Chapter 9

A Summer Afternoon

In the Lu family’s small courtyard, the roses on the fence were blooming vibrantly in shades of pink. Nearby, bees buzzed as they collected nectar. Under the grape arbor, Shitou and Moli crouched with their tiny behinds in the air, intently watching ants move their home.

Inside the steaming main room of the Lu family home, Jiang Chunzao emerged from the kitchen, vigorously fanning herself with a large fan. The heat was unbearable. “What a scorching day!” she thought, lamenting the effort it took to make steamed egg custard for her two little ones. Cooking and scrubbing pots—was it ever easy?

At moments like this, Jiang Chunzao couldn’t help but miss the convenience of her past life’s electric rice cooker. Back then, cooking was a breeze. But now, this life was the best for her. She had her parents, Shitou and Moli, and… Lu Lin.

Thinking of Lu Lin, Jiang Chunzao felt her anger rise again. She had deliberately provoked Old Madam Lu to test how Lu Lin would react. But this man, like a block of wood, came home and silently busied himself with chores without saying a single word.

Her frustration bubbled up but had nowhere to vent. All she could do was fan herself harder with the large fan.

From the kitchen, Lu Lin, the quintessential househusband, came out holding two bowls. Each contained steamed egg custard.

Earlier, Jiang Chunzao had specially added a bit of sesame oil and tiny dried shrimp to the children’s portions. Now, the custard was done, and the aroma was absolutely tempting.

The moment Lu Lin stepped out with the bowls, the two kids, still crouched by the fence watching ants, were drawn over by the scent. “Daddy, is the egg custard ready?” 

Three-year-old Moli swallowed a little drool as she stared unblinkingly at the bowls in his hands. Their eager, gluttonous expressions even managed to bring a slight smile to the normally stoic Lu Lin’s face. 

“Mm,” he confirmed. 

“Brother, the egg custard is ready! Let’s go wash our hands and eat!” 

Moli cheered in her sweet, childlike voice, calling out to Shitou, who was still by the fence.

Hearing her, Shitou quickly grabbed her hand, and the two of them ran off together to wash up. 

Lu Lin’s smile deepened as he carried the bowls back to the main room.

Inside, Jiang Chunzao was seated on a chair, fanning herself with the large fan. Her fair, delicate face was tinged with pink from the heat. She wore a pink-and-white fitted blouse that perfectly accentuated her alluring figure. Lu Lin only glanced at her, but his dark eyes instantly lit up. 

Jiang Chunzao was still fanning herself when she looked up and met his smoldering gaze. After two lifetimes as husband and wife, how could she not know what this blockhead was thinking? 

In broad daylight, with that look! This wooden-headed man had some nerve, making her heart feel so flustered and embarrassed! 

Jiang Chunzao’s heart thumped wildly, and her face flushed bright red. Embarrassed, she snapped at Lu Lin:  “What are you standing there for? The kids’ egg custard is ready—why aren’t you serving it yet?” 

Without waiting for his response, she bolted out of the main room, fanning herself furiously like she was escaping. The wooden-headed Lu Lin, who was scolded by his wife, sheepishly rubbed his nose before carefully blowing on the kids’ custard to cool it down. 

—

Jiang Chunzao whose face still red as an apple, hurried out of the main room.

In the courtyard, Mother Jiang was sitting on a mat, busy dismantling old clothes. The garments, piled on the mat, were the cotton-padded jackets and pants that Jiang Chunzao and the kids wore during the winter. 

In the countryside, winter clothes were always stored and then taken apart in the summer to be washed, stuffed with fresh cotton, and resewn. Jiang Chunzao had been pampered since childhood, and even after she got married, Mother Jiang still helped make the family’s winter clothes. 

As Mother Jiang worked on the mat, she noticed her daughter rush out of the main room with a flushed face. Alarmed, she asked: “Zao’er, what’s wrong? Why is your face so red? Did you get heatstroke in this hot weather?” 

