Chapter 36: The Hearth Lit, Friendship Grows Stronger
Afternoons in the compound always carried the warm aroma of pine charcoal. Little Swallow squatted beside the newly built earthen stove, helping Liu Qing keep an eye on the fire. She poked the wood in the hearth with a branch. The flames crackled, illuminating the cuffs of her ginger jacket with a warm glow. The red silk ribbon at the end of her braid swayed gently with her movements, and she didn't even notice the black ash on the tip of her nose.
"Third sister, do you think the coal stove is ready?" Liu Hong came running over, holding a coarse porcelain bowl filled with freshly cooked millet porridge. The steaming white mist blurred her eyes. She had changed into a new moon-white cloth jacket, the fabric given by Xiaoyanzi. The cuffs were embroidered with small orchids, the stitching crooked but meticulous. "Second brother said that when the furnace is almost burning, we can test the fire."
Xiaoyanzi peeked into the coal stove beside the earthenware oven. The iron rack had been set up securely, and Xiao Jian was adding crushed coal with a small shovel. The sleeves of his long, blue cloth gown were rolled up to his forearms, revealing his sturdy wrists. He turned back and gently scraped his fingertips across Xiaoyanzi's nose, rubbing off some black ash. "Don't rush. Wait until the furnace is heated thoroughly before turning off the fire, otherwise it'll go out easily."
Xiaoyanzi let out a "ah!" and touched her nose, which only made the ash spread more evenly, causing Liu Hong to burst out laughing. She glared at Xiao Jian, but saw a smile in his eyes. She couldn't help but curl her lips and snatched the small shovel from his hand. "Let me add! I saw the coppersmith do it last time. You need a layer of coal and a layer of firewood to burn it well."
Liu Qing came in from outside, carrying a bundle of hay. The back of his blue shirt was soaked with sweat and stuck to his back. He leaned the hay against the wall and wiped his face with a towel hanging from the clothesline. A satisfied smile crossed his dark face. "Mr. Zhang from East Street just came to buy pancakes. He said our sweet bean paste is better than others. He even ordered twenty for tomorrow morning for breakfast for the guys on the construction site!"
"Really?" Xiaoyanzi's eyes lit up, and she nearly dropped the spatula into the coal stove. "I knew this sweet noodle sauce recipe would work! Hongmei, let's prepare some extra batter tomorrow and cut up some pickled vegetables as toppings. I guarantee our customers will love it even more!"
Liu Hong nodded quickly and picked up a small notebook from the stone table. It was a gift from Xiaoyanzi, with the cover wrapped in red cloth. She opened it and drew a small cake on it, and a jar of soy sauce next to it. "I remember that there's not much soy sauce left from yesterday. I'll go buy some soybeans later. We can make our own. It'll save money."
Xiao Jian added the last piece of coal to the stove and brushed the ash off his hands. "I asked Chief Zheng to find out, and the price of coal in the west of the city has dropped 20% this month. I'll order two truckloads this afternoon, enough to keep the yard burning until spring." He looked at Liu Qing. "Are the wheels on your stall always shaking? I asked someone to bring some tung oil and wooden wedges to fix them later."
Liu Qing scratched his head and smiled sheepishly: "That's right. When I came back yesterday pushing the cart, the wheels were squeaking. I even said I'd find a carpenter to take a look today..."
"Why look for a carpenter?" Xiaoyanzi jumped up and patted her chest, "My brother is a skilled worker! Last time, my bookcase was loose, and he fixed it in no time!" As she spoke, she ran to the corner of the yard to rummage through the toolbox. The red silk ribbon at the end of her braid swept across the cotton clothes hanging out to dry, bringing with it a faint scent of soapberries.
Under the old locust tree in the compound, Grandma Zhang and Xiaodouzi were turning and drying cotton. The snow-white cotton fluffed up in the sun like puffy clouds. Little Pigeon ran over, holding a rag doll Liu Hong had sewn from scraps of cloth. It was crooked but adorable. "Sister Xiaoyanzi, look at the little bunny Sister Hong made for me!"
Little Swallow took the doll and pinched its ears. "Hongmei's craftsmanship is getting better and better! In a few days, we'll use the remaining scraps of cloth to sew a hand warmer for each child. Put a small charcoal bag in it, and they'll keep warm in the winter."
Liu Hong's eyes lit up when she heard this, and she put down the small notebook in her hand: "This is a good idea! I'll go find some scraps of cloth and we'll do it this afternoon!" She turned and ran into the house, the hem of her moon-white cloth gown fluttering like a light butterfly.
Liu Qing squatted beside the stall as Xiao Jian handed him a wooden wedge. Together, they hammered at the wheel. The thumping mingled with the children's laughter, creating a lively atmosphere in the afternoon sun. Xiaoyanzi squatted nearby, handing him tung oil. She watched Xiao Jian's focused profile, then glanced at the beads of sweat on Liu Qing's forehead. Suddenly, she felt that the days in this compound were even warmer than the misty rain of Jiangnan.
As the sun dipped low in the sky, the coal stove finally caught fire. Orange flames shot out from the stove mouth, warming the faces of the four people. Liu Hong brought the cooked millet porridge in a coarse porcelain bowl and handed it to them steaming hot. "Try it! It's sweet with the red dates."
Xiaoyanzi took the bowl, blew on the hot air, and took a big sip. The sweet fragrance instantly filled her mouth. "It tastes good! It tastes better than the ones cooked by the chef back home!" She picked up the red dates from the bowl and stuffed them into Liu Hong's mouth. "Hongmei, you have some too."
Liu Hong's cheeks flushed slightly, and she smiled while biting a red date: "Drink slowly, no one will snatch it from you."
Liu Qing sipped his porridge, watching the dancing flames in the coal stove, then glanced at the three people chatting and laughing around him. Suddenly, he put down his bowl and said seriously, "When I make enough money, I want to open a small shop on East Street. We won't be exposed to the wind and sun anymore. Then we can repair the courtyard and buy a big kang for grandpa and grandma to keep them warm in winter..."
"Yes." Xiao Jian patted his shoulder, his eyes gentle but firm, "If we work together, we will achieve it."
Xiaoyanzi nodded vigorously, the red ribbon on her braid swinging with her movements. "I'll be the accountant then! My mother taught me abacus, and I guarantee I won't make a single mistake!"
As dusk drifted into the courtyard, the fire in the coal stove still burned brightly, casting the shadows of four people close together on the wall. Cotton-padded clothes swayed gently on the clothesline, and the millet porridge on the stone table still steamed. Children's laughter drifted from the house, mingling with the warm fragrance of pine wood, brewing a pot of the most mellow friendship wine in the twilight of the capital.
Xiaoyanzi touched the jade pendant with the Chinese character "δΉ‰" (righteousness) around her waist, warmed by her body heat. As she looked at everything before her, she suddenly felt that her greatest fortune in this new life wasn't being born into the wealthy Fang family, but rather being able to live in this ordinary courtyard, with a family who could share the warmth of a fire and the years.
The evening breeze blows gently through the old locust tree, and the leaves rustle, as if singing a gentle response to this warm day.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
