“If you don’t keep a good eye on things, you’ll be buried with it” (Not really)
In the evening, the families didn’t dine together. However, the young wife from Auntie’s family specifically came to deliver food to the neighboring Young Master Lu. And since Yu Jinnian wanted a plate of chili and some ginger and garlic, she took the opportunity to bring them two dishes, one of which was stir-fried mushroom with meat.
When this dish was brought out, it didn’t seem special—just thickly shredded mushrooms paired with seasonal vegetables, stir-fried with bean paste. It looked similar to a regular stir-fried mushroom dish, though the texture was somewhat like shredded meat. However, it wasn’t as chewy as real meat but had the advantage of being fresh and delicious. For them, it was already a “mountain delicacy.”
The young wife smiled and said, “If you enjoy it, I can fry up another batch later. Master Lü just had it for the first time and liked it very much. He was even talking about taking some back tomorrow! These mushrooms are best when freshly picked and eaten right away. I’ll get up early tomorrow and dig some from the mountains. If you’d like some too, I’ll gather extra for you.”
After this bit of small talk, Yu Jinnian accepted the ginger and garlic, put away the dish, and gave her some silver in thanks before seeing her out of the courtyard.
Returning, he lifted the lid of the small stove on the table, and a faint meat aroma wafted out—it was the wild rabbit Duan Ming had caught. The rabbit had been scalded to remove its fur, cleaned thoroughly, and boiled in the pot. Although it was early spring and not a particularly fat rabbit, it was more than enough for him and Ji Hong. By this time, the rabbit had been simmering for a while, and the meat was tender.
Shi Xing, who was helping out nearby, peeled the garlic cloves the young wife had brought. He knew well of Yu Jinnian’s cooking skills, so the moment the pot was opened, he immediately leaned in to look. Upon seeing the contents, he was a bit disappointed and asked in confusion, “Boiled rabbit? What kind of dish is this?”
Yu Jinnian took out the cooked rabbit, soaked it in cold water, and placed it on a large plate, starting to slice it. “I had planned to make spicy shredded rabbit, which we could also take on the road. But the conditions here are too basic for heavy oil and fire, so I settled for making dipping rabbit instead.”
Ji Hong reached for the garlic but was stopped by Yu Jinnian, who threw it to Shi Xing and whispered, “Don’t peel that one. I smelled it—it’s old garlic from winter. It stings your hands.”
Shi Xing sniffed his fingers, and his eyes immediately stung: “…”
So, you left it for me to peel?
Ji Hong chuckled, obediently stepped aside, and watched Yu Jinnian slice the rabbit meat neatly on the empty plate. He handled the knife like an expert, deftly avoiding all the rabbit bones, leaving only the tender, white rabbit meat in the dish.
Shi Xing finished peeling a few garlic cloves, chopped them into garlic paste as instructed, and divided them into small bowls. He also sliced some ginger and added it to the mix. Only after finishing did he realize his fingertips were burning.
Yu Jinnian mixed a dipping sauce with soy sauce, salt, and the special chili powder sent by the young wife. Combined with the garlic and ginger Shi Xing had chopped, this became the dipping sauce for the rabbit.
All the dishes were set, and just as they were about to eat, they noticed that Shi Xing was still outside washing his hands. Yu Jinnian, feeling slightly compassionate, poured a bowl of vinegar and called out into the courtyard, “Hey, Brother Shi, if your hands are burning, I can’t explain it to the little tyrant of the Jiang family! Come here, soak your fingers in this vinegar, and it won’t hurt anymore.”
Shi Xing, looking aggrieved, came in, muttering as he took the vinegar, “I knew it, there’s no way such good deeds of helping out would fall to Old Duan. Turns out the young master was just trying to get a laugh at my expense.”
Yu Jinnian tilted his head with a smile and offered him some rabbit meat to take away.
Ji Hong added, “Your tongue is too sharp.”
Shi Xing protested, “But not long ago, I even taught the young master how to make the pincushion flower buns. Back then, you said my tongue was too clumsy, and I couldn’t explain the process clearly. Now you’re saying I talk too much?”
