Chapter 115: Grapes
Just as the car entered the city, Wen Yan’s phone chimed. It was a message from Shen Yao, accompanied by a photo of his girlfriend in a dessert shop. The caption read: Coming over to mooch a meal next week. I’ve already pre-tested some cake flavors for you; yours will definitely be better than this. Wen Yan replied with a laugh: Don’t worry, I guarantee you’ll be amazed. When he looked up, he caught Pei Zhouye’s gaze, which was full of indulgence. “What are you chatting with Shen Yao about that’s making you so happy?”
“He said he’s coming to learn how to make tomato beef brisket from you next week, and he praised my cake-making skills in advance.” Wen Yan handed him the phone. Pei Zhouye scanned the screen and shook his head with a smile. “He just wants a free meal. He’s asked me for the recipe three times already, but I’ve never seen him actually make it.” Despite his words, his fingers tapped a shopping app and silently added two jin of beef brisket to the cart. Shen Yao was picky; ordinary brisket wouldn’t get that melt-in-the-mouth texture; he had to pick the cuts with tendon.
Back home, Wen Yan immediately checked on the cherry jam. In the glass jar, the jam was a bright, glossy red, giving off a faint fruity scent. He took a spoonful to taste; the sweetness was perfect. He couldn’t resist spreading another spoonful onto a piece of bread and holding it to Pei Zhouye’s lips. “Try it. Is it still fresh? Using this for the cake next week definitely won’t be a problem.” Pei Zhouye took a large bite; the wheaty aroma of the bread mixed with the sweetness of the cherries burst across his palate. He nodded. “Fresh. It’s even more flavorful than last time. Shen Yao will definitely love it.”
Over the next few days, the two prepared for the weekend gathering. Pei Zhouye soaked the brisket in clear water to draw out the blood and went to the market specifically for fresh tomatoes and onions. Wen Yan pulled up baking tutorials and listed out low-gluten flour and heavy cream on a checklist, afraid of missing anything. On Friday night, Wen Yan even baked a small practice cake. Though the cream on the surface wasn’t perfectly smooth, the taste was stunning.
“See? This will definitely work.” Wen Yan cut a piece for Pei Zhouye, his eyes full of confidence. Pei Zhouye took a bite and nodded in praise. “It’s good. Better than the bakeries. If Shen Yao eats this, he’ll definitely be begging you for the recipe.”
Saturday afternoon, Shen Yao and his girlfriend, Lin Xi, arrived on time. Lin Xi held a fruit basket and said with a smile, “It’s our first time visiting, and since we didn’t know what you’d like, we just brought some fruit.” Wen Yan quickly took the basket. “You’re too polite. Please, come in and sit.”
In the living room, Pei Zhouye had already brewed tea. Shen Yao took a sip and immediately asked impatiently, “Zhouye, where’s my tomato beef brisket? I came here specifically to learn.” Pei Zhouye laughed. “Don’t be in such a hurry. I’ll teach you in a bit; I guarantee you’ll learn.”
Wen Yan took Lin Xi to see the cherry jam cake he had made. Seeing the fresh cherries decorating the top, Lin Xi couldn’t help but exclaim, “Wow, this cake looks too good! Wen Yan, you’re amazing.” Wen Yan gave a bashful smile. “I’m glad you like it. You have to eat plenty later.”
At dinner, Pei Zhouye’s tomato beef brisket was indeed a huge hit. While eating, Shen Yao asked, “Zhouye, how do you get the brisket so tender? Mine is always chewy when I make it at home.” Pei Zhouye explained patiently, “You have to soak it to remove the blood first. When stewing, use a low flame for a slow simmer and add a spoonful of red wine. That doesn’t just remove the gamey scent, but makes it more flavorful.” Shen Yao quickly took out his phone to note it down. “Alright, I’ll try it when I get back.”
Lin Xi was full of praise for Wen Yan’s cherry jam cake. “This is delicious! The cherry flavor is so rich, but it isn’t cloying at all.” Wen Yan laughed. “I’m glad you like it. I have some jam left over; take a jar home with you. It’s very convenient for breakfast with bread.”
After dinner, the four of them chatted in the living room. Shen Yao mentioned that he and Lin Xi were planning a trip to Yunnan next month. Wen Yan’s eyes lit up. “Yunnan is wonderful. I went once before; Erhai Lake is exceptionally beautiful. You have to see it.” Lin Xi quickly asked, “Are there any guesthouses you recommend? We haven’t booked our stay yet.” Wen Yan gave them a detailed list of guesthouses he had stayed at before and told them which sights were worth seeing and which foods they couldn’t miss.
