A pot of hot water was boiling on the stove, the firewood crackling “pop-pop” as it burned, filling the kitchen with a cozy warmth.
Su Chi shook out the padded jacket his father had taken off and gave it a firm pat, sending a puff of light cotton fluff floating through the air like a layer of softly falling snow.
His voice was gentle as he said to Wang Wen: “Father, after you finish eating, wash your face and wipe down your body, then go lie down on the bed for a while.”
“And don’t wear this jacket anymore — it’s not warm enough. Yushu and I had two new ones made for you. Wear those — they’re warm.” Speaking of the jacket, Su Chi’s brows furrowed with concern.
Wang Wen held the soup bowl and sipped the hot broth, his gaze lingering on the jacket that had accompanied him for so many years. He felt reluctant to part with it: “It looks a bit worn, but it still blocks the wind well enough. Why did you two go to the trouble of making winter clothes? It’s not like we don’t have clothes at home.”
Su Chi’s eyes dropped and he fell silent. Wang Wen knew he was upset and immediately coaxed him: “Alright, alright, I’ll wear them. After I wipe down, I’ll try them on.”
He only wanted the two of them to live their own lives well — there was no need to spend money on him. Those two winter jackets must have been expensive. But since they’d already been made, he would wear them. He couldn’t let his children’s thoughtfulness go to waste.
Once the water in the large pot was fully boiling, Su Chi pulled out a large piece of firewood, covered the pot, and waited for his father to finish eating.
Under Su Chi’s watchful eye, Wang Wen obediently ate most of his meal. Now warm and toasty, he took Su Chi’s hand and said slowly:
“Yushu sent Youchun to tell me yesterday that she was taking Youchun to the county today. She was worried you’d be lonely at home alone, so she asked me to come stay for a few days.”
“So I hurriedly packed my things. Before I left, I asked Liu Fulang to watch over the little chicks for me.”
Wang Wen was always careful and thoughtful in everything he did, so Su Chi wasn’t worried about things at home.
“That child thinks of everything for you — I couldn’t be more at ease,” Wang Wen said with a loving smile on his face.
“I know.” Su Chi’s face warmed at the words. Of course he knew how good Xie Yushu was to him. Then, remembering the pile of things in the yard, he added: “Father, why did you bring so much stuff again this time? We don’t lack for anything at home.”
Only when facing Wang Wen did Su Chi’s childlike, affectionate side fully emerge. He gently tugged at his father’s arms with both hands.
Seeing his child still so dependent on him, Wang Wen’s heart nearly melted. His voice was soft: “What do you mean you don’t lack anything? I heard from Youchun that the shop has added chili oil. That stuff gets used up fast — it takes a lot of chili peppers. I figured the bag of dried peppers I brought you last time should be just about gone.”
He patted Su Chi’s hand: “A few days ago, I bought two large bags of dried peppers from your Uncle Qi — don’t worry, I got them at a low price. He had dried so many he was afraid they’d rot in the bags. I happened to overhear and went over to take them all off his hands. He even threw in some extras for free.”
“There’s also a bag of red beans and two bags of vermicelli noodles — all things you need for the shop. I’ve brought them for you this time too.”
“I also packed a bag of dried shiitake mushrooms — Youchun and I picked them in the mountains during our free time. I knew you needed them for that delicious savory powder you make, so I’ve been saving them up for you.”
Speaking of Ye Youchun, Wang Wen opened up and couldn’t help but praise her: “Ever since Youchun started working under Yushu, she’s been coming to the house every few days. Every time she comes, she brings a basket or two of firewood — we’ve almost run out of room to stack it. Sometimes she brings game from the mountains, or all kinds of mushrooms — hazel mushrooms, chestnuts, wild vegetables. I can’t eat them all myself, so I’ve brought them all for you.”
Su Chi’s eyes lit up when he heard there were more hazel mushrooms and mixed mushrooms.
The savory powder was made from dried shiitake mushrooms, dried shrimp, and seaweed. The dried shrimp and seaweed were what Xie Yushu had brought back, and whenever he had time, Su Chi would make it into savory powder.
The powder didn’t yield much, but he had saved some up — there were still two small jars at home.
Su Chi couldn’t help but say: “That savory powder is so useful. No matter what dish or soup I make, adding a spoonful of it really brings out the flavor. Father, when you go back, take a jar with you.”
“And the vinegar from Aunt Hu’s family in the lane — it’s wonderfully fragrant. I’m sure you’ll love it, Father. I’ll send a jar back with you too.”
Su Chi was mentally noting every single thing he wanted to send back with his father.
Wang Wen chuckled warmly: “Alright, alright, then I’ll get to taste your savory powder skills.”
Su Chi thought of something else, opened the cupboard, and took out the package of dried kelp to show Wang Wen.
Wang Wen took it and felt it, a bit uncertain: “Is this kelp?”
“Yes, it’s dried kelp that’s been sun-dried. Father, if you tear off a small piece and put it in a basin of water, it’ll soak into a whole basinful!” Su Chi introduced it with a hint of pride.
