dmims Chapter 310 Invitation
Chapter 310 Invitation
Xiao Qi played wildly on the ice of Houhai Lake all morning, and the other children on the ice rink also benefited, receiving either imported candy or freshly caught fish. Lin Yan and Yang Yong chatted happily, discussing everything from military campaigns to the world situation and international finance, while Lin Yan's long legs, which had nowhere to go, were curled up numbly on the low stool.
"Old Yang, it's almost lunchtime!" Lin Yan rubbed his knees as he stood up. "How about I treat you to some Hunan cuisine from my family? My cook's specialty is stir-fried pork with chili peppers, and the steamed pork with rice flour is so tender and soft, and we also have spicy and sour pork intestines..." He paused deliberately, "Don't you want to try some authentic hometown flavors?"
Yang Yong raised his white eyebrows and pointed at the young man with a finger: "Good lad, so you're already trying to corrupt the old cadres with sugar-coated bullets?" He then deftly put away his fishing rod. "Come on! I'll see what kind of filling is wrapped in your capitalist sugar-coated sugar."
Xiao was trying so hard to suppress his laughter that his shoulders were shaking. Yang Yong swung his hand back and gave him a solid whack on the back of the head: "What are you laughing at, you little brat!"
"Oh, sir!" Xiao rubbed his head and grimaced, "I'm just happy for you!"
Lin Yan bent down and picked up the tired Xiao Qi, while Lin Gang neatly packed up the fishing gear. Reaching the parking lot, Yang Yong circled the black Cadillac twice, tapping the hood lightly with his finger: "Lin family kid, your car is certainly impressive."
He raised an eyebrow at Xiao as he opened the car door: "Still standing there? Hurry up and get in to see the four wheels of capitalism."
The group returned to the courtyard house by car. Lin Yan led the guests through two moon gates and called out towards the kitchen, "Yu Ling, our distinguished guests have arrived. How is the food preparation?"
Wang Yuling, wearing a blue apron and holding a spatula, peeked out from the kitchen: "Young Master, the steamed pork with rice flour will be ready soon, and all the other dishes are prepared."
"Lin Gang," Lin Yan turned and ordered, "go to the wine cellar and fetch a jar of tiger bone wine." Lin Gang responded and left, his footsteps fading into the distance on the blue brick floor.
As soon as the dishes were served, Lin Gang broke the clay seal on the tiger bone wine, and its rich medicinal aroma instantly filled the air. He poured a full bowl of amber-colored liquid for Yang Yong and Guard Xiao, and Lin Yan, raising his chopsticks, said with a smile, "Old Yang, Comrade Xiao, please don't be shy!"
Yang Yong first picked up a chopstick of stir-fried pork with chili peppers. The authentic Liuyang fermented black beans mixed with the lean and fatty local pork made his eyes water with spiciness: "This is the taste! Back when I was recuperating at a villager's house after the war, the old lady cooked this dish for me..." As he spoke, he picked up a few more chopsticks, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his graying temples.
Xiao stared at the table laden with delicacies, his heart pounding with apprehension: the chopped chili fish head used wild giant mud carp, the steamed pork belly with its distinct layers of fat and lean meat, and even the vegetables were just the heart of the bok choy. He sipped his tiger bone wine, his mind racing with alarm bells—this Lin family lad's methods of corrupting people were far too professional!
Suddenly, Xiao Qi stood up, its front paws gripping the edge of the table, and precisely scooped out taro from the steamed pork belly, then snatched the pork belly and began to devour it. Lin Yan helplessly wiped its mouth: "This little devil can even pick out cinnamon and star anise now."
After three bowls of tiger bone wine, Yang Yong felt a warm current flow from his dantian to his limbs, and the old, throbbing joints relaxed. He picked up a piece of spicy and sour pork intestine and examined the chili seeds on the casing against the light: "Xiao Lin, these 'sugar-coated bullets' of yours... prepare more next time, so I can plunder a few more."
After a satisfying meal, Lin Yan gestured for Lin Gang to help the slightly unsteady Xiao to the west wing to rest. Once only the two of them remained in the dining room, Yang Yong put down his teacup and looked intently at Lin Yan: "Young man Lin, with all this ice fishing and Hunan cuisine, just say what you have to say."
Lin Yan lightly twirled the celadon cup in his fingers, a smile playing on his lips. "Old ginger is spicier." He then suppressed his smile, his voice deepening. "Old Yang, our meeting was purely by chance. I have no ulterior motives. I'll just say one thing—if you continue to sit in this position, you might be inviting trouble."
