Chapter Six: Dinner Time

Gan Sui and Banxia walked together along the country path. The closer they drew to the village, the more they noticed wisps of cooking smoke curling into the evening sky. Banxia inhaled deeply, savoring the air. “It smells so good. I think I can even smell meat. Yesterday I complained to my mother that her braised pork was too fatty, but now just thinking about it makes my mouth water. Big shot, tell me about life in your grand household.”

“What’s there to tell? It’s just eating and sleeping, the same as anyone else.”

“The routine might be the same, but surely the quality’s different. Like shark fin and vermicelli—they might look alike, but the difference is worlds apart.” As she spoke, she suddenly kicked a stone and almost twisted her ankle, but Gan Sui reacted quickly and steadied her.

He let go only after Banxia stood firm. “Are you still a child? Even children know to watch their step, but you’re about to fall.”

“It was just an accident…”

“Hmm?”

“My mistake. I’ll pay more attention next time.” So fierce.

“Scholar Gan is back, and that must be your wife beside you? The new bride’s got quite a bit of strength,” called out a woman washing clothes nearby.

Banxia whispered to Gan Sui, “Who’s that?”

“How should I know?”

“So what do we do?”

“Just smile and let it pass.”

“I don’t think that’s enough.” Banxia flashed a brilliant smile. “Auntie, you’re still washing clothes? It’s late, why don’t you go home?”

“Just these last two pieces. I live just over there. My surname’s Yun, you can call me Aunt Yun. Scholar Gan doesn’t say much, but he’s a good-hearted boy—helped me write a letter to my son not long ago. You just have to hang in there a couple of years after marrying him. Once he passes the exams and moves up in the world, life will be much easier.”

“Thank you for your kind words, Aunt Yun. We have to get home and cook, so we won’t keep you. See you around.” If they chatted any longer, the truth would probably slip out.

“You young couple will need some livestock. A few chicks just hatched at my place—come by tomorrow and have a look. If you want to raise them, I’ll let you have two for just one big copper coin. That’s only because of your scholar husband—no one else gets that price…”

“Sure, tomorrow I’ll—”

“Aunt Yun, you really do think highly of me, don’t you? I heard from the neighbor that you sold her two chicks yesterday for only ten coins. How is it the price has multiplied so much overnight?”

“Oh my, I’ve finished washing these clothes. I’ll be heading home now.” Unmasked, Aunt Yun’s face flushed with embarrassment and she hurried away.

“You figured out the market price that fast?”

“In this kind of economy, if you don’t raise some livestock, how else are you going to make extra income?”

“I’m a science major, so I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about, but you’re amazing anyway.” Banxia gazed at him with starry-eyed admiration.

Gan Sui gave her a gentle shove, but a barely perceptible smile tugged at his lips. This fool—if it weren’t for him, she’d probably be sold off and still help count the money.

When they returned home, it was the first time they didn’t see Second Aunt Gan chatting by the courtyard, which felt a little strange. Banxia quickly busied herself preparing dinner. As usual, supper was a porridge of mixed grains. Banxia poached an egg and slipped it secretly into Gan Sui’s bowl—his health was really too frail. She also made a cold salad of wild scallions and purslane, and stir-fried some mushrooms.

As Gan Sui ate, he noticed the poached egg in his bowl. “Did you only cook one?” Though it was a question, his tone brooked no doubt.

“I thought it wasn’t right to just accept things from others. Tomorrow I’ll take two eggs to Second Aunt Gan. You can’t just keep foraging for food—whether it’s for the exams or business, you need some capital. Tomorrow, sell these mushrooms and eggs at the market. They’ll fetch a bit of money. Besides, I don’t like eggs much; you go ahead and eat it.”

Not like eggs? Impossible. She’d just been eyeing the wild eggs hungrily a moment ago.

“Let’s share it. I can’t eat it by myself.” With that, he split the egg in two and placed half in Banxia’s bowl.

Somehow, that single egg tasted as rich and satisfying as a feast of delicacies from the mountains and seas.