Fu Chi: " Qin Yue said the cured pork is soaked and asked if you should cut it or someone else should do it."
Xia Zhiyi could sense that Fu Chi's gaze was different from others'. If it weren't for Fu Chi previous open and honest conversation, he might have misunderstood.
However, Xia Zhiyi now accepting of the other party's overly focused gaze.
He smiled as he met Fu Chi's deep eyes and said, "Cured meat? I figured it was about time; I was just about to offer to take it out and cut it."
The man was extremely handsome, but his overwhelming aura actually diminished the impact of his face.
Fu Chi nodded slightly. "Then I'll go get it."
Xia Zhiyi: "Okay, thank you."
Fu Chi: "It was nothing."
He handed the kitchen knife to Xia Zhiyi and turned to go back to the kitchen.
After Fu Chi left, Gu Zhiyuan said to Xia Zhiyi, " Teacher Xia and Mr. Fu have a really good relationship."
Xia Zhiyi, puzzled, "Hmm?"
Gu Zhiyuan: "When I'm with Mr. Fu, I always get very nervous. I have to think about each sentence over and over in my mind several times, and in the end, I miss the opportunity to talk to Mr. Fu."
"But Teacher Xia's attitude was very casual when she was with Mr. Fu."
Gu Zhiyuan said enviously, "That's wonderful."
Xia Zhiyi: "... Fu Chi shouldn't be that fierce?"
Gu Zhiyuan: "It's not that I'm fierce. To me, Mr. Fu is an elder, an idol I admire, and also a business partner that my family values. So, it's hard for me to relax when I'm around Mr. Fu."
Xia Zhiyi nodded thoughtfully, and after a moment, said, "But you also said you're an elder, right?"
Gu Zhiyuan: "Yes, Yunyi and I are childhood friends who grew up together."
Xia Zhiyi blinked. "As for elders, Fu Chi must be a very reliable one, so you don't need to worry too much. He doesn't seem like the type to hold grudges."
Rather, Fu Chi seems to be the kind of person who is... well, rather aloof and doesn't seem to care much about unintentional offenses from others.
As he spoke, Fu Chi returned carrying the still-dripping cured meat, followed by Fu Yunyi, who seemed inexplicably timid, also carrying several pieces of cured meat.
They bought the cured pork from Seventh Uncle next door. Uncle Qi makes a lot of cured pork every year, some for his own consumption, but most of it is given away as gifts. They are said to make the best cured pork in the village.
Upon hearing about this, the guests were initially quite interested and wanted to give it a try.
However, after hearing that Seventh Uncle kept all the cured meat for his own consumption at this time, the guests decided not to go and buy Seventh Uncle after some discussion.
Taking it directly is out of the question; they don't have people here who take things for free.
However, when Seventh Uncle heard the day before yesterday that they would invite their friends over, and that the show only had a few days left before they would leave after filming, he offered to give them some of his own cured meat.
The guests naturally couldn't accept it, and after some back and forth, the final agreement was that the guests would pay for the cured meat from Seventh Uncle.
Seventh Uncle was still a little unhappy, but Xia Zhiyi persuaded him to calm down.
When collecting the money, Seventh Uncle grumbled, "It doesn't cost much, why go through all this trouble? It's my own meat, I can give it to whomever I want."
As he spoke, he turned around and picked up a piece of fresh beef weighing at least five pounds from his own table and stuffed it into the bag that Xia Zhiyi was carrying.
Xia Zhiyi amused and exasperated. "Sir, you..."
Seventh Uncle raised his chin and said loudly, "This old man's cooking isn't as good as yours young lads'. This meat isn't free; when you're cooking, stir-fry some beef for me to have with my drinks!"
As he spoke, he forcefully pushed Xia Zhiyi out, saying, "Go, go! This old man has a lot of things to do, don't get in the way."
"If you don't leave now, I'm going to lose my temper!"
Because of the rising intonation in the local dialect, even a slightly louder voice sounds like arguing, making the elderly person appear very fierce, which startled the staff.
But Xia Zhiyi wasn't intimidated by the old man at all. She smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, alright, sir, I understand. I'll accept it."
They meant well, and it's not right for them to keep refusing. They can make it up to them elsewhere later.
At this moment, when Xia Zhiyi saw the cured meat, she naturally thought of Seventh Uncle. While asking the two to put the cured meat on the table, she said to Fu Yunyi, "With this much rain today, there's probably no place to walk on the mountain. Seventh Uncle said yesterday that he was going to go to the back mountain to collect some firewood today, so I'm afraid the firewood at home won't be enough."
"At this hour, everyone over there should be awake. I'm a little worried. Brother Fu, do you think we should send Brother Chengran or someone else over there to check and bring some firewood over as well?"
As for why Xia Zhiyi didn't go in person this time...
Xia Zhiyi is the head chef today because Qin Yue really doesn't know how to make bamboo rice.
With so many people eating, there's a lot to prepare, so it's not convenient for him at this time.
Fu Yunyi was more enthusiastic than anyone else. "I'll go!"
After saying that, realizing something, she quickly said to Fu Chi, "Uncle, um..."
At this moment, Fu Yunyi had already revealed his relationship with Fu Chi to everyone.
Although everyone had some doubts about why Fu Chi, as Fu Yunyi's uncle, was invited by Xia Zhiyi, none of them were truly fools. Even Wang Chengran was the most outspoken on the show, wouldn't be so stupid as to ask directly.
However, because of this, everyone present, as well as the viewers watching from behind their screens as they prepared the bamboo tube feast, could understand Fu Yunyi's subdued and timid demeanor when facing Fu Chi.
They're elders, after all.
normal.
This is a normal reaction that most people would have.
Fu Chi merely tilted his head slightly, glanced at Fu Yunyi, and softly hummed in agreement. "Go ahead."
Upon receiving the order, Fu Yunyi immediately abandoned his childhood friend, turned around and ran to the woodshed, quickly bundled up some firewood, and prepared to leave.
Gu Zhiyuan: "Wait, Yunyi!"
Fu Yunyi: "Ah, Old Gu... do you want to come with me to take a look?"
Gu Zhiyuan was a little conflicted. He wanted to get close to his idol, but looking at his idol... it seemed like he hadn't even noticed him.
Fu Yunyi didn't notice his little scheme; he was still carrying things in his hands. "Don't hesitate, if you want to go, come with me."
Otherwise, what if my uncle misunderstands and thinks I'm slacking off if I stay here too long?
Gu Zhiyuan: "I'll go with you."
Well, my idol... he's still not mentally prepared.
A few minutes later, Xia Zhiyi heard Fu Yunyi's voice from afar. " Xia Zhiyi! Xia Zhiyi! Come quick! Seventh Uncle has fallen!"
Xia Zhiyi:!!!
He was about to move when he heard the noise when Fu Yunyi exclaimed, "Oh no, Old Gu! How did you fall too!"
Xia Zhiyi:...