Chapter 9 Black Rice and Wild Rice As they talked, a mountain of black rice and wild rice appeared on the pot…

After finishing the soup, Ji Ge'er was noticeably more energetic. He even took the old loofah from Shen Miao's hand to wash the dishes. Shen Miao couldn't help but touch his forehead, and his fever had actually subsided!

This left Shen Miao momentarily unsure whether to praise Zhao Taicheng's family for their miraculous foot patch or to suspect that her younger brother had been starved to this state by Uncle Shen's family.

But it's always good that the fever has subsided, so Shen Miao couldn't beat Ji Ge'er to do it and had to let him wash the dishes. In the Song Dynasty, detergents were mainly rice water, wood ash, tea seed powder, or soapberry, with the latter two mostly used by wealthy families. The Shen family had suffered a major fire, so wood ash was readily available. Ji Ge'er grabbed a handful from under the collapsed wall and skillfully squatted down to scrub the dishes.

Anyway, there's not much oil in it, so it's basically clean with a quick rinse.

Shen Miao, along with her reluctant little sister Xiang, ladled the still-warm noodle soup into a ceramic jar and headed to the Gu family's house. The back door of the Gu family's house was open, and she peeked inside. The courtyard was quiet. She called out "Auntie" twice, but no one answered, so she had no choice but to put the things on the table and return home.

After returning, Shen Miao first started decocting Ji Ge'er's medicine, then went to the front to check on the situation. The Shen family's shop had originally been rented to others as a restaurant, so the front still had five or six sets of tables and chairs and a counter, though it was now a mess.

But at least the damage was much less than that in the back hall. Shen Miao touched the wall, which was yellow and blackened by the thick smoke. It was still solid when she knocked on it. Most of the remaining tables and chairs were destroyed. Shen Miao rolled up her sleeves and dragged the rotten wood to the backyard, one trip after another. Xiang Jie'er also followed her to work and helped carry the wood.

After washing the dishes, Ji Ge'er joined in the cleaning. Shen Miao couldn't get rid of him, so she assigned him some easy tasks, such as sprinkling water and sweeping the floor, and told him to work slowly and rest more.

After spending more than half an hour, they finally managed to tidy up a rough outline. Chen Miao was covered in sweat and stood in the now empty shop, fanning herself with her hand to rest.

But she couldn't rest easy. She was thinking that before the repairs were completed, she could put up two simple beds here and buy a set of tables and chairs so that she, Ji-ge'er, and Xiang-jie'er could live here instead of living in the leaky kitchen.

Bianjing's housing prices were exorbitant, much like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou in later years. Renting a house outside the city, let alone a whole courtyard, would cost half a string of cash a month, even if it was just a room in a brothel run by "building and shopkeepers." Nobody could afford such a long wait.

Shen Miao now only has about twenty guan of family wealth left, which is really not enough to afford a place to live.

She didn't want to take her younger siblings back to her uncle's place, and they might not be willing to take the three of them back. Rather than living at the mercy of others, she figured she might as well make do with staying at her own home for a while.

Shen Ji swept the ashes into a pile, then used a dustpan to carry them to the corner of the backyard wall like ants carrying house. When he returned, he found that his sister's eyes were shining brightly, like a tiger patrolling its territory.

Although comparing it to a tiger is somewhat unfair to my elder sister, who has such gentle features.

Shen Miao had pretty much figured out what she wanted to say.

She will work hard to earn money to repair the house, and one day she will reopen Shenji Soup and Pancake Shop.

Just then, Gu Tusu came in carrying a huge bundle of firewood that was almost taller than a person, and a large winter melon in her hand. She didn't even pant, and her voice was as loud as a bell: "Big sister, I brought you some firewood. It should last for half a month. By the way, did you bring that pot of mixed vegetable soup to my yard? It tasted great. My mother drank three bowls before she stopped!" She peeked in from outside the door and saw that Shen Miao and the other two were busy cleaning. She smiled and said, "I'll put my things down and come help you."

Shen Miao's eyes widened: "So much? How can I let you spend so much?"

As he spoke, he reached for the purse at his waist to take out some copper coins.

Gu Tusu had already snatched the broom from Ji Ge'er's hand, and nonchalantly patted his chest: "I drove the cart to the outskirts of the city to chop wood. It only took two bowls of tea and a lot of effort, and I didn't spend a penny. When I go to the outskirts of the city to chop wood later, I'll chop some for you too."

Shen Miao was very grateful and hurriedly said, "Second Brother Gu has helped a lot. Once I'm settled, I will definitely invite Uncle Gu and Aunt Gu to come over for a get-together. Otherwise, how could I possibly accept that?"

