Chapter 23: Zhou Sinian Might Be Late, But Foodie Zhou Sinian Never Will!

Ming Dai carried the bundle of firewood into the kitchen and then went to her room to grab a flashlight.

From her storage space, she took out two sections of cured sausage and diced them.

She washed a large Chinese cabbage, set aside the tender core, and chopped the rest into small pieces.

After some thought, she scooped out two bowls of rice, washed them thoroughly, and set them aside.

She poured oil into the pan, first frying the diced sausage until the fat was rendered out, then added the chopped cabbage. After a few quick stirs, she poured in enough water to cover the ingredients.

Sprinkling in her homemade thirteen-spice blend, some salt, and ground Sichuan pepper, she stirred the mixture evenly. Soon, little beads of oil floated to the surface, and a rich, mouthwatering aroma filled the air.

Right on cue, Zhou Sinian arrived!

Zhou Sinian might be late for other things, but when it came to food, he was never late.

Ming Dai poured the washed rice on top of the simmering ingredients, using a spoon to make a small well in the center before covering the pot with a lid, sealing in the fragrance.

“Finish your work first. Once you’re done, the food will be ready.”

Zhou Sinian took a few deep sniffs, clearly reluctant to leave, but eventually, he turned around and went back to work.

Given his good performance today, Ming Dai decided to reward him. Just before the dish was done, she cracked two eggs into the pot.

The aroma grew even stronger, making Zhou Sinian, who was still unloading firewood outside, even more anxious.

But his innate sense of diligence kept him focused. He simply sped up his work.

Finally, the entire cartload of firewood was neatly stacked in the corner—one pile dry, one pile damp.

The damp pile was larger, consisting mostly of the wood Zhou Sinian had chopped. The dry pile, which was smaller, contained the branches Ming Dai had collected along with the deadwood Zhou Sinian had carried down.

Everything was arranged perfectly, and Ming Dai was very satisfied. The eggs had not gone to waste.

At this point, Zhou Sinian had already flown to the stove, standing there expectantly.

Ming Dai lifted the lid slightly to show him. “The rice isn’t done steaming yet. Just wait a little longer.”

Zhou Sinian took a deep breath, satisfied, and crouched in front of the stove, watching the fire intently.

Seeing how focused he was, Ming Dai picked up a bucket and went to fetch water.

Tonight, she wanted to soak her feet.

By the time she carried half a bucket of water back to the kitchen and poured it into the water vat, Zhou Sinian had already followed her.

Watching her struggle with the weight, he waited until she poured in another half bucket before snatching the bucket from her hands and walking out.

Was he offering to help?

Ming Dai felt great. Finally, her reserve labor force was coming online! A helper for chopping wood and fetching water—what more could she ask for?

In just a few trips, the water vat was filled to the brim.

Ming Dai took out a large clay pot, placed it securely on a smaller stove, and poured water into it.

She pulled out some firewood from the big stove, stuffed it into the small one, added a few more pieces, and worked the bellows until the flames started burning steadily.

Meanwhile, Zhou Sinian was already holding his bowl, waiting eagerly.

Ming Dai lifted the lid of the pot, revealing steaming, glistening salty rice. The rich aroma nearly made Zhou Sinian dizzy with hunger!

He impatiently pushed his bowl forward. Ming Dai didn’t tease him this time—she directly scooped him a hearty bowlful, even giving him both poached eggs.

“Go eat at the cutting board,” she instructed, handing him a spoon as well.

Zhou Sinian carried the bowl as if it were his own child, carefully cradling it in his hands.

Ming Dai served herself a bowl too.

The taste was divine!

The Cantonese-style cured sausage paired perfectly with the naturally sweet Chinese cabbage, making the dish both flavorful and refreshing. The fragrant rice tied everything together, so delicious it could practically make one’s eyebrows fall off!

Zhou Sinian clearly agreed. And unlike Ming Dai, he had poached eggs!

That small detail inexplicably made him very happy.

