Chen Qiaoyu had come down the mountain a little after five o’clock. She spent over an hour wandering the streets, then went through the recruitment and training around seven. By eight o’clock, she had officially started working.
Although Brother Cheng had a sharp tongue, he was actually quite considerate. He assigned Chen Qiaoyu, Zhou Xiaoling, and a few older workers to sort the bricks.
The village being demolished today was Zhangjiawan. Many of the houses had collapsed from years of neglect, and those still standing had already been pre-demolished and cleared. Their job today was to pick and move bricks.
Zhou Xiaoling said, “I heard they’re going to build a park here—dig an artificial lake, lay down lawns, increase the greenery.”
Chen Qiaoyu understood, but her face twisted with confusion as she looked up at the trees and grass at the foot of the mountain that had already been dug up by bulldozers.
Listen to that. What kind of talk was that?
First dig it up, then lay it back down?
That… back in her village, they’d call that pure idleness.
But Chen Qiaoyu, adhering to the principle of being new in town and speaking less while doing more, listened to Zhou Xiaoling’s chatter while working diligently.
One hundred and fifty yuan!
Even if the person paying was foolish, she wasn’t about to let them be taken advantage of.
She would do as much as she could.
Time flew when she focused on work. By the end of the morning, Chen Qiaoyu and the others had sweat-soaked backs and were covered in dust, with rivulets of sweat carving tracks through the grime on their faces.
Brother Cheng arrived pushing a small cart carrying two large white foam boxes.
Chen Qiaoyu glanced at it and thought the little cart was quite handy.
It would be great for hauling firewood—even better than a big cart for her and Qingyang.
She’d have Qingyang go up the mountain to find some wood and make one when she got back, Chen Qiaoyu thought to herself.
Just as she was thinking this, Brother Cheng called out, “Come over, come over! Lunch is served!”
Chen Qiaoyu perked up immediately—the three things she cared about most in this world were money, wages, and food!
Actually, it was all the same thing—filling her belly and eating her fill!
Zhou Xiaoling took off her gloves and hard hat, fanned the front of her shirt to let in some air, and called to Chen Qiaoyu, “Qiaoyu, stop working. Let’s go eat first.”
Chen Qiaoyu set down the two bricks in her hands and obediently followed behind Zhou Xiaoling.
Brother Cheng and an older woman stood in front of the foam boxes, handing out meals.
The temporary workers lined up to collect their boxed lunches.
Chen Qiaoyu watched as everyone received two transparent plastic lunch boxes—one for the dishes and one for white rice.
Those who got theirs first had already opened the lids, and the aroma of the food immediately wafted through the air.
Chen Qiaoyu couldn’t help but swallow.
There was the smell of meat!
Not only was there meat, but the woman next to Brother Cheng also had iced mung bean soup. She handed out cups, and anyone who wanted some could get it.
Chen Qiaoyu saw several people go back for a second cup.
Even Zhou Xiaoling said, “I’m so hot I can’t even eat. I just want iced mung bean soup.”
Chen Qiaoyu: “…”
Back where she came from, she’d only heard of people not having enough to eat. She’d never heard of anyone being too hot to eat.
Soon, it was their turn. Zhou Xiaoling picked through the boxes, peering through the transparent lids: “I don’t want fatty meat. Is there any that’s a bit leaner?”
Standing beside her, Chen Qiaoyu had to exert tremendous control over her expression to keep her feelings from showing.
What kind of place was this? What kind of people were these?
Complaining about fatty meat when there was meat?
When Yao Jinhua bought meat, she specifically looked for fatty cuts. The fat could be rendered into oil—delicious!
Lean meat wasn’t as flavorful as fatty meat.
Brother Cheng said impatiently, “They’re all the same!”
Only then did Zhou Xiaoling pick a box she deemed relatively lean. She also grabbed one for Chen Qiaoyu: “This one’s not bad either. Not too much fatty meat.”
Chen Qiaoyu: “…”
I wanted the fatty meat, t.t…
Zhou Xiaoling told Chen Qiaoyu to take her lunch and wait for her in a shady spot. Then she went back, grabbed two new cups, and filled them with mung bean soup.
Chen Qiaoyu carefully took the cup and took a small sip.
