067 – Henceforth, Celebrate the New Year Together [3]
Lei Tie’s ears were dyed with a layer of light red as he said like nothing was wrong: “It was written by others. I rewrote them when I saw his words were common.”
Inwardly, Qin Mian felt both sweet and funny. He just thought that it was impossible for Lei Tie to write such straightforward sentences with his temperament. He was quite amused as he stared at Lei Tie’s ear roots. The man who was as cold as a blade edge would blush in embarrassment.
“The food is scorched.” Lei Tie pushed him to the kitchen.
Qin Mian looked at him with a smile before entering the kitchen.
Lei Tie took out the red lanterns1 that he specially bought and hung them under the eaves of the courtyard gate. He went back to the central room and found scissors to cut wicks for four oil lamps. The room became brighter.
Entering the kitchen, he looked at Qin Mian’s back, who focused on cooking. He picked up the charcoal brazier and placed it under the dining table. He moved the charcoals with tongs to make the fire more vigorous.
“Help serve the dishes.” Qin Mian shouted, listening to the movement in the dining room.
They served the dishes onto the table. The whole central room was filled with rich aromas. In the middle of the table was a hot pot cooked in a charcoal stove. Meatballs, fish balls, lotus root balls, and tofu dregs balls broiled among the thin slices of meat and the emerald green leaves. Around the hot pot, there were more than a dozen of dishes, such as roasted red spareribs, “perfectly clean” tofu mixed with chopped shallot, “auspicious” chestnuts stewed chicken, “longevity” fried noodles, “surplus every year” two braised carps2, “well-rounded” braised pork balls in brown sauce, “a hall of gold and jade3” corns, green peas, and diced carrots, crispy shrimps with tea leaves, sliced beef in hot chili oil, flavored duck, and soy sauce marinated streaky pork with bright color and strong aroma, making people salivated.
Lei Tie’s eyes twinkled. His wife’s cooking was like an inexhaustible treasure. There were surprises almost every day.
Qin Mian cut a large bowl of meat for White Spot. Then, he arranged the tableware, wine cups, and wine jar, and looked at Lei Tie inquisitively, “Worship first?”
Lei Tie nodded. He brought the boiled pig’s head in the kitchen to the altar, lit the thick incense joss sticks in two incense burners, knelt down, and reached out to Qin Mian, “Wife, come here.”
Qin Mian hesitated for a moment, but still walked over and knelt down side by side with him. Since he could be reborn, who could say that there was no God in this world? He simply knelt and sought peace of mind.
Lei Tie lightly stroked his head, lit a stack of yellow paper4, took out three incense joss sticks, and kowtowed three times. In his heart, he silently worshipped gods and deceased relatives, and then inserted the incense joss sticks on the pig’s head. It was a simple but prudent sacrifice.
They looked at each other, stood up, and sat next to each other at the table.
“Let’s eat,” Qin Mian picked up his chopsticks and greedily looked at the delicious food on the table. “If you don’t eat it, it’ll be cold.”
Lei Tie picked up the wine jar and filled two cups with wine. He handed a cup to Qin Mian and raised his cup with his eyes fixedly gazed at Qin Mian. His voice was flat and deep, “Wife, how about celebrating the New Year together henceforth?”
Qin Mian’s heart was pounding, making his action of clipping the food stopped. He looked at Lei Tie for a long time and his eyes flickered with the fluctuation of his mood. He did not deny that he had taken this man to his heart5 and even relied on him in these short months of getting along almost day and night. For him, who thought that his sexual orientation was normal, it was unexpected, but he thought it was reasonable. Lei Tie was very tight-lipped and taciturn to the point that sometimes it made people anxious. But once he put a person in his heart, he treated the person so well that it was hard for the person to resist. This kind of well-treatment was not intended to please, but from the heart – naturally and involuntary. It made people addicted to it. Since Lei Tie had protected him in front of Du Shi, roasted chicken drumsticks and corns for him, took him away from the old house, embraced him at night, and taught him martial arts and archery, his concern for Lei Tie grown day by day. There was even more than one occasion that appeared such that he felt it was a good idea to live with Lei Tie. However, could two men really last? He was eager to establish a close relationship with someone in this world so that he could feel that he really existed in this world. Could Lei Tie be this ‘someone’?
