After the event ended that afternoon, all the guests gathered at the No. 4 brick house of Gu Xie, Lin Zhaoshui, and Meng Xiang’s family while they were preparing dinner.
Because among all the guests, only Gu Xie and Lin Zhaoshui know how to use a traditional earthen stove and are skilled at stir-frying dishes and even steaming rice in a large pot.
In the afternoon, the guests chatted and talked about their own housing situation. The two things they worried about the most were the toilet and the kitchen.
The toilet was a necessary condition and there was nothing that could be done, but if they were more skilled at cooking over a wood fire in the kitchen, at least eating would be more convenient. After learning that Gu Xie and Lin Zhaoshui both grew up in the countryside and were proficient at using earthen stoves, a guest suggested having dinner at their home.
It’s a good opportunity to learn in the kitchen, and since we’re meeting for the first time today, having dinner together will help us get to know each other better.
Since the two hosts, Gu Xie and Lin Zhaoshui, had no objections, the other guests naturally nodded in agreement.
But when you go to someone’s home to learn “techniques” and have meals, you can’t expect them to pay for everything.
After the afternoon’s activities concluded, the guests first went home to collect the leftover groceries they had bought at noon before heading to Gu Xie and Lin Zhaoshui’s place.
The children gathered together and played outside. Gao Shang, who wasn’t very sociable, was among them, but he held his head high with an arrogant expression and didn’t initiate conversation with the other children. The other children didn’t chase him away, but they also didn’t talk to him either.
The adults gathered in the kitchen first.
The kitchen of brick house number four wasn’t large; it felt crowded with many people, and the more people talked, the noisier it became. Once the cooking officially started, it would soon be filled with smoke and flames.
Xuan Zhixia was getting a little uncomfortable and didn’t want to stay there smoking and getting suffocated, so he said to Shang Shuji beside him and left the kitchen.
Everyone’s attention was focused on cooking, and Xuan Zhixia had been very quiet, so no one else noticed his departure for a while.
As soon as Xuan Zhixia stepped out of the kitchen, before even reaching the front door, he could already feel that the air was much fresher.
There are no reclining chairs in the main room, but there is a pear tree in the courtyard with stone benches under it.
Xuan Zhixia came to the courtyard, sat down on the stone bench, and idly stared blankly into space.
The children were not far from him; although he didn’t know what they were playing, thankfully they weren’t making a racket. Xuan Zhixia thought the environment was quite nice.
After a while, Shang Jingqi and Shang Jingshu discovered Xuan Zhixia sitting alone under the tree.
Shang Jingshu shook her head, acting like a little adult: “Sigh, why is he always so miserable? Nobody plays with him anymore.”
Shang Jingqi suggested, “Shall we invite him over to play together?”
Among these children, Mu Zhijun, who was the second oldest but the most mature, asked curiously, “Are you talking about Uncle Xuan?”
Shang Jingshu nodded and said seriously, “He is different from other adults. He is weak. We want to be a little nicer to him, just a little bit, because although we don’t hate him, we don’t like him either.”
Mu Zhijun: “Oh, I don’t quite understand, but some adults don’t like playing with children. We have so many children in our group, so Uncle Xuan might not want to come over. Otherwise, he would have come over when he came out earlier.”
Shang Jingqi: “But… although he doesn’t play with us on his own initiative, he will talk to us when we go to talk to him. Maybe he’s just shy!”
The youngest child, Yao Shuyue, who has a socially awkward mother, said with an air of nonchalance, “I think the older brother over there must really like quiet and be happy being alone, just like my mom. Brother Qiqi and Sister Shushu, you shouldn’t bother the older brother! My mom doesn’t like being called by others when she’s alone.”
Shang Jingqi and Shang Jingshu seemed to be deep in thought.
Then Shang Jingshu said in a serious tone, “Yueyue, he is not an older brother, he is an elder. You should call him uncle like us.”
“Oh…but he doesn’t look like an uncle, he looks like an older brother. Do I have to call him uncle?” Yao Shuyue asked, puzzled.
Meng Xiang, who is rather reserved and rarely speaks up, was also a little puzzled at this moment: “Qiqi, Shushu, I have a question… Isn’t Uncle Xuan your father? Why do you call him uncle?”
