Song Xinwen was feeding the chickens and ducks behind the house when Cai Yang came running up, pleading, "Mom, I want steamed eggs! Make me steamed eggs!"
Song Xinwen put down what she was holding. "All you ever think about is eating! Have you apologized to your aunt yet?"
Cai Yang paid no attention to her words, continuing to clamor and sticking close to Song Xinwen's heels like glue. Even shooing couldn't drive him away. Finally, Song Xinwen said angrily, "Fine, fine! I'll steam them for you!"
Hearing this, Cai Yang immediately grinned triumphantly and ran to the front of the house to glance at Song Xinran, shouting loudly, "I'm going to eat three eggs!"
Song Xinwen went inside and emerged moments later holding three eggs. She said to Song Xinran, "Xinran, let's add another dish for dinner tonight. Don't stir-fry those tomatoes—they can keep."
Song Xinran agreed. She hadn't planned to cook them all today anyway.
Although refrigerators weren't exactly rare nowadays, they were still quite expensive. Their town had no shops selling refrigerators; you'd have to go to the county seat to buy one. Song Xinwen's family wasn't particularly well-off either. Aside from a black-and-white television, they had no other major appliances.
Cooking too much food that couldn't be finished in one meal would easily spoil without refrigeration.
Cai Yang was immensely pleased with himself, as if he'd won some verbal battle against Song Xinran. He deliberately walked up to her and said, "Steamed eggs are so delicious! I'm going to eat yummy steamed eggs!"
Song Xinran could only laugh at such childish boasting.
But Song Yu, standing beside her, stared at Cai Yang, pursing his lips slightly. After a moment, he ran back into the house and soon came trotting out again. He approached Song Xinran and lightly brushed against her hand with his small one.
Song Xinran was somewhat surprised, then smiled gently and opened her hand to hold the child's.
But unexpectedly, something was pressed into her palm, and Song Yu's hand slipped away like an eel. He stood beside her, looking up at her with a slightly expectant expression.
Song Xinran opened her hand and saw a piece of candy lying in her palm. The candy looked familiar, similar to what she had found in the dormitory when she first woke up.
Song Xinran understood instantly. She crouched down and said softly, "Doesn't Xiao Yu want to eat the candy himself?"
Song Yu replied quietly, "Mom eats candy, not steamed eggs."
Song Xinran's heart melted. So Song Yu was worried she'd be sad about missing out on the steamed eggs. She put the candy in her mouth. "So sweet. Thank you, Xiao Yu. Even without steamed eggs, we can eat other dishes. Mom will cook whatever Xiao Yu wants."
Song Yu nodded vigorously and said, "Mm!"
Song Xinran loved cooking, but today there was an added motivation—she wanted to quickly prepare delicious food for Song Yu.
After the initial cleaning of the pig lungs, Song Xinran boiled them briefly before scooping them out again. She cut open each lung tube and rinsed them a second time to effectively remove any unpleasant odor.
Today, Song Xinran planned to make stir-fried pig lungs. She prepared all the seasonings, heated the iron pot over high heat, then added oil. She first put in scallions, ginger, garlic, star anise, and cinnamon, stir-frying until fragrant before adding the pig lungs.
Instantly, a rich, assertive aroma filled the air. The spiciness from the dried chilies was slightly pungent, while the scent of scallions, ginger, and garlic sizzling in hot oil whetted the appetite.
Song Xinran stir-fried a few times, and when the pig lungs in the pot began to change color slightly, she added cooking wine, soy sauce, salt, and sugar, continuing to sauté.
She cooked with intense focus, because food could have completely different textures depending on whether it was stir-fried a moment longer or shorter. Achieving perfection required exceptionally sharp eyesight and masterful control of the heat.
Adding the scallions, turning off the stove, and plating the dish were done in one seamless motion.
