Shen Linchuan had worked hard all day, exerting himself considerably. After washing his feet, he stretched out comfortably on the bed to rest for a while before getting up later to push more firewood into the stove.

Zhou Ning climbed over Shen Linchuan and onto the bed, pulling back the quilt to lie down. Shen Linchuan closed his eyes, ready to sleep, when a weight settled on his waist. He opened his eyes to find his Fulang already straddling him.

“Let’s skip it tonight. Get some sleep—we have to go to Xinghua Village tomorrow.”

“I can get up. Just hurry up. Adding a child to our family is the real priority.”

I can’t get up…

Shen Linchuan didn’t say it was about saving face. How could a grown man admit he couldn’t perform? It was just that he didn’t know if his Fulang even liked him. All he cared about was having a child with him…

Zhou Ning was already fumbling around in the dark, tugging at Shen Linchuan’s clothes. Shen Linchuan’s face flushed crimson. He sat up, intending to pin the other man down. Wait—what kind of Fulang rode his man every single day? If word got out, people would laugh their heads off.

Zhou Ning didn’t want Shen Linchuan to move. He pressed down on his shoulders, pinning him back. “Aren’t you tired? Just lie still.”

Zhou Ning felt his own frame was sturdier than that of Shen Linchuan, the scholar. He’d bear the burden; they’d finish quickly. This business was no picnic.

Shen Linchuan had fortified himself today with kidney and liver dishes to boost his qi and blood. How could he withstand Zhou Ning’s teasing? This ger was fumbling around on him without any skill, and Shen Linchuan’s youthful vigor flared up instantly.

Shen Linchuan was actually misjudging Zhou Ning. The boy was straightforward and genuinely clueless about seduction. He wasn’t groping aimlessly; he was just eager to strip off Shen Linchuan’s undergarments.

His hands, calloused from constant labor, fumbled against Shen Lichuan’s waist, making Shen’s eyes burn with desire. Several times he tried to sit up and kiss the person on top of him, only to be pinned back down by Zhou Ning’s firm grip on his shoulders.

Shen Linchuan could only lie still obediently, assuming Zhou Ning simply preferred being on top. Little did he know Zhou Ning found the whole thing exhausting and didn’t want to tire Shen Linchuan out. If Shen Linchuan ever found out, he’d probably spit out a mouthful of old blood.

After a flurry of frantic tugging, this ger always went straight for the main event. Shen Linchuan didn’t need to move; he could just close his eyes and enjoy.

After who knows how long of this, Zhou Ning couldn’t take it anymore. He rolled off and lay down properly. Why was Shen Linchuan taking so long today? He was exhausted—more tired than if he’d been plowing two acres of land. No more.

Shen Linchuan was left lying there stiff as a board. He was stunned. Wait, was that it? Just like that?

Sure, he’d gotten his pleasure, but that didn’t mean he could just leave him hanging like this!

“Ning-ger, are you going to sleep?”

“Mhm. Tired. Twice is enough. No more.”

Shen Linchuan nearly choked on his own blood. What the hell was he supposed to do now?

Shen Linchuan rolled over and pinned him beneath him. “I’m not tired. You just rest.”

Shen Linchuan finally regained the upper hand. This ger was absolutely killing him.

Zhou Ning felt a strange sensation. After all that commotion, both of them were drenched in sweat.

Zhou Ning was thoroughly exhausted this time. “Fire…”

“You stay lying down. I’ll get up and check.”

Shen Linchuan had eaten his fill today and didn’t feel the least bit tired from his work. Feeling refreshed, he rose, robes draped over him. The aroma of braised meat wafted not just from the kitchen but even reached the main hall.

Shen Linchuan entered the kitchen to find the firewood beneath the stove burning nicely. His father must have gotten up to stoke it. Shen Linchuan’s face flushed. They’d been at it for quite a while today. He probably hadn’t heard Ning-ger make a sound.

Shen Linchuan pushed more wood into the fire, drew hot water to wash his Fulang’s body. Sweaty like that, how could he sleep comfortably?

Just as Shen Linchuan finished drawing the water, footsteps sounded at the door. He looked up to see his Fulang approaching. “Why are you up?”

“Hungry.”

Truthfully, the aroma of the braised pork head in the pot was simply too irresistible. After being so restless for so long, that scent was too much. Zhou Ning couldn’t help but get up.

Zhou Ning’s undergarments were loose and baggy, and over them he wore only a short brown robe. Shen Linchuan stared, his eyes nearly popping out. He closed the kitchen door. “Then wipe yourself down here. The kitchen is still warm.”

Zhou Ning wanted to wipe himself down, but Shen Linchuan, who hadn’t even lit the lamp to see him yet, immediately offered to help his Fulang. Zhou Ning wasn’t pleased. “I have arms and legs. I can do it myself.”

“You worked hard today. Let me help you.”

Zhou Ning tried to refuse again, but Shen Linchuan’s expression hardened. “Stop fussing. You’ll wake our father.”

Only then did Zhou Ning obediently stand still while Shen Linchuan wiped him down. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off—even the bed felt strange tonight, different from the past two nights. Unconsciously, a blush crept up his cheeks.

Shen Linchuan nearly lost control again. Zhou Ning’s legs were exceptionally beautiful, his waist slender yet strong, like a sleek, graceful young leopard.

Tsk. Such a fine ger, and yet someone dared to reject him? They simply didn’t know how to appreciate beauty.

Shen Linchuan suppressed his restless thoughts and finished drying Zhou Ning off. By now, the moon hung high in the sky. The pork head in the pot had long since finished cooking, the bones completely separated. The pork cheek meat glistened with oil in the bubbling braising liquid.

