Zhu Yuxiu and Liu Lanying had picked a lot of chili peppers from the vegetable garden and washed them clean. Shen Qinghe then cooked a dish of stir-fried rabbit meat that made all five little ones’ mouths water.
The family’s chili peppers were mild, suitable even for children, but Shen Qinghe and Zhou Chunfeng both liked spicy food. She served half of the rabbit meat as it was, and added a few tiny hot peppers to the remaining half, stir-frying it on high heat again. The aroma of the tiny peppers instantly burst out, making Shen Qinghe herself swallow with anticipation.
It smelled incredible!
She also stir-fried a few vegetable dishes, and Liu Lanying’s steamed buns were ready.
When all the dishes were laid out, Zhou Chunfeng couldn’t help but worry, “It would’ve been better to stew the rabbit with potatoes. The potatoes would absorb the flavor of the meat. Now it’s just meat and chili, and it’ll be gone in no time.”
Shen Qingsong took a bite of the spicy stir-fried rabbit and said, “Mom, you just don’t understand. The flavor of rabbit stewed with potatoes is nothing compared to this stir-fried rabbit made by my sister!”
Shen Qingbai nodded in agreement. “Little sister’s cooking skills have really improved. She’s almost on par with a chef at a state-run restaurant.”
“You already have something to eat, and now you’re picky?” Zhou Chunfeng shot him a scolding glance.
“It’s not me being picky—it was Little Sister who wanted to make stir-fried rabbit. If you’re angry, blame her!” Shen Qingsong said, knowing his mother was most fond of Little Sister.
Sure enough, Zhou Chunfeng said no more.
Shen Qinghe smiled. “Hurry and eat. Focus on this dish—it won’t last overnight. By tomorrow, it’ll go bad.”
Though the stir-fried rabbit came in a large pan, the Shen family was big: nine adults and five children, fourteen people in total. And although the five little ones were young, they could all eat a lot. Everyone dug in, and the pan of rabbit was quickly emptied.
…
After Shen Qinghe finished her bath, still drying her hair, she heard Zhou Chunfeng knocking at the door.
“Nannan, are you asleep?”
“Not yet, Mom. Please come in.”
Creaaak
Zhou Chunfeng looked at her daughter, who appeared even more beautiful under the moonlight, and felt a surge of pride. Which family had a daughter as capable as theirs? With such excellent cooking skills and such good fortune—whoever married Nannan in the future would be lucky indeed!
Seeing her mother’s gentle and affectionate gaze, Shen Qinghe felt her chest warm. “Mom, is there something you want?”
“Just chatting a bit.” Zhou Chunfeng sat beside her and took out a stack of money from her pocket—the six yuan thirty-five cents that Shen Qingsong had given her earlier.
“Mom, what’s this for…?”
“Nannan, keep this money for yourself. You’re grown up now, so you should have some on hand for emergencies.”
“But Mom, I still have two yuan here. It’s the pocket money you and Dad gave me.”
Zhou Chunfeng shook her head. “Even though I manage the family finances, your eldest, second, and third brothers also have their own families. In the past, the money they handed over wasn’t all. They kept some for themselves. These fifteen yuan are all money you earned. After spending some on the household, you keep the rest.”
“I originally thought you were still young, so I’d keep it for you and give it to you as part of your dowry when you married. But these past few days I’ve seen you growing more responsible. Your father and I feel safe giving the money to you now.”
“Remember when you said at dinner that you wanted to turn the fruit you picked into jam to sell? That takes capital too. In the future, any money you earn, you keep for yourself—you don’t have to give it to me.”
“You only need to give your brothers and sisters-in-law enough to cover your food.”
Nannan was just one person and didn’t eat much. Between the village’s grain allocation and her work picking pig feed, it should be enough. Some things are better explained clearly.
There was also something Zhou Chunfeng didn’t say: she felt her daughter was changing. She had a strong premonition that in the future, Nannan would make a lot of money. If all the money went through her hands, it would be difficult to divide it after she and her husband were gone.
Even with siblings, accounts need to be clear. Nannan’s brothers had their own families. Although they loved Nannan, things would still be different. Zhou Chunfeng didn’t want money to cause future disputes, and she didn’t want Nannan to be at a disadvantage.
Shen Qinghe understood instantly and smiled wryly. “Mom, don’t worry. I won’t be taken advantage of. And we’re family—everyone treats me well. Even if I take a little loss, it’s fine.”
Having experienced the coldness and warmth of people in her past life, she knew well that money was safest in her own hands. But she still felt guilty whenever she thought about the family members who had died because of her in her previous life, and she couldn’t help wanting to treat them even better—even if she couldn’t say it aloud.
Zhou Chunfeng shook her head again. “It’s different. You can take a loss, but others shouldn’t think it’s natural for you to do so.”
“When you earn money, you can buy meat and extra meals for the family. But this money must stay with you, so everyone knows it’s you contributing. Even with siblings, accounts need to be clear. Doing so will actually improve relationships between you and your brothers and sisters-in-law.”
“When you succeed in life, you only need to pull your brothers along. Trust Mom—this is what your father wants too. We won’t harm you.”
Zhou Chunfeng spoke earnestly, and Shen Qinghe was moved, her eyes reddening. “Mom, I understand.”
“Mom, you and Dad are so good to me…” she buried herself in Zhou Chunfeng’s arms, hugging her tightly, her voice muffled.
The love of parents for their child is deep and far-sighted; the deeper the love, the more they look after every detail.
“You silly child, you’re our precious Nannan. If we don’t treat you well, who will?” Zhou Chunfeng laughed, hugging her daughter back, patting her gently on the back.
That night, Shen Qinghe slept soundly.
Since her rebirth, she sometimes dreamed of her past life—a fear like drowning, feeling trapped and unable to escape. Waking up would leave her drenched in cold sweat.
Sometimes she would feel the disorientation of a dream within a dream, not knowing who she really was, where she was, or which version of herself was real.
But tonight, after talking with her mother and feeling their love, she truly felt that no matter who she was, her family would love her. Her family was her greatest strength.