The beans were a vibrant green, slender and tender, without tough fibers on the sides—perfect for stir-frying.
In the morning, Su Zhi and Yue Tiantian had picked a small basket of beans, most of which had been used for the stewed dish at noon. They had picked so many that some were left uneaten, but they hadn’t expected Yue Chunhan to bring back such a large sack of flour. Now, these leftover beans were just right for making the sauce for the noodles.
Yue Chunhan’s kitchen didn’t have many seasonings, but there were enough to get by. While Yue Chunhan was busy feeding firewood into the stove pit, Su Zhi stood by the stove, scooping a spoonful of lard into the pot. As the oil heated, the lard quickly melted, emitting a light sizzling sound.
The scallions in Yue Chunhan’s yard grew exceptionally well. Su Zhi casually pulled two, washed them, chopped them into sections, and smashed a couple of garlic cloves, tossing them into the pot to release their fragrance. The scallions and garlic instantly sizzled in the hot oil, filling the air with an enticing aroma.
“It smells so good…” Yue Tiantian couldn’t help but take a deep breath, sniffing the air, her mouth watering from the delicious scent.
Even though she had eaten a lot at noon and her stomach was quite full, somehow, smelling this aroma still made her feel incredibly hungry.
Auntie really was amazing—everything she made smelled so delicious!
By the stove, after sautéing the aromatics, Su Zhi quickly added the sliced beans to the pot, stir-frying them in the hot oil until they were lightly cooked on both sides. She then added the pre-prepared seasonings and stir-fried everything quickly.
Beans cooked easily in oil, and the lard gave the dish an especially rich aroma. Su Zhi added a small ladleful of water to simmer the beans, letting them cook until tender. Just before serving, she mixed a bit of starch with water and poured it around the edges of the pot, stirring quickly. The slightly soupy mixture instantly thickened into a rich sauce.
Su Zhi added a bit of soy sauce, giving the bean sauce an appetizing color. When she ladled the sauce into an iron basin, the aroma seemed to rise all the way to the ceiling, filling the small kitchen with its mouthwatering scent. Yue Tiantian couldn’t help but swallow hard.
It wasn’t just Yue Tiantian—even Su Zhi salivated at the smell. She hadn’t had a proper meal in a long time either.
The wheat noodles were brought to the table, followed by the sauce.
Su Zhi fetched a small bowl for Yue Tiantian, added some noodles, then poured a generous amount of the hot, steaming sauce over them. The thick, oily sauce, studded with tender beans, made the dish look utterly irresistible.
Yue Tiantian didn’t even wait to climb onto the kang. Standing by its edge, she held her bowl and took a big bite. An explosion of flavor filled her mouth, and her eyes widened in delight. She chewed faster, too busy to even speak.
Su Zhi couldn’t help but smile, gently wiping Yue Tiantian’s chin. “Take it slow, Tiantian. Don’t choke.”
Yue Tiantian, her mouth stuffed with noodles, nodded eagerly, though she showed no signs of slowing down, chewing with immense satisfaction.
Yue Chunhan tidied up the remaining firewood in the stove, swept the floor, and cleaned up the messy stove area. Only after everything was in order did he enter the room, holding a large bowl.
Su Zhi waited for him to serve himself some noodles before grabbing another large bowl. She filled it with a generous portion of noodles and poured a hearty scoop of sauce over it.
Holding the bowl, she stood up and said to Yue Chunhan, “Earlier, when you were busy, Tiantian stayed with our neighbor, Granny Zhao. Thanks to Granny Zhao for taking care of Tiantian. Living alone, she might not have it easy with meals. Since we made so many noodles today, I’ll bring a bowl to Granny Zhao.”
When Su Zhi had kneaded the dough earlier, she had purposely added extra flour, intending to make enough to share with Granny Zhao.
Hearing this, Yue Chunhan paused. His dark eyes lifted to meet Su Zhi’s gaze, and for once, his usually cold and indifferent expression showed a hint of surprise.
Su Zhi was going to take noodles to the neighbor?
His mind churned with thoughts, recalling how arrogant and domineering Su Zhi used to be—how she spoke to everyone with disdain, especially mocking the lonely elderly, even driving them to near illness with her cruel words while she laughed heartily.
Such a malicious woman had now changed her ways? Not only was she willing to give something to the elderly woman she used to despise, but she was also offering something as precious as wheat noodles?
Given Su Zhi’s greedy, stingy, and miserly nature—aside from her own family—no one had ever managed to get anything from her. She was selfish and possessive, hoarding everything for herself. When had she ever willingly given anything away?
Was this an act, or had she genuinely changed?
Yue Chunhan’s eyes flickered, lingering on Su Zhi for a moment longer.
Su Zhi thought he might be unwilling, but just as she was about to speak again, she heard Yue Chunhan’s voice, calm and indifferent. “Alright, I’ll go.”
But for some reason, Yue Chunhan’s dark eyes kept watching her as if she were some strange, new discovery.
Su Zhi suddenly realized the differences between herself and the original host. She was about to explain, but Yue Chunhan had already taken the bowl of noodles and stepped out the door. Her explanation remained stuck in her throat, and she reluctantly sat down on the edge of the kang.
…Yue Chunhan probably hadn’t noticed anything, right?
·
Yue Chunhan returned quickly. Granny Zhao lived just in front of their yard, a short walk around the corner—less than a minute away. By the time Yue Chunhan returned, Su Zhi had only taken a few bites of her noodles.
Yue Chunhan’s expression remained unchanged as he poured sauce into his bowl and said to Su Zhi, “Granny Zhao didn’t expect you to remember her. She said she’s very grateful and hopes you’ll bring Tiantian over next time so she can properly treat you as well.”
Su Zhi pursed her lips, her mood lightening slightly, a faint smile curling at the corners of her mouth.
Su Zhi had always felt a special concern for elderly people living alone. She couldn’t help but think of her own mother from before she crossed over. After she died in that car accident… had her mother become a lonely elderly woman like this too?
Lost in thought, Su Zhi took another bite of the noodles. The chewy strands, coated in rich sauce, were deliciously savory and satisfying. The beans were tender but still had a bit of crunch, making the dish incredibly tasty.
Beside her, Yue Tiantian was devouring her food, and Yue Chunhan was eating just as quickly. Perhaps because the room was getting warm, Yue Chunhan removed his outer coat, revealing a thin shirt underneath.
Su Zhi had only glanced casually in Yue Chunhan’s direction, but what she saw made her pause abruptly.
Her beautiful eyes widened, filled with disbelief. “Yue Chunhan… you…”
Yue Chunhan, holding a large bowl as he shoveled noodles into his mouth, glanced at Su Zhi, raising an eyebrow as if to ask with his expression: What’s wrong?
Su Zhi pressed her lips together, set her chopsticks down on the table, and with a serious, furrowed brow, moved closer to Yue Chunhan, turning him around to face away from her.
Before, his outer coat had hidden it, but now, without it, the view was all too clear.
——On Yue Chunhan’s back was a deep wound, like claw marks from a wild beast. It was still bleeding, staining the back of his shirt dark with blood.
Su Zhi was utterly shocked.
Yue Chunhan had been carrying such a severe injury, yet he had dragged back and sold his prey, repaired the damage caused by the peeping tom, carried her all the way home, and even helped with so many tasks—rolling dough, tending the fire—and now he was acting as if nothing was wrong.
Su Zhi could barely maintain her composure, her face a picture of astonishment.
Yue Chunhan… was he even human?