Chapter 14

Back home, they brought out the pickled vegetable jar. “There’s still some aged rice left. How about pouring some in to try it out?” Su Liuhe was eager to experiment.

Gu Yiren suddenly asked, “How do you know it can produce something?” It just looked like an ordinary pickled vegetable jar, even cracked.

Su Liuhe replied honestly, “I don’t know. I just put it there casually.”

Gu Yiren had rested in the wooden cabin for a while but had never paid attention to the pickled vegetable jar.

“Was this jar originally here?”

Su Liuhe rolled her eyes at him and said, “Could it be some family heirloom? Neither of us has parents; if you think about it carefully, we’re practically undocumented.”

In the end, they still had to thank Xiaotang Village for at least registering them. Years ago, during the famine, there were many orphans and widows, and the government had special policies. Otherwise, it would be difficult for orphans to register now.

After filling the jar with rice, Su Liuhe continued making honey chestnut cakes.

With Gu Yiren as her helper, they peeled a basin full of chestnuts. The plump, golden chestnuts were boiled until soft and sticky, then mashed and mixed with a quarter jar of honey. They also stirred in some fermented old dough leftover from making dumplings.

Without molds, they used porcelain bowls to hold the honey chestnut paste, waiting for fermentation before steaming it in a large iron pot.

“The first round needs to be brushed with oil, the second with a bit of honey,” Su Liuhe said regretfully. “It would be better with some sesame seeds.”

Gu Yiren immediately offered, “Shall I go buy some?”

Su Liuhe looked at the darkening sky outside and said, “Never mind, let’s make it next time. Once it’s ready, you can take five to the Xiangcai family, five to Aunt Song’s family, and we’ll keep the rest.”

“Alright.”

Su Liuhe made over twenty honey chestnut cakes in total, filling the kitchen with the sweet aroma of honey.

After taking them out, Su Liuhe handed one to Gu Yiren eagerly. “Try it!”

The sweetness of honey and the richness of chestnuts spread in his mouth, the soft and delicate texture delivering a delightful burst of flavor.

“Delicious,” Gu Yiren said, surprised that Su Liuhe’s “unconventional” creations—her words for “desserts”—could taste so good.

After tasting one, Gu Yiren delivered some to the Xiangcai family, where Xiangcai was washing her hair, tugging at her scalp.

Sensing the tempting aroma, she stopped mid-wash, grabbed a piece of honey chestnut cake, and her mouth watered.

After tasting it, an unimaginable flavor overwhelmed her taste buds, and despite the heat, she quickly finished the piece.

She was about to thank Gu Yiren but saw him already striding away, so she could only take the cakes by the windowsill inside to share with her mother.

Aunt Song’s family was the same. The family of three enjoyed the honey chestnut cakes Gu Yiren brought, unable to believe such ordinary ingredients could taste so wonderful.

Miss Song nibbled carefully, afraid that rushing would spoil the intricate flavor.

After delivering to the two families, on his way home, Gu Yiren was stopped by Half-Crazy.

He whispered mysteriously, “Dead, the people who came to capture your wife are dead!”

Gu Yiren looked around and, seeing no one, pulled him aside. “That’s not my wife, that’s my aunt. Who do you mean is dead?”

Half-Crazy said, “Fool, that’s your wife!”

Gu Yiren muttered softly, “If you say so, then it is.”

Half-Crazy wiped his nose on his sleeve, sniffed the sweet scent on Gu Yiren, and flattered him, “The people who came to capture your wife died in the mountains! I killed them!”

Gu Yiren was startled. “The ones in black?”

Half-Crazy grinned with yellowed teeth, waving his hands excitedly. “Yes, yes! I smashed the back of his head, and he never got up!”

“Where is the body?”

“Thrown away. There are wolves in the mountains! Tough and crunchy, good for their teeth!”

Gu Yiren asked, “Why did you help me kill?”

Half-Crazy said, “You gave me food; of course, I’d help kill!”

Gu Yiren lowered his voice. “I don’t know if you’re truly crazy or pretending, but if you really protected us, thank you. I’ll bring you some good food tomorrow.”

Half-Crazy clapped and jumped excitedly, “Bring your wife too!”

Gu Yiren slapped him lightly and pointed at his nose. “Say that again.”

Half-Crazy wiped his mouth and bowed repeatedly. “Hehe, thank you, ancestor! Thank you, ancestor’s wife!”

