Chapter 20: Thermos

In past years, around this time, Han Guobin typically didn’t go deep into the mountains. It was simply too cold. He usually waited until after the New Year and before spring began again to go into the mountains and make a bit of money.

But precisely because he did this every winter, he had managed to save up two hundred yuan over the years and leave it with Old Yang.

This year, however, was different. His wife had knitted him a sweater and sewn him a thick cotton coat and cotton pants. While it was indeed cold, it wasn’t unbearably so for him anymore.

Most importantly, thinking about giving his wife and their child—who would be born next year—a better life filled his heart with warmth.

After leaving the pig slaughterhouse, Han Guobin walked home. On the way, he unwrapped a piece of candy and ate it.

He was starving. When he got home, his wife would make him something delicious to eat.

Chen Rou had gone to bed early the night before and rose early today.

Outside, the sky was still gray and dim when she got up to boil water.

When Han Guobin wasn’t home, she always used a lighter, which also helped save matches. After all, matches cost money.

A box of matches cost two cents and contained ninety sticks. Aside from one or two that didn’t work well, if you used them heavily, a box might last a month.

But even one cent isn’t something to waste—right now, a pound of salt only cost seventeen cents.

If she saved carefully, she could even buy some salt to pickle vegetables.

After lighting the fire with the lighter, Chen Rou put the lighter away into her storage space, then started scooping water to scrub the pot. Only after thoroughly cleaning it did she start boiling water.

Ever since she had repaired the pot, she wasn’t afraid of leaks no matter how she used it.

As Han Guobin entered the village, he saw smoke rising from the chimney in the direction of his home.

By the time he got home, it was around 5:30 AM. Chen Rou had already finished boiling water for him. Once she confirmed he had returned safe and sound, she noticed what he had brought back.

“A thermos?” Chen Rou’s eyes lit up.

“Yeah, now our home has hot water too.” Seeing how happy his wife was, Han Guobin felt pleased. For a man, what’s more fulfilling than making his wife happy?

“You wash up first. I’ll go fill it now,” Chen Rou said.

She headed to the kitchen hearth to fill the thermos with hot water. Since it was brand new, she had to rinse it thoroughly with boiling water before using it to store hot water.

After filling it once, she brought it inside and also brought out clam oil to apply to Han Guobin’s face after he washed it.

“I don’t need that,” Han Guobin said.

“It’s freezing cold—you definitely need some to prevent frostbite. If you turn ugly, I won’t want you anymore,” Chen Rou said while applying the oil.

Han Guobin looked at his wife. What he enjoyed most was her gentle affection. He felt that as long as he had such a wife waiting at home, he could withstand even the coldest weather outside.

After she finished applying the oil, Chen Rou brought out lamb and radish soup from inside the house.

It might have only been half a jin (about 250g) of lamb ribs, but the soup had formed a thick layer of white fat on top.

She put everything into the pot and reheated it. In no time, the fat melted. Chen Rou also took the corn cakes she had prepared earlier and slapped them onto the side of the pot to heat.

Soon, Han Guobin was drinking lamb and radish soup, eating it with the corn cakes—it tasted absolutely delicious.

This time, besides the thermos, Han Guobin also brought back a small piece of meat. It wasn’t much—just half a jin—but it still added some fat and flavor to their home.

Since the end of the busy farming season, their household had been eating some meat here and there. It was no longer a rare thing.

Still, having corn cakes and lamb and radish soup together—it was incredibly satisfying.

“After you finish eating, go take a nap. I’ll heat the kang (bed-stove) again in the evening, and you can take a bath then,” Chen Rou said.

Han Guobin nodded. He didn’t ask about the lamb. After eating and drinking his fill, he soaked his feet comfortably and then went to sleep on the kang. Of course, he also called his wife to join him.

Chen Rou thought that there wasn’t much to do today anyway, and she had missed him dearly—so she got on the kang and slept with him.

Their cotton quilt weighed around six jin (3 kg). It wasn’t super thick, but since it was a new quilt, it was still very warm. Of course, a bed is warmest when two people are under the covers.

Before falling asleep, Han Guobin didn’t forget to hand her the money he had brought back—two yuan and a bit more. That was a decent amount, especially considering he’d also brought back a thermos, which wasn’t cheap.

“It’s too cold. Next year, when spring starts, then you can go again, alright?” Chen Rou said as she took the money and put it away.

Han Guobin kissed the corner of her lips and said, “It’s not cold—I’m warm. If it really gets too cold, I won’t go.”

Chen Rou looked at him gently. How could she not love a man like this?

“Just go by how you feel. Don’t push yourself too hard. If you end up freezing, it won’t be worth it,” she said.

“Mm.” Han Guobin nodded. But he was in good health, especially since his wife always cooked him good food—how could he possibly freeze?

Around eight o’clock, the couple was still asleep when someone from the Chen family arrived.

It was Chen Rou’s second brother. He had brought over two fish.

Chen Rou got up when she heard the noise. Han Guobin also woke up, but Chen Rou whispered, “I’ll go out. You keep sleeping—it’s just my second brother. No need to fuss.”

Han Guobin was still sleepy. He closed his eyes and drifted back to sleep.

While he had found places to sleep in the mountains, even with a fire going, he never dared to sleep too deeply. And who knew what kind of things he had eaten and drunk out there? His body was surely worn out.

Chen Rou got dressed and went out.