They chatted until late before Shen Yao and Lin Xi prepared to leave. Before they left, Wen Yan handed a jar of cherry jam to Lin Xi. “Take this with you. Remember to eat it soon; it won’t keep for too long.” Lin Xi took the jam with a smile. “Thanks, Wen Yan. We’ll bring back some Yunnan specialties for you when we return.”
After seeing them off, Wen Yan and Pei Zhouye sat on the sofa, looking at the tidied living room with hearts full of warmth. “I had so much fun today,” Wen Yan leaned against Pei Zhouye. “Shen Yao and Lin Xi are a great match. I hope they’ll always be happy.” Pei Zhouye squeezed his hand. “They will be, just like us.”
Early the next morning, they drove to the cabin. Wen Yan was thinking about the tiny green grapes on the trellis and wanted to see if they had grown. The moment he stepped out of the car, he rushed to the trellis to examine them. “Look! I think they’ve grown a bit!” Pei Zhouye walked over and saw that the tiny grapes were indeed a bit larger than before, some even showing a faint hint of pink.
“Almost there,” Pei Zhouye said with a smile. “Another half month and they should turn purple.” He took the spray bottle from the trunk and gave the vines some water. “Remember Mr. Chen said to control the water before they ripen; don’t give them too much.”
Wen Yan nodded and helped Pei Zhouye loosen the soil. Sunlight spilled across the trellis, the leaves shimmering with a green luster while a few butterflies fluttered among them. “Pei Zhouye,” Wen Yan said suddenly. “When the grapes are ripe, let’s invite Professor Zhang and Li Wei over for dinner. We’ll let them taste our own grapes and fruit wine.”
“Alright,” Pei Zhouye nodded. “We’ll have a grape feast—grape salad, grape cake, and grape wine. It’ll be very lively.”
They stayed at the cabin all morning and only prepared to head home at noon. Before they left, Wen Yan gave the vines another bit of water and hung a small wind chime from the trellis. “This way, when the wind blows, we’ll know if the vines miss us.” Pei Zhouye laughed. “Alright. Next time we come, we’ll hear the chime.”
On the drive back, Wen Yan leaned against the window watching the scenery. “Pei Zhouye, do you think we should plant some other fruit trees next to the cabin? Like apple or pear trees? That way we’d have fruit for every season.”
“Sure,” Pei Zhouye turned to look at him. “Come autumn, we’ll buy saplings and plant them together. Then we’ll have blossoms in spring, fruit in summer, a harvest in autumn, and snow in winter. Our cabin will be a little orchard.”
Wen Yan nodded with a smile, his eyes full of anticipation. He imagined the yard filled with fruit trees—apple and pear blossoms in spring like a white ocean, green fruit in summer, vibrant apples and golden pears in autumn, and trees covered in snow like white snowmen in winter. Just thinking of that scene made him feel immense happiness.
As the days passed, the tiny green grapes gradually turned a pale purple, then a deep, dark purple. Their surfaces were covered in a thin layer of white frost—they looked incredibly enticing. Wen Yan checked on them every day through the monitor, waiting for them to ripen.
“Pei Zhouye, look! I think the grapes are ripe!” One day, Wen Yan excitedly pulled Pei Zhouye to the monitor. On the screen, the grapes were a deep purple, shimmering with an inviting luster under the sun.
“They really are ripe!” Pei Zhouye was happy too. “We’ll go harvest them tomorrow and brew the fruit wine.”
Early the next morning, they took their winemaking tools to the cabin. As soon as he stepped out of the car, Wen Yan caught the sweet scent of the grapes. He rushed to the trellis, plucked a grape, and popped it into his mouth. The sweet juice burst across his tongue with a faint fruity aroma. “Delicious! Much sweeter than the ones in the store!”
Pei Zhouye also tried one and smiled. “It really is good. Our hard work didn’t go to waste.”
Together, they harvested a large quantity of grapes. One portion was for the wine, another for a grape cake and grape salad. The winemaking process was similar to before—washing and drying the grapes, crushing them in a container, adding yeast, and sealing it to ferment. Wen Yan followed Pei Zhouye’s instructions step by step. Though he was sweating, he was exceptionally happy.
“There. Now we just wait for fermentation. We should have fruit wine in about half a month.” Pei Zhouye patted the sealed container. “Then we’ll invite Professor Zhang and Li Wei to taste our results.”
“Alright!” Wen Yan nodded with a smile, his heart full of anticipation.
As they left the cabin, Wen Yan looked back at the trellis with reluctance. Pei Zhouye laughed. “Don’t worry, we’ll be back in half a month. You’ll get to drink your own grape wine then.”
“Mhm!” Wen Yan nodded vigorously.
