Chapter 23.1

As soon as Yin Xiaoman returned with the fish basket, Da Bao and Erniu immediately knew their mother was going to make something delicious. They all gathered around excitedly.

Over time, the two children had learned a lot.

When Yin Xiaoman named the dish “stir-fried assorted fish,” Da Bao immediately pounded his little chest and volunteered to go to Aunt Cui’s house to borrow some scallions, ginger, and garlic.

Although they had already agreed on this with Cui Yan on the way, Yin Xiaoman didn’t stop Da Bao from going, seeing how eager he was.

Perhaps it was because their family life had become stable, and the children were no longer as fearful, or maybe it was because she deliberately made time to chat with Da Bao every day. He had clearly become much more cheerful than before.

Even though speaking in long sentences was still a bit difficult for him, he was now willing to engage in conversations. This was, of course, a good thing, and Yin Xiaoman was naturally happy to create opportunities for him to practice.

When Da Bao was going to Aunt Cui’s, Erniu also wanted to join in the fun.

After sending the two children out, Yin Xiaoman grabbed a basin from the kitchen, sat down in the place where the two of them usually sat, and began to prepare the fish.

Although the stir-fried assorted fish would taste great, preparing it was very troublesome. By the time the siblings returned holding the scallions and garlic, Yin Xiaoman hadn’t even finished half of the preparations.

Da Bao took one look and instructed his sister to stay and help peel the garlic and scallions, then kindly suggested going to the canteen to buy some steamed buns.

Yin Xiaoman was surprised that Da Bao knew where the canteen was.

After all, she herself hadn’t quite figured it out yet.

“Father used to take me there,” Da Bao said quietly.

Yin Xiaoman was momentarily stunned, then realized that the “father” he referred to wasn’t Shen Qingyun, but his biological father.

She wanted to reach out and ruffle the child’s head, but seeing how dirty her hands were, she motioned toward the house. “The money’s in my outer pocket. Take what you need.”

Da Bao was shocked, his mouth wide open in surprise.

Clearly, he hadn’t expected his mother to trust him so much.

Yin Xiaoman was instantly amused by his expression.

“What are you thinking? You’re my son; do you think I would be worried you’d trick me? Hurry up and buy what’s needed.”

Da Bao’s eyes immediately welled up with tears.

He had already understood a lot when his real father passed away, and he remembered the events at home.

He could flip through all his memories, but the only moments that made him feel even a little happy were the ones with his real father.

His father had taken him to the Military Unit for meals, had taken him to the seaside to catch crabs, and had pointed to a small island in the distance, telling him that he could always see it from there if he missed him.

But his own mother treated him and his sister like burdens, even like thorns in her side.

Not only was he forbidden from touching money, but even food at home was locked away in cabinets, and if she didn’t give it to them, he and his sister would have to go hungry.

Looking at Yin Xiaoman, Da Bao felt that the memories of his biological mother were slowly fading away. He felt that the woman before him was truly his mother, the real family for him and his sister.

“Mm!”

Da Bao responded with a small affirmative sound, and then he quickly ran to the back room. He found two dimes, grabbed a basket, and ran out the door.

He thought that whatever his mother asked him to do, he had to make sure it was done perfectly!

After preparing the fish, Yin Xiaoman added it to the rendered pig fat, tossed in the scallions, ginger, and garlic to stir-fry. She added a bit of soybean paste she had taken from the small storage room to bring out the aroma, then poured in the assorted fish. She fried it until crispy, added a little bit of yellow wine, and then let it simmer on low heat.

Though Erniu was only a little over three years old, after spending so much time by her side, she had already become quite the capable little helper.

Peeling garlic and scallions was nothing for her, and she was quite skilled at tending to the fire as well.

Just from a few casual instructions from Yin Xiaoman, she was able to manage the heat perfectly, making things much easier for her.

The clams had originally been set aside by Uncle Li for himself, so they had been placed in a basin early on to spit out sand.

As he put it, they could be cooked directly once they were brought back.

But Yin Xiaoman was particular about food, especially when it came to eating.

So, when she was dealing with the assorted fish earlier, she had already placed the clams in clean water.

To ensure they released all the sand, she had added just a little bit of oil and salt to the water.

