C47. Potatoes and Chicken Stew.

C47. Potatoes and Chicken Stew.

Yuan Li had never expected that with a casual push of the door, he would be met with the image of Chu Hechao standing naked.

The man had spent years on the battlefield, exposed to the elements, and had honed a strong physique. Water droplets still adorned his body, cascading down his well-defined chest and abdomen, disappearing into the line of his waist.

Yuan Li's gaze unconsciously drifted downward, where a sleeping bird nestled in the lush forest. Surprised, Yuan Li quickly averted his eyes, marveling at how intense Chu Hechao seemed in his desire.

In fact, this wasn't the first time Yuan Li had seen Chu Hechao bathing. During the peak of summer, he had encountered Chu Hechao bathing at night, but the darkness had obscured his view, and Yuan Li had respected his privacy, only noticing the scars on Chu Hechao's body.

Now, in the fading daylight and candlelit room, Yuan Li could see everything clearly. With only Chu Hechao present, the situation felt oddly peculiar.

Was it jealousy?

Envy?

Yuan Li couldn't quite place it. The atmosphere grew tense, and Yuan Li casually asked, "General, are you bathing?"

Chu Hechao remained silent, his expression subtly changing.

Unconsciously, Chu Hechao covered himself with a towel around his waist. Realizing his reaction, his face turned dark with embarrassment, wishing he hadn't covered himself.

Why had he felt the need to cover up?

This was unlike his usual self.

Observing Chu Hechao's reaction, Yuan Li started to feel awkward. He cleared his throat and averted his gaze, saying, "I'll wait outside, General."

Eying Yuan Li's retreating form, Chu Hechao felt an inexplicable frustration bubbling up inside him. Without much thought, he blurted out, "Leaving already?"

Caught off guard, Yuan Li barely had time to react before Chu Hechao dragged him into the room and shut the door. Before Yuanli could comprehend what was happening, he found himself backed against the door, trapped inside with Chu Hechao.

Uncertain of Chu Hechao's intentions, Yuan Li couldn't help but notice his hands as he glanced around. It was the first time he had seen Chu Hechao's" hands without his gloves, and he was captivated by them.

Chu Hechao's hands were large, with long, slender fingers and well-defined joints. However, a grotesque burn marred the skin, extending from his palm to the back of his hand and even onto his fingers, leaving behind deep red scars.

Despite their strength, the burns transformed his hands into something unsightly.

Yuan Li's eyes lowered in understanding.

Was this why Chu Hechao always kept his hands covered?

During their previous standoff, Dadan had mentioned Chu Hechao's burned hands. But out of politeness, Yuanli had never pried further, assuming that if Chu Hechao hadn't mentioned it himself, it wasn't his place to ask.

He swallowed hard, realizing his oversight.

Chu Hechao didn't pay attention to his hands at all, he only noticed Yuan Li's expression, and suddenly sneered, "What? Are you keeping your pure essence for Chu Mingfeng that you don't even dare to look at other men?"

Yuan Li raised his head in confusion, "What?"

Looking down at him from a higher vantage point, Chu Hechao suddenly grabbed Yuan Li's hand and placed it on his chest, a smirk playing on his lips but no laughter in his eyes, "So are you saying that, If I allowed you to touch other men, would you feel your hands were sullied?"

Confusion filled Yuanli's eyes.

Chu Hechao, what does this mean?

Yuan Li tried to pull his hand away, but couldn't move it. He was forcefully pressed against the man's chest.

The more he struggled, the angrier the man became.

With each breath, their chests rose and fell together. Chu Hechao had just finished bathing, his skin was still hot, the fire-like warmth spreading to Yuan Li's palm.

Even the scent of soap from his bath wafted into Yuan Li's nostrils.

The touch was nice. The muscles firm and elastic. Despite promising not to be envious, Yuan Li couldn't help but be entranced. But after a while in this position, Yuan Li started to feel awkward, "Chu Hechao, what are you trying to say?"

Chu Hechao raised his eyes, a smirk playing on his lips, "You don't even want to touch a man I allow you to touch? Are you afraid that Chu Mingfeng will rise from his coffin and eat you?"

Yuan Li frowned, "But why should I touch you?"

Chu Hechao chuckled dismissively, tightening his grip on Yuanli's hand, his eyes cold, "Then tell me, who else do you want to touch?"

"I don't want to touch anyone," Yuan Li's mouth twitched, looking up at Chaohe with clear eyes, "I don't want to touch anyone, right?"

Somehow, this statement struck a nerve with Chu Hechao. Veins popped on his forehead, and he chuckled softly, "You've only met Chu Mingfeng a few times. Just because of him, you don't even dare to look or touch other men?"

