Chapter 11 – First Time Starting a Fire and Cooking

When Nan Qiao woke up again, she was still groggy and disoriented, unable to recall where she was for a moment.

It wasn’t until she smelled the faint scent of burning wood in the air that she suddenly remembered—she had already come to the countryside.

Sitting up in bed, she looked out through the carved wooden window at the sky outside.

Without the industrial pollution of later generations, the sky was especially blue.

Nan Qiao sat in bed for a while, then went into her space to quickly wash up.

Coming out of her room, she noticed that Shen Nian’s door was still tightly shut, probably still asleep. So she turned around and went back inside.

After thinking for a moment, she took half of the Eight-Treasure Duck her family had sent and, carrying a quilt, went to Aunt Xiumei’s house.

At the door, Nan Qiao knocked and called out, “Aunt Xiumei, are you awake? I brought over the quilt!”

The door to the main house opened with a creak, and Taohua bounced out cheerfully.

“Jie, you’re here! I’ll help you carry it,” she said, taking the quilt from Nan Qiao and leading her inside.

“Is your mom up yet?”

“Yeah, I was just telling her about our morning trip to the supply and marketing cooperative.”

Nan Qiao followed Taohua into the main house. Aunt Xiumei had just put down a shoe sole she was working on and came to greet her.

“Girl, did you get the quilt your family sent?” she asked loudly before Nan Qiao could say anything.

“Got it, Auntie. I already made my bed and took a nap on it at noon.”

“That’s good, that’s good. Sleeping with your own bedding is always more comfortable.”

“Exactly. I just got here, and I’m already feeling homesick.”

“Ah, in times like these, no one knows when they’ll be able to return home,” Aunt Xiumei sighed.

“Well, since I’m already here, I’ll make the best of it. The country is learning and making progress. I believe the college entrance exam will be reinstated one day. When that happens, everyone will have a chance to return to the city,” Nan Qiao said with conviction.

“You plan on taking the college entrance exam?” Aunt Xiumei asked with some surprise.

Nan Qiao could hear the implication in her tone and understood where it came from. After all, in an era when illiteracy was common and college entrance exams had been suspended for years, university students were nearly mythical beings.

Still, Nan Qiao gave a firm answer.

“If the college entrance exam returns, of course I’ll take it. But for now, the most important thing is to focus on the farm work in front of us. Oh, right, Auntie, this is a specialty from Shanghai that my family sent. Please have a taste.” Not wanting to continue the topic, Nan Qiao handed over the half of the Eight-Treasure Duck.

It wasn’t a huge portion, but in times like these, it was already very precious.

“Why are you giving me something again? You’re such a sweet girl,” Aunt Xiumei said, trying to decline.

“Oh come on, just take it. Were you working on shoe soles just now?” Nan Qiao quickly changed the subject, noticing a half-embroidered insole in the basket on the kang bed.

“Yes, the family’s big, so I stitch when I have time. Doesn’t take much effort.”

“You’re really talented; it looks great!” Nan Qiao picked it up to admire.

“If you like it, I’ll make you a pair too. What shoe size do you wear?” Aunt Xiumei said, glancing at Nan Qiao’s feet.

“Looks like a 37, right?” she added before Nan Qiao could respond.

“Yup, 37 is perfect. Thank you, Auntie!” Nan Qiao accepted gladly. She could tell Aunt Xiumei didn’t want to keep taking things from her and was looking for a way to return the favor. There was no way she’d refuse such kindness.

“Alright then, I’ll make a pair for you. Once they’re done, I’ll have Taohua bring them over.”

“Thanks, Auntie!”

After chatting for a while, Nan Qiao was about to head home when Aunt Xiumei asked, “Girl, are you and Shen Zhiqing coming over for dinner tonight?”

Nan Qiao thought about it and said, “Not tonight, Auntie. We’re going to try cooking for ourselves. Otherwise, once we start working, we won’t be used to it. By the way, Auntie, do you know anyone who has chicken or vegetables to spare? We only have rice and flour at home…”

“If wild chicken works, we’ve got that at home. As for vegetables, just tell me what you need, and I’ll pick some from the backyard,” Aunt Xiumei said, grabbing a basket and heading out.

“If it works, then I’ll come with you, Auntie.” Nan Qiao followed her to the backyard.

Seeing the lush vegetable garden, Nan Qiao was full of envy. She was decent at most things—except keeping plants alive. Everything she touched died.

