Chapter 31: Smoke swirls around the courtyard, warmth enters the kitchen
The setting sun tinted the courtyard's tiled roofs a warm golden hue. Smoke curled from the newly built chimney, mingling with the aroma of food and swirling through the yard. Little Swallow was squatting by the stove, helping Grandma Zhang add firewood. The firelight illuminated her cheeks, and the red ribbon on her braid swayed gently as she added more wood.
"Add more slowly. If the fire is too strong, it will burn the pot." Grandma Zhang stood by, leaning on a cane, stirring the corn porridge in her hand, her eyes full of kindness. The iron pot gurgled, and the golden corn kernels rolled in the porridge, and the sweet aroma filled the kitchen.
Little Swallow stuck out her tongue and gently stuffed the firewood in her hand into the stove. "I know, Grandma Zhang, I just want the porridge to cook quickly. Xiaodouzi and the others can't wait." As soon as she finished speaking, she heard Xiaodouzi's shouting from the gate: "Grandma! Sister Xiaoyanzi! Is the porridge cooked? My stomach is growling!"
Liu Hong came in carrying a stack of coarse porcelain bowls. She smiled and tapped Xiao Douzi on the head, "You're the only one who's greedy! Wait a moment, the braised pork elbows that Brother Liu Qing bought will be here soon." She placed the bowls on the wooden board beside the stove, the rims still damp from fresh washing. "Xiao Yanzi, go and rest. Grandma and I are here."
"Not tired, not tired!" Xiaoyanzi rolled up her sleeves, revealing her snow-white arms. "I'll pick the vegetables!" She picked up the greens from the basket, her fingers deftly pinching off the yellow leaves. Though not as skillful as Liuhong's, her movements were incredibly thorough. Sunlight streamed in through the newly pasted window paper, casting a soft, velvety glow on her focused face, which warmed Liuhong's heart.
The sound of Liu Qing's footsteps was heard at the gate of the courtyard. He was holding an oil-paper bag in his hand. The oil had soaked the paper, and the aroma drifted in from a long distance: "The braised pork elbow is here! From Wang's, freshly out of the pot!" There was a smile on his dark face, and there was some coal dust on his forehead, which was rubbed off when he was repairing the stove just now.
"It smells so good!" Xiaoyanzi was the first to move over and sniffed hard. "Brother Liu Qing, you're so kind! I've never had such a delicious pork elbow in Jiangnan!" She reached out to take it, but Liu Hong patted her hand: "Wash your hands! You'll get a stomachache if you touch the pork elbow right after picking the vegetables."
Liu Qing rested his elbows on the table, watching Xiaoyanzi skipping off to wash her hands. He couldn't help but scratch his head and smile. He turned and went into the kitchen, where he saw Grandma Zhang adding chopped green onions to the pot. He quickly said, "Grandma, I'll light the fire. You take a break." He took the fire tongs from Xiaoyanzi and deftly added wood and stirred the flames. The firelight made his features look especially gentle.
When Xiao Jian walked into the courtyard in the afterglow of the setting sun, he saw this scene - in the kitchen, Liu Qing was lowering his head to make a fire, Liu Hong and Grandma Zhang were busy at the stove, and steam was rising; in the yard, Xiaoyanzi was sitting around with the children eating braised pork elbows, her little hands washed clean, her eyes shining as she waited for dinner, and the red silk ribbon on the end of her braid fluttered gently in the evening breeze.
"Brother!" Little Swallow was the first to see him. She ran over and grabbed his sleeve, her nose still stained with flour. "You've come just in time! We have braised pork elbows today, and they're delicious!"
Xiao Jian reluctantly wiped the flour from her nose, his eyes sweeping across the courtyard—children were playing around a wooden horse under the newly built swing set; dried vegetables shimmered under the eaves; the morning glory in the corner closed its petals in the twilight. The entire compound was bathed in the aroma of food and the sounds of children's laughter. He pulled a small paper bag from his sleeve pocket: "Osmanthus candy for the children."
