It's December now, and the temperature is getting cooler day by day.
The snow fell late in Beijing this year, and there was still no sign of snow in December. On the contrary, there were a few sunny days near the middle of the month. Basking in the sun in winter is the most comfortable thing, so Qin Zhao simply asked Ah Qi to bring a recliner and held his soft son in the yard to bask in the sun.
As for Jing Li, he went out to buy ingredients early in the morning and went into the kitchen. He did not allow anyone to disturb him and even refused Ah Qi's help. No one knew what he was doing.
Around noon, a faint fragrance wafted out.
The little fish turned over in Qin Zhao's arms, raised his head, and said with sparkling eyes: "Wow—"
I can't lie down anymore.
Qin Zhao was also curious.
Jing Li doesn't know how to cook. She learned a little from him and Ah Qi over the years, but she can only cook the food well but not burn it.
He was very curious about what Jing Li would make for them today.
But the young husband had given a strict order that no one could sneak into the kitchen to peek before he came out, so Qin Zhao had no choice but to peel a grape and stuff it into the little fish's mouth to barely calm him down.
After a while, Jing Li finally walked out from the kitchen quickly.
He held a small stove in his hands.
The stove was used to boil water and boil medicine. It was made of stone and was quite heavy. There were sparks burning inside. Jing Li carried it out so carelessly that he could barely walk.
"What are you doing? Be careful." Qin Zhao was afraid that he would be burned by the fire, so he quickly got up to catch him, even caring about letting the blanket on his body fall to the ground.
With Qin Zhao's help, Jing Li successfully placed the small stove in the middle of the yard.
"It's time to have lunch. Let's eat here." Jing Li's face was stained with cigarette ash, and he said hurriedly, "You're on fire, don't let the little fish get on it, I'll be back soon."
After saying that, he ran to the kitchen again.
Qin Zhao felt relieved and called Ah Qi to keep an eye on the fish and the stove while he went to the kitchen to help.
It would be an exaggeration to say that the kitchen was a mess.
Bowls and plates of all sizes were placed on the stove, and the vegetables and fruits inside were simply sliced and picked, still with fresh water droplets on them. On the chopping board next to the table, there was a large plate of sliced meat, but the chef's knife skills were obviously not very good, and the slices were sometimes big, sometimes small, sometimes thick, sometimes thin.
There was a pot of bright red soup boiling in the pot, and Jing Li was scooping the soup into a copper pot.
The fragrance they smelled outside just now must be this pot of soup.
Qin Zhao looked at the chaotic scene and felt a little lost for time. He asked, "What are you doing?"
"How did you get in?" Jing Li frowned and sighed, "Forget it, help me take these dishes out, and I'll eat them in the soup later."
Qin Zhao walked up to him and observed him carefully for a moment: "Is it mutton bone soup?"
"Yes."
“Why is it this color?”
"I added tomatoes." Jing Li said proudly, "I also fried some chili and spices into it, you can try it."
He picked up a small spoon, scooped up some, blew it cool, and fed it to Qin Zhao's mouth.
Qin Zhao took a sip and said, "It's bland."
"Really?" Jing Li took the spoonful he had just fed him and tasted it himself. "It's quite light. I think it's just right."
"If you just want to taste the soup, it's fine. But if you want to dip the vegetables in the soup, the dishes will taste bland if the soup base is not flavored better," Qin Zhao explained to him.
Jing Li suddenly realized: "So that's how it is."
While sighing, he went to the stove to look for the spices and seasonings that had not been used up.
For a novice, his soup was actually cooked quite well. The soup was full of the flavor of lamb bones, and with the addition of tomato sauce and various spices, it was slightly sour and spicy, fresh and delicious.
This can be said to be the pinnacle of Jingli’s cooking skills.
Because of this, even if Qin Zhao said that the taste was a bit light, he didn't know how to adjust it.
Qin Zhao watched Jing Li fumbling around for a long time, then sighed helplessly and took the food from him: "Let me do it, you take the dishes out first."
"Oh... okay."
Jing Li could only do as he was told.
He rushed in and out several times and finally brought all the cut vegetables into the yard. When he came back, Qin Zhao had already finished preparing the soup base.
Qin Zhao ladled the soup base into the copper pot and cut some garlic and ginger into it. Jing Li watched his skillful movements and asked curiously, "Have you ever seen this thing before?"
"Hmm?" Qin Zhao asked, "What is it?"
"That's it, it's called hotpot, is there any in Beijing?"
