Chapter 70

Chapter 70

When Sun Anyuan and his team returned from their escort mission, they learned that Old Qin had invited Lin Chunyan to cook a feast for them. The men at the escort agency all lamented, "Why didn't we catch such a good time? Was Old Qin deliberately trying to spite us by inviting Lin Xiaoniang to cook then?"

Although Hu Zi and Zhao Si didn't say anything, they felt the same way. They had long finished the pickles and bean sheets they brought on the road, and only when they reached the provincial capital did they change their diet.

But nothing tasted as good as what Lin Chunyan cooked.

Da Zhuang urged Sun Anyuan, "Boss, why don't we invite Lin Xiaoniang to cook for us? We've worked hard on this escort mission and deserve a good treat."

The others joined in, and Sun Anyuan thought about it. This trip had been very busy, and his men were indeed exhausted. He also craved Lin Chunyan's cooking and couldn't keep eating noodles every day. He wanted a change of taste, so he nodded in agreement.

They went to Lin Chunyan's stall and mentioned the idea to her, "We don't need much, just enough for us few. No outsiders will be invited."

He offered to pay the usual amount and promised to send her home afterward, fearing she might refuse.

There were about eight or nine people at the escort agency, including the cook, and these strong men could eat a lot. A small amount wouldn't suffice.

Lin Chunyan smiled, "You've helped us with the dogs and cats before, so cooking a meal is no big deal. It's getting cooler lately, and since there are so many of you, how about we have a hot pot?"

Sun Anyuan had eaten hot pot before and knew it was delicious. He eagerly agreed and asked what they needed to prepare.

"Get the mutton and vegetables. I'll bring the fish balls to save time."

Da Zhuang and the others were overjoyed and eagerly awaited Lin Chunyan's arrival.

The escort agency was in town, and Lin Chunyan came straight from her stall. Sun Anyuan had already prepared a large pot, lit a fire underneath, and placed it in the courtyard.

Seeing Lin Chunyan arrive, Da Zhuang and Hu Zi were ecstatic, and even the cook beamed, "We've been waiting for you! Since the boys ate at your place a few times, they've been complaining about my cooking. This morning, they were especially eager for you to come. I think the mutton we prepared won't be enough."

Lin Chunyan exchanged pleasantries and then went to the kitchen. She saw two whole sheep and was slightly taken aback by how generous Sun Anyuan and his men were.

If even two sheep weren't enough, she wondered how much they could eat.

The cook helped Lin Chunyan prepare the ingredients, watching as she sliced the mutton into thin pieces. The others gathered around, amazed, "How can you slice the meat so thinly? It will cook in no time in the pot."

Lin Chunyan laughed, "It won't disappear, but it does cook quickly. You should scoop it out early to avoid it becoming tough."

Besides the mutton, she also sliced some fish and asked Wang Yingniang to help make shrimp balls. The method was similar to making fish balls, and once cooked, everything was ready. She added various vegetables and radishes, filling the pot.

By now, the broth was boiling, and Lin Chunyan prepared two dipping sauces: one with sesame paste and the other with fragrant oil.

The sauces were set out, and Da Zhuang and Hu Zi quickly devoured half of them. They found the sauces delicious, with peanut crumbs, cilantro, scallions, sesame tofu, and leek flowers.

Just thinking about it made them anticipate how delicious the mutton would be in the pot.

Seeing them eat so much sauce, Sun Anyuan glared at them and ordered them back to the kitchen to prepare more.

They felt a bit embarrassed, scratching their heads and laughing awkwardly, "We couldn't resist. Who knew the sauces would be so good?"

Once the pot was ready, Lin Chunyan added the mutton slices. They quickly changed color, and eight pairs of chopsticks dove into the pot, scooping out the mutton with the prepared sauces. The taste was incredibly satisfying.

Sun Anyuan invited Lin Chunyan to sit and eat with them, "I see this isn't any easier than preparing a full banquet. Slicing the mutton and fish took quite some time."

Lin Chunyan didn't hesitate. She hadn't had hot pot in a long time, and after eating sour cabbage and cured meat hot pot, she had been craving it.

She dipped the cooked vegetables and mutton in the oil sauce, savoring the flavors and closing her eyes in satisfaction, "You're right, but the sliced mutton tastes different from steamed or braised mutton."

