After eating and drinking her fill, Su Qing sat at the courtyard entrance with a fan, enjoying the scenery. Having just eaten half a bowl of Guàmiàn, Dabao, Erbao, Sanbao, and Tiezhu were no longer as afraid of her as before. Plus, they had received some candies last time they approached her, so now they stood not far away, seemingly waiting to be summoned.
Whether Zhou Chunxia was adapting to local customs or not, aside from dressing Tiezhu decently during the first few days, the boy now only wore a pair of shorts, his feet completely bare.
Though this was common in the countryside, Su Qing still found the sight of several naked children rather painful to behold!!!
Just as Zhou Chunxia finished collecting the dried clothes, she saw Su Qing beckon the children over and give each a piece of candy, including her own Tiezhu. The child hesitated only briefly before accepting it.
She turned away, wiping the corner of her eye. When she had finally managed to bring her child to live with her, Tiezhu had been timid and fearful, even kneeling in fright if someone spoke too loudly. His current demeanor was the result of her long efforts.
“What are you standing there for? Nothing to do?”
“Nothing, Mom. I… I’ll go tend to the private plot later. I’ll go right away.”
Su Qing waved her hand, signaling her to wait in the courtyard, then went back inside and retrieved the large intestine and pig trotters from her basket.
“Wash this large intestine thoroughly with plant ash. Process the pig trotters too, chop them into small pieces, and stew them with carrots. Go handle it now.”
“Yes, Mom, I’ll go right away.”
The large intestine stank, but the children’s eyes widened—meat! They could eat meat tonight!!!
Just as Zhou Chunxia went out, Juxiang, Fengzhi, and Wang Zhiying returned home carrying pigweed. Seeing there was meat, they also swallowed hard.
With many mouths to feed in the Wang family, having meat once every ten days or half a month was already considered good. Now, having it every few days felt like a dream. Juxiang glanced at her grandmother fanning herself at the doorway, feeling that Grandma had changed a lot.
If you wanted to eat meat, you had to work. If the large intestine wasn’t cleaned properly, it would be inedible. Wang Juxiang and Fengzhi went up the mountain to find Shānjiāng and wild scallions, while Wang Zhiying was sent off to tend to the private plot.
After returning to her room and closing the door, Su Qing entered her Space. She bought a spice pack from the pharmacy—without it, stewed large intestine would lack flavor. Fortunately, the pharmacy combined traditional Chinese and Western medicine, otherwise she wouldn’t have been able to get these things.
Worried about the taste, she also filled a pot with Spirit Spring Water. Juxiang and Fengzhi found plenty of Shānjiāng and wild scallions and brought back five bamboo shoots. Zhou Chunxia soon returned with the cleaned large intestine.
Though bamboo shoots at this time weren’t as good as those in spring, having some was better than none. She directed everyone to work—slicing the bamboo shoots, boiling them, and then braising them with the large intestine.
Even though she had already made a bowl of noodles for the old lady in the mid-afternoon, hearing her say, “Add more oil, add more oil,” Zhou Chunxia couldn’t help but feel nervous, her hands trembling.
After the large intestine was braised, Su Qing scooped a large spoonful into a bowl.
“Eat! Three pieces each, and finish the bamboo shoots too!”
“Grandma, are you letting us eat alone?” Zhiying was straightforward. While Fengzhi had already reached out with her chopsticks, Zhiying hadn’t yet grasped the situation.
Wang Juxiang tugged at her sleeve. “If Grandma says eat, then eat. Why so much talk?”
Since Zhou Chunxia was the one handling the ladle, she had also eaten several pieces of large intestine and bamboo shoots. She had to admit, the old lady’s cooking skills were exceptional. Who knew what secret ingredients she’d put in the pot to make it so delicious? The evening meal was particularly elaborate, with the old lady standing guard over the stove the entire time without stepping away.
“Mother, your cooking is truly remarkable.”
Su Qing immediately seized the opportunity to curry favor with them.
“Of course! Back in the day, my parents were head chefs for wealthy families. After marrying your late father-in-law, I took charge of all the cooking at home. Everyone in Hongxing Village knows about my culinary skills. Ah, it’s precisely because of this that the production team agreed to let me manage the communal pot back then—otherwise we couldn’t have fed so many children.”
The braised large intestine was absolutely divine. The few of them secretly indulged in these delicacies, not even calling the children at the door, feeling both guilty and thoroughly satisfied.
The large intestine and pig trotter soup turned out splendidly. Su Qing had Zhou Chunxia prepare a large pot of stewed vegetables, drizzling several ladles of the braising sauce over it. Even simple potatoes and radishes carried an irresistible aroma.
When the work bell rang and the laborers returned home, the Wang family members were greeted by six large bowls arranged on the long table, their fragrant scent detectable from afar.
“Heavens, the Wang family is eating meat again! Tsk tsk, just look at how well they’re living!”
“Oh, don’t bother being jealous. Didn’t you hear Lao Liu’s wife say? Old Wang’s seventh son brought back plenty of money after retiring from the army. The old lady is trying to win over her son’s affections!”
Passersby exchanged meaningful glances, nodding toward the Wang family with their chins. Their voices were neither too loud nor too soft, as if intentionally meant to be overheard.
During Wang Haiyang’s years in the military, he hadn’t lacked for potential suitors, but Wang Old Lady had rebuffed them all. She wanted her seventh son to serve a few more years and had no intention of letting a daughter-in-law compete for his allowance.
Qu Laidi couldn’t stand to see Su Qing living comfortably. She snorted coldly and pulled someone aside, whispering who knows what.
Unaware of this, Su Qing gathered several packages in her room, placing them all in a basket. Carrying the basket, she walked to the courtyard and sat down. The entire family was already seated, waiting for her.
Seeing her personal set of small bowls laid out before her, Su Qing felt quite pleased. As the matriarch of a large family, it was only natural she had her own separate dishes.
Everyone stared with hungry, gleaming eyes, waiting for her to give the word.
“After a full day’s work, everyone must be tired. But before we eat, this old woman has something to say. Ahem…” Hearing her cough, Wang Baoguo hurried over.
“Mother, are you alright?”
Su Qing waved him off and smiled warmly at him. “My eldest is always the most filial!”
Suddenly praised, the elderly Wang Baoguo flushed crimson. His typically stoic heart felt as if a small stone had been tossed into still waters. In the past, such compliments always seemed reserved for the ninth child, while he was more like a workhorse—doing whatever his mother asked without question.
Being praised so unexpectedly left him not knowing whether to smile or how to react at all.
“Mother hasn’t been well lately, and it’s been our eldest daughter-in-law taking care of everything inside and outside the house. Baoguo and the Xue Feng-Xue Jun brothers have both been earning full work points, making significant contributions to our old Wang family. Juxiang is obedient and well-behaved, yet she’s constantly looking after her younger siblings, nephews and nieces. This reward I’m giving – eldest daughter-in-law, you come take it.”
The small bundle spread open on the dining table contained a stack of fabric scraps, six eggs, a towel, a handful of fruit candies, four apples, two Dried Plum Vegetable Cakes, and half a pound of brown sugar.
Qian Maizi had been keeping her head lowered the whole time. Suddenly being called upon, her body jerked violently. Seeing the old woman handing her the small bundle, she shrank back in fright.