Wang Er Ya lowered her head to accept the hot tea Shen Zhian handed her, when suddenly a pea-sized teardrop fell on the back of her hand, followed by continuous tears falling like beans.
This startled Shen Zhian, who stood frozen in place, repeatedly calling out “Elder Sister.”
Shen Zhihe, who came upon hearing the noise, also didn’t know how to comfort her, so she could only take a handkerchief from her waist and offer it to Wang Er Ya.
Earlier outside, as dusk fell and her hands were hidden behind her back, they hadn’t been visible. Now they could see the back of her hands were red and swollen, her fingertips swollen like radishes. “Second Lady, please wipe your tears quickly.”
Raising her hand to take the handkerchief from Shen Zhihe, Wang Er Ya caught the faint scent of soapberries on it. Somewhat embarrassed, she buried her face in the handkerchief, her hoarse voice carrying a sob. “I’m ashamed to have you see me like this, Young Lady. Since I can remember, this is the first time anyone has treated me so kindly.”
Shen Zhihe understood that Wang Er Ya must have had a difficult life at home, otherwise she wouldn’t have been sold to the Qin family so early. Not just now, but even in later generations, those who favored sons over daughters were not few. She gently patted Wang Er Ya’s shoulder, knowing that at this moment, no words of comfort could compare to a warm, substantial meal.
“Zhi An, stay with Sister Wang. Your elder sister is going to prepare today’s ingredients.”
With these words, Shen Zhihe quickly walked to the table, took out some of the hazel mushrooms purchased that day and washed them. She casually picked up a wooden basin nearby, tossing the withered, shriveled hazel mushrooms into it. Then she lifted the thermos against the wall, and as steam rose, hot water quickly flowed from the spout into the basin.
In just moments, the shriveled hazel mushrooms absorbed enough water and slowly plumped up, a faint fragrance drifting out with the rising steam. Without pausing, Shen Zhihe took the plump rooster bought yesterday out of its oil-paper wrapping.
She chopped the chicken, skin and bones included, into large pieces. Noticing the thick layer of fat beneath the skin, Shen Zhihe thought to herself that this chicken was indeed different from those raised with modern technology and harsh methods in later times. The food here was all pure, natural, and uncontaminated, the chicken meat fresh and firm.
Shen Zhihe poured the chopped chicken into the pot, then scooped several ladles of well water from the water jar nearby.
She peeked at Wang Er Ya, who seemed to have calmed down, then said, “Second Lady, would you mind lighting the fire?”
Before long, when the well water in the pot boiled, Shen Zhihe scooped out the blanched chicken. Skillfully, she scooped a spoonful of lard into the dried pot. As the lard melted, the delicious aroma spread throughout the kitchen.
Wang Er Ya couldn’t stop sniffing, thinking to herself, “Heavens, this is too fragrant!” Watching the orange flames in the stove, she held out for a moment but ultimately couldn’t resist the temptation of the aroma. She patted the dust off her clothes, stood up, and leaned over to look into the pot.
She saw the chicken pieces, as Shen Zhihe stir-fried them, their originally pale skin gradually tightening and taking on a glossy caramel color. A rich, roasted aroma wrapped in oiliness overflowed from the pot.
Suddenly, two sounds of slurping saliva reached her ears. Shen Zhihe looked up and saw two figures, one large and one small, clinging to the stove, staring intently at the chicken in the pot. Upon closer inspection, their eyes seemed to gleam with an inexplicable green light. Seeing this, she smiled helplessly but continued her work without pause. Under their astonished gazes, she took the Shao Daozi liquor she had fetched earlier, poured a small amount into the pot, and then added the pre-prepared seasonings like scallions, ginger, and garlic.
“Miss, why add liquor?” Wang Er Ya asked with a furrowed brow, struggling to hold back her curiosity. In the past, when she stewed chicken at Qin Jia, she simply simmered the meat until cooked, then added vegetables and seasonings. This method of Shen Xiaoniangzi was something she had never seen before.
Hearing this, Shen Zhihe took the hazel mushrooms from the plate and added them to the pot, followed by the darkish water used to soak the mushrooms. After covering the pot, she replied unhurriedly, “Liquor removes unwanted odors and enhances freshness.”
