Chapter 9: Fried Crispy Treats

Normally, for an officer of Han Chao’s rank, the army wouldn’t provide a vehicle for personal visits.

He explained that he was able to drive home this time because he was carrying out official duties in several nearby counties.

A few days earlier, when he took Wang Guoguo to the capital, a service soldier was assigned to look after her, as Han Chao had work to attend to outside.

Earlier, he had managed to get five hundred yuan from the eldest brother’s family. This meant that Wang Guoguo was now considered part of his household.

After handing the money to his wife, he said, “I have work tomorrow, so we need to leave early. As for Mom, let her stay with your mother for now. Later, we’ll find a way to bring them both to the capital. Keep this money for Mom’s medicine. If you need help packing, just tell me.”

Chen Yufeng did want to take both her mother-in-law and her own mother to the capital. But after hearing Han Chao’s words, she didn’t press the matter.

After all, he was only a battalion-level officer. Even if the army allowed family members to move with him, it would only include his wife and children—certainly not elderly parents.

They didn’t have much money at the moment. If they brought the two elderly women along, how could they survive in the capital on Han Chao’s meager allowance alone?

Starting a business in the city would require some initial investment. Besides, Wang Guoguo was ill and needed medication, and Zhou Yafang wasn’t skilled at running a business. If she brought them along without proper preparation, they’d only suffer together.

It would be better for her to go to the capital first, find some business opportunities, and establish herself. Once things were stable and she saved enough money, she could bring them over.

“What do you two need to do? If nothing, go to bed! We’re leaving early tomorrow,” Wang Guoguo entered the kitchen, casting a stern look at her son. “Leave the packing to me.”

After thinking for a moment, she added, “Feng’er, go visit your mom and say a proper goodbye. Then come back and rest.”

Since they were leaving the next day, it was time to divide up the money.

Chen Yufeng had a total of eight hundred yuan. She took out two hundred and secretly placed it in the pocket of Wang Guoguo’s coat hanging on the wall, along with the five hundred yuan Han Chao had given her.

She kept another two hundred and took a new silk quilt, heading back to her mother’s house to say goodbye.

As she approached the entrance of the Qi family’s distillery, she heard Uncle Qi shouting from inside: “You shameless girl! So many young men in the county wanted to marry you, but you refuse them all just to become a stepmother to an old man’s children? I’ll beat you to death! Give me that household registration book!”

Chen Yufeng paused, realizing that Qi Cailing must have snatched the household registration book to register for marriage.

Why was this girl so determined? Was being a stepmother really that appealing?

“You know nothing! Once I become the wife of an officer, I’ll have the soldiers beat you, you old scoundrel!” Qi Cailing shouted back.

With a loud bang, she dashed out of the distillery, hair disheveled. When she saw Chen Yufeng, she froze momentarily before running off.

Uncle Qi chased after her, yelling, “You foolish girl! Being a stepmother isn’t easy!”

“You just wait and see—I’ll be the best stepmother in the world!” Qi Cailing’s voice was filled with defiant determination.

Chen Yufeng stood there in shock, then turned and knocked on her own front door.

When her mother opened the door, she was surprised: “Han Chao just got back, and to give you two some alone time, I held back from visiting. Why are you here in the middle of the night instead of resting?”

Chen Yufeng laid the silk quilt on the bed and said, “Mom, we’re leaving tomorrow. After we go, please help take care of my mother-in-law.”

Chen’s mother’s face fell slightly. After all, this was her daughter, whom she had raised and never been apart from. But she quickly composed herself, sniffed to hold back her emotions, and said, “Go on then. Once you’re settled in the capital, sneak a pregnancy and have a son. Don’t worry about raising him—we’ll take care of him here. That way, we won’t have to worry about Han Chao losing his job.”

Not wanting to argue with her mother, Chen Yufeng quietly slipped two hundred yuan under her mattress.

After a moment’s hesitation, her mother added, “You probably used up your money for your mother-in-law’s treatment. When you get to the capital, look for your father. If you find him, ask him for some money. He took a lot of valuables from me when he left; he owes you at least that much.”

The mention of her father made Chen Yufeng feel a surge of anger.

Her mother, Zhou Yafang, had married Chen Fanshi, who had named her with great affection.

