BDSMST -Chapter 118 The Birth of Hot Pot — A Winter Carnival

The success of chili peppers added a spark to Woniu Village’s winter, while another new crop—cotton—brought the most practical kind of warmth.

When the first snow fell, almost every household in Woniu Village was wearing cotton jackets and trousers made from the newly harvested cotton, spun into thread and woven into cloth. The soft, light, and warm feeling was something they had never experienced before. In previous winters, the villagers could only wear thick, rough hemp clothes that scratched the skin, relying on sheer endurance to survive the cold. For the first time, they truly understood what it meant to feel “warm like spring.”

The children’s laughter was clearer and brighter than ever. Wearing their thick cotton coats, they rolled around in the snow and built snowmen without worrying about freezing their hands and feet.

With material life now comfortable, Jiang Suisui began thinking about enjoyment of the spirit. When the weather turned cold, people naturally wanted something hot to eat. Although boiled pork slices in chili broth were delicious, they couldn’t eat it every day. Another dish appeared in her mind—something more suitable for winter and perfect for social gatherings.

Hot pot.

Once she had the idea, she immediately took action. She drew up designs and asked the village blacksmith to work overtime to produce a batch of special pots. In the center of the pot stood a tall chimney for burning charcoal, while around it ran a circular groove used to hold the soup base.

On the first rest day after winter began, Jiang Suisui hosted the first “hot pot banquet” in her courtyard.

On the stone table in the yard sat a brand-new copper charcoal hot pot, bubbling with steam. Inside the pot, a cross-shaped divider split it into four sections. Two were filled with bright red spicy broth, where chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns rolled and released an irresistible aroma. The other two contained a clear broth made from chicken and mushrooms—milky white and richly fragrant.

Around the table were plates filled with all kinds of ingredients. Freshly sliced lamb and pork were cut paper-thin and arranged neatly. Newly harvested spinach and cabbage looked vibrant and tender. There were also cubes of tofu, soaked wood-ear mushrooms, and golden sections of corn… an abundant spread that made mouths water.

The most special part was the dipping sauces Jiang Suisui personally prepared. One bowl contained sesame paste ground with a stone mill, mixed with chive-flower sauce and fermented tofu—a northern-style flavor. Another option was a southern-style dry dip made from minced garlic, sesame oil, oyster sauce, and a generous amount of chili powder.

Gu Yan, Gu Xuan, and the old Marquis—who had come from the capital to spend the winter—stood curiously around the table. Bai Yutang had just returned from Jinling a few days earlier after negotiating cotton and chili pepper business deals and had been invited to stay. Naturally, his young niece Bai Ling’er also joined the feast.

“Suisui, what kind of new way of eating is this?” the old Marquis asked curiously as he looked at the strange pot.

“Father, this is called hot pot,” Jiang Suisui said with a smile. “Everyone sits around together and cooks whatever they want in the pot.”

She picked up a slice of lamb with her chopsticks and swished it a few times in the boiling spicy broth. The meat instantly changed color. She fished it out, rolled it in sesame sauce, and placed it in the old Marquis’s bowl.

“Father, try it.”

Half skeptical, the old Marquis put the slice of lamb into his mouth. The tenderness of the lamb, the fiery heat of the spicy broth, and the rich fragrance of the sesame sauce blended perfectly together, bringing a satisfaction he had never felt before.

“Mmm… delicious! Delicious!” The old Marquis’s eyes lit up, and he immediately started cooking more himself.

With him taking the lead, everyone else began eating as well.

Gu Yan ate calmly and elegantly. He preferred the clear broth, placing vegetables and meat into it in an orderly manner, waiting until they were cooked before eating.

Gu Xuan and Bai Ling’er, however, were completely devoted to the spicy broth. The two children gasped from the heat while competing to see who could eat more, their little faces flushed red with excitement.

Outside, heavy snow fell, turning the world into a silver-white landscape. Inside, the charcoal fire burned brightly, and steam rose from the copper pot, blurring everyone’s faces but making the warmth and comfort feel even more real.

Bai Yutang held a cup of wine and looked at the scene before him, feeling deeply moved. He had been born into one of the richest merchant families in Jiangnan. Since childhood, he had tasted every kind of delicacy and attended countless luxurious banquets. Yet none of them had ever made him feel as relaxed and comforted as this meal.

Here, there was no scheming from the marketplace and no rigid family etiquette. There was only the pure taste of food and the simple joy of sitting together like a family. Watching Jiang Suisui serve food to Gu Xuan while Gu Yan looked at his wife and child with affectionate eyes, Bai Yutang felt a faint trace of envy in his heart.

The hot pot meal lasted from noon until evening.

The broth in the pot grew richer and thicker the longer it simmered. Everyone ate until they were satisfied and warmly full.

That night, Jiang Suisui had a small hot pot moved into the heated chamber of the bedroom. She and Gu Yan changed into comfortable clothes and sat cross-legged on a low couch with soft cushions, sharing their own quiet “two-person world.”

Outside, the wind and snow grew stronger, howling against the windows.

Gu Yan picked up a piece of soft, well-cooked cabbage from the clear broth, blew on it carefully, and placed it in Jiang Suisui’s bowl.

“Eat slowly. Don’t burn yourself.”

Jiang Suisui smiled and ate it. Then she picked up a piece of tofu from the spicy broth—soaked with the rich soup—blew on it the same way, and held it up to his mouth.

“You eat too.”

Gu Yan opened his mouth and ate it. The familiar spicy flavor instantly drove away the cold. Looking at his wife’s gentle face through the rising steam, his heart softened.

He set down his chopsticks and pulled her into his arms.

“Suisui.”

“Hmm?”

“Thank you.”

“Thank me for what?”

“Thank you for giving me a home.” A real home—with the fragrance of food, laughter, noisy chatter, and warmth.

Leaning against his chest, Jiang Suisui listened to the wind and snow outside and the crackling charcoal fire inside. She felt completely at ease.

Soon, this novel and delicious way of eating—hot pot—spread throughout Woniu Village. Every household set up their own hot pots during the winter. Friends and relatives gathered in small groups around the fire, eating hot pot, drinking wine, and chatting.

The rising steam drove away the harsh winter cold and brought people closer together. Because of it, Woniu Village’s winter became especially lively—and especially warm.