It was Jiang Xuejun’s first time visiting his sister’s home. On her wedding day, he had wanted to come see her, but their mother had pulled him back, saying it wasn’t proper. “If you want your sister to be happy, don’t break the rules,” she had scolded. He had gritted his teeth and obeyed.
Thinking about how his sister had gone to an unfamiliar place to live with a man she’d only known for less than a month, Jiang Xuejun felt uneasy. Wherever she went, she should have had a brother to escort her, so why, at her own wedding, was she alone?
Damn those rules!
The day after Jiang Lianyue married, he had wanted to come see her again, but their mother stopped him.
“Only the second day after the wedding, and the bride’s family comes calling? People will think you’re here to mooch! Do you want your sister to be looked down upon at her new home?”
Their mother had scolded him so fiercely that he hadn’t dared mention it again. He couldn’t let his sister’s married life be awkward because of him.
He endured, and endured, until the end of the month. With the third day of March approaching, Jiang Xuejun cautiously asked, “Mom, it’s almost the third day of March. Do you think my sister will come home to pay respects at the family graves? If she does, you could make extra black glutinous rice for her to take back.”
Their mother thought it over. Her daughter loved the treats she made, so if she returned, she could make extra. After all, cooked black glutinous rice could sit a day or two without spoiling. It had been a month since her daughter married, and the things she had brought with her were likely running out.
Walking through the narrow stairwell, cluttered with honeycomb coal and other debris, Jiang Xuejun was tense. Anyone walking had to be careful, let alone carrying a load. Watching his sister navigate the same tight stairwell daily, he almost furrowed his thick brows into two caterpillars. Cities were cramped.
If her new home was this cramped too, rural life might have been better; at least the rooms were bigger.
Opening the door, Jiang Xuejun felt relieved at the sight of the living room. His sister’s home wasn’t cramped after all.
He glanced around. The furniture was modern, showing the Zhou family was fairly well-off. That eased his mind.
“Five rooms in total?” he asked.
Jiang Lianyue remembered that, due to the hurried wedding and local customs preventing family from accompanying the bride, her family had never visited her home.
She nodded. “One living room, two main rooms, plus a kitchen and a bathroom.”
A bathroom?
Their family of five lived in three rooms and a hall, with only a kitchen, no bathroom.
Her new home was indeed better than her childhood home. Jiang Xuejun nodded in approval. “Good, very good.”
“I’ll wash the dishes and then cook,” Jiang Lianyue said, taking the bowls into the kitchen.
Jiang Xuejun wasn’t about to wait idly. “I’ll wash them, you just cook.”
If it weren’t for the fact that his sister cooked far better than he could, he wouldn’t have let her step into the kitchen.
Jiang Lianyue cheerfully gave up her spot and began preparing the meal.
After rinsing the rice and putting it in the cooker, she took the plucked chicken from the snake-skin bag Jiang Xuejun had brought. She washed it and blanched it in a pot of water.
While the whole chicken cooked, Jiang Lianyue organized the rest of the ingredients: rice, dried peanuts, soybeans, pickled vegetables… all common rural crops, carefully bagged and sorted.
“Mom said eggs spoil easily and didn’t let me bring any,” Jiang Xuejun called out in the kitchen. “She wanted you to bring some home yourself.”
Jiang Lianyue’s throat tightened.
Her mother clearly hoped her daughter would visit, but dared not say so directly, worried people would mock a newlywed constantly returning home.
Clearing her throat, Jiang Lianyue called back, “I have eggs here, it’s fine.”
She had been buying eggs regularly for her rolled rice noodles, so they were never lacking.
Once everything was ready, Jiang Lianyue turned the chicken over and began preparing the dipping sauce for poached chicken.
She minced garlic and ginger, mixed it with peanut oil, soy sauce, and salt. The sauce was ready.
Checking the chicken with chopsticks, she found it cooked through.
Jiang Xuejun had also finished washing the bowls. Drying his hands, he leaned over to watch her carve the chicken. Knife skills precise, the pieces were arranged beautifully on a plate. He looked both proud and admiring.
“Only my sister would be so meticulous about cutting chicken.”
All morning, Jiang Xuejun had been numbed by his own constant praise of her. Every small thing seemed remarkable.
The original girl had been spoiled into being this way, no wonder.
With the chicken cut and rice cooked, Zhou Jiajing still hadn’t returned. Jiang Xuejun carried the chicken to the table while Jiang Lianyue brought the dipping sauce. Checking the wall clock, it was past noon.
“His work isn’t always at the factory. He often goes out, maybe he’s on a field visit today,” Jiang Lianyue whispered.
Just then, the door opened. Zhou Jiajing walked in carrying two bottles of Danquan wine, a slab of pork belly, a roasted duck, and a bunch of hollowed-out vegetables.
Smelling the food, he placed the wine on the sideboard and asked, “Is the meal ready? I just came back from shopping.”
Jiang Lianyue froze, about to speak, then heard him greet Jiang Xuejun: “Second Brother, how long have you been here?”
