Hotspot
Wu Mei told Xu An, who was still eating, after Xu Ran had gone "Dear, Xu Ran frequently feeds us. Maybe we should return the favor, or I'll be embarrassed to see him at his home."
Xu An quickly completed his lunch in his bowl and responded, "You are correct. During the Spring Festival, he might invite us. Let's prepare a supper for our visitors tomorrow. We must also be invited to supper by the other two families. Then we'll be able to eat a large lunch every day until New Year's Eve."
Wu Mei smiled as she heard Xu An's words. "That's great! Now eat quickly and plan what you'll make for dinner tomorrow. During the winter, only a few dishes may be produced, therefore Xu Ran must consume them at home. Now that we've added two more people to the party, we'll have to come up with something fresh."
Xu An was uninterested in responding "Why do you spend so much time thinking? Simply plan a daily meal. Why don't you cook some for Liu Tong, who like our Zha Cai (pickled mustard plant stems)? In terms of their family's visitors, Zhuo Yun does not appear to be picky, thus he must be simple to satisfy."
"Okay, I'll do my usual cooking. By the way, aren't we the ones who bought two fish? I'm sure I can make one for Liu Tong. He like sour and spicy foods. Since he is no longer in postpartum confinement, he has no restrictions on what he eats. He must be content."
Xu An didn't have any objections. "Up to you. I can buy fish when they are sold again."
Then, the two of them decided the invitation.
The other two families also expressed their embarrassment at being treated so regularly, according to Xu Ran. Xu Ran didn't mind because his families would eat even if there were no visitors. Besides, these folks had been extremely helpful to him.
In any case, Xu Ran thought so. Then, he invited Wu Lan and Liu Qing, and they promised to come in the evening.
Then, Xu Ran went home. It was the first time for them to eat hotpot, and there were many things to be prepared. Shao Yu must feel overwhelmed. And he didn't know much about the hotpot.
When Xu Ran returned, he immediately proceeded to the living room, where he found Zhuo Yun and Qin Shuwen hugging and playing with two babies on beds. His tiny Baozi was one, and his tiny Qinshu was the other. Apart from them, Xu Ran saw no one else and inquired, "What happened to the others? Why are you looking after little Baozi?"
While taunting Baozi, Zhuo Yun added, "Your Liu Tong went to lend a hand in the kitchen. Mr. Hu set out to locate someone with whom he could play chess. I'm not sure where Tangtang, Guoguo, and Gao Quan have gone."
Then, Xu Ran told Zhuo Yun to take good care of Baozi and went to the kitchen.
And he saw Shao Yu was cutting vegetables while talking to Liu Tong.
Shao Yu enquired, "I'm curious as to what the master would do. Why does he require so many vegetables from me? It's a bit too much for us."
Liu Tong smiled and responded, "Isn't it true that he like these unusual and intriguing things? Fortunately, it's chilly outside now, so the food can easily be kept fresh. It's alright if we don't go through them all tonight. Simply eat them the next day."
Shao Yu replied, "Right!"
Hearing their conversation, Xu Ran walked over to Liu Tong. "Let me cut the vegetables, Tongtong. Don't touch cold water now."
Liu Tong refused. "You cut your finger last time, don't you remember? The New Year's Eve's coming. I don't think it wise to let you cut anything."
Xu Ran felt wronged, "It was just an accident! You can't stop me from cutting vegetables because of it!"
Liu Tong smiled, "Yes, I can! Go ahead with your work. Why are you preparing so many vegetables?"
Xu Ran turned around mysteriously. "You'll know the answer tonight. I'll go to clean a big iron basin and make delicious food for you."
He replied as if teasing a kid.
Again, Liu Tong couldn't help laughing.
Xu Ran's pots were overly huge, and eating hotpot in them was inconvenient. As a result, Xu Ran desired to create a pot with a large iron basin. There were two vegetable-washing basins that could also be used as pots if they were scrubbed and sanitized in boiling water first. The only problem was that after cleaning, the basin would fade.
Xu Ran wondered if Liu Tong would beat him up.
Anyway, he would make the hotpot tonight.
Xu Ran began preparing the hotpot base after washing the iron basin. Pepper and chile were the two main elements. There were a slew of additional additives added as well. Liu Tong and Shao Yu had also been busy for the better part of the afternoon completing numerous preparations.
Xu Ran asked them to have a rest and wait for the guests including Wu Mei.
"Did you invite Wu Mei and the others over here?" Liu Tong asked.
Xu Ran nodded. "Yes. What's up?"
Liu Tong shook his head. "Nothing. I was just worried that they would feel embarrassed to have dinner with us so frequently."
Xu Ran touched his nose and thought, 'Tongtong was so considerate.'
Liu Tong could tell what Xu Ran was thinking just by looking at him. He stated with a smile, "In our village, there are few pleasant events, thus few individuals would welcome guests to their homes. The majority of individuals nowadays are frugal, and their diets are usually simple. Few people, like us, would occasionally treat others to meals."
Hearing that, Xu Ran understood it instantly. Indeed! He invited his friends to dinner too frequently.
Then, he told Liu Tong, "It's alright. The Spring Festival's coming. It would be next year if we invite them after the festival. Anyway, it's the last time this year!"
