In the following days, Chen Qiusheng and the other two seldom went out.
Zhao Cheng'an was ordered by Chen Qiusheng to stay at home and forbidden to go out, while Chen Ping'an sometimes went out briefly in the late afternoon, and Chen Qiusheng would sneak out every night for several hours. To prevent Zhao Cheng'an from feeling unfair about being the only one not allowed to go out, he was indulged with food during his confinement.
He picked only the best foods, eating whatever was precious. Smoked chicken, bacon, pig's head meat, offal, white rice, white flour, pastries, candied fruits, nuts—all were available to eat, most of which ended up in Zhao Cheng'an's stomach.
Chen Ping'an had a small appetite due to his poor health, and Chen Qiusheng, because of his age, couldn't eat much meat. Only Zhao Cheng'an would eat with full force, wishing he could eat Xia Mubing's share too.
