Chapter 10

Jiang Nian took a bite of the egg custard, her voice choked with sobs, “I miss your elder brother.”

Lu Yu didn’t say anything more. He quickly finished his breakfast, returned to his room to put on his military uniform, and said to Jiang Nian as he passed by her, “Sister-in-law, people need to look forward.”

As he walked out the door, his voice came again, “I’ll be pulling out the weeds at the private plot at noon, so I won’t be coming back for lunch.”

The courtyard gate closed, and his footsteps gradually faded away.

The bugle call sounded within the camp, stirring a sense of excitement.

Jiang Nian wiped away her tears. Although she had no appetite, she knew how precious food was in this era. She picked up the bowl and finished the egg custard, then took the dishes to the kitchen to wash.

On the cutting board was a red enamel basin filled with well water and chicken meat that Lu Yu had just placed there.

She decided to make chicken soup for Lu Yu and bring it to the field at noon.

Jiang Nian quickly chopped the chicken on the cutting board and rinsed the meat in the well water.

Despite it being summer, the well water was refreshingly cold.

After she finished chopping the chicken and soaking it in the red enamel basin. She was preparing the seasoning when she heard Feng Mei’s voice from outside.

“Jiang Nian—”

Jiang Nian called back from the kitchen, “I’m in the kitchen.”

Feng Mei came in and was surprised to see the chicken in the red enamel basin. “Oh my goodness, this chicken must have cost a lot, right?”

This question stumped Jiang Nian.

Lu Yu had bought it, so she didn’t know the exact price. However, given the era, chicken meat was certainly not cheap. She nodded, “Lu Yu bought it last night.”

Feng Mei’s eyes showed a bit of envy, but she didn’t want to impose on others. “Deputy Commander Lu treats his sister-in-law really well. He’s not young anymore, it’s time for him to find a wife. As his sister-in-law, you should keep an eye on his marriage prospects.”

Jiang Nian smiled, “I certainly will.”

In the book’s plot, the male lead belongs to the female lead. Jiang Nian calculated the time and realized the female lead should soon arrive at the hospital. When that happens, she could pretend to be ill and have Lu Yu take her to the hospital. Once they meet, the plot would get back on track.

Then she would have a chance to return to her time.

Thinking of this, Jiang Nian’s previously gloomy mood brightened.

She placed the seasonings in separate bowls and noticed Feng Mei occasionally glancing at the red enamel basin. She said, “Sister Feng, once I finish cooking the chicken at noon, I’ll bring some over for you and your kids to enjoy.”

Feng Mei’s eyes lit up at the offer but quickly shook her head, embarrassed, “I can’t keep taking things from your house. It’s not right.”

Jiang Nian shook the water off her hands and smiled, “We’re neighbors and both of us are military wives. Sister Feng if you refuse, aren’t you distancing yourself from me?”

“No, no,” Feng Mei quickly said, feeling touched by Jiang Nian’s words. She no longer declined but still felt a bit guilty. She had only given the Lu family a simple meal and some eggplants and peppers, while they were offering something much more substantial. This made her appreciate Jiang Nian’s kindness even more, unlike Kang Xiu, who always tried to take things without ever giving back.

Feng Mei then mentioned, “There’s a market in the neighboring village today. You mentioned that you wanted to grow vegetables. It’s a good opportunity to buy some seeds.”

Jiang Nian had never seen a 1970s market before. “Sister Feng, wait for me for a while. I’ll go and change my clothes.”

She went back to her room, changed into clean clothes, took money and ration tickets from the iron box, and left with Feng Mei for the market.

On their way to the market they encountered Xu Yan. This was Jiang Nian’s second time seeing her.

Xu Yan glanced at Jiang Nian and Feng Mei before lowering her head, her eyes red and swollen from crying. She passed by them with a cold expression. Jiang Nian noticed the long-standing weariness on her face.

The book didn’t describe Xu Yan in much detail. It only mentions that she had dimples when she smiled. But seeing her like this, Jiang Nian figured she hadn’t smiled in a long time.

Feng Mei’s frustration about last night’s events was evident. “Crying outside in the middle of the night, disturbing everyone.”

Jiang Nian didn’t respond.

The market was an hour’s walk from the family quarters. It was simple, mostly selling vegetables, chicks and ducklings. Jiang Nian bought various vegetable seedlings.

Feng Mei asked, “Why don’t you buy some chicks? Once they grow up and start laying eggs, you won’t need to buy eggs anymore.”

Jiang Nian smiled, “I’ll think about it.”

She wasn’t planning that far ahead yet. Buying seedlings to plant vegetables was her way of saving money for Lu Yu and the original Jiang Nian.

She didn’t want to give up on the hope of returning to her time and was willing to try different methods.