“Auntie, your vegetables are amazing. I have the worst luck with growing things…”

“You can grow them in your backyard too. The soil here is rich, perfect for planting. I’ll give you some seeds. Just water it well and it’ll grow. And if even that doesn’t work, just come find me—I’ll plant them for you.”

“Haha, alright! I’ll give it another try. Auntie, I’d like an eggplant, some leafy greens, and just one green onion will do…”

After picking through the garden, Nan Qiao ended up with a whole basketful. She had to stop Aunt Xiumei from picking even more—any more and the whole patch might’ve been cleared.

Back in the front yard, she waited for Aunt Xiumei to bring the chicken.

“I remember your yard still has some firewood. If it’s not enough, feel free to grab some from my place. Your Brother Chuan and Brother Sheng cut firewood every few days—we’ve got plenty,” she said while placing the chicken into Nan Qiao’s basket.

After handing it over, Aunt Xiumei waved her off to go cook. When Nan Qiao tried to offer a big denomination bill, she was pushed away.

Before she could react, Aunt Xiumei had already shut the door, afraid she’d try giving money again.

Nan Qiao walked out of the yard and soon ran into Sheng Yanchuan returning. Seeing her with so much stuff, he reached out to take it and said, “I’ll carry it for you. This path only leads to my old house. No one usually comes this way—you don’t have to worry.”

Nan Qiao blinked in confusion. What’s there to be worried about? But still, she thanked him. “Thank you. Sorry to trouble you.”

Sheng Yanchuan didn’t respond, just silently walked ahead of her.

With his help, things were much easier. Just carrying that basket a few steps had already exhausted her arms. She suddenly began to worry about the labor tomorrow.

“Brother Sheng, what kind of farm work are we doing these days?” Nan Qiao asked, trying to prepare herself since she didn’t really know the seasonal rhythms of farming.

“Right now, we’re harvesting wheat and planting corn. You’ll probably be planting tomorrow. Harvesting wheat takes more experience, and it’d slow things down.”

“But I don’t know how to plant either…” Nan Qiao mumbled, silently cursing the original host. Really, why not be a clerk in a factory instead?

“You… just take it slow. I’ll ask Taohua to help you tomorrow,” Sheng Yanchuan hesitated but still offered. It wasn’t convenient for him to help directly, so he pushed the task onto his sister.

Taohua: I do like helping Sister Nan Qiao… but you pushing me around like this makes me so mad!

“Is that okay? Taohua’s still a kid…”

“You’re not much older than her…” he glanced back at her. Though she is quite tall, he added silently.

“Well—I’m an adult! She’s still a child!”

Watching her argue like a child herself, Sheng Yanchuan could only nod. “Alright, alright.”

“Do you have gloves? Make sure to bring them tomorrow. Also, take a bottle of water. The only water out there is from the well. If you’re not used to it, you might get a stomachache,” he said, surprisingly talkative.

“I do have gloves. I’ll boil some mung bean water later. Come over and get some tonight—and take some back for Auntie and everyone else too.”

“No need, you two can have it yourselves.”

“How could that be? If you feel uncomfortable coming alone, then just bring Taohua with you,” Nan Qiao added, thinking it might not be appropriate for a grown man like him to come to the courtyard where it was just the two of them.

Seeing that she insisted, Sheng Yanchuan didn’t refuse. “Then I’ll come over after dinner.”

Nan Qiao nodded in response.

Not long after, they arrived at the entrance of the small courtyard.

Before Nan Qiao could even step inside, she saw Shen Nian sitting in the middle of the yard, staring straight at her.

“You’re awake? Hey, hey, what’s with that look?” Nan Qiao said, seeing Shen Nian pouting with her eyes locked onto her.

“Why didn’t you wake me when you got up? I waited for you for so long. Where did you go?” Shen Nian asked, accusingly.

Nan Qiao walked up to her and gently pinched her cheek. “I went to Aunt Xiumei’s to deliver the quilt. Your door was closed when I got up, so I didn’t want to disturb you.”

“Alright, I’ll forgive you this once,” Shen Nian replied playfully.

“Haha, okay. I’ll make something delicious for you tonight as compensation, how about that? I also got a bunch of vegetables from Aunt Xiumei,” Nan Qiao said, coaxing her like a child, and then pointed behind her at Sheng Yanchuan.

Shen Nian’s eyes immediately lit up.

Heaven knows, aside from her love of beauty, Shen Nian’s biggest joy was food. Hearing there’d be something tasty made her forget everything else.

“Yes, yes! Qiaoqiao, what delicious food are you making? I can help!”