Father Jiang, who had just finished tidying up and was about to help in the courtyard, overheard his wife’s words and immediately grew concerned. 

“What? Heatstroke? Zao’er, are you okay?” 

The two elderly parents fussed over her anxiously. 

Jiang Chunzao quickly waved them off, explaining, “Dad, Mom, I’m fine. I didn’t get heatstroke or anything. It’s just so hot today—it’s making my face red.” 

Hearing her reassurance, the couple scrutinized her face again. Her rosy complexion, white with a pink glow, didn’t look like someone suffering from heatstroke. Finally convinced, they relaxed. 

Relieved to see her parents no longer worried, Jiang Chunzao let out a breath of relief.

Seeing Grandma Jiang return to her task of dismantling clothes, Jiang Chunzao slipped off her shoes, sat on the mat, and joined her mother in the work. 

—

In the main room, Shitou and Moli had finished washing their little hands. Now, the two kids were happily eating their egg custard spoonful by spoonful.

The small countryside courtyard was filled with the simple warmth of family life.

For Lu Lin, watching this scene brought a rare brightness to his dark eyes, a profound sense of earthly contentment. 

—

As the sun set, the summer sky was painted in hues of vibrant orange and pink, bathing the Lujia village in a golden glow. Smoke from cooking fires curled up from the chimneys as wives across the village busied themselves with dinner preparations. 

In the Lu family’s kitchen, Jiang Chunzao tied on an apron and worked alongside Lu Lin. Her parents, Mother Jiang and Father Jiang, were staying for dinner, and Jiang Chunzao wanted to prepare a proper meal to show her gratitude while also giving her wooden-headed husband, Lu Lin, a chance to enjoy a feast. 

Although life in the countryside was modest, summer offered a wider variety of ingredients compared to winter. Plus, the village’s location near mountains and rivers provided access to fish, shrimp, and other delights. The cicadas in the trees by the village entrance chirped endlessly, adding a lively soundtrack to the evening. 

As Jiang Chunzao pondered what delicious dishes to prepare for her parents, the incessant chirping of cicadas sparked an idea. She decided to have Lu Lin take the two kids to the back of the village to catch cicadas, while she grabbed a bucket and headed to the stream in front of the village to catch some fish and shrimp. 

When Jiang Chunzao was still a young girl, she had learned how to catch shrimp from her father. Grandpa Jiang was a shrimp-catching expert, and Jiang Chunzao wasn’t far behind. In no time, she managed to fill half a bucket with shrimp.

By the time Jiang Chunzao returned home with her catch, she happened to run into Lu Lin and the two kids coming back. It seemed Lu Lin, in his younger days, must have been quite the mischievous kid who frequently climbed trees and roamed the hills. How else could he have caught so many cicadas with the two little ones in tow?

Jiang Chunzao placed the basket of cicadas they had collected into a clay basin and began cleaning them. As she washed, her face lit up with a smile. The plump cicadas looked delicious—she knew they’d turn out wonderfully fragrant once fried.

Nearby, Mother Jiang was picking vegetables in the courtyard. Hearing her daughter’s excitement, she chuckled and casually remarked to Lu Lin, who was washing his face and hands at the water basin:  “My daughter has loved eating cicadas since she was a little girl.” 

Lu Lin smiled lightly at her comment, wiping his hands dry. 

Jiang Chunzao glanced toward the courtyard, her eyes catching the sight of the tall and handsome Lu Lin chatting with her mother. His ink-dark eyes gleamed with a gentle light. She didn’t know what came over her, but her cheeks flushed red, and she quickly ducked into the house to hide her embarrassment. 

—

The cicadas that Lu Lin and the kids brought home were indeed fresh. After cleaning them thoroughly, Jiang Chunzao tossed them into a hot wok with oil. She stir-fried them until crispy, adding chili powder and a pinch of salt. The simple preparation filled the kitchen with a mouthwatering aroma. 

Over at the old Lu family courtyard next door, Lu Mutou, the second grandson with a nose like a bloodhound, sniffed the air carefully. Catching the unmistakable scent of meat wafting over from the third branch’s small courtyard, he started shouting at the top of his lungs: 

“Meat! I want meat!” 