Zhou Yafang’s father had worked as a chef for a powerful warlord during the Republican era before returning to Guihua Town when the warlord passed away.

Before his death, he left behind a few valuable items: a cookbook said to be from the Qing imperial palace, a gold cigarette case used by the warlord, and, most valuable of all, an old set of calligraphy scrolls.

When Chen Fanshi left, he took all these items with him, claiming he needed to sell them to buy a house.

Later, he wrote a letter saying the items were lost.

After that, they never heard from him again until Chen Yufeng turned 18. He visited Anyang County with a young man in military uniform, took her out for a meal, and tried to persuade her to leave Zhou Yafang and live with him in the city. Chen Yufeng refused.

She had asked about the antiques, and Chen Fanshi claimed he had donated them to the government.

Through the book, she discovered that Chen Fanshi was now in the military district, running a successful business.

Not wanting to upset her mother, she kept this information to herself. But she made sure to pack the letters he had sent.

She knew from her dreams that the antiques were indeed donated, but she needed to find out where they ended up.

Hugging her mother, she said, “Mom, once I’m in Beijing, I won’t get to eat your cooking anymore. Tomorrow, could you make some fried crispy treats for me?”

Macui is a traditional New Year snack made with sweet potatoes, taro, sugarcane, and a rare type of long glutinous rice.

First, the glutinous rice is made into sticky rice cakes, which are then left to dry halfway before being cut into petal shapes and fully dried. These half-dried pieces are fried to order.

Once fried, the macui puffs up, becoming light and crispy. It’s best paired with a bowl of soft, sticky rice porridge made from three types of rice, sprinkled with a handful of crystallized sugar bits. The combination of crunchy and soft textures, with a rich but not greasy flavor, is simply delightful.

Now it was already May, and the macui that Zhou Yafang had saved from the New Year was down to just a small handful.

Her daughter was already twenty-five, with long braids and almond-shaped eyes. Yet when she smiled, she looked just like a little girl, her face full of mischief. Zhou Yafang playfully poked her on the forehead, “You little glutton! Go home and give Han Chao a son. I’ll fry you some macui tomorrow morning.”

Chen Yufeng ran home, her heart full of joy.

When she arrived, all the lights were off, and everyone was asleep. As she quietly slipped into the bedroom, she was nearly scared out of her wits.

Han Chao was lying on the bed, sleeping peacefully, but Mimi’s tiny foot was pressed right on his nose.

Kids’ feet are stinky! If Han Chao woke up, he’d be furious for sure.

Chen Yufeng gently moved her daughter’s little foot away from her husband’s nose and lay down on the inner side of the bed.

Mimi was actually awake. She snuggled up to Chen Yufeng and whispered, “Mommy, don’t worry. I just tested it. Daddy doesn’t eat people.”

So she had put her foot on his face just to see if Daddy would eat it?

Chen Yufeng hugged her daughter tight, thinking, “Silly girl, maybe it’s just because your feet stink too much that Daddy didn’t eat them!”

Her husband had changed. He was just like how he was described in that dream she had—his bad temper was gone, and he was more mature and steady now.

But in the story, it also said he didn’t like daughters, only sons. It even said that in the future, he would become the godfather to Qi Cailing’s stepsons.

Chen Yufeng still refused to believe that part.

That was why she was determined to go to the capital—to change herself and rewrite the fate of her two daughters.

Han Chao was probably still awake too. Hearing that Mimi had quieted down, he reached out, intending to tuck in the girls. But the moment his hand moved, Mimi suddenly perked up and sternly asked, “Daddy, are you trying to eat my stinky feet?”

Han Chao said nothing. He simply tucked them in more securely.

The next morning, Chen Yufeng was awakened by a knock on the door. It was Zhou Yafang, bringing freshly fried macui and warm rice porridge for breakfast.

To her surprise, Su Hong had also come.

Chen Yufeng always admired Su Hong’s ability to endure. Her face was pale, her steps unsteady—clearly running a high fever—yet she carried a basket of peaches, pears, and cherries, panting as she said, “Yufeng, the journey to the capital is long. Big Sister picked some fruit for you to eat on the road.”

