Didn’t this mean that tomorrow she couldn’t deliver food, and therefore couldn’t sell cricket cages either?
Gu Xiao froze in thought. Shen Xihe frowned. “Hm?”
She snapped back to herself. “No, Mother didn’t say anything.”
Since Madam Zhou hadn’t mentioned it, there was no need for Shen Xihe to bring anything home. Gu Xiao said, “Third Brother, focus on your studies. I’ll head back now.”
Shen Xihe gave a brief “Mm.” People bustled at the academy gate, and he still needed to return to his books. The autumn provincial exam was next year—if he failed, he would have to wait three more years.
Once Shen Xihe left, Gu Xiao visibly relaxed. She still had three cricket cages. At three coins each, she sold them all after circling around twice. Adding the one coin left from yesterday, she now had thirteen coins. She set aside two coins to buy a meat flatbread, then spent six coins at the butcher’s stall for half a pound of meat.
Fatty meat was expensive; lean meat was cheaper. Carrying the meat, Gu Xiao sighed inwardly. She didn’t know how she would explain it to Madam Zhou. Even if Madam Zhou approved, she wasn’t sure a single piece would reach her own mouth. After eating the flatbread, she walked home slowly, weaving another cricket cage along the way to show Madam Zhou. She wanted to save money, yes—but sneaking food forever wasn’t a solution. If she grew plump, Madam Zhou would surely accuse her of stealing.
Gu Xiao decided to make her eating open and aboveboard: hand over a small portion of her earnings, keep the larger share hidden.
The Shen family’s meals were the same every day: thin porridge morning and evening, sweet‑potato and wheat buns at noon, plus a pot of stewed vegetables. “Stew” in name, but with hardly any oil or flavor.
Madam Li, pregnant, was still thin and sallow‑faced.
When Gu Xiao returned to the Shen household, she slipped into the east room with the meat. Madam Zhou was mending clothes. Old Master Shen and the elder sons wore theirs out quickly from work, and Shen Xihe’s sleeves were frayed as well. Madam Zhou’s needlework was fine, her stitches neat. She looked up at Gu Xiao. “You’re back.”
Gu Xiao nodded, dryly forced out a “Mother.”
In fact, Gu Xiao had thought carefully before telling Madam Zhou.
Madam Zhou was not the sort of unreasonable woman who ignored the bigger picture. Later, when Shen Xihe became Prime Minister, Madam Zhou herself was granted a noble title, and she got along well with the ladies of Shengjing. Though she favored Shen Xihe, she was not unfair to the elder and second branches of the family.
Seeing that Gu Xiao seemed to have something to say, Madam Zhou set down her sewing. “Did Third Brother send word back?”
Gu Xiao shook her head, cautiously watching Madam Zhou’s expression. “No… Mother… tomorrow husband has a rest day. I bought half a pound of meat in town, to nourish him…”
Madam Zhou’s eyes widened, her brows furrowing tightly. “What did you buy!”
Startled, Gu Xiao swallowed. “Half a pound of meat…”
Madam Zhou stepped down from the kang, closed the east room door, and seized Gu Xiao’s arm. “Where did you get the money?”
The Shen family was poor, so naturally Gu Xiao couldn’t have been given money to spend. Madam Zhou had assumed the two coins before were just New Year’s gift money saved up. But half a pound of meat cost six or seven coins—where could Gu Xiao have gotten that!
The Shen family might be poor, but they would never tolerate dishonesty.
Gu Xiao quickly produced the cricket cage. “I wove cricket cages to sell. Each can fetch three coins.”
This time Madam Zhou was speechless.
The family had not yet split households, so Madam Zhou managed all earnings. She knew each branch secretly saved a few coins, and she turned a blind eye. But she hadn’t expected Gu Xiao could earn money herself.
Gu Xiao offered the most convenient excuse: “I saw husband looking thin. Studying is so hard—he needs to be nourished…”
Shen Xihe was Madam Zhou’s lifeblood. Thinking of her son, Madam Zhou’s heart ached. She wiped her eyes. Her youngest son was thin; Madam Li was pregnant yet still hungry, longing for a bite of meat. And the eldest branch’s grandson was soon to discuss marriage—Madam Zhou pitied them all.