At home, Wen Yan turned the remaining grapes into a salad and a cake. The salad used yogurt and honey for a sweet and tangy flavor, while the cake was decorated with fresh grapes—it looked very refined. Pei Zhouye tasted the salad and smiled. “Delicious. Our Wen Yan is getting more and more capable.”
Wen Yan gave a bashful smile. “I learned it all from you. Your cooking is the best.”
In the days that followed, the two looked forward to the wine finishing its fermentation. Wen Yan occasionally checked on the sealed container in the kitchen, imagining the taste. Pei Zhouye stayed busy preparing for the dinner with Professor Zhang and Li Wei, specifically going to the store for plenty of ingredients.
Finally, half a month passed, and the wine was ready. Pei Zhouye opened the container, and a rich fruity aroma wafted out. He poured a glass for Wen Yan. “Try it and see how it is.”
Wen Yan took a sip; the liquid was sweet but not cloying, with a rich grape scent. After swallowing, a faint sweetness lingered on his palate. “Good! Even better than the wine we brewed last time!”
“I’m glad you like it,” Pei Zhouye said with a smile. “Tomorrow we’ll have Professor Zhang and Li Wei over for dinner to let them try it too.”
The next day, Professor Zhang and Li Wei arrived on time. Seeing the grape salad, grape cake, and grape wine on the table, Professor Zhang laughed. “You’ve prepared a whole grape feast! It looks wonderful.”
Wen Yan smiled. “We grew these grapes ourselves and brewed the wine ourselves. Please try it and see what you think.”
Professor Zhang took a sip of the wine and nodded in praise. “It’s good. More mellow and fragrant than the fruit wines I’ve had before. You two are truly impressive.” Li Wei also tried the cake. “This is delicious too. The grape flavor is so rich, but it isn’t heavy at all.”
At the table, they chatted and laughed about their lives. Professor Zhang mentioned a new research project, and Li Wei talked about her plans for an overseas fellowship next month. Wen Yan and Pei Zhouye shared their experience of growing the grapes and brewing the wine, and everyone listened with interest.
After the meal, Professor Zhang looked at Wen Yan and Pei Zhouye and smiled. “I’m at peace seeing you so happy. You two are like these grapes—you’ve gone through the growing process to finally bear such sweet fruit. It’s truly enviable.”
Wen Yan and Pei Zhouye looked at each other and smiled, their eyes full of happiness. They knew this happiness wasn’t easy to come by; it was the result of their joint effort and devotion. In the future, they would face more storms together and harvest more beauty together, turning their ordinary days into poetry.
As they left, Professor Zhang told them, “Next time we have a chance, let’s go to the cabin together to see your fruit trees and taste your new wine.”
Wen Yan smiled. “Of course. You’re always welcome.”
After seeing Professor Zhang and Li Wei off, Wen Yan and Pei Zhouye sat on the sofa looking at the night sky. “I had so much fun today,” Wen Yan leaned against Pei Zhouye. “Professor Zhang and Li Wei really liked our creations.”
“They did,” Pei Zhouye squeezed his hand. “In the future, we’ll invite more friends over to share our happiness and joy.”
Wen Yan nodded, closed his eyes, and leaned into Pei Zhouye’s warmth. He knew that as long as Pei Zhouye was there, he wouldn’t be afraid of any future difficulties. Because their love, like this fruit wine, would grow more fragrant and rich under the sediment of time—it would never fade.
Late that night, Wen Yan curled up in Pei Zhouye’s arms, flipping through the photo album. His fingertip stopped on a photo of the grape trellis at the cabin. It was taken when the grapes had first bloomed; he was standing under the frame with tiny white blossoms in his hair. Pei Zhouye’s lens had captured the exact moment he looked up with a smile. “Look, back then I was still worried the grapes wouldn’t ripen.”
He spoke softly, his tone full of gratitude.
Translator’s Note:
Hi everyone! We’re near to the end of this journey. Here are some cultural notes for these chapters:
- Manyue (滿月): Literally “Full Moon.” It refers to the celebration of a baby’s first month of life, which is a major milestone in Chinese culture.
- Changming Suo (長命鎖): A “Long-Life Lock.” This is a traditional Chinese amulet given to children to “lock” them to life and protect them from illness or bad luck.
- Hongshaorou (紅燒肉): Red-braised pork, a staple comfort food.
- Ayi (阿姨): Literally “Auntie.” Used here as a polite honorific for the professor’s wife.
- Cabernet Sauvignon (赤霞珠 – Chi Xia Zhu): The Pinyin is included for the specific grape variety mentioned in the text.
- “White Frost” (白霜): The waxy coating on ripe grapes, which is a sign of quality and natural growth.
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