Luo Dahai and his companions had exhausted all their threats, coercion, and intimidation, but Xie Jiang remained unmoved. His expression and tone, telling them to get lost, were identical to the previous time.
Xie Jiang also wanted to act a little more scared, which was easily within his acting capabilities.
However, Luo Dahai and his cronies were as flimsy as paper.
Xie Jiang couldn't even muster any real emotion.
Just as Luo Dahai rolled up his sleeves, ready to perish with Xie Jiang, he suddenly remembered a trump card Lu Bao Hong had taught him on their way back.
"Don't forget you are currently prisoners of our West Village. If you don't want to cook, that's fine, then I'll lock you up in our West Village dungeon! You'll never see, never see him again..."
Luo Dahai pointed at Xu Heng Yan, who was quietly hanging clothes.
Hearing this, Xie Jiang, who had been unyielding, immediately changed his expression. He rushed to the young man hanging clothes, grabbed his arm, and practically clung to him.
Luo Dahai hadn't expected this move to actually work! Xie Jiang was fearless of anything they said, but he was afraid of being separated from this young man hanging clothes!
Luo Dahai immediately put his hands on his hips and beckoned to his companions behind him, ordering them to take Xie Jiang away and lock him up right now.
"No one come over! It's just cooking! I'll cook!"
Xie Jiang seemed extremely afraid. Among all the terrifying things in the world, this was his Achilles' heel.
Xu Heng Yan couldn't stand playing this game with him anymore and could only play the role of a prop with a poker face throughout.
Luo Dahai, whose voice was hoarse from shouting, was overjoyed. "Then it's settled. If you dare to go back on your word when the time comes, I'll make sure you never see each other again!"
"I'll only make two dishes, Braised Pork Belly and Braised Pig Trotters. No more, no less! If you dare to talk nonsense, go eat shit!" Even with his weakness exposed, Xie Jiang's temper remained unyielding.
Luo Dahai was extremely satisfied with these two dishes. The entire West Village had been discussing these dishes the night before. Who wouldn't want to taste the tender and fatty flavor of Braised Pork Belly and Braised Pig Trotters? This would certainly add joy to his father's birthday banquet, and his father would praise him for accomplishing this!
Luo Dahai proudly led his companions away.
Xu Heng Yan hung the last piece of clothing and looked down at the person hanging on his arm.
"They're gone, and you're still acting?"
Xie Jiang wouldn't have been afraid even if Luo Dahai had wanted to chop off his hands and feet. But the moment they mentioned locking him in the dungeon and separating them, he immediately became terrified and compromised without a second thought...
Wasn't this clearly telling others that their relationship was unusual?
~
Luo Dahai and his lackeys were like monkeys performing for Xie Jiang, just helping Xie Jiang pass the time.
Lu Bao Hong couldn't bear to watch.
Not long after returning to his residence, a subordinate reported to him.
Lu Bao Hong's mood was somewhat complicated.
Although he dreamed of eating Braised Pork Belly, his pride was still hurt when he heard that Xie Jiang had agreed to cook.
That damned little brat Xie Jiang would rather be a cook for the peasants of Yongfeng Village than give him even a scrap of leftover food...
~
Three days passed in a flash.
Before dawn on this day, Xie Jiang was summoned to the kitchen early.
Although the East and West Villages had been at odds for a long time, the kitchen had always been shared.
Whenever there was an event in the village that required a banquet, it was held in the kitchen.
As Xie Jiang, yawning, arrived at the kitchen with people from the West Village, more than a dozen women were already busy working.
Someone exclaimed, and the kitchen suddenly fell silent. The sounds of chopping vegetables and meat ceased, as did the chatter and laughter.
The young man from the West Village who brought Xie Jiang over said to the women helping in the kitchen, "This is Chef Xie, whom Brother Dahai invited to make Braised Pork Belly and Braised Pig Trotters. Chef Xie has to make so much Braised Pork Belly and Braised Pig Trotters alone. Ladies, don't forget to lend Chef Xie a hand when it gets busy."
"Oh my!"
A strong, middle-aged woman stared at Xie Jiang, her eyes widening. She dropped the cleaver in her hand and walked over, pushing the young man aside.
"What are you worrying about, kid! We ladies aren't blind! With the chef looking like this, are you afraid no one will help? We're afraid too many people will rush to help!"
The robust woman stared at Xie Jiang, her gaze moving up and down. Accidentally meeting Xie Jiang's eyes, which were so beautiful and held a smile, made her involuntarily retreat a few steps.
The young man stumbled as he was pushed aside, stepping on over a dozen chickens whose necks had just been cut and were not yet dead, their wings pressed under a stone. The struggling chickens flapped their wings, and chicken blood splattered everywhere.
A woman nearby was splashed all over her face. She grabbed the young man, pinned him against the wall, and started beating him.
Normally, when the women saw good-looking young men, they couldn't help but pinch their cheeks, touch their arms and legs, and tease them. But when facing Xie Jiang, no one dared to step forward.
Even Aunt Bao, the most fiery woman who usually managed the kitchen, only walked over and said a few words, not daring to touch him.
The others didn't even dare to get close.
Although this young man, said to have extraordinary culinary skills, was the same age as the young men in the village, his demeanor made them tremble from the bottom of their hearts.
The women didn't even dare to discuss him too loudly, as if raising their voices too much would disturb some deity.
Aunt Bao pointed to the three large fat pigs, freshly slaughtered and still steaming, laid out on the ground in the backyard. "They said these three pigs are all for you to handle."
Xie Jiang let out a soft "oh" to indicate he wasn't in a hurry. He asked someone to bring a lounge chair and lay down leisurely under the shade of a tree.
He had woken up too early and hadn't slept enough. He wanted to take a nap.
Er Gou said anxiously, "Aren't we going to process the pork first? Will the banquet be delayed at noon?"
If it's delayed, so be it. Why rush to die? Xie Jiang yawned, "It's hot..."
~
Luo Shou, along with Dong Zi and Xiao Hu, arrived at the kitchen and saw everyone in the kitchen busy as bees, except for Xie Jiang, who lay there motionless. Er Gou from the West Village was even standing beside him, fanning him!
"Young Master Xie!"
Luo Shou walked over and called out.
Er Gou said sarcastically, "Didn't you fall out with Young Master Xie? Why are you looking for him?"
The fact that Luo Qing Qing had eaten too much Braised Pork Belly and gotten a stomachache, and that Luo Lu had called Young Master Xie over in the middle of the night to scold him, had already spread throughout both the East and West Villages.
Luo Shou said with some lack of confidence, "That's my brother. I have a good relationship with Young Master Xie."
Xiao Hu looked at the three large fat pigs still lying there, swallowed his saliva, and asked Young Master Xie how to handle them. The three of them were Young Master Xie's little helpers today.
Luo Shou also couldn't help but murmur in his heart as he looked at the three large fat pigs. Luo Zhong Tong, that ungrateful wretch, must be very pleased with himself these past few days. Did he think he would definitely secure the East Village today?
Was Luo Zhong Tong preparing today's banquet on such a grand scale to celebrate in advance?
Hmph!
Let him be smug for a few more hours!
Today is not only his birthday, but also his death day!