The cook was speechless. She had never tasted anything so delicious and understood why Da Zhuang and the others had drunk the sauces. She almost did the same but restrained herself to avoid embarrassment.

Old Liu, unlike the young men, preferred the blanched vegetables. The vegetables absorbed the meat broth and, paired with the sauces, were incredibly fresh.

After they were nearly done, Lin Chunyan brought out the noodles. These men had huge appetites, and the pot of noodles was quickly devoured.

Their bellies were round and full, but they still looked forward to the next hot pot, planning to leave room in their stomachs days in advance to eat more.

Although it was still daytime, Sun Anyuan escorted Lin Chunyan and Wang Yingniang back to their stall and gave them extra copper coins, "I think you should add hot pot to your menu during winter. There will likely be many customers."

Lin Chunyan understood but shook her head, "If we open a shop, we might consider it. But for now, it's too much work. Buying pots and charcoal would be expensive."

Speaking of charcoal, Lin Chunyan hated the cold and asked Sun Anyuan if he knew a reliable charcoal seller.

Sun Anyuan, who traveled frequently, wasn't sure where to find the best charcoal but promised to look into it, "I remember seeing some cheap and good charcoal in Gourd Town. I'll let you know once I find out more."

When Sun Anyuan returned home, he found Sun the Constable lounging on the kang, eating small river fish.

Li Dainiang sat beside him, occasionally scolding him. Sun the Constable, used to the scolding, ignored it and waved at Sun Anyuan.

"You just got back from an escort mission, why did you go out again? Did you go to the stall for noodles?"

Sun Anyuan hesitated, knowing that if Sun the Constable learned about the hot pot, he would surely seek out Lin Xiaoniang.

But Sun the Constable had a sharp nose and immediately sensed something was off. He pulled Sun Anyuan over, "Tell me the truth, did you go to Lin Xiaoniang for a special dish? After Old Qin's wedding, your men didn't attend, so they must have gone to her once they returned."

Sun Anyuan chuckled nervously, and Sun the Constable, seeing his reaction, knew exactly what had happened. He huffed, "You're a real friend, I was actually thinking about you."

Sun Anyuan felt ashamed, and Sun the Constable, seeing the right moment, asked, "What did Lin Xiaoniang cook for you? Tell me so I can try it too."

Li Dainiang listened intently, and Sun Anyuan described the hot pot, "The mutton slices were very thin and changed color quickly in the pot. The sauces she prepared were amazing..."

Sun the Constable's mouth watered, wishing he could taste the hot pot right away.

"I wonder when Lin Xiaoniang will start selling this hot pot. I want to try it too."

Sun Anyuan told him Lin Chunyan's plan, "She said she might sell it if she opens a shop. Brother, you'll have to wait."

Sun the Constable kicked Sun Anyuan, and the two brothers bickered, making Li Dainiang furious, "You two act like children! At your age, you should be able to buy soy sauce for your kids! But you never listen, you're going to drive me crazy."

Seeing that Li Dainiang had started up again, the two brothers, who had just restrained themselves for a moment, were nudged by Constable Sun, who sighed, “If only you weren’t so old, marrying Lin Xiaoniang would have been perfect.”

“Brother, what you’re saying! Regardless of our age, if we think someone cooks well and want to marry them just to have their cooking all to ourselves, wouldn’t that be chaos?”

Li Dainiang, annoyed by their chatter, shooed them out, “Go cause trouble outside, just don’t let me see you!”

A few days later, Sun Anyuan told Lin Chunyan that he had found her some charcoal at a much cheaper price than in the market.

After learning this, Lin Chunyan took Lin Taohong to buy a cartload. Lin Taohong, fearing that Mrs. Zhang would scold them when she returned, tugged on Lin Chunyan’s sleeve, “Sister, let’s just take a little less; we can endure the cold in winter.”

In Lin Taohong’s memory, no winter had ever passed without feeling the cold. Even under the covers, one would always shiver, with cold feet and legs throughout the night.

Enduring the cold had become a habit.

However, Lin Chunyan insisted on buying a full cart of coal, thinking it might not be enough and that prices could rise when it got colder. She negotiated with the seller to come back for another cart in a few days.

When Mrs. Zhang saw the cart of charcoal, her eyes flickered, and she opened her mouth as if to say something but ultimately remained silent.

Lin Taohong was puzzled, “Mother, why didn’t you say anything about Sister?”

