Welcoming Party (1)

Riding on the cart, Yan Xiu saw the disappearing woods. One of his hands held the Bananut tree and the other on the Bamboo. He was satisfied with his gain. Although he only got two new things to plant in his garden, a tree, and bamboo, it was enough for now. Bai Yuan ran fast but carefully so that the cart didn't rock too much.

When they were near the village, Yan Xiu told Bai Yuan to stop by the village. The village was in a festive mood, a big long table was laid in the center of the village. And the smells of food filled the village. There were villagers hanging lanterns. Everyone was looking forward to the welcoming party tonight. If he was not in a hurry, Yan Xiu would help prepare for the party with the villagers.

Yan Xiu went shopping while Bai Yuan sat near the cart. Children gathered around him as they played with him. After a few minutes, Yan Xiu came back with a bottle of rice wine, some fruits, and two blocks of tofu. Dispersing the children, the two of them went home. 

The cart stopped in the garden, it was already dusk. Yan Xiu went down and placed the wine and tofu in the kitchen before coming out again.

"Let's get all this down and plant them so we can make the dish for tonight." (YX)

"Uho! (Let's go!)" (BY)

With Bai Yuan's help, Yan Xiu moved the Bananut tree to the hole he dug before. The Bananut was bigger than Yan Xiu thought, so he took a spade and dug again. When the hole is bigger and deeper, Bai Yuan removed the burlap and lowered the tree into the hole. Yan Xiu filled the hole with earth securely so the tree wouldn't fall. He then showered the tree with green water.

Done with the tree, he looked for holes that fit the bamboo. He chose the one on the edge of the garden, near it was a small creek. Bai Yuan slowly planted the bamboo down and Yan Xiu filled the hole and water it with green water. Now, Yan Xiu just needed to tend the two and hope it grew fine just like it was in the wild.

"Great, we're done here. Let's make the dishes, I'll make something special tonight." (YX)

"Uho? ho? (Special? What is it?)" (BY)

"It's a secret." (YX)

"Uho. (Master, tell me.)" (BY)

Yan Xiu grinned.

"Nope, but I'll let you taste it first." (YX)

"Uho! (Master, I love you!)" (BY)

"Hahaha, then help me bring the Bananut fruits and the bamboo shoots to the kitchen." (YX)

"Uho! (Okay!)" (BY)

Bai Yuan gathered the Bananut fruits and bamboo shoots in his arm, he then walked to the kitchen. Yan Xiu stayed behind to clean the spade and return the cart and everything back to the shed. 

With the cart packed inside the shed along with the rest of the tools, Yan Xiu went to take a bath and changed his clothes. Clean and refreshed, Yan Xiu entered the kitchen. Bai Yuan was sitting on the floor, waiting for the special dish. Yan Xiu laughed.

"Xiao Yuan, go take a bath. The dish will be ready when you come back." (YX)

Bai Yuan looked at his dirt-stained body and nodded, he walked out. In the way, Bai Yuan was in doubt. What dish can be cooked so fast? He thought. After living with Yan Xiu, Bai Yuan understood that cooking needed time, so he was confused about what dish could be ready in a short time.

Back in the kitchen, Yan Xiu drained the Bananut's juice and put it into a container. He separates the meat and juice, he would use the juice. The meat would serve as a snack. There were two mature ones, he kept it for making another dish later. He took out a device his mother called blender, he poured some coconut juice in and took the fruit he already washed beforehand.

He only bought two types, one was sour fruit with purple skin and yellow meat called Yunar fruit. The other is a sweet black fruit called Kirno. He took the Yunar fruit, it was as big as an adult's fist. He skinned the fruit and exposed the yellow meat, he divided the fruit in two using his hand and took the small seed in the center of the meat. He threw the meat into the blender and blended it until it became smooth.

He dipped his finger in and tasted the yellow blend, in addition to the sweet milky taste there was a refreshingly sour taste. Nodding, he took out two molds called popsicle mold. He opened the lids of the molds and poured the blend in, he put the lids back and inserted a stick through the hole in the lids. He carefully put the two mold into the big icebox, now he just needed to wait for it to freeze. These two molds made twelve popsicles.

He did the same with the Kirno fruit, it was easier with Kirno fruit. The four Kirno fruits, as big as a baby's fist, didn't need to be skinned. He directly put it into the blender. He took out new molds and repeated the process. With this, one of the dishes for the party was done. It was too simple to be called a dish, it was more like a snack or dessert but it was at least a unique one. In the village, only his family knew and had the tools to make one.

Yan Xiu tidied up the kitchen and went to cook the second dish. He took the bamboo shoots and cut the bottom part of it. He peeled tough outer layers to reveal the white soft part. He also trimmed the bumpy part of the bottom. It was tedious work but he knew the end reward would be sweet. A dozen minutes later, a clean Bai Yuan came back while Yan Xiu was still struggling with the bamboo shoots.

"Ah, Xiao Yuan, you can take the mold out of the big icebox, it's the colorful one. It should be done by now, pick one." (YX)

Said Yan Xiu without looking at Bai Yuan.

"Uho! (Got it!)" (BY)

Bai Yuan opened the big icebox and looked at the molds, he looked at it for a moment before choosing randomly.