“Then this is a good thing! Much more storable than fresh kelp.” Wang Wen immediately understood its usefulness after hearing that.
Mentioning Xie Yushu always made Su Chi’s heart feel beautiful. He proudly told his father what Xie Yushu was doing now: “Yushu has leased a large compound near the ferry port village. It has a big open yard. She’s hired people to help with sun-drying, making a business of dried seafood goods.”
“Dried seafood goods?” It wasn’t that Wang Wen didn’t know about such things — their village rarely saw these items either, and it sounded like something ordinary households couldn’t afford.
“Yes, like this dried kelp. She also said she wants to sun-dry dried seaweed, dried fish, and dried shrimp in the future — these are all good products. And the quality of what comes out of her place is much better than what’s sold at the market stalls.”
Wang Wen hadn’t known what Xie Yushu did for a living before, but now that he knew, the heavy stone in his heart was firmly settled.
As long as it was a legitimate business, it was fine.
“She also said to bring some back to share with the village chief. She hasn’t forgotten how the village chief looked after her when she was in the village.”
“I understand. I’ll bring it all when I go back. It’s thoughtful of you two to remember.”
After Wang Wen finished eating, Su Chi poured the boiled hot water into the wooden tub in the warm room, dropped in a few bath beans, and let them dissolve in the hot water. Then he added some cool water. On the rack was a clean, thick cloth towel. He tested the water temperature with his hand and, finding it just right, went to call Wang Wen in.
Bath beans could be applied directly to the body or dissolved in hot water — both methods cleaned the body well.
After sending Wang Wen into the warm room, Su Chi went to the guest room and made the bed for him. The blanket, mattress, and pillow were all new and fluffy. He laid out clean undergarments and placed them by the pillow.
When Wang Wen came in after washing up, Su Chi told him to lie down and get a good rest, while he went outside to organize all the things.
Wang Wen had been traveling all morning. Now with a full stomach, having washed up in the warm room and changed into comfortable, dry clothes, drowsiness began to creep over him. His eyelids could barely stay open, and he quickly got into bed.
The moment he touched the bed, his bones felt like they were melting — the soft, plush sensation spreading through his limbs, carrying the faint scent of soap. In no time, he had fallen asleep.
Su Chi checked the windows, quietly closed the door, and left the room. Then he went to the yard and carried all the miscellaneous items into the kitchen one by one to put them away.
·
On the official road to Tang’an County, a carriage with tightly drawn curtains rolled unhurriedly along, creaking and groaning as it went.
It was winter, and it had rained two days earlier. The dirt road was still muddy in places, frozen overnight into a hard, bumpy surface. The wheels jolted over the ruts — it wasn’t easy traveling.
Inside were Xie Yushu and her two companions.
They had been traveling for an hour and a half now and had put some distance between themselves and Songwan Town.
The steward was experienced at driving the carriage out front, which took focus and effort. But sitting inside wasn’t easy either — just sitting there made every part of the body uncomfortable.
After just over an hour in the carriage, Xie Yushu’s backside was already sore — a feeling reminiscent of the helplessness of a long train ride.
After another quarter hour, the carriage came to a steady stop under a large tree.
The steward immediately came back into the carriage to blow on her frozen hands. Xie Yushu handed her one of the water pouches Su Chi had prepared for the three of them, then opened the large bundle he had packed and took out the food to share.
The large bundle had been wrapped in several layers, and the food inside was still warm when they took it out.
Each of them took a dried mustard green and meat flatbread. They were all hungry and took a few bites to fill their stomachs.
Xie Yushu also ate one dried mustard green and meat flatbread, then took out a round plain flatbread, golden and slightly charred on both sides — it looked fragrant.
She opened the jars of vegetables and added a chopstickful of the minced meat and oil-braised vegetables, and some of the sweet shredded chicken in sauce, then finally a few radish cubes. She spread them flat on the plain flatbread, rolled it up, and took a bite.
The braised vegetables were rich and oily, with several ingredients stir-fried together — hazel mushrooms and bamboo shoots blending indistinguishably, the green peppers and cilantro already soft and wilted. The flavors intermingled, unexpectedly delicious.
And the melted richness of the minced meat was truly fragrant, paired with the wheat aroma of the flatbread, filling the mouth with a deep, savory flavor.
It was so delicious that Xie Yushu could barely speak — she just kept eating in silence.
The other two followed Xie Yushu’s example and made their own rolls, both so impressed by the flavor that they narrowed their eyes in delight.
After rolling her flatbread and taking a big bite, the steward’s eyes widened in surprise. She couldn’t help slapping her thigh and exclaiming: “Boss Xie, the shredded chicken in sauce your fulang made is even better than what the restaurants outside serve!”
“Never mind outside restaurants — I’ve never eaten pickled vegetables this delicious even at my employer’s place!”
Ye Youchun took a few big bites of her flatbread rolled with pickled vegetables, swallowed, and said: “This dark-colored pickled vegetable in the jar is also delicious.”