Shang Jingqi and Shang Jingshu were a little unsure where to begin explaining this issue.
Mu Zhijun said, “Is it because you already have a father, and calling him ‘Dad’ again might make him confused?”
Yao Shuyue tilted her head: “But, thinking about it, my brother also has two fathers, and he calls both of them ‘Dad’…”
Meng Xiang slowly explained, “Actually, neither father Gu nor father Lin is my biological father. My parents let me go out with them. Before we go home, I have to call them ‘Dad,’ but after we go home, I don’t have to.”
Gu Xie and Lin Zhaoshui, one a popular movie star and the other a relatively unknown third-tier actor, appeared on the show because their “relationship” was exposed. They were temporary family partners with five-year-old Meng Xiang.
When we arrived at Liangshan Village in the morning, the program crew mentioned this situation during the guest introductions, and the children heard it.
Hearing something doesn’t mean you remember it, and remembering it doesn’t mean you can understand the intricacies of it.
Shang Jingshu couldn’t help but ask, “Did you know either of these two fathers before?”
Meng Xiang obediently shook his head: “I don’t know them.”
The children were even more confused.
Meng Xiang looked left and right, hesitated for a moment, and then explained, “But both Mr. Gu and Mr. Lin are very good to me. They cook very well, and we both like spicy food!”
After that, the children played for a while longer.
Shang Jingqi suddenly realized something and asked Shang Jingshu, “Does Uncle not eat spicy food?”
Shang Jingshu was taken aback, then nodded: “That’s right! There was cucumber salad for lunch, only a little spicy, but Uncle didn’t eat it. He said he only eats bland food!”
Shang Jingqi: “It seems like Xiangxiang’s two dads are cooking tonight. Should we go and tell them? Otherwise, if it’s all spicy food, Uncle won’t have anything to eat.”
Shang Jingshu: “That makes sense! But… is Dad in the kitchen too? What if he asks us why we care about Uncle?”
Shang Jingqi was also conflicted.
Shang Jingshu thought for a moment, then clapped her hands: “That’s right! Why don’t we ask Uncle first? He’s an adult, he knows what he can’t eat, maybe he’s already told us!”
Shang Jingqi stood up and said, “Okay!”
The two children rushed over to Xuan Zhixia in a great hurry.
Standing there, Meng Xiang looked a little confused and said slowly, “… father Gu and father Lin…don’t cook all spicy dishes…really.”
Gao Shang, who had been silent all along, spoke up smugly: “I told you, they’re all idiots! So stupid!”
Mu Zhijun frowned unhappily: “That’s called being too concerned to think straight! You’re the stupid one!”
Gao Shang glared at her, snorted, and then fell silent.
Shang Jingqi and Shang Jingshu ran to Xuan Zhixia’s side and told him their worries.
After listening, Xuan Zhixia chuckled and said, “Don’t worry, you guys keep playing.”
Xuan Zhixia prefers a light diet, always using less oil, salt, and seasonings, but he didn’t mention anything in the kitchen just now.
Because so many people are eating together, even if the adults prefer strong flavors, they still have to consider the children’s fragile stomachs, so it’s impossible to come up with a single light dish at the whole table.
Moreover, the chefs were Gu Xie and Lin Zhaoshui, who were the main characters in the original novel.
Based on Xuan Zhixia’s understanding of the original plot and characters, Gu Xie and Lin Zhaoshui are both meticulous people, especially Lin Zhaoshui, who is always considerate of those around him. The dishes and flavors of this meal will not be one-sided.
Seeing Xuan Zhixia’s calm response, Shang Jingqi and Shang Jingshu nodded “Oh,” and then slowly moved back towards the children.
Seeing this, Xuan Zhixia added gently, “But thank you for your concern anyway.”
Upon hearing this, the two children immediately became much more lively.
“You’re welcome!”
“We just suddenly remembered, we weren’t specifically concerned about you!”
Xuan Zhixia remained noncommittal.
It was summer, and it got dark late.
When Xuan Zhixia sat down in the courtyard, the sun had set halfway down.