Jing Li had never seen this way of eating in this era. The weather was good in the next few days, which was most suitable for eating mutton hotpot, so he suddenly had an idea and wanted to let Qin Zhao try a new way of eating.
Qin Zhao shook his head: "I have never heard of this name."
"Then how can you do it?"
"It's just adding a little seasoning to the soup you cooked. It's not very difficult." Qin Zhao said calmly.
Jing Li: “…”
Okay.
There is probably nothing in the world that Qin Zhao doesn't know, and he should have understood this a long time ago.
The copper pot is brought into the yard, placed on the stove and boiled, and then a few chairs are moved around the boiler, and then the meat can be started.
The little fish was so tempted by the smell that he wanted to sit still. Unfortunately, his arms and legs were too short to reach anything he sat on. He could only wait for others to feed him.
Fortunately, he had an Uncle Qi who loved him very much and always picked food for him, never letting his bowl be empty.
"Are you cold? Do you want me to get you another blanket?" Jing Li was a little worried about Qin Zhao's health.
The wind is strong today, but it's still cold if you sit in the yard for a long time. If you catch a cold just because of the wind while eating a meal, it would be more trouble than good.
"It's not cold." Qin Zhao said, "It's very warm."
They sat around the fire. The mutton soup had the effect of dispelling the cold, and with all kinds of spicy spices, after eating this meal, they felt warm from head to toe.
In the face of delicious food, Jing Li was very restrained today. He came close to Qin Zhao, picked up a piece of meat for him attentively, and asked: "How did I cook?"
"It's OK." Qin Zhao had just finished speaking when he saw his husband's eyebrows drooping. He quickly added, "I like it very much."
"I'm glad you like it." Jing Li immediately smiled again, "I've been very capable recently."
Qin Zhao's eyes moved, vaguely realizing something, but he didn't answer.
Jing Li continued: "Also, I have bought the things you need for you. They are all made according to your requirements. There will be no mistakes. You can go and check them later."
These things were naturally what Qin Zhao needed to see the little emperor.
There are still two days before the ancestral worship ceremony. According to the court's arrangement, the little emperor will leave Beijing tomorrow. Qin Zhao plans to take this opportunity to meet the little emperor, so he will also leave Beijing tomorrow.
For the past half month, Qin Zhao has been preparing for a plan, but...
"Xiao Yu." Qin Zhao put down his chopsticks and said seriously, "Even if you try to please me again, I will not agree to take you there."
No matter how perfect the plan is, there are still risks. Qin Zhao can't take Jing Li to take risks.
"Really?" Jing Li begged him softly, "I will be very good and will not delay your business. Just let me pretend to be a guard and follow you."
"Okay."
Qin Zhao's attitude was unusually tough: "We have agreed in advance that you must obey me in everything in the capital."
"But..." Jing Li opened his mouth.
He knew Qin Zhao was doing this for his own good, but it was too hard for him to wait alone at home. He would rather take the risk with Qin Zhao than be left alone at home waiting for news.
"Xiao Yu, I can give you anything you want normally, but not this time." Qin Zhao advised, "You know I'm fully prepared. There won't be any danger on this trip. You don't have to worry too much."
"Since there's no danger, why do you let me follow you?"
"Because this is not a joke, I can't let you do whatever you want."
"I didn't treat this as a joke." Jing Li seemed to be suddenly irritated by these words and said angrily, "I just want to accompany you. If you want me to go, then go ahead. I won't bother with your affairs anymore in the future!"
After saying that, he put the dishes on the table and went to the backyard.
Even the little fish stopped.
He quietly swallowed the meat in his mouth, blinked innocently, and looked towards his father.
There was silence in the yard for a while. After a while, Qin Zhao sighed silently and said in a calm voice: "Continue eating. Let him calm down for a while. Don't worry about it."
Use the tube
Jing Li was lying behind the wall, and he almost got angry when he heard Qin Zhao's words.
He originally just wanted to show off a little bit of his temper and make Qin Zhao agree to his request, so after walking out of the yard, he didn't go far at all, and was still waiting for Qin Zhao to catch up with him.
Who knew that the bastard had no intention of chasing him at all.
… He hasn’t eaten enough yet.
Jing Li was extremely angry, but he didn't know where to vent.
It was so hard to perform the scene just now, but if it is performed again now, all efforts will be wasted. Jing Li smelled the rich aroma of hot pot, swallowed his saliva, and could only resign himself to going back to the bedroom.
