Chapter (14): The Hunter's Feast (part-1)
The buffalo cart finally creaked to a halt in front of Bai Li's house. As Xiao Han helped the little ones down, Bai Li noticed that Bai Mei still looked as though she were simmering with anger.
"Why are you still so upset?" Bai Li asked gently.
"Auntie Jiang is no fool. If she doesn't care for you, she certainly won't care for Zhou Shi, let alone some cousin Zhou Shi drags along. All you need to do is avoid getting into petty squabbles with them."
Bai Mei finally let her pout dissolve into a smile. This was the first time her second brother had offered her such mature guidance.
"I'll listen to you, Second Brother,"
They began unloading the cart. Bai Li handed the bundles of medicinal herbs to Xiao Han.
"I had the apothecary prepare these formulas for you. We've invited the Village Head's family over for dinner tonight, so you'll be busy in the kitchen. Go ahead and start decocting your medicine now."
Xiao Han stared at the three bundles of herbs in disbelief. Medicine was a luxury; he couldn't fathom that Bai Li had actually spent money on three full doses just for him.
Seeing him hesitate, Bai Li looked back.
"Aren't you going to take them?"
"O-oh, yes. Thank you,"
Xiao Han whispered, finally reaching out to take the herbs.
Bai Li sighed inwardly. He knew Xiao Han couldn't accept his change of heart overnight, but the man's constant wariness made him feel uneasy.
The little Ge'ers, however, were much quicker to adapt. They were already clinging to his side, prompted by their aunt Bai Mei's mention of sweets. Bai Li handed them a package of pastries—twelve to a pack. They weren't overly sweet, which was perfect since sugar was a rarity anyway.
"Eat these for now, Mei'er. Save a few for your second sister-in-law to have after his bitter medicine. When you go home, take a whole pack with you. Keep it in Mother's room and have some whenever you like. I'll buy a lock for your room later."
Bai Mei beamed at the promise of a lock. Xiao Han, however, protested frantically.
"N-no, I don't need any! Keep them for the children."
Bai Li didn't argue. In this household, the word of the patriarch was law—a fact he found slightly amusing. He knew how bitter traditional medicine could be; Xiao Han would need the sweets.
Each pack cost twenty copper coins—nearly a full day's wages for a common farmer. Bai Li had bought five packs: one for now, one for Bai Mei, and three to be rationed for the children.
It was nearly three in the afternoon. While the wild boar offal was already cleaned and parboiled, the regular pork offal he'd bought today was still raw. Since they had no well at the house, Bai Li decided to take it to the river to wash, perhaps catching some fish while he was at it.
I really need to dig a well, he thought.
He turned to Xiao Han with instructions.
"I'm heading to the river. Drink your medicine, then start a broth with the trotters and bones from the basket. I'll handle the rest when I get back."
Though he couldn't yet view Xiao Han as a romantic partner, he felt a brotherly protective instinct toward him. Still, communicating was awkward; he couldn't be too formal, yet he refused to be the brute the original Bai Li had been.
Xiao Han, ever submissive, simply murmured, "Understood."
When Bai Mei and the children heard "river," they perked up.
"Second Brother, what are you going to do at the river?" Bai Mei asked.
Though the family lands were near the water, the original Bai Li rarely set foot there.
"Washing the offal," he replied.
Bai Mei wrinkled her nose.
"But Second Brother, that stuff is smelly and filthy! What are you going to do with it?"
Bai Li realized the villagers viewed offal as little more than animal waste. He quickly improvised a story.
"I met a traveler at the gambling den once who had been to distant lands. He said people there clean and cook offal until it's delicious. He even shared some recipes. I figured I'd try it—after all, it costs almost nothing."
Bai Mei looked skeptical but curious.
"Really?"
"We'll see soon enough."
Ultimately, her curiosity won out, and she asked to come along. The little Ge'ers, fascinated by the bamboo basket overflowing with mysterious bits of meat, stood on their tiptoes to peek inside. Bai Li scooped them both up—it was the first time he had ever held them.
"Do you two want to come to the river too?"
Xiaofu and Xiaowu, having basked in their father's uncharacteristic kindness all day, had momentarily forgotten the terrors of his past.
"Can we?" they squeaked.
"Father, I want to go!"
Bai Li found them incredibly precious. He couldn't resist kissing their soft cheeks.
"Alright, but no going near the deep water, okay?"
With their eager agreement, Bai Li settled them on the back of the buffalo. He helped Bai Mei up behind them to keep them steady. He decided to take the ox along to graze; the beast was gentle and posed no threat to the children. Shouldering the heavy basket and carrying a fresh set of clothes, he led the ox toward the river.