The mung bean soup was ice-cold and refreshing, cooling her to the core.
It was also pleasantly sweet. One cup chased away the heat entirely.
Zhou Xiaoling went to get a second cup for both of them while Chen Qiaoyu was still savoring the sweet, smooth taste of the soup.
She licked her lips, her heart full of joy and amazement.
So sweet!
It was really delicious.
They were incredibly generous with the sugar.
Even the sugar water made for guests at home wasn’t this sweet.
After Zhou Xiaoling returned, the two of them finally started eating.
Chen Qiaoyu picked up her lunchbox and secretly glanced at Zhou Xiaoling, copying the way she opened the lid.
The moment she opened it, Chen Qiaoyu froze.
Inside the lunchbox, on the left, was stir-fried pork with chili peppers—the pork was streaky, with layers of fat and lean. In the middle was sour and spicy shredded potato. On the right were green vegetables.
And squeezed on top was a golden, fried egg!
Chen Qiaoyu felt like she was about to be dizzy from the aroma.
It smelled so good.
Her family couldn’t even get dishes like these for the New Year.
While she was frozen in place, Zhou Xiaoling had already started shoveling rice into her mouth. After two bites, she noticed Chen Qiaoyu staring blankly and asked in confusion, “Eat! Why aren’t you eating?”
Chen Qiaoyu swallowed.
She was a little reluctant to eat it.
The fatty part of the streaky pork was fried until crispy, the lean part not dry at all. The distinct layers of fat and lean revealed themselves between her teeth and on her tongue. Paired with the fragrant, spicy green peppers, it instantly whetted her appetite.
The shredded potato was crisp and refreshing, perfectly sour and spicy. Even the greens had been cooked with oil. It all made Chen Qiaoyu’s stomach roar with hunger.
She saved the fried egg for last, eating it slowly, one small bite at a time.
The only time she and Qingyang could get eggs was at their eldest uncle’s house, but those were always boiled—never fried in oil like this, so fragrant.
Chen Qiaoyu ate every single grain of rice in the entire box.
Her eating manner was delicate, but her speed was instinctively ravenous.
Zhou Xiaoling wasn’t a slow eater herself, but Chen Qiaoyu’s pace still surprised her.
She exclaimed, “Qiaoyu, I wouldn’t have guessed! You’re so thin, but you can really pack it away.”
Chen Qiaoyu didn’t dare respond. Fortunately, Zhou Xiaoling was the chatty type who could keep a conversation going even without a reply: “But I guess a lot of skinny people are like that—they eat a ton and never gain weight.”
Then, feeling a bit melancholic, she added, “Not like me. I gain weight just from drinking cold boiled water. I’m already over a hundred and twenty jin.”
Zhou Xiaoling was a little shorter than Chen Qiaoyu, with a plump, dark complexion.
Chen Qiaoyu smiled with her lips pressed together: “I like you just the way you are. Being plump is wonderful.”
Being plump meant you had enough to eat—that was a sign of good fortune.
Zhou Xiaoling giggled, unbothered, but she was still kind enough to go ask for an extra box of rice for Chen Qiaoyu.
There was extra rice, but Brother Cheng was reluctant: “She can eat two boxes?”
Zhou Xiaoling glanced toward Chen Qiaoyu and pleaded with Brother Cheng: “Brother Cheng, Qiaoyu clearly comes from some remote mountain village. The clothes and shoes she’s wearing are the kind even my grandmother wouldn’t wear anymore. Her family must be struggling. If we can help a little, we should.”
Those straight-cut coarse cloth pants—not even the slightly younger crowd would wear them, let alone young people.
Brother Cheng raised an eyebrow and looked at Zhou Xiaoling: “Didn’t know you were so kind-hearted.”
Chen Qiaoyu’s poverty was obvious to everyone. Brother Cheng asked if anyone else wanted more rice, then gave the remaining three boxes to Chen Qiaoyu.
Chen Qiaoyu was overwhelmed by the kindness. Holding the three boxes of rice, she didn’t know what to say.
When she finally came to her senses, she bowed to Brother Cheng, which startled him.
“No, no, no—don’t do that. Just work hard this afternoon!” Brother Cheng fled as if escaping.