But what he didn't expect was that until Qin Zhao was about to go out the next day, no one came to coax him.
The next morning, the carriage that had been prepared in advance arrived at the back door early. Qin Zhao counted the items and was ready to set off.
"You stay at home and protect the lady and the master." Qin Zhao instructed Ah Qi.
Ah Qi responded: "Yes, sir, don't worry."
Jing Li was standing against the wall holding the baby in his arms. After hearing what was said, he snorted coldly and looked away.
"Are you still angry?" Qin Zhao walked over and tried to kiss him, but Jing Li dodged him. "It's my fault. I'll apologize to you in person later. You can do whatever you want. But now, stay home obediently, okay?"
Jing Li still didn't answer him. He just said "Oh" in a lukewarm manner as a response.
Qin Zhao raised his hand and touched Jing Li's face. Then he lowered his arm and rubbed the little fish's head. He said softly, "Dad is going out for a while. You stay at home and protect Dad. Don't go anywhere, okay?"
The little fish cub nodded in agreement: "Okay!"
Qin Zhao left in a carriage, but Jing Li had no regrets and resolutely carried the little fish towards the bedroom.
Obviously he was very angry.
Ah Qi witnessed the quarrel between the master and the mistress yesterday, and seeing the situation, he wanted to go forward and persuade them. But he was not good at speaking, and before he could think of what to say, Jing Li had already slammed the door shut, and no one could hear him.
Ah Qi had no choice but to stand guard in front of the door.
Before leaving, Qin Zhao asked Ah Qi to protect Jing Li and Yu Zai. In name, it was protection, but in reality, it also meant guarding.
Qin Zhao knew Jing Li's personality very well. Once that person made a decision, it would be difficult for Qin Zhao to change it. He didn't try to coax him last night because he knew that they couldn't figure out the matter.
Qin Zhao now has no other choice but to force him to stay at home.
Qin Zhao had already told Ah Qi all this last night, so Ah Qi was very alert today and guarded the door well.
If he wasn't careful and let his wife sneak along, Ah Qi's career as a bodyguard would probably be over.
Inside the house, Jing Li withdrew his gaze and snorted at the ground.
He knew that Qin Zhao would let Ah Qi guard him. Did Qin Zhao really think that if he wanted to leave, no one could guard him
He is too young.
Jing Li already had a plan in mind. He turned and walked towards the window on the other side of the bedroom. As soon as he reached the window, a little creature hugged his thigh.
The little fish hugged Jing Li tightly and said in a baby voice: "Daddy won't let me go out."
... I almost forgot there is a little eyeliner in my eyes.
Jing Li felt that it was necessary for him to educate his child again.
He picked up the little fish cub and put him on the bed, half-knelt in front of him, and asked him: "Do you like Daddy?"
The little fish cub immediately said, "I like it!"
"If Daddy is bullied, will you help him?"
"meeting!"
"What if it was Dad who bullied Dad? Would you stand up for Dad?"
"Yes!" The little fish cub said seriously, "You can't bully Daddy!"
Jing Li secretly thought that there was a chance, so he continued: "But Daddy is being bullied now, are you willing to help Daddy?"
The little fish looked at him in confusion: "How can I help?"
"It's very simple." Jing Li said, "You, go to bed now, don't make any noise, and don't move. If Uncle Qi comes in looking for Daddy later, just say that Daddy went out for a walk and will be back soon."
The little fish boy frowned: "But Daddy doesn't let me go out..."
"You just said you wanted to help Daddy."
"Hmm..." The little fish boy hesitated for a while between "listen to daddy" and "help daddy", and then nodded, "Okay."
Jing Li was satisfied. He helped the kid take off his outer coat and covered him with a blanket. "Have a good sleep. When you wake up, your father and grandpa will be back."
“Okay!”
He responded a little louder, and Jing Li raised his hand and pressed it to his lips: "Shh."
The little fish quickly covered his mouth with both hands.
Jing Li lowered his head and kissed his child on the lips: "You are so good. I will buy you some candy later."
"I want candied haws, too."
"Okay, Tanghulu, I'll remember that."
After comforting the kid, Jing Li walked back to the window.
The bedroom window was opened a little, and he looked outside. Seeing that the young man guarding the door was not looking around, he raised his hand and untied the belt around his waist.
The moment the clothes fell to the ground, a bright red koi slid down along the gap of the window and rolled silently into the drainage ditch beside the wall.
The little koi fish wagged its tail and swam away proudly along the current.