Shi Hu was holding a large celadon bowl. The boneless pig's trotter in it was shiny red and oily, still steaming.
He looked embarrassed. Coaxing like he was dealing with a child, he said, "Master, Shi Hu knows you've had a spat with Boss Li. You must be in a bad mood. But as the saying goes, 'Man is iron, food is steel.' If you still refuse to eat, your body won't be able to hold up!"
Shi Hu tried his best to persuade, but Lu Xunguang ignored him and didn't answer.
Li Ying was standing outside the door. Seeing the greasy bowl of rice from afar, she couldn't keep up her cold face any longer. With a charming smile, she said, "Shi Hu, I know you're loyal to your master. But think about it. How can a person who has just recovered from a serious illness have an appetite for such greasy food?"
When Shi Hu saw her coming, his face lit up.
"Boss Li, it's great that you're here! Please persuade the master quickly!"
He glanced at the bowl of trotter rice in his hand and gave an awkward smile. He didn't know whether he should stay or not.
Li Ying let out another chuckle.
"Shi Hu has had a hard life. Any meat used to be a great treat for him. No wonder he brought you this stewed pig's trotter."
After Shi Hu walked far away, Li Ying finally spoke with a sweet smile, her tone carrying the usual playfulness.
She glanced at the writing brush and ink beside Lu Xunguang and casually asked, "What? Still copying Buddhist scriptures? When did the fearless Master Lu of the Lu family become so devout in worshiping Buddha?"
She opened the food box, which already contained several simple and elegant side dishes. She placed them in front of him one by one.
"Try this jadeite fried rice. How does it taste? Is it to your liking?"
When Lu Xunguang heard her mention "copying Buddhist scriptures", he knew that his plan must have been known to her long ago. He also noticed that with her smiling eyes, every word she said was teasing him. He didn't argue but just put away the paper and inkstone and looked at her intently.
Li Ying had already filled a small bowl of rice and handed it to him. At first glance, the fried rice looked quite ordinary, just white rice mixed with shredded fried bean curd and small green vegetables.
Lu Xunguang saw that the plump rice grains were stir - fried to be crystal - clear and separate from each other, with the green and yellow colors intertwined. It had an indescribable elegance, and he felt a bit hungry. Without hesitation, he picked up the bowl and began to chew heartily.
Li Ying knew that he had just recovered from a serious illness and his spleen and stomach were still a bit weak, so he couldn't eat too greasy food. Therefore, she only used a little clear oil to fry the ginger paste until fragrant. Even the fried bean curd was blanched in boiling water to wash away the excess oil, and then carefully roasted until crispy before being added to the dish.
The fried bean curd was crispy on the outside and still a bit soft on the inside. The ginger paste and green vegetable stems just right neutralized the last bit of greasiness, leaving a fragrant aftertaste in the mouth.
Although the ingredients used in this "jadeite fried rice" were just the most common ones, its taste was simple yet profound, with a unique charm of returning to the original simplicity.
Lu Xunguang ate heartily. Seeing his appearance, a smile appeared on Li Ying's face. She felt a bit relieved and deliberately teased him.
"Eat slowly. Don't choke. It seems that practicing asceticism and being vegetarian is really a hard thing. The Master Lu, who is used to eating delicacies from mountains and seas, is gobbling up this light fried rice."
Lu Xunguang could hear that her tone was half - coquettish and half - teasing. He also noticed her lingering gaze on him. He put down the bowls and chopsticks and looked at her seriously.
"I really don't believe in gods and Buddhas, and the rituals of fasting and bathing are really cumbersome."
"But for you, A Ying, I'm willing to offer all the piety of a person who has never had a belief to you."
Li Ying was caught off guard by his sudden deep affection. Her heart warmed up, and she couldn't say the joking words she had originally planned.
She gently placed her small hand in his palm, and with the other hand, she gently covered his lips.
"Shh, Master Lu has such a naughty mind. After having a spat with me, he doesn't even allow me to say a few teasing words. Instead, he uses his deep affection to coax me!"
She deliberately stamped her foot and turned around, pretending to be a sulky young girl. Lu Xunguang's heart skipped a beat. He stretched out his long arm, gently pulled her into his arms, and let her sit steadily on his lap.
He firmly pressed her hand against his chest. Li Ying immediately felt the warmth from his chest.
"A Ying, do you want my piety?"
Lu Xunguang's deep eyes stared at her intently, as if he wanted to drown her in his gaze.
Li Ying's heart warmed up again. She said in a low voice, "The jadeite fried rice is like the simple porridge and side dishes, as pure as scallions and tofu. It clearly represents my sincere heart. Master Lu, what else do you need to ask?"
She lowered her eyelashes, raised her face, and directly offered her soft red lips.
"Ah!"
Suddenly, there was a scream outside the door. Li Ying blushed. She quickly jumped off Lu Xunguang's lap like an electric shock and stood aside seriously.
Even Lu Xunguang, who was usually calm, couldn't help but have a faint blush on his face at this moment.
"Master Lu... Boss Li... It's my fault for coming at a bad time! I... I didn't mean to disturb you. I'll leave now!"
It was the persistent Qing Liu standing at the door with a food box in her hand, looking at a loss. Seeing the intimacy between the two, she dropped the food box in a daze and ran away in a hurry.
She walked in a hurry and even stumbled over the threshold. She almost fell and ran away with her face covered, looking extremely embarrassed.
Li Ying looked at Qing Liu's emaciated back, raised her eyebrows, and asked coldly, "Master Lu, don't you plan to chase after her and ask? After all, she's a delicate flower. You should show some pity."
Lu Xunguang didn't even lift his eyelids. He just said indifferently, "What does others matter to me?"
The two chatted for a while, talking about the discussion with the abbot today about opening a vegetarian canteen and serving vegetarian meals. Seeing that it was getting late, Li Ying told Lu Xunguang to take good care of himself and then got up to say goodbye.
It's not suitable to make complicated snacks during the first lunar month. So she took a detour and went to the cake shop in the town to buy some candied fruits for A Man to have a change of taste.
This little girl had been very angry when talking about Lu Xunguang recently. She deserved to be coaxed.
"Sister, you're finally back!"
As soon as Li Ying stepped into the door, A Man greeted her. Seeing the empty food box in her hand, she immediately exploded like a firecracker.
"Sister! You really went to see that Lu Xunguang again! Why do you still care about such a two - faced and insincere person!"
She was furious. Li Ying didn't understand why. When she offered her the dried apricots, A Man refused to take them. She puffed out her cheeks like a puffer fish out of water.
"Sister, we've all been deceived by Lu Xunguang! Do you know that as soon as you left, he rushed off in a hurry to find that slut Qing Liu!"
A Man spoke quickly like pouring beans out of a bamboo tube. Granny Sun didn't have time to stop her and could only look at the two of them worriedly.
"A Ying... This young man Lu... Maybe he has his own difficulties? You two have been through so many ups and downs together. Don't let these misunderstandings damage your relationship..."
The old woman thought that it took ten years of cultivation to cross the river in the same boat. It was a rare good match between well - matched families. She should try to reconcile them.
A Man said anxiously, "Sister, if you still don't believe me, come with me and see for yourself! Right now, the two of them are probably still lingering and entangled with each other!"