"We're all neighbors and grew up together, no need to be so polite." Gu Tusu grinned, said no more, went back and brought his own cart, and helped Shen Miao push all the broken tiles and walls out of the backyard. Shen Miao followed behind and helped push the cart. When they came back, Ji Ge'er and Xiang Jie'er had already picked up the leftover pieces, pulled weeds, and swept the yard.

The four of them worked until sunset. Gu Tusu was helping to chop firewood when he heard that Shen Miao wanted to buy tables and chairs from Tao's Woodworking Shop on the street. He quickly advised, "You haven't been to Bianjing for a long time, so you don't know. A few days ago, people came to Tao's Woodworking Shop to cause trouble. All the wood they sold was rotten. The tables and chairs fell over and wobbled after only two days. They're really useless. After the old carpenter Tao died, this young carpenter Tao became an alcoholic. His hands trembled from drinking, and his skills deteriorated day by day. Don't go to his shop again."

Shen Miao hurriedly asked Tu Su to help recommend some dishes. She didn't hide anything and told him that she didn't care how good the craftsmanship was, as long as it was cheap and sturdy. There were three people in her family to feed, so she couldn't be unfrugal.

Gu Tusu paused in her chopping motion, tightened her grip on the axe handle, and then chopped down another piece of firewood, asking casually, "Big sister...aren't you going back to Jinling?"

Shen Miao returned to Bianjing alone, and the news spread throughout the alleys in no time. Before her mother had even finished her lunch, she was summoned by the other aunts, who all gathered around and asked if Shen Miao had come to pick up her two younger siblings to return to Jinling, or if something had happened to the Rong family.

Gu Tusu didn't want to be a gossipy woman, but he couldn't help but feel restless. He wasn't there to watch the show, but he really wanted to know how many days A Miao would stay in Bianjing.

If Rong Dalang hadn't appeared out of nowhere, Gu Tusu would have thought he would be the one to marry Sister Shen.

Although he was still chopping wood, he tensed up his ears, only to hear Shen Miao give a faint "hmm": "We won't go back. From now on, the three of us siblings will depend on each other for survival."

Upon hearing the words "depending on each other for survival," Ji Ge'er, who was carrying Shen Miao on his back and bending over to sweep the floor, perked up, but he didn't turn around. He just swept the floor even harder.

"Big sister, you..." Gu Tusu was first surprised, then a strange joy appeared, before she came to her senses and became more flustered as if she had touched a raw nerve. "It's...it was my fault for being so talkative. I really didn't mean to pry! Your...your husband...is he...dead?"

Shen Miao paused for a moment, then couldn't help but burst out laughing: "It's practically the same as being dead! Sigh, that's a joke. Actually, I've broken off all ties with his family. Rong's mother-in-law thinks I'm a barren hen, and I think Rong Dalang is a spineless coward who's over twenty and still wants to sleep in the same room as his own mother, so we parted ways!"

Gu Tusu's eyes widened. Every sentence was like a thunderclap, leaving him unsure which to be shocked about first: His eldest sister was divorced? His eldest sister couldn't have children? What? His eldest sister's scholar husband was actually sleeping in the same room as his own mother in his twenties? Where would his eldest sister sleep then? In the middle?

No, how could you say such a thing so openly, sister!

"This...this..." Gu Tusu finally managed to stammer out, "The Rong family is going too far!"

Shen Miao was completely unmoved by the Rong family, and shrugged: "Let's not talk about these pointless things. It's getting dark. I've really troubled you during the day. Don't bother anymore. I can take care of myself in a bit. I'll go out and stroll around the night market later."

Indeed, he spent the whole day at the Shen family's house, so he shouldn't let people gossip about Shen Miao. Gu Tusu had no choice but to tuck the axe into his waistband, pile the chopped firewood under the eaves where it wouldn't get wet, and then carefully explained to Shen Miao: "There's an old man dressed in tattered clothes on the left bank of Jinliang Bridge who carries benches and clotheslines to sell every day. But he's actually an old carpenter. His home is right next to Jinliang Bridge, and he has many wooden items piled up at his house for sale. He also makes doors and windows and repairs roof beams. He uses solid wood and charges fair prices. If you don't need carving services, you can buy from him."

After seeing the person off, Shen Miao stood at the back door, which was now just a frame, and looked into the Shen family's courtyard. The broken tiles, rotten wood, and overgrown weeds that she had seen this morning had all been swept away. Although most of the wall was still missing and there was no door, at this moment, the setting sun illuminated half of the courtyard. Xiang Jie'er sat under the eaves, tilting her little head and watching a fluttering butterfly.

