the subject.
"Did you catch these chickens at the Zhao family's place?"
Yan Fuqiu nodded proudly. "Big Brother and I caught them together. Impressive, right?"
As soon as he said it, he regretted it a little. Third Brother usually looked down on their rough-and-tumble antics, and he was probably about to be scolded for being crude again.
But Yan Feng'an's face showed admiration as he said, "Truly impressive. If it were me, I could never match my two older brothers' skill."
Such humble words were rare coming from him. Yan Fuqiu said happily, "What are you saying, Third Brother? Sure, you can't fight like me and Big Brother, but you're far better at your studies than the two of us."
Yan Feng'an replied, "Perhaps that's what they call everyone having their own strengths."
As rare as this scene of brotherly harmony was, everyone was tired and hungry—it was hardly the time for mutual flattery. The somewhat impatient Yan Wangchun said, "Aiya, you two, enough with the strengths and weaknesses. Father, Mother, tell us first—what should we do with these chickens?"
The two reed-flower chickens were loud and plump, though who knew if they would lay eggs. Chen Lanfang had no intention of killing them for now: "Put them in a cage with the other chickens for now."
"No!" Yan Shichang stopped her. "Chickens are the worst at bullying newcomers. If you put them in our chicken coop, those beasts probably won't quiet down all night. Tie them up in the backyard with rope for now, and we'll deal with them in a few days."
Yan Wangchun thought this made good sense, so he went with Yan Fuqiu to the backyard to tie up the chickens.
By now it was getting late, so Chen Lanfang stopped dilly-dallying and turned to go to the kitchen to cook.
Although she had volunteered to cook, the daughters-in-law couldn't possibly let her work alone.
Seeing Li Wan busy tending the fire and He Jin busy cleaning the wild rabbit, Wen Xi also slipped into the kitchen and sorted out the small fish he had caught in the river that day.
After soaking in the wooden basin for over an hour, the little fish had spat out all the mud and sand in their mouths. Their scales were extremely thin and didn't need to be scraped off—he only had to cut open their bellies with scissors and remove the innards.
The whole point of gathering these things was to make soup. After washing them clean, Wen Xi pan-fried the small fish, then once they turned slightly golden, scooped them out into the clay pot reserved for Yan Feng'an's meals, added a few ginger slices, filled it with water, and set it on the stove to simmer slowly.
He handled all this with practiced, deft movements, nothing like his usual foolish, timid manner.
Chen Lanfang watched, her heart churning with mixed feelings, and made further calculations.
Fresh rabbit hotpot required fresh lettuce stems to achieve that flavor, but the season wasn't right, and there was nothing suitable to substitute at home. In the end, Chen Lanfang used the available ingredients to make rabbit with black beans and chili peppers, plus three seasonal vegetable dishes.
The small fish didn't hold up to long simmering; by the time her dishes were ready, Wen Xi's fish soup was done too.
The fish, pan-fried before stewing, produced a milky-white broth with a rich aroma. The moment it was set on the table, the two children leaned over, sniffing hard with their noses, exclaiming over and over, "Smells so good, smells so good!"
Once the food was laid out, the Yan family members all took their seats.
Yan Feng'an had been recovering quite well these past few days. Though his food still had to be prepared separately, he no longer needed it brought to his room.
It was rare for the whole family to sit together for a meal, so the old couple at the head of the table both showed some delight.
The two little ones still ate on their small stools. After a while, Tao'er came over cradling her bowl and hid behind He Jin, whispering, "Dad, I want some fish soup."
He Jin stroked her head and gently coaxed her, "That soup is for your Third Uncle, made by Uncle Xiaoxi. Be good, Tao'er. If you want soup, Dad will make it for you next time."
Tao'er's eyes showed an unconcealable longing for the fish soup, but she nodded obediently and said sweetly, "Then I'll have it next time."
Though her voice was small, everyone present heard it clearly.
