...
"Eldest Brother, please have a seat." Wang Shouzhe rose to his feet and extended a hand in invitation.
"Fourth Brother." Wang Shouxin's face, weathered by time, held a complex mixture of emotions, the most prominent of which was embarrassment. He paused as if wanting to say something, but ultimately decided against it before taking a seat.
"It's a rare occasion to feast together with my elder brother and sister-in-law." Wang Shouzhe cordially beckoned. "Let's all give the clear water hot pot a try."
The top-grade solid carbon fire basin with copper pot was boiling water, in which salt, cooking wine, and ginger had been added to remove the smell of meat. Slices of Spirit Horned Yak meat, so thin they were almost translucent, were dropped into the water, and they were cooked within seconds.
"This?"
Everyone hesitated, wondering if such a rudimentary method of cooking would yield something delicious and not ruin the precious Spirit Food.
