Chapter 22: Don’t You Like Spicy Food?

"Daddy, what is this?"

Little Eight, not yet two years old, squatted beside Tang Jiancheng with eyes full of curiosity.

As Tang Jiancheng skinned the hog badger, he laughed and said, "This is a hog badger. Shall we have hog badger meat later?"

"Yay! I love meat!"

"Then do you prefer the front leg or the back leg?" Tang Jiancheng teased her.

"I love meat!"

"I know you love meat, but I'm asking if you want the front leg or the back leg."

"I love meat!"

Tang Jiancheng realized that because Little Eight was so young, she couldn't distinguish between the front and back legs yet. He held up the freshly skinned badger and said to her, "Little Eight, look closely. This is the front leg, and this is the back leg. Which one would you like to eat?"

Little Eight tilted her head, thought for a moment, and pointed to the front leg. "I want the front leg."

"Why?"

"The front leg is small, I eat that. The back leg is big, the sisters eat that, so they get full!"

"Huh?"

Tang Jiancheng stared at Little Eight in surprise. Was this really just a two-year-old child?

In ancient times, Kong Rong knew how to offer the larger pear to his brothers at the age of four, but his own daughter understood selflessness at only two? Could she be a prodigy?

Yet, in his previous life, Little Eight had passed away due to a severe illness before reaching the age of four.

"Little Eight is so sweet, you're so good to your sisters!" Tang Jiancheng praised.

Little Eight giggled, "Sisters are good! I love my sisters! Fifth Sister, all the yummy food, give it to me, so I can be full..."

Just then, Little Seven and Little Six ran over. Little Seven asked, "Daddy, are we eating this meat today? Is it savory or spicy?"

Tang Jiancheng smiled. "Savory."

"Is there any spicy meat?" Little Seven asked.

"There is. How about Daddy stir-fries a spicy plate for you later?"

Little Seven waved her hands excitedly. "Yes, yes! I love spicy food the most."

Tang Jiancheng finished processing the three badgers, peeling the hides off intact, scraping away the fat, and discarding the innards. While the innards could be washed and eaten, he found it too much trouble and tossed them into the swill bucket. He thought to himself that if his dog, Dahuang, from his past life were here, this would have been a feast for him. Thinking of Dahuang, he suddenly felt that he should raise a dog; life would be much more enjoyable.

He sliced the badger meat into chunks, marinated them for a few minutes with soy sauce, MSG, and salt, then prepared minced garlic and sliced ginger. To satisfy Little Seven's craving, he washed some red chili peppers and sliced them into strips.

Once all the ingredients were ready, he had Second Sister stoke the fire. He added oil, sautéed the ginger and garlic until fragrant, and threw in the marinated meat. The stir-frying filled the air with a rich, savory aroma that made the children salivate.

Next, he stir-fried a spicy plate. The pungent, spicy scent made all the children sneeze uncontrollably, with tears and snot streaming down their faces.

"Little Seven, is this spicy enough for you?" Tang Jiancheng asked with a laugh.

Little Seven wiped her tears and pouted. "Daddy, I don't want spicy meat anymore! It made me cry!"

"Hahaha..." Tang Jiancheng laughed heartily. "Didn't you say you liked spicy food?"

Little Seven shook her head. "I don't like it anymore."

Soon, all the dishes were ready and placed on the table. The children were already gathered around.

"Wash your hands first! No one eats until they've washed up!" Tang Jiancheng commanded.

The children scrambled to wash their hands, then dashed back and began to eat heartily.

"Daddy, this badger meat is delicious! It tastes almost sweet!"

"This meat is so tender, much better than wild boar!"

"You're lucky to have meat at all, stop being picky!"

"I grabbed that first, don't steal mine!"

"Who cares whose it is? Whoever grabs it first gets it!"

"Daddy, Sixth Sister is stealing my meat! I want that big piece!"

The meal was lively and chaotic. Tang Jiancheng watched with a smile, then brought a bowl of non-spicy meat to Liu Fangfang.

The aroma wafted out of the house and into the air. The neighbors smelled it and wore sour expressions. "Damn it! The Tang family is doing this on purpose! Eating meat every single day—why don't you choke on it!"

"Mom, Dad, I want meat too!" the neighbors' children wailed, unable to resist the temptation.

"Eat dirt, why don't you?" the parents cursed, but they couldn't silence their children. Those who had a reserve of meat reluctantly cut off a small piece to cook, while those with nothing could only stare and swallow their saliva, smelling the savory scent drifting from the Tang household.

"Little Seven, come eat a piece of the spicy meat you wanted."

Tang Jiancheng picked up a piece of the chili-fried meat and offered it to her. At first, she refused repeatedly, but under his constant coaxing, she gathered the courage to take a bite, only to be moved to tears by the heat.

"Wah! It's spicy! Water, give me water! Ah, so spicy! Water, water, water, wooo..."

"Hahaha..." Tang Jiancheng roared with laughter.

Eldest Sister quickly brought a bowl of warm water. Little Seven gulped it all down, but the heat lingered.

"Daddy, you're the worst!"

After a while, the heat subsided. Little Seven glared at him with her large eyes, shouting in a fierce, childish tone, "I don't like you anymore! Hmph, mean Daddy!"

Tang Jiancheng scooped her into his arms. "I'm sorry, Daddy was wrong. I won't give you spicy meat next time."

"Hmph, I'm ignoring you!" Despite her words, she stayed huddled in his arms, unwilling to leave.

"Daddy, I want a hug too." Seeing Tang Jiancheng holding Little Seven, Little Six crowded over.

"Me too," Little Eight added.

"Finish your dinner!" Fifth Sister shouted. Little Eight and Little Six pouted but obediently returned to their seats. Little Seven was so startled that she jumped out of Tang Jiancheng's arms and began to eat her own bowl of rice quietly.

Tang Jiancheng glanced at Fifth Sister, surprised by the authority she held over the three little ones. Was this the legendary "bloodline suppression"?

After the meal, Tang Jiancheng packed the remaining badger and wild boar meat together and tucked them into the snow to freeze. Fortunately, it was snowing heavily; otherwise, it would have been difficult to preserve so much meat without curing it.

"It's snowing again!" someone shouted. Tang Jiancheng looked out the window and saw that, indeed, a heavy snowfall was drifting down.

The roof was already covered in a thick layer of snow. If he didn't clear it, the roof might collapse under the weight once the storm passed.

"Stay inside, everyone. I'm going to shovel the roof," Tang Jiancheng said, grabbing a shovel and heading out.

This snowfall was heavier than the previous ones. The snowflakes were as large as goose feathers, dancing through the air and quickly covering him until he looked like a snowman. Seeing the thick accumulation on his parents' roof as well, he immediately shouted, "Jianbing, come out and shovel the snow!"