The whole family ate with exceptional enjoyment. Watching everyone’s satisfied expressions, Tang Yunshu felt an inexplicable sense of happiness rise in her heart as well.
The next morning, they ate plain white-flour noodles. Each person’s bowl had an egg added to it, along with some wild vegetables.
Tang Yunshu said she wanted to eat meat buns, so Zhao Lanzhi immediately started kneading dough and preparing the starter, getting ready to steam buns for lunch.
After breakfast, the Tang family’s men all felt full and energized. Even their speed working in the fields was noticeably faster than usual.
The family didn’t have an ox, so all the farming relied on manual labor. Fortunately, the Tang family had many men, and each of them was strong.
That day, Tang Yunshu learned from her mother that the country they lived in was called Heng Kingdom, an entirely fictional dynasty.
Their location was Pingyuan Village, Ling Town, Huanling, Qinan County, Dingzhou Prefecture. It was currently spring, late in the third lunar month.
Pingyuan Village was in the north. Winters were extremely cold, with heavy snowfall, and only one crop could be planted each year.
This dynasty already had heated brick beds—kang—and every household slept on them.
The villagers were all very poor. Aside from the village head’s family, everyone else lived in houses built of earthen bricks with roofs covered in straw mats.
The village head’s house had walls made of earthen bricks, but the roof was covered with tiles.
Only the village head owned an ox, which was used for plowing the fields. Life for everyone else was extremely hard.
At noon, the Tang family men returned from the fields. The fifth brother bounced toward the kitchen, shouting, “Mom, what are we eating for lunch? I can already smell something delicious!”
“You little glutton. We’re having buns for lunch. Go wash your hands and get the bowls and chopsticks,” Zhao Lanzhi replied.
At lunchtime, Tang Yunshu nibbled at her bun in small bites, watching as the large basin of buns quickly emptied.
Her mother brought out another basin. Tang Yunshu held her bun and watched everyone eat; in no time at all, that basin was empty too, leaving only the bottom. The speed was astonishing.
There were many men in the Tang family. The saying “half-grown boys eat their fathers into poverty” really wasn’t wrong at all.
They could really eat—each grown man easily polished off at least ten buns, and these buns weren’t small either. Tang Yunshu herself was full after just one.
She felt the weight on her shoulders grow heavier. With her father and brothers eating so much, she would have to earn more money—otherwise the family really might not have enough to eat.
Just looking at their appetites made it clear that they’d never truly eaten their fill before. The usual wild vegetables and coarse-grain porridge probably only barely filled the gaps between their teeth.
All of Tang Yunshu’s brothers were nearly 1.8 or 1.9 meters tall. The fourth and fifth brothers were still young, yet already quite tall. To grow this tall despite never eating enough—it truly wasn’t easy.
Watching everyone wolf down their food, Tang Yunshu felt both heartache and tenderness.
This family had lived on husks and wild greens every day for the sake of the original owner, this sickly child, yet they still doted on that “foolish” girl to the heavens.
They were all good people—God’s greatest gift to her—and she would cherish them well.
Seeing his youngest daughter holding a bun without eating, Tang Dashan thought she was being reluctant to eat it. He hurriedly said, “Yunshu, hurry and eat. Your mother’s buns are really fragrant—there’s lots of meat inside.”
The fifth brother chimed in too, “Little sister, hurry and eat! They’re really tasty. Fifth Brother saved this one for you.”
The four older brothers also raised their buns toward Tang Yunshu, saying one after another:
“Second Brother’s is for Yunshu too.”
“Third Brother’s is for Yunshu.”
“Fourth Brother’s is for Yunshu.”
“Father, brothers, I’m full after just this one. You all eat as much as you like today! With me here, I’ll make sure everyone eats their fill every day from now on.”
“Our little sister is so good. We’re really lucky to have such a wonderful little sister,” the brothers said, nodding repeatedly.
Tang Yunshu smiled and said, “I’m the lucky one—to have so many good brothers, and such good parents who love me, dote on me, and protect me.”