“What should I say? I know you fear the cold, so buying this much is fine, but don’t use it in my room. I’m tough and never fear the cold.”

This wasn’t entirely false. Her room had never had a fire, and even in winter, the kang (a heated brick bed) was never warmed for her.

Thinking about this, Mrs. Zhang felt a deep resentment, “It’s only because your grandparents are gone that I shouldn’t say this, but your uncles’ rooms are heated, yet they ignore me. My room is always as cold as an ice cellar.”

She had grown accustomed to the cold. After marrying Old Man Lin, she bore no sons and was not favored, which made her feel very insecure.

Even though she boasted about how well Old Man Lin treated her, she knew it was a lie. When she was lazy and paid a few coins to have firewood delivered, Old Man Lin scolded her severely when he found out.

Lin Chunyan felt sorry for her, “We’re not short of money. Since we bought it, we’ll use it together. Don’t talk about sacrifice; it just makes people uncomfortable.”

Mrs. Zhang didn’t understand what “sacrifice” meant, but she knew it wasn’t good. After a moment, she said, “How about in winter, I come over and sleep with you? We four can sleep together, warm and cozy.”

When Hu Shi came over, Mrs. Zhang had slept with them for a night. It wasn’t as spacious as before, but it was still comfortable.

Lin Chunyan didn’t immediately refuse, “We’ll see. If it gets really cold, we’ll sleep together and put both charcoal braziers in one room. That will definitely keep us warm.”

As if the heavens had heard something, the snow that had melted the day before started falling again, making it impossible to set up stalls.

Lin Chunyan didn’t insist on going out in such weather. However, Wang Yingniang couldn’t sit still, pacing back and forth in the room. The fish balls, crab sticks, and braised tofu and bean curd she had prepared were just sitting there, waiting to be eaten. She thought it better to try selling them.

They had spent quite a bit of money on the two carts of charcoal.

“Those workers might be waiting to buy some pickles. If we don’t push the cart out, I can carry the goods to the dock myself and sell what I can.”

Wang Yingniang tried to persuade them, but Lin Chunyan pointed outside, “Look at the heavy snow; you can’t even see anyone. What if something happens to you? We don’t need those few coins.”

Wang Yingniang disagreed, “Those few coins aren’t easy to earn. You’re supporting this whole family. We should earn whatever we can.”

She rarely showed such stubbornness. Since coming to the Lin family, she had been gentle and obedient, only showing enthusiasm in the kitchen. But her focus on money reminded Lin Chunyan of Mrs. Zhang.

Lin Chunyan glared at Mrs. Zhang, who felt confused, “I didn’t tell her to go. Why are you looking at me, Yan Niang? I think what Yingniang said makes sense. We don’t need to push the cart; just carrying the goods around might get us a few coins.”

Hearing this, Wang Yingniang felt more confident. She lifted the curtain to find a pole, and Lin Chunyan stomped her foot in frustration, “In such cold weather, why don’t you go, Mother? Why must Yingniang go?”

Mrs. Zhang pouted, “Don’t look at me like that. She insisted on going, and I just agreed with her. Besides, you can’t change her mind once she’s set on something.”

Mrs. Zhang had long noticed that Wang Yingniang was stubborn, even more so than herself and Lin Taohong. While she and Lin Taohong sometimes got lazy and avoided work until they ran out of money, Wang Yingniang was different. She had a mind of her own, evident from her secret help to Lin Chunyan. Raised by Wang Chuizi to value earning and saving money, she also enjoyed refining her cooking skills, fearing being looked down upon.

Mrs. Zhang explained to Lin Chunyan, “Listen to me. Let her go around a few times. Whatever she earns, we won’t take; it will be her private stash.”

“That’s not right. What if something happens to her?”

As they argued, Wang Yingniang had already prepared the pole and filled it with goods. Erlang also braved the snow to ask if they were going out.

Lin Chunyan had just said they weren’t, but Wang Yingniang quickly added, “Brother Erlang, I’m going to walk around and see if anyone buys our goods. If you come, we can go together.”

Erlang also wanted to go out. He didn’t like staying idle at home. Like Wang Yingniang, he felt uneasy when idle. Hearing this, he nodded immediately.

Ignoring Lin Chunyan’s words, they each took a pole and left.