By the time it was completely dark, the meal, which was a bit crowded but thankfully didn’t have any complicated dishes, was ready.
Xuan Zhixia got up and entered the house one after the other with the children.
Just as Xuan Zhixia had predicted, the meal had almost every flavor in mind, so he wouldn’t be left with nothing to eat.
During the meal, the adults chatted and occasionally served food to their children whose arms were too short.
Someone mentioned that Gu Xie and Lin Zhaoshui had worked hard on dinner tonight. Gu Xie, who was rather cold outside, didn’t answer, but Lin Zhaoshui smiled and said it wasn’t hard work, as everyone had helped out. Someone else praised the food, saying that Gu Xie and Lin Zhaoshui had been busy tonight, and that in the next few days, the other four families could take turns being the head chef for dinner, in a reciprocal manner.
After a meal, the matter was settled.
Xuan Zhixia barely participated in the conversation, suppressing his discomfort from the noise around him, and quietly ate his meal.
After the meal, everyone helped clean up the table and kitchen, and then said goodbye to Gu Xie, Lin Zhaoshui and Meng Xiang.
After leaving house number four, the four families gradually separated and went back to their own homes.
The night was deep, and there were no streetlights in the area. The moonlight and starlight were insufficient to illuminate the path, and there was only a narrow and uneven path. Fortunately, the fields on both sides of the path were overgrown, so it was fine to walk directly on them.
.
Xuan Zhixia and Shang Shuji used their cell phones to turn on their flashlights, letting their two children, Shang Jingqi and Shang Jingshu, walk slowly back to their brick house number five. The cameraman following them at a distance.
After a whole day of running around, even the most energetic kids of this age are tired. Shang Jingshu yawned, and Shang Jingqi, influenced by her, also yawned unconsciously.
“Dad, Uncle, can we go home, take a shower, brush our teeth, and then go to sleep?”
Shang Shuji nodded: “Mm.”
After responding, Shang Shuji thought again—taking a bath requires boiling water, and boiling water requires a fire, so he couldn’t count on Xuan Zhixia.
So, he was the one who worked all day.
Xuan Zhixia initially wanted to bring his two children on the show, but he didn’t agree.
Later, he suggested that the four of them appear on the show together, but now it seems like he volunteered to be the laborer…
Although he couldn’t quite understand it, back in their house, Shang Shuji silently and “swallowed his anger” and started boiling water.
He first added water to the pot with a ladle, then sat down in front of the stove and awkwardly started to tend the fire, but it went relatively smoothly.
Xuan Zhixia watched calmly, thinking to himself that those who had studied were indeed different; even when tending a fire, they were neither hurried nor flustered.
“There’s no showerhead here, so you’ll have to use basins and buckets to hold the hot water for bathing.” After confirming the fire was lit, Shang Shuji said to the two children, “Once the water is hot, Jing Shu will bathe first, then Jing Qi. Is it alright if you bathe yourselves?”
Both Shang Jingqi and Shang Jingshu have no problems.
Although they are not yet five years old, they grew up in an orphanage. The orphanage they live in has ordinary conditions, poor facilities, and insufficient staff. The older children take care of the younger children and do many things themselves.
After the two children finished bathing, Xuan Zhixia, holding his pajamas, calmly asked Shang Shuji, “Is it my turn next?”
Shang Shuji: “…I’m boiling water, and I still have to wash last?”
Xuan Zhixia looked apologetic: “Thank you for your hard work.”
Shang Shuji: “…Your thanks is lacking in sincerity.”
Upon hearing this, Xuan Zhixia blinked gently, his eyes and tone gentle, showing no sign of rebellion as he said, “Is that so… The fortune teller never mentioned this to me.”
Shang Shuji was speechless: “You mean that fortune teller you made up out of nothing, the one who told you it wasn’t a good day to go out?”
Xuan Zhixia is somewhat innocent.
Shang Shuji gave up on trying to argue with him: “Go take a shower. Jingqi and Jingshu aren’t as slow as you.”
Viewers in the live stream commented—
【If all else fails, you two can just shower together :)】
[Yeah, it’s a good opportunity to connect! (I know they don’t have any feelings for each other, I was just joking, but of course I wouldn’t mind if it were true~)]
[Hahaha, Mr. Shang, the only one in your family of four who does all the work!]
