Chapter 351

In order to fatten up the lamb a bit more, the date of slaughter was pushed back again and again until the Eve of Chinese New Year.

Master Chef came early, knife in hand, beaming like a blossoming flower surrounded by Auntie Zhang’s family.

Now and then he would say, “Elder sister, why are you doing this work? Let me handle it.”

Then he would offer, “Xianglian, take a break and let me take over.”

But his courtesy only annoyed Zhang Xianglian. “What’s wrong with doing some work? With the New Year arriving shortly we can’t set off firecrackers or put up red banners. We may as well prepare some good food.”

Still, laughter lurked in the corners of her eyes and all the tasks at hand were surrendered to Master Chef “against her will.”

The busiest woman in years past was finally able to take a breather this year.

Glancing back, she saw the deserted courtyard and the silent children, and her heart ached for them.

Fortunately Master Chef had stewed up some fish and pork elbows. Wielding his knife he came out and announced, “Time to slaughter the lamb!”

The previously listless children instantly perked up and gathered round full of curiosity. Even bedridden Xu Mo sat up straight, his gaze passing through the window into the yard.

Slaughtering a lamb took both strength and skill.

The half-grown lamb was carried to a table held down by Jiang San and Jiang Si while Wang Xiaosong brought a bucket of hot water and Wang Xiaozhu held a grinding stone for the knives. It was all hands on deck.

Master Chef seemed a bit out of practice. He sized up the situation for quite awhile before decisively slashing the lamb’s throat.

As the lamb’s blood gushed forth, its pitiful bleating grew weaker and weaker.

The timid Wang Xiaozhu had already hidden her face in a corner.

The slightly bolder Zhang Xianglian also averted her gaze, her hands trembling slightly as she held the wooden basin.

Right then Master Chef called out hoarsely, “Basin over here!” Startled, she couldn’t place it accurately and some of the crimson lamb’s blood splashed outside.

She had assumed Master Chef would just chuckle amiably. But instead he was solemn and earnest, simply saying “Be precise.”

Then he nudged the basin into the right spot.

By the time the blood had drained away, the lamb had almost ceased breathing. Master Chef deftly tied a knot in its throat.

The next steps were a bit gruesome, requiring him to make an incision in the lamb’s hooves and blow into it.

Unaffected by his rotund belly, Master Chef bent at the waist, not minding the filthy hooves or caring what others might think. His serious attitude was as if he were engraving a golden hairpin.

As Zhang Xianglian watched by the side she suddenly felt the man radiating a glow, stimulating sensations completely different than his usual geniality, oddly compelling and stirring.

No wonder the old saying goes that an earnest man is most handsome.

Flushing, she shyly lowered her head, glimpsing out the corner of her eye that Master Chef had finished blowing and was nimbly skinning the lamb, tearing flesh and clearing out the abdominal cavity.

The originally terrifying process was slowly becoming matter-of-fact.

Jiang Sheng was equally nonchalant. From the slitting of the throat she had craned her neck avidly watching it all.

A few times Chang Yan had tried covering her eyes but she struggled free with determination. She was even more thrilled and curious during the skinning process, chasing after him and demanding, “Why blow into it? Why must you blow in from the hooves? Can’t you blow in somewhere else?”

Her barrage of questions left her brothers speechless. None could answer.

Finally Master Chef peeled off the skin, wiped the sweat from his brow and panted, “Blowing air into the lamb makes skinning easier. The air loosens the hide from the flesh all the way to the extremities. Blowing in through the hooves ensures it's airtight.”

Jiang Sheng suddenly understood.

Meanwhile Zhang Xianlian felt Master Chef’s glow intensifying. She bit her lip, pulled out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from his brow.

It was like a lightning bolt had hit Master Chef. The smile on his round face appeared and disappeared and reappeared until he finally bit his own tongue to ascertain it wasn’t a dream.

“Xianglian, y-you...you wiped my brow!” His voice quavered.

Face bright red, Zhang Xianglian softly murmured affirmation.

“Wipe it again for me! Wipe me again!” Master Chef was desperate.

Zhang Xianglian’s complexion went from bright red to purple. She gave another couple random swipes then couldn’t endure anymore and fled in embarrassment.

Only the children were left giggling behind their hands, amused yet supportive.

Master Chef took a deep breath, realizing some matters couldn’t be rushed. He resigned himself to continue breaking down the lamb patiently. This process was slightly less distressing than the slaughter. But the glint of the sharp knives slicing through flesh and tendon still made Wang Xiaozhu a bit queasy.

In contrast, if Jiang Yan hadn’t been holding her back, Jiang Sheng would’ve eagerly gone up to fondle the carcass.

Fundamentally it was because the hunger she had endured in past years had cut too deep. Food was what she cherished most and eating was her utmost joy.

The lamb’s cruel end and the dripping blood were insignificant next to simply being alive.

“I’ll grill up the lamb shanks and ribs for you,” Zheng Ruqian tugged her little braid. “Everything else goes into the stewpot. How’s that sound?”

Jiang Sheng nodded excitedly like a chick pecking rice. “Elder brother, let’s just slaughter one lamb, 'kay?”

“Why?” Zheng Ruqian was puzzled. “This lamb’s not full grown. At best 30 jin. We’ll polish it off in a few days. When you get hungry again we’ll kill the second one for you. Isn’t that good?”

Yes, of course! Having several dozen jin of lamb to eat over the bleak New Year was a blessing countless others envied. Yet Jiang Sheng was preoccupied with one absent brother out there somewhere. She counted off on her fingers estimating whether her third brother would be able to take advantage of the family visitation policy by now.

There were two lambs total. They would taste the first while reserving the second for when third brother came back so he wouldn’t miss out either.

Plus she could show off to him: Look, younger sister saved this for you!

Quite self-satisfied with her little scheme, Jiang Sheng was caught off guard when Zheng Ruqian released her braid and knocked her pate. “Aren’t you the smart one. Out there on the northern borderlands he’s already eaten who knows how many sheep. Why would he care if you specifically set one aside?”

Jiang Sheng clutched her head resentfully glaring at him.

Zheng Ruqian ignored her gaze. “We’ll strip both lambs clean and eat them up. Strip them together. If you’re still hungry later we’ll figure it out.” He waved Jiang San and Jiang Si over to truss up the second lamb.

Master Chef tossed the sliced meat into a pot and efficiently repeated the skinning and bleeding process.

By the time both lambs were fully dressed the sky had gone pitch black and everyone was ravenous.

Auntie Zhang and Wang Xiaozhu brought out plates and bowls from the kitchen. There was lamb blood stewed tofu, clear lamb head stew, charcoal roasted lamb ribs and shanks exuding an irresistible fragrance, red braised lamb vertebrae, stewed pork elbows falling off the bone, red stewed big carp, and sliced lamb liver and heart dressed in a cool salad. A dizzying variety that could absolutely be called abundant.

Finally Master Chef had washed off the lamb stench. He deeply inhaled. “Auntie Zhang’s cooking skill is as good as ever! We’ll eat well tonight!”

Jiang Sheng deliberately teased him. “But Master Chef, doesn’t You Ran House still have seats available? What if you get called over?”

Master Chef’s eyes popped. “I’m Master Chef! Usually I just teach some apprentices. Only occasionally do I fix up fancy dishes for honored guests, not bulk orders.”

Besides, this was the first New Year he would spend with his sweet Xianglian. The restaurant would just have to get in line.

Everyone chuckled. Urging each other, they sat down around the table.

Just as they readied their chopsticks, the sound of *ding ding dong dong* came from outside.