Chapter 6

Chapter 6

The meal was ready, and the mother and daughter had woken up from their sleep.

Breakfast consisted of radish, cabbage, and porridge.

The vegetables were delivered by Old Lady Wu in the morning, thinking that the family might not have any food, so she brought some over. She had originally intended to invite them to her home for a meal, but Jiang Mingchuan declined. It would be fine just for him and He Yan, but now there were two more mouths to feed, and he didn't want to impose on others.

The family of four ate quietly.

Halfway through the meal, Jin Xiuzhu couldn't help herself and gently patted the back of the girl next to her. "Sit up straight with your back erect, don't hunch your shoulders, hold the bowl with one hand, chew slowly, keep your mouth closed, and don't make any noise."

Hearing this, Fu Yanyan turned her head to look at Jin Xiuzhu. In her memory, Jin Xiuzhu had never given her any instruction before.

Still, she followed what she was told.

Jin Xiuzhu gave her an approving glance, placed some food into her bowl, and said softly, "It's alright at home, but if you're a guest at someone else's place, don't always pick the dishes you like. Don't take more than three servings of each dish, and don't let others see your preferences..."

These were the rules she learned at the Marquis Mansion. In her view, good things should be learned, while bad habits should be corrected.

Although she didn't like the strict rules of the Marquis Mansion, they did benefit her in many ways.

He Yan, who was listening nearby, glanced subconsciously at Jiang Mingchuan opposite him. His personality was sensitive, and he wasn't sure if his aunt was criticizing him.

Because he tended to eat noisily.

Jiang Mingchuan looked at Jin Xiuzhu and said to He Yan, "Your aunt is right; you should learn from her."

It was better to have someone teaching them rather than no one taking care of them. A woman was needed in the household, as he had never noticed these things before.

He Yan softly replied with a nod.

After finishing their meal, when Jiang Mingchuan was about to leave, he took out a red cloth-wrapped package from his pocket and told Jin Xiuzhu, "I heard from my neighbor while fetching water that there's a vehicle going to the county this morning. If you want to go, you can join them. You can buy whatever the family needs and also get some clothes for the children." He paused for a moment, "And get something for yourself too."

Jin Xiuzhu didn't refuse and opened the red cloth to find a stack of money and coupons inside. They were all small denominations, totaling less than two hundred yuan. Her eyes showed a hint of disdain. Although it might seem like a lot in this world, she was used to a life of extravagance, and this amount was too little for her.

Jiang Mingchuan felt a bit awkward. "I didn't save much money before, but I'll try to set aside more in the future."

After all, he had a whole family to support, which was different from before.

He decided to call his adoptive parents in the capital and tell them that he wouldn't be sending money back anymore.

Jin Xiuzhu didn't know what he was thinking, only silently contemplating how to manage their future.

After cleaning up the dishes, Jin Xiuzhu took the two children to the neighboring house. Qian Yufeng was still considering whether to visit the Jiang family, but she hadn't expected Jin Xiuzhu to come over.

Seeing Jin Xiuzhu, she warmly greeted her. "Sis, come in and sit down. I'll change my shoes and we can leave."

Old Lady Wu, noticing Jin Xiuzhu with the two children, kindly asked, "Do you want to leave the kids with me? They're so young, it might not be convenient for them to follow you around. Da Ya and I will watch over them at home."

Jin Xiuzhu didn't think much about it and looked at He Yan and Fu Yanyan. "What do you think? Should you come with me to the county or stay here?"

Fu Yanyan didn't say anything but moved closer to Jin Xiuzhu. Seeing this, He Yan whispered, "I'll go with Auntie."

Jin Xiuzhu said, "Let's go together then. These two kids are well-behaved, and it won't be inconvenient."

She didn't have the chance to play on the streets when she was young, and later at the Marquis Mansion, she was confined to a small courtyard most of the time. Every time she went out, she could be happy for a long time.

Old Lady Wu wasn't upset by the refusal. She was just a bit surprised that this young wife would let the children decide for themselves. She was also surprised that after just one day, He Yan had started to become close to her.