Wen Xi opened his mouth, wanting to say something reassuring, but then thought—with so many people in this household, even the smallest trifles weren't his call to make.
If even He Jin wouldn't let the child have soup, he certainly dared not say anything.
His elder brother and his husband had spent all these years caring for their parents, managing the household, and supporting his studies—it was no easy thing. Yan Feng'an was grateful for what they'd given, and that affection extended to the two children, whom he held dear.
Seeing how obedient Tao'er was, his heart softened: "If you want it, drink it now. Why wait until next time?" He reached a hand toward her. "Bring your bowl over, and Third Uncle will fill it for you."
Tao'er froze, glancing at her father and dad, but her longing for the fish soup overcame everything else, and she carefully handed her bowl to Yan Feng'an.
Tao'er was not yet four, and the small fish had little meat and many bones, so Yan Feng'an only ladled her the broth: "Drink slowly, mind it's hot."
Seeing that Tao'er got fish soup, Tiezhu immediately brought his own bowl over: "Third Uncle, I want some too!"
"You greedy little thing, you want everything," Li Wan said, giving his bottom a light pretend-smack.
"Tiezhu found the rabbit today, and that deserves praise. Besides the soup, Third Uncle will reward you with a fish as well, all right?"
"Yes!" Tiezhu was so happy he nearly jumped up. "Tomorrow I'll go look over there again—maybe I'll find another rabbit!"
Yan Wangchun tapped the tip of his nose: "Look at you, so pleased with yourself. Things don't work out that well."
Chen Lanfang laughed. "All right, all right, enough chattering. Hurry up and eat, or the food will get cold."
The two children sat there chattering away, praising how delicious the fish soup was. Listening to them, a smile tugged at the corner of Wen Xi's mouth, and his heart felt as sweet as if he had drunk the fish soup himself.
Just as he was enjoying himself, several pieces of rabbit meat suddenly appeared in his bowl. Wen Xi looked up to see who had picked them out for him, only to watch Yan Feng'an place a small fish into his bowl as well.
"You were worn out today, and you got hurt too. Eat more to build yourself back up."
The slap mark on Wen Xi's face had not yet faded. Chen Lanfang said, "That's right, fish soup is the most nourishing thing. In a bit, Xiaoxi, you drink plenty of it too."
Wen Xi hadn't expected to get a share of the fish soup, and was just about to politely decline when he heard Li Wan say, "Third Brother, you don't know how fierce Xiaoxi was at the Zhao family today. He grabbed that old Zhao woman by the hair and beat her."
He Jin joined in on the topic: "He even called you a white crane, and said Zhao Shoutian was a mangy dog."
Wen Xi nearly bit his tongue listening to this. It had indeed happened more or less like that, but why did it sound so awkward coming out of their mouths?
"Really?" Yan Feng'an looked at Wen Xi, who was practically burying his head in his bowl, and found it hard to imagine how someone whose temperament resembled a quail's could have said such things, and under what circumstances.
"So many people saw it—how could it be fake? Honestly, Xiaoxi really impressed me this time."
"Repaying every grudge—that's what people of our family are like. Come, come, eat more."
Chen Lanfang showed no favoritism, serving food into all three daughters-in-law's bowls as well.
The food in Wen Xi's bowl piled up into a little mountain. He was touched, but afraid someone might see his emotions, he quickly lowered his head and took a couple bites of rice.
In more than a decade of life, this was the first time he learned that a family eating together could be such a warm and happy thing—no exclusion, no curses, and no one complaining that he ate too much.
In all his years, he had never been protected by anyone; when he was bullied, no one ever stood up for him. After today, he finally had some real sense of being one of the Yan family.
It wasn't until the crescent moon climbed up over the treetops that the day was truly over.
After the lamps were put out, the air carried the familiar coolness of autumn. Wen Xi lay stiff and straight on the bed like a corpse, not daring to move.
