Chapter 11: Sister-in-law, You’re Amazing!

The tricycle was pedal-powered, making it slow-going. Fortunately, the roads were dry. Jiang Yiyi and Gu Yunchi went to the supply and marketing cooperative and bought twenty enamel mugs, a large enamel basin, a cleaver, and a small cutting board.

They also gave the salesperson who helped them buy the tricycle a portion of their cold noodles. “This is my homemade cold noodles. Thank you for helping us with the tricycle.”

The salesperson had already accepted their two yuan, and felt embarrassed to take more, but seeing the crystal-clear cold noodles, her hand moved before her brain could stop it, and she took them, saying, “Oh, how embarrassing.”

Seeing her give away three portions of cold noodles, Gu Yunchi felt a pang of regret, but she said nothing. She knew Jiang Yiyi had her reasons.

As soon as the two left, the other saleswomen immediately gathered around.

“This is the first time I’ve ever seen something like this that you can eat!”

“It looks so crystal-clear, and there’s so much in it. It must be delicious.”

Several of them looked expectantly at the owner of the cold noodles. The salesperson pretended not to see their expectant gazes, placing the enamel mugs on her counter. She was going to take this delicious food home for her family.

…

With everything prepared, Gu Yunchi mixed and washed the dough in the evening. The next morning, she made the cold noodles. She had planned to make twenty portions, but Jiang Yiyi told her to make sixty.

She also sliced a large enamel basin full of cucumbers and prepared the gluten, along with chili oil, putting everything into the tricycle. By 8:30, they were finished.

Jiang Yiyi came out of the house and, seeing her nervous expression, teased her, “It’s just a few pounds of noodles. If we don’t sell them all, we’ll eat them ourselves.”

“S-Sister-in-law, let me go with you.”

She couldn’t stay home at ease. It was better to go with her. Her mother’s health had improved in the past few days; she was no longer coughing day and night, and her two daughters were well-behaved, so the house should be fine.

“You stay home and prepare some more dough, and then buy a few pounds of meat. We’ll steam meat buns tonight.”

…

Jiang Yiyi went to the entrance of the textile factory. It was a large factory with several hundred workers. Jiang Yiyi took out the clean enamel mugs, first portioning ten servings into them, placing one prepared serving at the front. When she saw someone coming out, she called out, “Cold noodles! Delicious cold noodles! Eat them and feel refreshed! They can be a main course or a side dish!”

People gathered around, looking curiously at the crystal-clear cold noodles. “Is this edible?”

“Of course it is! My family eats it every day!”

As she spoke, Jiang Yiyi gave her a pair of chopsticks. “You can try some. It’s free.”

Such a good deal was too good to pass up. The woman immediately picked up some cold noodles with her chopsticks and put them in her mouth. An immediate coolness spread through her mouth. After chewing and swallowing, she felt refreshed. “How much is it?”

“Thirty cents a serving. This large enamel mug is full. You can have it poured into your lunchbox, or you can pay a deposit and take my enamel mug, and bring it back tomorrow, and I’ll return your money.”

“I’ll take one.”

Once someone started, others followed suit, trying it and mostly buying it. A full lunchbox was enough to fill oneself, and with extra chili oil, it could be taken home as a side dish to improve the family’s meal. In less than half an hour, only one portion remained. Jiang Yiyi cut and prepared it, putting it in the tricycle. She rode to the county high school, bought four large buns from a nearby bun shop, and gave two to the gatekeeper. “Grandpa, could you please help me find Jiang Jinzhong, a high school senior?”

The gatekeeper happily went to find him.

Soon, Jiang Jinzhong came running out. The boy was quite handsome, tall and upright, his face filled with surprise. “Sister, how did you get here?”

“I brought you something to eat.”

Jiang Yiyi took out the cold noodles and two large meat buns, placing them in front of him. The crystal-clear cold noodles, the green cucumbers, the bright red chili oil, and the fragrant buns almost made Jiang Jinzhong swallow his saliva. He only drank a bowl of congee every morning and ate a steamed bun at noon and night at the cafeteria. He hadn’t eaten his fill in a long time.

“I-I’ve already eaten, Sister. Take it back for the family.”

“This is my homemade cold noodles. I’ll be selling them here in the county every day. After 12:30 pm, you come out and I’ll bring you some.”

Jiang Jinzhong was surprised. This delicious food was made by his sister.

“Eat it quickly. I have to hurry back.”

Hearing that Jiang Yiyi had to rush back, Jiang Jinzhong didn’t hesitate, standing by the tricycle and eating heartily.

Watching the boy devour the food, Jiang Yiyi thought of his ending in the book.

In the book, Jiang Jinzhong was admitted to a university in the provincial capital, starting school on the same day as Bai Jun. After returning home for winter vacation, he learned that Jiang Yiyi had run away with all of the Gu family’s money. He didn’t believe that Jiang Yiyi would do such a thing, thinking she had been deceived. He studied while investigating, but found nothing for several years. A few years later, he accidentally heard people from Bai Jun’s village boasting that Bai Jun hadn’t spent a penny of his family’s money on his education, which aroused his suspicion. He gave up his assigned job and went to Beijing, working part-time while investigating Bai Jun’s college years. After discovering the truth, he went to Bai Jun’s workplace to ask about Jiang Yiyi’s whereabouts.

Bai Jun denied it, and Jiang Jinzhong beat him half to death. He himself went to jail for intentional injury. After his release, he went to find Bai Jun again, saying he would expose Bai Jun’s deeds. Bai Jun, fearing he would lose his job, could only reveal Jiang Yiyi’s whereabouts. When Jiang Jinzhong found her, Jiang Yiyi had already been abused to death. Jiang Jinzhong killed the old widower first, then returned to Beijing to kill Bai Jun before committing suicide.

After Jiang Jinzhong finished eating, Jiang Yiyi gave him ten yuan. “Buy more meal tickets. Only when you’re full can you have the energy to study.”

Jiang Jinzhong refused. His sister had not only given him the opportunity to go to school but had also married herself to raise money for his schooling. He already felt guilty towards his sister and couldn’t take her money.

Jiang Yiyi forcefully put the money into his hand. “Sister still says the same thing: Only when you’re full can you have the energy to study. Sister is waiting for you to get into a good university and become Sister’s strong support.”

“Sister, rest assured, I will definitely get into university.”

“Sister’s waiting.”

Watching the thin figure walk away, Jiang Jinzhong clutched the ten yuan in his hand and turned to walk quickly back to school.

…

“Mom, do you think Sister-in-law will sell them all?”

Gu Yunchi asked.

After lunch, Gu Yunyang and Gu Yuncan went to school, and she had put the two children to sleep. Gu Yunchi went to the door to check almost every three minutes, returning to ask her mother, having already asked countless times.

Gu’s mother was also unsure.

The door opened, and both mother and daughter looked out. Seeing it was Jiang Yiyi, Gu Yunchi practically shot outside. “Sister-in-law, how did it go?”

“I sold fifty-eight portions. Someone tried one, and I sent the remaining one to my brother.”

Gu’s mother was slower, just reaching the courtyard when she heard Jiang Yiyi’s words. She felt her legs go weak. They had sold out so quickly! Could they make more tomorrow?

Gu Yunchi rushed forward and hugged Jiang Yiyi, almost wanting to kiss her twice. “Sister-in-law, you’re amazing!”