If he had even half the steadiness of Duan Ming, he wouldn’t have ended up mingling with that little tyrant Jiang Bingren. Hearing Shi Xing intentionally bring this up again in front of Yu Jinnian, Ji Hong half-jokingly threw a teacup at him, laughing, “Too much talking. Get out.”
Shi Xing caught the teacup squarely, exaggeratedly crying out in mock pain, then took the rabbit meat Yu Jinnian had given him and cheerfully ran out, making sure to close the door behind him.
As dusk fell and the door shut, the room grew a bit dimmer. Left alone with only a few dishes between them, the two exchanged a smile. Yu Jinnian didn’t bring up the matter of the pincushion flower buns again to spare Ji Hong’s pride. Instead, he picked up his chopsticks and began serving Ji Hong food.
“Try the rabbit meat, it’s just tender. Dip it in this sauce.”
The thin slice of tender rabbit meat went down smoothly, accompanied by the rich-flavored, hearty mushroom, and paired with a bowl of fragrant and nourishing green rice. Although these were simple, unremarkable ingredients without any rare seasonings, this rustic, countryside meal brought a moment of warmth to the two, weary from their journey.
In the courtyard stood a few old flowering trees, neglected for years. They bloomed sparsely with small yellow and white flowers, growing wildly, visible just outside the open window. A few petals, carried by the evening breeze, drifted in and landed in Yu Jinnian’s sauce dish, causing a small ripple. Although the carriage tended to by Ji Hong was soft and refined, it couldn’t compare to the solid feeling of being grounded here. Reflecting for a moment, Yu Jinnian said whimsically, “You see, people say that flowers should bloom half beautifully, wine should be drunk half tipsy, and life should be half leisurely. I’ve got the first two covered; all I need now is a good pot of wine…”
Ji Hong, deliberately maintaining a stern face, replied, “At such a young age, and already turning into a drunkard.”
Yu Jinnian, unwilling to admit defeat, retorted, “How am I young anymore? Look at Auntie’s son—he’s not older than you, and he already has a kid as big as a radish. If it weren’t for you holding me up, I’d be late to the game by now! Since you’ve delayed me, shouldn’t you at least let me have a few sips of wine? Besides, who benefits when I drink?”
Ji Hong opened his mouth, intending to argue, but after hearing the last part of Yu Jinnian’s words, it took him a while to realize he had been teased. Though it was true—he did benefit, and even enjoyed it—there was still a shred of literary dignity struggling within him. He finally held onto that last bit of decency before being entirely led astray by Yu Jinnian.
Calling him a mischievous spirit sent down from the mountains to seduce people wouldn’t be wrong at all.
Ji Hong knew well of Yu Jinnian’s little drinking habit and had long prepared a wine flask. At this moment, he just wanted to silence him before Yu Jinnian could say anything even more startling. So, he quickly pulled out the flask and lightly knocked it against Yu Jinnian’s forehead. “Your mouth is always full of twisted logic. I’m sure it’s you who has led Shi Xing and the others astray.”
Yu Jinnian happily accepted the wine flask and admitted it without shame, “Well, it’s inevitable. The higher-ups set the example!”
Ji Hong couldn’t help but laugh and cry.
With wine and meat, the meal was far from humble. However, Ji Hong didn’t eat much, and most of the dishes ended up in Yu Jinnian’s stomach. By the second half of the meal, the rabbit wasn’t fully finished, so they tossed the meat and bones back into the pot to simmer slowly. Though rabbit meat is known for its nourishing properties, its cooling nature means it’s not advisable for those with weak stomachs to eat too much at once.
Yu Jinnian adjusted the flavors to his liking, adding a bit of salt and sauce, and poured a small amount of wine to enhance the taste. As he munched on the remaining mushroom pieces, he scooped hot rabbit soup directly from the small stove. He didn’t forget to serve a small bowl to Ji Hong, while he casually sat across from him, gulping down the wine and admiring Ji Hong’s slow, methodical way of drinking the soup.
