Chapter 21: Nan Qiao’s Dumplings Are Especially Delicious

Nan Qiao watched as Sheng Yanchuan held the bowl and climbed out the window. His tall figure moved with remarkable agility.

As he closed the window, Sheng Yanchuan still couldn’t help but remind her, “Remember to lock the window afterward.”

Nan Qiao obediently nodded. “Got it.”

“Then I’m off. I’ll bring you something delicious tomorrow.”

“Okay.”

Seeing her nod so sweetly, Sheng Yanchuan’s heart stirred slightly. He reached out to pat her head, and before she could throw a tantrum, quickly shut the window.

Leaving behind a Nan Qiao who was fuming!

“Wow! What was he just doing? Who gave him the right to touch Miss Qiao’s head like that?!” Nan Qiao was so furious inside the room that she was practically bristling.

Outside, Sheng Yanchuan heard her angry voice and felt warmth bloom in his heart.
His little girl didn’t seem to hate him. Maybe… maybe she even liked him a little. Sheng Yanchuan quietly looked forward to that thought.

Following the small path with a bowl of dumplings in his hands, Sheng Yanchuan felt like his steps had gotten lighter. Just as he entered the yard, he saw his mother coming out to meet him.

“Ma,” Sheng Yanchuan greeted as soon as he saw Auntie Xiumei.

“You’re back. Where’ve you been all this time? There’s food in the kitchen—help yourself. Eat and sleep early. There’s still a lot of work in the fields tomorrow,” Auntie Xiumei said with concern as she looked at her youngest son.

“Mm, I’ll eat now,” Sheng Yanchuan replied and moved to slip past her into the house.

“Hey, wait! What’s that in your hands?” Auntie Xiumei reacted quickly, reaching out to grab him while peeking at what he was holding.

“It’s nothing,” Sheng Yanchuan tried to hide it in his arms. But the space was small, and it was summer—his clothes were thin. There was no hiding it. Sheng’s mother caught a clear look.

“Dumplings? Where did you get those? I’m telling you, if some girl from the village gave them to you, don’t accept them! If you take them, you’ll have to be responsible! Don’t go messing with girls and causing trouble,” she warned, worried her son might be too casual and accept gifts from others carelessly.

“Ma, don’t worry. When have I ever accepted anything from anyone?” Sheng Yanchuan said with dissatisfaction. Did she really think he was that irresponsible?

“Fine, fine, you’re the type to give instead. Just look at you—only a few days and two tins of medicine are already gone. If you marry that girl, she’s going to clean out our house,” Auntie Xiumei grumbled.

“Here, take them back then. You’re not even happy when I find you a daughter-in-law!” Sheng Yanchuan grumbled and pulled a small tin of ointment from his pocket, stuffing it into his mother’s hands before trying to head inside.

“You still haven’t told me where the dumplings came from! Wait a sec—daughter-in-law?! What do you mean? Hurry, tell me!” she held him back and pressed him for details.

“Where else could they have come from? I just brought your ointment over!” Sheng Yanchuan grinned from ear to ear, clearly in a great mood.

“From Nan girl?” Auntie Xiumei asked in surprise and delight.

“Come, come, come! Let’s go inside and talk.” She quickly pulled him into the house and even sneakily looked outside to make sure no one had followed.

Sheng Yanchuan was completely helpless. He never realized before just how nosy his mother could be.

“Ma, I haven’t even eaten yet. What do you want to talk about?”

“You’re holding dumplings, aren’t you? Talk while you eat,” she said, urging him to eat quickly.

“They look nicely wrapped—let me try one,” she said, reaching out to grab one, but Sheng Yanchuan dodged.

“They’re from Nan the educated youth—I haven’t eaten them yet.”

“You brat! I’ve been cooking for you for years and now you won’t even let me have one dumpling? You’ve already forgotten your mother now that you’ve got a girl? And she’s not even your girl yet!” she complained bitterly.

“Just one… only one,” Sheng Yanchuan finally relented, reluctantly.

Afraid he’d change his mind, Sheng’s mother quickly picked up one and popped it into her mouth.

“Mm… delicious. Did Nan girl wrap these herself? They’re really good,” she said, already reaching for another. But this time, Sheng Yanchuan was firm—he blocked her completely.

“You said one, so one it is! And of course they’re from Nan Qiao—look at how nice they are. Shen the educated youth can’t even cook,” Sheng Yanchuan said proudly.

“So stingy. Fine, I won’t eat anymore.” She pulled her empty hand back and sat down in a chair in his room. “Now tell me, what happened? Yesterday you were still all gloomy. Today you’re eating dumplings?”