Although He Yan had lived with her for half a year, he was indeed well-behaved, but he wasn't very close to her. She understood, as she had heard from Commander Jiang that He Yan's father died when he was four years old. His mother remarried after receiving half of the compensation, and He Yan lived with his grandmother at his uncle's house. When Commander Jiang visited him, he saw the tiny boy standing on a stool, skillfully cooking, looking thin and bony. At his uncle's house, he could only eat after everyone else finished, and he slept alone in the yard without even a shelter.

When Commander Jiang proposed to take He Yan away, the whole family was unwilling.

"Go ahead, follow Yufeng and enjoy the trip around the county. She knows it well."

Jin Xiuzhu agreed readily.

Qian Yufeng led her to the front gate, where a green vehicle was already waiting. It resembled the horse-drawn carriage Jin Xiuzhu had ridden before, but it was much larger and didn't have horses pulling it in front.

Jin Xiuzhu and Qian Yufeng lifted the two children into the back of the vehicle and climbed in themselves.

There were other people inside, but Qian Yufeng wasn't familiar with them. She greeted one of the women and found a corner to sit with Jin Xiuzhu, saying, "We'll arrive in the county around nine o'clock. The vehicle has to return at eleven, so we don't have much time to explore. Tell me what you want to buy, and I'll take you directly there later."

Jin Xiuzhu didn't hesitate. "I want to buy clothes and seasonings. We don't have any clothes to wear."

Qian Yufeng nodded. "You can buy seasonings directly at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative. The county's cooperative is large and has everything. As for clothes, let's go to the department store, but the ready-made clothes there are expensive. Our family usually buys fabric and makes our own clothes."

Jin Xiuzhu agreed.

The vehicle traveled along mountain roads, swaying uncomfortably, but it was faster than traveling by boat.

The driver intentionally dropped them off at the entrance of the Supply and Marketing Cooperative. After getting out, Qian Yufeng pulled Jin Xiuzhu and rushed inside. It was right after the Spring Festival, and there were many people visiting relatives, so they had to rush to buy things.

Jin Xiuzhu left He Yan in charge of his sister at the entrance, telling them, "Don't run around. I'll buy you some candy later."

He Yan held Fu Yanyan's hand and obediently nodded. "Auntie, my sister and I will wait for you here."

Fu Yanyan instinctively pulled her hand away without hesitation.

He Yan wasn't angry, assuming that his sister wasn't yet familiar with him.

Jin Xiuzhu followed Qian Yufeng into the noisy crowd. Qian Yufeng was experienced and guided Jin Xiuzhu through the crowd, quickly reaching the inner area. Qian Yufeng didn't buy anything for herself but helped Jin Xiuzhu purchase sugar, soy sauce, vinegar...

Qian Yufeng had originally thought that Jin Xiuzhu, coming from the countryside, would be frugal. However, she spent money more generously than a city wife. Still, being generous was better than being stingy and not taking advantage of others.

After finishing their purchases, they headed to the department store. Jin Xiuzhu came out to explain to the two children, "There's nothing delicious inside. I'll cook something for you when we get back."

This was a common phrase adults used to reassure children, but neither the children nor Qian Yufeng took it seriously.

The department store was also bustling, but it was spacious enough that they didn't have to jostle with others once inside. The first floor sold more affordable items like fabrics, shoes, fruits, sweets, and pastries. It was crowded there, so they headed upstairs.

On the second floor, there were far fewer people, but the goods were considerably more valuable—watches, radios, ready-made clothing, and eyeglass shops. There were a few people at the watch store, but no one was browsing in front of the radio shop. Jin Xiuzhu had no idea what it was; the store looked empty. She only learned from Qian Yufeng that the two small black devices displayed could receive news broadcasts. But she wasn't entirely clear on the specifics.

Jin Xiuzhu looked bewildered, and Qian Yufeng couldn't explain it clearly either. So she led her to the watch counter, pointing at the watches inside and saying, "Later, you can have your man buy you one. Nowadays, this is what people give when they get married."

Her face twisted with envy as she continued, "When I got married, Old Wu just gave me a bag of rice. But Captain Wu bought his wife a sewing machine. Thinking about it, I feel like I lost out."

"A sewing machine?"