The stove fire burned brightly, warming the people around it. Ji Hong, with a trace of foreign blood, had porcelain-like white skin that turned a delicate pink when the temperature rose, looking even more refined than usual. However, before anyone could find this charming, the sharpness of his eyes and eyebrows quickly neutralized any sense of fragility.
Yu Jinnian sat in a rather improper posture, slouching lazily on the couch with one foot tucked underneath him, while the other playfully dangled off the edge. He rested his chin on his hand, squinting as he gazed at Ji Hong, and a hazy thought of a poem came to mind. He murmured, “A beauty left behind by the world must be like this, her former self akin to the bright moon,” and recited it twice. Ji Hong smiled and shook his head, asking, “Where did you come up with that line?”
“It’s from a poem about plum blossoms,” Yu Jinnian admitted honestly, standing up to walk over to Ji Hong. But before he could finish his words, his vision swirled, and he almost stumbled and bowed ceremoniously in front of Ji Hong.
Ji Hong’s face changed instantly. He quickly put down his bowl and caught Yu Jinnian just in time, pulling him upright. In the process, Yu Jinnian leaned bonelessly against him, grinning as he said, “They may write poems about plum blossoms, but I write poems about you.”
“That’s enough, no more drinking.” Smelling the alcohol on him, Ji Hong helped him sit properly next to him. Despite being placed back down, Yu Jinnian still couldn’t keep his hands to himself.
The wine was indeed good, but Ji Hong knew Yu Jinnian’s alcohol tolerance well. It shouldn’t be possible for him to get this tipsy from just one flask. However, Yu Jinnian seemed overly excited, enthusiastic about everything he saw, ready to leap at the slightest tease. Normally, it would take at least two more flasks to get him into this state.
Moreover, there was something unusual this time. Yu Jinnian had never blushed easily while drinking before. Even during the drinking contest with Min Mao before the New Year, he was the last one to keel over. Yet after only one flask today, his cheeks had flushed red, and even his chest and neck were dotted with a faint pink, as though he had been placed in a steamer.
Leaning drowsily on Ji Hong’s shoulder, Yu Jinnian closed his eyes and rested for a while, only to feel the alcohol rushing through his veins even more intensely. He scratched at his clothes irritably, letting out a soft groan.
Ji Hong, sharp-eyed, grasped his hand and gently asked what was wrong.
“I feel unwell,” Yu Jinnian mumbled, his brows slightly furrowed. “Thirsty… and a little nauseous…”
Ji Hong noticed that Yu Jinnian’s breathing had become heavier and quickly felt for his pulse. Although Ji Hong wasn’t skilled in medicine, he at least knew what Yu Jinnian’s normal heartbeat should feel like. His finger pressed down and was immediately met with a pounding pulse, like a drumbeat, as if Yu Jinnian’s heart was about to burst out. Retracting his hand, Ji Hong quickly rose to fetch a cup of tea. In just those two steps, Yu Jinnian, surprisingly, tried to get up and follow him.
He instinctively reached out and held him down on the couch, saying, “Don’t move, I’ll go get it.”
Yu Jinnian swallowed and nodded. But by the time he returned, Yu Jinnian was already drenched in sweat, his neck red and burning, hugging a wooden basin and dry heaving. Ji Hong rushed over in a few quick steps, brought the tea to his mouth, and watched as he drank a few sips, rinsed his mouth, and finally exhaled slowly.
Ji Hong asked, “Feeling any better?”
Yu Jinnian remained silent for a moment, then shook his head. He lifted his eyes to glance at Ji Hong and smiled wryly, “This wine has such a strong aftereffect… It’s a good thing I drank it. If you had, who knows how drunk you’d be.”
“You’re still joking at a time like this.” Ji Hong’s gaze shifted between concern and urgency. He bent down, cupping Yu Jinnian’s face for a closer look, noticing that his eyes had also turned frighteningly red. Ji Hong became even more anxious, his brows furrowing deeply, seemingly on the verge of panic. “Jinnian, where else do you feel uncomfortable? How are you feeling now?”