“Nothing happened. I just happened to catch Nan the educated youth at dinner when I delivered the ointment,” he brushed it off casually. After all, things weren’t official yet.

“That’s it?” Auntie Xiumei was skeptical.

“That’s it.”

“Ma, go wash up and sleep. I’ll go to bed after I eat,” Sheng Yanchuan said, placing the dumplings aside and nudging his mother out the door.

“Alright, alright. Then eat and sleep early.” She rolled her eyes at her silly son and walked out of the room.

After she left, Sheng Yanchuan carried the bowl into the kitchen, grabbed some chopsticks, and happily enjoyed his dumplings. After finishing, he washed the bowl until it gleamed, cleaned up, and finally returned to his room satisfied.

That night, lying in bed, he thought back on everything from the day and fell asleep contentedly.
Even his dreams seemed extra sweet.

———

Meanwhile, after Sheng Yanchuan left, Nan Qiao was initially angry over what he did. But later, lying in bed and thinking about everything he had said to her, she couldn’t help but feel a little happy inside.

Thinking about Sheng Yanchuan’s face and physique, Nan Qiao fell into a bit of a daze.
So this is what happens when you fall for looks, she silently ridiculed herself.

He hadn’t even done much, and just that good-looking face had almost won her over entirely…

As the night deepened, Nan Qiao gradually drifted off to sleep.
She slept soundly without any dreams.

———

Early the next morning, the alarm in her space rang. Nan Qiao moved to the edge of the bed and shouted toward Shen Nian’s room:

“Shen Nian! Wake up!”

A moment later, she heard Shen Nian respond, “Coming, coming!”

Relieved by the reply, Nan Qiao lay on the windowsill, watching Shen Nian wash up and eat breakfast in the courtyard.

“Qiao Qiao, I’ll bring you a basin of water—you can wash up in the room,” Shen Nian offered.

“No need, go on to work. I can manage,” Nan Qiao said, leaning against the window.

“Big Sis, I’m here!” Tao Zhi’s voice rang out at the courtyard gate.

Shen Nian rushed over to open the door. “Little Tao Zhi, why are you here so early?”

“I heard from my brother that Sister Nan sprained her ankle, so I came to take care of her. I even brought this!” Tao Zhi held up a small crutch.

“Wow, perfect timing! I was just worried about Sister Nan being home alone, and here you are—what a good boy.” Shen Nian patted Tao Zhi’s head and praised him.

“Then I’ll leave it to you today, Tao Zhi!” Nan Qiao said as she hopped out, holding the door frame for support.

“Sis, here, take this,” Tao Zhi ran over eagerly upon seeing her come out.

“Oh no, I’m going to be late! Qiao Qiao, you and Tao Hua stay home, I’m heading to work first!” With that, Shen Nian grabbed her things and dashed out.

Nan Qiao took the crutch handed over by Tao Hua and tried it out—it worked surprisingly well. Leaning on it, she led Tao Hua to sit together on the rocking chair in the courtyard and asked:

“Tao Hua, did your brother make this? It’s really useful.”

“Yes! My brother made it for me after I hurt my leg once. When he heard you sprained your ankle, he told me to bring it to you,” Tao Hua replied as they gently rocked back and forth on the chair.

Nan Qiao’s heart warmed at those words.

“Tao Hua, sit here for a bit. I’m going to wash up.” She pointed to the basin of water prepared nearby.

“Okay. Be careful, big sister!” Tao Hua replied, keeping her eyes on Nan Qiao nervously, worried she might fall.

———

Meanwhile, Li Zhuoran saw Shen Nian arriving alone and asked, “Why are you by yourself? Where’s Nan Qiao?”

Panting, Shen Nian stopped and said, “Qiao Qiao twisted her ankle. I just asked for a few days of leave for her.”

“Wasn’t she fine at work yesterday? How’d she hurt her foot?”

“Well, she went to pick up a letter after work yesterday. Probably missed a step on the way back. It’s not too serious, just needs a few days of rest.”

“Alright then,” Li Zhuoran nodded.

“Let’s get to work! The sooner I finish, the sooner I can get home to take care of Qiao Qiao.” Shen Nian didn’t linger and went off to work.

After a short while, she heard someone calling her: “Shen girl, come take a break, you’ve been working all morning!” Auntie Xiumei shouted from a short distance away.

“Auntie, I want to finish early so I can go home and cook lunch,” Shen Nian shouted back, not planning to rest.

“Don’t worry. I already asked Tao Hua to invite Nan the educated youth to have lunch at my place. No need to rush back.”