Only after speaking did she notice Sheng Yanchuan behind Nan Qiao. She quickly let go of Nan Qiao and said, “Brother Sheng, you’re here! Let me take that—I’ll put it in the kitchen.” She took the items from Sheng Yanchuan’s hands and dashed off.

What was wrong with her today? She’d embarrassed herself several times in front of outsiders already!

“If you can’t finish the vegetables, store them in the cellar. They won’t spoil as easily. Just be careful going down,” Sheng Yanchuan reminded them.

Nan Qiao nodded.

“Oh right, here.” She grabbed his finger and stuffed money into his hand. “Aunt Xiumei refused to take it no matter what, but the meat and vegetables were too much—I can’t just take it for free.”

Just like Aunt Xiumei did earlier, she pushed him out of the courtyard.

As he was being pushed out, she added, “Come by after dinner for the mung bean soup!”

With that, she turned and walked back into the kitchen.

Outside the door, Sheng Yanchuan stood there stunned, staring down at his hand.

Only he knew whether he was looking at the big bill—or the finger she had just held.

After a while, Sheng Yanchuan numbly turned to go home, his mind full of the sensation of that slender, fair hand pulling his.

His heart nearly burst from his chest.

But the moment he thought back to what had happened during the day, it felt like a bucket of cold water had been poured over him, and his whole mood sank.

When he got home, he handed the money to Mother Sheng and turned to go back to his room.

“What are you doing? Why are you giving me money?” she asked, chasing after him.

“It’s the money for the vegetables from Comrade Nan.”

The moment she heard that, Mother Sheng lost her temper and smacked his back with her fist.

“I pushed her out and refused to take it, and now you bring it right back!”

“I ran into her, and she stuffed it into my hand. I can’t exactly wrestle with her in the street, can I?” Sheng Yanchuan argued, then shut his door behind him.

Lying in bed, he thought about everything that had happened that day and scratched his head in frustration.

Outside his room, Aunt Xiumei sensed something was off with her son’s mood. She had a vague guess but quickly dismissed it as impossible, so she said nothing and headed to the kitchen to prepare dinner for the family.

Meanwhile, in Nan Qiao’s small courtyard—

She and Shen Nian were picking vegetables together.

“Qiaoqiao, we’re starting work tomorrow. Are you nervous?”

“Of course. My small, frail shoulders—how can they take such a heavy burden…”

“Sigh.” They both let out a sigh together.

“But actually,” Nan Qiao added, “on the way back just now, Brother Sheng told me to remember to bring gloves and water for tomorrow’s work. I’m thinking of making some mung bean soup to help cool off.”

“Sounds good! I can handle starting the fire. I’m pretty good at that!” Shen Nian said confidently.

Nan Qiao looked at her, surprised. “Starting a fire? How do you know how to do that?”

“Hehe,” Shen Nian grinned sheepishly. “When I was little, I was really playful. At my grandma’s village, I’d always light fires with the local kids to roast sweet potatoes…”

“Well, I guess that counts as learning a useful skill.”

“Alright, then you go start the fire. I’ll finish washing these vegetables.”

“Okay! But hey, Qiaoqiao, there are two stoves here. Do you need to use both?”

“Yep. We have to steam rice, and the mung bean soup needs to simmer longer to taste good,” Nan Qiao said after thinking it through.

“Got it! Be right back!” Shen Nian said, hopping off toward the kitchen.

After washing the vegetables, Nan Qiao slipped into her room and took out some spices, dried chili peppers, mung beans, and dried white fungus from her space.

When she came back out, Shen Nian had just finished lighting one of the stoves, so Nan Qiao began working on the rice.

It was high-quality white rice from her space—clean and tender, without a single impurity.

But Shen Nian’s family wasn’t poor either, so she didn’t notice anything strange.

After setting the rice to steam and soaking the mung beans and white fungus, she heard Shen Nian call out:

“Qiaoqiao, I’m done! What else do you need me to do?”

“That’s all. Go wash your face and cool down, you’re dripping with sweat.”

Wiping her forehead, Shen Nian said, “Alright, I’ll go wash up. If you need anything else, just call me.”

“Okay, go ahead,” Nan Qiao said.

Now that the fire was ready, Nan Qiao quickly stir-fried some cabbage. As the cabbage was finishing, she could already smell the aroma of the rice. She let it sit a moment, then dished it out and set it on the counter with bowls covering it.

As the rice rested, she poured the water and mung beans into a pot and continued to simmer them.

With all that done, Nan Qiao began cooking spicy chicken…

Her taste, coincidentally, was very similar to Shen Nian’s. Though she was from Shanghai, she had a strong love for spicy food.