Zhang Chengling took a cautious step forward, steeled himself, and reached out to grab it. The chicken, able to tell that he only looked tough on the outside, jumped up ferociously, and pecked at his hand. Frightened, Zhang Chengling jerked his hand back and retreated. Given an inch, the chicken took a mile, and chased close behind. Between the human and the chicken, it was unclear which one was trying to slaughter the other; they started flailing about in the small courtyard, clucking and wailing.

Zhou Zishu squatted at the kitchen door with a stalk of dried grass sticking out of his mouth, watching him with much enjoyment. Seeing that he was idling, Wen Kexing stuck his foot out and poked him with the tip of his shoe, instructing, “Cattle knife[9], go slaughter the chicken.”

Zhou Zishu cocked an eyebrow and glanced at him. To the side, Zhang Chengling yowled, “Shifu, save me!”

And so in the end, Lord Zhou did not say anything, and obediently went to slaughter the chicken. He was efficient at killing people, and was similarly efficient at slaughtering animals - the brave rooster warrior finally wilted in his hands, and did not even have the chance to leave any last words before it perished. Zhou Zishu’s skill at de-gutting was unparalleled; not a while later, he had cleaned the chicken, washed his hands, and returned with nothing else to do yet again.

Wen Kexing looked at his finished product, and silently quipped to himself that this person was of such utmost virtue. Then, as he chopped the vegetables, he ordered, “Light a fire under the stove.”

There was a motionless puppet standing next to the stove with its head lowered; evidently, these chores in this place were usually not completed by humans. As he picked the puppet up and set it aside, Zhou Zishu heard Wen Kexing spare a moment from his hustling and bustling about to tease, “That unfilial child Long really doesn’t know how to enjoy things. When one eats, one should eat something handmade by a human being. It has soul and flavour to it, and it might even have love…”

He cast a flirtatious look at Zhou Zishu, and said, “When you taste it later tonight, you’ll be able to tell.”

Zhou Zishu ignored him. He squatted on the ground to examine the stove as though he was facing a great enemy, and picked up the fire tongs in a clumsy hold. Yet, no matter how he held it, he found it awkward, and changed his grip again, examining it a few times over.

After waiting for a long while only to receive no response, Wen Kexing tilted his head to take a look, and couldn’t restrain himself from saying, “That’s enough, what’re you getting from gazing at it lovingly? Hurry up and light the fire.”