The walk back from the butcher's shop was filled with a comfortable, rhythmic silence. The afternoon sun cast long, amber shadows across the winding dirt path that led out of the bustling county town and back toward the quiet embrace of the mountains.
Xu Ming kept checking the small straw-tied bundle hanging from his hand. Inside was a beautiful, thick slab of pork belly, perfectly layered with fat and lean meat, alongside a small pouch of sugar and a bundle of dried star anise he managed to barter from a spice vendor. Eighty-two copper coins rested safely in his waistband, clinking together like soft music with every step he took. It was his first real income in this world. It wasn't just money; it was the foundation of his freedom.
Beside him, Shen Li walked with his usual steady, unhurried stride. The heavy, empty baskets were slung effortlessly over his broad back. His sharp eyes occasionally swept the surrounding brush, always alert, but his posture was noticeably more relaxed than it had been in the crowded town market.
"Is your hand alright?" Xu Ming asked softly, breaking the quiet. He looked up at Shen Li's large, calloused right hand—the same hand that had crushed Liu Da's wrist without a second thought. "You gripped him tightly. I don't want you getting into trouble with the village chief or the town guards because of me."
Shen Li didn't look back, but his pace slowed slightly so Xu Ming could walk comfortably right next to him. "Trash like him only understands force. If you show weakness once, they will hunt you like a wounded animal." He paused, his dark eyes shifting to look down at Xu Ming's delicate profile. "The town guards do not care about market squabbles. And the village chief knows what kind of people the Liu family are. Do not worry about them."
Xu Ming smiled, a deep sense of relief settling into his chest. "I'm not worried. Not when I have such a fierce hunter protecting me."
Shen Li's ears turned a faint shade of red at the praise. He grunted softly, turning his gaze back to the path ahead, but the strict line of his jaw seemed to soften just a fraction.
By the time they reached their isolated thatch-roofed cottage nestled against the mountain slope, the sun was dipping below the peaks, painting the sky in vibrant strokes of purple and deep orange. The air grew instantly colder, the mountain chill creeping through the trees.
"I'll chop the firewood and tend to the chickens," Shen Li said, putting the baskets down on the wooden porch. "Go inside where it's warm."
"Alright. I'll get the stove started," Xu Ming replied cheerfully.
Inside the small, rustic kitchen, Xu Ming expertly built up the fire in the earthen stove, feeding it dry twigs and flint until a bright, crackling warmth filled the space. He washed his hands thoroughly and placed the pork belly on a clean wooden cutting board.
In his past life, cooking had been his escape from the grueling hours of corporate life. He had spent countless weekends perfecting traditional recipes, never imagining those skills would one day be his greatest survival tool in an ancient era.
With practiced ease, he sliced the pork belly into neat, uniform cubes, about two fingers wide. He placed the meat into a heavy iron pot filled with cold water, adding a few smashed wild scallions and a thick slice of ginger he had gathered from the mountain. This initial boil was crucial to remove any gamey impurities from the fresh meat.
As the pot began to simmer, filling the kitchen with a clean, savory aroma, the wooden door creaked open. Shen Li walked in, carrying a fresh stack of split logs. He stacked them neatly by the stove, his eyes instantly drifting to the cutting board and the steaming pot.
"What is that smell?" Shen Li asked, his nose twitching slightly. In all his years living alone in these mountains, meat was simply something to be boiled with salt or roasted over an open flame until it was edible. It was fuel to keep his body moving, nothing more. He had never smelled anything so layered and fragrant.
"It's the broth skimming," Xu Ming explained, using a wide wooden spoon to carefully remove the foam from the top of the boiling water. "Just wait. The real magic hasn't even started yet."
Once the meat was parboiled, Xu Ming strained the cubes and set them aside. He wiped the heavy iron wok clean and placed it back over the fire, adding just a tiny drop of oil. He threw in a handful of the precious sugar he had bought, his eyes fixed on the melting crystals.
Shen Li watched intently, leaning his tall frame against the wooden doorframe. To him, using sugar—a luxury item—on meat seemed almost scandalous, but he chose to trust the small ger. He noticed how confident Xu Ming looked in front of the stove. The timid, weeping boy who had been dragged to his doorstep weeks ago was entirely gone. In his place was someone vibrant, sharp, and deeply mesmerizing.
"Watch closely, A-Li," Xu Ming murmured, unaware of the hunter's intense gaze. "This is called coloring."
As the sugar melted, turning into a deep, glossy amber syrup, Xu Ming quickly dumped the pork belly cubes into the wok. A loud, violent sizzle erupted, followed by the intoxicating scent of caramelizing meat. He tossed the pork rapidly, ensuring every single cube was coated in the rich, golden sweetness. The fat began to render out, making the meat glisten beautifully under the dim light of the oil lamp.
