Prize Redemption Game
Yu Jinnian was the first to react, hastily walking towards Ji Hong. He had only taken a single step when someone tugged at him, causing him to stumble and crash into the table, creating a clattering sound. Turning around, he saw that it was Yan Rong who was tightly gripping the hem of his clothes, gazing at him with a pleading look.
There was some rouge on Yan Rong’s hands, which had dried earlier. When the wine jug on the table was knocked over by Yu Jinnian, the wine dripped down Yan Rong’s forearm, moistening his palm. The once-dry rouge revived, staining Yu Jinnian’s clothes with a bright red blotch that resembled a blooming peony.
When Yan Rong sobered up later, he thought he must have been reckless, daring to compete with the heir of Duke Li for a person. But at the time, his drunken mind wasn’t functioning, and he hadn’t thought of the consequences. He still felt uneasy about Ji Hong’s previous warning, fearing that as long as Yu Jinnian whispered sweet nothings, flattering the heir into joy, the latter wouldn’t care about their Yan family anymore.
Throughout history, those who seduced others with beauty all knew how to play this game.
Yan Rong continued to wink at Yu Jinnian, hinting that they had shared drinks before, so perhaps Yu could speak some good words for him. Unbeknownst to him, his drunken winking looked more like flirtatious eye movements, causing Yu Jinnian to feel a chill. When he glanced back at Ji Hong’s face, it was as cold as frost in June.
Wine continued to drip, filling the room with a rich fragrance. Ji Hong approached, casting a cold glance at the overturned gourd on the table. “Is the wine good?”
Yan Rong, being honest, answered, “It’s Lou Nan’s *Pi Zhen Chun*. It’s quite…”
“I wasn’t asking you!” Yu Jinnian picked up a hazelnut from a plate on the table and threw it at Yan Rong’s head, then smiled at Ji Hong. “It’s not good.” He felt somewhat guilty. That morning, when he hurried out, he had only casually promised Ji Hong that he would return quickly and wouldn’t take long. But after drinking with Yan Rong, he lost track of time and completely forgot his promise. Seeing Ji Hong’s expression reminded him, and he couldn’t help but feel anxious.
Ji Hong nodded calmly. “I see you two are enjoying your conversation. Continue drinking, then.”
Without saying another word, Ji Hong turned and left.
Yan Rong exhaled deeply, as if he had narrowly escaped death. He was eager to see this imposing figure leave, but then remembered that this was the third son of the Ji family, someone he’d long admired but had never been able to associate with. He couldn’t help but steal another glance.
Yu Jinnian, however, didn’t dare linger for more drinks. He quickly followed Ji Hong, feeling like a dog with its tail between its legs. After a few steps, he remembered his medicine basket and turned back to retrieve it. When he looked up, he saw Yan Rong staring after them in a daze. Annoyed, he grabbed a handful of melon seeds from a plate and threw them at Yan Rong’s face.
As soon as they exited Yan’s residence through the side door, a soft sedan chair with purple curtains was brought over, said to have been ordered by the eldest son. Shortly afterward, a servant came out holding a white porcelain gourd, which had bamboo painted on it. It appeared to be a matching pair with the one Yan Rong had, which was decorated with orchids.
Yu Jinnian couldn’t help but mutter to himself, wondering why, after all his efforts running around for the Yan family’s fifth young lady, no one had ever come to pick him up. But the moment Ji Hong arrived, they prepared both a sedan chair and wine! Yan Rong had even claimed he wasn’t infatuated with Ji Hong!
Just as Yu Jinnian was about to decline, saying, “We don’t need—”
He saw Ji Hong bow slightly and step into the sedan chair.
One of the bearers said, “Young master, there’s a smaller sedan behind.”
“I think this one is fine!” Without another word, Yu Jinnian ducked his head and squeezed into Ji Hong’s soft sedan, seating himself next to the man without waiting for permission. Fortunately, neither of them was heavy, so the sedan remained steady. It wasn’t the first time Yu Jinnian had ridden in a sedan—he had taken one to Yan’s residence before. But this time, sitting beside Ji Hong in such close quarters, their legs pressed together, he found it rather amusing.