Madam Zhou hardened her face and scolded: “It’s not as if we’ve never eaten meat before. Don’t be greedy for this taste. Next time, you mustn’t do this!”
Gu Xiao nodded vigorously. “I only pity husband—it wasn’t for myself.”
Madam Zhou: “…”
Madam Zhou looked at Gu Xiao—thirteen years old, yet so thin she barely had a few ounces of flesh on her. “Since you bought it, naturally you won’t be left without a bite.”
Gu Xiao finally relaxed.
Madam Zhou didn’t ask her to hand over the money. First, she assumed Gu Xiao couldn’t earn much. Second, she saw that Gu Xiao’s heart was entirely set on Third Brother. Even if she secretly saved money, Madam Zhou guessed it would be spent on Shen Xihe anyway.
Gu Xiao looked eagerly at her. “Mother, how should we cook the meat?”
Madam Zhou glanced at the sewing basket. With so many mouths and so little meat—barely a palm‑sized piece—she decided it should be sliced and stewed with cabbage. Even if no one got actual meat, they could at least taste the flavor. “Render the fat into oil, stew the rest.”
Gu Xiao felt a pang of pity. “Mother, let me cook it. I promise I’ll make it delicious!”
Madam Zhou didn’t believe her at all, fearing she would ruin the food. “Don’t meddle.”
Gu Xiao kept her composure. “I want to cook it for husband.”
Madam Zhou’s face hardened. She truly didn’t know what to say. So young, and already…
Gu Xiao realized that mentioning Shen Xihe, though embarrassing, was effective. Madam Zhou finally nodded.
The next day.
At noon, Shen Xihe came home. Madam Zhou sent Madam Chen and Madam Li to the fields, leaving herself to cook lunch, with Gu Xiao as her helper.
The younger children also helped—catching insects to feed the chickens. The Shen family had five chickens, Madam Zhou’s treasured possessions.
With no one else around, Madam Zhou coughed lightly. “You cook. I’ll watch.” If Gu Xiao did poorly, she would take over.
Half a pound of meat wasn’t much—only eight small pieces when cut. Gu Xiao boiled the meat to remove the blood, then, under Madam Zhou’s watchful eyes, poured sugar from the jar and began to caramelize it for braising.
Madam Zhou exclaimed, “Why are you using sugar?”
Gu Xiao’s heart tightened. “Mother, this way it tastes better. I want husband to eat it.”
Caramelizing sugar required careful attention. If it burned, Madam Zhou would never let her try again. As soon as the sugar turned golden, Gu Xiao quickly added the meat. The pieces took on a rich color. She ladled in a scoop of water, sprinkled salt, and added scallions, ginger, and garlic. The household had nothing else, so this was all she could do.
Madam Zhou frowned deeply. “Nonsense.”
Gu Xiao pressed her lips into a smile, not daring to speak.
Madam Zhou grew angry. “Why are you standing there—come help with the rest of the cooking!”
Lunch was still sweet‑potato and wheat buns. Madam Zhou took starter dough from the jar, kneaded and steamed buns. She thought Gu Xiao was being foolish, but after a while, the fragrance began to drift out—different from the usual dishes.
Gu Xiao lifted the lid to peek. “It’s almost ready. Mother, you should taste it later.”
The meat needed to simmer slowly, reducing the sauce until fragrant, the fat and lean blending into richness without greasiness.
Madam Zhou didn’t even look up. “I don’t like this sort of food.”
The fire in the stove gradually died down. Madam Zhou disliked wasting sugar, oil, and firewood. Gu Xiao carefully scooped out a trembling piece of meat and offered it to her. “Mother, please taste it. See if it’s good.”
The meat was certainly delicious. With so few pieces, Madam Zhou refused to eat any herself. “What’s the point of tasting?”
Gu Xiao said earnestly, “Mother, please just try it. Though I cooked it for husband, in my heart I was thinking of you. You work so hard for this family. The first bite must be yours.”
The meat was held right to her lips. Madam Zhou stared, stunned.