“Sister-in-law, we have fruit at home,” Chen Yufeng said.

“Take it anyway. We’re family, and this is just a little gesture from me,” Su Hong forced a smile.

Wang Guoguo glared at her elder daughter-in-law, “You’re sick. Go home and rest!”

“Mom, Yufeng doesn’t have a son yet. I came to remind her to hurry up and give the second branch an heir once she gets to the capital,” Su Hong said.

Wang Guoguo almost started scolding, but Chen Yufeng quickly gave her a look to calm her down.

Su Hong was most proud of her two sons. If it made her feel superior, then so be it. Ignoring her was better than getting upset.

Chen Yufeng took the basket of fruit and said, “Sister-in-law, after we leave, I’ll have to rely on you to look after my mother and our mother-in-law.”

Su Hong smiled, “Of course. But Yufeng, you really need to have a son.”

Han Chao was a big official now. Every man wanted a son. Su Hong figured that if Chen Yufeng wanted to give him one, she’d have to come back to the hometown to secretly carry the pregnancy. Su Hong was already planning to settle some scores with her then.

Chen Yufeng could see right through her smugness, which only strengthened her resolve to bring Wang Guoguo and Zhou Yafang to the capital as soon as possible.

Su Hong had a sweet mouth but a bitter heart—she was far too difficult to deal with.

It was still early, just after five o’clock, and the streets were deserted.

Han Chao was up early, loading luggage into the car until the trunk was packed full.

The two little girls were curious about the car and went over to look. But as soon as they got close, their father scooped them up and strapped them into the back seat with the seatbelts, securing them tightly.

Chen Yufeng was still sorting out her bags, wanting to say more to Wang Guoguo, but Han Chao took the bag from her and practically carried her out the door.

He opened the car door for her and even said, “Please.”

As soon as she sat down, Han Chao leaned in, and Chen Yufeng thought he was going to kiss her. She could even smell the minty toothpaste on his breath and quickly closed her mouth.

There was a swish, and he fastened her seatbelt before shutting the door.

He then got in the driver’s seat himself.

Wang Guoguo said, “Don’t worry about us. We can take care of ourselves.”

Zhou Yafang added, “Yufeng, don’t worry. Once you get to the capital, hurry up and have a son.”

“What son? No more children!” Wang Guoguo interjected.

And just like that, after seven long years of waiting, the young wife was finally on her way to the capital to ‘enjoy a better life’!

As Han Chao started the car, the two women waved goodbye with smiles, but once the car was out of sight, Wang Guoguo’s legs went weak, and she collapsed into Zhou Yafang’s arms.

They looked at each other—two poor women who had been abandoned by unreliable husbands, raising their children alone and supporting each other.

Now, they were still each other’s only support.

…

By coincidence, Han Chao drove to Anyang County, and at the crowded bus station, Chen Yufeng immediately spotted Qi Cailing with her wavy hair and bright red lipstick.

She was standing next to a tall soldier, surrounded by two little boys.

The boys had round little heads, snuggling close together. They looked quite cute.

It was just a fleeting glance before the car sped past.

This scene was something Chen Yufeng had dreamed about before. It was said that for a soldier to get married, a political background check was required. And just last night, Qi Cailing had eloped with Zhang Songtao. Because she ran away without proper documentation, she couldn’t pass the political review. Zhang Songtao was now taking her to the capital, where she would first live with the two boys as their nanny. Once the children grew to love her, she would then become their stepmother.

They were from the same town, but Qi Cailing was glamorous while Chen Yufeng was plain.

Qi Cailing’s stepchildren were all remarkably successful, while Chen Yufeng’s daughters only caused trouble.

Qi Cailing nurtured the children with love and care, while Chen Yufeng was obsessed with having a son. In the military family housing compound, the two women became a stark contrast.

But from that one glance just now, Chen Yufeng couldn’t help but feel puzzled. You could always tell if someone genuinely loved children by their body language. She clearly saw disdain in Qi Cailing’s eyes when she looked at the two boys. Could someone with such an expression truly love them like her own?

Shaking off thoughts about others, Chen Yufeng glanced at her husband beside her, her heart uneasy. From now on, she and Han Chao would raise their two daughters together. Would he truly love them?