Chapter 89: Before New Year’s Eve
Qingyan naturally didn’t go to Yu Family. He was well aware that once he went, it would lead to various entanglements, and who knew what trouble might arise.
If he were alone, he could afford to deal with it, but Qingyan didn’t want to involve Qiu Henian in such complications. It was better to avoid unnecessary trouble.
Fragrant Melody Pavillion under Qingyan’s supervision shut down only when the New Year was close, the blacksmith shop closed for a few more days. Qiu Henian was able to get all the New Year goods, send the gifts, and clean the house. It was already not easy.
The last three days before the New Year, Qingyan didn’t take off his apron except for sleeping at night.
Qiu Henian was responsible for burning fire, fetching water, and pouring waste, and he also had to assist. Qingyan had stewed the pork, beef, and lamb that they wanted to eat for the New Year in advance, then portioned them and sent them to the yard, covered in snow heaps.
When they wanted to eat meat during the New Year, they would dig out a portion and stew it with potatoes, dried beans, and the like. This was more convenient. Freezing the meat for a few more days didn’t affect the taste and flavor too much.
Then there was steaming buns, bean buns, and buns. Qiu Henian and Qingyan kneaded and fermented the dough, Qingyan prepared the fillings, and then they wrapped them together. After steaming two large pots, they steamed two more pots.
After it was done, they ate the dishes during these two days, and the others were cooled and frozen.
On the day before New Year’s Eve, Qiu Henian fried melon seeds and peanuts. He also bought some expensive nuts, such as pine nuts and hazelnuts, and fried them together. The whole house smelled particularly fragrant, and Qingyan was preparing dried fruits on the side of the dough.
During frying, the entire house filled with a particularly delightful aroma. Qingyan was nearby, preparing dried fruits with dough, occasionally leaning over to ask if they were ready. Unable to resist, he raised his hands, covered in dough, and asked again.
He saw Qiu Henian had already peeled a small handful of nuts in his palm, extending them to him. Qingyan’s eyes brightened as he lowered his head and ate them all in one mouthful.
“So fragrant!” Qingyan sighed.
After finishing, he bent down and kissed Qiu Henian on the lips, saying, “Try the taste.”
After the kiss, he tried to run away, but was stopped by a large hand around his waist. Qingyan exclaimed softly, trying to support the man’s shoulders without soiling his robe, sitting sideways on the man’s thigh.
Qiu Henian held his chin with a large hand, his gaze lingering on Qingyan’s full, rosy lips.
Qingyan blinked and proactively leaned in, kissing the man’s lips. Qiu Henian looked down with his eyes, Qingyan’s soft tongue tentatively probing several times.
He did not open his lips, making Qingyan anxious. Qingyan used his teeth to lightly nibble on his lips several times, possibly feeling itchy. After a few times, Qiu Henian smiled, and Qingyan finally got what he wanted.
But he didn’t gain any advantage. His tongue was tangled up, making him feel numb all over his body, especially the fleshy parts behind him, which felt like kneaded dough and were sore from being kneaded by large hands.
After a while, Qingyan reluctantly retreated, but Qiu Henian’s hand on the back of his head refused to relax until Qingyan softly whimpered like he was begging for mercy. Then he let go.
But even after he let go, their lips were still close.
Qingyan’s cheeks were flushed, and he breathed lightly. Qiu Henian’s eyes were deep and still fixed on Qingyan’s red and moist lips, clearly not satisfied.
Qingyan noticed, his eyelashes trembled, and his hands were covered in dough.
He didn’t dare to touch the other person. He just used his elbow to hold his neck and softly pleaded, “The dough will be dry soon.”
But Qiu Henian’s expression remained unchanged, and he didn’t let go of the hint.
Qingyan bit his lip, pecked at the man’s lips again, and said softly, “Sister Lan and the others are here. After finishing the work, we have to go to Aunt Li’s house for dinner.”
Qiu Henian’s gaze remained on his lips, then moved away and met his gaze.
“Go ahead,” his voice was hoarse.
However, Qingyan didn’t move, and his cheeks gradually turned red.
Qiu Henian looked at him and asked softly, “Why don’t you leave?”
Qingyan cheeks blushed as if they were on fire. He sat on the man’s thighs, twisted and looked back, and then turned back, stammering, “You… you should let go first.”
Qiu Henian didn’t respond, nor did he let go of his hand.
His hand even easily reached into the front of Qingyan’s robe.
Qingyan’s body softened, buried his face in the man’s neck, and obediently let the man touch him all over under his robe before finally being let go.
Back at the table, Qingyan was momentarily at a loss for what to do until Qiu Henian washed his hands and wiped them dry. He naturally kissed Qingyan on the forehead, then took the dough and kneaded it.
Qingyan looked at those large hands and suddenly blushed unnaturally. Afraid of being seen by the man, he quickly turned around and took the bag of flour.
