Su Zhi was in the yard cooking. After fermenting for an hour or two, the dough quickly expanded, pushing the lid up halfway.
The fermentation was a success. With a gentle poke, Su Zhi could see soft, irregular holes inside the dough.
She placed the dough on the cutting board to knead and release air, sprinkling a layer of dry flour on the board to prevent sticking. The fermented dough was soft and easy to knead, unlike the cold, stiff dough used for hand-pulled noodles earlier. It felt soft, like marshmallow.
Su Zhi preferred chewy steamed buns, which required repeated kneading. Fortunately, she had plenty of time. With great patience, she rolled the dough into a long strip, pinched it into evenly sized small pieces, and kneaded each piece repeatedly in the palm of her hand, focusing on the center.
After a while, each piece of dough was shaped into smooth, round steamed buns, resembling small, plump nests. They looked white, fluffy, and very appealing. Satisfied, Su Zhi carefully moved the buns onto a steamer tray.
By now, Su Zhi was quite familiar with the rural earthen stove. After letting the buns rest in the steamer for about ten minutes, she lit the firewood, added water to the pot, covered it with a lid, and waited for the buns to cook.
The firewood crackled softly as it burned, and intense flames licked the bottom of the pot. Su Zhi adjusted the firewood to ensure it wouldn’t go out prematurely, then eagerly began preparing two dishes: disanxian (stir-fried potatoes, eggplants, and peppers) and scrambled eggs with tomatoes.
She peeled the potatoes and eggplants, cut them into irregular chunks, and fried them slowly in lard. She didn’t dare add too many peppers, unsure if Yue Chunhan could handle spicy food. The peppers she picked from the rural fields were small, about the size of a thumb, but their deep color suggested they might be quite spicy. She added only a few to the pot.
As the lard melted in the pan, she stir-fried scallions and ginger until a rich aroma filled the room. Then, she added the fried potatoes, peppers, and eggplants. Their crispy exteriors and tender interiors made the dish irresistible. After a few more stirs and seasoning, the dish was ready. Just before serving, Su Zhi sprinkled some chopped scallions for garnish, making it look even more vibrant.
The ingredients for scrambled eggs with tomatoes were already prepared. After cleaning the iron pot of the earthen stove, Su Zhi added lard and poured in the beaten eggs.
The pale yellow eggs sizzled as they hit the hot oil, their edges bubbling. The egg liquid blended with the lard, releasing an irresistible fragrance. Su Zhi couldn’t help but take a gentle sniff, a satisfied smile curling at her lips as she added the tomatoes and began stir-frying.
As a northerner, Su Zhi liked adding a bit of sugar to scrambled eggs with tomatoes to enhance the flavor. However, Yue Chunhan’s home lacked seasonings, and after searching for a while, she couldn’t find any white sugar. Reluctantly, she set the idea aside and used other seasonings instead.
After adding a bit of soy sauce, the scrambled eggs with tomatoes transformed from a bland, unappetizing color to a rich, savory hue.
The tomatoes were stir-fried until soft and pulpy, their juices fully absorbed by the eggs. The golden eggs, coated in tomato sauce, shimmered as they simmered in the pot, looking incredibly appetizing.
Su Zhi found Yue Chunhan’s old lunchbox, washed it thoroughly, and divided it into two sections. One side was filled with scrambled eggs with tomatoes, while the other held steaming disanxian.
Seeing that the timing was about right, Su Zhi lifted the lid of the other earthen stove. The steamed buns were perfectly cooked. As the lid came off, steam billowed out, carrying the rich aroma of freshly steamed buns.
Once the steam cleared, Su Zhi saw plump, round, and tender buns on the steamer tray, fully formed and several times larger than when she first put them in. Their surfaces were smooth, white, and fluffy. A gentle press left a deep imprint that quickly bounced back, showing how incredibly soft they were.
The fermentation had gone perfectly.
