newborn
Lu Chang has been away from Lingnan for more than three months and has not returned during this time, but he sends a letter to Chaozhou every month.
Whenever she received his letter, Jingwan's heart would feel much calmer.
Almost no one wrote to her. She didn't understand the saying "a letter sent only by a wild goose" (meaning a letter sent only by a wild goose). But after receiving his letter, she would always read it over and over again, and then carefully and reluctantly place it under her pillow.
If I can't sleep one night, I'll take it out and hold it to my heart in the dead of night to soothe it.
The soldier has not returned, and I cannot sleep day and night. I have seen women longing for their husbands since I was a child, but I never thought it would be her turn.
Lu Chang wasn't good at sweet talk, so he couldn't write too much in a literary style for Jing Wan, lest she not understand and get angry. He just used plain language to talk about trivial things, such as how the cook's food was really bad and he couldn't be too picky in order to fill his stomach, or how he drank wild vegetable soup today and found it very delicious, and that he would make it for her when he got back... These were all small things, but because they were small things, he felt as if he was right beside her.
The letter always ends with the question: Do you miss me?
Jingwan sat on the terrace looking at the words, and finally couldn't help but slump down on the small table and sighed dejectedly, "When will he finally come back..."
She longed for her beloved, yet she knew that Lu Chang was fighting on the battlefield far to the north. She had never believed in Buddhism, but she still went to the temple every month to burn incense and pray for his safety.
Looking at Jingwan kneeling sincerely before the Buddha and chanting, Chunlai was reminded of the past. Cui Dongchi did not believe in these things and never went to Buddhist temples, but she believed that whenever she came across a Buddhist temple, she would kneel and worship devoutly.
Looking back now, she only prayed for Choi Dong-chi under the golden Buddha, forgetting that she was the one who needed the most protection.
This time, she closed her eyes, just for herself.
When they returned from Zhaoli Temple, they simply got off the carriage and strolled around the market.
The morning market was bustling with activity, mostly stalls selling food. Jingwan pulled Chunlai to sit at a small table, where she ordered two bowls of wontons. Her practiced manner suggested she had been there many times before.
"There's been war in the north, and people from the Central Plains have been fleeing south to this place lately. These wontons are what they brought here. Try them, they're incredibly delicious!"
Chunlai couldn't resist scooping up a plump little wonton, but just as it reached her lips, Jingwan quickly reminded her, "Be careful, it's hot..." She then blew on the spoon. The wontons were small, one bite at a time, and before long, a bowl of wontons was finished.
Chunlai put down her spoon and smiled, "I can make this too. I'll make it for you tomorrow."
Jingwan exclaimed in surprise, "You can cook! I'd love to try it!" Remembering the past, she laughed again, "I'm no good at it. My cousin always complained that my cooking was terrible and wouldn't let me cook."
Chunlai smiled and said, "Perhaps it's because he feels sorry for you and doesn't want you to work hard, that's why he doesn't let you cook."
Jingwan thought about it carefully and realized that it seemed to be true. Her cousin had eaten the noodles she cooked before and praised them highly!
A sweet feeling welled up in her heart, and she could only show it on her face.
After they finished eating, Jingwan left a few copper coins on the table. Chunlai glanced at the coins and left with Jingwan.
She went back to the Lu family with Jingwan. That night, she also spent the night at the Lu family. Before going to sleep, Jingwan held her hand and said, "You can't go back to the Cui family. If Cui Dongchi asks, just say that I insisted that you stay with me. If he doesn't agree, just tell him to go find your cousin."
Chunlai felt a pang of sadness in her heart. She nodded, unable to refuse the kindness she needed most at that moment. After saying those words, returning to the Cui family would be like breaking her own bones. For now, she could only stay with Jingwan's family temporarily to avoid wandering outside.
Chunlai knew Jingwan's thoughts. She was a thoughtful person and knew that Jingwan was shy, so she invited her to stay at her home first to save her the embarrassment of having to ask for help.
In truth, she and Jingwan had only known each other for a short time, yet their bond was deeper than that of those who had known each other for over a decade.
It wouldn't be good to eat and stay at the Cui family's house for free, so the next morning, Chunlai went to the kitchen to make breakfast.
Compared to the Cui family's chef, Chunlai's dishes were more exquisite and delicious. She had traveled all over the Great Wei with Cui Dongchi, eating all kinds of local delicacies. Whenever she encountered something that Cui Dongchi liked to eat, she would ask the chef for advice or figure it out herself. If Cui Dongchi wanted to eat it again, she could make it.
Today, I steamed soup dumplings. The pork had already solidified. One big soup dumpling took up a small bowl. To prevent it from being too greasy, I added a small dish of vinegar, which was mixed with the fragrant chili oil.
Next up was a glutinous rice ball, with glutinous rice wrapped around a fried dough stick, served with a bowl of savory soy milk.
The dish is actually simple, but she always manages to make it taste the best. Whether it's sweet or savory, it's what Jingwan likes best.
For three days in a row, Jingwan ate the breakfasts made by Chunlai. On the fourth day, Jingwan realized that something was wrong. She pulled Chunlai to her side and told her that she was not allowed to get up so early to cook anymore.
Chunlai didn't think much of it. She was used to getting up early. Back in the Cui family, she would get up early every day to prepare food for Cui Dongchi, who only liked to eat what she made.
