Madam Zhou stared hard at the contents of the basket, torn between asking Gu Xiao where she had gotten the money or scolding her outright.
“You… why did you buy meat again!” Madam Zhou was both angry and distressed. “Do you even know how much meat costs per pound?”
Gu Xiao blinked innocently. “Of course. Thirteen coins a pound, pig’s feet seven coins, and the bone was thrown in for free!”
Free things—even without meat—were worth having. Gu Xiao added, “Bones can be boiled into soup. Mother, don’t you think that’s fine?”
Madam Zhou was still fuming, but Gu Xiao had already planned out the meat.
“You’re being reckless. We just had meat the other day!”
Gu Xiao said, “But I want you to eat meat every day. You work so hard for this family. And husband is studying at the academy—how can he manage without good food? This isn’t wasting money. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you always have meat, and I’ll still save silver for him!”
Madam Zhou’s temper faltered. Gu Xiao was thinking of her.
Who else in this household remembered her sacrifices? The eldest and second sons now had their own families, their hearts turned away, focused on their own households. The two daughters were married and rarely returned. The third son was still young, a boy who didn’t care about such things. But Gu Xiao was truly thoughtful, warming her heart in a way her own daughters never had.
Madam Zhou looked away, uneasy. “Saving silver for Third Brother doesn’t depend on you.”
Gu Xiao hooked her arm through Madam Zhou’s. Of course, saving money for Shen Xihe wasn’t her responsibility—she was thinking of her own future departure.
“Then I’ll buy meat for you, so you can eat it every day.” Gu Xiao sighed softly. “I don’t care about anyone else. I only care about you.”
Madam Zhou pushed her off. No one had ever clung to her arm before; it made her restless. “Enough, enough. Stop with the useless talk.”
Gu Xiao pressed her lips together. “Then tomorrow I’ll cook. How would you like it?”
If Madam Zhou cooked, she would render the fat into oil and stretch the lean meat out slowly. During spring planting, a pound of meat couldn’t be eaten in one day. But Gu Xiao’s cooking was simply delicious.
Madam Zhou said, “If you’re cooking, why ask me?”
Gu Xiao said, “Everything must put you first.”
“Hmph. If you’re cooking, then just do it. After all, you bought the meat.” Madam Zhou always had one way of preparing meat—stretching it out to last until tomorrow, and even saving some to send to Shen Xihe. She thought to herself: Gu Xiao couldn’t earn much money, but if she saved to buy meat, that was fine.
As long as it was for Third Brother, Madam Zhou had no complaints. She would never admit it was because Gu Xiao respected her that she relented.
Gu Xiao breathed a sigh of relief. Madam Zhou was cold on the outside but soft inside—gentle persuasion worked, not force. This was the right way to handle her.
By April, the weather wasn’t too hot, so meat could keep overnight. Gu Xiao stored it properly, then went back to the west room to put the paper away.
Madam Zhou didn’t ask about it—the paper was clearly meant for Shen Xihe.
After tidying up, they returned to the fields. Madam Zhou worked briskly, sowing seeds quickly. By sunset, the Shen family came back from the fields. One bowl of thin porridge and one bun left them still hungry.
Spring planting would last several days. Just thinking of it felt endless.
Madam Zhou didn’t complain, and neither did Gu Xiao. That evening, while washing dishes, Madam Chen volunteered to take over. “Xiao Xiao, tomorrow help sister‑in‑law bring the knot to the county.”
Gu Xiao nodded. “Alright.”
Madam Chen’s shoulders ached, but the thought of seeing money tomorrow eased her weariness.
The matter of buying meat Madam Zhou didn’t mention, and Gu Xiao wouldn’t either. Tomorrow, once the food was cooked, they would eat. Gu Xiao already knew what she wanted to make.
She soaked soybeans overnight so they’d be ready tomorrow. The two pig’s feet were cleaned and chopped into quarters. After boiling off the blood, she would add scallions, ginger, garlic, and a splash of soy sauce. Near the end, she’d throw in a handful of soybeans, ensuring the stew turned soft and tender.
