Chapter 170: Dinner
Sheng Wanyan didn’t know much about these matters, but the older generation possessed a wealth of practical life experience, so she listened to Aunt Xie’s advice with complete seriousness.
“I’ll remember that, Auntie.”
Aunt Xie locked her eyes onto the two pheasants inside the wire coop. Stepping forward with lightning-fast speed born of decades of running a household, her hand shot out and effortlessly snatched one by its wings. She carried the bird to a clear patch of ground in the backyard and set to work. Watching her dress the pheasant with such flawless, practiced skill, Wanyan couldn’t help but marvel, “Auntie, you’re amazing.”
Wanyan hurried to boil water for plucking the feathers, kindling the coal stove. Since the honeycomb briquettes always took a little while to catch properly, it was the perfect time to get the fire started. Aunt Xie prepped the pheasant in the blink of an eye and even offered to help clean the fish.
Wanyan got the chicken soup going first, adding her mix of herbs and letting it settle into a slow simmer. It was currently three o’clock in the afternoon, which gave the broth a good three hours to mature and lock in its rich flavor.
As Wanyan began prepping the rest of the ingredients, Aunt Xie enthusiastically took over the task of washing the vegetables. The more she used the custom sink, the more enchanted she became. It was exceptionally deep and wide, allowing her to wash an entire mountain of greens without worrying about water sloshing over the sides. It was incredibly convenient and smooth to use.
Leaving Aunt Xie to joyfully explore the wonders of the new sink, Wanyan focused on slicing the pork nearby.
Before long, Yang Wanshu arrived with her two young sons. The moment she walked through the gate, she rolled up her sleeves and headed straight for the kitchen to pitch in. However, she was just as stunned as Aunt Xie had been, her eyes wide with curiosity at the novel setup.
Unlike the expressive political commissar’s wife, Yang Wanshu managed to restrain her shock, her gentle face holding a look of quiet awe. In the end, she could only murmur, “This is… incredibly convenient.”
She found herself viewing Wanyan in a whole new light. When it came to such innovative, practical ideas, she doubted even the cleverest man on the base could compete with her new neighbor.
While the women gathered in the backyard, the two young boys discovered the living room furniture. It was the first time either of them had seen such a couch, and the plush, soft texture of the cushions made them so comfortable they wanted to roll around on it forever.
“Mom, the benches at Auntie’s house are soft! They’re packed with real cotton!”
Holding hands, the two brothers ran into the kitchen, eager to share their magical discovery with their mother.
“Cotton…?” Yang Wanshu blinked. When she arrived, she had walked straight past the chicken coop into the backyard, never thinking to glance inside the main living area.
“Yes, Mom! Auntie’s benches are pillowy. It feels so nice when you sit down,” the youngest son, An’an, chimed in, his large eyes filled with a desperate desire to share his excitement. He tugged at her hand, trying to pull her toward the living room to witness it herself.
“Mom needs to help Auntie cook first, sweetie. You two go back inside and play,” Yang Wanshu chided gently, though she was privately startled. Her sons never fabricated stories, so the soft furniture had to be real.
Seeing the two little guys, Wanyan smiled. She reached into her pocket, pulled out two White Rabbit milk candies, and squatted down to their eye level. “Here, little ones. Have some sweets.”
The moment the boys saw the pristine white wrappers, they swallowed their saliva in unison. Their eyes betrayed a deep longing, yet they froze, not daring to reach out. They had tasted this specific candy only twice before in their lives, and they knew how exquisitely sweet it was. Still, remembering their manners, they turned their helpless gazes toward their mother.
Recognizing how rare and expensive the treats were, Yang Wanshu quickly waved her hands in refusal. “Oh, no, Wanyan. That’s far too costly.”
“Think nothing of it, it’s for the children,” Wanyan insisted. Without another word, she gently pressed the candies directly into the boys’ small palms.
The brothers looked up at their mother, waiting for final permission. Seeing the sheer, longing hope written across her sons’ faces, Yang Wanshu felt a soft ache in her chest and gave a tender nod. As a mother, she desperately wanted to provide the finest things for her children, but her financial means were strictly limited.
“Take them, and make sure you give Aunt Gu a proper thank you,” she instructed.
With her blessing granted, the two little ones let out a joyous cheer.
“Thank you, Aunt Gu!”