The nausea in Yu Jinnian’s throat surged, but not wanting to worry Ji Hong too much, he took a few deep breaths before messily replying, “How do I feel…? Just really drunk! Ugh, my head’s a bit dizzy, but I can’t throw up. It’s fine, just a little uncomfortable…” He smiled, waving his hand unsteadily to show, “Just a little bit.”
Before he could finish, he grabbed the basin and dry heaved again.
Ji Hong supported Yu Jinnian with one hand and shouted toward the door, “—Someone! Duan Ming!”
“Hey… No, no need…”
Before Yu Jinnian could refuse, Duan Ming burst in from outside, sword in hand. His master had never called for him with such urgency before, like an assassin had appeared at the door, so Duan Ming rushed in, fully alert. But before he could even take in the situation, Ji Hong commanded firmly, “Go call a doctor immediately.”
“Huh?” Duan Ming was stunned, “A doctor? You’re unwell, and even the young master can’t—”
Naturally, Duan Ming thought that with Yu Jinnian around, his master would never have to worry about illness. How could there be a sickness even the young master couldn’t cure? Besides, if Yu Jinnian couldn’t solve it, how could a country doctor possibly help? Puzzled, Duan Ming glanced down at Yu Jinnian and was immediately taken aback, “L-Little Master, what’s wrong with you?”
Not long after, Shi Xing also rushed in with a group of people, all ready to fight as if a brawl was imminent.
Yu Jinnian weakly waved his hand, mortified, “It’s nothing, just drank too much wine. Moving around makes me feel worse. I just need to sleep it off. No need for him to overreact, everyone go, rest if you need to.”
Outside, the stars and moon were already shining brightly. As he spoke, Yu Jinnian swung his legs up onto the couch and curled up with his knees.
“Go call a doctor,” Ji Hong insisted, his brow still furrowed. He bent down, intending to remove Yu Jinnian’s boots. But as he lowered his head, he noticed Yu Jinnian clutching his stomach, curled up tightly, his expression one of clear discomfort, far from the nonchalant attitude he portrayed. After some thought, Ji Hong slid his arms under Yu Jinnian’s armpits and knees, and with a firm lift, picked him up.
Yu Jinnian, startled, flailed and shouted, “Ah! What are you doing? Put me down!”
“Don’t move.” Ji Hong’s arms trembled under his weight, almost dropping him. He lifted his knee to support Yu Jinnian’s rear, then hoisted him securely into his arms, “Didn’t you say moving makes you feel worse? I’m taking you to bed. It’s drafty here by the window, you’ll wake up with a headache.”
Yu Jinnian, hanging awkwardly in the air, forgot about his discomfort for a moment, too worried that Ji Hong’s arms might give out and drop him to the floor like a pancake. He quickly wrapped his arms around Ji Hong’s neck, muttering, “I already have a headache.”
Not only his head, but even his heart seemed to be racing irregularly.
It wasn’t until Ji Hong safely placed him on the bed that the previous discomfort returned with a vengeance. Grabbing the basin, Yu Jinnian dry heaved for a long while, feeling as though he was going to vomit out his heart and lungs, but in the end, only brought up a bit of undigested food and some liquid. It was all bark and no bite. After all that tossing and turning, he broke out in a sweat, the redness on his neck gradually subsided, but his face looked even paler.
Ji Hong soaked a towel to wipe his face, then helped him drink some water. Turning to look at him, Ji Hong frowned and lightly scolded, “Why are you still smiling?”
“It’s nothing.” Yu Jinnian pursed his lips into a smile, “I just think you’re amusing. Why are you so nervous? I’ve been through this before—”
Ji Hong frowned, “Before?”
In the past, when he was ill, even turning over in bed or going to the bathroom required someone’s help. He went months without tasting salt or oil, but managed to sample every medicine, whether common or unheard of. Each day spent lying in that sickbed felt like a step closer to death. Having survived such agony, these little ailments now felt like nothing.