With a pound of pork, she planned to make chive‑meat stuffed flatbreads. The family had fresh chives sprouting—Madam Zhou had planted them early. The meat would be minced, mixed with four scrambled eggs, and plenty of chives for freshness. Seasoned with salt and soy sauce, brushed with oil, and fried until the crust turned golden brown. It would surely be delicious.
Gu Xiao longed for tomorrow. Back in her room, she polished fan handles, thinking that one day she would go to the mountain to find bamboo. With new paper, her fans could sell for even more.
The Shen family had spent five taels of silver to buy Gu Xiao. Slowly, she would surely be able to save that amount herself.
The next morning, everyone went to the fields. After two hours of work, by mid‑morning Gu Xiao returned home with Madam Zhou. She cut chives, scooped flour, and fetched eggs. Madam Zhou wanted to speak several times but held back.
Originally, the four eggs were meant to be divided so each person could have a bite. A whole pound of meat eaten at once was already extravagant, and now she wanted to fry stuffed flatbreads with oil—where would the household find so much oil?
Gu Xiao said, “Mother, just let me cook this once. I’ll use the oil sparingly, not much at all.”
Madam Zhou didn’t believe her. She sat with a stern face. “If you cook like this, everyone will eat along with you?”
In the Shen household, Madam Zhou managed all the grain and flour. Any good food was distributed at her discretion. Eggs went to the youngest son and grandsons, to the pregnant Madam Li, but not to the granddaughters or daughters‑in‑law.
Last time, giving Gu Xiao two pieces of meat had been unprecedented.
Gu Xiao said, “If it’s not enough, I’ll make some mixed‑flour flatbreads. I only care that Father, Mother, and Husband eat well. As for the others, I don’t mind.”
Madam Zhou gave a small grunt. “Third Brother works hard at the academy. It’s good of you to keep thinking of him.”
Gu Xiao tended the fire, speaking without even lifting her head. “Third Brother is my husband. If I don’t think of him, who else would I think of? I just hope you can eat well at home, so he won’t worry while at the academy. Then he can study with peace of mind.”
These words struck right at Madam Zhou’s heart. She knew Third Brother worried about home. Her youngest son was filial, and Gu Xiao was thoughtful. Favoring them a little was only natural.
Madam Zhou said, “I won’t let Third Brother worry. And you should stop giving him extra things.”
In Madam Zhou’s eyes, the money Gu Xiao earned either went into the pouch in the east room, or was spent on meat for the household, or on food for Shen Xihe. Weren’t there meat buns sold in town? She suspected Gu Xiao had bought them for him more than once.
Gu Xiao’s hand paused over the firewood. Give Shen Xihe extra? Shen Xihe? That sour face of his—barely speaking two words when he came home. She’d have to be donkey‑kicked in the head to spend money on him. If she had money, she’d save it, buy meat, not waste it on him.
Gu Xiao said, “Mother, don’t worry. I won’t buy things for Third Brother.”
Madam Zhou assumed she was just saying that. Yesterday she had seen the paper—wasn’t that for writing? “As long as you understand.”
If Gu Xiao had known what Madam Zhou was thinking, she would have hurried to hide the paper before Shen Xihe returned.
Gu Xiao bent over the stove. The clay pot bubbled, the big pan sizzled with oil, filling the kitchen with fragrance. Madam Zhou realized Gu Xiao’s cooking was truly delicious—but she used a lot of oil.
The pig’s feet were done. Gu Xiao scooped out half, along with a ladle of soybeans. “Mother, taste it—see if the pig’s foot is tender.”
She had used little soy sauce, so the dish was only lightly browned. The half pig’s foot trembled with soft meat, the beans glistened with oil, some split open.
Madam Zhou turned her eyes away. “I don’t like this.”