Next, he tossed in the ginger, extra scallions, and the star anise. The heat of the wok unlocked the oils in the dried spices, releasing a rich, aromatic fragrance that completely filled the small cottage. Finally, he poured in a splash of cheap cooking wine and water, bringing the whole mixture to a boil before covering it with a heavy wooden lid.
"Now, we let it simmer on a low heat until the meat is so tender it melts in your mouth," Xu Ming said, wiping a bead of sweat from his forehead with the back of his sleeve. He turned to smile at Shen Li. "It will take about forty minutes. Are you hungry?"
"Mmh," Shen Li replied, his stomach giving a timely, low rumble that made both of them laugh.
While the meat cooked, Xu Ming didn't waste any time. He used the leftover rendered pork fat to quickly stir-fry a large portion of the crisp wild greens they hadn't sold at the market, tossing them with a bit of crushed garlic. The simple vegetable dish looked bright green and vibrant, a perfect contrast to the heavy meat dish simmering beside it.
When Xu Ming finally lifted the wooden lid of the iron pot, a thick, savory cloud of steam billowed into the room. The sauce had reduced into a rich, dark red glaze that coated the pork cubes perfectly. The meat was remarkably tender, trembling slightly when Xu Ming lifted a piece with his wooden chopsticks.
He scooped two large wooden bowls of coarse brown rice, placing a generous mountain of the braised pork belly and stir-fried greens on top of each.
They sat down at the small, rough-hewn wooden table in the center of the main room. The single oil lamp flickered, casting a warm, golden glow over the two of them.
"Taste it," Xu Ming urged, his eyes shining with anticipation as he pushed a bowl toward Shen Li.
Shen Li picked up his heavy bamboo chopsticks. He selected a piece of the dark, glistening pork belly. It was completely different from any meat he had ever prepared. He placed it in his mouth, and his eyes widened instantly.
The layer of fat dissolved immediately on his tongue, rich and sweet, while the lean meat was incredibly savory, infused deeply with the warmth of the star anise and ginger. It wasn't greasy at all; the sweet and savory flavors balanced each other perfectly, making him instantly crave a massive mouthful of the warm rice.
Without a word, Shen Li began to eat with rapid, efficient movements, burying his face into the bowl.
Xu Ming chuckled softly, taking his own first bite. He let out a satisfied sigh. The ingredients in this ancient world were entirely organic and fresh, making the flavor even deeper than what he used to cook in his modern kitchen.
"Is it good?" Xu Ming asked, though the speed at which Shen Li was emptying his bowl answered the question perfectly.
Shen Li swallowed a massive mouthful, looking up at Xu Ming with a seriousness that bordered on solemnity. "I have never eaten anything this good in my entire life," he said honestly, his voice deep and sincere. "The restaurants in the county town could not match this."
"Then eat more. There is plenty in the pot," Xu Ming smiled, his heart swelling with a profound sense of happiness. Sharing a warm meal in a cozy room while a cold wind howled outside the mountains—this was the kind of life he had always secretly wanted.
After finishing three massive bowls of rice and every single scrap of meat and vegetables, Shen Li leaned back, looking completely satisfied. He insisted on cleaning the dishes, refusing to let Xu Ming touch the cold wash water.
Once the kitchen was clean, Shen Li returned to the main room, carrying a small earthenware pot filled with hot water. He poured a cup for Xu Ming and sat down across from him. The atmosphere between them had shifted; the initial awkwardness of their forced marriage had completely melted away, replaced by a quiet, mutual understanding.
"The Liu family will not let this go easily," Shen Li spoke up suddenly, his eyes fixed on the flickering flame of the lamp. "Madam Wang is greedy. Today she saw you make money. She will tell your father, and they will try to find a way to claim a share of your business."
Xu Ming took a slow sip of the warm water, his expression calm. "Let them try. Legally, when they signed the marriage contract and took your five silver taels, I ceased to be a member of the Liu household. I am registered under your household now. If they try to steal my formulas or my money, they are stealing from a hunter who knows how to handle a bow." He looked directly into Shen Li's eyes. "Unless... you are tired of me being here?"
Shen Li's posture stiffened instantly. He reached across the small table, his large, calloused hand hovering over Xu Ming's smaller one for a second before gently covering it. His grip was firm, warm, and completely reassuring.
"You are my husband," Shen Li said, each word heavy with absolute commitment. "This house is yours. Everything I hunt is yours. No one will take you away from here."
Xu Ming felt his heart skip a beat. The intense, unyielding sincerity in the hunter's eyes was completely overwhelming in the best way possible. He flipped his hand over, intertwining his slender fingers with Shen Li's thick, scarred ones.
"Then we will build this home together," Xu Ming whispered softly, his thumb gently brushing against the back of Shen Li's hand.
The fire in the stove slowly died down to a bed of glowing red embers, keeping the small cottage warm against the creeping night frost. As they sat together in the quiet night, their hands tightly joined, Xu Ming knew that the hardships of his past life and the terror of transmigration were entirely worth it. He had found his anchor in this ancient world, and tomorrow, they would face whatever came together.
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