The doctor at the follow-up visit had said Yan Feng'an's mind was now no different from an ordinary person's. Aside from the medicinal soup to consolidate his recovery, once the calming medicine for his hands was finished, he wouldn't need to take any more.
Yan Feng'an had finished the last of the previously prescribed calming medicine the night before, so tonight he would finally be spared that torment.
He might be comfortable now, but Wen Xi was a nervous wreck, on tenterhooks. At the slightest sound from Yan Feng'an's side, he would go on high alert, not daring to make a peep.
Yan Feng'an sighed, and couldn't help but doubt what Li Wan had said at the dinner table. Could someone as timid as Wen Xi really have beaten someone?
That sigh fell into Wen Xi's ears and frightened him all the more. He tensed his body, clenched his fists, and took on a defensive posture.
Yan Feng'an could bear it no longer. Propping himself up, he said, "If you find it unbearable, go make yourself a bed on the floor."
Without a word, Wen Xi rolled up his blanket and made to lie down on the ground.
He had only meant the words as a jab, never expecting Wen Xi to actually do it. Yan Feng'an was left utterly exasperated. Grabbing him by the collar, he said, "The autumn nights are bitterly cold—do you really intend to sleep on the floor?"
Wen Xi answered in a small voice, "But wasn't that what you told me to do?"
When he should have been obedient, he wasn't. Yan Feng'an said helplessly, "Just lie down properly. We haven't finished our twenty sentences for today, and we can't sleep anyway. Keep me company and chat with me."
Wen Xi hesitated a moment, pulled free of Yan Feng'an's hand, and slowly lay back down.
He wasn't used to striking up conversations with people, but he wanted to finish those twenty sentences sooner rather than later. After thinking for a long while, he said, "Mom suffered at Liu Jinhua's hands, so I helped her out—I pulled out some of that old woman's hair."
"So you do know how to help. You're not a complete fool after all. But I'd bet your hands and feet were shaking the whole time you did it."
"How did you know?" Wen Xi turned his head in surprise. The two of them were face to face, their breath mingling together.
Yan Feng'an's voice was a little lower than it had been in the daytime. "It's obvious."
The words seemed to carry a hint of mockery for being too timid, so Wen Xi hurriedly added, "I also hit Zhao Shoutian. He slapped me, so I paid him back with a few whacks of the broom. You could say I got my revenge."
"That's exactly how it should be. Even animals bare their teeth when they're hurt, let alone people. After making such a scene today, anyone who thinks about bullying you in the future will have to think twice." After affirming Wen Xi's actions, Yan Feng'an continued, "But why would Zhao Shoutian attack you out of nowhere?"
This question made Wen Xi flinch inwardly, but before his emotions could gather, Yan Feng'an's next words scattered them.
"What I mean is, did you accidentally offend him before, or was he acting on someone's orders?"
Wen Xi fell silent for a moment, carefully recalling what Zhao Shoutian had said, and picked out the key point. "He said I stole my brother's marriage. He was probably standing up for my brother."
Yan Feng'an understood at once, and his tone grew colder. "Your brother is really something. He's clearly a snob who only knows how to enjoy the good times and can't weather hardship, yet he insists on playing the pure, innocent victim. How does he manage to have every good thing in the world go his way?"
In all the time they'd spent together, this was the first time Wen Xi had heard him use such a frosty tone—and about Wen Liu, no less. He couldn't help murmuring, "You never used to talk about him like that."
"You're wrong. I've always hated him."
Wen Xi was about to argue back when Yan Feng'an pulled up the blanket and covered him with it, yawning. "It's getting late. Sleep."
Perhaps infected by the weariness in his voice, Wen Xi yawned too. Somewhere in the middle of their conversation, the tension in his heart had quietly melted away, and his stiff limbs finally found a comfortable position to rest in.
Listening to Yan Feng'an's steady, light breathing, exhaustion swept over Wen Xi, and the moment his eyelids touched, he sank deep into sleep.