To be honest, Wang Tie Zhu never particularly liked eating shelled creatures, especially river snails. During his usual fishing trips, he’d catch plenty of them but would either throw them away or give them to villagers to feed their ducks. This was actually his first time trying them.
Clumsily mimicking his son, he picked up a river snail with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth.
“Cough cough…” So spicy! But as the aftertaste settled, it became incredibly addictive. With a gentle suck, the snail meat came out – fragrant, spicy, fresh, and slightly sweet. The firm texture and the spicy-sweet combination made it irresistible, leaving him craving for more after each one.
“Brat, go pour some wine,” Wang Tie Zhu ordered his son Wang Ergou, who was eating beside him with sweat pouring down his face.
Only then did Wang Ergou remember – yes! They had just bought some wine this morning, which would pair perfectly with these river snails!
For once, he didn’t argue with Father Wang and quickly got up to fetch the wine from the house.
Taking sips of wine between bites of river snails, with the gentle breeze and warm sunset, Wang Tie Zhu squinted his eyes feeling like even the life of immortals couldn’t compare to this moment.
It reminded him of when his wife was still alive. Though her cooking wasn’t half as good as this, those days were equally warm – two small houses, a couple of chickens and ducks, smoke curling from the chimney, their toddler learning to walk, and his wife’s smiling eyes.
What happy days those were… such a pity…
At the Su Family residence, by the time Chen Shi returned, night had completely fallen, and the fields in the distance echoed with the chorus of frogs and crickets. Carrying a large bundle of firewood on her back, she looked as if she had been fished out of water. Her clothes were soaked with sweat, which dripped from her sleeves to the ground, stirring up dust.
Su Li and Su Tao quickly took the firewood from Chen Shi’s back, giving her some relief.
“Mother, we’ve prepared water for you. You should wash up first,” Su Li said as she emerged from the house, having just fetched water inside.
Chen Shi sat on the stool to rest for a while. After catching her breath, she said, “Alright, if you’re hungry, you can eat first. No need to wait for me.”
Of course, they ended up waiting for Chen Shi to join them for dinner.
Tonight’s dinner consisted of pork bone soup, spicy stir-fried river snails, appetizing pickled cowpeas, and coriander scrambled eggs.
The pickled cowpeas had been prepared by Su Li a few days ago. Soaked in an old jar, they had turned emerald green like jade. Each bite retained the fresh fragrance of cowpeas with just the right amount of saltiness.
Su Li loved eating various chicken or duck soups with pickled cowpeas, which could help her finish a large bowl of rice. Though this eating habit wasn’t particularly advisable, Su Li couldn’t resist the preference – warm soup and rice could wash away all her troubles.
The pork bones had been simmered over firewood for three to four hours until the marrow had completely rendered out, turning the soup milky white. Su Li set aside half to deliver to her grandparents tomorrow, while the remaining portion was shared among the three of them.
Meanwhile, Su Tao picked up a bone piece with her chopsticks. The marrow inside wobbled temptingly, and the rich aroma of meat and bones made her swallow involuntarily. The moment she eagerly put it in her mouth, her entire being felt comforted.
The tender, smooth, and fragrant marrow was sucked down before she could properly savor it. Only when she suddenly realized it was all gone did she anxiously use her wooden chopsticks to scrape off every bit clinging to the bone.
So delicious… just too little…
Su Tao looked regretfully at the bones in the pot – two pieces each, and hers were already completely finished.
Though she felt regretful, she still averted her gaze and turned her attention to another dish—cilantro scrambled eggs. Su Tao usually detested cilantro-based dishes, but the eggs scrambled by Fifth Sister Su Li were exceptionally fragrant. The golden eggs paired with vibrant green cilantro created a delightful blend of eggy aroma and herbal freshness that tasted incredibly delicious. Su Tao couldn’t resist taking several consecutive bites until reason finally reminded her to stop, after which she resumed sucking on snails.
“There are so many—I can eat to my heart’s content!”
By the end, Su Tao’s lips were swollen from the spiciness, yet she still couldn’t stop. It was just too delicious!!!
Chen Shi nearby shared the same sentiment. She blew on her bowl, took a sip of hot soup, and finally tried the snails prepared by her youngest daughter.
The fiery red broth looked quite appetizing, though she wondered how it would taste. Chen Shi picked up a snail and clumsily put it in her mouth.
After just one taste, she couldn’t stop. The flavors were savory, aromatic, numbing, and spicy with abundant juices—its only flaw being the excessive spiciness. Oh, and the meat was far too scant.
After eating a few, Chen Shi grew somewhat dissatisfied. She felt that Feichang was more satisfying, along with the marrow from the large bones. She had no idea how her daughter had stewed it to achieve such freshness and richness—the intense meaty aroma lingered in her mouth even after eating.
The cilantro scrambled eggs were also exceptionally tasty. Though Chen Shi knew how to make this dish, her eggs always ended up formless and scattered with wilted yellow cilantro, utterly unappetizing. Yet her youngest daughter’s version came out in neat, whole pieces with excellent presentation.
Indeed, cooking truly requires innate talent.
Chen Shi sighed between bites.
After finishing, she finally said with a stern face, “No more scrambled eggs next time. Aren’t all these other dishes enough?”
Eggs are so precious—each costs one copper coin.
These two spendthrifts have no idea how hard it is to earn money.
