Han Xiuxiu’s silence was taken by Lu Yunfei as a sign that she felt sorry for him. Are these wounds on my body really that frightening?
Lu Yunfei picked up his clothes and began to put them on, smiling as he did. “They look bad, but they aren’t actually deep. Being a hunter, it’s normal to carry a few scars. Though tigers and leopards do roam the mountains, you don’t run into them every day.”
Han Xiuxiu could hear the comfort in his tone. Just then, she watched him drape his shirt halfway over his shoulders—it covered his back, but left his waist and abdomen exposed, the muscles shifting and rippling with every movement.
Does this man have any idea how much temptation he poses?
She even felt the urge to reach out and touch him. What a fine figure indeed!
To have such a strong, healthy body—what a waste it would be if anything happened to him.
Han Xiuxiu swallowed hard. “That may be true, but you still need to be careful. You aren’t alone anymore.”
Lu Yunfei’s heart warmed at her words. “Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.”
As they talked, Han Xiuxiu and Lu Yunfei finished planting all the seedlings they had bought. There were only a few pepper and eggplant plants, so they went in quickly. For the cucumbers and loofahs, they dug holes right next to the bamboo fence that served as a courtyard wall, set the plants in place, and covered the roots with soil.
Once the seedlings were in the ground, Lu Yunfei went to the kitchen and brought back some wood ash, sprinkling a ring of it around the base of each plant.
Wood ash was a wonderful thing—it acted as both a natural fertilizer and a repellent for slugs and snails. In this time before chemical fertilizers or pesticides, it was the best they had. Thankfully, they weren’t planting much, so it would be more than enough.
After spreading the ash, they watered each seedling thoroughly to settle the soil around the roots. The work was done.
Han Xiuxiu hadn’t been of much help, but watching the process, it didn’t seem difficult. Having seen it once, she felt confident she could do it herself next time. If they planted more in the future, she would be able to give it a try.
The only concern was the chickens—they would surely peck at the tender leaves.
Lu Yunfei said, “We’ll keep them penned up today. Tomorrow I’ll go cut some bamboo and build a proper fence around the garden.”
Han Xiuxiu agreed. She herded the chicks into a corner and blocked them off, then scattered feed mixed with rice bran for them to peck at.
The two hens were not neglected either. These days, they laid one egg a day, sometimes even two if they were lucky. Han Xiuxiu gave them their feed and topped up their water bowl as well.
Their bright red combs were a sure sign of good health—they would likely keep laying eggs steadily for quite some time.
When Lu Yunfei finished with the garden, he brought out a jar of powder meant to repel snakes and insects, and sprinkled a line of it all around the house.
Seeing how methodical and capable he was, Han Xiuxiu felt very pleased. “I’ll start preparing dinner now.”
They had skipped lunch, so they decided to eat early that evening. The fresh pork they had bought still had fine hairs on the skin. Han Xiuxiu lit a fire, then held the pork over the flame to singe the skin. She stopped when it smelled slightly charred and the surface turned black.
Though it looked dirty, once she scraped it with a knife, the skin underneath turned a beautiful golden-yellow. She worked quickly and skillfully to clean the meat. In this era, pigs were raised on grain and grass, so the cuts had a thick layer of fat and less lean meat.
This kind of pork would turn out rich and flavorful when braised. If the fat seemed too much, she could render some of the lard first.
Three pounds of meat was far too much for one meal, so she only cut half of it. The weather was still mild, and even cooler up in the hills, so the rest would keep well for a day or two.
Since she planned to make braised pork, she would need steamed rice to go with it—and braising took time, so she had to get the rice started first.
She scooped out the new rice they had bought that day. It was expensive, but you could tell why: the grains were far clearer and more translucent than older rice. When washed, they glistened like tiny crystals. For firm, fluffy steamed rice, it was best not to boil it too long. She parboiled it until it was half-cooked, drained it, and transferred it to a steamer pot. What was left in the pot was thick, nourishing rice water.
She poured that into a clay bowl. Rice water made from new grain was richer and more fragrant, carrying the sweet scent of fresh harvest.
This was actually Han Xiuxiu’s first time making braised pork. She had watched Mrs. Li prepare it a few times before. The key step was browning the sugar correctly—it determined whether the final dish would have a rich, glossy color or not.
First, she placed the cut pieces of pork into the pot to sear, letting the excess fat render out. As the meat began to release its aroma, clear golden lard pooled at the bottom, filling the kitchen with a mouthwatering scent.
Once the meat was lightly golden on all sides, she removed it and set it aside, ladling out the extra oil for later use.
She then pulled some firewood out of the stove to lower the heat. For a beginner, caramelizing sugar required a gentle flame—otherwise it would burn and turn bitter, and good meat like this was too valuable to ruin.
She added brown sugar to the remaining oil in the pot. When the sugar melted and began to bubble into fine, foamy streams, she returned the pork to the pan, tossing it until every piece was evenly coated. Then she poured in water and let it simmer slowly.
The heat had to stay low now. She stirred occasionally, letting the liquid reduce into a thick, glossy sauce.
After sprinkling the insect-repellent powder around the house, Lu Yunfei trimmed back overhanging branches and pulled up any tall weeds growing nearby. Keeping the area clear and open helped deter snakes and bugs.
As he worked, a rich, savory scent drifted toward him. He had finished the bowl of noodles he ate that morning long ago, and the chestnut cakes from noon barely counted as a meal. Suddenly, he felt ravenous. He quickly finished his tasks and hurried back home.