Second Brother?
Jiang Xuejun froze. This title was being said to him?
He had never liked this little pretty boy his sister insisted on marrying. Back then, he hadn’t given him a good face, and their relationship had been strained. Now to hear him call him “Second Brother”…
“Oh, about two hours,” Jiang Xuejun stammered.
Zhou Jiajing put the roasted duck on the table and asked about the rest. “What dishes did you make? I bought the duck. Should I still cook the pork?”
Jiang Lianyue winked, signaling him not to be overly friendly. He had never been particularly cordial to her family; too sudden a change might feel odd.
Puzzled, Zhou Jiajing, usually polite, sniffed. The aroma of chicken filled the air.
After tasting so many delicious things from her, he realized marrying her wasn’t entirely a mistake.
Jiang Lianyue, seeing him not fully understanding, used bringing a dish as an excuse to lean closer. “That should be enough.”
He raised his brows, nodding slightly.
“I’ll stir-fry some greens, then we can eat,” she said.
Jiang Xuejun stepped forward. “I’ll wash the vegetables.”
Zhou Jiajing dodged him. “Second Brother, sit. I’ll wash them.”
He quickly washed the vegetables. Jiang Xuejun peeked at his empty hands, then at Zhou Jiajing focused on the sink. “He usually does this too?” he whispered.
Jiang Lianyue nodded. This was the only time she’d invited him to a meal, but he did help wash vegetables then as well.
Jiang Xuejun gave a thumbs-up. “My sister really is amazing.”
Even the man who once stubbornly refused to marry her had been subdued in such a short time.
Jiang Lianyue couldn’t help but laugh. This doting brother of hers was amusing.
Though Jiang Xuejun tried to lower his voice, it was still normal volume, and Zhou Jiajing in the kitchen could hear clearly. He raised the corners of his mouth in amusement.
After washing and stir-frying the greens, the three sat at the table.
Zhou Jiajing placed the high-end Danquan wine on the table. “Second Brother, can you drink?”
Jiang Xuejun shook his head. “My sister says it makes people smell bad. I don’t drink.”
Zhou Jiajing glanced at Jiang Lianyue. She said, “People who drink always smell of alcohol.”
Whether the original girl truly disliked alcohol or not, Jiang Lianyue couldn’t let him drink tea. If the family didn’t drink, she agreed, it was healthier.
Zhou Jiajing put the wine away. “I have to work this afternoon. I won’t drink either. This wine can go home with Second Brother. Save it for guests.”
Jiang Xuejun looked to Jiang Lianyue for confirmation. She nodded, and he smiled. “Okay, I’ll take it home. Let the villagers see.”
He then remembered something, looking slightly regretful.
Jiang Lianyue guessed it was because her insistence on marrying Zhou Jiajing had been a village joke. The villagers could tell something from Zhou Jiajing’s expressions when entering Jiang’s house.
For Jiang Lianyue, it was a minor matter. Even if she were still living in Jiang Xiang Village, she wouldn’t care. What others said didn’t affect her, as long as she didn’t hear it.
“Second Brother, your favorite chicken wings,” she said cheerfully, pretending not to notice his regret, and placed one in his bowl.
Jiang Xuejun instantly forgot his annoyance. “My sister’s the best, she remembers I love wings.”
“You like drumsticks most,” he added, giving her one.
Jiang Lianyue smiled. “Thank you, Second Brother.”
She picked up a drumstick, dipped it in sauce, and took a big bite. Tender, flavorful, delicious.
Seeing her eat, Jiang Xuejun also dipped a wing in sauce and enjoyed it.
Zhou Jiajing, as the host, said politely, “Today’s rushed. Let’s eat at home for now. Another time, I’ll invite Second Brother to the state restaurant.”
Jiang Xuejun chewed his wings carefully, then said, “No need. My sister’s cooking is better than any restaurant chef. I’m satisfied eating her food.”
“Then eat more,” Zhou Jiajing said.
“Mm-hmm. You eat too,” Jiang Xuejun said, taking another piece.
Zhou Jiajing finally couldn’t resist. He grabbed chicken breast, dipped it, and bit in. His pupils shrank slightly, the meat was so tender, he nearly swallowed his tongue.
He glanced at Jiang Lianyue. How did her hands make food taste this good?
Seeing him immediately go for another piece, Jiang Xuejun asked proudly, “How is it? My sister cooks well, right?”
Then he remembered, this was his brother-in-law, someone who could eat his sister’s dishes daily. A twinge of awkwardness and jealousy flashed across his face. That little pretty boy… how could he have won their treasured sister’s heart just with a face?
Collecting himself, Jiang Xuejun said seriously, “Brother-in-law, I’ll tell you, my sister doesn’t have to do anything at home besides cook. Even her clothes are washed by our mom. Her cooking is amazing. You’re lucky she married you. You better cherish her. Otherwise, with her skills, how many matchmakers would have come knocking?”