Gu Yiren went inside to find Su Liuhe had set the kang table.

“Honey chestnut cake with dried tangerine peel water,” Su Liuhe called him over. “Look, this is the sun-dried orange peel you almost threw away.”

Gu Yiren didn’t know orange peel could be brewed into tea. After eating three honey chestnut cakes in a row and taking a sip of the sweet and sour dried peel water, the greasy feeling was instantly cleansed, leaving a refreshing taste.

“The older the dried peel, the better. Ours is just orange peel water, but it’ll do. When you become an officer, you’ll drink the real thing.”

Gu Yiren hesitated, putting down the cup. “Do you really think I can get into military school?”

Su Liuhe said, “You’re more capable than you think. You learn things quickly; as long as you persevere.”

Gu Yiren glanced out the window. “...Can I really pass the college entrance exam?”

Su Liuhe said confidently, “In two years.”

In his past life, Gu Yiren had never paid attention to such things. He had vaguely heard of the college entrance exam, but back then, he was blinded by pain and hatred, unable to care about anything else.

“Alright.”

If Su Liuhe said so, he was willing to fight for it!

This was no longer just his fate but theirs together.

The next day.

When Su Liuhe woke up, she saw Gu Yiren sweeping snow in the yard. It was still dim outside—he had gotten up earlier than before?

Su Liuhe was afraid of the cold. She poured water from the small clay stove kettle and headed to the back door of the kitchen to brush her teeth and wash her face.

But when she opened the door, she was shocked!

Three pairs of stiff, frozen boxers hung there, probably washed in a hurry and not wrung dry. Icicles still clung to the bottoms!

Gu Yiren owned four pairs of boxers—what was going on?

Suddenly, a long arm reached over Su Liuhe’s head and closed the back door.

Gu Yiren’s voice was calm. “Go wash at the front door.”

“Oh,” Su Liuhe got up and walked away, not noticing Gu Yiren’s flushed face.

“I mean...” Su Liuhe suddenly stopped. Gu Yiren, looking at her back, quickly turned his head away. “What?”

Su Liuhe pointed to the small clay stove and blurted out quickly, “Why not hang a string inside to dry faster? Otherwise, you’ll freeze wearing them. I said everything, I didn’t see anything.”

Gu Yiren was speechless.

He went to the back door and took out the wooden board hidden behind it.

He hadn’t known how to tell her about sleeping separately, but now he had an opportunity.

He almost forgot he was a young man full of vigor. Lately, eating well and sleeping well had only made him more full of energy. He exercised hard to suppress his natural urges.

He had slept a bit too deeply yesterday morning, almost letting her see.

Whenever he accidentally saw her innocent sleeping face, he felt the bad seed in his bones.

“What are you doing?” Su Liuhe asked, holding the egg custard Gu Yiren had made, scooping some up to offer. “A bed?”

Gu Yiren shook his head. “You eat.”

Su Liuhe asked again, “You’re not going to sleep here, are you?”

Gu Yiren had calmed down and replied quietly, “I get up early and it would disturb you.”

Su Liuhe muttered softly, “It’s cold, isn’t it?”

The kitchen had doors at both ends, but they were not airtight, causing drafts.

But Gu Yiren had made up his mind. “It’s not cold.” He continued hammering the wooden boards.

Su Liuhe had wanted to make him two more pairs of boxers, but just seeing his dried boxers and knowing he wanted to move into the kitchen to sleep made her realize that if she made him more, he’d be mortified.

Well, kids growing up need their own space.

Unable to help, Su Liuhe squatted nearby, quietly eating her egg custard. Not causing trouble was the best help she could give.

By the back door, Gu Yiren made himself a small partition with half-height wooden boards around a single bed, leaving the rest of his things in the kang room.

Su Liuhe still worried about the pickled vegetable jar’s contents. Seeing Gu Yiren busy, she ran over and hugged the jar. “Wow, the rice has changed color!”

The aged rice was grayish-white, but the new rice was crystal clear and fragrant.

Gu Yiren put down his work and came over, unable to hide his excitement at the gleaming grains. “It really works.”

Su Liuhe said, “The New Year is just two days away. Today, we’ll feast on a big bowl of rice!”

Gu Yiren rarely smiled but did now. “Alright.”

Uncle Song and Miss Song hadn’t reached Su Liuhe’s house yet when they smelled the sweet fragrance of rice in the air.