The earthen stove burned fiercely, and in less than half an hour, the chicken was stewed until tender and falling off the bone. Shen Zhihe lifted the lid, and a rich, savory aroma instantly filled the entire kitchen.
“Zhi An, go fetch two sweet potatoes for your sister,” Shen Zhihe said, eyeing the fragrant chicken soup and feeling as if something was missing. Suddenly, she slapped her forehead—how could stewed chicken with mushrooms be complete without sweet potatoes and noodles?
Sweet potatoes were easy enough, but modern sweet potato noodles were not available now. Fortunately, she had spotted Tang Fen at the market earlier, which seemed similar to the vermicelli of later times. Since proper noodles were unavailable, she had to settle for the substitute.
Just as she was thinking this, Shen Zhi An handed her two sweet potatoes still caked with dry soil. She smiled, taking them from him. “Zhi An is so clever.”
Though Shen Zhihe was skilled in cooking, her knife work left something to be desired. The sweet potatoes were chopped unevenly, but since there were no outsiders at home, it didn’t matter—everything would end up in their stomachs anyway!
Was Wang Er Ya an outsider? Not at all. Though no formal apprenticeship ceremony had been held, this Wang Er Ya was considered half a disciple of Shen Zhihe.
After about a quarter of an hour, under the eager gazes of the two, Shen Zhihe took a large bowl and ladled out all the chicken from the pot. Paired with yesterday’s leftover flatbread, it made for a delicious meal. The siblings ate heartily, their faces glistening with oil. Even Shen Zhi An, without needing to be fed, gripped his small spoon and buried his head in the food.
Wang Er Ya sat at the table, hesitant and fidgeting. The enticing aroma tempted her to dig in, but she had only helped with the fire and done nothing else. If this stewed chicken were bought outside, it would likely cost a fair amount of silver. Though uneducated, she understood propriety and felt she couldn’t just snatch food from the Shen siblings.
Seeing Wang Er Ya motionless, merely sitting and swallowing saliva as she stared at the food, Shen Zhihe knew she was an honest and straightforward person. If she didn’t serve her some food, Wang Er Ya likely wouldn’t touch a bite even after they finished eating.
Shen Zhihe smiled wryly, took the empty bowl in front of Wang Er Ya, scooped a spoonful of chicken, and handed it to her. “Second Miss, eat quickly. The weather is cold now, and this stewed chicken with mushrooms is best enjoyed while hot.”
Wang Er Ya hesitated for a moment but ultimately couldn’t resist the temptation of the chicken. After whispering her thanks to Shen Zhihe, she picked up the bowl and carefully placed a piece of chicken into her mouth. The chicken was stewed until tender and soft, carrying a faint fragrance of mushrooms, while the sweet potato, coated in savory broth, melted in her mouth.
This was her first time eating at the table, and also her first time tasting such delicious food. She buried her head in the bowl, hiding the tears that slid from her eyes.
The small town at the Northern Border was enveloped in a tranquil night. Broken branches, weighed down by snow, lay scattered across the snowy ground. A chilly wind rustled, sweeping up the withered grass on the chicken coop.
Before long, a sharp rooster’s crow awakened the slumbering town. A wisp of cooking smoke rose slowly. Shen Zhihe rolled the perfectly round sweet potato meatballs in beaten egg, instantly coating them in a golden layer.
She fried them in a sizzling pot of hot oil, and within moments, a rich aroma filled the air. Shen Zhihe swiftly flipped the sweet potato meatballs in the pot with her chopsticks, suddenly recalling the old man she had seen at the Ji Shi a few days ago, selling freshly fried stuffed pancakes. The taste of freshly fried food must surely be better than meatballs that had been kept warm for too long.
Perhaps she should also find a carpenter to customize a stall cart. In the future, she planned to add new dishes, such as the already-pickled suancai. Once she prepared the purchased fatty intestines, she could sell Suan Cai Fei Chang Mi Xian.
Why not visit the carpenter after selling out the tofu brain today? The thought filled Shen Zhihe with anticipation for the days ahead, and she felt instantly energized.
