Chapter 30: Revealing the Secret
Soup cakes are actually wide noodles.
Sui Yu scooped the dough and kneaded it, but before he could mix it evenly, he heard the sound of someone scooping water for washing hands outside the wall.
"I mixed two bowls of dough and made three pots of buns today. My knuckles are sore." She seemed to be talking to herself.
Hearing this, the man who was about to enter the house paused. Zhao Xiping lowered his head and walked in. It was not yet dark, but the kitchen was already dim. He glanced at the woman kneading the dough, walked straight to the stove and sat down.
"Go out and play." He pushed Sui Liang away and threw the cat official out as well.
There were a few rustling sounds in front of the wood stove, and flames flew up from the oil lamp, casting a dim light on half of the earthen wall.
"My fingers hurt." Sui Yu said again, this time she turned around and stared at the person sitting with his legs propped up.
"Then you won't set up the stall tomorrow. And you said you'll steam three more pots of breakfast tomorrow? I won't go if my fingers hurt." Zhao Xiping snorted coldly.
"I just want you to knead the dough. You're strong, so you can do it in a few strokes." Sui Yu stopped pretending. She didn't believe he didn't understand. She took a bowl from the cupboard and went out, saying, "I'll go get the pickled cabbage. Wash your hands and knead the dough. I'll cut it later."
Zhao Xiping sat still with a sullen face. When he heard the door of the woodshed next door open, he gritted his teeth and went to knead the dough.
"Wash your hands." Sui Yu suddenly appeared at the door empty-handed.
"I don't think you're tired at all, you're just making me tired." Zhao Xiping raised his hand and slapped him. "Can't you just let me relax for a day?"
Sui Yu stumbled away and supervised him washing his paws. She then went back into the woodshed to get some sauerkraut. The radishes that had been put into the sauerkraut jar had changed color, so she fished them out and piled them in a bowl.
"The pickled radish is ready, would you like to try it?" She walked into the kitchen.
The man kneading the dough didn't even look up.
Sui Yu knew when to stop and didn't bother him anymore. He put down a bowl of pickled cabbage and went to the camel pen to dig out two radishes, washed them, cut them, drained the water and put them into the pickled cabbage jar.
After finishing all these, the dough was kneaded, and Sui Yu went in to take over rolling out the dough and cutting it into slices. Unlike the wide slices in her memory, she cut them into thin strips and then stretched them.
Zhao Xiping sat in front of the stove and watched her movements. After she cut the sauerkraut, he covered the fire and started to boil the pot.
Sui Yu pinched a piece of pickled radish to eat herself, then pinched two more pieces and handed them to the man, saying, "Try it, it tastes good."
"I don't want to eat..." He opened his mouth and the carrot slices poked his teeth and were stuffed into his mouth.
"Don't worry, I don't think you like me just because you eat the carrot I feed you." Sui Yu choked him, "Look at your unwilling and impatient look, I must be crazy to be so self-indulgent."
Zhao Xiping was silent. He lowered his eyes and stared at the flames rising in the stove without saying a word.
Pour soybean oil into the pot, Sui Yu brought an oil pan to light it up, she picked up a spatula to spread the oil evenly, and then poured two beaten eggs into it.
The aroma of fried eggs wafted out, and the cat official who was lying on the stone and letting Sui Liang tickle his itch suddenly jumped into the kitchen. Zhao Xiping was quick-witted and stopped the cat in mid-air as it was about to jump onto the stove.
"Meow——" the cat official yelled in dissatisfaction.
Seeing that his brother-in-law looked unhappy, Sui Liang hurriedly pulled the cat by its hind legs and dragged it out.
The eggs were put into the wok, and then oil was added to stir-fry the pickled cabbage. There was a sizzling sound in the wok. Sui Yu scooped half a bowl of water and poured it in, saying, "Stir-frying is very oily."
"When I go back home for the New Year, I'll take five dou of soybeans from home and squeeze a can of oil that will last me for half a year."
Sui Yu glanced at him in surprise. Now he was being nice again? She pondered carefully, what had she said that had offended him and made him reflect?
Pour the eggs into the pot and simmer with the pickled cabbage. When they are fragrant, scoop them into a bowl. Sui Yu scoops three scoops of water into the pot and says, "Turn on high heat, boil the water and put the pancakes in."
After the pot lid was put on, Sui Yu leaned against the stove, crossed his arms, and said, "I noticed that you haven't been in a good mood these days."
A trace of discomfort flashed across his face, which was shrouded in the firelight. Zhao Xiping leaned back and disappeared into the darkness. He sighed secretly. He also discovered that a few words or a gesture from Sui Yu could make him feel bored and anxious.
"Do you like..."
"Nonsense!" Zhao Xiping exploded again. "I'm just annoyed with you, that's why I'm in a bad mood."
Sui Yu was not annoyed. She continued, "Maybe you just don't want to like me, but you can't control your heart."