"Yes, it's a great thing. You don't have to sew clothes by hand; you just step on it a couple of times, and it's done quickly and neatly."

Jin Xiuzhu's face showed curiosity.

Standing nearby, Fu Yanyan heard these words and looked at Jin Xiuzhu with some concern, fearing she might become competitive. But it seemed she was mistaken. The current Jin Xiuzhu said calmly, "No money, too expensive. We'll see when we have more later."

Qian Yufeng understood. "Alright, let's go look at some clothes then."

At the ready-made clothing counter, the staff member inside glanced at them as they approached, sized them up, and then turned their head away, pretending not to see them.

Qian Yufeng lacked confidence, asking, "Should we take another look?"

She could only maintain her dignity in front of Jin Xiuzhu. In front of these city folks, she felt somewhat inferior.

Jin Xiuzhu glanced at the clothes hanging on the wall inside. They were simple designs, and she could make them with her eyes closed. The materials weren't particularly high quality either. In the past, she wouldn't have given them a second glance.

She pulled Qian Yufeng away. "Let's go downstairs and buy some fabric. I'll make my own."

Qian Yufeng was surprised. "You know how to make clothes?"

"A bit."

Qian Yufeng smiled. "If you don't know something, you can ask my mother-in-law. She knows how to do it. All our family's clothes are made by her. When she was young, she served as a maid for a landlord and learned needlework from an old nanny."

Jin Xiuzhu hummed in acknowledgment, and they went back downstairs. There were several counters selling fabrics, all of which they could touch. Jin Xiuzhu spent all her fabric coupons, thinking about making outfits for the four of them. Qian Yufeng watched in amazement, wondering how anyone could spend money like that. Seeing Jin Xiuzhu wanted to buy cotton, she quickly stopped her. "I can help you buy cotton from the village. It's much cheaper. Don't waste money."

Jin Xiuzhu reluctantly held back.

In the end, the four of them returned home fully loaded.

By the time they arrived back, it was already noon. Jiang Mingchuan had returned and prepared lunch.

Seeing the large amount of fabric Jin Xiuzhu had bought, he opened his mouth but didn't say anything. Instead, he asked, "I've already submitted our marriage application. Once it's approved, we can get our certificates. Then we can host a couple of tables at the cafeteria. What do you think?"

Jin Xiuzhu didn't know the local customs, so she nodded. "I'll leave that to you."

She didn't care much about such things. Even the most extravagant weddings often ended in miserable lives. She had learned early on that no matter who she married, she needed to keep her heart focused on herself to live a contented life. Men and children were unreliable.

Jiang Mingchuan hummed in agreement, remembering something else. "The battalion commander has invited us to dinner at his place tonight. We won't need to cook."

Jin Xiuzhu had anticipated this, so she wasn't surprised. "Okay, should we bring something?"

"No need. The battalion commander isn't that kind of person."

"..."

What did he mean by 'that kind of person'? Wasn't it basic etiquette?

Jin Xiuzhu ignored him, glad she had prepared in advance.

After eating, Jiang Mingchuan left, and Jin Xiuzhu got busy. There weren't many ingredients available at home, only the flour and beans Jiang Mingchuan had brought back the previous night.

Although Jin Xiuzhu wanted to make her favorite Dripsu Bao Luo, it required milk, which wasn't available here. Therefore, she decided to make "Golden Cake" instead. In the Marquis Mansion, it was called Golden Cake, but according to Grandma Liu in the kitchen, in her hometown, it was known as Mung Bean Paste.

When Jin Xiuzhu was a maid in the Marquis Mansion, she dreamed of earning enough money to buy her freedom and start a small business outside. To achieve this, she worked hard to please the skilled old nannies in the mansion and learn their crafts. Since she served in the residence of the crown prince, they were willing to teach her. Later, after becoming the Marquis's woman, she secretly learned to read and manage accounts from the nannies. She knew that the masters in the mansion were of higher birth than her and looked down on her behind her back. But so what? She wasn't inferior to them. Even the Marquis praised her exceptional intelligence, lamenting that she was born a woman.