Jingwan sighed softly; even she, slow to realize, understood why.
Ultimately, Chunlai is still a girl with backbone. Jingwan is used to being a parasite, but she also knows what it's like to live under someone else's roof.
Even if the other party considers her a friend, there's always a sense of resentment in her heart. Lu Chang once told her that this is called earning a living through one's own efforts.
In October, Lingnan oranges enter the market, and I made an orange crab dish. Scoop out the orange pulp, use a knife to score delicate serrated edges on the orange peel, then pour in the selected crab meat, drizzle with a little orange juice and balsamic vinegar, and you'll have a delicious and refreshing taste that's not greasy at all.
Looking at the round oranges, as if she had made up her mind, she said to Jingwan, "Living here is quite nice, I have no worries about food and clothing, but I feel uneasy. Jingwan, lend me some money! I have hands and feet, I can work, and I can support myself."
"Alright! I have enough money, but what do you want to do?"
"I'll go to the morning market to sell breakfast." She had this idea after eating wontons at the market that day.
She had never done these things before; aside from serving others, she seemed to know nothing. But there's a first time for everything, and she could always learn as she went along. Life might be much harder, and freedom comes at a price, but she knew that before her wings were broken, she still had the courage to fly.
In the past few days, Jingwan had learned that Chunlai had excellent cooking skills. If he could sell breakfast to make money, it would be a good thing. She immediately agreed, saying, "There is a Zuixianlou restaurant in Pingdu. The proprietress of Zuixianlou is skilled in cooking and used to be a chef in a restaurant. Chunlai, you are so talented. Maybe you can open a restaurant in the future!"
Chunlai's eyes suddenly welled up with tears. She had been a slave in the Cui family for many years, only knowing how to obey the orders of her master. No one cared what she thought, let alone gain the approval of others.
A maidservant's every action is taken for granted; she has no need for her master's praise.
Before the tears still clung to the corners of her eyes, she quickly wiped them away and smiled, "I've been to Zuixianlou, but I didn't know that the story of the proprietress was told to you by Young Master Lu?"
Jingwan's smile slowly faded. She scratched her head, as if she had really thought about it: "It shouldn't be, I can't remember!"
The topic was dropped, and Jingwan lent Chunlai fifty taels of silver. A few days later, Chunlai moved out of the Lu family's house. She rented a small courtyard in the neighborhood, bought a cart, and prepared all the pots, pans, and utensils. Before dawn, she went to the morning market.
When Jingwan went to see Chunlai again, it was half a month later. Her breakfast stall was doing exceptionally well, and she was no longer as flustered as she had been at the beginning. She was now skillfully cooking noodles for her customers.
There are many noodle vendors at the morning market, but hers is the most popular.
The bone broth is never kept overnight; it's always freshly simmered at dawn, making it incredibly delicious. The meat sauce poured over the noodles is also wonderfully flavorful. It's not just great for noodles; it's also delicious with rice.
Jingwan watched Chunlai busy in the alley, dressed in a simple blue cloth shirt and apron, her two white wrists exposed. The steam rising from the soup pot made her face unclear, but Jingwan saw the word Chunlai had once said: peace of mind.
She didn't bother Chunlai, and felt inexplicably relieved. But when the morning market closed and she was about to help Chunlai pack up his stall, she saw a young man beside her, busy with something.
When spring came, the dishes and chopsticks were taken away, and the man then put away the small table and stools. The two of them were busy with their own things, and neither of them spoke, but others could always see the harmony and tacit understanding between them.
Like a married couple.
Jingwan did not rush forward. After they packed up their things, Chunlai pushed the cart away, and the man picked up his load and walked beside them.
Chunlai spoke with a smile, seemingly talking about something amusing. Jingwan could only see the corner of her mouth curving in profile. The man smiled along with her, but he remained silent, carrying his load quietly beside her.
When Jingwan saw Chunlai again, she didn't mention the man. Chunlai was still the same Chunlai. As Jingwan listened to her speak and saw the light in her eyes, she was reminded of her former self.
At the Dongqiao Night Market, when a jade ornament is appreciated by a customer, she feels the same way, her eyes reflecting a liveliness that the hardships of life cannot extinguish.
Jingwan listened as Chun talked about fun things and interesting people. At the end, she laughed and said, "It's really tiring, I'm getting up even earlier than before. But I'm making money, and customers come every day saying they love my braised pork. I'm so happy, all the tiredness is worth it!"
She took Jingwan's hand and said, "Maybe it's really like you said, I can open a restaurant and be a boss lady in the future!"
Chunlai had thought about it carefully. Setting up a stall inevitably meant being exposed to wind and rain. If she opened her own restaurant, she wouldn't have to travel around every day or compete with others for a stall early in the morning. But for now, she still needed to work hard to save money.
She was immersed in her dreams for the future. She had never imagined that life could be spent in such a way, in such a hard but passionate and beloved way.
However, the very next morning, just as she had set the table, a group of people came over.
They were all strong men, and Chunlai looked at the newcomers helplessly, his face ashen.
The man in the lead appeared polite, but his actions carried an undeniable force: "Miss, please return to your residence!"
The wooden ladle fell to the ground, and in an instant, the pearls were covered in dust again.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
