Shen Xihe’s expression was calm. “Besides, it isn’t good to eat too much at night.”
Gu Xiao hesitated. “But I don’t study. The midnight snack was Mother’s order—for you.”
If she ate it and Madam Zhou found out, what then?
In the dim light, Shen Xihe turned slightly, his voice quiet. “Will you eat or not?”
“I will!” Gu Xiao hurried to the kitchen, fetched another bowl and chopsticks, then shut the door tightly. “I’ll just eat a little. You study hard—you should eat more.”
The fish head went to Shen Xihe. Gu Xiao only picked up a chopstick’s worth of noodles. There were eight fish balls in the bowl; she took three. “This is enough for me.”
Shen Xihe lifted his chopsticks. “Eat quickly. I still need to read.”
Gu Xiao nodded vigorously. She ate fast, determined not to disturb his studying. With so little, she finished in no time. “Third Brother, you take your time!”
Inside, she was delighted. The fish‑ball noodles she had made were truly delicious—fresh and fragrant. Tomorrow, Madam Zhou might prepare an extra dish for Shen Xihe, which meant she would get some too.
Gu Xiao’s lips curved into a smile, dimples appearing. As long as she could eat, she was willing to cook for Shen Xihe. After all, being good at studying didn’t mean his brain was good. She could overlook it.
Shen Xihe lowered his head, finishing the last bite. Gu Xiao was simple, easy to please. The incident at noon—surely she had already forgotten.
“I need to read a while longer. You sleep first.” He glanced at her, then said no more.
Gu Xiao hadn’t planned to wait for him anyway. She didn’t sleep in the bed—why wait?
“I won’t make a sound. I promise not to disturb your reading!”
Shen Xihe frowned. “It’s not that I’m afraid. Forget it. Sleep.”
Two bowls and chopsticks were easy to wash. Gu Xiao tidied herself, climbed onto her small couch, pulled up the quilt, and lay quietly.
Night deepened. In the west room, only the lamp glowed at the corner of the desk. Shen Xihe read by its faint light. When he turned his head, in the darkness he could see the small mound of her quilt—truly not disturbing him at all.
The next day, they still went to the fields as usual. With Shen Xihe present, Gu Xiao’s work was lighter and faster. Of the twelve acres, only a little over four remained. Madam Zhou, doting on her youngest son, wished she could give Shen Xihe everything. That evening, she instructed Gu Xiao: “Xiao Xiao, tonight you should make another meal for Third Brother.”
Gu Xiao pressed her lips. “Mother, how about stewing the pig’s feet? Then we can have pig’s‑feet noodles. That would be nourishing.”
Whether nourishing or not didn’t matter—she simply wanted to eat them.
The pig’s feet had been bought days earlier, but Madam Zhou had been reluctant to cook them. The ribs had been eaten, the bones stewed, but the pig’s feet remained. Luckily, the weather wasn’t hot, or they would have spoiled.
Madam Zhou nodded. “Do as you see fit.”
Gu Xiao cut the two pig’s feet, placed them in the clay pot with scallions, ginger, garlic, salt, and rock sugar. The noodles were made from wheat flour and were aromatic.
To make them more elastic, Gu Xiao cracked in an egg. When the pig’s feet were tender, she dropped the noodles into the pot, let them steam a while until cooked, then sprinkled scallions on top—fragrant and beautiful.
Two pig’s feet—she might manage to eat one.
Madam Zhou had asked Gu Xiao to cook, already expecting she would eat a little. If Shen Xihe learned to care for others, he would let Gu Xiao share the food. Xiao Xiao was someone Madam Zhou was willing to spare for—but others would not.
The bowl of noodles was even larger than yesterday’s. Gu Xiao carried it in properly, smiling at Shen Xihe. “Third Brother, eat!”
Shen Xihe set down his book and glanced at her. “Bring another set of chopsticks.”
Without a word, Gu Xiao put the bowl down and went to the kitchen. She didn’t take much—just picked up one pig’s trotter and left the rest.
Shen Xihe said, “There’s too much. I can’t finish it.”
Gu Xiao didn’t even lift her head. “You can. This is enough for me. You study hard—you should eat more.” She had said those words more than once.
Candlelight flickered across Shen Xihe’s face. Fifteen years old, after a day of labor and study, he was already hungry. He couldn’t understand why Gu Xiao thought of him so much. Was it simply that she liked him? Just a little kindness from him, and she was happy. Softly he said, “There are two mu of land left. Once it’s planted tomorrow, I’ll return to the academy the morning after.”
That was truly good news.
Gu Xiao lifted her head, spat out a bone, and tried to hide her joy. “When the weather gets hot, you must take care of yourself, Brother. Be careful on the road.”
Shen Xihe wanted to tell her that at home she needn’t call him “Brother,” but the words stuck in his throat. “…I know.”
He knew her feelings, knew she liked him.
The sun rose and set, days slipping quickly by. Shen Xihe felt the time had passed too fast—last night he had eaten roast pig’s trotter, and today he was leaving.
The young man felt the stirrings of homesickness. Before departing, he glanced at the couch where she lay, then set off into the deep night toward the county.
Madam Zhou’s mind was unsettled. With spring planting finished, the household was no longer busy. Eldest Brother had taken two carpentry jobs, Second Brother had gone to the county to find day labor, and the older boys had nothing to do. She recalled what she had said to Shen Xihe in the kitchen earlier: once the spring planting was done, she would let Da Wa deliver the meals.