Zhao Xiping sneered, as if asking himself, or questioning her: "Why should I like you? You're noisy, talkative, thick-skinned, thin, and ugly."
"That's something you should ask yourself." Sui Yu shrugged. The water boiled and she stopped talking. She opened the lid of the pot, picked up the noodles and threw them into the water. She also poured a bowl of solidified radish stuffing into the pot. When the radish stuffing went into the water, a layer of oil floated on the surface of the water.
"Tonight's soup noodles are definitely delicious." Sui Yu took the bowl and shouted outside, "Brother Liang, wash your hands and get ready to eat."
The meal was ready, and the sky outside had darkened. A crescent moon was half hidden in the clouds. People were in the house, and they didn't know when a strong wind started. The hay outside the wall rustled, and the September sky unconsciously had a desolate feeling.
Zhao Xiping finished two bowls of soup noodles and then stopped eating. Sui Yu took a sip of soup with a puzzled look and asked, "Not eating anymore? Not to your liking?"
"No, I'm full." Zhao Xiping had no appetite.
Sui Yu didn't believe it. She asked Sui Liang if the soup noodles were delicious, and he nodded heavily. Her heart skipped a beat. Damn it, this time she had really touched the man's heart and made him angry.
While washing the dishes, Sui Yu scooped up a chopstick of noodles to feed the cat, and put the rest in the cupboard, saying, "You can eat these tomorrow morning. I made them especially for you."
Zhao Xiping agreed. He carried a bucket of water to the ox and said, "I'm going to fetch water from the river. You guys go to sleep first."
When he took the shoulder pole, he also picked up the grass net.
"The door was locked from the outside. I opened it myself when I came back," he added.
Sui Yu was dumbfounded. This was too thoughtful. It was not the same as the behavior of people who bargained before meals.
Sui Liang yawned, and Sui Yu came to her senses and scooped some water for him to take a bath. She picked up the freshly clean basin, poured half of the remaining ash flour in the jar into the basin, mixed it with the lees, poured it in, mixed it evenly, and covered it with the pot lid.
"Don't be lazy at night, and keep an eye on the mice to prevent them from stealing noodles." Sui Yu flicked the cat official, drew some hot water and went to wash up.
It was late at night, and Sui Yu was sitting in the main room combing her hair. With her unremitting persistence, the combing work had been effective, and the number of lice on her head had visibly decreased.
The door suddenly opened loudly, Sui Yu got up and went out, the wind blew the door loudly, it was not Zhao Xiping who came back.
A crescent moon appeared again. Sui Yu looked up at the sky. The sound of camels breathing heavily and cows chewing their cud filled her ears. The whispers of someone were carried by the night wind. She felt calm at once and paced quietly in the yard.
One circle, two circles, eight circles, nine circles. Before she finished the tenth circle, Sui Yu heard the sound of a bucket falling to the ground. She quickly walked to the door, but before it opened, she muttered, "Why are you back so late? If you don't come back soon, I'm going to climb over the wall to look for someone."
The door opened, and Zhao Xiping handed her the two fish he was holding and said, "Go inside and sleep. It's already midnight."
"You know it's the middle of the night." Sui Yu muttered. People had returned and she was sleepy. She untied the rope that strung the fish and threw it into the broken bucket. She scooped some water to wash her hands and went into the house to lie down.
Half asleep, she heard the wooden bed creak. She mumbled, "Come back earlier next time."
"Yeah, I'm asleep." Zhao Xiping moved lightly, lay down, and stared at the ceiling with his eyes open. He waited until the breathing at his feet became steady before he sighed deeply.
The night passed very slowly for Zhao Xiping. He woke up at the first crow of the rooster. He did not sleep any more. He got out of bed quietly, opened the door and went out. The moon was still hanging in the sky, so he lit the fire and started to make breakfast.
He heated up the cold soup noodles left over from last night and ate them, then cooked two bowls of millet porridge and put them in the pot. It was still dark, so he deflated the noodles made by Sui Yufa, mixed them with two scoops of dry noodles, and kneaded them into a smooth dough.
"Meow——" The cat official came back from somewhere.
"Outside." Zhao Xiping picked up the curtain to cover the basin, and led the cat out. He threw the half of the mouse carcass that the cat had not finished eating into the woodshed.
The two fish in the bucket were dying. He thought for a moment, then picked up the bucket and went out to the market.
Dawn was breaking in the sky, and the neighbor's rooster crowed at the top of its lungs. Sui Yu yawned and sat up. She heard some movement in the yard. She put on her shoes and went out. She saw a man carrying a plow and about to drive the cattle out.
"Not eating anymore?" she asked.
"The meal is ready. I've eaten too. I'm going to the fields first." Zhao Xiping didn't even turn his head and continued, "I'll have Liang Ge'er bring me lunch. I'll hurry up and plow the fields. I'll finish as soon as possible so I can give the cows to other people to use."
