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Shen Zi’an watched Su Zhi neatly arrange the wild chicken feathers into a pile, placing them orderly on a nearby table, indicating her intention to keep them. He was unsure of her plans, as he typically burned such items.
“Wife, what are you planning to do with these?” Shen Zi’an inquired.
“I’m keeping them for future use. Don’t you think they look pretty? They can be used for making keys, dusters, or even some lovely trinkets. At the very least, they can be stuffed into fabric to make cushions,” Su Zhi explained.
“You are truly resourceful and clever, wife,” Shen Zi’an admired.
Observing Su Zhi’s thoughtfulness over such small details, Shen Zi’an felt a deepening sense of responsibility towards their new home. Despite their brief stay of less than a day, he already cherished this place as the warmest spot for him. He resolved to work hard to ensure a good life for Su Zhi and to establish a solid foundation for their home.
While Su Zhi appreciated Shen Zi’an’s praises, each compliment warmed her heart. Though she felt a bit bashful, she often found herself directing him to tasks after receiving such compliments. This time, she asked him to prepare some mud paste.
Shen Zi’an set aside the lotus leaves, slightly puzzled by Su Zhi’s instructions to fetch water and mud. He wasn’t sure what she was planning; why would one need lotus leaves for cooking? The leaves were already aged, and while they might be edible, mud certainly was not. Despite his uncertainty, he trusted Su Zhi’s judgment. He had noticed her cleverness in various tasks, from designing gloves to cooking delicious congee better than others. Even if the chicken dish didn’t turn out tasty, as long as Su Zhi was happy, that was all that mattered.
Su Zhi smiled as she wrapped the chicken in lotus leaves, instructing Shen Zi’an to spread the mud over it while explaining her method.
“I’m going to wrap this chicken in mud and then roast it. It turns out very delicious this way. It’s a pity we don’t have all the seasonings. It would be even better with soy sauce and yellow wine,” Su Zhi elaborated. She listed a series of seasonings, as she aimed to prepare Beggar Chicken. Curious in the past, she had learned and tried this dish while living in the countryside, with positive results. However, the lack of various seasonings now posed a challenge. Nevertheless, she remained optimistic, considering the ingredients she had were enhanced by the spring water, making the dish far from ordinary. She believed it would be ten times more flavorful than the congee.
“Wife, you are truly ingenious to come up with such a method,” Shen Zi’an praised. Although he was accustomed to hunting and roasting directly over the fire, the idea of using mud for roasting, as suggested by his wife, struck him as quite remarkable.
Su Zhi smiled and remarked, “This method is much tastier than steaming or regular roasting. However, braising and stir-frying are still the most delicious. I cook those dishes exceptionally well. Zi’an, remember to buy oil, salt, and seasonings. I will cook something special for you.”
“Alright, tomorrow is market day, and we need many things at home. I’ll buy everything on the list,” Shen Zi’an replied.
Observing Su Zhi effortlessly preparing the meal, Shen Zi’an felt grateful for the life he had always hoped for, now finally realizing it. He was relieved he hadn’t divorced his wife, realizing it was the right decision.
Su Zhi also made some congee, and they enjoyed a meal of congee and the Beggar Chicken together, savoring each bite.
Impressed by his wife’s cooking skills, Shen Zi’an found the food delicious. He wished he could have her cook every meal, but out of concern for her well-being, he resolved to take on cooking duties to avoid overburdening her.
In the afternoon, Shen Zi’an sought out Brother Shitou as he planned to go hunting in the mountains, hoping to catch wild game like chickens or rabbits to sell at the market the following day. Knowing that Li Shi had returned, he invited him along, as they typically hunted together when Li Shi was around, providing each other with support.
Li Shi enjoyed half of the Beggar Chicken Shen Zi’an brought, a dish Su Zhi had ingeniously devised. Savoring the delicious flavors, Li Shi complimented, “Brother, your wife’s cooking skills are impressive. You’re indeed fortunate.” He felt Shen Zi’an had turned misfortune into luck, marrying a wife with health issues and a reputation as a jinx but ultimately breaking away from the daunting Shen family. With a capable and gentle wife like Su Zhi and Shen Zi’an’s resilience, he believed their future would only get brighter, evoking a sense of envy.
As Shen Zi’an set off for the hunt, Su Zhi remained alone at home, diligently tidying up the interior and exterior until there was nothing left to tidy. Sitting on a stone in the courtyard, she gazed at the blue sky, feeling the chill of late autumn but warmed by the afternoon sun. The tranquility of the moment briefly transported her back to her past life in a rural courtyard, reminiscing until the chirping of a magpie snapped her back to the present. Seeing the magpie perched in the tree lifted her spirits, as she realized she was no longer alone and had Shen Zi’an to return to.
Feeling uplifted, Su Zhi stood up, and the magpie in the tree remained unafraid, continuing to chirp. She admired the bird and observed the nearly bare tree leaves. Shen Zi’an had mentioned that one tree was a pear tree, another a peach tree, and the third an orange tree. While Su Zhi was delighted by the thought of enjoying three types of fruit, Shen Zi’an had informed her that the orange tree didn’t fare well, producing sour and small fruits.
In the south, oranges grow; in the north, they yield trifoliate oranges. That was the norm.
Su Zhi pondered whether her spring water could improve the poorly growing trifoliate oranges, transforming them into regular oranges. As she contemplated this, she summoned the spiritual spring, gently stirring it with her hand. Although it was winter and not the best time for such experiments, she hoped to try in spring. Concerned that the trees might start budding prematurely, she decided to wait until next year.
Suddenly, the magpie flew away, and Su Zhi was about to dismiss it when she heard a strange noise outside. Frowning in caution, still adjusting to the unfamiliar environment after their recent move, she listened attentively. The sound, although peculiar, had an oddly intriguing quality, almost like the noise of a small animal, sparking a curiosity within her.
Su Zhi observed the fence gently moving and sensed that something was outside. She approached the fence, noticing its dense and well-bound structure, making it challenging to peek through. The fence was designed to prevent eavesdropping, but now it hindered even her view outward. Su Zhi blinked and decided to open the gate, carefully maneuvering around to investigate. Feeling no fear now, she was certain the source of the noise was a small dog, as only a puppy would emit such adorable whimpering sounds.
To her amusement, Su Zhi witnessed a scene that made her burst into laughter.
A tiny creature had wedged its head into a gap in the fence and was fervently attempting to back out. Its little bottom wiggled, and its tail hung down as it struggled unsuccessfully to free itself, emitting distressed whimpers.