Song Yu, standing nearby, couldn't help but swallow his saliva. Though he was just over three years old, he had already learned not to pitifully beg for food. Yet, at this moment, his gaze was fixed on the stir-fried pork lungs, unable to look away. His nose twitched slightly as he sniffed.
Such an incredible aroma—how could any dish smell this good? Song Yu felt as if all the food he had ever eaten in his life combined couldn't compare to this fragrance.
But he was a sensible child. Even if his stomach was growling and he kept swallowing saliva, he wouldn't act like Cai Yang, who would boldly declare, "I want a taste!" while the food was still in the pot and the adults were in the kitchen.
Uncle had said that children shouldn't eat alone; they must wait for the adults to eat together. That was how a good child behaved.
Yet Cai Yang always ate first. He wasn't a good child, so why did Uncle and Aunt like him more?
Song Yu couldn't understand this, and no one had ever explained it to him.
He stood there obediently, but just then, a pair of chopsticks holding a freshly stir-fried piece of pork lung was brought to his lips. Song Yu's eyes widened in surprise, and he took a small step back, looking up at Song Xinran with a slightly panicked expression.
Song Xinran smiled gently. "Xiao Yu, could you help Mommy taste this and see if it's good?"
His mouth watering uncontrollably, Song Yu shook his head slightly, his voice muffled. "It smells amazing."
The freshly cooked food was pressed right against his lips. "Xiao Yu, please help Mommy out."
Feeling a bit conflicted, Song Yu thought to himself, Well, I suppose I have no choice. He glanced around surreptitiously—no one else was around. For just this moment, he could temporarily stop being a good child.
He opened his mouth and took the pork lung inside.
Considering it was for a child, Song Xinran had used only a small amount of dried chili for seasoning and had been sparing with the oil and salt. The flavor might be a bit lacking, but it should still be acceptable… right?
Sure enough, Song Yu's cheeks moved as he chewed, and his eyes lit up instantly. He nodded vigorously while chewing and, after swallowing, exclaimed, "It's really delicious!"
Song Xinran smiled and fed him another bite.
This time, Song Yu accepted it more readily. Since he had already been a "bad child" once, he might as well do it again.
Song Xinran fed him several more bites. Song Yu chewed with his cheeks puffing in and out, his eyes sparkling. "Mommy, you should have some too."
Song Xinran smiled. Her sense of accomplishment from cooking had already been greatly satisfied. She was about to say something when Cai Yang's chubby, sturdy little figure appeared at the kitchen doorway. Pointing at them, he shouted loudly, "You're sneaking food!"
Cai Yang had been playing outside but was drawn in by the strong, savory aroma of the stir-fried pork lungs. He had thought his mother was making something delicious, only to find his aunt feeding Song Yu. Instantly, he felt unbalanced.
Hearing this, Song Yu visibly tensed up and quickly waved both hands in explanation. "We're not sneaking food! We're just tasting it."
Feeling slightly annoyed, Song Xinran turned to Cai Yang with a friendly smile. "Xiao Yang, would you like to try some too?"
Cai Yang immediately gave in, stepping into the kitchen and declaring loudly, "Yes!"
Song Xinran: "But didn't you say earlier that you wouldn't eat anything I make?"
Cai Yang froze.
Song Xinran continued with a gentle smile: "If you apologize to me and Xiao Yu, you might barely get to eat."
Cai Yang immediately pulled his foot back: "I won't eat it!"
He turned and ran away again.
Song Yu looked somewhat at a loss.
Song Xinran fed him another bite: "Since Cai Yang won't eat it, Xiao Yu can have more. We shouldn't let it go to waste."
Song Yu furrowed his small brow in thought. Wasting food was indeed a bad thing. He nodded solemnly, his voice childish yet earnest: "I won't waste it. I'll try my best to finish everything."
Song Xinran couldn't help but chuckle.
After stir-frying the pork lungs, Song Xinran prepared to handle the grass carp leftover from making fish congee.
