Chapter 20: The Ginseng Doll (Part 2)

To fully enjoy the meal, he deliberately skipped lunch and came on an empty stomach.

Meanwhile, Chen Yufeng had to watch Tiantian’s performance today, so she needed to prepare all the ingredients in advance. The main dish was sour soup yellow catfish. The pickled chili and sour vegetables were brought from her hometown, while the tofu and bean sprouts were freshly bought. As for the sweet potato noodles, dried beancurd sticks, and wood ear mushrooms, she had brought them from home as dried goods and had already soaked them.

She had purchased the yellow catfish the day before and kept them alive until just before picking up Tiantian, when she cleaned and prepared them.

Even though she went to watch Tiantian dance, by the time school was over, only Mimi could come home with her. Tiantian had to stay for more lessons. When they finally got home, it was already six o’clock, and Chen Yufeng quickly got busy preparing dinner.

She made a few cold dishes, rolled a plate of shredded vegetable wraps, and plated the pickled pears that Wang Guoguo had brought. These pears, soaked in salt and Sichuan peppercorns with added licorice, had a uniquely sour and sweet flavor with a fragrant aroma.

Handing a pickled pear to Mimi, Chen Yufeng asked, “I see a lot of kids at school taking extracurricular classes. Mimi, don’t you want to learn something too?”

Mimi sucked on the pear and replied without hesitation, “I can climb trees, do somersaults, and swim. I don’t need to learn anything else.”

Everything she enjoyed doing was what boys typically liked.

Chen Yufeng wanted to chat with her daughter a bit more to see if she could discover any interests more fitting for a girl. But just then, she heard footsteps outside. Han Chao walked in with two men in military uniforms.

She kissed Mimi on the forehead and said, “Mommy needs to cook now. Today, be a good girl and stay in Daddy’s small bedroom, okay?”

“What’s in it for me?” the little girl asked.

“I’ll bring both your grandma and nana over to visit you,” Chen Yufeng said.

Mimi slid her hand across her lips and fell silent.

“Why aren’t you answering?” Chen Yufeng asked.

Mimi made another zipping motion across her lips and said, “Because I just zipped my mouth shut.” Then, she mimicked zipping it again.

Before the food was ready, one of the guests commented, “This kitchen already smells authentic.”

Different regions had distinct aromas in their kitchens, just as they had different dishes.

The kitchen of a Yunnan-Guizhou native smelled exactly like Chen Yufeng’s home.

“Comrade Ma Ji, we’re intruding on Han Chao’s hospitality tonight. This meal aside, we shouldn’t come again in the future,” said Commander Xu as he glanced around, impressed by the warmth and refinement of this small household. His tone was gentle.

The other guest was Director Ma, the deputy head of the Political Department. He was also from Yunnan-Guizhou. Although he was visiting a subordinate’s home, proper etiquette was still necessary. He placed a box of pastries on the coffee table.

Commander Xu, on the other hand, brought only a single ticket. However, while light in weight, the gift was significant—it was a television purchase voucher.

Technically, since Han Chao had earned battlefield merits, the logistics department would issue him a TV, and it would even be a 21-inch Toshiba color TV. However, due to funding shortages, the distribution was slow. With the commander’s voucher, he could receive it much faster.

Of course, Commander Xu had always had a good relationship with Han Chao.

Three years ago, Han Chao went deep into enemy territory alone and was out of contact for over a month. Although this was kept confidential at the leadership level, many believed Han Chao might have found a way to defect to a developed Western country.

After all, in those years, everyone wanted to go abroad—to Britain or America. While the likelihood of a soldier defecting was low, it wasn’t impossible.

But Commander Xu never believed it. He firmly stood by Han Chao and waited a long time—until news of him finally came.

Han Chao did not disappoint him. He successfully infiltrated enemy lines and provided the military district with highly valuable intelligence.

Han Chao poured tea for the two leaders and motioned for them to start with the cold dishes.

Director Ma eagerly picked up a piece of pickled pear, first frowning at its sourness, then nodding at its sweetness. Finally, he commented, “The licorice flavor is so fragrant.”

He passed the plate to Commander Xu and said, “Try it. You were the one who invited me to dinner, so don’t be so reserved.” Then, lowering his voice, he added, “We’re not just here for a casual meal—Han Chao is practically like a son to you, isn’t he?”

Within leadership circles, because Commander Xu had always favored Han Chao, people often joked that he should make Han Chao his godson.

However, Commander Xu disliked such remarks and sternly signaled for Director Ma to stop joking.

After making sure his guests were settled and their tea was brewed, Han Chao went into the kitchen to check on the food.

The sour soup yellow catfish was simmering in the pot, its tangy fragrance filling the air.

There wasn’t much he needed to instruct. Commander Xu was an old acquaintance, and Director Ma had a good relationship with him as well.