Lin Chunyan was almost ready to turn away in anger, saying, “If you two really go, I’ll deduct your wages and ignore you.”

Their steps slowed slightly, but they continued out.

Wang Yingniang planned to explain herself to Lin Chunyan later, knowing that Lin Chunyan, with her good temper, would forgive her.

Seeing them leave, Lin Chunyan sighed and asked Lin Taohong to bring hats and rabbit fur scarves to them, saying, “Don’t tell them I sent these; say I’m still angry.”

Lin Taohong reluctantly took the items and stepped outside, where the wind and snow hit her face. She tightened her clothes, not understanding Wang Yingniang and Erlang’s decision.

Staying warm at home by the fire, eating delicious food—wasn’t that better?

After delivering the items, Lin Taohong hurried back into the warmth of the bed, shivering as she told Lin Chunyan, “I gave them the items and saw them put them on. I don’t understand what they’re thinking.”

Lin Chunyan didn’t respond. Seeing her genuinely upset, Lin Taohong sat up, “Sister, don’t be sad. When Yingniang comes back, I’ll beat her.”

Lin Taohong was also angry. Though this wasn’t her business, Wang Yingniang’s actions had never made Lin Chunyan so upset before, making her feel uneasy. She decided to really beat Wang Yingniang when she returned.

Leaning closer to Lin Chunyan, she said playfully, “Now you see, I’m the best. They all have to step aside.”

Lin Chunyan finally smiled lightly, “I’m fine. It’s rare that you two aren’t fighting. Don’t let this cause another argument.”

Both stoves were lit, but using just one wasn’t enough to keep the room warm. Achieving the warmth of modern heated rooms was impossible, but as long as the room wasn’t freezing and was warmer than outside, the effort to burn the wood and charcoal wasn’t wasted.

Lin Chunyan couldn’t focus on anything, constantly looking outside, but the white expanse offered no view, causing her to worry.

Thinking all sorts of things, Mrs. Zhang was snoring loudly on the other side, her snores deafening. Lin Taohong, unable to bear the noise, pushed her several times, "Mother, please don't sleep anymore. You've been sleeping since you woke up in the morning and had your meal. Are you going to sleep at night?"

Mrs. Zhang opened her eyes drowsily, mumbled something, and quickly closed her eyes again, resuming her snoring.

Lin Taohong could only cover her head with the quilt and muffledly said to Lin Chunyan, "Sister, we should let Mother go back to her own room. She doesn't fear the cold, and she's disturbing us so much that we can't sleep well."

And that domineering snowball, now acting like a cat owner, would jump onto their bed from time to time, which annoyed Lin Taohong no end.

Mrs. Zhang had moved in during the heavy snowfall a few days ago. Her room was larger and colder. This way, they could save some firewood and place both stoves in this room, making it warmer.

Mrs. Zhang truly wasn't afraid of the cold. With two stoves lit, she felt unbearably hot and wore only a padded jacket inside. Lin Chunyan, not believing it, touched her hands and found them warm.

After lunch, Lin Chunyan frequently looked out through the window paper, eventually stepping outside to wait. The ground was already covered with a thick layer of snow, making walking difficult, and she feared it would be even harder later.

Lin Chunyan felt the night fell earlier than before. It was still early afternoon, but the sky seemed darker. Seeing they hadn't returned, Mrs. Zhang also began to look outside.

"Has something happened? Why haven't they returned in such heavy snow?"

"Shh, shh, shh." Lin Chunyan quickly said, fearing her words might come true, "Don't say that. They must be delayed because of the bad road conditions."

Perhaps Aunt Lin was also waiting at home. Later, they needed to have a safety meeting to remind everyone to take safety seriously.

Before it got completely dark, they finally saw two blurry figures approaching. Snow had settled on their heads and shoulders, and their shoes and socks were indeed soaked as Lin Chunyan had expected.

They didn't wear gloves, as there were none at home, and their hands were frozen red. Lin Chunyan silently brought out ginger sugar water and hot water for them without saying a word.

Wang Yingniang hurriedly soaked their hands and feet, fearing they might get frostbitten. Erlang was pulled aside by Mrs. Zhang, who asked, "Why did it take so long? We were worried sick at home."

Erlang briefly recounted what happened today, "The workers at the dock thought we weren't coming. When they saw us, they gave us a lot of pickled vegetables, saying to store more in case the snow continues for a few more days."