His cries drew the entire old Lu family into the courtyard. 

Mother Lu, who had been in her room contemplating how to better hide the pig trotters stored at home, rushed out in a fury when she heard Lu Mutou’s racket. She scolded him loudly: 

“What are you hollering about, you little rascal? It’s late! Stop causing a scene! And you, second daughter-in-law! What are you doing?!” 

Caught slacking off in the room, Liu Hongyan hastily crawled off the kang, dragging her husband, Lu Ershan, who had been lazing around, out with her. 

“Mother, what’s the matter?” 

“What’s the matter?” Mother Lu spat angrily. 

“Second daughter-in-law, why aren’t you in the kitchen helping your sister-in-law cook? What are you doing lounging around indoors? And as for Mutou, what’s he screaming about? Our old Lu family is dirt poor—where on earth would we get meat?!” 

Liu Hongyan was immediately annoyed by Grandma Lu’s words. With a sharp tone, she retorted:  “Mother, what you’re saying isn’t right! Sure, the Lu family is poor, but we’re not completely without meat, are we? Didn’t the third branch just give you two pig trotters the other day? Aren’t those pig trotters meat? Look, your grandson is craving meat—why not bring out those trotters so the whole family can have a little feast?” 

What? You want me to take out the pig’s trotters? Dream on. The pig’s trotters should be kept for her precious grandson!

Mother Lu’s eyebrows shot up. She snapped, “What pig trotters? What pig trotters? Those trotters are for Xuedong! Giving them to you would be a complete waste!” 

But Liu Hongyan wasn’t one to back down easily. Hearing this, she immediately started throwing a fit:  “What’s that supposed to mean? My Mutou is also your grandson—the eldest grandson of the Lu family! Why can’t he have a piece of meat? 

Xuedong is living it up in town, eating and drinking the best of everything. Doesn’t he already have it better than us here in the countryside? And yet, any bit of meat in this house has to be saved for him, while my Mutou can’t even get a bite? 

Mother, I have to say, you’re playing favorites too blatantly!” 

Her words struck Mother Lu square in the face, and she was furious. With her triangular eyes glaring, she lashed out, “That’s right! I am playing favorites! So, what? And I won’t give it to you—what are you going to do about it? Go ahead, make a scene! Let’s see if you can overturn the sky!” 

Liu Hongyan wasn’t about to let it go. She plopped herself down in the courtyard, kicked her legs, and started wailing loudly. Her son, Mutou, glared at Grandma Lu and even shouted, “You old hag! How dare you bully my mother? One day, I’ll teach you a lesson!” 

Old Madam Lu was enraged to the point of trembling. She turned to Lu Ershan and bellowed, “Second son! This is the fine son you’ve raised and the wonderful wife you’ve married! They’re bullying your own mother, and you just stand there doing nothing!” 

Lu Ershan, embarrassed by his mother’s scolding, flew into a rage. He stormed over to Liu Hongyan and Mutou, who were causing a scene on the ground, and raised his fists.

No one—not even Grandpa Lu or Lu Dashan—could hold him back. In no time, blood-curdling cries erupted from Liu Hongyan and her son in the old Lu family courtyard, making it sound as if pigs were being slaughtered.

Meanwhile, in the kitchen of the Lu family’s main house, Eldest Daughter Lu glanced indifferently at the chaos in the yard. After a brief moment of disinterest, she turned her attention back to her chores, unwilling to get involved.

—

In the serene courtyard of the Lu family’s third branch, Father Jiang frowned at the commotion next door.

He shook his head, and said to Mother Jiang, “That Lu family can’t go a single day without some kind of ruckus!” 

Mother Jiang sighed but quickly smiled as she turned toward the kitchen and called, “Zao, your father went to the old street and bought some pork bones. I’ll wash them in a bit and make some soup for dinner.” 