Now, they were ready to be cooked.

She cut the scallions into sections, sliced the ginger, and smashed the garlic with the side of the knife. She heated the pan with oil, waiting for it to bubble slightly, then added the aromatics and finally poured in the clams…

She added salt, yellow wine, and a bit of sugar to adjust the flavor. As the sauce in the pan thickened, the clams began to open halfway, releasing the unique aroma of seafood. The steaming white mist drifted slowly out the kitchen window.

At that moment, Shen Qingyun and Qi Feng had just reached the courtyard entrance. The scent stopped both of them in their tracks, who had been deeply engaged in a heated discussion about the details of the upcoming military drills.

They both inhaled deeply, and the rich fragrance immediately made them forget what they had been discussing.

“Sister-in-law’s cooking something? It smells so good,” Qi Feng couldn’t help but sniff the air again, then asked in surprise.

Shen Qingyun also inhaled deeply and honestly shook his head. “I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?”

Qi Feng, with a face full of longing, leaned his head into the courtyard to peer inside. “How about we go in and take a look?”

Shen Qingyun paused for a moment, then pointed toward the kitchen in the next courtyard. “No need, I’ll go check myself. Sister-in-law has probably already finished the meal. You should go back and eat. If there’s anything, we can talk about it at the camp tomorrow.”

Qi Feng stopped, taken aback.

“Well, it’s fine. Whenever I return, your sister-in-law always leaves me food. But speaking of it, she’s been here for a couple of days, and as her brother-in-law, I haven’t had a chance to meet her yet. I should go greet her.”

The more he spoke, the more natural it seemed, and he began to walk toward the gate with determination.

No wonder he was the instructor; even his cravings sounded so righteous.

Shen Qingyun couldn’t help but twitch the corner of his mouth.

But when he thought about it, he wasn’t much better himself. On days when the smell from next door drifted over, he often wished he could run over faster than Qi Feng.

So despite his reluctance, he couldn’t bring himself to stop him.

Moreover, it was his own wife who was cooking! The thought that his wife’s cooking could make people crave so much left Shen Qingyun with an odd feeling. He was reluctant, yet there was an undeniable sense of pride mixed in with his hesitation.

“Let’s go.”

He reluctantly opened the courtyard gate, ready to go inside with Qi Feng, but to his surprise, they collided directly with Cui Yan, who had just walked out of the kitchen.

Cui Yan was holding a large bowl, her head lowered carefully as if she were carrying something incredibly precious. Anyone who didn’t know her might have thought she was holding something of great value.

It was clear that Cui Yan had been called by Yin Xiaoman to bring the dishes back home.

“What delicious food did sister-in-law make?” 

Before Cui Yan could raise her head, Qi Feng’s face was already close to the bowl. Although he couldn’t quite make out what was in it, the aroma wafting out was exactly the same as the one coming from the kitchen.

“Hey, what are you doing here?” 

Cui Yan didn’t answer immediately; instead, she shot Qi Feng a glare. “What’s this? Did the smell lure you over to mooch some food?”

As she spoke, she angrily used one hand to pinch Qi Feng’s arm hard. “Am I starving for your food or your drink? What’s with you? Hurry up, let’s go back home.”

“Hey, it’s not like that…”

Even though he was familiar with Shen Qingyun, Qi Feng still felt a bit embarrassed being pinched by his wife in front of him.

He gritted his teeth and tried to explain, “Look at you! You never let anyone finish talking! I was just thinking, Xiaoman’s been here for a couple of days, and I haven’t even had a chance to say hello.”

“Say hello and come when it’s time to eat?” Cui Yan didn’t show any intention of letting him save face and directly retorted.

She then glanced sideways at Shen Qingyun, who was holding back his laughter.

“Still laughing? Your wife travels all the way here, and instead of letting her rest, you let her handle all the cooking and cleaning for you! You, who can’t even help out, are bringing home white rice! It’s only because Xiaoman has a good temper; if it were me, I would’ve hit you all with a big broomstick by now!”

Despite being on the receiving end of her frustration, Shen Qingyun didn’t get upset.

Having interacted with Cui Yan for so long, he already knew that his sister-in-law was just a typical Capital City girl. She was straightforward and warm-hearted, with no ill intentions.