As for the dried fruits, they mixed flour and milk, sugar, and various shapes, fried them in oil until they were fragrant and crispy, and then they could be eaten. You can also put honey, sesame seeds, chopped peanuts, or even melon seeds in them to enhance the aroma of dried fruits.
During the New Year, people in the village loved to make them as snacks. Qingyan didn’t know how to make them before, but he learned from Aunt Li and made them himself this year.
The two of them shaped the dried fruits together. Qiu Henian lit the fire and heated the oil pan, Qingyan took the ladle, fried them twice in the oil pan, and then fished them out with a colander to cool.
Then he poured out the remaining bean oil into a basin and covered it to save it for later use in cooking. Finally, they finished all the preparations before New Year’s Eve.
After they finished, they washed their faces, changed into robes, and just then, Aunt Li called them from the neighboring courtyard.
Qinlan and Ren Xiao brought their daughter over before noon.
As the New Year approached, they ate a lot of meat and snacks, and most families in the village changed from three meals a day to two meals a day.
Today, Aunt Li prepared lunch.
In previous years, Qinlan and her husband would return a day before the New Year and stay at her parents’ house until the second day of the new year. Qin Lan could extend her stay with her parents for a few more days before returning.
Aunt Li lived alone in her house, celebrating the New Year’s Eve alone for many years. Qinlan felt sorry for her but couldn’t do anything about it.
Being able to return home once before the New Year, avoiding the busyness and chores at her in-laws’ house, and being able to stay a few more days after the New Year was already considered assertive in her in-laws’ family, and her husband was considerate enough.
Starting from last year, Aunt Li started spending Chinese New Year’s Eve at Qiu Henian and Qingyan’s house next door. This made Qin;an feel less sad and she could enjoy delicious food on New Year’s Eve, play cards, and set off fireworks happily.
This year, when their family came over, they invited Qiu Henian and Qingyan to join them for dinner, which was no longer a taboo.
Ren Xiao and Qiu Henian had already become familiar. Although they didn’t meet often throughout the year, they enjoyed chatting when they did. They had helped each other and understood each other’s personalities, so their relationship was harmonious.
What surprised Qingyan was that this time Ren Xiao was especially polite to him, even to the point of showing a bit of “respect,” which left him puzzled.
Qinlan was afraid of hurting her husband’s face, so she secretly told him during their private chat that ever since Ren Xiao knew about his mother-in-law, Qingyan from next door, and Qiu Henian’s wife, and saw their joint business at Fragrant Melody Pavillion once, he admired Qingyan a lot. Whenever he mentioned it, he would praise Qingyan as someone extraordinary and skilled in business.
Qin Lan added, “Look at our Ah Xiao, although he carries the title of a young master of a pharmacy, he doesn’t have much say in the shop. He has to listen to my father-in-law for everything. Our old man doesn’t want to let go of power, but Ah Xiao is always so cautious and afraid to take charge. So, the day he visited Fragrant Melody Pavillion and saw how well your business was running, organized in every aspect, he truly began to admire you from the bottom of his heart.”
Qingyan chuckled helplessly, “Our business at Renhe Tang can’t be compared to yours. It’s just small-scale. If I were to manage such a big store like Renhe Tang, especially in a prime location like the county seat, I wouldn’t dare to make decisions casually.”
Then he comforted her, “Even if Brother-in-law doesn’t make decisions on everything, he still oversees everything every day. He handles what needs to be done, so there’s not much difference.”
Qin Lan smiled at his words.
Before dinner, Qingyan gave a red envelope to their daughter.
The child had grown another year older, could speak fluently, and was clever. After taking the red envelope, she bowed respectfully to Qingyan and Qiu Henian, sweetly saying, “Wishing Uncle and Auntie a Happy New Year.”
Her mother winked at her beside her, whispering softly, “Isn’t there anything else?”
After pondering for a moment with pursed lips, the child suddenly remembered and bowed again, saying in a childish voice, “Uncle Qiu Henian and Aunt Qingyan, can you please quickly have a baby brother or sister so I can play with them?”
Qinlan couldn’t help but laugh silently, and Aunt Li chimed in from the side, “That’s a serious matter,” she said to Qiu Henian, “you’d better get moving on that.”
Regarding Qiu Henian’s condition, Qingyan and they had discussed it, and they only mentioned externally that it was an old illness from frostbite after being unconscious that year. But they had told Aunt Li and the others the truth.
The old doctor had diagnosed them both with good health, and they should have chubby babies next year.
Aunt Li and the others no longer avoided discussing it; they brought it up as they pleased.
After Aunt Li finished speaking, she stared at the two of them for a response. Due to the presence of others, Qingyan felt a little embarrassed and blushed, lowering his head without saying anything.
At that moment, he heard Qiu Henian, who was sitting beside him, speak in a deep voice, “Alright, I will.”
Spoiler for the Next Chapter:
His undergarments were also partly exposed, revealing a soft abdomen, its lush red hinting at its owner’s fertility during deep sleep.