As soon as he stepped into the yard, the aroma grew even stronger, stirring his appetite to the fullest.
Walking into the kitchen, Lu Yunfei exclaimed, “That smells amazing!”
Han Xiuxiu smiled, pressing her lips together. “It’s almost done. Go wash your hands and get ready to eat.”
Even so, Lu Yunfei leaned over to peek into the pot. Dark reddish-brown sauce bubbled gently, coating the meat in a glossy sheen that trembled with every simmer.
Han Xiuxiu’s first attempt at braised pork was a great success. The meat was tender and smooth, melting on the tongue without being greasy, while the sauce had soaked deep into every bite.
She felt quite satisfied. At least this pig didn’t die in vain—it made for a perfect meal.
Lu Yunfei was a generous eater and a loyal admirer. His wife’s cooking was truly delicious, and he was the type of man who could never get enough meat.
“This is just as good as what they serve in the town’s best restaurants,” he said.
“You’re just saying that to flatter me,” she replied. “How could I compare to a professional chef? Besides, I didn’t even add any spices. It can’t possibly be as good as theirs.”
Good braised pork usually benefited from star anise and bay leaves to remove any faint gamey taste. But who would buy expensive spices just for one meal?
“Spices?” Lu Yunfei asked. “Like star anise and bay leaves?”
“What’s so hard about that?” He smiled. “Those things grow wild all over the mountains. Next time I go up, I’ll gather some for you.”
Han Xiuxiu was surprised. “They grow in the mountains too?”
“Of course they do. They’re just a bit tricky to find. But I’ve seen them before—I know exactly where to look.”
Lu Yunfei never bothered much with fancy ingredients when cooking for himself. The trees that bore those spices grew tall, and reaching the fruit was a hassle he never cared to deal with. So he had never kept them at home.
But if his wife wanted them, he was more than willing to make the effort.
Han Xiuxiu only ate a few pieces from the big bowl of pork, finding it a little too rich after a while. She finished her meal with rice soaked in warm rice water.
Lu Yunfei ate more than half the bowl, and even poured the remaining sauce over his rice to finish it off. He leaned back, fully satisfied.
Since they had eaten dinner early and the sun hadn’t set yet, Han Xiuxiu decided to heat water for a bath and wash her hair.
Bathing was inconvenient in the countryside—it used up a lot of water and firewood, so most people only washed every few days. Usually, Han Xiuxiu would just wipe herself down with a warm cloth each day. But today she had walked all the way to town, her hair and face were dusty, and the kitchen smoke had clung to her skin while she cooked. She felt grimy and knew she wouldn’t sleep well if she didn’t wash properly.
She scrubbed the cooking pot twice with wood ash, then rinsed it thoroughly with clean water twice more. Once it was spotless, she filled it with water and added more firewood to the stove.
She realized, though, that the water in the storage jar wasn’t enough for both washing and bathing.
“Could you fetch a few more buckets of water, please? I want to take a bath.”
Lu Yunfei, warm and full after dinner, was happy to oblige. He grabbed the wooden shoulder pole and buckets and headed out.
“Fill it up well,” he called back. “I’ll wash too.”
Lu Yunfei usually bathed in cold water, but warm water was far more comfortable.
They only had one wooden tub, so Han Xiuxiu went first. She closed the door tightly, and when she stepped out, her cheeks were flushed as if she had been dusted with rouge. She twisted her hair dry with a cloth towel, then took a wooden comb to smooth it out.
Though she had grown up in poverty, she had been blessed with fine features and beautiful hair—thick, dark, and glossy, now falling down her back like a sheet of silk.
She sat on the edge of the bed to let it air dry. In the soft glow of the candlelight, her face looked even more gentle and lovely. As she ran the comb slowly through her hair, the contrast between her pale hands, dark locks, and rosy cheeks stirred a sudden warmth in Lu Yunfei, who had just finished his own bath.
These past few days, he had been longing to hold his wife in his arms. She was soft and fragrant, and whenever he held her, he wished he could press her right into his own heart.
He took the comb from her hands and began to brush her hair for her. It was so soft and smooth that he couldn’t resist leaning in to breathe in the faint, sweet scent from her strands.
His breath brushed lightly against her neck, and she shivered, turning her head away with a soft laugh. “What are you doing? That tickles!”
Lu Yunfei’s Adam’s apple bobbed. Slowly, he pressed a kiss to the curve of her neck. When she tilted her head back, he pulled her easily into his embrace. His body was warm and solid, and she caught the clean scent of cypress and soap nut—the same simple herbs he had started using since he first saw her clean her teeth with pine twigs.
Meanwhile, Lu Yunfei breathed in a delicate, subtle fragrance that reminded him of orchids but was sweeter. Filled with her scent, his heart raced, and he held her even tighter.
Han Xiuxiu felt as though she might be crushed in his arms.
Before long, they sank together onto the bed, pulling the covers around them.
Han Xiuxiu rested against Lu Yunfei’s firm chest. He was tall and broad, wrapping her completely in his embrace. His breathing grew deeper and warmer, and she felt his hand wander gently across her back, sending shivers down her spine.
The air under the mosquito net grew warmer and warmer. Beads of sweat dotted Han Xiuxiu’s forehead, and her breathing became shallow and rapid.
When his lips finally met hers—soft, full, and as sweet as rose petals—she parted her lips slightly, and their breaths intertwined, warm and unhurried.