The firecrackers from yesterday’s wedding and the banquet had left bits of red paper and debris scattered across the courtyard.
Han Xiuxiu picked up a large straw broom and began sweeping.
The courtyard wasn’t very large. A fence made of waist-high branches enclosed the yard, while the ground was simply packed earth rather than stone paving. In one corner stood a doghouse built from mud bricks and straw. The yard itself was mostly empty, making it easy to clean.
As she swept, Han Xiuxiu thought they really ought to raise a few hens. Then there would always be eggs to eat. Once Lu Yunfei returned, she’d ask what he thought. If he agreed, tomorrow, when they visited her parents’ home, she could bring back a couple of chickens.
She had only finished sweeping half the yard when Lu Yunfei returned carrying two buckets of water.
Seeing her working, he immediately set down the buckets and reached for the broom.
“You’re not very strong. Leave jobs like sweeping to me.”
Han Xiuxiu didn’t argue. She handed him the broom with a smile.
“I was thinking we could keep a few chickens at home. What do you think?”
The moment Lu Yunfei heard her say our home, his heart soared.
As he swept, he replied happily,
“Now that we’re married, you can decide things like that. I never kept chickens before because I’d often disappear into the mountains hunting for days at a time. But now it’s different. Raising a few would be nice. If you want chickens, then let’s raise them.”
Han Xiuxiu casually praised him.
“You’re the head of the household. Of course I should ask your opinion.”
His smile grew even wider.
Hearing her call him “head of the household” filled him with delight.
“If I’m the head of the household, then you’re the one who manages it. From now on, you take care of everything at home. I’ll listen to you too.”
Han Xiuxiu hadn’t expected him to seize the opportunity so quickly and laughed.
“You said that yourself. If you refuse to listen later, I’ll remind you of these words.”
The two chatted while discussing where to build the chicken coop.
The mountains were full of snakes and weasels, and careless placement could easily get the chickens eaten.
In the end, they decided to build it beside Black Panther’s doghouse using bamboo and wood, with a thatched roof to keep out the rain.
Once they’d settled on the plan, Lu Yunfei made the decision.
“After breakfast I’ll cut some bamboo and gather dry thatching grass. I should be able to finish it before noon.”
Han Xiuxiu liked how decisive he was.
“Then I’ll make breakfast. Just show me where the rice and food are kept before you finish sweeping.”
A smile spread across Lu Yunfei’s face.
“I almost forgot.”
He dropped the broom, took her hand, and led her inside.
“I’ll show you where everything is.”
The house wasn’t large.
Like most country homes, there weren’t many places to store things.
After one tour, Han Xiuxiu had already memorized where everything was.
Several strips of cured pork hung from the kitchen rafters.
Pointing up at them, Lu Yunfei explained,
“That’s from a wild boar I hunted last year. We’ve eaten almost all of it. Tomorrow let’s take two pieces to your parents’ house. It’s only proper that I show some respect as their son-in-law. Once I hunt some fresh game, I’ll bring more over for Father-in-law and Mother-in-law.”
Han Xiuxiu glanced upward.
Only five or six pieces remained.
The fact that he was willing to give two away showed genuine sincerity.
Lu Yunfei really was an honest man.
Had the original Han Xiuxiu survived, she would probably have lived happily with him.
Instead, she had been the one fortunate enough to inherit that blessing.
The original Han Xiuxiu had long been accustomed to housework.
Before transmigrating, Han Xiuxiu had also become highly capable through life in the apocalypse.
She worked quickly and efficiently.
After Lu Yunfei went back outside to continue sweeping, she lit the stove and began boiling water.
As soon as the pot started to simmer, she finished washing the rice and poured it into the pot.
Breakfast was simple—rice porridge, a few leftover wedding pastries steamed until hot again, and some pickled vegetables.
If they raised chickens, she thought, they could each have a boiled egg every morning.
It was admittedly a rather luxurious dream.
Still…
There was nothing wrong with having dreams.
After breakfast, Lu Yunfei once again insisted on washing the dishes.
Han Xiuxiu was more than happy to let him.
She wasn’t idle herself.
Instead, she gathered the tools they’d need for building the chicken coop so everything would be ready once he finished.
After washing up, Lu Yunfei casually placed the bowls into the open kitchen cupboard.
There wasn’t even a cupboard door.
Han Xiuxiu silently decided that when she had time, she’d sew a curtain for it.
She wasn’t worried about grease.
She was worried about soot from the wood-burning stove settling on the dishes.
Seeing her carrying a basket, Lu Yunfei asked curiously,
“We’re only cutting bamboo and gathering thatching grass. Why are you bringing a basket?”
Han Xiuxiu smiled.
“In case we find bamboo shoots. We can stir-fry them, or pickle them into sour bamboo shoots.”
When Lu Yunfei had lived alone, he’d never thought of things like that.
Now that he was married…
Someone was planning everything alongside him.
His mood immediately brightened.
There were many bamboo groves in the mountains.
Some belonged to individual families, but the grove they visited was common land.
Village women occasionally came here to gather dry bamboo leaves and bamboo husks for firewood.
The grove wasn’t large.
While Lu Yunfei chopped down two bamboo poles, Han Xiuxiu wandered among the stalks searching for shoots.
Most of the earlier shoots had already been harvested.
She found only a few newly sprouted ones.