The sedan was cramped, and every small movement Yu Jinnian made could be heard by the person beside him. However, Ji Hong kept his eyes closed, resting his hands calmly on his knees, exuding an air of distant nobility.
Yu Jinnian, however, wasn’t fazed by this aloofness. After sitting still for only a moment, he began fidgeting. He would peek out the sedan window to observe the street, then tilt his head to study Ji Hong, who was resting. Slowly, he touched Ji Hong’s fingers resting on his knee. Initially, the contact was faint, almost imperceptible, but when the sedan suddenly swayed as it turned a corner, he took the opportunity to firmly grasp Ji Hong’s hand.
“Ah Hong,” Yu Jinnian muttered, noticing something strange around Ji Hong’s waist.
Ji Hong didn’t respond. The smell of alcohol, warm and heady, wafted from Yu Jinnian’s body. Ji Hong, who had always avoided alcohol due to his poor health, felt slightly intoxicated just from the scent. His frail body, usually overwhelmed by just a few sips of wine, now felt as though every fiber had been soaked in it.
Sensing the warmth in his hand, Ji Hong allowed Yu Jinnian to hold it without resistance. Yet, there was no enthusiasm in his reaction either, as if that hand wasn’t his own but merely an unfeeling appendage attached to his body.
Yu Jinnian searched for something to say. “Your belt is twisted.”
“…” Ji Hong remained silent, eyes still closed.
Although they were holding hands, Yu Jinnian could clearly feel Ji Hong’s indifference toward him, which made him feel somewhat despondent. He reluctantly withdrew his hand. Before he could think of how to apologize, they heard the sedan bearers announce their arrival with a clearing of the throat—they had reached the noodle shop.
Ji Hong lifted the curtain and stepped out, with Yu Jinnian following closely behind. As soon as they entered the shop, the patrons inside greeted Yu with cheerful banter. They were all rough, burly men, speaking with no regard for propriety, and some even cracked jokes when they noticed his displeased expression, hoping to get a smile out of him.
As the end of the year approached, many merchants began returning home, and Yu Jinnian noticed that there were several unfamiliar faces in the shop.
Those who spoke were regular customers of the noodle shop, friendly with Yu Jinnian. However, seated at a nearby table was a newcomer, a merchant who traveled between the North and South by ship. He harbored a particular distaste for women who preferred young men over men, especially those innocent, well-behaved boys like Yu Jinnian. Though he had only been in Xinan County for a few days, he had already laid eyes on Yu Jinnian, finding him appealing and secretly intending to flirt with him. However, the man seated next to Yu looked like trouble, so the merchant refrained, but his desire was clear.
Today, the ship merchant came again to secretly observe Yu Jinnian. Hearing the others chat, he assumed that Yu was the type of frivolous person they were describing and used ordering food as an excuse to call Yu over.
Yu Jinnian was eager to speak with Ji Hong and, as a result, his tone wasn’t very welcoming. He asked, “What would you like to order, sir?”
The merchant, who had only intended to feast his eyes on the boy’s beauty up close, was pleasantly surprised by the crisp clarity of his voice. For a moment, he relished it, his mind wandering into indecent fantasies, as if he had already won over the young man.
Looking up again, the merchant noticed the rouge mark on Yu Jinnian’s neck. The scent of alcohol lingered on him, even though it was only morning. Seeing this, the merchant assumed that Yu was not a respectable young man—likely the kind who spent his nights under someone else’s control. Delighted by this thought, his words became even more brazen as he leered at Yu’s youthful and handsome face. He reached out to touch Yu’s hand, saying with a grin, “What’s troubling you outside? Why don’t you come sit in my lap, and I’ll warm your heart!”
Yu Jinnian recoiled in shock, dodging the man’s hand, and scolded him sharply, “Show some respect!”
The merchant, now furious, glared at Yu, pointing at him and shouting, “You little slut, don’t pretend to be virtuous after acting like a whore! You should be grateful that I fancy you. How much money can you make running this lousy shop?” He kicked the stool beside him in disdain and spat on the ground. Then, with a lecherous grin, he added, “If you let me have my way with you tonight, you’ll never lack food or drink. I’ll even buy you some jewelry.”
