"Serves you right! Beat him harder!"
If such a situation arose again, she would never let Xiao Shan go.
"If this happens again, you must tell me."
Night had fallen outside, with scattered lights hanging in the sky, like lamps guiding people home.
In the kitchen, the two chatted as they quickly finished making the dumplings. They were plump and white, with round bellies, making Yutou's mouth water.
"Sister Xue, I didn't expect you to be so domestically inclined!"
Xue Niang felt a sense of pride. This was not difficult; she simply hadn't learned it before. In her palace, the four head maids each had their own specialties. Among them, Hong Mian was skilled in cooking, making dishes that were both beautiful and delicious, even surpassing the top imperial chef. Her father had specifically selected her from the common folk, layer by layer.
Her mood suddenly turned somber. She wondered how they were all doing. Only Qing He and Lu Meng inside had the ability to protect themselves. Hong Mian and Lan Wu, one skilled in cooking and the other in needlework, were both exceedingly delicate.
What would happen to them in that man-eating place, the Tujue?
"Brother Xiao!"
Yutou's shout brought Xue Niang's drifting thoughts back.
The hint of worry between her brows did not escape Xiao Shan's sharp gaze. In an instant, Xue Niang's face lit up with a smile, and the previous gloom seemed like an illusion.
"A'Shan, look what I made!"
Xiao Shan was extremely surprised. He looked at the plates of dumplings, then at Xue Niang, as if he couldn't believe it.
"Who made them?"
Xue Niang tilted her head proudly, "Of course, I did."
This was no small feat. Dumplings were the most troublesome, requiring the preparation of the filling, mixing the dough, and rolling out the wrappers. Her family had been poor when she was young, and they couldn't afford to eat them often. He truly didn't know how to make them.
After becoming a general, he had eaten delicacies from mountains and seas, and gnawed on tree bark and straw. Yet, these dumplings, the most common of dishes, he had truly never eaten many times.
He never expected his wife to be so capable, making so many. The wrappers were thin, the filling was abundant, and they looked delicious at first glance!
Steaming hot dumplings were the most comforting food at this time of year!
Xiao Shan, in his excitement, forgot that there was a living person sitting beside them. He turned Xue Niang's face and began to kiss her passionately.
"Cough, cough... cough, cough, cough..." Yutou covered his eyes, filled with regret.
He shouldn't have been here!
He wanted to leave!
He was still a child and would get a sty!
"Sister Xue, I think I—"
But before he could finish, Xiao Shan had already grabbed a large bowl and covered two plates of dumplings with it. "Know you're in the way, right? Go home and eat."
Yutou: "..."
Xue Niang's face was burning with shame. Watching Yutou run off like a rabbit, she opened her mouth but couldn't utter a sound.
"Alright! Now even a little kid will laugh at me! You scoundrel!"
"What little kid? He's almost old enough to get married. Don't mind him. If he dares to laugh at you, I'll knock out his front teeth!"
How powerful!
Xue Niang pouted angrily, "I'm going to take some to Granny Hua."
"Wait, I'll go." Xiao Shan took the plate from her hand and then picked up another plate from the table.
"Eh?" One plate was enough. What if he didn't have enough to eat?
Xue Niang wanted to stop him, but Xiao Shan's strides were long, and he was already out the door.
"Idiot!"
The dumplings were cooked, and piled together, they were countless. She didn't know how many were left.
The kitchen was filled with misty steam. Xiao Shan returned in a flurry, bringing a gust of cold air. He immediately closed the door. "Wife, eat quickly. You must be tired from making so much."
"Hmph, today is Winter Solstice! Everyone eats dumplings."
"Is that so? I didn't know that?"
There were still things Xiao Shan didn't know. Xue Niang became happy again.
Her face was flushed red from the heat, like a ripe red fruit, making one want to swallow it whole.
"Try it quickly and see if it's good." She picked up a dumpling and offered it to his mouth.
It was delicious, incredibly delicious. After eating the hot dumplings, Xiao Shan felt comfortable all over. He directly lifted Xue Niang onto his lap, and they shared a dumpling.
You take a bite, I take a bite, you take a bite, I take a bite...
In the end, she didn't know how many they ate. Xue Niang rubbed her round belly, feeling stuffed.
After being stuffed, Xue Niang couldn't move and leaned lazily against Xiao Shan. Xiao Shan cleaned up the leftovers, smacked his lips, not feeling very full, and wanting to eat something more.
"You can't sleep like this; you need to move a bit."
"I can't move." She felt so heavy from being full. It was all Xiao Shan's fault for constantly feeding her.
Xue Niang was as lazy as a cat, breathing softly.
"You don't need to move." Xiao Shan picked her up and carried her back to the room to get on the kang. "Sit against the wall, don't lie down."
Xue Niang leaned against the wall. Seeing Xiao Shan go out, she heard him lock the main door. She didn't know what he was going to do, but after waiting for a while, he came back in, carrying a large tiger skin.
"Wow! It's so big!" Xue Niang sat up straight, looking at the luxurious, large tiger skin. No wonder it sold for so much money. It was truly beautiful. Even just the skin exuded an imposing and majestic aura.
The fur patterns were beautiful and smooth. Xue Niang found it very comfortable to touch.
"It's been processed, washed clean. I also had someone bake it with incense. Smell it."
The incense wouldn't last long, probably dissipating in a few days. Xiao Shan felt that no fragrance was as pleasant as the natural scent of Xue Niang. After she slept on it for a long time, it would also absorb her scent, just like their bedding, which always had that lotus fragrance.
Xue Niang sniffed. Indeed, there was a fragrance on it, and she immediately felt no aversion. "I want to lie on it. Hurry and spread it out, spread it out."
Xiao Shan smiled and spread the tiger skin out completely. With such a large tiger skin, it was more than enough for two people to lie on.
"Come lie down. I'll rub your belly."
Xue Niang quickly went and lay down. The fur felt good, warm from the start, soft and cozy. These 200 taels of silver were truly worth it.
Xiao Shan slowly massaged her abdomen. Xue Niang closed her eyes in comfort, humming softly.
"What were you doing at the village chief's house again?" she asked with her eyes closed.
"Telling him about the matter of having people on night watch every night. It's been unstable lately, so it's best to be prepared."
Oh, so that's what it was!
Xiao Shan was truly thoughtful, worthy of someone who had led troops in battle.
Xiao Shan's fingers subtly unbuttoned the woman's collar.
Xue Niang felt the coolness of the air and opened her eyes. "Xiao Shan, don't bother me today. I'm really too full and uncomfortable!"
The woman's soft,娇软 tone stirred his desire. Her fair skin against the patterned tiger skin was both soft and beautiful, blending with a hint of wildness that made his blood surge, unable to look away.
Xiao Shan grunted softly and continued to rub her belly.
After an unknown amount of time, as Xue Niang was drifting off to sleep, Xiao Shan suddenly picked her up. "Let's start exercising."
Exercising, exercising what? Xue Niang suddenly became alert.
Her body was already stripped bare. His firm body completely enveloped her delicate frame, pressing against his hot chest, leaving no room for cold.
"A'Shan, I heard that this can be done on your own..."
"Sit down..."
The woman's gasp was suppressed. Xiao Shan began to lead her in exercise.
........................................
"How is it? Does your stomach still feel bloated?"
"No, no longer bloated. It's fine, it's fine..."
The world spun, and she was pressed down again.
Damn you, Xiao Shan!
A tiger below, a tiger above, she saw fireworks bloom and the vast starry river between the two tigers.