Chapter 13: Sizzling Eel Strips

Chapter 13 Sizzling Oil Eel Strips

Yun Fan didn’t see Wen Tingwang at Li Ge and simply handed the caviar to the butler there.

Unlike the elderly butler, the one at Li Ge wore a snug cashmere shirt, bell-bottom pants, and a pair of sunglasses.

Yun Fan looked up to confirm he was actually at Li Ge.

"Thank you, Butler Xiao Yun. I’ll inform the master that you’ve stopped by." As the butler spoke, his mustache rippled like waves.

"Oh, no need, no need. It’s my duty. I’ll be on my way now." Yun Fan quickly stepped back and left Li Ge.

As he turned from the entrance, Yun Fan glanced once more at Li Ge. The relatively small mansion had colorful lights flashing at its doorway. After some thought, if he had to describe Li Ge, it would undoubtedly be "bizarre and gaudy."

Although he hadn’t met Wen Tingwang yet, Yun Fan sensed that having such a godfather must be quite a burden for Liu Erxing.

The Wen family truly had unique personalities.

Returning to Langyun Terrace, Yun Fan was surprised to find Wen Zhaofu still waiting for him. He hurried over and said, "Sir, you should go rest."

"I was waiting for you," Wen Zhaofu said clearly. "Did Li Ge give you any trouble?"

Yun Fan was puzzled and shook his head. "I didn’t go inside. I only met their butler. He seemed quite easygoing."

Before Wen Zhaofu could respond, the old butler interjected, "That’s just how it seems. After you left, the young master was very worried and felt it was wrong to let you go alone."

"Their Li Ge is notoriously difficult to deal with."

"Sir, it’s fine. I’m back safe and sound," Yun Fan said, turning and bending down to look at Wen Zhaofu. "Rest assured."

Only then did Wen Zhaofu smile. He raised his hand, wanting to brush aside the stray hair on Yun Fan’s forehead, but caught sight of the old butler staring wide-eyed in his peripheral vision and withdrew his hand.

Before bed, Yun Fan was delighted to discover that the next day would be sunny, and excitement bubbled within him. With sunshine, he absolutely had to air out the quilts!

Laundry here often relied on dryers, and it had been ages since he’d smelled the scent of sun-dried fabric. But spring in Harbor City was always rainy, so this sunshine was a rare opportunity not to be missed.

While happily planning his quilt- airing, a "ding-ding-ding" sound rang through the bedroom. Yun Fan was startled. At this hour, could something have happened to Wen Zhaofu?

"What’s wrong, Sir?" Yun Fan answered quickly.

Hearing Yun Fan’s anxious tone, Wen Zhaofu sighed inwardly. Was he being too demanding? Yun Fan had only forgotten to call him goodnight once or twice—why did it bother him so much?

But tonight, somehow, he couldn’t fall asleep without hearing Yun Fan’s voice.

"Xiao Yun, you haven’t said goodnight to me yet." Wen Zhaofu’s voice, coming through the receiver, struck deep into Yun Fan’s heart.

Yun Fan stared at the phone and rubbed his chest. Why did his boss’s voice sound slightly whiny?

*

The next day, as the sun climbed high, Yun Fan immediately launched his quilt- airing plan. This wasn’t recorded in any butler’s manual, and if Yun Fan wasn’t mistaken, the old butler would soon come storming out.

"Xiao Shan, come help me out," Yun Fan called, struggling with one hand gripping a clothes rack and the other arm tangled in a quilt.

The young gardener put down his watering can, pointed at himself, and asked, "Butler Xiao Yun, are you calling me?"

"Yes, Xiao Shan," Yun Fan nodded, tugging the quilt closer.

The young gardener looked confused. "But my name is Shi An."

Yun Fan laughed. "Exactly—Shi An, ‘Shi’ sounds like ‘mountain’ (shan). Calling you Xiao Shan is easier to remember."

The young gardener remained baffled. Yun Fan frowned slightly. "What, don’t you learn pinyin?"

"We never learned," the young gardener shook his head vigorously.

Seeing the conversation veering off course, Yun Fan quickly said, "I need to air the quilts. The sun is strong now—hurry up."

The young gardener didn’t understand what Yun Fan was doing, but his hands and feet obediently followed. He helped Yun Fan set up the rack, pulled the quilt corners, and spread it wide.

"Wow! Soon it’ll have the scent of sunshine," Yun Fan said joyfully, stroking the quilt and even rubbing his face against it.

"Yun Fan! What are you doing!" The old butler charged out fiercely, holding a lint roller.

Having anticipated this, Yun Fan casually pointed at the sun. "The weather is perfect today—don’t waste it. Harbor City is always humid, and we live at a low elevation. When the sun comes out, we should air the quilts. It feels wonderful!"