Shen Ji went back to the kitchen and brought out the medicine that had been simmering all afternoon. He stared at the full bowl of dark medicine for a while, then mustered up his courage and drank it all in one gulp. But he was still so bitter that he shuddered and his face scrunched up.

She couldn't help but smile, her eyes crinkling.

In this empty space, life seemed to gradually come to life.

Shen Miao also got motivated and went into the house to unpack her two suitcases. She saw that there was still half a bag of black rice and quinoa left in the suitcases, and a little bit of yam left on the stove. She thought it was a good idea not to waste them and decided to make black rice, quinoa and yam buns for dinner.

While tidying up, I found two windmills that I had bought when I first arrived at Jinliang Bridge. I had forgotten about them after a busy day, so I took them out for Ji Ge'er and Xiang Jie'er to play with.

Xiangjie was overjoyed, running around the house with the windmill in her hand. Shen Ji looked at the windmill in his hand, a toy only three-year-olds would play with, with a strange expression, and reluctantly turned the spinning bamboo leaves. Shen Miao was also embarrassed; she hadn't known that Ji-ge'er was so precocious!

She chuckled and said, "You play with Xiang-jie for a while, I'll go steam some buns to eat."

Once inside the kitchen, Shen Miao became reliable again. She calmly peeled the yam, soaked the black rice and quinoa separately, first crushing the black rice in a mortar and pestle, then mixing it with flour to form a dough, and letting it rest for a quarter of an hour.

She was incredibly quick at these tasks. She put the sprouted wild rice and yam into a mortar and pestle and crushed them together. Then she added an egg and continued to crush them into a paste. If there were sesame seeds, adding some at this point would make it even more fragrant and delicious, but today she had to make do.

Add some sugar and a small spoonful of lard, and the filling is complete.

The dough had risen by then. One dough ball was divided into nine portions, the filling was wrapped inside, and they were steamed in a pot of water. While steaming, a sweet aroma filled the room. Xiangjie smelled the aroma and immediately squatted down by the pot with a pinwheel in hand, waiting.

She blew on the windmill with her mouth, salivating as she smelled the aroma.

Shen Miao was at a loss. Why did this child look like he hadn't eaten for three years?

So he asked Ji-ge'er, who had come in to help wipe the stove and start the fire, with suspicion: "Xiang-jie'er didn't seem to be this greedy when she was little. Did you go hungry at your uncle's house?"

After wiping the stove, Shen Ji helped Shen Miao wash the earthenware pot: "Xiang'er has been used to Father's cooking since she was little. After Father passed away, we went to Uncle's house. Because they were collecting rent from our family, Aunt didn't dare to be stingy with the food. But her cooking was like pig swill, barely enough to fill our stomachs, not delicious at all. Xiang'er and I have never eaten such food since." Ji-ge raised his head and stared at Shen Miao. "Don't you know, sister? Your cooking has a bit of Father's flavor."

Xiangjie shook her head vigorously, saying, "Brother, you're mistaken. Even the pigs at Aunt's house don't like the food Aunt cooks!" Then, remembering the taste of the dumpling soup at noon, she nodded again, "Sister's cooking is delicious!"

Shen Miao suddenly realized and looked down at her hands.

She could recite the original owner's short life by heart, just so that no one would notice anything amiss and she could live a good life in this world. But no matter how clear the memories were, she could not truly savor the feelings she missed in her childhood.

Shen Miao didn't actually know what the cooking of her father, whom Ji Ge'er and Xiang Jie'er were so concerned about, tasted like. Her culinary skills were naturally inherited from her biological parents and grandfather in her previous life. Perhaps this was the connection between her and the original owner of the body, besides sharing the same name?

As they were talking, the black rice, wild rice, and yam buns on the pot were ready.

***

Wild rice is similar to quinoa in later times. It is highly nutritious and is a good ingredient for making porridge. It is also good for making steamed buns.

In my past life, during my weight loss period, I loved eating black rice, quinoa, and yam buns.

The black rice is rich and creamy, the wild rice is chewy and springy, and the yam is delicate. Each bite offers a complex and layered flavor profile, neither too sweet nor cloying, showcasing only the natural taste of the ingredients. Plus, it's low in fat and very filling!

In his past life, perhaps only Shen Miao could have gotten fat from cooking for herself.

Black rice is rich in antioxidant anthocyanins, wild rice is full of protein, and yam strengthens the spleen and stomach. All three together are very good for the body.

Xiangjie is really not picky about food. She seems to enjoy everything she eats. Shenmiao used her clean handkerchief to wrap the bottom half of the bun for Xiangjie so it wouldn't burn her hands. Xiangjie then squatted by the stove, holding the big bun, which was as big as her face, in her two little hands. She ate it with great relish, her cheeks bulging out. It reminded Shenmiao of the little golden hamster she used to keep.

