Chapter 8: Rumors Are Untrustworthy

When Shen Zhengxu and Shen Zhengrong went to the kitchen, they saw Shen Chuning skillfully lighting the stove with a match.

Then she washed the pot, added water, and rinsed the rice before putting it in the pot.

Only after doing all this did she notice her two brothers standing dumbfounded at the kitchen door.

“Second Brother, Third Brother, you’re just in time. Third Brother, help me add some firewood to the stove. Second Brother, go get some more firewood, this might not be enough.”

“Oh, oh!”

Shen Zhengliang and Shen Zhengxu, who had been stunned, came to their senses and nodded repeatedly.

Shen Chuning turned to cut the meat and vegetables she had already washed.

She had heard the noise outside and knew that Auntie Lin was here to propose marriage.  She wanted to make a good impression on her future mother-in-law.

She quickly went to the space to get some food and vegetables.

She had been regretting that there were only vegetables in the space, but she unexpectedly found a large piece of fresh pork and a basket of eggs in the corner of the space’s warehouse.

She quickly cut a piece of meat and took a few eggs out.

Shen Zhengrong stoked the fire, watching Shen Chuning skillfully cut vegetables and meat, his brow furrowed.

His sister seemed to be a completely different person today. The Shen Chuning of the past wouldn’t have done these things.

And where did the meat come from?

Her father and older brothers lived frugally, buying only two ounces of meat each time for Ningning alone.

The piece of meat Shen Chuning was cutting weighed at least two pounds.

“Ningning, when did you learn to do these things?  And this meat, did Dad buy it?” Shen Zhengxu asked casually while stoking the fire.

Shen Chuning had already thought of an excuse.  Without stopping her work, she replied, “I traded grain for this meat.”

After speaking, as if afraid Shen Zhengrong would be angry, she turned to him and smiled coquettishly, “Third Brother, don’t be angry. I thought Auntie Lin was coming to propose marriage today, and I was afraid she wouldn’t have a good impression of me. You know the village says I…”

Shen Chuning’s voice trailed off, her head lowered.

Shen Zhengrong knew that his sister’s reputation in the village wasn’t very good.

He remembered his sister saying she wanted to get married last night.  He had subconsciously assumed she was stubbornly determined to marry Chen Ziyun.

That’s why he had been so harsh with her.

“Ningning, I’m sorry. Third Brother didn’t ask clearly last night and scolded you without understanding the situation.”

Shen Chuning smiled sweetly, “Third Brother, it’s okay, I know you were doing it for my own good, I’m not angry with you!”

Shen Zhengrong couldn’t help but smile. His sister was still his lovely sister.

Shen Chuning explained her ability to skillfully cut vegetables as self-practice.

In reality, in her dream, after marrying Chen Ziyun, he was extremely picky. If the food didn’t suit his taste, he would throw his chopsticks and bowls.

To please him, she had to practice her cooking skills diligently, carefully preparing every meal.

Last night, she discovered that the skills she had learned in her dream were now automatically available to her, as if she had truly lived that life.

Her father and brothers were busy working and earning money, often leaving her alone at home. They didn’t know what she did while alone, so they didn’t suspect anything.

Shen Zhengliang brought in the firewood and learned that Shen Chuning had traded grain for the meat and eggs.

His face darkened, and he said sternly, “Ningning, this time it’s a special circumstance, so it’s okay. But there won’t be a next time, you absolutely cannot go to the black market, understand?”

Buying meat through official channels required not only money but also meat coupons.  Meat coupons in the city were rationed, and rural meat coupons were even harder to obtain; they had to be traded with city people.

Shen Chuning directly traded grain for meat and eggs, which could only be done on the black market.

Shen Zhengliang, during the slack farming season, would also seize opportunities to do some small business on the black market to earn money. He knew better than anyone how dangerous the black market was.

“Second Brother, I understand. Don’t worry, next time I go to the black market, I’ll definitely go with you, I definitely won’t go alone.” Shen Chuning smiled sweetly to appease Shen Zhengliang.

Shen Zhengliang couldn’t do anything about her.

Lin Shulan was discussing the children’s marriage with Shen Zhenguo in the main room when she smelled a strong aroma.

The marriage discussion was almost finished; they just needed to confirm with Shen Chuning herself later.

Times had changed; they advocated for free love and marriage, and they couldn’t arrange marriages like in feudal society.  Young people had to agree to the marriage themselves.

Lin Shulan stood up, “We’re not doing anything sitting here, I’ll go to the kitchen and see if there’s anything I can help the children with.”

Everyone knew she wanted to see if Shen Chuning or her brothers were doing the work in the kitchen, and whether Shen Chuning would take credit for it.

Lin Shulan walked into the kitchen. Shen Chuning was cooking the last dish, bitter melon and egg.

Her small face was flushed from the heat of the stove, making her look even more delicate and beautiful.

Seeing Lin Shulan, Shen Chuning smiled sweetly, “Auntie Lin, please sit for a while, the food will be ready soon.”

As she spoke, she began to serve the dishes with coarse bowls. The green bitter melon slices were interspersed with golden-brown fried eggs, making the dish look appetizing.

Lu Xiaohong, who followed, said with a smile, “Our Ningning is really capable.  These dishes look delicious just by their color.”

Lin Shulan and Lu Xiaohong helped serve the dishes to the table.

There was bitter melon and egg, lettuce and pork slices, twice-cooked pork, braised potatoes, and steamed eggplant.  Although there weren’t many dishes, the portions were large, enough for ten people.

It was hot, so Shen Chuning didn’t cook rice but mung bean porridge, cooked thick.

Mung beans were cooling, and a bowl of mung bean porridge made everyone feel refreshed.

Not to mention that Shen Chuning also made mint sugar water for everyone to cool down.

Although the dishes were simple home-cooked meals, having two meat dishes and an egg dish to entertain guests was already very impressive.

Especially since the dishes tasted exceptionally good, even the aunties felt inferior.

After the meal, Shen Chuning helped her three brothers clean up the dishes.

Lu Xiaohong whispered to Lin Shulan, “I think the rumors in the village are untrustworthy.  Who said Shen family’s daughter was spoiled and couldn’t do anything? Look at how well she cooks. I think the rumors were spread by jealous people.”

Lin Shulan drank the cool mint sugar water, her previous opinions of Shen Chuning already gone.

She smiled so widely her mouth couldn’t close, “With Ningning’s looks, if it weren’t for jealous people ruining her reputation, the Shen family’s threshold would have been worn down, and it wouldn’t be my son’s turn!”

Her son was excellent but stubborn. He had refused to date, and now he was twenty-eight, an old bachelor.

Being able to marry such a beautiful and capable wife was worth it!