“Got it, Mom!” Jiang Chunzhao replied cheerfully from the kitchen. She popped her head out with a grin and, picking up a crispy fried cicada, teased Lu Lin, “These fried cicadas are so delicious. Aren’t you going to try one?” 

Lu Lin, who had been sitting with a stoic expression, glanced at Jiang Chunzao’s rosy lips as she offered the snack. The coldness in his dark eyes softened, and he muttered, “Tasty.” 

Hearing this, Jiang Chunzhao’s cheeks flushed red again. Tasty? she thought. You haven’t even tried it—what do you know about tasty?!

Lu Lin: … 

——

That evening, the third branch of the Lu family enjoyed a rare feast. The table was laden with spicy crawfish, crispy fried cicadas, aromatic red-braised pork, and several fresh dishes made from homegrown vegetables.

All of this was accompanied by hot cornmeal flatbreads straight from the stove. The family ate their fill, relishing every bite of the flavorful meal.

After dinner, Mother Jiang helped Lu Lin repair the family’s wobbly, three-legged table. Once the task was done, he began preparing to hitch the cart and return to his village, despite Jiang Chunzao’s attempts to convince him to stay the night. 

Knowing her parents had plenty of work waiting for them back home, Jiang Chunzao couldn’t persuade her father to stay longer. Instead, she busied herself packing as many good things as she could for him to take back.

As Jiang Chunzao was tidying up inside the house, Lu Lin entered with his military backpack.

From the bag, he took out two bottles of fine liquor, a pack of tobacco that Father Jiang loved, and some canned fruits and supplements, tossing them all into a large pouch that Jiang Chunzao used for storage.

Jiang Chunzao glanced in surprise at the contents of the pouch. 

“Did you bring all this back from the army?” 

Lu Lin nodded. 

“There’s a share for Dad too.” 

Jiang Chunzhao understood what Lu Lin meant—Father Lu had the same gifts waiting for him.

She swiftly finished organizing everything and pulled Lu Lin along out of the courtyard.

At the entrance of the Third Branch of Lu family’s house, Mother Jiang, who was planning to stay with her daughter for a few days, was nagging Father Jiang worriedly: “Old man, once you’re back home, don’t forget to feed the chickens. Keep an eye on Chunyu too; that rascal only knows how to play around the village all day. Make sure he studies more… And don’t drink too much! Remember to eat breakfast—it’s bad for your health if you don’t…” 

Father Jiang, looking utterly defeated by the endless chatter, finally saw his daughter and son-in-law coming out. Relieved as if liberated, he quickly said:  “Ah, daughter, son-in-law! There’s nothing much left for me to do here. I’ll head back now—plenty of things waiting at home!” 

Jiang Chunzao handed the packed pouch into Grandpa Jiang’s arms and picked up where her mother left off: 

“Dad!  These are the things I’ve prepared for you—just some food and drinks. Be careful on your way home. If it gets dark outside, watch your step… Oh, and Dad, drink less and don’t forget to have breakfast in the morning…” 

After a long round of reminders, Jiang Chunzhao finally sent Father Jiang on his way. 

—

After watching Grandpa Jiang leave, Jiang Chunzhao and her mother chatted for a while longer in whispers. Then they each went back inside to prepare for bed. 

Mother Jiang stayed in the west room, while Jiang Chunzao’s family slept in the east room.

Being older, Mother Jiang extinguished her lamp early and went to bed. 

Lu Lin, washing up in the courtyard, glanced at the glowing kerosene lamp in the east room. His heart softened at the sight.

Once he finished his washing, he planned to go inside, wait for the two little ones to fall asleep, and spend some tender time with Jiang Chunzhao. The thought of her rosy lips and soft skin filled his dark eyes with heat. 

But when Lu Lin meticulously tidied himself up and walked into the room, he was greeted by the sight of Jiang Chunzao soundly asleep on the bamboo mat, cuddling their two children.

Next to them was a solitary blanket lying unused.  In an instant, the fire in Lu Lin’s heart shattered into eighteen pieces.