“Sister, why are you back so early?” Ke Xiaohua caught the scent of cooking food and poked her head into the kitchen, surprised to see her elder sister preparing the meal.
“I was assigned to seedling-raising duty today. There was not much work there, so I finished early and came back first,” said Ke Xiaocao, just as she finished stir-frying a dish and was ladling it out. She passed the filled plate to her younger sister, motioning for her to carry it to the dining table in the main room, as she spoke.
The climate here was warm enough to support two harvests each year. There was no time to rest after the summer harvest; preparations for the next planting cycle had to begin immediately. Thus, even as the harvest was still underway in the fields, work had already started on selecting seeds and raising seedlings here, in readiness for the upcoming rice transplanting season.
“Oh right, what are we having for dinner tonight?” Ke Xiaohua set aside her curiosity and turned her attention to the menu.
“I found a roast chicken on the stove and heated it up. I also stir-fried some cabbage, made towel gourd soup with egg strips, and steamed sweet potato rice,” Ke Xiaocao replied. Judging that the food was nearly ready, she lifted the pot lid, poked two small pieces of sweet potato with chopsticks, and handed them to her sister. “Take one for yourself and give one to Shushu to eat first.”
Mouths now full, the sisters stopped their stream of questions. Nearby, Shushu puffed out her cheeks, blowing hard at her sweet potato to cool it down quickly so she could eat it. Before she could finish it, she was called to the dinner table. A bowl was set before her, brimming with white rice, topped with just two pieces of sweet potato.
“Let us eat,” said their father. He picked up a fresh pair of chopsticks, picked up a piece of meat and placed it in Shushu’s bowl, then signaled the rest of the family to begin. Everyone reached for their chopsticks, yet first filled Shushu’s bowl generously with food before serving themselves. Surrounded by such care, Shushu was soon full.
“I am full,” she said to Aunt Chen.
Aunt Chen smiled, gently patting Shushu’s little belly to confirm it was indeed full and rounded. Satisfied, she cast a glance at her elder daughter. Ke Xiaocao understood at once. She set down her chopsticks and spoke softly to Shushu. “Shushu, would you like big sister to take you to wash your hands?”
Shushu could use chopsticks, yet her hands were still too small to handle them well. Instead, she had eaten the chicken directly with her hands, and now both little palms were glistening with oil and needed a thorough wash.
“Yes,” Shushu replied obediently and followed Ke Xiaocao to the washstand. Soon enough, the washing turned into giggles and playful splashing with soap bubbles. Ke Xiaocao watched on with endless patience. The family used homemade soap pod lye, which did not foam as richly as modern manufactured soaps, yet it was more than enough to delight a two year old.
They played happily for some time, until Aunt Chen called out that she had cleared the table and wanted Shushu. Shushu finally rinsed her hands clean and trotted over.
“Come, sit here. Lift up your little feet,” Aunt Chen said. Shushu sat neatly on the chair and obediently lifted both tiny feet toward her. Aunt Chen laid a sheet of newspaper against each sole, tracing and marking with a pen as if taking precise measurements.
“Mother, are you making new shoes for Shushu?” Ke Xiaohua asked, catching on instantly.
“Mm. It is time for a new pair because her feet have grown,” Aunt Chen replied. Just as with clothing, children outgrew their shoes quickly. The pair Shushu wore now had been worn for some time and was beginning to pinch. Aunt Chen intended to sew a new pair whenever she had a spare moment. Happily, there were plenty of fabric scraps at home, more than enough for making a pair of tiny shoes.
“My own shoes feel too small too,” Ke Xiaohua seized the chance to plead. “Mother, please make me a pair as well? With layered cloth soles because those are the most comfortable.”
“Go along with you,” Aunt Chen waved her away dismissively. “Where do you imagine I would find the time? Layered soles indeed! You might as well ask for the moon!”
Her refusal was not without reason. In truth, Aunt Chen had sewn a new pair for her younger daughter only half a month prior, intentionally making them a size larger so they would last longer. It was impossible that they would no longer fit so soon.
“Hehe…” Shushu did not understand the exchange, yet found the scene delightful and burst into laughter.
“You naughty girl, laughing at me!” Ke Xiaohua teased. She darted over and reached out to tickle Shushu’s sides. Shushu, who was terribly ticklish, squirmed and wriggled like a soft, bouncy little dumpling. The two tumbled about in high spirits, until Aunt Chen, complaining that they were far too noisy, chased them both off to bathe.
Bathed and dressed in fresh clothes, Shushu was brought to the sisters’ room. She would sleep there tonight.
Originally, the house had only two bedrooms. The layout was simple: a rectangular structure with a central main room, flanked by one bedroom on each side. There was no indoor lavatory, and the kitchen was merely a shed built in the corner of the courtyard. Over time, as more children were born and grew older, space became tight. The couple had invested nearly all their savings to build two lean to rooms attached to either side of the main house. One served as the kitchen and the other as the sisters’ bedroom. The original two bedrooms were then assigned: one to the parents, and the other to the three sons of the family.