She actually preferred spicy flavors, but considering Song Yu's young age, she decided to make sour fish with pickled vegetables instead. Coincidentally, Song Xinwen's household had several jars of pickled vegetables.
Tonight, Song Xinran cooked a pot of fish congee and prepared four dishes: stir-fried pork liver, sour fish with pickled vegetables, mapo tofu, and braised pork belly with potatoes.
The aroma of freshly cooked food was intense and irresistible, carried by the wind straight into one's nostrils and lingering in the heart.
Song Xinwen, who had been tidying up on the second floor, couldn't resist coming downstairs upon smelling the fragrance. Standing in the kitchen, she watched Song Xinran cook with methodical ease and couldn't help but remark: "Xinran, where did you learn such skills? This smells absolutely amazing."
Song Xinran replied: "A new chef started at the factory canteen. I picked up a few tips from him."
She casually borrowed the excuse of having heard about it while eating at the canteen, which also helped explain the sudden improvement in her cooking skills.
Song Xinwen said: "That was really kind of him. Xinran, with skills like these, you could even run a restaurant."
Song Xinran smiled. She had been considering the idea, provided she could gather the funds to open one.
"Is brother-in-law not back yet?" Song Xinran asked. From the fragmented memories in her mind, she knew that her brother-in-law, Cai Yongde, worked at a pottery factory a few kilometers away.
Song Xinwen said: "His factory is rushing to meet deadlines lately, so he's busy. Let's not wait for him and start eating."
As soon as she finished speaking, a deep, rough voice sounded: "What did you cook today, Xinwen? I could smell it from the yard. If I'd known there was meat, I would've brought back some liquor."
Song Xinran then saw a man standing at the doorway, wearing a yellowish short-sleeved shirt and holding a dark green work uniform, his skin tanned like wheat.
Upon seeing her, he immediately said: "Xinran, what brings you back today? Did your sister go pick you up?"
Song Xinran greeted him as brother-in-law.
Song Xinwen said: "Xinran made all these dishes. Come on, let's eat now that you're back."
While setting the dishes on the table, Cai Yongde noticed the steamed eggs and frowned: "With so many dishes already, why steam eggs? They won't taste good if we can't finish them."
Song Xinwen nudged his arm: "Xinran rarely comes back. What's wrong with having a few extra dishes?"
Song Xinran spoke up: "Brother-in-law is right. In this weather, leftovers spoil easily, and it'd be a waste. But Xiao Yang kept pestering sister for steamed eggs, and she couldn't refuse him."
Just then, Cai Yang returned. Hearing this from Song Xinran, he immediately stiffened his neck and declared: "I want to eat eggs!"
Cai Yongde scolded: "With so many dishes, you won't go hungry!"
Meanwhile, Song Yu hurriedly moved a stool to the table and set out bowls and chopsticks. Compared to his busy little figure, Cai Yang lounged like an old master, turning on the TV to watch.
Song Xinwen, seeing this, patted his shoulder and said, "Go get water quickly. It's time to eat, why are you still watching TV!"
Cai Yang didn't move.
Song Xinwen stood up, her expression serious: "Cai Yang!"
Cai Yang glanced at her, then at Cai Yongde, and still didn't move.
Song Xinwen casually picked up a clothes hanger as if to hit him, but Cai Yongde quickly stopped her, saying it's meal time and there's no need for violence, especially with Xinran here today!
Song Xinwen threw the hanger aside and said to Cai Yang, "Suit yourself whether you eat or not."
Song Xinran observed this scene without commenting. She now understood the personalities of her sister's family.
She seated Song Yu next to her. She had intended to help him onto the bench, but Song Yu brought over a small stool himself, stepped on it, and smoothly climbed onto the bench.
As for Cai Yang… he had his own special stool and skillfully slid onto it.