Every household was cooking, and it was hard to tell whose aroma it was. Smoke curled from each rooftop, bringing life to winter.

The birthmark on Miss Song’s face had completely disappeared. Following Su Liuhe’s instructions, if anyone asked, she’d say it was cured with medicine from the hospital.

Her family had taken her to see doctors everywhere over the years, and everyone had noticed. They believed it was healed.

Now, her face was as clear as a newborn’s, no longer hidden by bangs. Though still shy around strangers, she was much more confident around familiar faces.

With the New Year approaching, Uncle Song came for two reasons: first, to thank Su Liuhe for curing his daughter, ensuring her future marriage prospects.

Second, to deliver a request from Xiangcai’s mother, who, having been married before, found it easier to speak with Su Liuhe.

Uncle Song brought ten eggs and a pound of wheat flour. When father and daughter arrived, Su Liuhe and Gu Yiren had just finished half a pot of fragrant rice and were lying on the kang, full.

Gu Yiren rubbed his belly. “From now on, we won’t need ration coupons to eat rice.”

Su Liuhe felt the fragrance of the rice lingered in her mouth and said contentedly, “Eat up—it’s the best food for growing bodies.”

Gu Yiren usually saved the best treats for Su Liuhe and often made noises at night. Now, the young man no longer feared eating his fill and exhausting his old man.

“Is anyone there?” Miss Song called outside. “It’s Miss Song.”

Her given name was actually Miss Song. She came boldly to Su Liuhe’s house and called out, “Aunt Xiaohe.”

Technically, she was two months and a year older than Su Liuhe—already twenty. But Su Liuhe, crafty as ever, had made herself sisters with Xiangcai’s mother, Aunt Song, and had Gu Yiren as her older nephew, thus elevating her own status.

Miss Song, smiling brightly, greeted Su Liuhe with early New Year wishes and handed over the eggs and flour.

They sat inside talking, while Uncle Song went to the kitchen to chat with Gu Yiren about manly matters.

Gu Yiren, having never been with a woman in either of his lives, was indifferent at first to Uncle Song’s words.

Uncle Song’s weathered face had seen it all. Lowering his voice, he spoke more earnestly, causing Gu Yiren to blush deeply.

He advised him and marveled at how much Gu Yiren had changed in just a few months.

No one knew what he had been fed, but suddenly, the boy had grown into a strong man almost overnight. If not for the lingering youthfulness on his face, his body was comparable to a full-grown, even more agile man.

Compared to Uncle Song’s younger self, Gu Yiren was like a chicken chick.

People used to call Gu Yiren a “dog brat,” but looking closely, he was more like a young ox.

His arm and thigh muscles burst with growth, even though he had been poorly fed before—he must be favored by heaven.

Uncle Song explained matters between men and women in detail. Gu Yiren was so robust that any girl he carelessly harassed would not be able to withstand it physically.

He also taught him how to relieve himself, not to bottle it up too much nor overdo it.

After they left, Su Liuhe waited, but Gu Yiren still hadn’t come to explain.

Unable to wait until morning, wearing a small vest and with her cotton jacket draped over her, she stood at the door and poked her head in. “What did you two talk about?”

She wasn’t just curious. She had asked Miss Song, who was very shy and refused to tell her.

Su Liuhe’s mind went wild, suspecting someone might be trying to set her older nephew up with a girl too early. That wouldn’t do.

Her porcelain-white neck and slender, fair arm swung in front of Gu Yiren, and the outline of her graceful figure was visible beneath the vest.

Gu Yiren’s Adam’s apple moved, and he turned his head away. “Nothing.”

Su Liuhe looked at him quietly. “Really?”

Gu Yiren felt his heart pounding so fiercely he thought she could hear it. The things Uncle Song said—if it were her... if it were her... he couldn’t control himself.

He quickly said, “...Really, nothing.”

Su Liuhe frowned. “Are they trying to arrange a match for you?”

Gu Yiren didn’t expect her to linger, so he said, “We just talked about life, nothing else.”

He urged her, “Go inside and sleep. Don’t worry, I said I’d prepare well for the college entrance exam.”

Su Liuhe crossed her arms, tugging at her jacket’s collar, lecturing the prospective exam candidate. “Remember, the more you fight today, the more you’ll smile tomorrow! Don’t falter at the critical moment! We must have burning passion—”

“Preparing for the exam...” Gu Yiren smiled in agreement. “Don’t worry, I’ll definitely get in two years from now.”