Chapter 32: Stir-Frying and Plans
Lu Qing’s house, kitchen.
Lu Qing stoked the fire, a brand-new iron pot resting atop the stove. He’d originally planned to sneak it home quietly after dark. But then he reconsidered—after all, they were all from the same village. How could he possibly stay discreet? Even if he hid it, the moment he cooked, the scent would give him away. The aroma of stir-frying was unmistakably different from steaming or boiling, and he couldn’t seal the kitchen shut to trap the smell.
So he decided to bring the pot home openly—no shame, no secrecy.
Naturally, this sparked another small stir among the villagers.
An iron pot? For them, it was nothing short of a luxury. Even now, some families still couldn’t afford one. The fact that Lu Qing had brought back such a large one drew everyone’s attention.
When Lu Qing claimed the pot had been given to him by Chen Laodaifu, the villagers were even more envious—and amazed at the old doctor’s generosity. A single iron pot was worth several taels of silver. And Chen Laodaifu had just handed it over like it was nothing. Clearly, he held Lu Qing in high regard.
This only confirmed their suspicions: the old doctor truly considered Lu Qing his disciple—and a favored one at that. After all, who had ever heard of a master giving such a valuable gift to a disciple? Only someone deeply fond of their student would do so.
And when they saw that the pot had already been properly seasoned, their belief solidified.
Thinking back on the crowd that had gathered, Lu Qing felt a quiet relief. He’d made the right choice by temporarily stashing his silver with Chen Laodaifu, only bringing back two small silver ingots. Otherwise, that large bundle of coins would’ve been impossible to hide. One curious soul, prying open the sack out of curiosity, could’ve caused serious trouble.
The fire crackled. Smoke began to rise from the pot.
Lu Qing reached for the oil jar, scooping out a generous ladleful of lard. Watching it sizzle and melt in the hot iron, a wave of satisfaction washed over him.
Now that he had money, he no longer had to pinch pennies on oil. Back then, every meal had been a struggle—how to use the least amount of oil and still make something edible. It had been exhausting.
With a light heart, he quickly prepared three dishes: pan-fried fish, a fish soup, and a stir-fried green vegetable. Though limited by the available seasonings, the meal was simple, but when he took his first bite of the stir-fried greens, he felt a lump rise in his throat.
It was the taste he’d dreamed of for so long. This was what cooking should be.
“Brother, the food from the big iron pot tastes amazing!” Xiao Yan declared, her eyes sparkling with delight. Even she, who usually turned her nose up at greens, found them delicious tonight.
“Of course,” Lu Qing smiled. “This big iron pot is a true kitchen marvel. That’s why I’ve been wanting one for so long.”
“Big iron pot… so good!” Xiao Yan giggled.
The two ate with unmatched joy. Every last bite was devoured—no scraps, not even a drop of broth left.
Afterward, Xiao Yan patted her slightly rounded belly, sighing in contentment.
“Brother, can we cook with the big iron pot every day from now on?”
“Sure,” Lu Qing said without hesitation. That was exactly why he’d bought it.
But he didn’t plan to cook stir-fries every single meal. Even the best food grew tiresome if eaten too often. Occasionally trying something different would be nice.
After dinner, Lu Qing read for a while. When the sky began to dim, he closed his book and carried the old wooden recliner out into the yard. He settled into it, gazing at the glowing horizon as the sun dipped below the hills.
His eyes seemed distant, but his mind was busy.
He was thinking about what Da An Ge had said earlier—about the Big Market.
The oil at home had been completely used up tonight, truly gone. He’d need to restock soon. And there were other things he couldn’t ask Chen Laodaifu to buy for him. Plus, it was time to return the borrowed items from the villagers.
So the Big Market was unavoidable.
“Then I’ll go tomorrow,” he decided. “Da An Ge mentioned there were some rules to follow. Perfect—I can ask him about them in person.”
“Brother,” Xiao Yan suddenly asked, “will the little beast come back tonight?”
“Probably,” Lu Qing replied, uncertain. “But if it’s late and it doesn’t come, you’ll have to go to bed, okay?”
“Alright!” Xiao Yan brightened instantly. She was determined to stay awake and catch a glimpse of the mysterious creature.
But little kids’ willpower only lasts so long.
Habitually an early sleeper, Xiao Yan’s eyelids grew heavy as soon as bedtime approached. With the Green Armor Fish Stone’s influence, she barely lasted ten minutes before drifting off to sleep.
Not long after, Lu Qing heard the familiar scratching at the door.
He paused, surprised.
Could it be that the little beast had waited until she was asleep to appear?
He brought out the fish he’d prepared earlier and opened the door.
There it was—the black creature, standing in the middle of the yard. But this time, its posture was relaxed. No longer tense or wary.
And—was it his imagination?—he thought he saw a flicker of anticipation in its eyes when it saw him.
Could this thing really be… sentient?
Lu Qing muttered in his mind, Well, if it is, it’s still a bit of a thief.
He set the fish down and stepped back.
As soon as he reached the doorway, the creature darted forward, snatched up a fish, and bolted off again.
Fine. Its caution had lessened—just a little.
Watching it dash back and forth, eating one fish, then running off to grab another—just like last night—Lu Qing couldn’t help but chuckle.
He didn’t bother to chase it. He closed the door, yawned, and headed back to his room.
He had too much to do tomorrow. No time to play with a mischievous little beast.
The night passed quietly.
When Lu Qing woke the next morning, the wooden basin was empty again.
He had no idea how the creature digested so much. It looked small, yet it could devour two or three pounds of fish with ease—more than most grown men.
“Brother,” Xiao Yan woke up and rushed out, “did the little beast come last night?”
“Yeah,” Lu Qing said, pointing at the basin. “Look—the fish are all gone.”
“Ah! Why didn’t you wake me, Brother?” Xiao Yan pouted, disappointed.
“I told you—if you fall asleep, I won’t wake you.”
“Brother, I’ve decided—I won’t sleep tonight! I’ll wait for it to come!”
“Good luck,” Lu Qing said, not at all worried.
He was now certain: the Green Armor Fish Stone was real. No matter how hard she tried, Xiao Yan couldn’t stay awake past her usual bedtime. The moment it was time, her eyes would grow heavy, and she’d drift off—peacefully and obediently.
It was a blessing. It saved him so much trouble.
“Xiao Yan, how about you go play at Zhang Ye Ye’s today? I have something important to do.”
“Where are you going, Brother?”
“You’ll know when I get back.”
After asking Zhang Da Ye to keep an eye on Xiao Yan, Lu Qing slipped a small silver ingot into his pocket and headed toward Wang Da An’s house.
(End of Chapter)
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