This was Su Zhi’s first serious attempt at making steamed buns, and it was a resounding success. A smile spread across her face as she placed the freshly steamed buns into a bowl. Worried that Yue Chunhan might not have enough to eat, she packed three into the bowl.
Three substantial buns should be enough for him, Su Zhi thought absently as she placed the bowl into a bamboo basket. She planned to carry the basket to deliver lunch to Yue Chunhan.
The basket contained the lunchbox filled with dishes and a large bottle of freshly filled water, in case Yue Chunhan got thirsty after working.
With everything prepared, Su Zhi slung the bamboo basket over her arm and headed out. Concerned that Yue Tiantian might not be able to open the door when she returned, Su Zhi didn’t lock it but simply hung the chain loosely on the door.
Just as she was about to leave, Su Zhi spotted Yue Tiantian’s figure meandering along the path. Su Zhi was taken aback. “Tiantian? Why are you back so early today? I left food in the pot for you—just take it out and eat. I’m going to deliver lunch to your dad.”
Yue Tiantian didn’t seem as spirited as usual. Gone was her usual lively, cheerful, and sunny demeanor. Instead, she looked pitiful, her face wrinkled in a frown and her lips pouted. She nodded and replied softly, “Okay, Auntie.”
Her voice was low, lacking enthusiasm and even tinged with a hint of gloom.
Su Zhi was in a hurry to deliver lunch to Yue Chunhan. Though she noticed Yue Tiantian’s unusual mood, she thought it would be fine to comfort her when she returned. So, she just patted Yue Tiantian’s head and left.
At the doorway, Yue Tiantian unhooked the chain from the door and went inside, sighing heavily like a little adult.
…She really wanted to eat fruit candy too, but Dad would never buy it for her. Bad Dad.
◎
Yue Chunhan hadn’t been very focused on his work all morning. He would occasionally pause, look up at the sun, or glance back toward the edge of the field.
It was rare to see Yue Chunhan so visibly tense. The young men from the village who had come to help him clear the straw were quite surprised.
“Brother Han, is something on your mind?”
Li Erzhu, the smoothest talker and most flattering young man in the village, sidled up to Yue Chunhan to ask. The other young men nearby also turned their attention to him.
Surrounded by the others, Yue Chunhan lowered his narrow eyes, concealing the emotions within them, and said calmly, “It’s nothing.”
“Haha, our Brother Han must be missing his wife, huh? After all, you just got married and are still in the honeymoon phase,” a burly man grinned teasingly, a hint of mischief in his eyes.
No sooner had he spoken than Li Erzhu, ever perceptive, pushed him away. “Get out of here, Zhao Tieniu! How dare you joke around with anyone, even Brother Han? Looking for trouble, huh?”
Zhao Tieniu looked somewhat aggrieved. “I was just saying! Brother Han won’t mind—we’re all buddies chatting. I heard Brother Han’s wife is stunning, one of the prettiest girls for miles around. I wonder when we’ll get to see her, haha.”
A few other young men nearby joined in with smiles, jostling and nudging Yue Chunhan’s shoulder playfully, showing their camaraderie.
Yue Chunhan didn’t have the best reputation in the village. He wasn’t fond of socializing, and his tall, sturdy build, combined with his history of getting into fights that left people bruised and bloody, made him intimidating. When he wore a stern, expressionless face, the pressure he exuded made many villagers wary.
Yet, while some feared Yue Chunhan, others respected him. After all, most of the fights he’d been involved in were against local troublemakers, almost like a public service.
Yue Chunhan was reserved and aloof, carrying a somewhat brooding aura, but he was fiercely loyal. Many of the village youths, once they grew familiar with his personality, gravitated toward him, becoming his so-called friends or followers.
They were in the fields, praising Yue Chunhan’s newlywed wife and wondering when they’d get a glimpse of her, when a commotion suddenly erupted at the edge of the field.
Following the noise, the group that had just been chatting animatedly gaped in astonishment.
