I Am Immortal in Great Yu

Chapter 199: Chapter 83: Evening Gleanings

The moon was absent tonight. Instead, the sky was filled with a multitude of stars, twinkling with exceptional brilliance. They hung like little lanterns in the night, seeming to draw extraordinarily close to the earth.

Looking down from high above, the countless lights of Yunshan City flickered, each one seemingly a counterpart to a star in the firmament.

Behind those windows, glowing with a hazy light, was the clamor and bustle of life—a kaleidoscope of joys and sorrows. Like the leaping flames of the lamps, they were small and faint, yet tenaciously unyielding, fighting against and chipping away at the boundless darkness of the night.

Yes, after the ’false alarm’ with the Iron Butcher’s army, Yunshan City had returned to normal. Whether it was Grand General Xuantong or the Rebel Army, however they clashed with the Official Army, however their forces marched on the Prefecture City—none of it had much to do with the people at the bottom. For the common folk, life had to go on.

The small courtyard rented by the Fang Family.

In the courtyard, a bonfire was lit.

Beside it, Fang Rui was grilling meat—a huge spread of lamb, beef, beef offal, and more, along with seasonings he had mixed himself, like oil, salt, and cumin.

SIZZLE!

Golden-yellow hot oil dripped from the meat skewers. A drop or two fell into the bonfire, CRACKLING, and released an even more enticing, rich aroma that made one’s mouth water uncontrollably.

"Brother, is the barbecue ready? I want to eat!"

"Nannan wants to eat too!"

Fang Ling and Nannan, the two little girls, came over carrying firewood. They stared at the skewers of golden, dripping meat, slurping and swallowing their saliva.

Several large dogs were nearby as well, their eyes fixed, their mouths open, PANTING, their tails wagging wildly.

"Don’t be hasty, it’s almost ready."

Fang Rui smiled and said to Fang Ling and Nannan, "Go to the kitchen and see if the steamed buns are ready. Call Mother and Third Sister to come eat with us. And while you’re at it, wash your hands."

"Okay, okay!"

Hearing this, the two little girls, Fang Ling and Nannan, quickly turned and trotted off. "Mother..."

In the kitchen.

A large pot of wild vegetable and tofu soup was BUBBLING and giving off a fragrant steam. Next to it, a steamer had just been opened, and piping hot, fragrant, fluffy white buns were fresh out. Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family and the Third Sister were placing them on a platter.

"We’re coming!"

Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family brought a large platter of steamed buns to the stone table, followed by the Third Sister, who was carrying warmed yellow wine wrapped in a cloth. With the two little girls, Fang Ling and Nannan, having washed their hands and joined them, the whole family was finally gathered.

"Brother Rui, there’s still tofu soup in the pot..."

"Mother, no rush for that. We can have it after we’ve eaten a bit! Alright, everyone come and sit down!"

Fang Rui placed a large handful of grilled meat on a plate. The rich, fragrant aromas of the various foods mingled together, rising as a great plume of white steam.

And so, dinner began.

"Wow, Brother, the meat skewers you made are delicious!"

"Delicious."

The two little girls, Fang Ling and Nannan, ate until their mouths were slick with oil, their large, dark eyes shining as brightly as the stars in the sky.

Several large dogs lay beside them, anxiously sniffing left and right, their intention to curry favor all too obvious.

But the two little girls, who were usually the most generous to them, seemed quite ’stingy’ today. They found the dogs a nuisance and pushed them aside with their little hands. The dogs didn’t dare to resist, only letting out aggrieved whimpering sounds.

They were usually generous with other things, but meat... The two girls had hardly eaten it many times themselves in their entire lives! They couldn’t bear to part with it, nor did they dare feed it to the dogs; otherwise, they would definitely get a scolding.

The big dogs had no choice but to change targets. They went to Fang Rui and were finally placated with a large, roasted beef bone. But even this made Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family’s heart ache.

"You can make soup from beef bones, you know! But never mind, giving it to them isn’t a total waste... Mmm, this grilled meat is quite good," Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family praised, her eyes curving into crescents.

"Making Brother Rui cook..." The Third Sister seemed to be enjoying it very much too, sticking her tongue out playfully, a little embarrassed.

"What’s the big deal? We’re a humble family, no need for such formalities."

Fang Rui shook his head and smiled. He stuck a steamed bun in his mouth, grabbed another handful of meat skewers, brushed them with seasoning, and continued grilling.

He was in a good mood as well. ’These past two days I was out, I hunted plenty of good things, but eating them didn’t feel like this. It was just filling my stomach. Now, with the family together, this is what it truly means to enjoy a good meal!’

They ate and talked.

Fang Rui laid out his plan: to continue their journey and leave the drought-stricken, chaotic Three Southern States for good.

Of course, nothing was decided yet. He was asking for the opinions of Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family and the Third Sister.

"We have enough money, and we’re not afraid of hardship. It’s just..." The Third Sister looked at Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family.

Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family was silent for a moment before asking, just as expected, "Brother Rui, if we leave, what about your father’s grave? During the holidays and festivals, there won’t even be anyone to burn paper money for him..."

"About that,"

Fang Rui gave a wry smile. They obviously couldn’t take Fang Baicao’s body with them. "I suppose we can only find someone to look after it, to burn some paper money during the holidays and festivals."

Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family was silent for a good while before finally saying, "Alright, let’s do that."

"Your father is already... The living must go on living. If your father were here, he would naturally want to see us do better."

She had no further objections.

"Third Sister?" Fang Rui looked at her.

"Whatever you say."

The Third Sister only had those three words.

Even though they knew agreeing meant a long journey and untold hardships, they both trusted him, and their support was unconditional.

"Then it’s settled. Our family will leave the Three Southern States," Fang Rui declared, feeling the weight of responsibility on his shoulders grow heavier.

’Traveling in this era is still quite dangerous. All sorts of diseases, trouble acclimating to new environments... one accident and a person could be gone. Of course, with my Medical Skill, I can look after Mother and Third Sister. I don’t need to worry about any major problems.’

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