Wait—Chen Shi paused mid-scolding, suddenly remembering: that’s right, they’d earned two hundred copper coins today! After deducting the 8 coins spent on Feichang, they still had 192 left!
How wonderful! Though they still needed over 800 more coins to cover mother-in-law Wu Pozi’s medicine fee of one tael of silver, at this rate, working hard for a few more days selling meals would surely get them there!!
With this thought, all the day’s exhaustion vanished, replaced by boundless motivation!!
“Alright, you should all get some rest now.”
“Okay, Mother.”
Su Tao couldn’t help feeling delighted. Though she’d still been lectured, Mother hadn’t gotten angry! Had this happened before—sneaking eggs to eat—it would’ve inevitably led to scoldings or even beatings! How wonderful!
Early the next morning,
After yesterday’s busyness, Su Li slept deeply and contentedly. Upon waking, she felt all her recent discomfort had vanished, leaving only vibrant energy.
It was another fine day, with the sun rising early. The only advantage of summer mornings was not having frozen hands. After washing up, Su Li closed her eyes to savor the morning sunlight before heading to the Kitchen to prepare breakfast.
They’d simply have noodles this morning—quick to make without needing prolonged resting time. During this spare moment, Su Li went to the backyard garden to pick some greens to blanch and eat with the noodles. She also deliberately gathered a handful of dandelions to feed the rabbits.
Yes, it was the rabbit that Uncle Wang from next door gave us yesterday. After Su Li brought it back, Chen Shi kept it in the chicken coop, planning to eat it only when Old Lady Wu and Su Laotou returned home.
So for the next few days, they would need to cut grass to feed it. Having lived in the countryside before, Su Li knew that rabbits eat dandelions, so she deliberately picked some.
When she returned home, Chen Shi and Su Tao were already up. Chen Shi had just returned from driving the chickens to the bamboo grove, and Su Tao had just finished washing up.
“Fifth Sister, you’re up so early,” Su Tao said, her eyes still heavy with sleep. “Is there anything I can do?”
“Wash these, and give this to the rabbit.”
Su Li handed the greens and dandelions to Su Tao before heading to the kitchen to cook noodles.
Chen Shi finished her tasks and went into the kitchen to help light the fire. Soon, smoke rose from the Su Family’s chimney.
Just as the noodles were ready and Su Li was dividing them into three bowls, Su Tao’s surprised voice came from outside, “Da Jiu, you’re here!”
“Where’s your mother?”
“In the kitchen!”
“Big brother, you’re here!”
Chen Shi came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands, and smiled happily at her elder brother carrying a basket on his back.
“I happened to be in your village helping with pig slaughtering. Here, the Feichang you wanted.” Chen Da set down the still-dripping basket in the yard and took out the prepared Feichang, handing it to Chen Shi.
“Thank you, big brother. Have you eaten?” Chen Shi took it and placed it in the basin in the yard used for washing Feichang.
“I’ve eaten, don’t trouble yourself.” Chen Da prepared to leave with his basket. “I have to go to Dawang Village soon, so I’ll be on my way.”
“Wait, big brother!” Chen Shi quickly stopped him, then went inside to fetch eight copper coins for Chen Da.
Unexpectedly, Chen Da refused to accept them.
“If you’d given them yesterday, that would be one thing, but accepting them today makes no sense.”
In his view, this wasn’t anything valuable, and between siblings, money shouldn’t be involved.
“Just take it. Even brothers keep clear accounts. If you don’t accept it, how could I have the nerve to ask you for help in the future?”
Chen Shi continued, “It’s fine if you don’t take money once or twice, but what if I need more in the future? Will you still refuse? Even if you don’t mind, sister-in-law surely would.”
Hearing this, Chen Da finally accepted the coins.
But after taking them, he retrieved four coins from the eight and gave them to Su Li and Su Tao, who had come out to greet him. “Si Ya and Fifth Girl, take these to buy some candy.”
Su Tao was happy to receive the coins but worried her mother might disapprove. She glanced secretly at Chen Shi and, seeing no objection, accepted them. “Thank you, Da Jiu.”
“Thank you, Da Jiu.”
“Big brother, you spoil them too much!”
Hehe, Chen Dajiu chuckled warmly.
Meanwhile, Su Li suddenly remembered something and went to the kitchen to scoop a bowl of river snails.
“Da Jiu, take these back to eat.”
“Right, I almost forgot. Big brother, take these. Fifth Girl made them, and they taste quite good. Have them with your drinks.”
Chen Dajiu looked at the offered river snails, paused for a moment, then accepted them.
“Alright, I’ll take them back and enjoy them slowly. Thank you, Fifth Girl.”
“No need to thank me,” Su Li said with a smile, then added, “You don’t need to heat them up when you get back—they’re best eaten just like this!”
“Ah? Okay!” Chen Dajiu was taken aback again before agreeing. Looking at his serious-minded niece and then at the bowl of river snails in his hand, his heart filled more with affection than anything else.
Has Little Sister’s family fallen into such poverty?
He couldn’t help feeling somewhat relieved that he had declined the noodles earlier. Truth was, he had come to butcher the hog on an empty stomach this morning and left right after finishing the work. Now he was absolutely starving!
Thus, Chen Dajiu left carrying the bamboo basket on his back, his heart filled with mixed emotions.