“Second Brother,” she greeted him with a smile.

“You haven’t gotten up yet?” her second brother asked in surprise.

“No, Guobin just came back after being away for three days. I stayed with him a while. He’s sleeping soundly now. Don’t mind it, Second Brother,” Chen Rou explained.

“Of course not,” he said. He and the other brothers had heard from their mother that their brother-in-law had gone deep into the mountains. A round trip might be okay, but staying overnight in the mountains? None of them had the courage for that.

“My eldest brother, third brother, and I caught a bunch of fish. We brought you two to stew and eat,” her second brother said.

“Great!” Chen Rou smiled and nodded, taking the fish from him. Then she added, “Second Brother, wait a moment.”

Her second brother didn’t know what she was getting, but he waited. Chen Rou went back inside and grabbed a handful of milk candies from her space.

Although the milk candy was a bit different from the one she had now, it really was quite a coincidence—what she had bought before was also from the White Rabbit brand. The packaging was slightly different, but that wasn’t a problem.

She still had some pine nut candies in her space, which were also sold in the county town. The packaging differed a bit, but the candy itself was the same.

She wasn’t afraid to let her Guobin eat them.

Her Guobin had never asked much, but he did eat them.

She handed over a small handful—maybe just about ten pieces.

Second Brother Chen was momentarily stunned. “Why are you giving me so many milk candies? You should keep them for yourself.”

“Second Brother, take them back and share them with my nieces and nephews,” Chen Rou said.

“What would they eat this for? It’ll just ruin their teeth. You keep them,” Second Brother Chen said, trying to hand the candies back to her.

“It’s just a few candies, Second Brother. Don’t fuss with me over it. If you ever have more fish, just bring me another one or two,” Chen Rou replied.

“Well, of course I won’t leave you out,” Second Brother Chen said with a smile.

“I won’t keep you here, Second Brother. You should head back. When Guobin’s free, we’ll come by together,” Chen Rou said.

Second Brother Chen still felt a little awkward, but he eventually took the candies home.

The Chen family hadn’t split up yet, so when he brought the candies home, he handed them to his mother, who divided them up.

There were six grandchildren in total. Chen Mother gave each of them one piece, then put the rest away in the cupboard.

Third Sister-in-law Chen felt a bit slighted. She and Third Brother had only one child, while the eldest brother had three, so they got three candies.

But Chen Mother didn’t concern herself with those things. Back in the room, she spoke with Father Chen and even felt a little emotional.

“She’s finally learned how to do the social niceties—seems like she’s starting to grow up,” Chen Mother said.

Not long ago, her family had given her a wild chicken, and today they sent over two fish. In return, her daughter gave back a handful of milk candy.

It wasn’t much, but it showed reciprocal courtesy. It was part of maintaining relationships. The daughters-in-law at home would notice and take note of it.

Father Chen said, “Where does Guobin sell his game? Is it safe?”

“You know Guobin’s character—he’s the most reliable of them all. No need to worry,” Chen Mother replied.

Father Chen nodded, and Chen Mother continued happily, “He goes out often enough—he must be earning a bit. Last time Rou Rou said that on good days, they can make as much as two yuan.”

“They won’t have a hard life in the future,” Father Chen said.

Back at their place—

Chen Rou was in the middle of cleaning the fish. Her Second Brother had brought tilapia—each fish weighed more than a jin (about 1.1 pounds), and they were best cooked in a stew.

For lunch, they had boiled sweet potatoes. Eating them with garlic-soy sauce fish stew? That flavor was just unbeatable.

When Han Guobin woke up from his nap, he was immediately hit by the delicious smell.

Chen Rou poured him a glass of warm water and said, “Second Brother brought over two fish. I’ve stewed them—we’re about to eat.”

“Alright.” Han Guobin drank the water and felt hungry too. He went to the backyard to fetch some water, washed his hands, and came back to eat.

“Still tired?” Chen Rou asked as they ate sweet potatoes together.

“Not tired,” Han Guobin replied, then looked at his wife. “What is it?”

“Want to go cut some bamboo with me? I learned how to weave bamboo strips from Grandpa Lu,” Chen Rou said.

“You’ll hurt your hands.” Han Guobin frowned. “If you want something, just ask Grandpa Lu to make it. It doesn’t cost much.”

Chen Rou went to the cabinet and took out a pair of gloves. She had several pairs in her space, but they were all women’s sizes. If she had men’s gloves, she would’ve given them to him to wear on his trips.

“I bought these gloves a while back,” Chen Rou said as she showed him. “I know bamboo weaving doesn’t cost much, but I’m just too bored at home and wanted something to do. I traded a handful of noodles for the lesson.”

Han Guobin was helpless, but seeing that his wife was genuinely interested—and that she even had gloves ready—he nodded.

After a hearty lunch, the couple didn’t rush off to do chores. They lay down and took another nap. Around 2 p.m., they borrowed a handcart from their neighbor Old Ma and headed to the village entrance to chop bamboo.

They worked together until evening, bringing back a full cart of bamboo.

Han Guobin started splitting the bamboo into thin strips for his wife, while Chen Rou went to prepare dinner. Since they had already eaten mutton and fish earlier, they opted for a lighter meal—pumpkin millet porridge with two poached eggs.

The meat Han Guobin brought back in the morning was marinating. With the current weather, it would keep until the next day with no issue.