Jin Xiuzhu took out the mung beans she had soaked that morning, added some water, and cooked them in a pot. While they were cooking, she and He Yan took the stools and chairs outside to dry. They also filled a basin with water and wiped everything clean both inside and outside the house.

Around two in the afternoon, she let the cooked beans cool slightly before placing them in a bowl and stirring them into a smooth paste with a spatula. Afterward, she added sugar and continuously stirred the paste over low heat until it became a thick, sticky mixture. She then scooped it out and placed it in a dish to cool and set.

With the cool weather, there was no need for special refrigeration. After about half an hour, it solidified into a paste.

Jin Xiuzhu originally planned to give the Golden Cake as gifts, so she had soaked a lot of beans. She inverted the dish onto a cutting board and cut the set paste into small rectangular pieces, arranging the attractive ones on a plate and leaving the less appealing scraps in two bowls for the children to eat.

She prepared three plates of the attractive pieces.

Jin Xiuzhu took a bowl and covered one of the plates of Golden Cake. She instructed He Yan, "Take your sister and deliver this to Auntie Qian's house. Also, ask if she has any clean coats that I can borrow for tonight. I'll return it tomorrow."

He Yan had a piece of Golden Cake in his mouth, reluctant to swallow it. He listened attentively to Jin Xiuzhu's instructions and nodded firmly. "Okay."

Then he carefully carried the plate out, walking slowly to avoid dropping it.

Fu Yanyan followed him.

The two children returned quickly. Not only did He Yan have a green cotton coat in his hands, but Fu Yanyan was also wearing a clean little jacket. Before Jin Xiuzhu could ask, He Yan hurriedly explained, "It's from Grandma Wu. It's one of Brother Xiaojun's old clothes."

His face was red. Earlier, Wu Xiaojun had been at home and exclaimed how delicious it was after tasting it. He praised his new aunt for being amazing, saying he had never tasted anything so good. This made He Yan feel very proud.

For the first time, he didn't feel inferior in front of Wu Xiaojun. Now he also had parents, and his mother could make delicious bean cakes. He was no longer a pitiful child without a mother.

Jin Xiuzhu nodded in satisfaction, handing them the two bowls. "Go ahead and eat, but don't have too much at once. It's cold."

Fu Yanyan looked at her, realizing belatedly why Jin Xiuzhu had sent her along—to ensure she also received a clean outfit.

But she wondered why Jin Xiuzhu hadn't asked for two outfits at once?

The two children went out with their bowls, still somewhat incredulous. He Yan couldn't believe that such a large bowl was all for him, while Fu Yanyan was surprised that Jin Xiuzhu could cook. In her memory, Jin Xiuzhu had never done such things; she would only say it was a waste of money.

As evening approached and the sky began to darken, Jiang Mingchuan returned.

Jin Xiuzhu had already changed into fresh clothes and washed her hair and that of the two children, tidying up neatly. Seeing Jiang Mingchuan return, she hung a small basket containing a dish of bean cakes on her wrist and asked him, "Shall we go now?"

She knew that people here were rather superstitious about certain things, so she told the children to call it bean cake, fearing idle gossip.

Jiang Mingchuan was taken aback by Jin Xiuzhu's neat appearance and tidy hair, and couldn't help but pause for a moment before saying, "Let's go."

He noticed the basket on her wrist and asked in confusion, "What's that?"

"I made this myself. It's not anything valuable, but I thought it wouldn't be right to show up empty-handed."

Jiang Mingchuan nodded, "Mm-hmm."

The family of four walked towards the newly built residential building. The Wangs lived on the fourth floor, and when they arrived there, the door at the stairwell was open, with lively chatter coming from inside, suggesting a large gathering.

Jin Xiuzhu looked at Jiang Mingchuan; from what he had said, she had assumed they were the only ones invited, but it seemed that wasn't the case.

Jiang Mingchuan also appeared somewhat surprised, a hint of shock crossing his face before he regained his composure and told her, "Let's go in. If Sister-in-Law says anything later, just smile."

Jin Xiuzhu felt he underestimated her—she wasn't one to be trifled with.

As soon as they entered, a voice greeted them with amusement, "Oh, isn't that Qian Yufeng's dress?"