Thinking of this, Jiang Nian touched her forehead wound. Except for when she frowned hard and pulled at the skin, it didn’t hurt anymore. She decided to try hitting her head again once the wound completely healed.

What if she was lucky and went back?

When they returned home, it was almost lunchtime. Fortunately, she had prepared the ingredients and chopped the chicken before going to the market. Jiang Nian used straw to light the fire, added wood when the fire grew stronger, and finally washed her hands and started cooking.

In this era, every household used very little oil for cooking. Her grandmother had told her about how they used to cook by dipping chopsticks in oil but the dishes they cooked were not delicious at all..

Jiang Nian’s grandmother was 85 years old, born in 1938. She had truly experienced hard times and often shared stories with Jiang Nian.

Her grandmother had learned embroidery from a local woman and used this skill to support her family during tough times. Although she wanted to pass it on to the next generation, she only gave birth to two sons and couldn’t pass the skill to her son. However, when Jiang Nian was born, her grandmother picked up the skill again and taught it to her.

Thinking about the past made Jiang Nian feel sad. Her grandparents were old, and she wondered if they would fall ill from crying when they found out about her accident.

For lunch, she made a pot of half chicken soup, stir-fried spicy and sour shredded potatoes, and heated a few steamed buns. Just as she finished cooking, Feng Mei’s voice called from the outside, “I can smell it from next door. My boys know their Aunt Jiang is making chicken soup, and they won’t eat lunch at home.”

Feng Mei walked in as she spoke.

Jiang Nian smiled, “I was just about to call you, Sister Feng.”

Feng Mei brought six eggs and five tomatoes in a basket and placed them in a woven basket next to the stove. She said, “These are eggs laid by our own chickens.”

Jiang Nian didn’t refuse.

She believed in mutual exchange. Continuous giving without receiving could lead to gossip. 

She filled a small brown enamel basin with chicken soup and several pieces of meat, which warmed Feng Mei’s heart. She felt she should also share any good food she made in the future.

Otherwise, she would feel embarrassed to always eat other people’s food.

After Feng Mei left, Jiang Nian packed the chicken soup into an aluminum lunchbox, closed the lid tightly, and placed a plate of stir-fried spicy and sour shredded potatoes and a plate of steamed buns into a small basket. She then covered the basket  with a clean cloth.

Thinking that Lu Yu might not have water to drink or wash his hands, she filled a thermos with water and headed to their private plot.

It was lunchtime, and the aroma of food wafted through the family quarters.

Walking under the shady trees, Jiang Nian enjoyed the cicadas’ songs and birds’ chirping. The summer breeze, carrying the scent of leaves and grass, made her feel at ease.

But her peace was short-lived. She saw Zheng Hong standing at her doorstep, wearing a short-sleeved shirt, a skirt, and brown rubber sandals, her hair in two braids tied with red ribbons, looking towards the shaded path ahead.

Following her gaze, Jiang Nian saw Liu Qiang running over with a lunchbox, his forehead sweaty. He handed the lunchbox to Zheng Hong with a smile.

Zheng Hong took the lunchbox, smiling sweetly at Liu Qiang. Her voice was soft, “Captain Liu, you’re so kind. Thank you. If it weren’t for you, my child and I would have gone hungry today.”

Liu Qiang scratched his head, “It’s nothing, just helping out. I’ll head back now.”

Zheng Hong nodded, “Okay.”

Turning to go home, she saw Jiang Nian standing not far away, her face openly mocking.

Zheng Hong’s expression changed, and without Sister Feng around, she didn’t bother greeting Jiang Nian and limped back home.

Jiang Nian: …

Tsk.

Still pretending to limp?

Liu Qiang also saw Jiang Nian. Feeling guilty about last night’s incident with Xu Yan, he noticed the aroma coming from the basket Jiang Nian was carrying. Out of politeness, he greeted her first, “Sister-in-law of Deputy Commander Lu, where are you going?”

Jiang Nian saw the scratches on Liu Qiang’s face, already scabbed over. She smiled but her eyes were cold, “Lu Yu is weeding in the field. I’m bringing him lunch.”

She then tugged at her clothes, purposely looking curiously towards Zheng Hong’s yard in front of Liu Qiang, pressing her lips together as if she wanted to say something but couldn’t.

Liu Qiang feared she might misunderstand and also wanted to improve his image. He quickly explained, “Comrade Zheng Hong sprained her ankle. I was just passing by and helped her bring food from the cafeteria.”

Jiang Nian exclaimed, “Oh, Comrade Zheng Hong sprained her ankle again?”

Liu Qiang was puzzled, not understanding why she said “again.”

He asked, “What do you mean by ‘again’?”

**