Liu Tong remained silent when he heard this. He didn't like that Wu Mei had eaten with them so frequently, but he was worried that this might cause them to grow apart.
____
Wu Mei and the others arrived when it was almost dark. They had baskets in their hands, which included a variety of veggies. When Liu Tong opened the door, he discovered the items in the basket. "Why are you guys bringing so much food here?" he inquired, surprised.
Wu Mei walked into the house with the basket, followed by Xu An and their two children.
Wu Mei's response was, "Xu Ran had requested that we bring these items. He claimed he was planning to cook something new and wonderful, but you didn't have enough different kinds of vegetables, so I gathered some from my garden, despite how small they are."
Liu Tong snatched the basket from Wu Mei and asked, "How could he do such a thing?! When he invited you to dinner, how could he ask you to bring vegetables? What if you're humiliated and don't want to come back? Please accept my apologies!"
Wu Mei smiled, "Nothing! We knew him well! Just a few vegetables. Don't mind it!"
Xu An answered, "Right!" There must be a reason for Xu Ran to ask for vegetables. I'm quite curious about that."
Liu Tong shook his head. "I have no idea what he's going to do. After lunch, he requested Shao Yu to start making preparations in the kitchen. I've sliced a lot of vegetables with Shao Yu. After he returned, Xu Ran was busy in the kitchen for quite some time. He's going to start moving bricks now."
"In any case, we'll find out tonight. Let's see what happens! You are welcome to bring this basket into the kitchen. Xu An and I have come to sit and wait. Xu Ran must have invited my brother to supper as well."
"Okay," Liu Tong nodded and took the basket to the kitchen.
Dahu and Yueya'er didn't notice Tangtang and Guoguo when they entered the yard. Then they dashed into the living room and discovered no one, so they hurried to Liu Tong to inquire.
"Daddy Liu Tong, where are Tangtang and Guoguo? Have they gone out?"
Liu Tong nodded. "Tangtang, Guoguo, and Gao Quan have gone out together. They'll come back soon. Are you feeling cold? It's snowing outside. Why don't you warm yourselves by the fire?"
"No, We'll go to find them," said Dahu and Yueya'er.
They were quickly stopped by Liu Tong "I'm not sure where they went, Dahu, Yueya'er. Don't run around because it's snowing outside. Perhaps you might go get Gouzi and the others."
Dahu though for a while and agreed with Liu Tong.
Then, he nodded and replied, "OK, Daddy Liu Tong. We'll go to pick Gouzi up."
Waiting at the door, Wu Mei and Xu An saw the two children running outside and asked where they were going.
Dahu answered, "Daddy Liu Tong asked us to pick Gouzi up. Are you going with us, Daddy?"
Thinking that Liu Qing's family must have brought things over, Wu Mei was worried about letting the two children out by themselves, so he nodded, "Alright, I'll go with you."
Neither of the youngsters asked Xu An if he wanted to accompany them. Left alone, Xu An grinned helplessly and went into the living room to speak with Zhuo Yun. Then he noticed Xu Ran laying bricks together, as if he were putting forth a stove.
Xu Ran was almost done with it. It stands at a considerable height. People could sit around it and have meals if it was a little taller and had a pot on it. Xu Ran finished the stove and set a brazier on top of it. He appeared to measure the height and size before returning the brazier. Then he dashed out the door, not even bothering to greet Xu An.
Xu An asked Zhuo Yun, "What's he doing? He didn't even say a word to me."
Zhuo Yun shook his head. "Nobody knows. He has been busy with it for a long time. I wanted to help him but he refused me."
Xu An shook his head and sat down with confusion on his face.
Xu An and Zhuo Yun then began playing Five in a Row. Shao Yu was asked to watch after tiny Baozi by the latter. Xu Ran returned with another brazier in his hand, containing mounds of flints, not long after he had gone out.
After setting the brazier down, Xu Ran took a few glowing stones from the living room brazier and built a fire. Xu An was ready to ask a few inquiries when Xu Ran suddenly vanished...
Xu An felt more speechless.
Xu Ran took a few steps back and forth. He carried over a large iron basin with half a basin of water after the fire was out. Many objects were floating on the water's surface, notably chili and pepper.
The water had a distinct odor even before it began to boil. Xu Ran exhaled a sigh of relief and wiped the sweat from his forehead after placing the iron basin on the brazier.
Then he greeted Xu An, "Hey, when did you come over, Xu An? I didn't even notice it."
Xu An replied, "Well... actually I've been here for a while. You were busy just now, so I didn't talk to you."
Zhuo Yun, who seemed to be fed up with Xu Ran, finally couldn't help asking him, "Are you going to treat us to it tonight, Xu Ran?"
Xu Ran nodded. "That's right. You'll like it."
Zhuo Yun swallowed as he glanced at the hot chili in the iron basin. It looked appealing, and he was interested to see how it tasted.
Xu Ran observed Zhuo Yun's expression and said, "Patience is needed. After everyone has arrived, you can taste it. Now, please take care of the fire on my behalf. If the fire is about to go out, add some flints. There are flints at the door... and don't build a big fire... just enough to boil the water. Thank you! I'm going to look at the attendance."
06.03.21