But when she scolded someone, she didn’t hold back.

He quickly nodded in agreement, putting on a well-behaved expression. “Yes, sister-in-law is absolutely right. You should hurry and take this guy who just came for food away. I’ll go in and help Xiaoman.”

Seeing his partner “betray” him so quickly, Qi Feng was so annoyed that he nearly kicked Shen Qingyun. But Cui Yan swiftly slapped him on the back!

Then, she turned back to Shen Qingyun and said, “Go ahead and get in there, Xiaoman has already finished cooking. Tsk tsk, I never noticed before, but you’re quite lucky. You’d better treat Xiaoman well, because a wife like that is rare to find…”

Hearing his sister-in-law’s words, Shen Qingyun felt even more pleased inside. It was as if his back was standing straighter.

In that moment, he suddenly really, really wanted to see his Xiaoman.

Shen Qingyun quickly took a few steps forward, reaching for the kitchen’s curtain.

As Shen Qingyun was about to enter, he suddenly heard Cui Yan, who had already walked a long distance, muttering under her breath, “Look at Xiaoman, how does she manage to make even the most undesirable fish smell so delicious…?”

“Undesirable fish?”

Shen Qingyun paused mid-motion, his hand still on the door curtain, and suddenly felt a bit uneasy.

He knew what Sister-in-law meant by “undesirable fish.” They were fish with many bones and little meat, hard to clean and a hassle to prepare. Not even the fishermen around the area, unless they were so poor they couldn’t afford anything else, would willingly eat that kind of fish.

Was his wife trying to save money? Was she concerned that his salary wouldn’t be enough and was being frugal because of it?

As soon as the thought crossed his mind, his mood darkened. The joy he had felt earlier seemed to vanish.

He decided that he needed to have a serious talk with Xiaoman later. He had the ability to support them. Even if he couldn’t provide the kind of luxurious life she had at her parents’ home, he could at least make sure they had enough food and warmth.

While Shen Qingyun was lost in his thoughts, he stood at the door for a while. So long, in fact, that when he finally entered, even Yin Xiaoman, who usually didn’t say much, couldn’t help but ask, “What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

Shen Qingyun shook his head.

Fearing she might overthink, he quickly added, “I ran into Sister-in-law outside, and we chatted for a bit. She was praising your cooking.”

Yin Xiaoman smiled softly, taking the bowl in front of her and filling it generously before handing it to him. “Try it.”

Though Yin Xiaoman’s words were still few, Shen Qingyun could clearly sense how happy she was when he mentioned her cooking.

That’s when he realized that the words he had been planning to say, telling her not to buy such undesirable fish again and not to bother with it, got stuck in his throat. He couldn’t bring himself to say them.

The small fish was indeed full of bones. Cui Yan and the others were right—it wasn’t the best choice for children. 

But for Yin Xiaoman, it wasn’t a problem at all.

As long as she was willing to use enough oil and fry them longer, allowing the fish to crisp up and release a savory aroma, and then simmer them slowly over low heat, the bones would soften and the fish would become tender and flavorful, melting in the mouth.

So, even though the dish was made up mostly of bones with barely any meat, and little fish was visible, the kids ate without hesitation. The large bowl of fish she gave them was practically empty in no time.

It wasn’t just the children—Shen Qingyun was also eating with his eyes wide open!

He realized that perhaps he had misunderstood these undesirable fish in the past. It wasn’t that they weren’t tasty; it was just that no one had known how to cook them properly!

With the right person preparing them, this humble fish could become a delicacy.

Like the children, Shen Qingyun ate heartily, barely stopping to take a breath. He devoured half a bowl of fish and two steamed buns in one go!

As for the matter of talking to his wife about not buying these things in the future, all of that was completely forgotten, drifting far away.

The only thing he remembered was that he should go and dig up the backyard later, so Xiaoman wouldn’t have to worry about not having any vegetables.

After finishing two steamed buns, Shen Qingyun felt that his stomach was finally no longer empty, and he had the energy to care about others. It was then that he noticed that the main dish on the table had barely been touched.