Yu Jinnian was both angry and amused—angry at the man’s vulgar words and amused by the absurdity that this merchant was causing a scene over someone as ordinary-looking as himself, rather than being captivated by the stunning Ji Hong. It was truly a bizarre situation.
Qing Huan, sleeves rolled up, grabbed a broom, ready to fight, but Yu Jinnian stopped her. With a calm indifference, he said, “Is this stench really worth getting into a fight over?” Not wanting to waste words on the merchant, he instructed Qing Huan to tend to other matters and turned to leave for the backyard. However, as soon as he lifted the curtain, he found himself face-to-face with Ji Hong, whose expression was icy. It was unclear how much Ji Hong had overheard, but his eyes carried a mysterious, chilling glint.
Ji Hong seemed to gesture toward someone, and Yu Jinnian quickly looked around. Among the diners, a stranger wearing a straw cape and a bamboo hat stood up. He had never been seen in the shop before and had a tall, sturdy build. His waist appeared to be bulging with something concealed under his clothing. The man threw some money on the table, silently followed the ship merchant outside, and soon disappeared into the bustling crowd.
Yu Jinnian turned back to see Ji Hong still wearing a cold expression as he walked inside.
Feeling puzzled, Yu Jinnian thought it might have just been his imagination. After all, Ji Hong had run away from home—how could he possibly know anyone around here?
As he mulled over the situation, Yu Jinnian headed to the kitchen, only to be startled once again. Qing Huan, hearing his outcry, rushed over and asked what had happened. Yu Jinnian pointed to a large ham hanging from the kitchen beam and asked, “Where did this *pipa* leg come from?”
Qing Huan replied, “I forgot to mention it earlier. After you left this morning, three little boys brought it here. It looks like it was sent by that same person as before. There’s still a note attached!”
Yu Jinnian took the note from the ham, and as expected, it read, “Thank you, Mr. Yu.” The person had sent several gifts over time but had never shown their face, which only piqued Yu Jinnian’s curiosity. He turned the note over several times, but there were no new clues. He couldn’t help but ask, “Did no one see what the person who sent it looked like?”
“They didn’t mention much,” Qing Huan said with a shake of her head. “But I followed them secretly and saw the boys talking to someone in the distance. I couldn’t make out their face—it was too far—but it seemed to be a half-grown boy.”
How strange. Yu Jinnian couldn’t think of anyone who fit that description.
Being an easygoing person, he decided to accept the ham for now, as it wasn’t a particularly valuable gift. He figured he could repay the person with money later if needed. With that, he circled the ham, cut off a piece, and began chopping it on the counter.
Ham is a preserved food, requiring a lengthy process of slaughtering, salting, air-drying, and sun-drying. A good ham goes through dozens of steps, and choosing the right pig is key. The meat should be tender, the bones fine, the skin thin, and the muscles firm. Smoking and curing the ham also require skill, with the type of wood used playing an important role. Some wealthy families even purchased “tea hams,” slicing thin, delicate pieces to enjoy with a cup of tea—an elegant practice.
This ham had been smoked and dried for six months, making it a prized delicacy. Although hams were often purchased by wealthy families, they were best enjoyed in the winter, with a roaring fire and a cup of warm wine. Ordinary families only indulged in small pieces of ham during festivals or ancestor worship ceremonies. A whole *pipa* leg like this was a rare sight for Yu Jinnian.
After chopping the ham into small pieces, Yu Jinnian mixed it with minced green onions to create a filling, which he set aside. Then, he took high-quality pork shoulder, tenderized it, and sliced it into thin strips, about an inch wide. He marinated the meat in seasoning for a while, then cracked an egg and mixed it with cornstarch.
Next, he heated oil in a pan and rolled the marinated pork strips around the ham and green onion filling, coating them in the egg batter before frying them. This type of dish needed to be fried twice to ensure the filling remained juicy while the outer layer became crispy.