Wang Yingniang's eyes sparkled as she took out several copper coins and placed them on the stove, showing them to Lin Chunyan.

Lin Chunyan turned her head away, refusing to speak to her.

Only then did Wang Yingniang realize Lin Chunyan was still angry. Her smile faded, and she tugged at the corner of her mouth, "Yan Niang, many people were waiting for us. They were very happy when I went. We even toured the town, and although few vendors were out, many people came out to buy when they heard our calls."

Wang Yingniang tried to explain, but Lin Chunyan ignored her. Seeing they had soaked their hands and feet and were sweating slightly, she returned to the room.

Erlang ate dinner before leaving, while Wang Yingniang ate distractedly, asking Lin Taohong several times, "Is Yan Niang really going to stay angry all day?"

Lin Taohong rolled her eyes, "Well, after you left, my sister stopped talking. You know, we don't have much money, yet you insisted on not listening to my sister. If something really happens, how will my sister feel?"

Wang Yingniang lowered her head and said nothing.

For several days, it continued to snow, though not as heavily as the first day. The snow on the ground was thick, and whenever it stopped, they had to climb onto the roof to remove the accumulated snow to prevent the roof from collapsing under its weight.

Such incidents had happened before, like when Liu Niangzi's house was crushed by snow.

Her family was lazy, disliking the cold of climbing onto the roof during snowfall, so they waited for the snow to melt. However, that year was exceptionally cold, and the heavy snow collapsed the roof, fortunately with no one inside.

Liu Niangzi rarely stayed at home, returning only to sleep. She thought it wasteful to use firewood at home and even chased others out.

This saved them from disaster, but instead of being more cautious, Liu Niangzi felt fortunate that she had made everyone leave, thus avoiding trouble.

She was just heartbroken about the cost of repairing the roof, which took a long time to fix.

Wang Yingniang was cautious these days, seeing that Lin Chunyan was truly angry and not mentioning selling goods again. She busied herself in the kitchen, occasionally sharing new ideas with Lin Chunyan, who ignored her.

Lin Chunyan decided to teach Wang Yingniang a lesson, as accidents in heavy snow were not uncommon.

Erlang and Sanlang, with their shovels, came early to help clear the snow. Few people lived nearby, so there were fewer helpers.

Going to the back mountain was out of the question; the snow was knee-deep, making it impossible to see the path, and a misstep could lead to a fall off a cliff.

The persimmon cakes were already dried and could be taken out and placed near the charcoal fire, becoming warm in no time.

Lin Chunyan thought baking bread indoors in such weather would be perfect.

Unfortunately, their stove was open and unsuitable for baking, so Lin Chunyan went to the kitchen.

She took out the flour, and Wang Yingniang quickly came to help, remaining silent beside her.

Without high-gluten flour, Lin Chunyan added egg whites to the flour and kneaded it, which worked well for making bread.

After letting it rise, she added oil and kneaded until a film formed, then set it aside for secondary fermentation.

She took out the persimmon cakes and scooped out the flesh, ready to add it to the dough after the second fermentation.

The oven was hot enough, and the bread began to bake. Soon, the air filled with the unique aroma of persimmon bread. Lin Chunyan took the bread out of the oven and brushed maltose on the surface.

This made the bread crust crispy and sweet, which Lin Chunyan loved.

Carrying a few loaves into the room, the fire in the stove was burning brightly, occasionally crackling, adding life to the quiet room.

Snowball, curled by the stove, meowed upon smelling the bread.

"He has a good nose," Lin Taohong couldn't wait to eat, breaking a loaf in half, steam rising, revealing the golden persimmon filling.

Taking a bite, the sweetness and fragrance of the bread filled her mouth. A pot of kiwi fruit slices was in the kettle by the stove, dried in early autumn, perfect for steeping in honey-sweetened water, a refreshing treat.

Lin Chunyan ate a loaf and stopped, noticing Mrs. Zhang was missing. She asked Lin Taohong, "Where is Mother?"

"Probably chatting at someone's house. She even wore that hat when she left."

The hats were made by Wang Yingniang over the past two days, one for each person. Lin Chunyan accepted them but still didn't speak.

Lin Taohong mentioned the hats to ease the tension, hoping the two would reconcile soon.