During the meal, Cai Yongde and Song Xinwen kept serving themselves the dishes Song Xinran had cooked. Cai Yongde gave a thumbs up: "Xinran, I'd never tasted your cooking before – it's amazing! Last time the deputy factory director treated us to Xinyue Restaurant, the flavors were far inferior to yours!"
Song Xinwen exclaimed, "Xinyue Restaurant? That's the place where you said one table cost four hundred?"
Cai Yongde confirmed it was.
Song Xinwen thought her husband was just being polite – four hundred for one meal could cost half a month's salary. How could such an expensive restaurant not compare to Song Xinran's cooking?
However, having never tasted such expensive food herself, she could only imagine the flavors and echoed her husband: "Xinran learned her skills from a master chef."
Only Cai Yongde knew in his heart that his words contained no exaggeration. He genuinely regretted not buying some baijiu liquor to accompany the fried pork lungs – that would have been perfect.
But when he turned to look at his son, the little foodie who usually loved eating was now focused on eating steamed egg with rice. Cai Yongde frowned and called out: "Xiao Yang, try what your aunt made. Don't just eat eggs, leave some for Xiao Yu too."
Song Yu, his cheeks bulging with food, wanted to shake his head to indicate he didn't need any.
Previously, steamed egg had been exclusively Cai Yang's food, and even when really craving it, Song Yu wouldn't ask for it.
Today he wasn't tempted at all, as his mother's cooking was more than enough.
Hearing this, Cai Yang looked up and scanned the faces around the table. Song Xinwen quickly picked up a piece of pickled cabbage fish for him. Cai Yang smelled the aroma and couldn't help swallowing, about to eat it when he noticed Song Xinran's amused expression.
This angered Cai Yang, who threw the fish slice on the table: "I won't eat it! I only want eggs!"
Seeing this, Song Xinwen felt a pang of heartache and quickly put the fish slice into her own bowl: "Some people don't know what's good for them."
This was her first time tasting such delicious fish – snow-white slices without any fishy smell, fragrant and tender, melting into flakes in her mouth. She had finally found this piece and gave it to her son out of affection, never expecting Cai Yang to be so ungrateful.
When people encounter exceptionally delicious food, they usually can't bother with conversation. Previously at meals, Cai Yang had been the center of attention with both parents serving him and talking to him. But today, only his mother had served him once, with little conversation. The more Cai Yang thought about it, the more upset he felt. After a few mouthfuls of rice, he said he was done eating and ran outside to play.
He waited outside for a while. Normally, his mother would have come out with a bowl to feed him by this time, but today she never appeared. Cai Yang stamped his feet and truly went off to play.
Inside the house, the atmosphere had grown somewhat tense, all because of Song Xinran’s statement: "I’ve resigned. I won’t be working at the glass factory anymore."
Upon hearing this, Song Xinwen fell silent for a few seconds before immediately launching into a full-scale persuasion effort, emphasizing how good the glass factory was and how others couldn’t even get the chance to work there.
After finishing, she nudged Cai Yongde, hoping her husband would chime in with a few words as well.
Unexpectedly, after a moment of thought, Cai Yongde said, "There’s no rush. The glass factory really is too exhausting. If Xinran doesn’t want to work there, she can find another job—something closer to home, easier, so she can come back often."
Cai Yongde had thought it through carefully. He hadn’t known before that Song Xinran had such culinary skills, but now that he did, other ideas began to form in his mind.
If she were closer, Song Xinran could come back often to cook, and he could even invite colleagues from the factory over to eat together.
Take the head of their factory’s supply and sales department, for instance—a man who loved good food and knew how to appreciate it. Many employees living on the factory grounds would invite him over when they cooked something special, and those with excellent cooking skills were especially popular.
Cai Yongde had always regretted not being able to build that kind of connection. Song Xinwen’s cooking was decent, but it wasn’t impressive enough to invite someone specifically for a meal.
But Song Xinran was different. Her cooking was so delicious that even the supply and sales department head would give it a thumbs-up.