Watching them leave from the doorway, a faint, genuine smile finally touched Xiao Han's lips.
Near the river, they ran into Bai Jiang, who was checking on the family plots.
"Second Brother, where are you taking the kids?" Bai Jiang asked.
"I brought back more offal from the city. Just going to wash it," Bai Li replied with a smile.
Bai Jiang stood frozen. Is my brother obsessed with innards? He already had the offal from two wild boars! But seeing the children so happy atop the buffalo, he held his tongue.
"Just keep an eye on them near the water."
"I will, Eldest Brother."
At the riverbank, Bai Li let the buffalo graze and repeated his warnings to Bai Mei and the kids. The water was crystal clear. He made quick work of the offal before stripping down for a fast bath.
Each time he submerged, the children shrieked with excitement, and they burst into giggles whenever his head popped back up. It felt a bit silly, but their joy was infectious.
While bathing, he managed to grab a large, forearm-length fish. When he tossed the thrashing creature onto the bank, the children scrambled back in a mix of terror and delight. After changing into his dry clothes, Bai Li loaded the kids back onto the ox, shouldered his basket, and carried his prize fish home.
By the time they returned, Mother Bai was already at the house. She let out a long sigh of relief.
"Why on earth did you take the children to the river? They don't know any better—what if something had happened?"
"I didn't let them near the edge, Mother," Bai Li said, still smiling.
Mother Bai glanced at his damp hair and the fish.
"And you went in? It's autumn! That's how Xiao Han got sick. If you fall ill too, who's going to manage this house?"
"The sun is high, Mother. The water wasn't cold."
Though she was glad for his change in character, Mother Bai found that this new Bai Li gave her a different set of worries. She opened her mouth to lecture him further, but the children ran to her crying "Grandma! Grandma!", and her heart instantly melted.
"I brought the oil," she said, following him inside.
"Since you insisted on cooking those... parts."
Xiao Han had already explained Bai Li's "foreign recipe" theory to her, so she didn't protest further. "What else are we making? How can I help?"
"Mother, could you and Xiao Han handle the fish? I want to fry it first, then braise it."
Mother Bai's eyes widened at the size of the fish, but the word "fry" made her wince.
"To fry a fish this size... think of how much oil that will use! And then you want to cook it again?"
Bai Li leaned in to explain.
"Mother, we aren't just feeding ourselves. The Village Head's family is coming. Everyone knows I have silver now; we can't afford to look stingy."
Mother Bai threw up her hands. She truly couldn't win against her second son.
"Fine, fine."
Bai Li gutted the fish, discovering it was full of roe.
"Mother, look! Let's make a spicy and sour fish roe soup as well."
"Fine! Cook whatever you want, I'm not saying another word!" she joked, though she gave him a playful glare when he started laughing.
The kitchen soon became a whirlwind of activity. Mother Bai took charge of the braised fish, while Xiao Han prepared the roe soup. Bai Li directed them on the seasoning while Bai Mei was sent back to the main house to fetch more pots.
Bai Li rinsed the offal one last time and pulled out the fresh vegetables he had gathered. He set to work: wild boar heart braised with potatoes, liver stir-fried with bell peppers, crispy fried lungs, and a spicy intestine soup.
He finished the pig bone broth for the children and stir-fried some lean pork with green onions. To round out the feast, he added stir-fried pumpkin leaves and a dish of cabbage scrambled with eggs.
The aroma wafting from the house was so intoxicating that villagers passing by couldn't help but peer over the fence. Bai Mei and the children hovered around the stove like hungry little flies.
When Mother Bai finally tasted the offal dishes, she was stunned. The "stink" was gone, replaced by a savory, rich depth. Even the wild greens Bai Li had found in the forest were delicious.
By the time Bai Jiang and Bai San arrived carrying extra tables and chairs from the main house, the spread looked like a royal banquet.
As evening fell, Father Bai arrived with the Jiang family. Every member of the Bai family was present—even Bai Wu—except for the two daughters-in-law, Zhou Shi and Su Shi.
They had stayed behind, claiming their pregnancies made it too difficult to help with the preparations, waiting instead to be summoned only when the food was ready. But as Mother Bai prepared to go fetch them, Du Shi (the Village Head's wife) spoke up with a look of feigned concern.
Clasping Mother Bai's hand, Du Shi said, "Mo Shi, your daughters-in-law are heavily pregnant and couldn't even help today. It's dark out now; it would be terrible if they tripped or fell on the way here. Why bother making them come? Why not just send some food over to them instead?"