Zhou Ning watched the meat in the pot and swallowed hard. Previously, the boiled pig’s head meat had been pale and white, but this sauce-colored pig’s head looked so delicious. “I think it’s cooked through already.”

“It’s done. I’ll scoop some out for you to eat.”

Shen Linchuan scooped out half a pig’s head, finding it too hot to handle at first. He set it aside to cool, then peeled several cloves of garlic and prepared a red oil sauce. He sliced off some pig’s ears, cheek meat, and tongue, serving each of them a portion. He didn’t take much himself, just enough for Zhou Ning to sample the flavor.

In the middle of the night, eating too much would be bad for the body.

He mixed the pork head meat with the red oil dressing. It was a bit rushed—if he’d had some peanuts and cilantro, it would have been perfect.

Zhou Ning couldn’t wait and grabbed a pair of chopsticks. Shen Linchuan tasted it too—delicious.

Zhou Ning ate without looking up, utterly amazed at how delicious a pig’s head could be. The pig’s ears were crisp and refreshing, crunching satisfyingly with each bite. The cheek meat, with its perfect balance of lean and fatty, offered tender, sticky fat and firm lean meat that grew more flavorful the more he chewed.

Seeing Zhou Ning’s delight, Shen Linchuan happily picked out a lean slice for him. “I love the lean meat from the snout best. You have it.”

Zhou Ning nodded eagerly, then took half a steamed bun to toast over the fire. Pairing it with the bun, he polished off the entire small bowl of pork head meat.

“All gone.” Zhou Ning stared intently at Shen Linchuan.

Shen Linchuan nearly lost his composure. Clearing his throat, he said, “We’ll have more tomorrow. Steaming it overnight makes it even tastier. Go brush your teeth and get some sleep.”

Zhou Ning felt unsatisfied, glancing at the ample pork head meat still in the pot, but he had no choice but to go brush his teeth.

Shen Linchuan felt a chuckle rising. He pulled the logs from the stove’s base and buried them in the ashes, leaving a few embers to keep the heat steady. The meat would taste even better first thing in the morning.

Shen Linchuan locked the door and carried Zhou Ning back to their room. It was well past midnight. Holding Zhou Ning close, Shen Linchuan soon drifted off to sleep.

Not a single household in the entire village cooked meat this late at night. Though the Zhou family lived somewhat secluded, neighbors surrounded them on three sides. The aroma kept several households awake, tossing and turning with drooling hunger. What on earth was Butcher Zhou cooking in the dead of night?

Shen Linchuan had developed an early-rising habit. He was up at first light, his arm still numb. His Fulang was nestled against his neck, looking a bit stifled. Shen Linchuan felt a chuckle rise in him—he was only eighteen, still growing!

A warm bed, a handsome Fulang—saying he didn’t want to linger was a lie. Shen Lichuan dressed in his short brown robe and got up. Today, his Fulang hadn’t woken. A surge of pride welled up in Shen Lichuan—he’d finally managed to wear the man out.

Shen Linchuan still went to the well to fetch water. His household used water quickly—a large water vat lasted only a day. If they slaughtered a pig, he’d have to fetch another vat, which gave Shen Linchuan a chance to exercise while working.

He rose early. By the time he nearly finished fetching water, Zhou Da had also woken up. Shen Linchuan wiped his sweat. “Father, you’re up.”

“Ah, Linchuan, up so early.”

“Father, you know some martial arts, right? Teach me. I want to practice too.”

“Sure thing.”

Zhou Da had worked for a butcher in his youth, learning his fighting skills back then. He said proudly, “Your old man here has some pretty solid skills. Three or five ordinary guys wouldn’t stand a chance against me.“

”Dad, you’re amazing! Unlike me, a bookworm—I’m still too weak.“

Shen Linchuan’s words made Zhou Da beam with delight. He’d woken up early, his face glowing with happiness. ”Ah, we each have our strengths. You’re a scholar—a bit weak, perhaps, but you know how to read. I’m just a rough-and-tumble guy who can’t recognize a single character. Doing manual labor, I can’t compare to you intellectuals.“

Zhou Da taught Shen Linchuan how to practice boxing in the courtyard. Shen Linchuan’s form was all wrong, and he kept stumbling and swaying, which made Zhou Da burst out laughing. ”Just keep practicing, and you’ll get the hang of it.”

Zhou Ning heard the sounds from the courtyard and got up too. Sitting up, he rubbed his aching waist—his whole body was sore, and he’d need a few days’ rest. After dressing, he saw his father teaching Shen Linchuan boxing. He knew some moves himself, but he wasn’t as skilled as his father.

No wonder his father was laughing. Shen Linchuan’s boxing looked like someone dancing—graceful, yes, but utterly limp and powerless. Zhou Ning nearly chuckled, too.

Sweat dripped from Shen Linchuan’s forehead as he practiced. Turning, he caught his Fulang smiling. If not at him, then who else? Yet Shen Linchuan felt no shame. He flashed Zhou Ning a broad grin. “You’re up.”

Zhou Ning felt like he’d been caught red-handed. He grunted and turned to head to the kitchen to cook. He was still thinking about the pork head stew simmering in the pot. After a night, the broth was still warm, its color even more vibrant.

Zhou Ning kneaded some dough. He might as well bake some flatbreads. They’d be perfect rolled up with the pork head meat.

Shen Linchuan was practicing boxing with Zhou Da in the courtyard when Auntie Wang from next door returned from the fields, carrying a basket of wild greens. “Zhou Da, what were you cooking in the middle of the night? That pork head stew smelled so good I couldn’t sleep a wink.”

“Just stewing some leftover pork head no one wanted.”

“Pork head? That smelled amazing!”

Auntie Wang exchanged a few more words of idle chatter before heading back home. Ever since the Zhou household had gained an extra member, life there had grown increasingly lively.