Xie Yushu looked at Ye Youchun with some surprise.
This quiet, introverted person usually didn’t speak much — she only answered when asked. She hadn’t expected Ye Youchun to speak up voluntarily over this jar of vegetables.
Seeing the two of them with their cheeks stuffed full, Xie Yushu couldn’t help but smile: “If it’s good, eat more. My fulang made plenty — I’m not afraid of you not getting enough.”
Su Chi had indeed made a lot. In the large bundle, her daily necessities took up only a small space — the rest was all prepared food.
Six hours — that was twelve hours — and he had told her to remember to eat three meals.
Xie Yushu was both amused and touched. That meant eating once every four hours — even a New Year’s pig couldn’t eat like that.
Thinking of Su Chi, her heart melted into a pool of softness.
She wondered if her father had arrived yet.
·
Wang Wen slept for over an hour. When he woke up, the sun was at just the right angle — neither too early nor too late, perfectly in time for lunch.
During the time his father had been asleep, Su Chi had finished all the chores he could do around the house. The large pile of things Wang Wen had brought was all neatly put away.
He crouched down, picking through the ingredients that needed to be eaten soon, and took them to make lunch.
He quickly prepared the dishes, set them on the table, and called his father to eat.
Wang Wen had slept well and was now in good spirits, his complexion even a bit rosier: “That bed is so comfortable — it made my bones feel like they were melting.”
“That bed was always prepared for you, Father. We’ve been hoping you’d come stay for a few nights.” Su Chi said as he ladled out a large bowl of salted meat and bamboo shoot congee and handed it over.
The salted meat was also from the last time his father had brought it — a large piece that would last a long time.
He had just cut off a small piece, sliced it thinly, and found some bamboo shoots in the hemp sack. After peeling off the bamboo shoot husks and cutting them into chunks, he had put them in the pot with the congee to simmer.
With the right heat, the congee had thickened nicely. The fat from the salted meat had melted into the porridge, and the bamboo shoot chunks were still crisp, carrying a fresh, wild fragrance. Winter bamboo shoots were especially delicious at this time of year, so Su Chi had added extra.
This meal was just the two of them, father and son. They had both eaten well in the morning, so Su Chi hadn’t made much — just a pot of salted meat and bamboo shoot congee, a simple braised radish dish, and a plate of duck eggs stir-fried with toon shoots.
Simple, but both of them ate with relish.
In winter, eating radish was very nourishing, and even a simple braised dish tasted wonderful. As for the duck eggs and toon shoots — these two ingredients stir-fried together were exceptionally fragrant.
Wang Wen sipped the savory congee and picked up some stir-fried duck eggs with his chopsticks, praising Su Chi’s cooking for improving yet again.
After they finished eating, Su Chi told his father that he needed to go back to the shop to relieve Chen Fulang, and that he’d take him for a stroll around town later.
Wang Wen busied himself clearing the bowls and chopsticks, deliberately teasing him: “Go on, then. Don’t leave all the work to someone else. If you run your shop like that, people might call you lazy.”
Knowing his father was just teasing him, Su Chi wasn’t upset: “I’m going right now.”
After Su Chi finished handling the midday rush of customers, he put up the wooden shop panels, closed up, and gave Chen Yun the afternoon off. He took Wang Wen out for a walk around town.
Wang Wen used to visit Songwan Town fairly often when Su Hui was alive, but after Su Hui passed away, he never set foot in Songwan Town again. It had been several years now.
The two of them strolled around town all afternoon, and Su Chi bought quite a few things for his father.
Passing by a shoe shop, Su Chi bought two pairs of thick cotton shoes. Originally, he had planned to have Tao Fulang make them along with the winter clothes. But at this time of year, there were too many neighbors asking Tao Fulang for clothes, and Su Chi was afraid they wouldn’t be ready in time, so he simply bought them at the shop.
He also bought a windproof, warm felt hat. It fit Wang Wen perfectly, and Su Chi was very pleased with it.
When Su Chi paid the shopkeeper, he made sure not to make any noise so his father wouldn’t hear the price — otherwise, given how protective his father was, he definitely wouldn’t have accepted it.
There were now many more chickens and ducks at home, and Wang Wen wanted to buy some cover cloths to put over the coops when it rained, so the poultry wouldn’t get wet, wouldn’t get sick, and would grow plump — not only good for selling, but also for sending meat to them.
Su Chi bought all of it. At the fabric shop, he also bought two bolts of coarse cloth, thinking they could be made into simple work smocks — durable and stain-resistant for his father to wear while working at home or in the fields.
There were also some farm tools at home that weren’t working well, so Su Chi bought two new sickles and a hoe.
And so, by the time they got home, both their hands were completely full.
The winter sun set quickly. After an early dinner, the two of them retired to their rooms.
Su Chi planned to sleep with his father in the guest room for these few days.
After changing clothes, Su Chi lay obediently beside Wang Wen, listening to him talk about what had been happening in the village lately.
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