[Quick! Move aside! Let my wife shower first! Waaah, my wife is hugging his pajamas!]
[To be serious, President Shang is actually quite accommodating to Xuan Zhixia. Although he doesn’t say nice things, he basically does everything Xuan Zhixia wants.]
[Qiqi and Shushu just said goodnight to Xuan Zhixia… Who remembers their attitude towards Xuan Zhixia at the beginning of today… Tsk tsk!]
[So, are Shang Shuji and Xuan Zhixia going to sleep in the same room and bed tonight?]
[Why not directly install a camera in the bedroom for a live stream?]
[I want to watch it too!!]
After taking a shower and changing into his pajamas, Xuan Zhixia came out with his hair still damp. He dried it with a towel and then used a hairdryer to dry it.
During this time, Shang Shuji also began to take a bath.
The two children had already gone back to their room to sleep, and Xuan Zhixia, after tidying up, also went straight back to his room.
But a moment later, he came out again with a thermos. Back in the kitchen, Xuan Zhixia glanced at the pot; thankfully, there was still water left.
After filling a thermos with hot water, Xuan Zhixia returned to his room and did not come out again.
When Shang Shuji finished tidying up and returned to the room, Xuan Zhixia was already covered with a blanket and lying on the outer half of the bed, his eyes closed, it was unclear whether he was asleep or not.
The stool that was originally placed under the desk was moved by Xuan Zhixia to the bedside, and the thermos was placed on the stool so that he could easily reach it.
The bed in the bedroom is against the wall on the other side, and there are carved wooden railings on both sides of the headboard and footboard, so you can only get into the bed by walking on one side. Xuan Zhixia is currently lying on the outer side, and if Shang Shuji wants to get into the bed, he has to sit up and then “crawl” in.
In short, Shang Shuji felt it was very unseemly. Moreover, sleeping on the inside side was not very convenient.
“Xuan Zhixia,” Shang Shuji said calmly, “move over and sleep inside.”
Xuan Zhixia was indeed not asleep yet, but he didn’t open his eyes when he heard the sound. He lazily refused, “You sleep inside.”
Shang Shuji frowned slightly: “Can’t you cooperate with me this once? Is there any particular rule about sleeping on the inside or outside? The person who gets into bed first should consciously move to the inside instead of causing trouble for the people who come after them.”
Xuan Zhixia opened his eyes, looked at Shang Shuji standing at the head of the bed, blocking part of the light, and said helplessly, “I might need to drink water in the middle of the night, and it’s more convenient to get a water cup if I sleep on the outer side. Is that a good reason?”
Shang Shuji’s gaze followed Xuan Zhixia’s words to the thermos on the stool, and he recalled the dream he had just had… It was also pitch black in the dream, and Xuan Zhixia was groping to get out of bed to drink water…
No wonder the two children looked at Xuan Zhixia with pity this afternoon; he really does easily evoke sympathy in others.
“If we’re really talking about etiquette, the person responsible for serving others in ancient times would sleep on the outer side, since it was more convenient. Mr. Shang, it would seem like your status is higher if you slept on the inner side… Or do you think of it this way?”
Since Shang Shuji did not answer, Xuan Zhixia assumed that the previous reason had failed to convince him, so he spoke again.
Shang Shuji: “…”
Forget about sympathy, Xuan Zhixia is clearly a ridiculous genius who excels at telling nonsense.
“Waiting for you to serve others will last until the mountains crumble and the rivers run dry,” Shang Shuji said coldly.
After saying that, Shang Shuji walked to the wardrobe, took out a quilt from inside and threw it on the inside of the bed, then turned off the light and went to bed.
Xuan Zhixia closed his eyes serenely, detached from worldly affairs.
Each person slept in half of the bed, keeping to themselves, and they slept peacefully.
Xuan Zhixia opened his eyes in the early hours of the morning, feeling tightness in his chest and shortness of breath.
He felt both cold and hot, but not severely cold or severely hot.
Xuan Zhixia raised his hand to touch his forehead, and thought to himself as usual, “Sure enough, I have a low-grade fever again.”