As the sun tilted westward, the faint warmth remaining in the air was completely swept away by the mountain wind.
Pushing the creaking broken wheelchair, Su Jinxiu finally made her way back to the crumbling little courtyard.
She felt utterly miserable. Her legs were so heavy she could barely lift them, her lungs throbbed painfully, and every breath carried the taste of rust in her mouth.
But none of that stopped her from being in a good mood.
After all, she had one hundred copper coins tucked into her clothes, and hanging from the wheelchair handle was a plump rabbit that had already been skinned and cleaned.
“We’re home.”
She parked the wheelchair in the courtyard and, instead of entering the house immediately, carried the rabbit over to the open-air stove in the corner.
There was no oil, no salt, not even a proper seasoning jar in the house.
Su Jinxiu stared at the rabbit for three seconds before decisively exchanging a small packet of refined salt and several peppercorns from her medical space.
This was sea salt purified with modern techniques—hundreds of times better than the bitter coarse salt of this era.
“For this protein meal, it’s worth it.”
She skillfully lit the fire and chopped the meat.
The surgical scalpel transformed into the sharpest boning knife. Under the setting sun, the blade flashed rapidly, every cut following the grain perfectly without wasting even the tiniest shred of meat.
Before long, bubbling sounds rose from the broken clay pot.
The aroma of meat spread through the air.
Rich, overbearing, and carrying a faint hint of smokiness, the scent drifted beyond the ruined courtyard walls.
In these times, villagers might not get to eat meat more than a few times a year. This smell was practically torture to a group of starving people.
Soon, several dark little heads peeked over the wall, accompanied by the constant sound of swallowing saliva.
“What are you staring at? Go home and ask your mothers for food!”
Su Jinxiu grabbed the fire poker and waved it threateningly toward the wall. She looked even fiercer than when she had beaten people up earlier.
“If anyone dares sneak in for a bite, I’ll beat your butt till it blossoms!”
The children screamed and scattered like frightened birds.
Inside the room, Huo Chen listened to the commotion outside with a dazed expression.
The smell of meat was far too aggressive, making his long-numb stomach twist violently with hunger.
But what concerned him more was the woman’s voice.
Strong and energetic, cursing people without hesitation—it sounded nothing like the weak and delicate persona she had shown in front of him before.
Just how many faces did this woman have?
As he pondered, the curtain lifted and Su Jinxiu walked in carrying two chipped bowls.
“Husband, time to eat.”
Her voice instantly switched back to that sweet, syrupy tone, completely different from the fierce shrew wielding the fire poker moments earlier.
She placed the bowl piled high with meat in front of Huo Chen.
It truly was piled high.
Two large rabbit hind legs and thick chunks of firm back meat nearly covered the wild vegetable soup beneath. The broth was clear, with several floating peppercorns releasing a spicy fragrance.
Meanwhile, the bowl in her own hands contained mostly rib bones and a rather terrifying-looking rabbit head. The soup was thin, with far more vegetables than meat.
Huo Chen stared at the stark contrast between the two bowls, his brows knitting tightly together.
“What? Don’t like my cooking?”
Seeing that he didn’t move, Su Jinxiu pushed the bowl closer to him, her face full of concern.
“This is fresh wild game. It’s the best thing for recovering your body. You lost so much blood—you need to eat more meat to build yourself back up.”
“What are you eating?” Huo Chen asked, staring at the lonely rabbit head in her bowl.
“Me?”
Su Jinxiu casually picked up the rabbit head and bit down with a loud crunch, shattering bone between her teeth.
“I like this stuff. Bones are chewy—I enjoy eating them.”
In truth, rabbit brains were rich in cholesterol and the organs contained plenty of iron. For someone like her, who suffered from long-term malnutrition and anemia, they had the highest nutritional value despite the poor taste.
As for giving the best meat to Huo Chen—
That was purely because the tyrant’s body was currently too weak. If he lacked nutrition, his wounds would heal slowly and infections could develop easily, forcing her to waste more precious antibiotics.
This was a strategic investment.
Of course, Huo Chen knew nothing about “nutritional conversion rates” or “antibiotics.”
In his eyes, this woman was offering him the best things with both hands while gnawing on the hardest, most unpleasant bones herself.
She even made up the clumsy excuse of “liking bones” just to put him at ease.
Something in the heart that had long been soaked in schemes and conspiracies suddenly stirred.
It didn’t hurt, but the unfamiliar aching fullness left him somewhat at a loss.
“I’m not hungry.”
Keeping a cold expression, Huo Chen tried to push the bowl back toward her.
“We’ll split it.”
“When I tell you to eat, then eat! Why are you talking so much nonsense?!”
Su Jinxiu panicked and grabbed his hand, accidentally letting some of her domineering tone slip out again.
The moment she noticed Huo Chen’s gaze turn cold, she reacted instantly. Her eyes reddened, and tears began falling before she even spoke.
“Husband… do you dislike my cooking because it’s dirty? Or… or do you think someone like me isn’t worthy of eating at the same table as you? Wuwuwu, my life is so miserable…”
Huo Chen: “…”
This woman’s tears came on command without even the slightest transition?
“Shut up.”
He felt his temples throbbing violently as that familiar sense of helplessness washed over him once more.
“I’ll eat.”
He picked up a piece of meat and placed it into his mouth.
There was none of the gamey smell he had expected. The meat was tender and springy, perfectly seasoned, and that strange savory fragrance exploded instantly on his tongue. It was the most ordinary ingredient he had ever eaten in his life, yet also… the most unforgettable taste.
While gnawing on a rabbit head, Su Jinxiu secretly observed the tyrant eating.
Even using a broken bowl and dressed in ragged clothes, the man’s movements while eating remained excessively elegant. His back was straight, his chewing silent, every motion slow and composed as if he were dining at an imperial banquet.
“Tsk, he’s already fallen this low and still manages to keep up appearances,” she complained inwardly, though her mouth never stopped moving as she swiftly devoured the pile of scraps and leftovers.
After eating her fill, Su Jinxiu finally felt alive again.
At that moment, the system that had been pretending to be dead suddenly sprang back to life in her mind.
【Ding—Detected that the host treated the hunter. Merit points gained: 50.】
【Detected that the host improved the patient’s nutrition through exceptional culinary skills. Additional favorability bonus granted (though it will not be displayed on the system panel, the host is encouraged to keep up the good work).】
【Current total merit points: 50. Exchangeable items: Sodium Penicillin Powder Injection (2 doses), Strong Painkillers (1 box), Medical Alcohol (500ml).】
Su Jinxiu’s eyes lit up.
Finally, she no longer had to rely on that tiny bit of glucose solution to keep him alive! With antibiotics and alcohol, the chances of saving Huo Chen’s ruined leg would increase by at least thirty percent.
“Husband, let’s strike while the iron is hot and change your dressing!”
She put down the bowl, her eyes shining with an excitement that made Huo Chen’s scalp tingle uneasily.
PS: Our Jinxiu gnawed on rabbit heads herself and gave all the meat to that prideful idiot. Who understands this pain, everyone? If you feel bad for Jinxiu, support the author so she can finally let Jinxiu eat some proper meat next time!