Ji Ge'er was still eating very politely. Shen Miao watched him sit with his back straight, slowly eating the bun with his chopsticks. Suddenly, she remembered that before the original owner left, he seemed to have started his studies in a private school. She wondered if he had started school yet.

Thinking of this, Shen Miao asked a question.

To everyone's surprise, Ji Ge'er seemed to have been pricked by a needle, and he slumped his head. After a while, he said, "...I injured Hai Ge'er at Master Liu's place, so Master Liu forbade me to go there anymore. My aunt also beat me and kicked me out."

Shen Miao raised an eyebrow.

Haige'er was Uncle Shen's only son, and he was about the same age as Jige'er.

Auntie had four daughters before she got this one eyeball. She spoiled him like a spoiled brat from a young age and raised him to be extremely fat. In the original owner's memory, he was not a lovable child.

Although the original owner's younger brother was a bit stubborn, Shen Miao could tell that he wasn't the kind of child who loved to be mischievous and play pranks. It must have been something that Hai Ge'er did or said that provoked Ji Ge'er to take action.

Seeing Shen Miao's silence, Shen Ji assumed his elder sister was angry. He looked up at her several times, his eyes fixed on her expression. He couldn't even finish the half-eaten bun in his hand. But the thought of Hai Ge'er leading the mockery of his parents' deaths and how even his own elder sister didn't want him... those words still cut like knives into his heart. He couldn't bring himself to explain. After hesitating for a long time, he finally managed to utter:

"I'm so sorry, elder sister..."

"It's alright, I believe you must have your own reasons."

Unexpectedly, Shen Miao spoke at the same time as him.

Shen Ji looked up blankly, and Shen Miao smiled at him and reached out to rub his head: "Don't be afraid, after we've settled in, your older sister will find you another academy to study at."

After saying that, Shen Miao didn't mention it again.

Ji-ge'er is more sensitive and mature than other children his age. Children of this age also have self-esteem, so there's no need to pry too much. She turned her head to look at the sky outside, then quickly finished her meal in a few bites and instructed, "Sister is going to the night market later to buy everything we need. Ji-ge'er, after you take your medicine, take your sister to bed first. Don't follow us."

Upon hearing this, Xiangjie said reluctantly, "I want to go with my elder sister."

Shen Miao put on a stern face: "No, you're not allowed. Your older sister has a lot of things to buy and doesn't have time to take care of you. You stay home with Ji-ge'er; he's sick. You watch your older brother take his medicine and apply his foot patch. You have to be obedient."

Shen Ji also said, "Don't cause trouble for your elder sister."

Seeing that Shen Miao was serious, Xiang Jie'er didn't dare to pester her any longer, but she still tugged at Shen Miao's sleeve: "Xiang Jie'er, be a good girl and stay home with your brother. Your sister must come back too."

Shen Miao calmed down and bent down to hug her: "Sister, you really won't leave, don't worry."

After comforting her for a while, he solemnly assigned Xiangjie the task of watching the medicine stove, and told Jige to be careful with fire before slinging his bag over his shoulder and going out.

Song Dynasty "bags" came in a wide variety of styles, not just simple wrapping cloths as depicted in TV dramas. Shen Miao only learned this after arriving in the Song Dynasty: the styles of so-called luxury bags in later generations could almost all be found on the "bags" used by Song people in their daily lives. They had small purses hanging on their bodies, as well as larger crossbody bags, shoulder bags, tote bags, and backpacks. The materials ranged from leather to various fabrics, and they were adorned with all sorts of embellishments and embroidery. The ancients were actually quite fashionable.

The bag that Shen Miao is carrying now is the one that the original owner treasured for many years. It has an adjustable shoulder strap, can be worn crossbody or over the shoulder, and has a hard cowhide sole that can bear weight without deforming. It is decorated with embroidered silk with magpies announcing spring and has tassels. It is made with exceptionally fine craftsmanship and was one of the dowry items prepared for her by the original owner's parents.

Once outside, the Bianjing night market was famously bustling. It was said that at one point, it was so lively and prosperous that even the imperial procession could not pass through. Later, the court had no choice but to establish the "Street Administration Office." The soldiers, dressed in blue robes, were like the "city management officers" of later times, and they would come out at night to patrol the streets and clear the traffic, which improved the situation somewhat.

As night falls, the city lights up, the streets are bustling with activity, and the stalls come alive with activity. Peddlers hawk their wares from door to door, and the Ma Xing Street, which is full of theaters and shops, is lit with candles all night long, so much so that not a single mosquito can be seen in the entire street.