“That’s right, eldest grandson. Listen to your grandma. Your grandpa and I can’t eat much. Today, your second and third uncles’ families are all benefiting from my eldest grandson!”
“I’ll have to talk to them properly later. They mustn’t forget my eldest grandson’s kindness!”
At that moment, the old master had already lit the fire and was adding firewood to the stove.
Lu Ping’an didn’t refuse. He smiled and nodded. “Alright, Grandpa, Grandma. I’ll listen to you. I’ll go fetch some water.”
He picked up the enamel basin and walked toward the water jar. While the two elders weren’t paying attention, he secretly filled most of it with spiritual spring water.
Soon, the pheasant was stewing.
After chatting with his grandparents for a while, Lu Ping’an took his leave. Only the little girl was at home, and he wasn’t at ease leaving her alone too long.
The two elders walked him to the door and only turned back after his figure disappeared from sight.
When Lu Ping’an returned home, he saw that the little girl had tended the fire well and couldn’t help but feel relieved.
He began cleaning the pheasant’s innards. The intestines and organs were all good ingredients.
Halfway through, he checked on the pheasant blood. He inserted a chopstick into it—no blood seeped out—so he quickly took it off the heat.
It couldn’t steam any longer, or it would turn tough.
He searched around the house and soon found vinegar and dried chili peppers.
He chuckled. In his previous life, he had learned quite a few dishes. These two were simple for him.
He made a sour-and-spicy pheasant blood dish, then stir-fried the pheasant offal. Soon, the entire kitchen was filled with an irresistible aroma.
The little girl’s saliva kept dripping. She wiped her mouth several times.
Unable to bear it, Lu Ping’an took a bowl, put two pieces of pheasant blood into it for her, and let her sit at the table to eat.
Just as the dishes were finished, Father and Mother returned from work.
Lu Fajia had gone to the city early that morning to settle the job arrangements, then rushed back to work in the fields.
But today was the last day. Tomorrow, he would head to the city to handle the household registration and grain ration transfer procedures.
“So fragrant! Why does it smell like it’s coming from our house?”
Second Sister Lu Yunxia swallowed and spoke.
Li Xiuzhi laughed. “You silly child, what nonsense are you talking about? It’s just Ping’an and the little girl at home. Who would cook for you?”
Lu Fajia sniffed the air, his eyes lighting up. “Wife, I think the smell really is coming from our house!”
Once Father said that, Mother became unsettled and hurried toward the kitchen. The closer she got, the stronger the fragrance became.
As soon as they stepped inside, they saw steaming dishes already set on the table.
“Wow! It smells amazing!”
Lu Yunqiu shrieked and rushed to the table. Seeing the big bowl of stewed pheasant, she gasped and quickly covered her mouth.
Lu Fajia, Li Xiuzhi, and Lu Yunxia also came over, stunned by the sight.
There were four dishes in total: clear-braised pheasant, sour-and-spicy pheasant blood, stir-fried pheasant offal, and a plate of stir-fried wild greens.
The greens had been cooked with a piece of yellow fat from the pheasant’s belly, making them look especially appetizing.
Gulp…
Lu Yunqiu and Lu Yunxia swallowed at the same time. They had already been starving—now they felt even hungrier.
“Son, what exactly is going on?”
Mother looked at Lu Ping’an in surprise. She hadn’t known her son could cook.
Father was equally curious.
“Dad, Mom, I know! Big Brother is amazing! He caught two pheasants today!”
“He gave one to Grandpa and Grandma, and stewed the other!”
The little girl excitedly explained before Lu Ping’an could speak.
Lu Ping’an quickly smiled and said, “Dad, Mom, Second Sister, Third Sister—let’s eat first. I’ll explain while we eat.”
Father nodded eagerly. “Yes, yes, let’s eat first!”
He hurried back to his room and took out his treasured half-bottle of Red Star Erguotou liquor.
He had kept it for a long time but never opened it because there had never been any good dishes to go with it.
“Wash your hands. Time to eat!”
Mother urged them on. Though she had many questions, she was indeed hungry.
“Wow! White rice porridge!”
Lu Yunqiu exclaimed again. It felt like New Year’s Day to her.
Father and Mother were also surprised. They exchanged a glance, assuming the rice had been brought by the old master and old madam, and didn’t ask further.
The family gathered and began eating.
Once they started, no one said a word—it was too delicious.
Everyone ate their fill.
Father and Mother even felt as though the day’s exhaustion had vanished. Their spirits were noticeably better.
They assumed it was the nourishing effect of the pheasant, unaware that the true reason was the spiritual spring water.
The spring water was nourishing their bodies, helping them recover quickly.
Meanwhile, things were lively at the old master and old madam’s house.
Lu Huojia and Lu Baojia’s families were all gathered there.
“Mother, Ping’an is such a good child. He’s so young and already knows how to be filial to you!”
Second Aunt Lian Wene said gratefully.
She herself didn’t mind much, but her daughters were as thin as sticks. As a mother, her heart ached.
But everyone was struggling to survive. There was little she could do.
Hearing her second daughter-in-law praise her eldest grandson, the old madam beamed.
“Of course! My eldest grandson is the most filial. He caught two pheasants and immediately sent one over!”
“He even said that Second Uncle and Third Uncle’s families hadn’t had meat in a long time—everyone should taste some together!”
“My eldest grandson thought of all of you, not just us.”
Without hesitation, the old madam credited everything to her eldest grandson.
It had clearly been her idea, but she insisted it was her grandson’s.
“Exactly! If my eldest grandson ever needs anything from you in the future, you’d better lend a hand!”
“My eldest grandson is blessed. In the future, you’ll all benefit from him!”
The old master quickly chimed in, helping build up his grandson.
“Father, Mother, don’t worry. Ping’an is our own nephew. In the future, these sisters will rely on him to stand up for them!”
“We treat Ping’an like our own son. We may wrong anyone else, but never Ping’an!”
Third Aunt Zhang Jinlian quickly added. She knew very well how much the old master and old madam adored their eldest grandson.
And she was telling the truth. On the Lu family side, Ping’an was the only male heir.
In the future, when the daughters married and moved to their husbands’ families, if they were bullied, wouldn’t it be Ping’an, as their brother, who would stand up for them?
Second Uncle Lu Huojia smiled as well. “Father, Mother, don’t worry. We would never treat Ping’an unfairly.”
Lu Baojia also quickly voiced his stance. The atmosphere was harmonious.
As for the younger generation, they naturally didn’t dare interrupt. Speaking in front of Grandpa and Grandma wouldn’t carry much weight anyway.
But being able to eat meat and drink meat broth today, they all felt deeply grateful toward Lu Ping’an.