Zhao Lanzhi smiled and added, “Our whole family is blessed. Hurry and eat—buns don’t taste good once they’re cold. Yunshu, don’t just watch, eat.”
After the meal, the men went back to work in the fields. Zhao Lanzhi stayed home to look after the two children and to handle cooking and household chores.
Tang Yunshu stayed in the kitchen boiling traditional Chinese medicine to regulate her body.
Aside from his leg injury, Tang Dazhuang had no other problems—just malnutrition. Eating better food would be enough to nourish him.
After a few days, Tang Yunshu felt much better and wanted to do some work within her ability, but no matter what she said, her mother wouldn’t allow it.
That day, several unfamiliar people arrived at the gate. Previously, when Tang Yunshu had been foolish and dull, she hadn’t recognized anyone outside her family.
One of them called out, “Tangtang, are you feeling better?”
Tang Yunshu nodded politely and called toward the house, “Mom, we have visitors.”
Zhao Lanzhi hurried out. When she saw who it was, her face immediately lit up with joy. “Big Brother, Sister-in-law, Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law—you’re here! Come inside quickly!”
She pulled Tang Yunshu over to introduce her. “Yunshu, this is your eldest uncle and aunt, and this is your second uncle and aunt. They’re all close family—remember them well.”
“Hello, Eldest Uncle and Aunt. Hello, Second Uncle and Aunt,” Tang Yunshu greeted them quickly.
They looked her over. Just as the rumors said, the child really did seem better.
Zhao Lanzhi’s eldest brother was named Zhao Changfa, his wife Lin Xiaolan; her second brother was Zhao Changshun, with his wife Liu Hehua.
(In ancient times, boys were ranked together by age, while girls were ranked separately.)
Lin Xiaolan spoke first. “Yunzhi, we heard that Tangtang fell into the river, and when she woke up she wasn’t foolish anymore. A child falling into water is such a serious matter—why didn’t you send word home? As soon as we heard, we hurried over to take a look. Now that Tangtang is truly better, this is a great blessing after a disaster! Mother asked me to bring a chicken for Tangtang to nourish her body.”
“Eldest Sister-in-law, you should keep the chicken and sell it. Life is tight for everyone,” Zhao Lanzhi tried to refuse.
“Sister, just accept it,” Liu Hehua also urged. “Nourishing Tangtang is what matters. She’s better now—it should be celebrated properly.”
Zhao Lanzhi had no choice but to take the chicken into the kitchen and lead everyone inside.
Tang Yunshu hurried to pour water. There was no tea and no proper teacups at home, so she could only use rough porcelain bowls meant for meals.
“Eldest Uncle, Eldest Aunt, please drink some water. Second Uncle, Second Aunt, please drink some water,” she said, handing them the bowls one by one.
Zhao Lanzhi’s natal family lived in the neighboring Xinghua Village. Her parents were both still alive, and there were only three children in the family—Zhao Changfa, Zhao Changshun, and Zhao Lanzhi.
The Zhao family were all kind, honest people. They had frequent contact with the Tang family, and their relationship had always been harmonious.
Zhao Lanzhi often returned to her parents’ home to borrow money to buy medicine for Tang Yunshu, and whenever the Zhao family could help, they never hesitated.
This time, after hearing that Tang Yunshu had fallen into the water, they had come especially to visit her.
Zhao Changfa was one year older than Zhao Lanzhi, while Zhao Changshun was two years younger. Both Zhao daughters-in-law were also good-hearted women without any crooked intentions.
After Tang Yunshu poured the water, the two uncles looked at her with smiles all over their faces.
“It’s truly wonderful that Tangtang is better—such great news! When we go back, we’ll tell your grandparents; they’ll be even happier. The two elders were originally thinking of coming themselves, but they’re getting old, so we didn’t let them make the trip,” Eldest Uncle said.
“Eldest Uncle, once my body has fully recovered, I’ll go visit Grandma and Grandpa,” Tang Yunshu replied.