Now that spring planting was finished, Madam Zhou wondered how she should tell Gu Xiao. She scattered a handful of millet into the chicken coop, then walked absent‑mindedly into the kitchen.
Gu Xiao had spent half the day polishing fan handles. She was thinking of going up the mountain in the afternoon to cut some bamboo—bamboo could be used for fans or umbrellas, and with the rainy season ahead, umbrellas would surely sell well.
Putting the handles away, she flexed her wrist. “Mother, there’s still bone broth. Let’s stew it with baby greens. The garden’s full of them—we can harvest a batch first.”
Madam Chen and Madam Li were busy in the kitchen. Madam Zhou coughed lightly. “All right, we’ll have that for lunch… Xiao Xiao…” Her mouth opened, but her brows and eyes drooped.
Gu Xiao asked, “Mother, what is it?”
Madam Zhou truly couldn’t bear to say it. She thought, letting Gu Xiao deliver meals wasn’t so bad—she was happy to do it. But Sanlang was her son, her lifeblood. A promise made had to be kept.
She opened her mouth but no words came. Gu Xiao smiled. “Mother, if you have something to say, just say it. I treat you as my own mother—why speak to me as if I weren’t your daughter?”
Madam Zhou was deeply moved. Gu Xiao was the most considerate of all.
Taking a deep breath, she said, “Xiao Xiao, from now on we won’t send you to the county to deliver meals to Third Brother. Let Da Wa go. The days are getting hotter, the sun harsh on the road. Da Wa’s skin is thick; he won’t mind the heat.” She felt her idea was good—not for Shen Xihe’s sake, but for Xiao Xiao’s.
Not only Gu Xiao, but Madam Chen and Madam Li were stunned.
Madam Chen had relied on Gu Xiao to carry her baskets to town, and Madam Li’s embroidered handkerchiefs depended on her too. If Gu Xiao didn’t deliver meals, how would their goods be sold?
Madam Chen forced a smile. “Mother, Xiao Xiao’s been doing it so well.”
Madam Li touched her belly. “Yes, Mother.”
Gu Xiao said, “Mother, I don’t mind the sun, nor the weariness. Please let me go.”
“Xiao Xiao, at noon the sun is fierce. You’re a young girl—why run about so far, so tired, and eat late?” Madam Zhou was flustered. This child was too endearing—no tears, no complaints, only insisting she wasn’t afraid of hardship.
Madam Zhou began to resent Shen Xihe for being so particular, even with someone bringing him food.
Gu Xiao clenched her fists. “I’m not afraid. Going to the county makes me happy—how could I call it tiring?”
If she didn’t go, she couldn’t sell her goods. If she couldn’t sell, she couldn’t save money. Without saving, how could she ever leave? Why was Madam Zhou stopping her—had Shen Xihe said something?
Gu Xiao felt she had already done everything for him. She had delivered meals before, and these past three days even brought him supper. Clearly, feeding the mind wasn’t enough.
Madam Zhou sighed. How could she explain—that it was Shen Xihe who didn’t want her delivering meals?
Gu Xiao sniffled. “If I don’t go to the county, I won’t see my husband. And I won’t sell anything. If I can’t sell, how can I save silver for him?”
The girl lowered her head, lips pressed tight, full of grievance. Madam Zhou’s heart softened. “Who said that? If you want to go to the county to sell, you can go anytime. Why insist on midday?”
“Exactly!” Madam Chen quickly added. “Mother, Xiao Xiao does it all for Third Brother. You mustn’t waste her devotion.”
Madam Li wiped her hands and agreed. “That’s right!”
Gu Xiao blinked. “Mother, you mean it? I can go at other times too?”
Madam Zhou’s heart was already leaning toward one side. She gave her word with confidence. “Mm, as long as the work is finished, you can go whenever you like!”
Gu Xiao drew a deep breath. “Then let Da Wa deliver the meals. I can stay home and cook for my husband—it’s fine as long as he can study in peace. I don’t have to go.”
Madam Zhou finally relaxed. “Staying at home with your mother is better than running around.”
Gu Xiao replied: “Of course I’m willing to stay with you. But more than that, I want to earn money so you can live well.”
Someday, once she had saved enough silver, she vowed she would often come back to visit Madam Zhou.
Madam Zhou felt comforted. Madam Chen and Madam Li exchanged a smile: “Xiao Xiao really is the most filial.”
For lunch, they had bone broth stewed with cabbage. Da Wa, who had delivered meals to Shen Xihe before, knew the routine well: in the basket were two steamed buns, a dish of vegetables, and one egg.
Madam Zhou reminded Da Wa not to dawdle on the road, then called the rest of the family to eat.
Nibbling on a bun and a few bites of vegetables, Gu Xiao thought that not going might be quite nice—later she could choose to go in the morning or the afternoon, whenever she wished.
Meanwhile, Da Wa reached the county town and hurried to the academy. He arrived early, before many people had gathered at the gate. He stood under a tree, the same spot he had used before when delivering meals, certain that his little uncle would see him right away.
More and more students came out of the academy. Da Wa’s sharp eyes quickly spotted Shen Xihe. But Shen Xihe didn’t look his way at all. Instead, he walked to another tree and waited quietly.
Da Wa pushed through the crowd with the basket, calling loudly: “Little Uncle! Little Uncle!”
Shen Xihe turned at the sound. His brows furrowed, disbelief flickering in his eyes. “How… is it you?”