Not enough for more than one meal…
But then she discovered something even better.
Among the bamboo she spotted several strange egg-shaped growths.
Beside them grew several mushrooms with elegant white lace skirts and gray caps.
Quickly she called Lu Yunfei over.
Thinking something had happened, he hurried over carrying his machete.
Instead he found Han Xiuxiu crouching happily on the ground.
When she saw him, her eyes curved into crescents.
“Look what I found!”
Following her finger, Lu Yunfei smiled.
“Those are bamboo fungus eggs. Some people call them bamboo pith mushrooms. I’ve heard they’re incredibly delicious.”
“Have you ever eaten them?”
“No.”
He scratched his head.
“I don’t know how to cook them.”
Han Xiuxiu laughed.
“Neither do I. They’re probably cooked like other mushrooms. Let’s pick them first.”
In the apocalypse, delicate edible mushrooms like these had long gone extinct.
They’d been replaced by giant poisonous fungi that released hallucinogenic spores.
Many villagers mistakenly believed these mushrooms were snake eggs or snake saliva and refused to eat them.
Bamboo fungus was extremely delicate.
Once its white lace opened, it had to be picked that very day.
By the next day, it would already begin to rot.
Even wealthy nobles rarely had the chance to eat fresh bamboo fungus.
Most could only buy the dried version.
Han Xiuxiu carefully harvested the fully opened mushrooms and placed them into her basket.
The smaller ones she covered lightly with bamboo leaves, planning to return in a couple of days.
After cutting the bamboo, Lu Yunfei trimmed away the branches.
He carried two long bamboo poles over one shoulder and a bundle of thatching grass over the other.
He motioned for Han Xiuxiu to walk ahead.
The two headed home together while Black Panther trotted happily in front, occasionally running ahead before stopping to wait for them.
Han Xiuxiu couldn’t help much with building the chicken coop.
Instead, she brought out a wooden washbasin and planned to wash their dirty clothes.
Their home stood quite far from the river.
She hesitated.
Would using the water stored in the jars be wasteful?
After all, Lu Yunfei had carried every bucket home himself.
She finally asked,
“So… where do you usually wash clothes?”
Lu Yunfei looked up.
She was holding a basin full of laundry.
Among it were the clothes he’d worn yesterday.
His heart immediately warmed.
Was I out of my mind before? he wondered.
Why did I ever refuse to get married?
If I hadn’t changed my mind in time… how could I possibly have imagined living like this?
He smiled.
“There’s plenty of water in the jar. Use that first. If we run out, I’ll fetch more.”
“Okay.”
Han Xiuxiu felt relieved.
She certainly didn’t want to walk all the way to the river every time she washed clothes.
The clothes they’d worn yesterday had all been specially made for the wedding.
Since they’d only worn them for one day, they weren’t very dirty.
Using soap pods, she only needed to rinse them twice before they were perfectly clean.
The weather wasn’t cold.
Doing laundry wasn’t difficult.
After wringing each garment dry, she hung them on a hemp rope stretched between two trees.
She carefully smoothed out every wrinkle by hand.
The mountain breeze would dry them quickly.
And if the sun came out…
They’d carry that wonderful scent of sunshine.
Meanwhile, Lu Yunfei had nearly finished building the chicken coop.
The frame was complete.
Only the thatched roof remained.
Looking at the sun, Han Xiuxiu realized it was nearly lunchtime.
She washed the fresh bamboo fungus and placed yesterday’s soup bones back into the pot.
The broth had already been finished, but the bones could still produce another pot if simmered again.
There was almost no meat left—
only bits of tendon and scraps clinging to the bones.
Still, after boiling again, the soup took on a faint milky color and a pleasant aroma.
She removed the bones, added the bamboo fungus, brought everything back to a boil, sprinkled in a little salt…
and the soup was finished.
While the fire was still burning, she reheated yesterday’s leftover dishes.
The meal was complete.
Behind the large wok, the rice pot had been steaming.
The moment she lifted the lid, the fragrance of freshly cooked rice filled the room.
She carried the food to the table and stood in the doorway.
Dressed in her pink blouse and pale green skirt, she looked fresh and graceful.
“Dinner’s ready.”
That single sentence instantly erased all of Lu Yunfei’s morning fatigue.
The chicken coop was finished.
He had even woven a small bamboo nesting basket for the hens and lined it with soft straw.
At the table, he recognized the soup and reheated vegetables.
The third dish took him a moment.
It turned out Han Xiuxiu had picked all the bits of tendon and meat from the boiled bones and tossed them with chopped scallions and chili peppers into a cold salad.
Simple…
Yet unexpectedly elegant.
Other village women would probably laugh at her for wasting precious seasonings.
But Lu Yunfei thought exactly the opposite.
His wife truly knew how to make the most of a household.
Those chewy bits of tendon were perfect with a drink.
My wife really knows good food.
There were two bowls of rice.
His was much larger than hers.
Looking at Han Xiuxiu’s slender frame, he remembered the delicate waist he’d held the previous night.
“You eat so little. Is that really enough?”
“If we run out of rice, I’ll earn more.”
“Don’t let yourself go hungry.”
Han Xiuxiu scooped up a spoonful of bamboo fungus soup.
After blowing on it until it cooled, she held it out toward his lips.
“Try it.”
“What do you think?”