Chapter 74 Mung Beans
Nan Zhiyi ignored the rumors circulating outside.
She believed Gu Xiao when he said, "Leave it to him."
The military service center recently sold a new batch of mung beans, and she specifically bought three jin (1.5 kg) of them.
In the late afternoon, she carefully simmered a pot of rock sugar mung bean soup on a coal stove. It was soft, sticky, and very sweet.
She took the pot down and placed it in a basin of cool well water to soak, changing the water several times in between.
As evening approached, the heat subsided slightly.
Nan Zhiyi set the kneaded dough aside to ferment.
She poured a large bowl of mung bean soup into an enamel bowl, grabbed a handful of fruit candies and stuffed them into her pocket before heading to her neighbor, Sister Wang's, house next door.
Sister-in-law Wang was doing handicrafts on a small stool under the eaves.
Xiaoling and Xiaofang were playing with pebbles on the ground. Weiguo and Weijun had disappeared somewhere to play.
"Sister-in-law, Xiaofang, Xiaoling," Nan Zhiyi called out.
"Oh, Zhiyi's here!" Sister Wang looked up at the large bowl in Zhiyi's hand and smiled. "Xiaofang and Xiaoling, your aunt has brought you some mung bean soup."
"Yes, give the children some to quench their thirst."
Nan Zhiyi placed the bowl on the small square table next to her, then took out a handful of colorful fruit candies and handed them to Xiaofang, saying, "Here, you four can share."
Xiaofang and Xiaoling held the candy, their little faces beaming with smiles. "Thank you, Auntie. Let's go find our brother."
Sister-in-law Wang called out to the children who had already run to the gate, "It's getting dark soon, tell them to come home and have some mung bean soup!"
The two girls exclaimed "Oh!" and ran off in a flash, disappearing from sight.
Sister-in-law Wang put down her work, got up and went inside. "You've come at the perfect time! I just finished pickling watermelon and soybeans a couple of days ago, and I was just saying I'd bring you a jar to try! You've come first!"
She brought out a small earthenware pot, lifted the lid, and a savory aroma with a hint of watermelon wafted out.
Nan Zhiyi had mentioned before that it was obvious that Wang's sister-in-law had specially pickled this small jar for her.
She took the jar, feeling a little embarrassed: "Sister-in-law, you're busy making handicrafts and taking care of the children every day, yet you still think of me... I'm too embarrassed to take it."
"Hey! Don't be so polite. I wouldn't even give it to anyone else who wanted it, but your sister-in-law really likes it." Sister-in-law Wang laughed heartily and waved her hand. "These fermented soybeans with porridge or steamed buns are so delicious! Try them and see if you like the taste?"
Nan Zhiyi felt a warm glow in her heart. "Okay, I just made the dough this afternoon. I'll try it tonight."
She hesitated for a moment, then asked softly, "Sister-in-law, these past two days... haven't we heard any... other gossip around the family compound?"
Sister Wang was stunned for a moment, then realized: "No! Really no! Things that happen at the government office are behind a wall, they can't get to our backyard. You've been in the family compound for so long, everyone knows your character, they praise you for being hardworking, honest, and kind."
Nan Zhiyi breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, "Was it my sister-in-law who praised me?"
"Hey, it's not just me praising them!"
As she spoke, Sister Wang found a basin of water to chill the mung bean soup, not wanting to drink a single drop herself.
Nan Zhiyi remembered something else, "Sister-in-law, I see it's still hot. Is it a good time to pickle salted duck eggs now? I finished the jar I pickled before. I was thinking of pickling some for a close friend of mine and sending it to her."
"Sure, there's plenty of time! It's hot, so the oil will render quickly! How many do you want to pickle? We've collected quite a few duck eggs recently."
After considering it for a moment, Nan Zhiyi exchanged thirty coins with Sister Wang using her money notes.
Unable to refuse, Sister Wang accepted the money and then found a small bamboo basket to help her put the duck eggs away.
