Volume 1, Chapter 19: Coming to Her Rescue

Zhang Xiuhong, flattered by the praise, held her chin high. "That’s right... Everyone, rest assured, I will do everything in my power to root out this malignancy so she doesn't tarnish the reputation of our family quarters."

"That’s exactly why we say Sister Xiuhong has such a warm heart," Yang Chunxia chimed in, stirring up the crowd's emotions. "If you ask me, we should take this straight to the political commissar and make that Gu Chengfeng give us an explanation."

Zhang Xiuhong was floating on the praise, and upon hearing Yang Chunxia’s suggestion, she was the first to step forward in support. "Exactly, we should go straight to the military district to demand justice."

Led by Zhang Xiuhong, several military wives clamored indignantly, vowing to confront the leadership. However, Yang Chunxia did not join them, making an excuse that she had soup simmering on the stove and couldn't get away.

How could Shen Sisi not hear such a commotion? Her hand shook, and she failed to insert the key into the lock several times. She had thought that by enduring and retreating, these people would lose interest and disperse, but they had only grown bolder. Did they really think she was a pushover?

She turned around in anger, ready to confront them, when a spirited young military wife with a red headband stepped forward.

"Sister Chunxia, there’s no smoke coming from your kitchen. Where exactly are you simmering this soup?"

Yang Chunxia glared at her fiercely. "Li Wenhui, it’s you again! Why are you always picking on me about where I cook?"

Li Wenhui, truly unable to stand it any longer, pointed to a nearby small house. "Am I wrong? Everyone look, her chimney isn't even warm. She’s probably just looking for an excuse to sneak away!"

Prompted by this, the crowd turned their gaze toward Yang Chunxia with suspicion. Zhang Xiuhong, in particular, finally realized, "Chunxia, you wouldn't be trying to goad me on purpose, would you? Why else wouldn't you be coming along?"

"That’s not it at all, don't listen to Li Wenhui’s nonsense..." Yang Chunxia scrambled to explain, too flustered to pay attention to anything else.

The united front began to crumble before they even set off. Seeing this, Shen Sisi cast a look of gratitude toward Li Wenhui. She was thankful to this stranger for coming to her rescue. Li Wenhui smiled back at her and then went back to watching the show.

Shen Sisi had no heart left to observe the drama. She quickly opened her gate and locked it tightly behind her. This was her first day in the family quarters, and she had intended to make some of her specialty snacks for the neighbors. Instead, she had gained a bad reputation all over again.

Still, that Li Wenhui was quite interesting; she had seen through Yang Chunxia’s lies and exposed her with such ease. It seemed Li Wenhui and Yang Chunxia had been at odds for a long time, always snapping at each other. Targeting Yang Chunxia was genuine; helping her was just a side effect.

***

However, once you accept a favor, you must repay it!

Shen Sisi shook off her frayed mood and first fed Niu Niu her medicine. She rewarded her with a milk candy and told her to play in the room for a while. Niu Niu obediently agreed. Back in the countryside, whenever her mother went out to work, she would stay home alone and never wander off. Her mother was busy and tired, and she couldn't be a burden.

"Mom, you go cook, I can take care of myself..." Niu Niu said with the feigned maturity of a little adult.

Shen Sisi couldn't help but smile, rubbing her head with a soft palm. "What a child..."

Niu Niu giggled and trotted off to the living room, even remembering to pull the door shut. Only then did Shen Sisi feel at ease entering the kitchen. As she stepped inside, she froze. The kitchen, which had been empty that morning, had completely changed.

The rice and flour bins were filled with fine grains and white flour. The baskets on the floor were overflowing with vegetables—radishes, cabbage, potatoes, and corn common to the season, as well as tomatoes, eggplants, and green beans, which were rare in winter. A large bowl on the table held over twenty eggs, and next to it sat a piece of pork belly.

"Is this..." Shen Sisi wondered if she was dreaming and pinched her thigh. It hurt—this was no dream!

She put down her basket. Pressed against the cupboard was a note written in a strong, elegant, and unrestrained hand—a note left by Gu Chengfeng.

[I didn't know what you liked, so I just bought a little of everything!]

Shen Sisi carefully put the note away. Looking at the room full of supplies, especially the rare winter vegetables, her heart warmed like the sun. These things were not easily bought. She had thought Gu Chengfeng had left for a mission early in the morning; she never expected he had gone to prepare rations for them. By the time he returned, she had gone to the black market, missing him perfectly!

She smiled helplessly, washed her hands, and began organizing the ingredients. Then, she deftly started cleaning the fish. She had bought mandarin fish today, and she planned to make a creamy white fish soup to help Niu Niu regain her strength. After cleaning and scoring the fish, she marinated it with scallions, ginger, cooking wine, and salt.

She pan-fried the fish until both sides were golden, added water, and let it simmer until the broth turned a milky white. Once the collagen from the fish had fully dissolved into the soup, Shen Sisi added sliced white tofu and sprinkled in a few goji berries and scallions. The fragrant, silky fish soup was ready.

While waiting for the soup, she hadn't been idle; she had kneaded some white flour dough and steamed a few small buns. By the time the soup was ready, the buns were fresh out of the steamer.

Niu Niu, smelling the aroma, had already run over to hug her mother’s leg. "Mom, Niu Niu is hungry, I want to eat..."

Shen Sisi set the soup on the table and served her a bowl of rich broth with a few pieces of tofu. "Coming, coming. Be careful, it’s hot..."

Niu Niu held a small bun in one hand and eagerly scooped the soup with a spoon in the other, blowing on it. After quietly testing that it wasn't too hot, she took a big gulp. "So yummy... Niu Niu loves fish soup the most..."

Shen Sisi took a small piece of fish; the fish in Jiangcheng was indeed fresher. It was a simple lunch, but both mother and daughter ate until their bellies were round.

After tucking Niu Niu in for a nap, Shen Sisi cleaned up and then rose to find the glutinous rice flour and sugar jar. She made a few sticky rice cakes in sugar syrup to take to Li Wenhui.

Li Wenhui didn't live far, just in the row of single-story houses a short distance ahead. Her husband was a company commander in the new recruit battalion, always busy training soldiers and rarely at home.

Shen Sisi knocked on the door, and a hearty voice soon rang out: "The door's unlocked..."

She pushed it open gently, holding the plate. Li Wenhui was ironing clothes and looked surprised to see Shen Sisi. "It's you..."

Shen Sisi didn't rush in, but smiled and said, "Sister Li, these are sticky rice cakes I made. They’re still hot, please try them..."

Li Wenhui looked at the golden, steaming cakes, smelling their sweetness from afar. She set down the hot iron. "Thank you... why don't you come in and sit for a while?"