Chapter 613: My Body Is So Hot

“What’s this? Porridge with wild herbs? Let me get a bowl and try some.” Wen Yuan held Shen Yibin’s culinary skills in the highest regard and was ready to dig in without a second thought.

“Whoa, hold on! That bowl is a bit big. You should use a smaller one.” Shen Yibin quickly stopped him. ‘The other day, I had just a small bowl of soup and got a nosebleed. How are you going to handle a big bowl like that? Besides, you’re not as sturdy as I am. You know what they say, a weak constitution can’t handle potent remedies. You’d better have a smaller portion.’

“Er…” Wen Yuan was mortified. ‘Is Bin saying I eat too much?’ He held the bowl suspended in midair, unsure whether to retract it or not, feeling incredibly awkward.

“Oh, that’s not what I meant.” Shen Yibin realized his words had come out wrong and quickly explained, “This is a medicinal porridge. It’s full of herbal ingredients. If you eat too much, you can easily get overheated.” This explanation rescued Wen Yuan from his awkward predicament. He switched to a smaller bowl and began to eat with relish.

Hah’Er and Bald Qiang, having also experienced the benefits of these wild herbs, pushed their food bowls forward. Shen Yibin filled each one, then scraped the last bit at the bottom of the pot for himself and Xiaoliu. “Here, Xiaoliu, you have some more. See if you like it.” ‘You’re probably the one here who needs this boost the most,’ he thought. ‘With such a large harem, you need all the help you can get.’

‘Huh? Medicated wine is also a potent tonic. I wonder what would happen if I added these herbs to the Monkey Wine? Would it be even more nourishing than just making porridge or soup with them?’ Watching Xiaoliu happily devour the medicinal porridge, another idea struck Shen Yibin. ‘Hmm, it seems worth a try. Next time, I’ll take out the Monkey Wine and show it to the Turtle Immortal first.’

“Wow, Bin, this medicinal porridge is really something! I can feel a warmth rising from my core, and my whole body feels toasty.” Having eaten his fill, the effects of the herbs began to kick in. Wen Yuan leaned back in his chair, rubbing his belly. His complexion looked much rosier than when he had arrived.

“If you like it, I’ll call you over next time I make some,” Shen Yibin replied with a cheerful laugh. Judging by what he’d seen in the woods earlier, there were plenty more of those nourishing herbs. He was more than happy to share.

“Um, well, I just remembered I have some work to do, so I’m going to head back now. I’ll come over tomorrow and tell you about Sokovia.” For some reason, Wen Yuan made a hasty exit right after he finished eating. What’s more, his gait seemed a little strange as he left, which Shen Yibin found baffling.

‘Whatever, I can’t be bothered to think about it. Maybe he really does have something urgent to do.’ Shen Yibin put the matter aside, cleared the table, and headed to his bedroom to wash up and go to sleep. After driving for two days straight, he was pretty exhausted.

When he woke up the next morning, Shen Yibin made breakfast for the animals, then took them down to the Yunshui River for their exercise. The Turtle Immortal was too slow, so he had Hah’Er carry it on its back for the time being. After all, Hah’Er had made the Turtle Immortal carry it so many times before; it was only fair to return the favor. There was just one thing… As Shen Yibin followed Hah’Er, glancing from the panda to Xiaoliu hanging in a tree, he couldn’t help but feel it would be much more fitting for Xiaoliu to carry the Turtle Immortal.

After their workout, they headed back into the woods to look for herbs. Along the way, they happened upon Wen Yuan, who was out for a jog by himself. Shen Yibin instinctively glanced behind him. Usually, he and his wife jogged together. Why was he alone today? “Mr. Wen, how come your wife isn’t exercising with you today?”

Wen Yuan’s face flushed, and he stammered, “Er, she… she’s sleeping in today, so I came out by myself.” As for why she was sleeping in so late and still refused to get up… well, he couldn’t very well disclose those reasons to Shen Yibin. “Oh, by the way, Bin! Are you eating at home tonight? Are you going to make that porridge from yesterday again?”

“I should be. I’m going to check on the store in a bit, then come back here to rest this evening. You two can come over then,” Shen Yibin said after a moment’s thought. “If something comes up and I can’t make it back, I’ll give you a call.”

“Great, sounds good! I’ll go buy some groceries in a bit, so don’t you worry about it!” Wen Yuan agreed enthusiastically. He gave Shen Yibin a cheerful wave and continued on his run.

‘I’ll never understand you people,’ Shen Yibin muttered. He continued leading the Turtle Immortal through the forest, gathering some roots, leaves, dried fruits, and mushrooms. Once he estimated he had enough for a pot of porridge, he headed toward his shop. He made a quick stop at the market on the way to pick up a pile of fresh vegetables and meat, then finally arrived at the store.

When he got to the shop, he noticed the number of customers had dropped slightly from the first couple of days after the New Year, but it was still much busier than it had been before the holiday. This meant business was significantly better than last year, which pleased Shen Yibin greatly. At the same time, he began to wonder if he should hire another person or two. Xia Shixuan and the others seemed to have a pretty heavy workload these days.

“Boss, what delicious thing are you planning to make us for lunch today?” The moment Xia Shixuan saw Shen Yibin, she rushed over to greet him, taking the bags from his hands as they headed to the kitchen together.

Shen Yibin called out a greeting to Li, who was with a client on the second floor, and carried the rest of the ingredients into the kitchen. “Today I’m making you a local dish I learned near Dongting Lake. I’m also brewing a pot of medicinal porridge. You all work so hard, you deserve a little boost.” ‘I wonder if this medicinal porridge is suitable for women? The Turtle Immortal didn’t seem to have any objections, so it should be fine, right?’

“Boss, you’re the best! I’m so moved, I could just offer myself to you in return!” Xia Shixuan clasped her hands to her chest and looked at Shen Yibin with stars in her eyes.

Shen Yibin shivered. He couldn’t handle this kind of thing. “Why don’t you go call Sun Qian,” he said quickly. “Ask her to bring Cheeky over for lunch!”

Sun Qian had already rented an apartment in Yunzhong City and was in the process of setting up her studio. These past few days had been particularly hectic for her, which was why he hadn’t seen her at home the previous evening.

“Hmph, always thinking about Sun Qian,” Xia Shixuan muttered under her breath. She didn’t pester Shen Yibin any further, though. She just took out her phone and walked out, dialing Sun Qian’s number.

Before long, Sun Qian arrived at the shop. By then, Shen Yibin had finished cooking. He called over Li Shiqing and the others to help carry the dishes to the table, and everyone started to eat.

The Junshan Silver Needle Chicken Slices earned their endless praise. “Boss, your cooking skills are getting more and more amazing!”

“Alright, everyone, try this. This stuff is the real deal. Pass me your bowls, and I’ll get you some porridge.” Shen Yibin stood up, grabbed the ladle, and prepared to serve them the medicinal porridge.