Gu Xiao carefully blew on the piece of meat. Almost against her own will, Madam Zhou opened her mouth. Her mouth was filled with the fragrance of meat, the skin tender and springy. The last time she had eaten meat was at New Year, when a pound was minced into stuffing for the whole family—just enough to taste. But this was a whole piece of meat.
Madam Zhou felt pained, yet she couldn’t spit it out. She could only swallow. “Why am I eating this…”
Every piece eaten meant one less.
Gu Xiao asked, “Mother, is it good?”
Madam Zhou nodded once, uneasily looking away. “Why are you standing there—hurry and dish out the meat, stew the vegetables, steam the buns.”
Seven pieces of meat were placed in the bowl. The broth was used to stew cabbage, while the meat itself was steamed. Madam Zhou already had in mind how to divide those seven pieces.
At noon, the Shen family returned from the fields. After a busy morning, Old Master Shen’s head was dripping with sweat. Entering the house, he washed his face. “Why does lunch smell so good today?”
Madam Zhou didn’t look up. “It’s thanks to Xiao Xiao. She worked hard to save money and brought home a piece of meat, saying Third Brother studies so hard, he should be nourished.”
At this, everyone in the household froze. The eldest and second sons, accustomed to following Madam Zhou’s lead, simply nodded. But Madam Chen and Madam Li thought much more.
How much money could Gu Xiao possibly save? Yet Madam Zhou spoke as if it were a great merit. Wasn’t Shen Xihe’s schooling funded by their silver?
Madam Li touched her belly, wanting to secure a bite for the child inside. She had only one daughter; perhaps this child would be a son. “Then I’ll share in Xiao Xiao’s blessing.”
Madam Zhou ignored her, instead instructing: “Da Wa, go to the village entrance to meet your little uncle.”
Da Wa was sixteen, a year older than Shen Xihe. He had studied for two years but stopped. His age was right for marriage negotiations, but Madam Chen wanted to wait until Shen Xihe passed the provincial exam, so the match could be better.
Before Da Wa could leave, Shen Xihe returned, carrying a bundle of goods he had bought from the county.
Madam Zhou looked at her youngest son with joy. “I told you not to buy things—your pens and ink for studying already cost money!”
Shen Xihe replied, “It didn’t cost much.”
Madam Zhou patted his head. “You must be hungry. Eat quickly!” She then remembered Gu Xiao. “Xiao Xiao bought a piece of meat, just to nourish you.”
Shen Xihe glanced at Gu Xiao.
Gu Xiao gave a small laugh. “That’s right.”
The men received two buns each, the women one. When the meat was brought out, Madam Chen and the others stared, their eyes wide.
The authority to divide the meat lay with Madam Zhou. She first gave one piece to Old Master Shen, then placed the second piece into Shen Xihe’s bowl.
The eldest branch had many people, so they received two pieces. Madam Li got one. Madam Zhou placed the remaining two pieces into Gu Xiao’s bowl.
The vegetables were stewed in the meat broth, more fragrant than usual. Four eggs were also divided. This meal was far richer than normal. Madam Zhou sat down. “Eat.”
Madam Li looked at the meat in her bowl, then at Gu Xiao’s. Her own daughter was the same age as Gu Xiao, yet had hardly ever eaten meat. Even the eldest branch’s two grandsons, who had eggs, hadn’t eaten much of them. Now they gazed longingly. Madam Li sighed, cut off a small piece of her meat, and placed it in her daughter’s bowl.
Madam Chen herself couldn’t bear to eat, so she gave both pieces to her sons.
Gu Xiao hadn’t expected Madam Zhou to give her two pieces—Shen Xihe himself had only one. She thought to put on a show. “Husband studies so hard, he should eat another piece.” She made as if to place one in Shen Xihe’s bowl, but inwardly thought: if he dared eat it, he’d be doomed!
Shen Xihe’s expression remained calm. “Mother gave it to you. You eat…” That was all.
Gu Xiao quickly pulled back her chopsticks. “Then I’ll eat it, husband!”
Shen Xihe hadn’t even finished his sentence. “…Mm.”