Gu Xiao coaxed, “Mother, just try my cooking. It’s tender—I’ve already served it for you. Just one bite…”
Madam Zhou was reluctant, but she couldn’t resist Gu Xiao’s persistence. The girl was pretty, her voice soft, her eyes bright. Madam Zhou took a bite from Gu Xiao’s hand.
Pig’s feet were cheap; everyone thought they had no meat. But Madam Zhou bit into it—soft, tender, fragrant, full of juices, slightly sticky.
Gu Xiao urged, “Mother, eat more. Try the soybeans too—they’re so fragrant.”
Madam Zhou’s stern face softened. Bite by bite, she finished. The pig’s feet had been stewed long enough that the meat slipped off easily, bones discarded without effort. The soybeans were even more delicious—Madam Zhou had never tasted beans so flavorful.
Before long, half a pig’s foot was gone.
Realizing what she had just done, Madam Zhou: “…”
In the pot, the stuffed flatbreads were finished. It was time for Gu Xiao to deliver Shen Xihe’s meal. She packed half a pig’s foot, a ladle of soybeans, and two flatbreads. “Mother, Third Brother hopes you’ll eat more.”
Madam Zhou was momentarily stunned. Two flatbreads were already plenty, plus half a pig’s foot. The clay pot was still simmering, and soon the Shen family would return. She would have to divide the food.
Madam Zhou coughed. “Xiao Xiao, go early. Food cools on the road. When you come back, I’ll save some for you in the pot.”
Gu Xiao smiled. “Then thank you, Mother!”
One pig’s foot remained—at least half of it would be hers. Carrying the basket, she set off for the academy. Not long after, Old Master Shen returned from the fields with sons and grandsons. After half a day’s labor, their stomachs were growling. Entering the house, they were nearly overwhelmed by the aroma.
Madam Zhou sat upright and declared, “It was Xiao Xiao who thought of the family, thought of Third Brother, and found a way to bring back meat. She made chive, egg, and meat stuffed flatbreads.”
Eldest Brother’s and Second Brother’s eyes lit up. Madam Chen wiped her sweat, Madam Li touched her belly, and the children looked at each other, speechless.
Madam Zhou said, “Look at you, acting like you’ve never seen meat before. Go wash your hands—it’s time to eat.”
The flatbreads were palm‑sized. Men received two, women one. Gu Xiao had made twenty‑three in total. Madam Li was given an extra, leaving six. Madam Zhou planned to save two for Gu Xiao and keep four for supper.
As for the pig’s feet, Madam Zhou had intended to give half to Li. But since Gu Xiao had bought and cooked them—and Madam Zhou herself had already eaten half—she gave Madam Li extra soybeans instead, leaving the pig’s foot for Gu Xiao.
Madam Li was astonished at the favor. It was more than enough.
Madam Chen bit into a flatbread. The chives were at their tenderest, fine shoots. Inside were golden bits of egg and meat. The fragrance was irresistible…
The Shen family ate heartily, while Gu Xiao finally arrived at the academy.
Shen Xihe came right on time. He wasn’t sure if Gu Xiao had listened to what he’d said yesterday.
Gu Xiao was eager to head back. “Third Brother, see if the food is still warm—eat it while it’s hot.”
Shen Xihe lifted the cloth from the basket. Inside were two flatbreads with golden crusts, and beside them a bowl of pig’s foot stewed with soybeans.
Gu Xiao said, “I bought it yesterday, thinking to nourish you. Third Brother, please eat quickly.”
Shen Xihe looked at her quietly and asked, “You… where did you get the money?”
Gu Xiao thought: Isn’t it enough that there’s meat to eat? Why ask so much? “Didn’t I say I’d earn money so you could eat well? I’ve done exactly that.”
She had indeed said so before, though Shen Xihe had taken it as a joke. His eyelashes trembled slightly. Did Gu Xiao truly like him that much? She treated him so well—aside from affection, Shen Xihe couldn’t think of another reason.