Yu Jinnian turned over and nudged against Ji Hong’s waist, exaggerating as he whined, “Ah, my head hurts!”
This effectively stopped him from continuing the topic he didn’t want to revisit.
Ji Hong was easy to fool. Without saying anything, he leaned down to embrace him and gently massaged his temples.
By the time the doctor arrived, even Yu Jinnian began to suspect that his condition wasn’t just caused by drinking.
——
The doctor was a barefoot physician from the village. Villagers rarely fell ill, and when they did, they couldn’t afford to. So, his daily practice was mostly treating minor headaches or colds. His greatest achievement, the one that earned him some local fame, was assisting a neighbor’s cow with a difficult birth. When Duan Ming and the others stormed into his home, he initially thought he had prescribed the wrong medicine and was about to be dragged to the authorities.
Upon entering the old house and seeing the servants dressed better than city merchants, he broke into a cold sweat that soaked through his clothes. Trembling, he wanted to flee. But Duan Ming and Shi Xing practically carried him in, and with a synchronized “Young Master, the doctor is here,” they startled the poor doctor so much that he immediately kowtowed to Ji Hong.
“……”
A soft laugh came from a distance. The doctor slowly raised his head to see a pale young master in fine clothes slouched on the bed, next to a stern-looking man. The younger one, who had a friendly expression, was the one who crawled out of bed and waved at him. “Doctor, please rise, I can’t bear such a heavy courtesy.”
Duan Ming quickly explained, “Our young master is ill, and we ask you to take a look. We servants were in a hurry earlier and didn’t explain well. Apologies for startling you… please, doctor.”
“Oh, oh.” The doctor, still dazed, was helped up by Duan Ming. After some pleasantries, he sat by the bedside and took out his pulse pillow to check Yu Jinnian’s pulse.
Ji Hong stood nearby, his face serious, exuding an air of “if you don’t cure him, you’re coming with us to the grave.”
The doctor, trembling, checked the pulse, examined the patient, and asked a few questions. Finally, he let out a long sigh of relief, tidied his medicine box, and said, “The pulse is rapid and strong—this is a sign of heat. Sir, there’s no need to worry. The young master is simply drunk and dizzy. The vomiting is due to stomach heat. He just needs to drink more water today. I don’t think any additional medicine is necessary. After a night of rest, he’ll be fine once the alcohol dissipates.”
Ji Hong immediately asked, “He holds his liquor well. How could he suddenly get drunk?”
The doctor gave Ji Hong a puzzled look and replied earnestly, “Even those who can drink a thousand cups can still succumb to the effects of alcohol. This boy is young and frail—how could you let him drink so much?” He opened his medicine box, and as he pulled out a small bottle from the bottom drawer, he caught sight of the leftover food on the table and exclaimed, “Look at this, look at this. It’s bad enough for one so young to indulge in drink, but to eat things that complement alcohol only makes it worse. This bottle contains aromatic herbs to help stop nausea. Just sniff it when feeling sick. But in the future, don’t be so indulgent.”
Yu Jinnian, who was about to vomit, heard the doctor’s words. It was as if someone had struck a bell over his head, clearing his mind and suddenly enlightening him. His eyes lit up, and he jumped up, exclaiming, “Doctor, you said food that complements alcohol—”
The doctor quickly warned, “Hey, don’t… get up…”
But suddenly going from lying down to standing would make anyone dizzy, let alone someone “drunk.” In that instant, Yu Jinnian’s head spun, as if all the blood rushed to his limbs like a waterfall. Before he could finish his sentence, he collapsed like a water-soaked clay doll.
He had been merely dizzy before, but now he was truly fainting.
Yet, just before he went limp, he instinctively reached out to Ji Hong for help. His last conscious sensation was the faint scent of lavender from the man’s embrace and the taut muscles under his clothes as Ji Hong caught him, preventing him from passing out on the cold floor.
But in his dreams, he was completely clear-headed. He finally pieced it all together.
—No wonder that mushroom looked so familiar!