“Huh? Really?”

“Of course! Now come sit for a bit.”

Hearing this, Shen Nian felt relieved. She had been rushing through her tasks so she could cook lunch for Nan Qiao, who was home alone. But since they had lunch plans at Auntie Xiumei’s, there was no need to rush anymore.

“Alright, I won’t worry if there’s lunch ready. I was just worried Qiao Qiao would have to cook by herself.” Shen Nian responded with a smile, sitting beside Auntie Xiumei.

“There’s plenty of food—you girls won’t go hungry.”

“Auntie Xiumei, you’re the best!” Shen Nian said sweetly, clinging to her arm like a spoiled child.

Nearby, another woman saw how close Shen Nian was with Xiumei and said enviously, “Looks like your second son might just marry an educated youth!”

She even gave Shen Nian a knowing look.

Auntie Xiumei immediately got flustered. She couldn’t afford to ruin her son’s chances—especially by starting rumors before anything was official!

“Don’t be silly! Shen the educated youth is so pretty, she should be with a city man. My rascal son isn’t worthy.”

“Auntie, don’t say that! There’s nothing going on between me and Brother Sheng. I just really like you!” Shen Nian defended herself.

Xiumei’s explanation made sense. As for Shen Nian…

On one hand, she truly had no feelings for Sheng Yanchuan. On the other hand, she had already picked up on something off between him and Nan Qiao.

From what she observed yesterday, considering Nan Qiao’s personality, even if she twisted her ankle, she would’ve tried to hide it rather than let someone find out, let alone let someone carry her home.

But not only did Nan Qiao allow it, she even seemed… happy about it.

As the unofficial captain of the gossip squad, Shen Nian was sure—something was going on!

So, when the women started gossiping about her and Sheng Yanchuan, Shen Nian instinctively wanted to distance herself. If her hunch was right, that was her friend’s man—and she wanted no part of that mess.

Seeing both Xiumei and the young educated youth so adamant in their denial, the other women gave up.

“Alright, alright, we’ll stop. You’re looking like you might eat us alive!”

Shen Nian laughed. “Oh come on, Auntie, don’t exaggerate! I’m just talking, I’m not gonna bite.”

———

The whole morning, Tao Hua sat at a small table in Nan Qiao’s courtyard doing homework and reading. Whenever she got stuck, she’d ask Nan Qiao to explain, and before they knew it, it was noon.

Nan Qiao glanced at her watch, estimating that Shen Nian should be finishing work soon. “Tao Hua, I need to start making lunch now. Keep working by yourself. If you get stuck again, mark it down, and I’ll help you after lunch.”

“Big sis, Mom said you should come eat at our place while your foot’s still healing. She told Shen sister about it this morning,” Tao Hua said, looking up from her notebook.

Nan Qiao thought about it. Cooking really wasn’t convenient with her injury, so she nodded. “Alright. Tao Hua, wait for me a second—I’ll bring something to share for lunch.”

“Don’t bring anything! Mom said not to,” Tao Hua tried to stop her.

“It’s fine. Auntie Xiumei won’t scold me for bringing something,” Nan Qiao replied as she turned and went into her room, ignoring Tao Hua’s protest.

Inside, she rummaged through her space and decided to bring two cans of luncheon meat—silver tins with no labels that she had specially sourced from a factory.

When she came out, Tao Hua had already packed up her books and was waiting to walk her home. Seeing Nan Qiao emerge, she got up and headed over.

“Nan sister, let’s go! Mom and the others should be getting home too.”

“Okay, let’s go.” Nan Qiao locked the courtyard door, but the moment she turned around, she was startled to see Sheng Yanchuan standing right behind her.

“You scared me! Why do you walk without making a sound?” she complained.

“I came from the back. You two didn’t notice,” he said, pointing to a hidden corner that was indeed easy to overlook.

“Fine, whatever.”

“Give that to me—I’ll carry it.” Without waiting for her reply, he took the bag from her hand.

The three of them started walking toward the Sheng house.

“You didn’t go to work today? Why are you back so early?” Nan Qiao asked as they walked.

“I went. But I wanted to come see you, so I came back early,” Sheng Yanchuan replied without hiding his concern.

“With Tao Hua here, what are you so worried about?” she said casually.

He leaned in close and whispered in her ear while Tao Hua wasn’t looking, “I just wanted to see you.”

Nan Qiao’s cheeks instantly turned red. She tapped him lightly on the leg with her crutch. “Don’t talk nonsense! There are people around!”

“So if no one’s around, I can say it?”

“If no one’s around, I won’t even see you!”

. . .