Yuan Li felt exhausted, "I haven't..."

Chu Hechao smirked, releasing Yuan Li's hand. Yuan Li turned to leave, but Chu Hechao raised his hand to block the door frame, trapping Yuan Li's arm.

Yuan Li's face flushed from the heat in the room, his eyes watery as if he had just showered. He looked helplessly at Chu Hechao, "What now?"

Chu Hechao's face was expressionless, his presence overwhelming, as he commanded in a low voice, "Touch me once."

Yuan Li glanced at Chu Hechao's chest and abs, a mix of envy and jealousy, reluctantly said, "I don't want to touch."

Chu Hechao spoke in a low voice, "Hurry up!"

Impatient, "Touch me and then you can go."

Yuan Li had no choice, so he hesitantly touched Chu Hechao. It was a light touch, but it seemed to dissipate most of Chu Hechao's anger.

Chu Hechao looked at his hand and mockingly asked, "Is your hand dirty?"

Yuan Li shook his head, "You just bathed, you're clean."

Chaohe finally smiled, a satisfied look in his eyes. He straightened up, withdrew his hand, and emphasized, "Remember this. Guarding your purityfor Chu Mingfeng doesn't mean you can't look at or touch other men, understood?"

Yuan Li nodded absently, eager to leave.

Chu Hechao's smile faded, raising his voice slightly, "Understood?"

Yuan Li's eyelids twitched in annoyance, tiredly responding, "I understand..."

Giving him a scrutinizing look, Chu Hechao nodded after seeing that Yuan Li had truly remembered, "Good, you may go now."

Yuan Li kept repeating to himself: "For the potatoes, for the potatoes, for the potatoes..."

All of this was for the potatoes.

With a smile on his face, he left.

Not long after Yuan Li left the courtyard, Chu Hechao finished dressing and came, inviting Yuan Li to sit in the room, "Why did you come to me so late?"

"General, I heard that Lord Yuan sent a batch of spoils from Liaojun. I am very curious about these spoils. Can I go and take a look?" Yuan Li asked eagerly.

Chu Hechao was always easy to talk to when in a good mood. He directly ordered someone to light a torch and took Yuan Li to see the spoils in the courtyard.

There were hundreds of boxes of spoils, and Yuan Li looked at them with a headache, rubbing his temples in disbelief, "General, are all these things sent by Lord Yuan?"

Chu Hechao nodded, "Yes."

With so many things, how long would it take Yuan Li to find a potato among them?

Sighing, Yuan Li asked, "General, did Lord Yuan send any particularly rare items?"

Chu Hechao thought for a moment and had a few boxes opened. "They did mention that they found some things that they had not seen before. Here they are, see if there is anything you want."

Excitedly, Yuan Li quickly went through the boxes, thanking the General.

Watching Yuan Li search through the boxes, Chu Hechao squatted down next to him, shining the torch on the boxes, and asked, "What are you looking for?"

Yuan Li turned around and gestured with his hand a size of a potato, eagerly looking at Chu Hechao, "I am looking for a crop that is this big. The skin is yellow, the flesh is also yellow, and it's bumpy on the surface, maybe with some dirt on it. Have you seen it?"

Chu Hechao replied, "No."

Yuan Li's eyes dimmed slightly, but he still smiled, "General, could you help me find it?"

Standing up slowly, Chu Hechao replied, "No."

Yuan Li was speechless, turned away, and continued searching for the potato, ignoring Chu Hechao. Watching his back, Chuhe 'Chao' clicked his tongue and also squatted down to search through other boxes.

Before long, Chu Hechao suddenly said, "Is this what you're looking for?"

Turning around, Yuan Li saw Chu Hechao squatting next to a wooden box, which had been opened, revealing a bunch of oval-shaped crops.

Excited, Yuan Li walked over and immediately picked up a potato to examine.

Anticipation coursed through him even before reaching there. With a glint of recognition in his eyes, he exclaimed, "This must be it!" He eagerly bent down and grasped a potato, his touch confirming his initial suspicion.

Due to the dry climate in Youzhou, the potatoes were wrapped in mud, preserving them well.

Gripping the potato, Yuan Li began to recall various dishes such as stewed pork with potatoes, spicy shredded potatoes, and potato pancakes. His mouth watered as he looked at the box of potatoes, asking Chu Hechao, "General, can I have this box of goods?"

Chu Hechao casually replied, "It's yours."

Curious to see Yuan Li so excited, Chu Hechao also became curious. He picked up a potato from the box, tossed it in his hand, and asked with precision, "You said this is a crop, so can it be eaten?"

"It can be eaten," Yuanli affirmed, nodding, "and there are many ways to eat it. It can be steamed, boiled, or stewed, just like corn, to fill the belly."