Tonight, even if Chen Yufeng didn’t manage to get any useful information out of Chen Fanshi and merely ended up having a big argument to vent her frustrations, it wouldn’t matter.

Han Chao could handle it.

Just then, Chen Fanshi arrived, without his son but carrying a bottle of liquor.

Since his daughter had extended goodwill, Chen Fanshi decided to reciprocate by being friendlier to Han Chao—after all, he was his son-in-law, and a highly capable one at that.

“Han Chao, your father used to love drinking. I bet you have a good tolerance too. How about we have a couple of drinks tonight?” he suggested.

Han Chao didn’t have much to say to his father-in-law and simply gestured for him to head to the living room.

As soon as Chen Fanshi stepped inside, he froze.

“Director Ma, Commander Xu, you’re here too?” he blurted out in surprise.

“Mr. Chen, what a coincidence…” Director Ma was equally taken aback, as he and Chen Fanshi were good friends.

Although, deep down, Chen Fanshi wished his own son would be more accomplished than Han Chao, in front of the leadership, he naturally spoke highly of his son-in-law. And considering Han Chao’s true capabilities, the fact that he could invite such high-ranking officials over for dinner only proved how highly they regarded him.

“Han Chao is my son-in-law, and my daughter is in the kitchen,” he announced.

Director Ma chuckled and said, “They say friendships are forged through conflict. But in our case, it seems they’re built over meals.”

“Director Ma, Han Chao is my son-in-law. In the future, I hope you’ll look after him at work,” Chen Fanshi said in an official tone while taking the bottle of liquor from Han Chao’s hands, ready to open it.

Don’t be fooled by his scholarly appearance—he was exceptionally skilled at flattering his superiors.

At first, he relied on Zhang Yanli to introduce him to the military district leaders. But over time, Zhang Yanli’s family began depending on him to maintain those relationships. And sure enough, with just a few words of persuasion, Ma Director, who initially had no intention of drinking, raised his glass.

Meanwhile, Commander Xu remained silent the entire time.

Once everyone was present, Chen Yufeng brought out the fish. Of course, Chen Fanshi seized the opportunity to introduce his daughter to the guests before Han Chao could.

As the hostess, Ma Director and Commander Xu enthusiastically invited Chen Yufeng to join them for the meal.

However, she declined—Tiantian had just finished her dance class, and she needed to pick her up.

With liquor on the table and the yellow catfish being exceptionally fresh, by the time Chen Yufeng returned, the four men had practically devoured everything, leaving barely a scrap of the side dishes.

True to her promise, Mimi stayed quietly in the small bedroom, keeping her mouth “zipped.” When her sister came home, she “zipped” her mouth too, and the two of them obediently stayed in the room together.

Seeing that the guests were full, Chen Yufeng brewed fresh tea and placed it on the table before asking Chen Fanshi, “Dad, how do you like my cooking?”

Chen Fanshi, having enjoyed both the meal and the drinks, beamed, “Your skills are even better than your mother-in-law’s.”

“I kept practicing after you left. I just wanted you to taste my cooking,” Chen Yufeng said.

Her short, curled hair framed her round face, making her still look like a little girl.

A pang of guilt hit Chen Fanshi. He had already decided—once his investment paid off, he would make it up to her.

Just then, Chen Yufeng added, “By the way, Dad, I never got to see the artifacts you donated to the military district. What were they? Can you take me to see them someday?”

Ma Director, having enjoyed the meal and feeling at ease among old acquaintances, was intrigued. “Xiao Chen, you’ve never seen your family’s artifacts?”

“I grew up in Guihua Town and never visited the capital,” Chen Yufeng replied.

In front of the leaders, Chen Fanshi forced a smile and admitted, “Yes, I divorced my first wife, and my daughter was raised in the countryside.”

Though it was a simple statement, it was also a direct admission—Chen Yufeng had indeed never seen those artifacts.

“You can visit the Military Museum,” Ma Director suggested. “There’s even a cookbook supposedly passed down from the Qing palace. The dishes served in the military district’s guesthouse were inspired by some of the recipes in it.”

“Really? What else is there?” Chen Yufeng asked, her interest piqued.

Chen Fanshi felt uneasy. He wasn’t sure why his daughter brought this up, but he felt the need to set her straight. His tone turned stern: “Feng’er, they’re just old relics. They belong in the museum now. You can look at them, but don’t get any ideas.”

But how could Chen Yufeng not have ideas? Tonight’s dinner was a trap—a banquet set up specifically for those antiques. Smiling, she asked, “Dad, do you remember buying me a comic book called The Ginseng Doll?”

That, he did remember. “I bought it for you in Anyang County. Three cents.”

“Well, look, I still have it.”