“Thank you, Auntie~”
“You’re very welcome. Go on inside and play,” Wanyan smiled, gently patting their heads. They were exceptionally well-mannered and polite, and it was impossible for anyone to interact with such disciplined children without feeling a wave of affection and patience.
As the boys scurried back to the soft couch, Wanyan retrieved two clean bowls and poured large portions of sweet sugar water for her two helpers. “Here, take a break and have a drink.”
Aunt Xie didn’t stand on ceremony, instantly taking a deep draft and sighing in deep satisfaction. “My word, that’s sweet! Sister-in-law Wang, you must try it.”
Yang Wanshu accepted her bowl with a grateful nod and took a sip. Wanyan had been incredibly lavish with the sugar. In these lean times, enjoying something this rich and sweet was a true luxury.
“Wanyan, you used far too much sugar,” Yang Wanshu chided softly. “Don’t be so extravagant next time.” Food was precious enough, but processed white sugar was a strictly rationed commodity.
“Alright, message received. Next time you come over, I’ll make sure to serve you nothing but plain boiled water,” Wanyan teased.
Aunt Xie and Yang Wanshu exchanged a look and burst into shared laughter.
“Oh? Then we’ll be looking forward to that plain water!” Aunt Xie bantered back, refusing to lose the exchange. Amidst the continuous jokes and comfortable gossip, the hands of the clock flew by.
By the time the mountain of vegetables was thoroughly washed, peeled, and diced, it was already five o’clock. A firm knock echoed from the front gate, but the kitchen was a bustling hive of clattering woks and crackling firewood, completely drowning out the sound.
In the living room, Pingping and An’an were carefully savoring their White Rabbit milk candies. Unwilling to dissolve the precious treats all at once, they held them carefully in their fingers, taking slow, deliberate licks to make the sweetness last.
“Brother, someone is at the door,” An’an murmured, tugging at the edge of his older brother’s shirt.
Pingping was completely lost in the rich, milky flavor of his candy, his eyes glazed with bliss. “What?” he mumbled, blinking. “Stop pulling my clothes.” He gently wrenched his shirt from his brother’s grip and looked toward the entryway.
Boom, boom, boom.
Hearing the distinct knocking resume, Pingping called out toward the backyard, “Mom! Aunt Gu! Someone is knocking on the gate!”
The kitchen remained loud and busy, and the busy women didn’t hear the children’s calls. Realizing no one was answering, Pingping took his brother’s hand and decided to handle it himself. He was old enough to understand his surroundings; his father had repeatedly drummed into him that the military compound was the safest place on earth, guarded by countless brave soldiers. Consequently, he harbored no fear, confidently pulling his little brother along to unlatch the front door.
Standing on the threshold were Captain Wu’s wife, Regimental Commander Fang’s wife, and Deputy Company Commander Feng’s wife, each flanked by their respective children.
As a teacher at the base nursery school, Commander Fang’s wife had marched straight over with her three children the moment her work shift concluded. Meanwhile, Deputy Company Commander Feng’s wife carried a trace of anxiety; her child was only two years old and notoriously mischievous, meaning she would have to keep a hawk-like watch over him all night to ensure he didn’t cause any trouble. Feeling a bit guilty about bringing such a handful to a dinner party, she held a peace offering of five fresh eggs tightly in her hand.
The moment Captain Wu’s wife and her two sons caught sight of the white candies gripped in Pingping and An’an’s hands, their eyes lit up with instant greed.
“Candy! Look, Mom, candy!”
“Mom, I want some candy too!” the two Wu boys clamored, clutching at their mother’s trousers and whining loudly.
“Mom doesn’t have any candy,” Captain Wu’s wife snapped, her face tight. “I’ll buy you some next time we go to the city.” She glared down at the Wang boys, her eyes narrowing as she asked, “Who gave you those sweets, anyway?” She was a woman who always demanded immediate satisfaction for her sons.
An’an, naturally painful shy, shrank completely behind his older brother’s shoulder, taking a quick, protective lick of his candy as he watched the crowd warily.
Pingping, standing tall as the protective older brother, answered her firmly. “Auntie Gu gave them to us.” Before the woman could press further, he added smoothly, “But Auntie Gu doesn’t have any left. She explicitly told us these were the very last two pieces in her jar.”
He was remarkably sharp for a six-year-old; Captain Wang had clearly invested a great deal of effort into raising his eldest son to be clever and discerning.