"Take this bamboo basket; we have plenty more at home."
Nan Zhiyi didn't stand on ceremony anymore, "Thank you, sister-in-law."
She returned home and placed the duck eggs in a cool, shady place in the storage room, preparing to pickle them the next day using the method she had learned from Sister Wang.
Looking at the sky, it was time to prepare dinner.
She rolled up her sleeves and began kneading the dough.
The dough became smooth and pliable under her hands. She divided it into portions, rolled one portion into a wrapper, filled it with the prepared egg and vermicelli filling, and pinched it into round, plump pleats.
The other part was directly kneaded into smooth steamed buns.
A steamer cloth was laid on the steamer basket, and the buns and steamed bread were neatly arranged one by one. An iron pot was placed on top, and wood was lit to burn.
Not long after the steam rose, Gu Xiao pushed open the courtyard gate and returned, carrying a brown paper bag in his hand.
He spotted Nan Zhiyi at the kitchen doorway, wearing an apron and her cheeks flushed from the steam.
"I steamed buns and mantou today," Nan Zhiyi said with a smile.
"Okay." Gu Xiao handed her the paper bag and went to the sink to wash his hands.
Nan Zhiyi opened it out of curiosity.
"Stockings? And...chocolate?"
She looked up at him in surprise, "You...how did you know I liked this?"
Chocolate was something she used to eat often at home, and stockings were a hot commodity; they were both presentable and comfortable to wear, and she really liked them.
Seeing her eyes light up instantly and the corners of her lips curve into a smile, Gu Xiao felt most of his pent-up frustration dissipate.
He had always known her preferences.
"I asked someone to buy it for me at an overseas Chinese store. Shall we open it and try it?"
"Um!"
Nan Zhiyi peeled off a corner of the tin foil, broke off a small piece, and put it in her mouth.
The rich, silky sweetness melted on her tongue, and a long-lost feeling of happiness welled up in her heart. She closed her eyes contentedly.
"Is it good?" Gu Xiao's gaze fell on her lips, which were stained a little dark with chocolate.
"Mmm! It's so delicious!" Nan Zhiyi broke off another small piece, stood on tiptoe, and brought it to his mouth. "You should try some too! It's so sweet!"
Just as her fingers approached, Gu Xiao slightly turned his head, avoiding the chocolate.
He leaned down, put one arm around her waist, and used the other hand to support the back of her head, then covered her lips with his own.
"Ugh..." Nan Zhiyi was caught off guard and almost dropped the chocolate in her hand.
His kiss was a tentative sucking, his tongue lightly brushing over the remaining chocolate on her lips, as if savoring its sweetness.
His kisses were not hurried, but deep enough.
He tasted the sweetness in her mouth and felt the slight trembling of her body.
"...It is quite sweet."
Nan Zhiyi's cheeks flushed red, and her heart pounded like a drum.
He gently wiped away the chocolate stain from the corner of her lips with his fingertip, the movement carrying a hint of tenderness.
The slight sorrow between her brows finally vanished, leaving only pure joy.
He felt a sense of relief and pulled the person closer into his arms, whispering, "Happy now? Don't look so gloomy. Those things outside will be resolved soon."
Nan Zhiyi snuggled against him, feeling incredibly safe and secure.
"The steamed buns will be ready soon..." she murmured softly in his arms, reluctant to let go.
"Um."
Gu Xiao responded but didn't move, since he wasn't in a hurry to eat anyway.
He lowered his head, his gaze falling on that delicate skin, his eyes darkening slightly.
After a long while, Nan Zhiyi blushed and gently nudged him, saying, "We really should lift the lid now, or it'll collapse if we keep steaming it..."
Gu Xiao slowly released his arm. "Let me do it. You're burning yourself."
He went to pick up steamed buns and mantou, while Nan Zhiyi scooped out a small dish of the watermelon sauce beans that Sister Wang had given her. The reddish-brown sauce beans were oily and looked appetizing.
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