Chapter 19: Helping Her

Zhang Xiuhong, puffed up with self-importance, practically had her chin in the clouds.

“That’s…everyone, rest assured, I will do my utmost to eliminate this malignant tumor and prevent her from ruining the reputation of our family compound.”

“That’s why Sister Xiuhong is so kind-hearted,” Yang Qiuxia continuously praised, making Zhang Xiuhong giddy with pride.

Then, she stirred up everyone’s emotions. “I say, we should report this directly to the political commissar and let Gu Chengfeng give us an explanation.”

Zhang Xiuhong agreed, the first to respond, “Yes, we should go to the military district and demand an explanation.”

Led by Zhang Xiuhong, several military wives, filled with righteous indignation, shouted about going to complain to their superiors.

At this moment, Yang Qiuxia hesitated, saying that she had soup simmering on the stove and couldn’t leave.

Shen Sisi couldn’t possibly have missed the commotion.  Her hand trembled as she tried several times to insert her key into the lock.

She had thought that by remaining patient and yielding, these women would lose interest and disperse.  Instead, they escalated their actions.  Did they really think she was a pushover?

She turned around, ready to confront them, when a young military wife with a strong, handsome face and a red headband stepped forward.

“Sister Qiuxia, there’s no smoke coming from your kitchen. Where’s your simmering soup?”

Yang Qiuxia glared at her. “Li Wenhui, it’s you again! What business is it of yours where I’m simmering soup? Why do you always pick on me?”

Li Wenhui ignored her, pointing to a nearby courtyard. “Am I wrong? Everyone, look! There’s no heat coming from her chimney.  Isn’t she trying to find an excuse to slip away?”

This observation prompted everyone to look at Yang Qiuxia with suspicion.

Zhang Xiuhong, in particular, finally realized, “Qiuxia, you wouldn’t be deliberately provoking me, would you? Why else wouldn’t you go?”

“It’s not like that, don’t listen to Li Wenhui’s provocation…” Yang Qiuxia hastily explained, too preoccupied to care about anything else.

The united front began to crumble before it even set out.

Seeing this, Shen Sisi sent a silent look of gratitude to Li Wenhui.  Thank you to this stranger for intervening.

Li Wenhui smiled back and continued watching the drama unfold.

Shen Sisi, however, had no time for the spectacle.  She quickly opened her door and locked it firmly.

This was her first day in the family compound. She had planned to make some of her specialty snacks to share with her neighbors, but now, her reputation was once again tarnished.

But Li Wenhui was interesting; she saw through Yang Qiuxia’s lie and cleverly exposed her.

It seemed Li Wenhui and Yang Qiuxia had a pre-existing conflict, otherwise, why would she always “attack” Yang Qiuxia?

Targeting Yang Qiuxia was genuine; helping Shen Sisi was incidental.

However, she owed a debt of gratitude.

Shen Sisi, having composed herself, first gave Niu Niu her medicine.

Then, she rewarded her with a candy and let her play in the room.

Niu Niu obediently agreed.

Back in the countryside, when her mother went to work, she stayed home alone and never wandered off.  Her mother was busy and tired, and she couldn’t be a burden.

Like a little adult, Niu Niu said to Shen Sisi, “Mom, go make dinner. I can take care of myself…”

Shen Sisi couldn’t help but smile, softly stroking her head. “This child…”

Niu Niu giggled and happily ran to the living room, remembering to close the door behind her.

Seeing this, Shen Sisi went into the kitchen, only to freeze.

The empty kitchen from that morning was completely transformed.

The rice and flour bins were full of fine grains and white flour.

A winnowing basket on the floor was piled high with various vegetables: seasonal radishes, cabbage, potatoes, corn, and even rare winter tomatoes, eggplant, and green beans.

A large bowl on the table held two dozen eggs, next to a piece of fatty pork belly.

“This is…” Shen Sisi thought she was dreaming and pinched her thigh.

It hurt.  It wasn’t a dream!

She put down her basket and saw a note on the cupboard. The handwriting was strong and vigorous, written by Gu Chengfeng.

[I don’t know what you like, so I just bought some!]

Shen Sisi looked at the note repeatedly, carefully putting it away, her heart overflowing with warmth.

These things weren’t easily obtained.

She had thought Gu Chengfeng had gone on a mission that morning, but he had actually gone to prepare food for them.

She had gone to the black market when he returned, missing him completely!

She smiled helplessly, washed her hands, organized the groceries, and then skillfully began to clean the fish.

Today’s purchase was mandarin fish. Shen Sisi planned to make a creamy mandarin fish soup to nourish Niu Niu.

After cleaning the fish, she scored it, marinated it with scallions, ginger, cooking wine, and salt.

She heated oil in a pan, pan-fried it until golden brown on both sides, added water, and simmered it over low heat until a creamy white broth formed.

Once the fish’s collagen melted into the soup, Shen Sisi added sliced tofu, a few goji berries, and scallions.  The fragrant and tender fish soup was ready.

While waiting, she didn’t idle. She mixed some white flour and steamed a dozen white steamed buns.  The buns were ready when the soup was finished.

Niu Niu, smelling the aroma, ran over and hugged her mother’s leg.

“Mommy, Niu Niu is hungry, I want to eat…”

Shen Sisi served the fish soup, first giving her a bowl of rich broth and some tofu. “Here you go, be careful, it’s hot…”

Niu Niu held a bun in one hand and eagerly scooped up soup with a spoon, blowing on it.

After testing it, she gulped it down.

“So delicious…Niu Niu loves fish soup the most…”

Shen Sisi also sat down and took a bite of fish.

The fish in Jiangcheng was indeed fresher.

The mother and daughter ate a simple lunch, their bellies full.

After putting Niu Niu to sleep, Shen Sisi cleaned up the dishes, then found the glutinous rice flour and sugar, making some sugar-coated glutinous rice balls to take to Li Wenhui.

Li Wenhui’s house wasn’t far, in a row of bungalows nearby.

Her husband was the company commander of the new recruit training camp, always busy training and rarely home.

Soon, Shen Sisi knocked on Li Wenhui’s door.

A cheerful and friendly voice came from inside. “The door’s unlocked…”

She gently pushed open the door, holding the plate.

Li Wenhui was ironing clothes.  Seeing Shen Sisi, she looked surprised.

“It’s you…”

Shen Sisi didn’t enter without invitation, simply smiling, “Sister Li, these are sugar-coated glutinous rice balls I made. They’re still warm. Please try them…”

Li Wenhui looked at the golden, steaming rice balls, the aroma wafting from afar.

She put down the hot iron. “Thank you.  Why don’t you come in and sit?”