Chapter 11

The crisp and melodious voice spread with the wind, bringing a refreshing feeling. The people working in the distance couldn’t help but look up, only to see a young girl wearing a blue short-sleeved jacket with a long, shiny braided ponytail. She carried a basket in her hand and walked briskly along the narrow field ridge, her light steps making her look like a fluttering butterfly.

Familiar villagers envied Zhang Fang and said, “Your daughter is bringing you lunch, go on now.”

“Having such a thoughtful daughter must be a blessing.”

As everyone chatted noisily, Zhang Fang smiled and walked toward Wu Xiaoxiao. She wasn’t one to show off, but seeing her beautiful, hardworking, and filial daughter made her heart fill with joy.

“The sun is so strong today. Why didn’t you wear a hat? There’s one hanging on the east wall—didn’t you see it?”

Her daughter always found wearing hats troublesome. No matter how many times she reminded her, she never listened.

Wu Xiaoxiao grinned, ignoring the remark. “Mom, I made braised noodles with green beans today. Try it—it’s delicious!”

Zhang Fang opened the basket and saw the food. “You even added shredded eggs? You’re so generous. That basket of eggs won’t last long at this rate.”

Wu Xiaoxiao laughed. “I brought them back to eat, didn’t I? Food only belongs to you once it’s in your stomach. Come on, Mom, eat up. I’ll help you with some work.”

Seeing that she was about to step into the field, Zhang Fang quickly pulled her back. “What are you doing? No matter how much you work, you’ll get the same labor points. It’s the middle of the day—everyone’s resting and eating now.”

At this hour, no one was working in the fields, so there was no need for extra help. Besides, weeding was endless—pull some today, and by tomorrow, new ones would sprout. The other women in the village worked while chatting, barely covering two plots of land in half a day. Compared to them, Zhang Fang had already done more than enough.

She handed a pair of chopsticks to Wu Xiaoxiao. “You eat too. You could’ve eaten at home before bringing my lunch—there’s no rush.”

As she spoke, she picked out all the shredded eggs and placed them in Wu Xiaoxiao’s portion.

Wu Xiaoxiao quickly put them back. “Oh, Mom, if you keep doing this, I’ll be mad! You’re the one working so hard in the fields—you should eat more. I made this especially for you. Hurry up and try my cooking!”

Zhang Fang finally picked up a bite of noodles mixed with string beans and shredded egg. As soon as she tasted it, she was completely won over. The fragrance of the beans, the freshness of the egg, the savory taste of the noodles, and a slight hint of spiciness all blended together into a rich and layered flavor that was irresistible. The braised noodles weren’t too soft either—they had a pleasant chewiness that made them particularly enjoyable to eat.

As she ate, Zhang Fang nodded approvingly. “This is delicious! My daughter’s cooking skills are getting better and better.”

Wu Xiaoxiao smiled and handed her a kettle. “Don’t just eat the noodles. Braised noodles use less water, so they can make you thirsty. Have some water. I added a bit of mint and some salt—it’s good for your health.”

Zhang Fang took a few sips. The cool minty taste balanced out the salty and spicy flavors of the noodles, creating another layer of heat—not the burning kind, but a refreshing, tingling spiciness.

As she alternated between eating noodles and drinking water, she unknowingly ate more than half of the large bowl.

“Don’t just watch me eat, you should eat too.” Zhang Fang glanced at the bowl, feeling a little embarrassed. What was wrong with her today? She had actually ended up competing with her daughter for food and had eaten most of the noodles before Xiaoxiao had even started.

Seeing that her mother was full, Wu Xiaoxiao finally pulled the bowl over and began eating.

“Mom, I’ll come with you to work in the fields tomorrow.”

“Huh? Why do you suddenly want to work? Aren’t you going to keep studying?”

Although Zhang Fang had always felt that studying wasn’t very useful, she had always supported whatever her daughter wanted to do.

Wu Xiaoxiao replied, “I already know most of what’s in the books. Besides, it’s too hard for you to earn work points all by yourself.”

“Silly child, you’re still so young. How could they let you work in the fields? Don’t worry, I can handle it on my own.”

Wu Xiaoxiao shook her head. “I’m old enough now. And besides, watching you work so hard every day while I stay home resting makes me feel guilty.”

“It’s not like you’re just resting—you’re the one doing all the housework.” Zhang Fang saw the determination on Wu Xiaoxiao’s face and sighed. “I’m really happy that you care about me, but earning work points isn’t just about working hard. Women already earn fewer points—only six a day. If you go home at noon to cook, they’ll count it as half a day’s work, which is only three points. After working so hard all day, what’s the point of that?”