Another country bumpkin.
Li Huifang shot her a malicious sideways glance, then continued complaining to Wu Qiuju,
“Qiuju, let me tell you — that woman is really something else! I was already disgusted knowing she was just a widowed village girl, but after going to her house and finding out more, I realized she’s unbelievably promiscuous! Not only is she stringing my son along, she’s messing around with several men at the same time!”
“Ah, really?”
Wu Qiuju’s interest was instantly piqued by the gossip.
“And your son still likes a woman like that?”
At the mention of her son, Li Huifang’s face darkened.
“Hmph, my son was just bewitched. Rural people are filthy — how could my family ever allow that kind of cheap country woman through our doors!”
After saying that, she turned and walked off, her high-heeled leather shoes clacking loudly.
Hearing the woman repeatedly belittle rural people, Miao Miaomiao felt uncomfortable.
What did rural people ever do to her? Not everyone from the countryside is like that — why condemn a whole group?
Suppressing her displeasure, she asked Wu Qiuju,
“Aunt Wu, what’s wrong with that lady? It sounded like she was scolding us country folk.”
Wu Qiuju turned back, smiling reassuringly.
“Don’t overthink it, Xiao Miao. She’s not targeting all rural people — she’s angry because her son’s girlfriend is truly infuriating. Always flirting with men and completely unfaithful. Her son refuses to wake up, so she’s furious.”
Miao Miaomiao nodded in agreement.
“Yeah, a woman who messes around with relationships like that is unacceptable.”
“Exactly,” Wu Qiuju said warmly, holding her hand.
“Xiao Miao, you look upright — righteous and filial — definitely not like those bad women. If my son didn’t already have a partner, I would’ve considered you.”
“Oh right, Comrade Xiao Miao — are you married?”
The gossip spirit in Wu Qiuju flared again.
Embarrassed, Miao Miaomiao explained,
“No need, thank you Aunt Wu… actually, I’m a widow.”
“Huh?”
Wu Qiuju stared in shock. The girl looked barely twenty — widowed so young?
“Poor child… losing your husband so young — life must be hard, right?”
Wu Qiuju herself had lost her husband long ago. Back then life was difficult, but now her children were grown and could support her, so she had no worries.
People in similar situations always empathize.
Her gaze toward Miao Miaomiao softened with pity. She patted her shoulder.
“You’re raising a child alone? Does your mother-in-law bully you?”
She remembered her own painful years — working alone while raising two children with no man in the house.
Thankfully she endured it. But what about this girl?
Seeing her concern, Miao Miaomiao felt deeply moved.
Before today they had been strangers, yet she cared so much.
“Aunt Wu, don’t worry. I’m a widow, but I don’t have children. I’ve moved back to my parents’ home…”
She briefly explained her situation. Wu Qiuju smiled in relief.
“That’s good, that’s good. Without a child, you still have the chance to remarry. Don’t lose heart.”
“Thank you, Aunt Wu.”
Miao Miaomiao smiled, dimples appearing at the corners of her lips.
Checking the time, Wu Qiuju said,
“Come, it’s getting late — let’s eat.”
Back at her house, Wu Qiuju tied on an apron to cook, but Miao Miaomiao grabbed it first and put it on herself.
“Aunt Wu, I cook really well — let me handle today’s meal.”
Unable to stop her, Wu Qiuju let her cook while she assisted.
They chatted and laughed as they cooked, and soon the meal was ready.
Miao Miaomiao admittedly had selfish motives — she made her favorite braised pork. She had been craving it like crazy.
Since Wu Qiuju didn’t mind, she went ahead.
In less than half an hour, a beautifully arranged table appeared: three dishes, one soup, and two bowls of white rice.
Wu Qiuju’s eyes lit up.
“Xiao Miao, I didn’t expect your cooking to be this good!”
“Hehe, Auntie, it’s just average.”
Actually, her strongest skill wasn’t even this.
“You’re too modest…”
Wu Qiuju sat down and stared at the glossy red braised pork — she’d never seen such color, not even in state restaurants.
“How did you make it look so good?”
She picked up a piece. It was incredibly tender — melting in her mouth, savory with a hint of sweetness. Delicious!
It didn’t even feel like ordinary braised pork — more like the special-supply cafeteria’s Su-style Dongpo pork!
Even someone who disliked fatty meat couldn’t stop eating piece after piece.
“My goodness, Xiao Miao, your cooking is amazing!”
She almost wanted to keep her forever just to cook daily.
Too bad her son already had someone — otherwise she would’ve wanted him to marry her!
“Aunt Wu, to make the pork good, caramelizing the sugar is important. If you want to learn, I can teach you.”
Miao Miaomiao finally ate her beloved meat — and without spending any ration coupons. What a bargain.
And the white rice — she hadn’t eaten rice in ages. She missed it terribly.
The coarse grains at home scratched her throat and killed her appetite.
Since she got a free meal, teaching cooking was only polite reciprocity.
“Xiao Miao, are you coming to the city tomorrow?”
Wu Qiuju couldn’t forget her cooking and hoped to bring her over again.
“Probably… not…”
Miao Miaomiao hesitated.
“To be honest, I came to find a job… but it’s too hard. Even dishwashing jobs won’t take me…”
She spoke awkwardly — finding work was her top priority. Without it she couldn’t even sleep peacefully.
Wu Qiuju sighed and nodded.
“Yeah… official positions are inherited. Only temporary jobs might be bought with money.”
Hearing jobs could be bought, Miao Miaomiao perked up and quickly asked:
“Aunt Wu, do you know where I can pay for a temporary job?”