Sui Yu uttered an "Oh!" Influenced by him, she was full of energy early in the morning. After filling her stomach with a bowl of thick porridge and seeing that the dough was ready, she woke Sui Liang, gave him some instructions, and took the two camels out for a run. When she wasn't grazing the camels, she dug wild onions and leeks on the riverbank, taking the leek roots to plant in the vegetable garden.
The sun shifted and the wind became hot. Sui Yu led the camel home and began to prepare to chop radishes and stir-fry the stuffing for dumplings.
At noon, the first batch of steamed buns were ready. Sui Yu put eight buns on a plate and placed them in a clean basket. He said, "Brother Liang, fill a bag with water, pick up the basket and go take the meal to your brother-in-law. Come back and come with me to set up a stall to sell buns."
Sui Liang nodded, took the basket, picked up the water bag and ran out.
Sui Yu led the camel out of the pen, put the clay stove and dry firewood placed against the wall into the basket, placed the unsteamed buns into the steamer, and also brought a wooden stake half a leg high from the woodshed to avoid having to place the kneading board on uneven stones like yesterday.
When Sui Liang came back, the iron pot on the stove was no longer hot, so Sui Yu took it down, led another camel to carry it, and then went out with a basket of buns.
"Meow——" The cat official sleeping on the firewood pile stretched lazily, jumped off the ground, and followed the camel's butt.
"Why did you run out? Go back and don't run around." Sui Yu was worried that the cat would get lost, so she turned back to chase the cat. She chased the cat all the way to the door of her house, then bent over and ran with the steamer in her arms.
As soon as she left, the cat followed her. When Sui Yu turned around, it jumped into someone else's haystack.
"Are you bringing food to Captain Zhao?" A woman carrying a basket came out and casually greeted Sui Yu.
Sui Yu responded vaguely and quickly chased Sui Liang.
Just as the brother and sister arrived at the west gate with the camel, the cat official came up with his neck held high. He swaggered, wagging his tail, and walked behind Sui Yu, meowing.
Sui Yu gave Sui Liang a wink, and Sui Liang grabbed the cat. Sui Yu hurriedly untied a piece of hemp rope from the camel's reins to tie the cat. Ignoring the curses that were getting louder and louder, she tied the rope around her ankles.
"Don't run around. If you get caught, your cat skin will become a handcuff in the winter, and your cat meat will become a side dish in the pot." Sui Yu slapped it hard. He was on guard all the way, but still let it follow him.
Someone came, Sui Liang pulled Sui Yu, and Sui Yu stood up and greeted, "Boss? Want to buy buns? I have stuffing fried in lard."
"Well, give me two."
Sui Yu said wait a moment, she waved to the water seller, gave him a penny to buy five buckets of water, she scooped one bucket to wash her hands first, and saved the remaining four buckets.
Arriving just in time for lunch, the pot of twenty-two buns was sold out in no time. She heated the water in the pot, put the steamer on, and hurried to knead the bun filling. With the tree stump as a cushion, she didn't have to bend over, which was much easier for her.
The second pot of buns was steamed, and Sui Yu took out three first. She and Sui Liang had not had lunch yet. Passersby saw how they were eating with relish, asked the price, and bought them one, two, or three at a time.
Sui Yu was busy kneading the bread filling before finishing the two buns.
…
In the evening, the cows were tired and the people were exhausted. Zhao Xiping drove the cows back and found the door locked and the camel was not at home. He drank a bellyful of water and went out to the west gate to pick up people.
"Are you hungry?" Sui Yu saw him and gave him the last two buns, saying, "Fill yourself first. I'm done here and will pack up and go back soon."
Zhao Xiping nodded silently and swallowed a bun in three or two bites. When the camel came, he chewed the bun and concentrated on taking apart the steamer and putting it into the basket.
After the sparks were extinguished by watering, Sui Yu led the cat official and followed the camel, saying, "Sister-in-law, I'm going back first."
Baozi's mother pretended not to hear and buried her head in making a fire.
After leaving the noisy area, Zhao Xiping looked back and asked, "Why did you bring the cat official with you?"
"It followed me secretly and I couldn't chase it away." Sui Yu picked up the cat official and held him in his arms, saying, "But it wasn't in vain. It helped me close several deals. I'll bring it back tomorrow."
When she talked about business, her voice became three points higher, which Zhao Xiping found funny.
"Why don't you ask me how many baskets of buns I sold today?" Sui Yu caught up with him, holding the cat.
As soon as she approached, Zhao Xiping immediately turned his face away, but followed her words and asked: "How much money did you make?"
"It should be more than two hundred and sixty coins, plus yesterday's, it's four coins." Sui Yu smiled. She thought that she could come earlier tomorrow. Yes, she would also give her two more buckets of flour.
She threw the cat official into the basket and said, "You go back first. I'll go buy some flour and some wine dregs."
Zhao Xiping saw her running away in a hurry, and his heart moved. This might be her true character.
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