Even though there were no chairs to sit on, the two of them ate standing up, completely satisfied. The emptiness in their stomachs, chilled from an entire day of work, was finally soothed.

So comforting!

As usual, Ming Dai felt full after just one bowl.

She put down the bowl and squatted beside the small stove, boiling the water in the clay pot.

Zhou Sinian finished one bowl of food and quickly returned for more.

Ming Dai wasn’t worried about him overeating. She simply watched the portion she had prepared.

In the end, Zhou Sinian ate all the rice. Ming Dai scraped off the crispy bits at the bottom of the pot and handed them to him to chew on while she washed the dishes and scrubbed the pot, making sure he saw her do it.

Zhou Sinian squatted nearby, biting into the crunchy rice with a loud crunch. Watching Ming Dai’s movements, he seemed to be lost in thought.

She did it on purpose—after teaching him, she planned to make him wash the dishes and scrub the pot in the future.

The water boiled. She poured it into a thermos, and since there was still fire in the stove, she scooped up half a clay pot of water to keep warm.

After thinking for a moment, she got up and went back to her room, returning with two locks. Then she called Zhou Sinian over.

First, she walked to the front door near the shadow wall and locked it from the inside.

“We won’t be using this door anymore. It’ll stop the people out front from coming in and stealing our food.”

Zhou Sinian’s gaze turned cold. He glared fiercely toward the front yard, clearly remembering the despicable things those people had done before.

Then they went to the back door. She pushed the cart inside, shut the door, and locked it.

“From now on, we’ll use this entrance. Do you want a key?”

She hadn’t heard the sound of a door opening before, and given his agility, she suspected he had been climbing over the walls.

Sure enough, Zhou Sinian shook his head.

Ming Dai took a spare key and stuffed it into a crack in the wall, telling him to take it himself if he needed it.

After locking the door, they returned to the room. Ming Dai took out a few saline bottles.

Her father had worked in a hospital before, so even the brigade leader was aware of these things, making it nothing out of the ordinary for her to have them.

She filled the bottles with hot water and carefully checked the seals to ensure there were no leaks.

Handing two bottles to Zhou Sinian, she said, “Put them in your bed to keep warm. Don’t break them, or you’ll burn yourself.”

Zhou Sinian took the bottles, surprised by the scalding heat against his hands. He examined them back and forth for a long time, even wanting to knock them together to see what would happen.

Ming Dai scolded him, and with a pitiful expression, he clutched the bottles and returned to his room.

Zhou Sinian’s room was bleak and empty.

It had been three years since he was sent to the countryside. At first, he had brought plenty of belongings.

But as his mental state deteriorated, he either forgot about many things or had them stolen by others.

By the time he arrived at Liujiawan, all he had left was a military-issue blanket, a set of cotton-padded clothes, and a pair of army boots—he didn’t even have a change of clothes.

His pots, bowls, and utensils were all gone.

As for the pot and spoon he used for cooking, he had forgotten where they came from. In any case, he was completely impoverished.

Now, he shook out his damp blanket, stuffed the scalding hot water bottles inside, and reluctantly patted them before getting up and heading out.

In the kitchen, Ming Dai had already prepared two basins of hot water.

“Come wash your face. From now on, the red things are yours, and the green ones are mine. Remember that.”

Zhou Sinian looked at the steaming basin with curiosity.

Ming Dai demonstrated for him.

She draped a towel over her chest, scooped up some water to wash her face, then picked up a bar of soap and rubbed it between her hands until it foamed. After massaging the lather onto her face, she rinsed it off with more water and finally used the towel to wipe her face dry.

After finishing, she looked at Zhou Sinian.

He understood and followed her example. Except for splashing water everywhere with his exaggerated movements, everything else was normal.

As he wiped his face with the towel, he absentmindedly picked at the large red peony flowers embroidered on it.

Ming Dai took out a tin of frostbite ointment and scooped out a small amount. “Give me your hand.”

Zhou Sinian put down the towel, imitating Ming Dai by draping it over the freshly strung clothesline, and obediently stretched out his hand.

