CHAPTER 105: CHAPTER 105: MAKE SURE TO VISIT OFTEN (2)

The other four were startled, running around aimlessly inside the basket.

Li Yuzhu was very scared, quickly snatching the chick from his hand, "Jingjing, you need to be good, okay? These chicks can’t handle being squeezed; they feel pain."

"Do they feel pain too?" Li Jing was incredulous, eyes wide, turning to look at Li Yuzhu.

"Of course they do. Didn’t it keep chirping when you were holding it just now?"

"But it didn’t cry."

Li Yuzhu, "..." Deep breath! This is my nephew, by blood, don’t get angry, "Chicks don’t cry, they chirp. If they’re unhappy, they chirp non-stop."

Li Xing’an wasn’t as patient as Li Yuzhu in explaining. He directly tweaked Li Jing’s little ear.

Li Jing was startled, yelling out, "Ah!"

"Does it hurt?" Li Xing’an asked with a stern face.

"It hurts." Li Jing held his right ear, looking aggrieved.

"Did you cry?" Li Xing’an asked coldly.

Li Jing blinked, holding back tears, "Didn’t cry." He didn’t dare, fearing his third uncle would spank him.

Li Yuzhu said, "See, Jingjing didn’t cry, just yelled that it hurt. It’s the same with chicks. You squeeze them, they feel pain but can’t talk, so they chirp."

Li Jing blinked, "Then I won’t squeeze them."

"Good boy, Jingjing." Li Yuzhu smiled and patted his head.

"Such a big fuss over nothing just to tell off a child? Look how scared Jingjing is!" The Xue Family came over, pulling her son along, "Are chicks more important than Jingjing?"

"Hey, sister-in-law..." Li Xing’an was unhappy, "These cost money."

"How much are they worth?" The Xue Family snorted coldly.

Li Yuzhu said, "True, they’re not worth much, but if you’re hungry, sister-in-law, don’t complain there’s not enough food at home. These little chicks will grow into big roosters and hens."

The siblings took turns speaking, leaving the Xue Family speechless.

"Alright, alright, Jingjing, stay with me. You go cook." The Princess Consort Luling waved at the Xue Family, taking Li Jing away.

The Xue Family grumbled in complaint, heading to the stove outside the cave.

Though cooking could be annoying, the sight of ample food put the Xue Family in a pretty good mood.

However, she didn’t like killing chickens.

Plucking feathers and removing innards—it was a tedious task.

"Third brother, I can’t kill a chicken. You do it." The Xue Family picked up a big rooster, calling out to Li Xing’an.

Li Xing’an picked up a hatchet and headed down the mountain, "It’s still early, I’m going down to help a bit."

The Xue Family looked toward Li Yuzhu.

Li Yuzhu was seated on a rock, applying medicine to her foot.

It seemed she could not rely on this sister-in-law either.

The Xue Family cursed silently under her breath, relenting to prepare the dinner alone.

The Princess Consort Luling, fearing she might slack off, would occasionally stroll over to check.

The Xue Family simmered with hatred but dared not speak against the Princess Consort Luling.

As the sun set in the forest, Prince Luling returned with his children.

Accompanying them was Mu Yuanxiu.

In Mu Yuanxiu’s hand was a chunk of skinned meat.

Prince Luling laughed from afar, "Look at our neighbor, so polite! Inviting him to dinner, he even brought rabbit meat."

No wonder it looked familiar; it was skinned and gutted rabbit meat.

He was indeed generous.

Li Yuzhu nodded, "Father, we have dishes at home. Sister-in-law killed a chicken, and there are other dishes too."

"Exactly, with so much food, why so courteous bringing meat?" Prince Luling smiled, patting Mu Yuanxiu’s shoulder.

The Xue Family had been craving rabbit meat.

The rabbit Li Yuzhu caught last time only allowed her to drink soup without giving her any meat.

She’d been longing for it; who knew she’d see rabbit meat today.

But how to cook the rabbit meat to make it tastier?

Li Xing’an and the Second Young Master both glanced at Mu Yuanxiu suspiciously, thinking his unsolicited help wasn’t without ulterior motives.

"Cook everything else as usual, I’ll roast the rabbit meat myself," Mu Yuanxiu said.

Prince Luling laughed heartily, "Our young neighbor, you truly are capable."

The Second Princess nibbled her lip, "Neighbor, did you bring cumin powder? Roasting rabbit meat with cumin powder is best."

Li Yuzhu almost laughed out of exasperation, did the Second Princess think they were still in the Capital?

"Second sister, cumin powder, such a rare seasoning, can only be found in the city."

"Brought a little," Mu Yuanxiu nodded.

The Second Princess clapped her hands in delight, "Wow, Mu Neighbor, you’re amazing, bringing cumin powder!"

The Great Princess rolled her eyes, "Look at you, you’re beaming."

"Adding cumin doesn’t taste good," Li Xing’an snorted.

"I’ve always disliked the taste of cumin," added the Second Young Master.

"Oh? But I like it." The Second Princess sighed, "Then how should we roast it?"

"Half with cumin, half without," Mu Yuanxiu suggested, "I’ll split the rabbit meat in halves."

The Second Princess was joyful, "Alright, alright, that’s a great idea."

There were many dishes for dinner, everyone pitched in to help.

The Princely Heir helped the Xue Family wash and cut vegetables, while Li Xing’an assisted in carrying firewood.

The Second Princess excitedly watched Mu Yuanxiu roast the rabbit meat.

Li Jing brought a small tree stump, sitting nearby watching intently.

From time to time, he’d sniffle, "Is it done yet? Is it done yet?"

Mu Yuanxiu glanced at him, smiling wryly, "Still a while to go."

"Sigh..." Li Jing sighed, acting almost grown-up, "My little aunt says she’s hungry and wants to eat rabbit meat."

Li Yuzhu, "..." When did I say that? This little rascal! "Jingjing, children who lie will grow long noses, you know!"

Li Jing was so scared he immediately reached out, pressing down firmly on his nose.

Mu Yuanxiu watched him, lips curving into a smile, though his gaze held concealed worries.

Such an adorable child, just please... please have a happy ending!

After over half an hour, the rabbit meat was finally roasted.

The two halves of rabbit meat were taken down by Mu Yuanxiu and placed in a large clay basin on the table.

One half had cumin, the other did not; the aroma filled the air.

On the other side, the Xue Family and the Princely Heir had also finished preparing the meals.

The table was laden with a feast.

There was a big pot of chicken stew with red dates, roasted rabbit meat, stir-fried cabbage, and stir-fried beans.

It was already dark by then, everyone sat around the table by the light of the campfire.

Everyone had a small bowl of rice before them.

But no one started eating, waiting instead for Mu Yuanxiu to portion out the rabbit meat.

The Xue Family suddenly found the chicken soup less appealing, eyeing the rabbit meat eagerly.

Prince Luling eyed the rabbit’s hind leg but felt too embarrassed to ask.

Yet Mu Yuanxiu seemingly read his mind, using a little knife to cut a fat hind leg, placing it in Prince Luling’s bowl, "Uncle Li, have it first."

The other hind leg was given to the Princess Consort Luling, "Auntie’s turn."

A front leg for the Princely Heir, "Brother Li."

The other one was given to Li Yuzhu.

Li Yuzhu raised an eyebrow at him, so generous?

Everyone else looked envious, but nothing could be done, for the rabbit only had four legs.

Prince Luling laughed, "This child, hahahaha, well, Yuanxiu, living alone in the mountains must be lonely, you must come to visit often!"