The fried meat rolls turned a golden color, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Each roll was only an inch long—perfect for two bites, or one if someone was particularly hungry. The dish had a pleasant name: “Inch of Gold Meat.”
Arranged in a chrysanthemum shape on the plate and sprinkled with sesame seeds, the “Inch of Gold Meat” emitted an irresistible aroma. The combination of the crispy egg batter, tender pork, and rich ham melted in the mouth. For those with a heavier palate, dipping it in a variety of sweet and salty sauces provided a whole new flavor experience.
Yu Jinnian set aside a few rolls for himself and gave the rest to Qing Huan and the others to enjoy.
He then prepared a dish of *Buddha’s Hand Cabbage*, specifically for Ji Hong. The nobleman had a preference for light and elegant vegetarian dishes, and after the morning’s events, he was even less likely to indulge in the rich *Inch of Gold Meat*. However, mindful of Ji Hong’s health, Yu Jinnian wasn’t fond of making purely vegetarian dishes. He always tried to incorporate meat to help Ji Hong gain some weight, so he prepared a dish that was a mix of meat and vegetables to lift Ji Hong’s spirits.
*Buddha’s Hand Cabbage* wasn’t a difficult dish to make; the intricacy lay in its presentation.
Yu Jinnian finely chopped mushrooms, winter fungi, shrimp, and minced meat, mixing them with various sauces and fermented bean paste to create small balls of filling. He arranged them in a circle on a plate. Then, he sliced the tender inner layers of cabbage into the shape of Buddha’s hands and placed them on top of the filling.
The cabbage needed to be carefully chosen—half of each leaf should be green, the other half white—so that the final “Buddha’s Hand” would look visually appealing. After arranging the dish, it was steamed for about the time it took to drink a cup of tea.
To make the dish more interesting, Yu Jinnian also cut homemade rice tofu into small cubes, fried them, and added them to the plate, finishing it off with a light glaze.
When he brought the two dishes into his room, he was startled to see Ji Hong sitting there, drinking. His cheeks were already flushed, and Yu Jinnian couldn’t tell how much he had already consumed behind his back.
The wine was *Pi Zhen Chun* from Lou Nan, far stronger than the lychee wine Yu Jinnian had brewed before. Ji Hong couldn’t handle even the mild lychee wine, so why was he drinking something this potent today?
Frightened, Yu Jinnian quickly placed the food tray down and reached out to stop him, sincerely apologizing, “I only had a few drinks with someone. There’s no need to get yourself drunk. Ah Hong, I know I was wrong. I won’t do it again.”
“I just wanted to taste what kind of wine had you lingering so long,” Ji Hong said as he grabbed Yu Jinnian’s wrist and pulled him onto his lap. The scent of strong liquor lingered as Ji spoke with intrigue, “Now, explain to me in detail—what exactly did you do wrong?”
Sitting awkwardly on Ji Hong’s lap, Yu Jinnian felt uneasy, but he was serious about admitting his fault. After all, he had worked hard to prepare these two dishes to please Ji Hong. Having spent so much time getting close to him, Yu Jinnian now couldn’t bear even the slightest coldness from him. He pursed his lips and said, “I shouldn’t have promised to return early and then stayed at someone else’s house to drink.”
“Little drunkard, are you feeling wronged?” Ji Hong gently pressed his finger to Yu’s lips, which were tightly pursed, and then reached for a wine cup, coaxing Yu Jinnian to drink. Only after Yu had a sip did Ji continue, “Do you know how worried I was when you didn’t come home?”
“I know now! I’ll punish myself with three cups. Please don’t be angry anymore.” Yu Jinnian poured himself some wine and swiftly downed it.
*Pi Zhen Chun* was a rare and exquisite wine. He had been captivated by its fragrance when they were in Yan Rong’s snow pavilion, but the atmosphere there made it uncomfortable to fully enjoy. Now, in his own home, with Ji Hong by his side, Yu Jinnian no longer had to worry about getting drunk. He could finally indulge.