Seeing the old general's brow furrow, he leaned forward: "We two get along well, let me show you a way. Pretend to be sick and take your family back to Liuyang to retire, otherwise..." He tapped his fingertips lightly on the rosewood tabletop, "...and the resulting trouble for your family is no joke."
Yang Yong gripped the armrest of the armchair tightly, his knuckles turning white: "What rumors did you hear?"
"Heavenly secrets cannot be revealed." Lin Yan poured tea, pushing a cup of Junshan Silver Needle tea towards him. "If you carefully consider the recent events, you will naturally understand." As the tea steamed, he picked up Xiao Qi, who was gnawing on a table leg. "That's all I have to say."
The next afternoon, when Lin San gently pushed open the study door, Lin Yan was frowning and deep in thought, staring at the "Nine Revolutions of Elixir Record". Hearing footsteps, he continued to deduce the formulas of the mutual restraint of medicinal properties without looking up, until the cinnabar ink on the Xuan paper blotted out.
"Young Master," Lin Sanli bowed three steps away, "a call came from Xihua Hall; the gentleman wishes to have a casual dinner tonight."
The tip of the wolf-hair brush paused slightly on the character "使" in "君臣佐使".
"Tell the kitchen to add a yam and pigeon egg soup." He put down his brush, letting the cinnabar spread like a sunset crimson on the Xuan paper. "And fetch a jar of century-old mulberry wine."
After Lin San bowed and left the study, the space rippled slightly, and Elder Dan appeared, filling the room with the fragrance of medicine.
"Elder Dan, I'm sorry to trouble you to examine Uncle Zhou's pulse again tonight." Lin Yan greeted him with the courtesy due to a junior.
"Young Master, you flatter this old man." Elder Dan quickly stepped aside to avoid the greeting, his smile deepening. "It is my duty to share your burdens."
At six o'clock in the afternoon, as dusk fell, two Volga cars were quietly parked deep in the alley. The gentleman and his wife, wrapped in thick cotton coats, entered through the back door as if they knew the way well.
Lin Sanhou stood before the hanging flower gate, bowing as he led the guests through a moon gate. The three courtyards were quiet, except for Xiao Qi, who was squatting under the old locust tree playing with snowballs.
"Xiao Qi," Lin San whispered, bending down, "where is the young master?"
The white fluffy dumpling immediately perked up its ears, nimbly leaped over the snow, and soon dragged Lin Yan out from behind the curtain of the main room by his trouser leg.
"Uncle Zhou, Aunt Deng." Lin Yan walked slowly over, carrying Xiao Qi in his arms. The lanterns under the eaves cast a warm glow on his shoulders. He gently patted the little beast in his arms. "This is Grandpa Zhou and Grandma Deng."
Little Seven's golden eyes brightened slightly as it lightly leaped into Madam Deng's arms, its front paws clasped together in a gesture of respect. A joyful child's voice echoed in Lin Yan's mind: "Brother! This grandma has golden light on her body; it's even more comfortable than basking in the sun!"
Mrs. Deng was pleasantly surprised and quickly caught it, exclaiming, "What a clever little thing!" She turned to Lin Yan and smiled, "Your Uncle Zhou was just saying the other day that he hadn't seen you for years, wondering where you've been causing trouble!"
At this moment, Elder Dan emerged from the side room, leaning on his cane, the fragrance of medicine wafting with his steps: "Sir, it's been a long time. This old man greets you!" His gaze swept over the pale blue in the gentleman's eyes, and his long eyebrows furrowed slightly.
Yu Ling's voice came from the direction of the restaurant: "Young Master, the food is ready. Please invite our guests to dine!"
"Uncle Zhou, Aunt Deng, let's talk inside." Lin Yan gestured, "It's freezing outside, don't catch a cold."
The group moved to the warm and inviting dining room. Xiao Qi clung to Madam Deng, refusing to get down. Lin Yan narrowed his eyes, tapping his fingertips lightly on the edge of the table: "Xiao Qi, if you don't behave properly, you'll be eating nothing but boiled vegetables for the next month."
The little white dog, its fur bristling, leaped from Madam Deng's lap with a "whoosh," and eagerly rubbed against Lin Yan's legs, its wet nose lightly touching his palm. Everyone in the room couldn't help but chuckle at the sight. Madam Deng, in particular, laughed until tears welled in her eyes, while Old Master Dan stroked his long beard and shook his head, saying, "This little fellow really knows the young master's temper inside and out."