White Spot gnawed bones loudly, the soup in the hot pot kept gurgling, the fire of the stove was swaying dazedly, and the heat from the charcoal brazier was so warm, but Lei Tie’s heart was sinking gradually as if it was being drenched by ice and snow. It felt as though he was stabbed. The hand with the wine cup was taken back, his lips were tight, his eyes were drooping, and the black pupils abruptly dimmed.
Qin Mian had a full view of his expression and intense heartache suddenly erupted, pounding his chest with sullen pain. He hastily picked up his wine cup, causing the wine to sprinkle in half. When he clunked it against Lei Tie’s cup, a pleasant and crisp sound was heard.
Lei Tie raised his eyes and met a pair of smiling clear eyes.
“It depends on your future performance.”
The air of loneliness surrounded Lei Tie’s body instantly dissipated and the pleasant surprise in his eyes was so strong that it seemed to overflow. He took up the wine cup and drank it in one gulp with a slight smile on the corners of his lips.
Qin Mian did not expect that he could have such a great influence on Lei Tie’s mood. He sighed secretly, but at the same time, sweetness swelled in his chest, causing his face to unconsciously display a bright smile.
“If you don’t eat the food, it’ll be cold.” After taking a sip of wine, Qin Mian picked up a piece of spareribs and put it into Lei Tie’s bowl. It was very natural as if he had done it so many times.
Lei Tie clipped a chicken drumstick from the chicken stewed with chestnuts and put it into Qin Mian’s bowl before he picked up the spareribs to eat. The heat rolling in his chest would not disperse for a long time. The wife’s cooking was good. The spareribs were crisp and soft that with only a light bite, the meat could be easily separated from the bone.
“These dishes all have auspicious connotations, so every dish should be constant.” Qin Mian gave him several dishes in proper sequence: tofu mixed with chopped scallop, chicken stewed with chestnuts, and braised pork balls in brown sauce.
Lei Tie imitated and helped him clipping up dishes, “You also eat.”
Qin Mian deliberately ate only seven parts full at noon. At this time, he had a very good appetite. He loosened his belt and engrossed in eating. Noticing the scorching gaze falling on him, he raised his head helplessly, “What are you doing looking at me? Eat yours.”
Lei Tie put down his cup, grabbed Qin Mian’s waist while his right hand pressed on Qin Mian’s left face. He bowed his head and his hot lips pressed against Qin Mian’s lips. His bright and deep eyes were opened, looking straight at Qin Mian, as if they could capture his soul.
Qin Mian’s heartbeat slowed down a few beats. Nevertheless, he was not a pretentious person. He was only startled. Then, he leaned over and licked Lei Tie’s lips curiously without the slightest plan. He even felt a spiral of agitation and anticipation at the bottom of his heart.
Lei Tie’s black pupils darkened. He opened his lips and sucked in Qin Mian’s lips, deepening the kiss. The kiss was neither fast nor slow, but the temperature on the tip of his tongue was getting higher and the stirring force was getting stronger, as though he was trying to swallow Qin Mian’s tongue.
Qin Mian raised his head and cooperated clumsily. He could feel that Lei Tie had no experience, and he was secretly happy. The duo groped around and learned within the practice, breathing gradually became more urgent. It was a good while before they separated.
Lei Tie was fully satisfied. He pecked at the corner of Qin Mian’s lip before letting him go. He dared not look at Qin Mian again as he said in a hoarse voice, “Eat.”
Qin Mian glanced at the oil stains on the corners of Lei Tie’s lips but did not remind him. He laughed silently and scooped out meatballs and tofu dregs balls into his own bowl.