The old butler frowned. From Yun Fan’s tone, it sounded as though living conditions at Wen Yanlan’s residence weren’t ideal.

The old butler understood airing quilts—in ordinary households it was acceptable, but this was the Wen family estate.

"It’s inappropriate. If reporters take pictures, they’ll make a scandal," the old butler argued.

Yun Fan tilted his head in thought, then gestured to the young gardener. "Come on, Xiao Shan, let’s find another spot."

They found a secluded corner hidden from outside view but still bathed in sunlight. The old butler clapped his hands in frustration, about to scold Yun Fan, when Wen Haochen suddenly appeared.

He was holding his Husky. Yun Fan turned around, saw the dog, and quickly pulled out his phone, turning it so the back faced the dog.

"What are you doing?" Wen Haochen asked curiously.

Yun Fan patted the quilt. "We’re capturing sunlight! Good sun in Harbor City is just too rare."

Having grown up here, Wen Haochen deeply agreed, especially during the damp, foggy spring when everything felt sticky.

"After airing, the quilt smells warm and cozy—so comfortable to sleep under, soft like cotton candy. It’s nature’s gift—not to be missed."

Yun Fan squinted as he described it, tilting his head slightly with a look of pure enjoyment. Wen Haochen watched his profile, noticing the gentle curves at the corners of his eyes and lips. Sunlight enveloped Yun Fan, softening his silhouette.

"Ah, is it really that amazing…" Wen Haochen murmured. "Uncle Cheng, I want to air my quilts too."

The old butler stomped his foot in frustration, then backed down. "Second Young Master, how can you join in his foolishness!"

But Wen Haochen was exactly the type to do what he was told not to. He tugged the dog leash and dashed out of Langyun Terrace.

The dog followed its master, both running like the wind—hard to tell who was faster.

Afraid the old butler might confiscate his quilt when he wasn’t looking, Yun Fan simply sat beside the flower bed, chin in hand, guarding his quilt.

Only Yun Fan knew that although he appeared well-behaved, he still harbored a rebellious streak. Gazing at the "Langyun Terrace" plaque, Yun Fan suddenly thought of Wen Zhaofu. Somehow, he felt Wen Zhaofu was the same kind of person.

Compared to the troublesome Cheng Yu and the clearly complicated Liu Erxing, Wen Zhaofu’s true self was concealed beneath his wheelchair.

In Yun Fan’s eyes, he was definitely not someone easily manipulated. His principles and boundaries were deeply rooted in his heart, unshakable by anyone.

Contrary to the old butler’s expectations, Wen Haochen returned to Hongmian She and spread the word about airing quilts. Soon, nearly every residence had quilts hung out in their yards.

"Butler Cheng, Taiping Qingshui Ju has aired theirs."

"Baofeng has aired theirs."

"Huiyuan has aired theirs."

The old butler listened in despair as the reports came in, tilting his head toward the sunlight with a sigh, "Where on earth did Madam find someone like this!"

Except for Langyuntai, the courtyards of every residence in the Wen family estate were filled with quilts airing out. Soon, the scene was captured and posted online.

*

The group had staff specifically monitoring public sentiment regarding the Wen family, and they immediately reported the incident to Wen Zhaofu. After reading the message, Wen Zhaofu smiled.

Only his Langyuntai had aired a single quilt, while the others had rummaged through their cabinets to bring out everything. Clearly, this had started at Langyuntai.

"Ignore it," Wen Zhaofu replied.

By the time he returned home in the evening, it was already dark, and Wen Zhaofu missed the spectacular scene of quilts airing out. That day, Wen Haochen came to Langyuntai for dinner and vividly described how comfortable the sun-warmed quilts felt.

Wen Zhaofu looked up at Yun Fan and said, "It seems I'm the only one without a quilt warmed by the sun."

Yun Fan immediately apologized, "Sir, I'm sorry. Next time the sun is out, I'll definitely air one for you."

Wen Zhaofu smiled and said nothing more. The old butler glanced at Yun Fan but also remained silent.

The kitchen prepared a dish of sizzling oil eel strips tonight, which, according to Uncle Man, could boost energy, strengthen joints, and ease rheumatism.

Once served, hot oil was poured over it, creating a sizzling sound as it crackled—its own sizzling soundtrack.

Looking at the way the eels curled on the plate, Yun Fan thought Wen Haochen at that moment was just like this dish.

Naturally, Wen Zhaofu also noticed Wen Haochen's squirming. He set down his chopsticks, dabbed his mouth lightly, and said, "Out with it, what do you want to buy this time?"

Author's Note:

Uncle Man really can cook [facepalm/peeking][facepalm/peeking].

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