Chapter 214: When Do You Plan to Get Married?

Qianshou Feijian Residence.

At this moment Lian Ye does not know that Hashirama has already met Ban; he ties on an apron and places the ingredients Mizuto Ayi bought, one by one, beside the cutting board.

He puts the blue‑spotted fish on the board, taps it with the blade to daze it, swiftly strips the scales and guts it open, slides the blade along the bones, and in the blink of an eye slices two whole fillets.

The snow‑white fish flesh is placed on a plate, sprinkled with salt grains and shredded ginger to marinate.

Next, he pours a spoonful of rapeseed oil into the scorching iron wok, waits for a puff of greenish smoke, then coats the marinated fish with corn starch and drops it into the pan.

"Sizzle—"

The golden crust solidifies quickly; he gently flips it with chopsticks to ensure each piece of fish is coated in amber.

Meanwhile, the bone broth in another earthen pot bubbles; Lian Ye skillfully cuts the tofu into Mahjong‑sized cubes, blanches them in boiling water to remove the bean scent, slides them into the simmering broth, sprinkles scallions and goji berries, and stews over low heat.

He adds goji berries because he thinks Qianshou Feijian is getting old and needs proper nourishment, lest relentless toil turn into illness.

Lian Ye begins washing the eggplant, cuts it into small pieces, coats them with a thin layer of flour, and drops them into the oil used for frying the fish.

When the eggplant turns fluffy and golden, he quickly lifts it out to drain oil, starts a new wok with scallion, ginger, and garlic to aromatize, returns the eggplant to stir‑fry, adds light soy sauce and fragrant vinegar, and scatters a handful of white sesame.

Lian Ye scoops the tofu from the earthen pot, drizzles the pre‑made sauce over the fish pieces, and plates the eggplant.

Gangshou smells the aroma and jogs into the kitchen.

She blinks her big watery eyes at Lian Ye and pulls out the pork tenderloin that Grandma just bought.

"Uncle Lianye, I want Sweet and Sour Pork Tenderloin!"

The little girl really seems to want Sweet and Sour Pork Tenderloin; otherwise why would she bring her own ingredients?

"Alright, alright, alright." Lian Ye smiles, takes the pork tenderloin, and begins processing it on the cutting board.

Kids just love sweets.

He slants the knife into the meat, makes shallow cuts every two centimeters, flips and repeats, then slices into strips about two finger‑widths wide.

He pours in half a spoon of cooking wine, a pinch of white pepper and a pinch of fine salt, then puts the strips into a bowl and rubs them so the meat sheds its gaminess and absorbs flavor.

He cracks two eggs into the bowl and mixes with corn starch into a thick batter.

Lian Ye picks up the marinated strips, coats them with golden corn starch, and when the rapeseed oil in the pot ripples, the strips are dropped in, instantly sprouting fine oil blossoms.

He gently nudges with chopsticks; once the outer skin sets, he lifts them out, and when the surface solidifies, they are out, now coated in a light golden crisp shell.

That's not all; while the oil is at seventy percent heat, he returns the lifted strips to the pot for a second fry.

In just a few dozen seconds, the color becomes even more enticing.

Gangshou smells the rising meat aroma and subconsciously swallows.

Lian Ye cleans the pot, adds two spoons of aged vinegar, three spoons of white sugar, one spoon of light soy sauce, then half a bowl of water to boil, pours in water and starch to thicken a translucent glaze, and sprinkles white sesame and minced garlic.

The fried crispy pork tenderloin is smothered in the thick sauce, piled into a small mound on the plate.

The sweet‑and‑sour fragrance fills the kitchen, intertwining with the fried aroma, making mouths water.

Gangshou looks at the Sweet and Sour Pork Tenderloin emitting tempting scent on the table and can no longer hold back.

She disregards the heat, picks up a piece with her hand and puts it in her mouth. The sour‑sweet taste and meat aroma spread inside, making her close her eyes in enjoyment.

Only Uncle Lianye can make food this tasty!

Grandma's Sweet and Sour Pork Tenderloin is not tasty at all…

"You bring it over first," Lian Ye says to the overly indulged Gangshou.

"Okay, got it." The little girl wipes her fingers, carries the Sweet and Sour Pork Tenderloin away.

Lian Ye follows by bringing out the prepared dishes and placing them on the dining table.

"Lian Ye, are you done?" Mito Clan asks softly.

"Done, Mizuto Ayi," Lian Ye nods, replying, "I'll go call Uncle to come back for the meal now."

Originally, Mizuto intended to call Feijian to come home for dinner, but Lian Ye stopped her.

Mizuto Ayi is already tired from cleaning the house; let him handle such a small task.

That old kid is handling paperwork in the office, unaware that someone will soon pressure him about marriage.

Can't wait to see his expression then…

………

"Uncle, stop handling the paperwork for now."

In the Hokage Office, Lian Ye, as usual, pushes the door open without knocking and walks in.

In the Village, the only one who enters the Hokage Office without knocking is Lian Ye; Qianshou Feijian has long become accustomed to it.

"Mizuto Ayi and Gangshou are waiting for you to go back for dinner."

"Elder sister-in-law and Xiaogang?" Qianshou Feijian puts down the documents, slowly rises from the chair, "Got it, indeed it's been a long time since I've dined with them."

Since his older brother died and the Ninja World war broke out, he hasn't even had time to eat, let alone dine with his elder sister-in-law or Gangshou.

Lian Ye looks at Qianshou Feijian with a hint of schadenfreude; the old kid still hasn't realized the seriousness.

He'll know as soon as he returns to the dining table…

"Kid, what's that expression?" Qianshou Feijian's face shows puzzlement, always feeling the kid is happy about something.

"Nothing, Uncle." Lian Ye hides his expression.

Now telling the old kid would be pointless; he still wants to see the other's face later.

Qianshou Feijian says no more and follows Lian Ye out of the office.

……

At the dining table, only the light clink of bowls and chopsticks was heard until Xuanwo Mizuto suddenly set down the chopsticks.

Lian Ye, who was eating, sees this and knows the main act is about to begin.

The great show is about to start, and he's ready to watch.

"Feijian," she says with a smile, her tone as gentle as asking about the weather, "When are you planning to get married?"

"Cough—!" Qianshou Feijian's bone broth he had just swallowed choked in his throat; he abruptly covered his mouth and forced the broth that was about to spew back down.

The resulting violent cough made his stern face flush red.

Lian Ye saw the scene and almost couldn't hold back a laugh.

He wanted to see what excuse this old kid would use to brush it off.

"Big—big sister-in-law…" Feijian forced out a breath, somewhat helpless, and said, "Why are you asking this all of a sudden?"

It reminded him of the scene years ago when his older brother and sister-in-law were urging him to marry; he had barely managed to brush it off then, and now it was being brought up again.

Xuanwo Mizuto calmly picked up chopsticks, pinched a piece of pork loin into Gangshou's bowl, and continued, "You're not young anymore; it's time to settle down."

"Your older brother is away now, and as your sister-in-law I must arrange a marriage for you," she said with an unrefusable firmness, "The Elders of the clan have also started urging you."

Qianshou Feijian furrowed his brows, set down his chopsticks, and said gravely, "Sister-in-law, I have no intention of marrying; as for the Elders, I will handle it."

He has no interest in women; otherwise, with his status and strength, he would have married long ago.

Moreover, the Village has just finished a war, and governmental affairs pile up like a mountain; he can barely find time even to eat.

Where could he possibly have the mind for romance?

……

……

ps: I've been exhausted these past two days, really can't keep grinding.