Looking at the wine cup, there was only half a cup of wine left in it. He picked up the wine jar to fill it up and toasted to Lei Tie. “Here, I’d like to propose a toast to you. I wish you’ll have good health and may all go well with you this year!”
Lei Tie took a deep look at him and drank it all.
Qin Mian also finished in one gulp.
Lei Tie filled the two wine cups to the brim and raised them, “Toast for me and you. From hereafter, I’ll make sure you are always smiling.”
Qin Mian hooked his neck and took a hard suck on his face. Then, he clipped a large piece of meat from the fish’s belly. After he proficiently picked out the bones from the meat, he enjoyed it with relish. All these dishes were delicious while eating it hot.
Lei Tie was a little stunned. He shook his head and no longer talked. He also sped up his eating action and helped Qin Mian pick up the dishes occasionally.
Both of them ate a large amount of food and it took nearly an hour before they put down their chopsticks. There were still a lot of dishes left. The food would not be easily spoiled in cold weather, so it could be eaten the next day.
“So full.” Qin Mian sprawled on his chair, not wanting to move. He took a look at the sand clock on the cabinet. There were two hours before rat hour6.
Lei Tie went into the bedroom to take a cloak and fastened it on Qin Mian. He pulled Qin Mian up and led him outside.
“Where to?” Qin Mian did not understand.
Lei Tie remained silent, leading him to walk back and forth on the snowfield without hurries. Qin Mian was worried for nothing; it was walking around7 ah.
White Spot also followed them outside and looked at them inexplicably. As if it was disgusted with them for eating to the bursting point, it drilled back home through its exclusive hole in the wall.
Qin Mian stared at the hole in the wall speechlessly. They were being despised? Despised by a wolf?
After walking for a long time, Lei Tie stroked Qin Mian’s cold face and led him back to the house.
Qin Mian dragged the charcoal brazier to the edge of the settee and lay on the settee.
Lei Tie took the leftovers into the kitchen and wiped the table clean. He came out of the kitchen after he washed the dishes, “Go wash up.”
Qin Mian entered the house after he brushed his teeth. Lei Tie had already poured the water for face wash and put the footbath basin aside. He also had taken two pairs of brand-new cotton slippers from the bedroom.
After the duo washed their faces, they poured hot water into the footbath basin.
Qin Mian took off his shoes and socks. He put his feet into the basin to soak, expelling the cold and improving blood circulation.
Lei Tie moved a chair and put it opposite of Qin Mian. He took off his shoes and socks and put his feet in the footbath basin.
Qin Mian’s ears felt hot. He tried to keep his face from showing any signs. Already kissed, what’s the big deal of taking a bath together?
Lei Tie’s eyes flashed a smile and his two big feet stepped on Qin Mian’s feet.
Qin Mian glared at him and moved his feet away, causing the water to slosh.
Lei Tie’s feet did not chase after his, but his eyes did not move away from Qin Mian’s face.
Qin Mian was also looking at Lei Tie. This man was really good-looking. His handsome face was prominently angular like being carved by a blade. His forehead was broad, his eyebrows were thick, and his eye sockets were a little deep, making his black pupils more profound and bright. Under the tall bridge of his nose, his lips were also beautiful. The two thin lips made the rigidity on his face even stronger. Qin Mian was glad that Lei Tie had a scar on his face. Otherwise, he did not how many young girls would adore him.
Thinking so, he could not help laughing.
“What are you laughing at?” Lei Tie asked.
“Nothing.” Of course, Qin Mian would not tell.
Footnotes
- the kind that isn’t easily blown by wind
- Eating two fish, one on New Year’s Eve and one on New Year’s Day, (if written in a certain way) sounds like a wish for a surplus year-after-year.
- abundant wealth or many children in the family
- for worshipping
- care about
- 11 p.m to 1 a.m.
- walk around to help digestion
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