Lin Chunyan pretended not to notice, taking chestnuts from the cellar and roasting them by the stove. Once peeled, the sweet aroma of chestnuts filled the room, and a bite revealed their soft, glutinous texture.

The peeled chestnut shells were tossed directly into the fire, causing a sudden flare-up accompanied by a series of crackling sounds.

Mrs. Zhang went out to show off her rabbit fur scarf and hat. Everyone knew she was living a comfortable life now, and there were both envy and sighs, as well as some sour remarks, which Mrs. Zhang listened to with a cheerful smile.

"It's only October, and it's already like this. I think you won't be able to set up your stalls all winter, and you'll lose a lot of money."

Mrs. Zhang went to Liu Niangzi's house to chat and couldn't help but mention the snow that had fallen recently.

Not only could they not set up their stalls, but many people couldn't go to collect acorns either. Some had already gathered a lot and stored them, as these things don't spoil easily.

Those who hadn't planned ahead sighed, feeling it was a loss to trade money for leftovers.

Some people came to ask if they could borrow some leftovers.

They said they wouldn't take them for free and promised to gather more acorns from the mountains next autumn.

Mrs. Zhang naturally disagreed, "I've never seen anyone borrow something for so long. If you stop gathering acorns or raising chickens, we'd be the ones losing out."

Everyone in the village knew Mrs. Zhang was tough to talk to, so no one argued with her. Instead, they turned to Lin Chunyan, hoping to appeal to her emotions.

Lin Chunyan thought for a moment, "We do have quite a few acorns left, but my mother has a point. Who knows if you'll just talk us into it and then not follow through? What if you don't gather acorns next year or stop raising chickens? We'd be the ones losing out."

Though they weren't valuable, no one would give them away for nothing. Seeing that Lin Chunyan wasn't easy to persuade, they immediately started sighing and muttering.

"We've been raising chickens for so long, counting on their eggs. If only we hadn't started."

Mrs. Zhang chimed in, "You don't need to bring that up. We didn't make you raise chickens. Acorns are only available in autumn. Did you just find out? Why can't others store more?"

Lin Chunyan took a different approach, "If you're serious about raising chickens, how about this: you pay for the leftovers now, and when you bring acorns later, I'll refund your money."

This way, no one would lose out. But those people were reluctant to part with their money.

After they left, Mrs. Zhang laughed, "We did the right thing. As the saying goes, kindness invites bullying. Only by being firm will they not underestimate us."

Those who genuinely wanted to raise chickens brought money as a deposit, and Lin Chunyan recorded it.

She used symbols that only she could understand, ensuring she wouldn't forget.

Liu Niangzi had lost weight recently. Her daughter-in-law was capable and heard that gathering acorns could get them leftovers to feed the pigs. She thought it was such a good deal that they should hurry up and go to the mountains. Liu Niangzi's family was known for not managing their household well.

In winter, acorns aren't easy to find; it takes half a day to fill a basket. But her daughter-in-law believed in taking what they could get, starting to nag before dawn every day.

"Mother, get up quickly. The chickens are waiting to eat. How can they lay eggs without food? With eggs, we can have a good meal. Oh, Mother, don't just lie there, go to the mountains."

Liu Niangzi opened her mouth several times, wanting to say she didn't want to go to the mountains and preferred to rest in bed or chat with others, as she had done in the past.

But each time she opened her mouth, she was interrupted by Second Auntie, who pushed her out the door.

This daughter-in-law was different, hard-won, and from another place, unaware of their situation. In the surrounding villages, everyone knew Liu Niangzi was notoriously lazy, making both inside and outside the house dirty. No decent young woman would marry into such a family.

Seizing the opportunity, Liu Niangzi naturally complained to Mrs. Zhang, tears streaming down her face.

Mrs. Zhang came back because she was hungry and smelled something sweet as soon as she entered the house, making her even hungrier.

"What's this delicious smell? Give me one."

Lin Chunyan handed her a persimmon bread. Mrs. Zhang took a bite, and the bread was sweet on top but soft overall. The filling was sweet and chewy.

After eating, she felt energized and started talking about Liu Niangzi, "They say she's not doing well, but where exactly is she not doing well? Even though her daughter-in-law forces her to gather acorns every day, she hasn't asked me for anything."

Given their relationship, if Liu Niangzi had asked to borrow leftovers, Mrs. Zhang would have given them to her.

But she didn't, even though she cried and sobbed.