"Lao Hui and I haven't had barbecue in many years, if grilled at counts," Xiao Yuan said, walking on Zhou Li's right. "Ever since Lao Hui and I secluded ourselves in the human world, we haven't had any, though occasionally we find so thrown away by you humans."
"You can have a good feast today," Zhou Li said.
"Thanks to you!"
"No need to be so polite…"
"Oh!"
Zhou Li put down the stool and squinted, looking outside. Before he could see the scene, sounds had already reached his ears—
"I still rember back in the day on the frontier, with heavy snow falling, you and I grilling at by the fire at night, accompanied by coarse wine." That was Xing Hui and Ji Bai reminiscing about the past. "Those days really can't co back. In the blink of an eye, the human world has changed, and we've grown old…"
"Can we start the fire now?" Miss Zheng's voice was very soft. "We can skewer while grilling so they can start eating."
"No, we'll grill after everything is skewered," Brother Nan objected. "When it's ti to eat, just focus on eating. When it's ti to play, play without worries."
"Okay~"
"Little Trash Cat, are you annoying or not?"
"OW?"
"…"
Moreover, there was the sound of the wind rustling the leaves.
Zhou Li stepped over the threshold.
The morning fog had turned into sunshine by afternoon. As oppressive as the fog was, the sun was just as brilliant; Yi Province's weather was often like this.
In the courtyard, the barbecue grill was already set up, and tables and chairs had been put out. Xing Hui and Ji Bai were sitting and chatting, Lao Hui was walking back and forth aimlessly, and Zheng Zhilan and Brother Nan were busy by the barbecue grill, with Qinghe also helping.
Lord Dumpling stood obediently between Brother Nan's feet.
After Brother Nan finished skewering the mushrooms, she stepped aside, took the potatoes Zheng Zhilan had washed, and started cutting them.
As Brother Nan moved around, Tuanzi followed at her feet, so Brother Nan had to be careful not to step on Tuanzi. When Brother Nan returned to her original spot and stood properly, Tuanzi also turned around, trotting back with little steps to stand obediently between her feet again.
Brother Nan was so annoyed that she could hardly move without treading carefully.
"I'll stomp you to death in a mont!"
"OW?"
"What the hell are you owing about?!"
"OW?"
"…"
Brother Nan wanted to kick her away, but when she looked down at the little creature's clear eyes, she couldn't bring herself to do it.
"Sigh…"
Brother Nan sighed deeply, gritting her teeth and threatening, "If it weren't for fear of Zhou Li getting angry, I'd definitely make a pot of cat at hotpot!"
"OW~~"
"I always feel like you're talking back! You've got a ow for everything I say!"
"OW OW~"
"Ah, Zhou Li, you're finally here! Take this stupid cat away! Put her in a cage!" Brother Nan complained, nursing a headache. "She's following around endlessly. I'm really afraid I'll stomp her to death at so point! I can't understand a word she says. It's so annoying, so annoying!"
"OW~~"
"Lord Dumpling says that's just how cats are. Then she asked you to be nicer to her; Lord Dumpling is very cute," Zhou Li told Brother Nan. "Just now, she said you can't put Lord Dumpling in a cage because Lord Dumpling is of noble status."
"Noble my ass."
"Actually, you could speak a little more gently," Zhou Li said patiently. "And it's better not to use swear words."
"Less nonsense. Co over and help."
"Oh."
"Huai Xu, you've co at the perfect ti. Cut so potatoes into slices, and make them thin."
"Alright."
Huai Xu took the knife and cut a potato slice as thin as a cicada's wing. He even held it up to show Brother Nan, asking, "Is this thin enough?"
In the light, the potato slice was nearly transparent.
Brother Nan heaved a long sigh.
The preparations were complete.
Ti to barbecue.
Blue smoke rose straight to the skies.
A group of friends gathered together is always fun. You grill a bit, I grill a bit. If sothing tastes good, you pass it around for a bite; if it doesn't, you tease them about their poor grilling skills. The sound of their conversation could be heard from far away.
Xing Hui and Ji Bai were deeply moved.
The sun was gradually setting.
Zhou Li had long since eaten his fill and had grown tired of talking, so he sat quietly by himself, admiring the scenery.
Brother Nan had also drunk so wine. Her face was flushed as she sat in the deck chair, basking in the sun.
Tuanzi lay on Brother Nan's stomach.
Huai Xu was chatting animatedly with Lao Hui about the affairs of the Demon Kingdom. Judging by the content, if the Demon Kingdom had any kind of censorship, their conversation would definitely be redacted.
Xiao Yuan squatted beside them, listening and yawning continuously.
Xing Hui and Ji Bai were no longer eating but were still drinking. With each sip, they were reminded of the past.
The fire in the grill slowly died down.
Zheng Zhilan and Qinghe silently began to clean up the remnants of the feast.
Seeing this, Zhou Li also stood up to help.
The light of the setting sun gradually dimd. The temperature quickly turned cold, clinging to their bodies like water.
The four demons ca one by one to say their goodbyes.
Zhou Li, leaning on a broom and standing next to Zheng Zhilan, listened as they said—
"Thank you for your hospitality. We had a great ti."
"The wine was good…"
Watching their departing figures, Zhou Li pursed his lips. This peaceful and leisurely life is truly enchanting, he thought.
「Evening.」
Zhou Li sat in front of the stove, tending the fire. The pot on it was full of water.
Tuanzi snuggled beside him, also warming herself by the fire, her eyes reflecting the flas.
Zhou Li asked softly, "Was tonight's barbecue tasty?"
"It was tasty."
"Who grilled the best?"
"Brother Nan!"
"And second?"
"Little Zheng!"
"Third?"
"Huai Xu!"
"…Did I burn things too many tis?" Zhou Li asked after a mont of silence.
"Oh, Zhou Li, yours was tasty too!" Tuanzi exclaid, as if suddenly rembering, hastily turning her head to him. "Lord Dumpling liked it too!"
"Even when it was burned?"
"It's not burnt, it's 'roasted with fortune'! Eating it brings good luck!"
"...Lord Dumpling really knows how to comfort soone," Zhou Li couldn't help but laugh, gently stroking her back.
"That's right!"
Just then, Zheng Zhilan walked in from outside, carrying three thermoses. She whispered as she walked, "It feels strange after changing the lamp."
"You'll get used to it," Zhou Li said.
"Mm," Zheng Zhilan replied as she put down the thermoses. She paused, listening. "It sounds like it's boiling."
"It seems so." Zhou Li lifted the pot lid to check; sure enough, it was boiling. He promptly said, "I'll take care of it."
"Okay."
So Zhou Li began to pour the hot water into the thermoses. The steam hit his face, almost obscuring his view of the thermos openings. "We're leaving tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?"
"Yes."
Zhou Li finished filling one thermos, inserted the wooden stopper, and started on the next. He explained, "Huai Xu wants to accompany him to Qingjiang for a visit. The pandemic situation isn't too bad right now, but it's sure to get more tense as the New Year approaches. I want to go earlier."
"Oh... okay."
"I'll co back before the New Year." Zhou Li looked up, smiling. "I'll bring you so local specialties from Qingjiang then."
"Mm, okay."
Zheng Zhilan didn't say much. Watching Zhou Li finish filling the thermoses, she then went out, her figure slender.
Zhou Li continued to tend the fire. The flickering flas brought a special sense of peace to his heart.
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