His rough palm contrasted sharply with the creamy white ointment resting on it. Zhou Sinian stared at it, tempted to put it in his mouth.

“No, it’s not food. Watch me.”

Clearly disappointed, Zhou Sinian watched her movements.

Ming Dai used rose-scented cream, rubbing it evenly between her palms before applying it to her face in gentle circular motions, making sure to cover her neck and ears as well.

“Do it like me—spread it on your face.”

Zhou Sinian twitched his nose and stared at Ming Dai’s face without making a move.

Ming Dai rolled her eyes, took out her own face cream, and squeezed another dollop into his palm.

Zhou Sinian sniffed it. Only then did he seem satisfied. Following her example, he gently spread the cream over his face, neck, and ears.

This was an anti-frostbite ointment that Ming Dai had developed herself—it worked exceptionally well.

Thinking about Zhou Sinian’s stubborn nature, she decided to add a couple of drops of rose essential oil to his frostbite ointment later so he wouldn’t keep eyeing her expensive face cream.

Hers was ridiculously pricey!

She poured out the used face-washing water, replaced it with a large basin, and refilled it with warm water from the clay pot.

Zhou Sinian copied her movements, taking the large basin she had given him and filling it with water as well.

Removing her shoes, Ming Dai soaked her feet and let out a long, satisfied sigh.

“Ah!”

It felt as if all the exhaustion from the day had melted away.

Zhou Sinian followed suit, pulling his big feet out of his black cotton shoes and dipping them into the warm water.

Ming Dai watched him intently. Only when he, too, let out an “Ah!” did she finally look away.

As she soaked her feet, she pondered what she had just heard.

So, he wasn’t mute after all.

Meanwhile, Zhou Sinian was curiously splashing the water with his hands.

Seeing that his cotton shoes were about to get wet, Ming Dai warned him, “If you get your shoes and clothes wet again, I won’t give you food!”

Zhou Sinian immediately sat still, lowering his gaze and obediently soaking his feet without moving an inch.

Fifteen minutes later, Ming Dai handed him a towel embroidered with a “Double Happiness” symbol. It had once been her old face towel.

“Use this to dry your feet. The one with peonies is for your face—don’t mix them up.”

Zhou Sinian didn’t say a word. He took the towel and absentmindedly picked at the “Double Happiness” embroidery.

Ming Dai didn’t bother reminding him again. She had already warned him—if he used the wrong one, it wouldn’t be her fault.

She grabbed a new green-striped towel to dry her feet, then slipped into a pair of cotton slippers.

They had once belonged to young Ming Dai, but she was using them for now.

Zhou Sinian followed her example, dried his feet, and started looking around for slippers.

He couldn’t find them, and his brows furrowed again.

Ming Dai found it amusing. “You don’t have slippers. Just wear your black cotton shoes.”

Zhou Sinian looked at his black cotton shoes, then at Ming Dai’s little floral slippers. He was clearly unhappy.

In the end, Ming Dai was too tired to argue. She promised to make him a pair of slippers in the future, and only then did he reluctantly put on his shoes and carry out his foot-washing water.

He poured the water away, rinsed the basin, and placed it back where it belonged.

Ming Dai then handed him a toothbrush and a cup, squeezed some toothpaste onto her own brush, and started brushing her teeth.

Zhou Sinian quickly picked up the skill and followed suit.

“Brush once in the morning and once at night. After brushing at night, you can’t eat anything. Got it?”

Zhou Sinian paused mid-brush, pulled the toothbrush out of his mouth, and swallowed the toothpaste in one gulp. Then he glared at Ming Dai in displeasure.

Ming Dai, now in a much better mood, ignored him. She put away her toothbrush and happily returned to her room to sleep.

Zhou Sinian stood in the courtyard for a long time before finally putting the toothbrush back into his mouth.

That night, lying in his still-damp blanket, Zhou Sinian felt a warmth he hadn’t experienced in a long time.

Just two bottles of hot water made all the difference.

“Ah…”

A deep, drawn-out sigh slowly faded into the dark night.