The horizon began to glow with the first light of dawn, a streak of morning breaking through the darkness and settling on the eaves, gilding the snow with a golden edge.
Just then, the tightly shut wooden door of the Shen Family’s old residence creaked open. Shen Zhihe staggered out, carrying a wooden bucket filled with tofu brain, heading toward the cart. Following closely behind was Shen Zhian, draped in a bluish-gray cloak.
He held a wooden box filled with sweet potato meatballs, trotting to keep up with Shen Zhihe’s pace.
The morning Ji Shi was bustling with activity. Stalls lined both sides of the street, selling everything from food to household goods, with the clamor of vendors hawking their wares echoing incessantly.
Shen Zhihe led Wang Niangzi to her usual spot and, as always, smiled and greeted the Granny next door. Over the past few days, the two had gotten along very well, and when Shen Zhihe was too busy, this Granny would help look after her younger brother.
Unexpectedly, today, when the Granny caught sight of Shen Zhihe, she let out a disdainful snort and turned her head away, clearly looking down on her. Shen Zhihe was surprised and intended to ask what had happened.
Before she could approach, a sharp voice rang out from behind her. “Well, well! Crying poverty to me earlier, but it turns out you’ve been making quite a bit of money. If others hadn’t told me, I wouldn’t have known we had such a traitor in the family.”
Hearing the familiar voice, Shen Zhian instantly turned pale, his hands trembling slightly as he clutched Shen Zhihe’s clothes.
Seeing this, Shen Zhihe lowered her gaze, her eyes turning cold. She thought she probably knew who this woman was. She turned to look and saw a woman with a fleshy face leading the group, glaring fiercely at the siblings.
“Our family is poor. We incurred a huge debt to treat Second Son and his wife, but in the end, we still couldn’t save them,” the woman wailed, sitting on the ground as she watched Shen Zhihe remain silent.
“After Second Son was buried, this old woman originally thought these two siblings were young with no parents to care for them, so I planned to have them adopted under Dafang’s lineage. But this little wretch refused, taking Zhi An away from home that very night, secretly mortgaging the family shop to creditors behind our backs. Now that she has profitable work, she actually still guards against us, bringing outsiders to make money instead! Truly an unfilial daughter!”
As soon as these words fell, the short-bearded man beside her chimed in: “An unmarried young woman exposing herself in public, setting up stalls outside – how shameless.”
“This is indeed your wrongdoing, Shen Xiaoniangzi. Filial piety is the foundation of all virtues – how could you treat your elders this way?”
“Indeed, one cannot judge by appearances. Who would have thought this always pleasantly smiling young lady would prove to be such an unfilial person.”
…
As the surrounding clamor grew louder, Shen Zhian, suppressing his fear with red-rimmed eyes, shouted: “Nonsense! It was Aunt who drove me and Elder Sister out of our home!”
Shen Zhihe pulled Shen Zhian, who had been shielding her, behind her back. Her gaze darkly swept over the crowd, vaguely spotting Granny Qian – with whom she had clashed days before – hidden among the people, watching her with triumphant expression.
Meanwhile, Wang Niangzi on the side grew increasingly anxious watching her remain silent. If Shen Xiaoniangzi were branded with the label of unfilial by that Shen Family woman, it would be difficult for her to set up stalls in the future. Now that she had finally seized this opportunity, she couldn’t let that woman ruin it.
“What a joke! Shen Family’s Second Son was diligent and capable, needless to say, most of your Shen Family’s wealth was accumulated by him. Your family’s First Son has been involved in every kind of fraud and deception since childhood, gambling away silver repeatedly, each time requiring Shen Family’s Second Son to clean up his mess. Now that he’s dead, you’re still splashing dirty water on his name.”
“You wretched creature! What business is it of yours to interfere in our Shen Family affairs?” Hearing this, the old woman’s eyes widened round, her sagging skin trembling slightly.
Furious, Wang Niangzi rolled up her sleeves to step forward and argue with her, but was restrained by Shen Zhihe. Shen Zhihe stared coldly at the woman before her – her dear grandmother. “Since we’re discussing family money matters, dare I ask Grandmother: where is my mother’s dowry now?”