Chapter 447: Ye’s Noodle Cooking

Chapter 447 Ye's Homemade Noodles

Ye Xiaoxiao stayed at home all day. By the afternoon, the water in the yard had receded a little, but it started raining again.

At least it wasn’t as bad as yesterday.

She was worried about the chickens in the yard and wondered how they were faring.

Not daring to go out barefoot, she trudged through the mud in her black rubber rain boots, each step squelching through the mud.

By the time she reached the woodshed, her boots were caked with mud.

Pushing the door open, she saw a little water inside, but nothing serious. The chicks were huddled together atop the firewood pile.

Ye Xiaoxiao scattered some feed inside, but the chickens didn’t move.

"Don’t tell me they died of fright."

We might as well have eaten them all.

After tending to the animals, she struggled back to the stone steps at the entrance.

She made up her mind—once the typhoon passed, she would pave the walkable parts of the yard with stone slabs.

Lu Hanchuan still hadn’t returned. From the doorstep, Ye Xiaoxiao couldn’t see much.

But after yesterday’s storm, it was possible some parts of the island had been hit hard.

She’d expected Lu Hanchuan back sooner, but she had to wait another day before seeing him.

Just then, Ye Xiaoxiao noticed the rain had stopped and was about to head to the clinic—in case anyone needed medical help.

Before going to the clinic, she first checked on the ill Kong Xuelan.

Just as she stepped out of the yard, Lu Hanchuan returned.

He looked exhausted—his beard had grown in.

"Lu Hanchuan… where have you been?"

Ye Xiaoxiao rushed to him.

Seeing Xiao Xiao safe and sound, Lu Hanchuan felt relieved. "I’ve been at the base. There was business to take care of."

Not just disaster relief on the island, but also that business the Head had brought up earlier. Now was their chance.

They could strike while the enemy was unprepared. Though Lu Hanchuan didn’t go himself, the orders came from him. A gamble, but it paid off.

The island had taken a heavy hit from the storm. Their compound had fared better, but many others had lost windows or even roofs.

As soon as he could spare a moment, Lu Hanchuan came home to check.

Ye Xiaoxiao: "You... you must be starving? Do you want something to eat?"

Most of the island likely didn’t have working kitchens, but at least they had hot water at home to ward off the chill.

"No, I’ll need to head back out soon. Is everything alright at home?"

Ye Xiaoxiao shook her head. "Nothing serious, just a leaky roof."

"We'll patch it up once the weather improves." Lu Hanchuan had noticed Xiao Xiao seemed about to leave when he first got home. "Where are you going?"

Ye Xiaoxiao: "You head home first. I'm going next door to check on Teacher Kong. She might’ve come down with a cold."

Lu Hanchuan nodded. He had to freshen up before leaving again.

Xiao Xiao ran to the neighboring yard. Kong Xuelan lay in bed, surrounded by basins catching leaks.

"Your roof’s leaking too?"

*Cough, cough, cough.* Kong Xuelan broke into a violent coughing fit. "Cough... I’ll be alright, don’t fuss over me."

Ye Xiaoxiao stepped closer and touched the other woman’s forehead. "You're like this and still saying you're fine? We’re getting you to the clinic now—don’t let that fever cook your brain."

Kong Xuelan didn’t feel *that* sick—just chilly.

Ye Xiaoxiao knew she’d never manage to haul Kong Xuelan there by herself. If the woman fainted halfway, she wouldn’t be able to manage.

She rushed home to fetch Lu Hanchuan, and the two of them helped Kong Xuelan to the clinic.

Lu Hanchuan had washed his face and changed clothes.

When he heard Teacher Kong was ill, he didn’t hesitate. Together, they supported Kong Xuelan and took her to the clinic.

Inside, Ye Xiaoxiao saw several patients hooked up to IVs.

Lu Hanchuan didn’t stay long before leaving again, so Ye Xiaoxiao had to remain behind to help.

She put in a full day at the clinic before finally returning home.

The one upside? A hot canteen meal that night.

Heavenly.

Ye Xiaoxiao bought two portions of food—one for herself and one for Kong Xuelan.

"Thank you," Kong Xuelan said weakly.

"No big deal. Lu Hanchuan said Deputy Regimental Commander Li’s on assignment, so we can’t come back to take care of you. Just rest up and let the IV do its job."

Ye Xiaoxiao felt that, despite being a few years older, Kong Xuelan was hopeless at self-care.

Ye Xiaoxiao might’ve seemed useless most days, but when it really mattered, she never held anyone back.

Kong Xuelan was in low spirits, and her body wasn’t cooperating. She picked at her food before giving up.

The clinic didn’t allow overnight stays, so the two walked home together.

Kong Xuelan’s window hadn’t been fixed yet, so Ye Xiaoxiao offered, "Why don’t you stay at my place tonight?"

Kong Xuelan shook her head. "I’ve put you out enough as it is—how could I impose on you at night too? The broken pane’s manageable if the wind stays calm."

Ye Xiaoxiao: "The rain’s done for now. Just be careful, and just holler if you need me."

Kong Xuelan nodded.

Ye Xiaoxiao kept checking for Kong Xuelan all night, but around nine o’clock, she heard a noise.

Lu Hanchuan was back after all.

Ye Xiaoxiao got dressed and went to answer the door, only to find that Deputy Regimental Commander Li next door had also come home.

Then everything should be okay—she wouldn’t have to keep fretting.

"You hungry? I can whip up some noodles for you," Ye Xiaoxiao said, looking at Lu Hanchuan.

"Nah, don’t bother."

The power was out at home, and cooking would require lighting a fire. Lu Hanchuan would rather just snack on something dry.

"We’ll do noodles tomorrow morning," Lu Hanchuan said, pulling Xiao Xiao close as they headed inside.

The noodles Ye Xiaoxiao mentioned were store-bought dried noodles, which only took three minutes to boil. Adding some greens and an egg, though it wasn’t gourmet, would at least make for a warm meal.

Lu Hanchuan asked Xiao Xiao where the leaks were.

"The living room and bedroom both. Thank God it’s not over the bed, or we’d be screwed tonight."

Even so, the bedding was still a little damp from the rain.

"When the sun comes out, I need to take all the bedding outside to dry."

Lu Hanchuan replied, "Any day now. Can’t rain forever."

Ye Xiaoxiao didn’t believe him. "July and August are peak rainy season here. Don’t give me that."

Lu Hanchuan laughed. "No lie—it’ll clear up by week’s end."

Worn out from the day, they washed up and conked out as soon as they hit the bed.

When you’re that beat, your brain just shuts off.

The next morning, Ye Xiaoxiao blinked awake to find Lu Hanchuan already stoking the fire.

"I’ll cook the noodles!"

Ye Xiaoxiao decided to let Lu Hanchuan try her "fancy" noodle recipe.

Lu Hanchuan said, "Hold on, let me get some hot water in the thermos first."

Thanks to the rain, the clay stove was being stubborn.

Once the water finally came to a boil again, Ye Xiaoxiao waved Lu Hanchuan off. "Go on, wait outside."

Five minutes later, Ye Xiaoxiao emerged with two steaming bowls of noodles.