OFTLHFRO C50

Chapter 50: Mid-Autumn Mooncakes and Big Crabs

Truth be told, Luo Mingchen had never expected much from Mid-Autumn; he’d always spent it alone, and during those two years of the apocalypse, life itself could end at any time—who had the leisure to celebrate.

So only when many customers cheerfully wished him a happy festival at the shop did he finally feel a hint of holiday atmosphere.

The three boys who had once fought the Huo brothers showed up in the afternoon, each with a huge basket of crabs.

As if pre-arranged, each brought one big basket.

Ming Yuanjing also arrived with a big basket of crabs.

Luo couldn’t help laughing and crying. “Aren’t mooncakes the traditional Mid-Autumn gift? Why is everyone bringing crabs?”

Blushing, Ming Yuanjing handed over a food box. “Little Uncle, these are mooncakes.”

…He’d only been joking, but the boy really brought some.

The eldest of the boys said, “If Little Uncle wants mooncakes, we’ll have someone bring more later. These crabs are really fat, very popular, and hard to buy, so we all decided to go together.”

“No need to buy more. I was just teasing. Crabs are great. I’ll make crab-roe mooncakes and stir-fry a big pot too. Xiaohui, Xiang, take your friends over to the house and bring these crabs back as well. We’ll close up and come home soon.”

Luo didn’t stand on ceremony.

Since they came bearing gifts on a festival, their bond with the brothers was clearly solid. Too much politeness would only feel distant.

The boys grinned, hauling the crabs away alongside the brothers.

They’d eaten at the Huo home before—memorable, to say the least—and trusted Luo’s cooking completely. No need to refuse; they’d eat early and head back. They all lived in the same town anyway; nightfall wasn’t a worry.

After closing early and heading home, Luo saw Huo Yan holding little Yueyue, who was looking at him, too.

Father and daughter met eyes; Yueyue stretched out her hands, crescent-eyed with a smile. “Daddy, hug!”

Luo had just reached out when Huo said, “Be good, Yueyue. Daddy’s waist hurts—no hugging.”

Yueyue blinked, puzzled, and lowered her hands.

“…” Luo.

What did a sore waist have to do with hugging a daughter?

A fragrant, soft little bun—hugging her would make the ache vanish!

Luo poked Huo lightly in the lower back. “I want to hold her.”

So Huo turned around and picked him up with one arm.

Held like a child, Luo’s face burned as he clung to Huo. “I meant let me hold Yueyue, not for you to hold me.”

“Then this is ‘you holding,’ by proxy.”

Giggling, Yueyue wrapped her arms around Luo and smacked a kiss on his cheek. “Daddy, you got picked up too.”

So embarrassing!

Struggling down, Luo whispered, “Put me down—what if someone sees?”

That really would be shame beyond measure.

Only then did Huo let him go, smiling.

Seeing him still grinning, Luo lightly bumped him with a shoulder.

Huo bumped him back.

“You dare?”

Luo bumped again—and bolted.

Huo gave chase like a kid.

They traded bumps back and forth all the way home without a clear winner.

Watching the entire spectacle, Yueyue let out a long, serious sigh—like a tiny little adult, painfully cute.

Ingredients and molds had been prepped that morning. Luo told Yuhui and Xiang to entertain their guests at home and have some fruit first.

Yuhui asked, “Little Daddy, should we help?”

“No.”

Luo preferred full control in the kitchen. If someone didn’t know what to do, they’d only get in the way. No need.

“Then I’ll take Yueyue to play.”

With that, Xiang scooped up his sister.

“Keep an eye on her and don’t let her near the lake,” Luo reminded.

The front courtyard’s lake wasn’t large, but for a child like Yueyue, it was still dangerous.

The brothers replied, “Alright.”

Xiang pinched his sister’s soft cheeks. She smiled at him, and he smiled right back.

For the lotus-paste salted-egg-yolk mooncakes, the salted yolks came from the duck eggs Luo had prepared previously.

Unsure of everyone’s preferred flavors, he made several kinds.

Besides egg yolk, there were red bean paste, five-nut, sesame, crab roe, and taro fillings.

While the mooncakes were baking, Luo stir-fried the remaining crabs.

As the spicy aroma drifted out, the boys playing ball outside all stopped in unison.

The youth in pale blue swallowed. “Wow… that smells amazing.”

The eldest teenager chuckled. “Yunhao, try to have some dignity?”

Chen Yunhao protested, “I want to, but can you resist that smell?”

“…” Everyone.

They might as well head to the kitchen.

When Yuhui moved to pick up his sister, Gao Jiabao beat him to it and smiled. “I’ve got her.”

He was the oldest among them, so naturally he should look after the others; besides, Yueyue was well-behaved—she didn’t fuss, unlike his two illegitimate half-sisters, and she didn’t mock him for poor studies. She even smiled at him.

Liu Shangyu stepped over, gently pinched Yueyue’s tiny hand. “Then pass her to me afterward.”

Already envious, Chen Yunhao argued, “Me too!”

The Huo brothers: “…”

Do none of these guys have little sisters?

Luckily, since Yueyue had been out helping at the shop with Luo and Huo, she was no longer as timid as before. Being held by somewhat unfamiliar brothers, she only smiled.

Seeing Ming Yuanjing watching, Xiang asked, a little sour, “Yuanjing, do you want to hold Yueyue too?”

More timid than the others, Yuanjing asked carefully, “May I?”

“…Alright, then.”

They all headed toward the kitchen, and in the process, Yueyue passed through four sets of arms—then clung to Yuanjing and wouldn’t let go.

Seeing they couldn’t get her back, Chen Yunhao sighed. “So Yueyue likes Yuanjing best among us?”

Yueyue pinched Yuanjing’s soft cheeks and beamed. “Soft.”

Yuanjing melted. It was the first time anyone had liked his chubbiness instead of insulting him as a disgusting fatty.

The trio: “…”

Maybe they should all eat a little more?

When Luo saw them coming, he laughed. “I was just about to call you.”

Liu Shangyu said, “Don’t worry, Little Uncle. With your skill, we’d follow the smell even if you didn’t.”

The boys all felt something was off, somehow. “…???”

Smiling, Luo sent them to wash their hands. Huo helped carry the big crabs and mooncakes to the stone table under the courtyard tree, and Luo boiled a large pot of ginger tea.

Crab is cold-natured; it’s best to drink ginger tea after eating.

Everyone washed up happily, moved their own chairs, and sat down to eat.

Luo had specially steamed two big crabs for Yueyue without chili, mixing a garlicky sauce instead.

Even if it wasn’t time for moon-viewing yet, eating delicious food under the sunset had its own special charm.

When they’d eaten their fill, Luo packed a box of mooncakes for each to take home and asked Huo, “It’s Mid-Autumn today—pretty lively outside?”

Earlier, while eating, he thought he heard Chen Yunhao mention a lantern riddle gathering on the street tonight.

Huo asked, “Shall we go have a look at the front street?”

Exactly what Luo wanted. He smiled. “Alright.”

It had been a long time since he felt a normal holiday. This world might lack the internet and all sorts of conveniences, but it also didn’t require living in constant fear.