Chapter 11: The Sweater

Chen Manman didn’t say much more. She carried everything into her room, grabbed a handful of White Rabbit milk candies and stuffed them into her pocket, wrapped half the biscuits in paper, picked out a few big apples, and divided the brown sugar into two portions—one each for her sister-in-law and Grandma.

When she went out, she handed a portion of brown sugar to Yao Chunzhi. “Sister-in-law, here, this brown sugar is for you. Drink more brown sugar water when you can; it’s good for your health.”

“Oh… I don’t know what to say!” Yao Chunzhi said, trying to refuse, but her hands were honest, clutching the sugar and not letting go.

Chen Manman saw it and said, “Just take it! I’m going to fetch Dahu and Erhu back.” With that, she strode outside.

This little sister-in-law must have taken the wrong medicine today! How could she be so kind? Whatever, free stuff is never to be missed.

Yao Chunzhi happily stuffed the brown sugar into a corner of the cabinet. She couldn’t let her mother-in-law know about this; the mother-in-law favored the little sister-in-law most and would definitely make her return it if she found out.

“Grandpa! Grandma! I’m back!” Chen Manman’s voice had just fallen when Dahu and Erhu ran out from the house. “Mom! You’re finally back! We missed you so much!”

Dahu was the first to rush up to Chen Manman and grab her leg tightly. Erhu followed closely behind. “Mom—”

The two little cuties stood on either side, their eyes full of longing as they looked at Manman. “Good kids, Mom will go tell your Great-Grandpa and Great-Grandma something.” She pulled out two White Rabbit milk candies from her pocket. “Here, one for each of you.”

“Wow! Candy!” Dahu and Erhu were overjoyed. When Mom said she bought something for them, she really did. How nice!

Inside the house, Chen Manman placed biscuits, brown sugar, and apples that were bought for Grandpa carefully in the small cabinet on the kang. “Grandma, remember to eat these. I put them in the cabinet so Tie Dan and the others don’t sneak and eat them. This is your granddaughter’s gift—only Grandpa and Grandma can eat! By the way, where’s Grandpa?”

She knew the nature of Tie Dan and Tie Zhu very well—they were just like her eldest aunt, lazy and always scheming.

“Manman, you’re thoughtful! Your grandpa went to the back mountain to gather firewood,” Grandma said without refusing.

“Why did Grandpa go to the back mountain? That place is dangerous. Did Tie Dan go with him?” Chen Manman knew from the book that last year the original host’s grandpa was injured by a wild boar while gathering firewood and ended up with a limp. She was very worried.

“Your grandpa’s fine; he’ll be back soon.” Grandma didn’t mention Tie Dan.

Chen Manman understood—it was probably those two boys off playing again.

“Grandma, please tell Grandpa to go less to the back mountain; it’s too dangerous! Let Tie Dan and the others gather firewood at the foot of the mountain instead.” Manman was genuinely worried about Grandpa. According to the book, the original grandpa didn’t survive the winter after going to gather firewood on a snowy day and falling ill.

Grandma didn’t say much. Since they split households, Grandpa and Grandma stopped working for points and spent half the year at their eldest son’s and half at the youngest son’s home.

The youngest son’s family lived happily, but the eldest son was weak-willed, and his wife was strong and domineering, so Grandpa and Grandma were unhappy there.

Seeing Grandma silent, Chen Manman said, “Grandma, tonight I’ll come pick you and Grandpa up to eat dinner at our place. I bought lots of meat in the county today.”

“No need, no need. I still have to cook for your uncle’s family tonight. They work hard all day and must be tired,” Grandma replied.

Seeing Grandma didn’t agree, Chen Manman hugged her arm and rested her head on Grandma’s shoulder.

“Grandma, come taste your granddaughter’s cooking tonight! Mom and Dad said I cook better than the state-run restaurant chefs,” she said with a little proud smile.

Grandma looked happily at her coquettish granddaughter. “Alright, alright! Grandma will have to taste it well tonight.”

“Okay then, I’ll take Dahu and Erhu home first. I’ll come pick you up later.”

Chen Manman happily went to the yard. Seeing Dahu and Erhu eating their candies with innocent looks, she couldn’t help but smile. “Little flower cats~”

“Let’s go! Home with Mom.” Humming a tune and carrying the kids, Chen Manman strode home.

Dahu rushed inside and saw the biscuit box in the basket, excitedly yelling, “Wow, Mom! You bought so many things!” Holding the biscuit jar tightly, “Mom, can I eat some?” Erhu looked at Chen Manman expectantly.

“One piece each. We still need to eat dinner later. Mom will cook meat later,” Chen Manman said, then took out two bottles of milk without labels from the cabinet—prepared the night before in the space. “Here, one each.”

After sending off the kids, Chen Manman sorted the food in the basket, put the kids’ clothes into the wardrobe, and stored snacks, candies, and biscuits in the cabinet—in fact, putting them into her space. She planned to take the meat and seasonings to the kitchen later.

She then pulled out the half-knitted sweater the original host had started—a deep blue cashmere yarn sweater meant for Lin Shuhe.

Looking at the size and pattern, she decided to keep knitting it and give it to Grandpa later.

Chen Manman was quite skilled at knitting sweaters. Her mother knitted all the sweaters for the family when she was young. Raised in that environment, knitting was second nature.

It was still early, so Chen Manman started knitting.

The bamboo needles flew swiftly through the yarn. By evening, a brand-new deep blue turtleneck sweater was finished.

Looking at the remaining yarn, she planned to knit two more sweaters for Dahu and Erhu another day.

Chen Manman stood and stepped outside, seeing the stove was already cooking. “Sister-in-law, what are you making?”

“Millet porridge. I’ll make some corn and black flour pancakes later. Tonight, we’ll have porridge and pancakes,” Yao Chunzhi replied, used to cooking for the family during busy farming seasons.

“Sister-in-law, I bought pork in the county today. I’ll make braised pork!” Chen Manman lifted the several pounds of pork belly in her hand, smiling.

“Oh my, so much meat! Eating it all at once?” Yao Chunzhi looked incredulous.

“Yes, I’ll cook the meat. Sister-in-law, you can help with the fire!” Chen Manman planned to make another pot of potato braised pork, since Grandpa and Grandma didn’t get to try it yesterday. She also planned to take a chicken and some shiitake mushrooms from the space to stew.

Yao Chunzhi replied promptly, “Okay!”

Chen Manman put the pork on the cutting board, then went to the backyard. Taking advantage of no one being there, she slipped into the space and shortly returned with a 5-pound old hen and a pack of dried shiitake mushrooms. “Sister-in-law, once the porridge is ready, serve it up. This pot is for chicken soup.”

Yao Chunzhi was amazed. Wow! It’s like New Year’s!

But she dared not say much—since it was the little sister-in-law’s money, she didn’t want to miss out on the benefits.

Outside, a big pot simmered with braised pork, a small pot stewed chicken and mushrooms, and delicious aromas wafted through the air. Yao Chunzhi’s mouth watered. “Little sister-in-law, your cooking skills are really something!” She gave a thumbs-up.

“Just cooking casually. I’ll go call Grandpa and Grandma. Help me watch the pots,” Chen Manman said and left the kitchen.

Just outside the yard, she saw the two little ones playing at the gate. The kids tugged at grass and chased the dog, having a great time.

“Dahu, Erhu, Mom called Great-Grandpa and Great-Grandma over to eat. Don’t wander too far!”