"Oh?" Chu Hechao looked at the odd-looking potato in his hand with newfound interest, "How does one eat it?"

Smiling at Chu Hechao, Yuan Li replied, "It's very convenient to eat. Just wash it clean like a fruit and eat it."

Chu Hechao glanced at him and rinsed off the dirt, then handed the potato to Yuan Li, saying, "Try it."

Looking sincerely at Chu Hechao, Yuan Li said, "But I want to see you eat it."

Chu Hechao chuckled, lowered his voice, and said, "Are you trying to trick me, Yuan Li?"

Changing the subject, Yuan Li, in a good mood, picked up a potato and led Chu Hechao to the kitchen, saying, "Let me show you the real way to eat potatoes."

Since there was no iron pot in the kitchen, Yuan Li used a clay pot as a substitute. Unable to find non-smelly pork, Yuan Li had a chicken killed to use the meat as a substitute for pork to make a pot of chicken and potato stew.

Yuan Li skillfully cooked the chicken, rendering its fat to create oil. He then added fragrant spices like pepper, onion, and garlic, and the aroma filled the air. The chicken pieces were transferred to a clay pot, and water was added to simmer a flavorful soup.

During this time period, iron pots were not available commodity. Most people relied on clay pots for cooking, which were primarily suitable for stewing and roasting. Techniques like frying were no common.

Before iron pots became widespread, people primarily relied on stewing and roasting for cooking. Yuan Li, who had previously lacked interest in food, found himself yearning for the familiar aromas of cooking wafting through the air after acquiring iron.

The thought of his own ravenous appetite after a simple meal worried him. He turned to General Chu Hechao, who was also patiently waiting, and inquired, "General, have you dined this evening?"

Chu Hechao replied, "Indeed, I have."

Yuan Li, relieved, thought to himself, "Thankfully, a potato and a chicken should suffice for me."

Yuanli exhaled slowly, relieved. A potato and a chicken – that was enough.

The earthenware pot bubbled merrily, and a captivating aroma seeped through the seams. Yuan Li had tossed in a medley of seasonings originally used for their medicinal properties.

Chu Hechao, expecting an unorthodox flavor, was surprised to find the fragrance intensifying with every passing moment.

Halfway through the cooking process, Yuan Li washed the potatoes, meticulously cut them into bite-sized pieces, and added them to the pot. Chu Hechao, brow furrowed in curiosity, thought to himself, "Ah, so they are meant to be enjoyed in sections."

Yuan Li, with a playful glint in his eye, wagged a finger and chuckled, "Not quite, General. The humble potato offers a multitude of culinary possibilities beyond mere slicing."

The aroma of the potato and chicken stew wafted through the air, a testament to the half hour it had spent simmering in the earthenware pot. Yuan Li lifted the lid, revealing a thick, flavorful broth. The potatoes, plump and glistening, were thoroughly infused with the savory juices.

The chicken pieces nestled together, cooked to a tender, melt-in-your-mouth perfection. A satisfied smile spread across Yuan Li's face.

"Not bad," he murmured, glancing around. Unable to find a cloth potholder, he started to roll up his sleeves, preparing to grab the hot pot.

Chu Hechao, his expression stern, seized Yuan Li's arm. "Hold on there! Don't you want to avoid burnt hands?"

With that, he carefully transferred the pot to the table.

Yuan Li, momentarily flustered, furrowed his brow. "Chu Hechao," he began, a touch of annoyance creeping into his voice, "must you always be so brusque?"

Chu Hechao, genuinely confused, tilted his head. "Brusque? When was I ever mean?"

Yuan Li sighed, deciding not to prolong the minor disagreement. "... Never mind," he muttered.

Taking a deep breath, Yuan Li said, "Forget it."

They sat down at the table, and Yuan Li took a bite of the potato, savoring its soft and hot texture. He closed his eyes in contentment, saying, "Delicious."

Chu Hechao followed suit, eating quickly but showing no change in expression.

Soon, the pot of potato and chicken stew was gone. Chu Hechao was left wanting more and developed a liking for this food called a potato. "What is this called?" he asked.

Yuan Li burped, "Potato."

Chu Hechao nodded, "I'll send someone to inform Lord Yuan and the others to bring back more potatoes."

Although he wanted to ask Yuan Li how he knew about potatoes and how to eat them, Chu Hechao decided not to pry into Yuan Li's secrets.

In any case, if it didn't harm them, there was no need to ask.

Yuan Li agreed, "Okay."

But he doubted they would find more. This was a reward from the system's mission, not something they could get easily. Having this box of potatoes already exceeded Yuan Li's expectations.