“You admitted your fault so quickly; I think you just want an excuse to drink.” Though Ji Hong said this, he didn’t stop him. It was as if the strong wine had melted the ice in his heart, and the stern expression on his face gradually softened, a faint smile appearing in his eyes. Half-leaning on the table, Ji began to eat the *Buddha’s Hand Cabbage*, all while watching the young man enjoy his wine.
Feeling spirited from the drinking, Yu Jinnian thought just drinking wasn’t enough fun. He rushed to the kitchen, grabbed a handful of bamboo chopsticks, set up a small table on the bed, and pulled Ji Hong onto the bed with him. Each took a side, and Yu Jinnian introduced a new game to him—*Stick Toss*. The game involved scattering a bunch of chopsticks on the table, and each person had to pull one out without disturbing the others. If you accidentally touched another chopstick, you had to drink as a penalty.
Yu Jinnian wasn’t sure if the game was known here, but judging by Ji Hong’s confused expression, it seemed he had never heard of it.
Feeling a bit smug, Yu Jinnian generously said, “You go first.”
Ji Hong fell right into the trap, losing on the first stick. Yu Jinnian, though pleased, didn’t intend to completely intoxicate him, so he only made Ji Hong sip a little as a penalty. After all, what’s the fun in playing a game without drinking?
As they took turns pulling sticks, both became increasingly absorbed in the game, completely forgetting about anything else.
Qing Huan, seeing their earlier tension and now noticing that they had shut themselves inside the room, assumed they were resolving some disagreement. Afraid of disturbing them, she left them alone, giving the pair a rare day off.
The *Stick Toss* game required focus, and now that both had been drinking, their hands wavered, causing the sticks to shift. Every mistake led to more drinking, and soon, the pot of *Pi Zhen Chun* was emptied. Though Ji Hong only sipped each time, his frequent losses added up, and he was now dazed and drunk.
“All gone?” Yu Jinnian clutched the empty gourd, his cheeks flushed, his tongue slightly heavy. Still unsatisfied, he handed the empty gourd to Ji Hong, pouting, “Here, you take it.”
Ji Hong obediently held the gourd, gazing intently at Yu Jinnian. Had Yu not seen Ji drunk once before, he would never have guessed that even the cold and composed Ji Hong had such an obedient side.
After teasing Ji for a bit, Yu Jinnian suddenly remembered something. Still tipsy, he crawled off the bed and ducked under it.
A short while later, he emerged triumphantly with a small jar of wine, exclaiming, “I found more wine!”
Ji Hong waved his hand weakly, “No more…”
But Yu Jinnian, with just a few words, coaxed him into drinking two more cups.
Neither of them realized how drunk they were. Their speech became slurred, and their heads wobbled as if they were perfectly sober. Ji Hong, unable to stay upright any longer, collapsed onto the small table, his long lashes fluttering like tiny fans, tickling Yu Jinnian’s heart. Yu leaned down beside him, their faces close together, and raised a hand to gently touch Ji Hong’s face.
Ji Hong barely opened his eyes and suddenly asked, “What does it mean to ‘have some fun’?”
“Hmm?” Yu Jinnian didn’t catch the meaning at first. “What?”
Ji Hong repeated, “That man, he said he wanted to ‘have some fun’ with you…”
Yu Jinnian finally understood. The question startled him into brief sobriety, but the moment of clarity quickly faded as the alcohol once again clouded his mind. The intoxicating scent of wine filled the air, and something else seemed to be simmering and intensifying, slowly wrapping around the two of them.
…
After all the ruckus, the two of them eventually fell into a deep, drunken sleep.
The next morning, Yu Jinnian awoke with a splitting headache. He glanced at the man beside him and, as if scalded by fire, rolled off the bed, almost slipping on the bamboo chopsticks scattered across the floor. Hastily putting on his shoes, he ran outside to splash cold well water on his face and hair, hiding in the kitchen like a guilty mouse, refusing to come out no matter who called for him.
As the sun climbed higher, Yu Jinnian realized he couldn’t hide forever. He prepared a sobering soup and nervously went to seek Ji Hong’s forgiveness.
But even by midday, Ji Hong had not woken up. The sobering soup cooled, then warmed, and cooled again.
Still, Ji Hong remained asleep.