"That's enough. Get up."
Chu He stepped forward and helped Xia Nuo to his feet himself.
"Remember what you said today."
He patted Xia Nuo on the shoulder, his tone returning to its usual playful ease.
"Since you're one of my people now, you'll have to follow my orders from here on out."
"Don't worry, brother-in-law!"
Xia Nuo thumped his chest, his face brimming with loyalty.
"I'd brave any danger for you!"
"That's enough. No need to go risking your life."
Chu He waved a hand. He might as well give Xia Nuo something useful to do, so he wouldn't get bored and start scheming again.
"You've seen my shop. I'm very particular about my ingredients. I specialize in the parts nobody else wants: intestines, stomachs, livers, and other especially pungent bits."
"Your job is to buy those ingredients."
"Piece of cake!"
Xia Nuo perked up at once.
"Good."
Chu He nodded with satisfaction.
"Then I'll leave it to you. I want to see the freshest ingredients every morning."
"Consider it done!"
Xia Nuo saluted excitedly, feeling he'd finally found the right way to make himself useful to his brother-in-law.
Beside him, Xia Yao looked at her clown of a little brother and shook her head helplessly, though much of the chill had finally left her expression.
Kachi grinned as she put away the peculiar metal book. The tiny starlight sprites circling her zipped back into its pages.
The galaxy-like space enveloping the kitchen quietly faded away.
The noisy, satisfied din of voices swelled back in.
"Come on. Let's go take a look."
Chu He led the three of them back to the dining hall.
By then, the meal was nearly over.
Almost every diner had put down their chopsticks and was leaning back in their chair, looking blissfully content.