"Wow! Osmanthus candy!" Little Bean immediately rushed over, eyes wide. Little Swallow took the paper bag and carefully distributed two to each of the children. She also pinched one and put it in her mouth. The sweet fragrance mixed with the aroma of osmanthus spread on her tongue, and her eyebrows curved into a smile.
At dinner time, everyone in the compound, young and old, gathered around the stone table in the courtyard. Grandma Zhang's corn porridge was golden and thick, Liu Hong's stir-fried vegetables were juicy green, and Liu Qing's braised pork elbow was shiny and greasy, each bite filled with the aroma of meat. Xiaoyanzi sat next to Liu Hong. Seeing that she kept putting meat into her bowl while she ate the vegetables herself, she quietly put the pork elbow skin back into her bowl and said, "Eat some too! Girls need more meat to have the strength to work."
Liu Hong's face flushed. Just as she was about to pick up the elbow skin, Xiaoyanzi held her hand back. "Eat, eat! Look, Brother Liu Qing has almost finished the elbow!" She winked at Liu Qing, making everyone laugh. Liu Qing, with meat in his mouth, mumbled, "I... I'm a man. I need to eat more so I have the strength to carry the load."
Xiao Jian sat across from her, watching his sister and Liu Hong's affectionate expressions, and then watching Liu Qing's simple, honest eating habits, his lips curled up unconsciously. He poured a bowl of porridge for Grandma Zhang and whispered, "Grandma, eat slowly. Be careful of the heat." Grandma Zhang smiled and nodded, tears glistening in her eyes. "Good children, I'm so sorry for putting you through so much trouble. I always make you spend so much money..."
"What are you talking about, grandma!" Xiaoyanzi swallowed the food in her mouth and said loudly, "We are going to become sworn brothers soon, and we will be a family! How can we talk about spending money on meals when we are a family!" When she said this, Liu Qing and Liu Hong were stunned, and then warmth welled up in their eyes and they nodded vigorously.
As dusk deepened, kerosene lamps lit the courtyard, their dim glow illuminating everyone's smiling faces. The children finished their candy and yawned as they leaned against the elderly woman's arms. Xiao Douzi mumbled a Jiangnan tune that Xiao Yanzi had taught her. Liu Qing cleared the dishes, Liu Hong massaged Grandma Zhang's back, and Xiao Yanzi and Xiao Jian sat on the swing, rocking gently.
"Brother, don't you think it's nice here?" Xiaoyanzi looked up at the starry sky and said softly, "I have grandpa and grandma to love me, brother Liu Qing and sister Liu Hong to take care of me, and Xiaodouzi and the others to play with me. It's much more fun than back home."
Xiao Jian looked at her profile, illuminated by the starlight, and whispered, "As long as you like it." He knew his sister's regret. After a life of wandering, she deserved this warmth in this life. He stroked the jade pendant at his waist with his fingertips. "But next time you go out, bring two more servants with you. Things are not peaceful in the capital lately."
"I know, steward!" Little Swallow smiled and pushed him, the swing swung higher, and the red ribbon at the end of the braid drew a beautiful arc under the starlight.
When Liu Qing sent them to the gate of the courtyard, he was holding a cloth bag in his hand: "These are the sesame seeds left over from making pancakes today, and some pickles. You can take them back and try them." The bag was heavy, filled with full of heart.
Xiaoyanzi took the bag and shook it: "Then I'll bring some plum blossom cakes made by my mother tomorrow!" She waved and followed Xiao Jian into the twilight. Liu Hong's voice came from behind: "Be careful on the road!"
Moonlight shone on the bluestone pavement, stretching their shadows long. The sesame bag in Xiaoyanzi's hand exuded a delicate fragrance as she hummed a Jiangnan tune, her steps light and brisk as a bird. Xiao Jian watched her cheerful figure, feeling suddenly at ease—the vibrant atmosphere of the capital warmed her heart after all.
The lights in the courtyard were still on. Liu Qing and Liu Hong were clearing away the dishes. Grandma Zhang sat under the eaves, fanning herself with a palm-leaf fan and telling stories to the children. The smoke from the cooking stove had dissipated, but the aroma of the food seemed to linger in the courtyard, blending with the starlight and moonlight, creating a cup of the warmest fireworks in the world.
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