Watching his wife focus on eating vegetables, Shen Qingyun didn’t say anything. Instead, he picked up a whole-grain steamed bun, broke it in half, and placed each half in front of the two little ones.

“Don’t just eat vegetables, eat some steamed bun too.”

Da Bao’s expression on his face showed a bit of hesitation, but he still picked it up and slowly started nibbling on it.

Erniu, on the other hand, immediately became unhappy.

She was young, and her previous memories were not very deep. After spending a long time with Yin Xiaoman, she had long considered her to be her real mother.

At that moment, seeing her father’s expression as if he had to finish the steamed bun, Erniu pouted, turned to look at Yin Xiaoman, and called out softly, “Mother.”

Her voice was soft and sweet, making Yin Xiaoman’s heart soften uncontrollably.

This steamed bun was what Da Bao had brought back from the cafeteria.

Even though Yin Xiaoman had specifically told him to buy the good ones before he went, the cafeteria only had this kind, so Da Bao had brought it back.

Because she also made whole-grain steamed buns for them at home, she didn’t think much of it when she saw this type. But after taking a bite, she realized just how different it was!

The whole-grain steamed buns her mother made were soft, fragrant, and when you took a bite, they slid down your throat smoothly without much chewing, making you want to eat more.

But the ones from the cafeteria weren’t fragrant, not soft, and scratched the throat.

No comparison, no harm.

Back when they were at Shen Family, this kind of steamed bun would have been considered a delicacy, something they might not even get to eat. But now…

Erniu blinked her eyes, then called out to Yin Xiaoman again, “Mother!”

Her voice now clearly carried a sense of grievance.

Yin Xiaoman felt a bit of a headache.

She had been so busy earlier that she really forgot that the food from outside was fundamentally different from what she made.

Although both were whole-grain steamed buns, when she made them, she would grind the cornmeal finely with a small mill, then mix it with wheat flour and soybean flour, and finally add some milk to knead the dough. Occasionally, she would even add a bit of sugar.

The steamed buns made that way looked similar to the ones from other families, but the taste was definitely different.

In the past, due to the separation of families, Da Bao and Erniu were both tight-lipped, and it was impossible for them to casually say anything outside.

Yin Xiaoman, on the other hand, never thought about being discreet. She just focused on making the food as delicious and nutritious as possible, never considering whether it might be awkward for others.

Unknowingly, she had spoiled the two little ones and gotten them accustomed to having things her way.

But now, in front of her husband, she naturally couldn’t say, ‘If it doesn’t taste good, don’t eat it. I’ll make you something else later.’

Yin Xiaoman silently picked up the steamed bun in front of Erniu, broke it into small pieces, and placed them back into her bowl.

A large bowl of fish had been eaten clean, except for the portion given to Cui Yan. Everything else was finished off completely.

With no other option, she scooped a few spoonfuls of the sauce from the clams and mixed it, then handed it back to Erniu.

“Eat.”

Since her mother had already spoken, Erniu knew there was no use in complaining.

She glanced down at the steamed bun in front of her, now softened by the sauce, and obediently picked up a piece and placed it into her mouth.

Although the whole-grain steamed bun was still rough, it was much more palatable once softened by the sauce.

Shen Qingyun had finally witnessed firsthand how Yin Xiaoman spoiled the children, and for a moment, he was speechless.

Had his father-in-law’s family raised his wife in the same way?

He wanted to say something, to tell her that spoiling the children like this wasn’t good, that it might end up ruining them.

Such good whole-grain steamed buns, something they wouldn’t have even dared to dream of in the past, and yet the two little ones dared to complain about them?!

What would they do when they faced hardship in the future?

But the words got stuck in his throat. Shen Qingyun, ever the perceptive one, swallowed them back down.

His instincts told him that if he said it out loud, his wife would only dislike him even more.

The children were his to bring back, and they were being cared for so well. Yet here he was, criticizing them over the smallest things—wasn’t that just asking for trouble, for making people dislike him?

Shen Qingyun understood the reasoning perfectly, but when the word “dislike” popped into his mind, he still felt a little uncomfortable.

But he had to admit that this was the reality.

With that thought, Shen Qingyun became even more frustrated.

This meal was completely devoured, every last bit eaten until everyone was stuffed.