She pulled out a well-preserved comic book. Though yellowed with age, it was clean, with uncurled edges. But the chubby Ginseng Doll on the cover had been carefully cut out.

As a father, seeing an old gift from his daughter’s childhood stirred memories. He took the book and sighed, “Such a good book, but you cut the cover. What a shame.”

“Do you know where the Ginseng Doll went?” she asked, still smiling.

Tipsy and nostalgic, Chen Fanshi chuckled. “Where?”

The more he looked at his daughter, the more he adored her. Thinking of her childhood innocence only deepened his guilt.

“It’s inside the cookbook you took from our house—the one my grandfather left to my mother, originally passed down from the warlord Zhang Henshan,” Chen Yufeng said, enunciating every word clearly.

Ma Director and Commander Xu hadn’t fully grasped the implication yet.

But Chen Fanshi shuddered. A chill ran down his spine. Guilt-stricken, he immediately snapped, “Feng’er, stop talking nonsense! The cookbook was passed down from your grandfather to me, not from your maternal grandfather!”

Now, Ma Director and Commander Xu were paying full attention, their gazes locking onto Chen Yufeng.

It was time for Chen Yufeng to restore her mother’s name. Though she spoke softly, her words were precise: “Dad, how am I speaking nonsense? My grandfather was the chef for warlord Zhang Henshan. Zhang Henshan gave him a few things: first, the cookbook; second, a calligraphy guide; and third, a gold snuff box—technically a water pipe. I watched you take them from our house, and so did my mother.”

“Feng’er, there are leaders here—watch what you say,” Chen Fanshi warned, trying to rise from his seat. He wanted to escape.

But he couldn’t move—Han Chao’s firm hand was pressing down on his shoulder.

Han Chao’s pale skin contrasted against the faint scars hidden beneath his buzz cut—scars from childhood beatings.

His eyes were dark, unreadable, yet unwavering as he silently commanded Chen Fanshi to stay seated.

Chen Yufeng continued, “I hid a Ginseng Doll inside the cookbook. That might be lost, but there’s something inside the gold snuff box that definitely isn’t missing. It has to be there.”

“I wonder what that might be?” Ma Director asked.

As a leader, he was no fool.

He had caught on—those antiques might not have belonged to Chen Fanshi at all.

They might belong to this young woman.

“This girl is spouting nonsense!” Chen Fanshi barked. “Ma Director, Commander Xu, don’t believe her.”

Still attempting to flee, he tried to stand again, but Han Chao suddenly tightened his grip. The pain nearly sent Chen Fanshi tumbling under the table.

With two high-ranking officials present, this was a rare opportunity—one that Chen Yufeng would not let slip away.

She continued, “At that time, my dad was leaving, and I couldn’t bear to see him go. So, I cut out my favorite Ginseng Doll from my picture book and placed it inside the recipe book. I also put my only glass marble into the gold tobacco box. The opening of the tobacco box was just the right size to fit the marble, but once inside, it would be extremely difficult to take out. Since my dad insists that I’ve never seen the tobacco box before, why don’t we take it out from the museum and check if the glass marble is still inside?”

When Chen Yufeng was a child, a glass marble with red and green streaks inside was considered a treasure among rural kids.

She was the only one in town who had one, bought by Chen Fanshi. It was her most cherished possession.

She often kept it in her mouth, only spitting it out when she ate.

Chen Fanshi still remembered this. So now, realizing that when he left back then, his daughter had placed her most precious belongings inside the antiques he took with him—it hit him differently.

No one spoke for a moment, so Chen Yufeng went on, “To my father, antiques were his treasures. With them, the military district granted him the lease of the Daqingshan Wholesale Market, allowing him to collect rent effortlessly. But to me, the glass marble and Ginseng Doll were my treasures. I gave my most valuable possessions to my father, and they are inside the antiques from my home.”

At this, Chen Fanshi stopped struggling.

A moment ago, he had been full and content, basking in his own joy. But now, just a few words from Chen Yufeng had completely stunned him.

Director Ma glanced at Commander Xu and said, “Commander Xu, how about I go to the museum and check that gold tobacco box?”

If there really was a glass marble stuck inside, wouldn’t that prove the antiques belonged to Chen Yufeng’s family?

After all, just earlier, Chen Fanshi himself had admitted that Chen Yufeng had never seen those items before.

Before Commander Xu could respond, Chen Fanshi, now flustered and enraged, turned red from both the alcohol and his anger. He stammered, lifted his hand as if to slam the table, but hesitated, afraid of alarming the leaders. Gritting his teeth for a long moment, he finally said, “Feng’er, you’re nothing like your mother!”

Unlike Zhou Yafang, who only knew how to wallow in self-pity, weak and submissive.

Of course, she wasn’t. She not only wanted the antiques back but also intended to publicly expose her father’s misdeeds in front of the leaders.