NOVPUB48: Chapter 36 Eating Hot Pot
48 -36 Eating Hot Pot
The water was ready, and Song Zhao poured the beef fat hot pot base and tomato hot pot base into the water.
Soon, a dominant fragrance filled the air.
No need to wash the vegetables either, as Gu Yanzhi had placed plenty of orders for veggies and dishes at the hot pot restaurant, and now they were all taken out one by one from the space and arranged on the dining table.
Beside the dining table, a narrow table was set up, laden with various hot pot dipping sauces, serving as a small seasoning station.
Song Zhao stood by the seasoning station, concocting the dipping sauce.
Minced garlic, chopped green onions, coriander, crushed peanuts, a bit of chili oil, sugar, vinegar, and finally topped with the soulful sesame paste, creating Gu Yanzhi’s favorite hot pot dipping sauce.
Gu Yanlin preferred a more traditional southern style with a simple spoonful of minced garlic, a little oyster sauce, poured into a bowl brimming with sesame oil.
“We can eat now,” announced Song Zhao, placing the tailored sauces in front of each person, and mixed a bowl for himself as well.
He wasn’t particularly picky—sesame sauce or oil dish, both were good.
He prepared a sesame sauce dish similar to Gu Yanzhi’s for himself today.
“Delicious, delicious, Zhaozhao, your sauce is unmatched,” praised Gu Yanzhi, who picked up his chopsticks, swirled a slice of beef in the pot for two seconds, dipped it in the seasoning, and popped it into his mouth.
The meat was tender and rich without being greasy, melting in the mouth.
Paired with Song Zhao’s special sauce, it was sour and sweet, bursting with sesame flavor, and incredibly tasty.
Even after eating it so many times, it still wowed Gu Yanzhi.
“Yeah, yeah, brother-in-law, let’s open a hot pot restaurant in the future.
With your skill, it would surely be a hit,” Gu Yanlin added his compliments soon after.
Although Song Zhao himself didn’t care much for hot pot dips, the ones he put together were exceptionally delicious.
Whenever they went out for hot pot, Song Zhao was always in charge of mixing the sauces.
Even if Song Zhao provided the recipe, they could not make it as tasty as his.
Song Zhao also took a taste and found it spicy and flavorful.
Even though he didn’t usually enjoy such strong flavors, he couldn’t resist this hot pot meal.
“Cheers,” Gu Yanzhi, taking out chilled beer from the space, poured a glass for everyone, raised his cup, and joyfully proposed a toast.
“Cheers,” Gu Yanlin and Song Zhao lifted their glasses, clinking with Gu Yanzhi’s, and drank up.
Snowy weather, hot pot, and beer—these three things went together so well.
They made one feel full of happiness even in this apocalypse where the future seemed uncertain.
They kept adding slices of beef, bean curd skins, fish slices, tripe, goose intestines, duck blood, vegetables, and noodles to the hot pot.
Every bite made Gu Yanzhi blissfully close his eyes, overwhelmed with satisfaction.
Unlike the spicy pot’s assault on the taste buds, the tomato pot was sour and sweet, and the rich tomato flavor also opened up the appetite.
The three scooped up soup from the tomato pot, added scallions, coriander, minced celery, and beef granules, making it irresistibly delicious.
“Burp— I’m so full,” Gu Yanzhi burped contentedly, put down his chopsticks, and slouched in his chair, patting his now round and full belly.
“Yeah, so full,” agreed Gu Yanlin, muttering about being stuffed while his chopsticks honestly continued to ferry meat non-stop to his mouth.
Finally, he too slumped in his chair, hands on his belly, not wanting to move an inch.
The only one who ate in moderation, Song Zhao, stopped eating when he had enough and kicked Gu Yanlin, who was playing dead, “Get up.
Clean up the trash, wash the dishes—pick one.”
Watching her busy husband and brother, Gu Yanzhi laughed sheepishly, a little embarrassed, and shifted battlefield, vacating the space for them to clean up.
She headed to the sofa for a Ge You recline, watching the rest of the movie she hadn’t finished during the day.
By the time Gu Yanzhi had finished the movie from earlier in the day, the two men had also finished cleaning up and had turned on the exhaust fan to dissipate the smell from the room.
However, it was almost like a shower for nothing— their bodies were still filled with the scent of hot pot.
It was enjoyable while eating, but afterwards, it was a bit overwhelming.
The three of them went back to their rooms, each tending to their own things, when Gu Yanzhi was about to close the bathroom door, he saw Song Zhao squeezing in with pajamas in hand.
An hour later, when the two emerged again, Gu Yanzhi felt drowsy and held in Song Zhao’s arms, his whole body ached, a feeling that was more exhausting than if he had spent the day out gathering supplies.
Seeing Song Zhao acting as if nothing was wrong, Gu Yanzhi bit down angrily on his shoulder.
It was infuriating that although Song Zhao did all the work, Gu Yanzhi was the one who ended up feeling worn out.
“I’ll give you a massage,” Song Zhao said, placing Gu Yanzhi gently on the bed with an apologetic tone, having realized he might have gone a bit too far.
Gu Yanzhi, wearing only a cotton nightgown, lay flat on the bed.
The clothes clung to his skin, outlining his fine figure.
Song Zhao started from the calves and worked his way up to the shoulders, pressing gently, “How’s this pressure?
Do you need it to be harder?”
Gu Yanzhi hummed contentedly.
Song Zhao’s skilled massage techniques had improved over the years from practicing on him, and Gu Yanzhi reaped the benefits, expressing his satisfaction.
Suddenly, Gu Yanzhi felt something flowing out beneath him, and his lower abdomen started to cramp.
Aunt Flo decided to visit at the worst possible time.
“Zhaozhao, my period has started,” Gu Yanzhi opened his eyes, met Song Zhao’s tender gaze, and said with an embarrassed blush.
Song Zhao helped Gu Yanzhi sit up from the bed and was about to carry him to the bathroom, but Gu Yanzhi, feeling shy, refused.
“I’ll take you to the bathroom.”
“No need, I can manage on my own.
Just help me find a sanitary pad.”
Gu Yanzhi pushed away Song Zhao’s supporting hand and got off the bed himself.
As soon as his feet touched the ground, his legs felt sore and he nearly fell, but luckily Song Zhao caught him with quick reflexes.
This time, Song Zhao didn’t give Gu Yanzhi a chance to refuse and picked him up, placing him securely on the toilet seat, then went to the bedroom cabinet to find the usual brand of sanitary pads and pajamas for Gu Yanzhi, handing them through the door.
“Zhizhi, call me when you’re ready, I’ll carry you back,” Song Zhao instructed as he handed over the items.
Gu Yanzhi indeed saw a red stain soaking through the nightgown, closing his eyes in embarrassment.
The bedsheets were probably ruined too.
Song Zhao was considerate, providing not only pajamas but also a change of underwear, selecting long sleeves and pants to prevent Gu Yanzhi from catching cold during this special time.
After tidying up, Gu Yanzhi supported himself against the wall and slowly shuffled to the bathroom door.
Song Zhao was waiting right outside the bathroom, and upon seeing the door open, he picked up Gu Yanzhi again and placed him on the bed.
The bedsheets had been changed by Song Zha, which greatly alleviated Gu Yanzhi’s embarrassment.
“Are you feeling okay?” Song Zhao asked, looking at Gu Yanzhi’s pale face with concern.
Song Zhao remembered that Gu Yanzhi’s menstrual cycle was always very regular, with at least a week to go before it was due.
He didn’t expect it to come so early this time.