Su Zhi, the very subject of their discussion, stood at the edge of the field with a bamboo basket slung over her arm. Her dark eyes contrasted with her fair skin, her lips rosy and teeth pearly white. Her clear, almond-shaped eyes were bright and pure, with a faint red tinge at the corners, and her lips were full and crimson.
She wore the simplest of blouses and trousers, yet she seemed to belong to a different world from those around her. Her waist was slender and soft, her figure curvaceous, her neck long and pale, and even her exposed wrists looked delicate and fragile.
Her thick, wavy black hair cascaded over her shoulders. She looked like a refined young lady from town, dressed simply yet undeniably captivating and breathtaking.
Many of the young men stared at her, dumbfounded, even forgetting the work in their hands. Countless fiery gazes fell on Su Zhi, filled with awe.
Under their collective gaze, Su Zhi pursed her lips, a blush rising to her cheeks as if embarrassed. Biting her pearly teeth lightly, she called out to Yue Chunhan, “I brought you some food. Come over and eat something.”
It was indeed midday. Only after Su Zhi spoke did everyone realize it was time for lunch.
At first, some who didn’t recognize Su Zhi felt a pang of envy toward the person she was calling out to. But when they saw Yue Chunhan’s dark expression as he walked over, they instinctively fell silent, shrinking back and not daring to say a word.
No wonder she was so beautiful—it turned out she was that Su Zhi. No wonder Yue Chunhan had kept such a stunning wife hidden away.
The crowd sighed inwardly. Under Yue Chunhan’s cold, piercing gaze, their fiery stares quickly withdrew, though they couldn’t resist sneaking glances at Su Zhi.
Su Zhi followed Yue Chunhan across the field under the villagers’ covert stares. The young men who were friendly with Yue Chunhan stood there, utterly stunned.
Heavens, she’s just too beautiful…
The boss is really lucky…
…
Yue Chunhan calmly introduced both sides. Su Zhi glanced over the young men, who weren’t described in detail in the original story, and offered a polite smile.
Her smile caused the plump, honest-looking Zhao Tieniu to let out an awkward trickle of blood from his nose. He hurriedly covered it and stammered, “S-sister-in-law, hello!”
Su Zhi was taken aback. She wanted to offer him some paper to wipe his nose but hadn’t brought any in her hurry. As she wondered what to do, Zhao Tieniu covered his nose and scurried away, saying he needed to wash up by the nearby creek.
“Don’t worry about him.”
Yue Chunhan glanced at Su Zhi and noticed the bamboo basket hanging from her arm. He stepped forward to take it, surprised by its weight, and raised an eyebrow.
Su Zhi explained, “I didn’t bring much. Besides the food, I packed some water in case you got thirsty. I didn’t know there would be so many people here. I wish I had brought more.”
Li Erzhu quickly declined, “Sister-in-law, there’s no need! We brought our own food—we’ll manage just fine. This is for Brother Han. We wouldn’t dare steal his food, haha!”
Su Zhi felt her cheeks warm at being called “sister-in-law” repeatedly. She and Yue Chunhan weren’t that close yet, but she couldn’t very well correct them in front of everyone, so she let it slide.
The young men around them found spots to sit casually, cross-legged. Yue Chunhan did the same and opened the bamboo basket Su Zhi had brought, revealing several large steamed buns nestled in a bowl.
They were plump, white, and still warm, with soft, fluffy skins that looked deliciously sweet.
Opening the aluminum lunchbox revealed a veritable feast: disanxian, crispy on the outside and tender inside from being fried, and scrambled eggs with tomatoes, a mix of red and yellow with savory juices. Dipping the white buns in that sauce would surely be delightful.
Yue Chunhan hadn’t expected Su Zhi to prepare so many dishes, much less steam buns. He had thought her morning remark about bringing him lunch was just an offhand comment and had prepared himself for a hasty, simple meal. He never imagined it would be this lavish.