Chapter Ten: Reaping What One Sows

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The fish soup was planned to be cooked in another clay pot. There were only two iron pots with chipped edges: one for cooking rice, the other for stewing chicken.

A single silver carp weighed five or six pounds. One fish was kept alive in a water tank to be eaten in a few days, while the other had already been cleaned in advance.

A small piece of pork fat was placed into the pot, and the fish chunks were first pan-fried until both sides turned golden brown. A few slices of ginger were added to remove the fishy smell and enhance the aroma. Then, an appropriate amount of boiling water was poured in and simmered for about fifteen minutes. Tofu cubes were added afterward along with a pinch of salt and pepper.

The fish soup, simmered with boiling water, turned a snowy white, inviting appetite. Just before serving, a small handful of chopped green onions was sprinkled on top.

Su Jinyu had just poured the fish soup into bowls as the rice finished cooking.

“Sis, let me help you serve the rice!” Su Jinxiao volunteered eagerly. Since the stove was taller than the table, he had to stand on a small wooden stool to serve the rice.

“All right, you serve the rice, be careful not to burn your hands with the steam. I’ll stir-fry a dish, and then we can start eating!”

The little brother was small but diligent, with eyes always searching for tasks; Su Jinyu liked that very much.

She estimated the mushroom chicken stew was nearly done, added some seasonings, quickly stir-fried it in the pot over high heat to reduce the sauce, then garnished it with a small handful of chopped scallions atop the chicken and mushrooms.

The stir-fried cucumber with pork took only a few minutes. All three dishes were placed on the table. The siblings were truly hungry and immediately started eating as soon as they sat down.

“Sis, your cooking smells amazing! It’s not inferior at all compared to those big restaurants in the city!”

“Jinxiao, you’ve never even eaten at a restaurant, and yet you know how to flatter your sister?” Su Jinyu feigned a smile and gave him a playful glare before placing a piece of chicken leg meat into his bowl.

“Hehe, I may not have eaten at restaurants, but in my heart, sis’s cooking is the best in the world!” Su Jinxiao said sweetly, scratching the back of his head in embarrassment.

“Jinyu, are you both home?” A familiar voice came from outside the door.

Su Jinyu went out to check and found Yang Lizheng, accompanied by his eldest son and daughter-in-law, all carrying quite a few items.

“Grandpa Yang, you’re here. Have you eaten? I just finished making dinner, please come in and have some,” Su Jinyu warmly invited them inside.

“Jinyu, we’ve already eaten. We heard you saved my grandson, so we came to thank you. Grandpa Yang knows you and your brother just split from the family and might be short on clothes and food. Here are fifty eggs, twenty pounds of coarse flour, and a cotton quilt. Your aunt also made two pairs of cloth shoes each for you both.”

As Yang Lizheng spoke, he suddenly caught the scent of meat and asked suspiciously, “Jinyu, did you go to the city to buy meat?”

Su Jinyu smiled gracefully.

“No, I didn’t buy it. I encountered it while hunting in the mountains behind. When I was younger, my father taught me some hunting skills.”

Yang Lizheng had originally thought that since Su Jinyu had just split from the family and was young, she wouldn’t know how to manage life well. But hearing she had hunting skills, he was instantly impressed.

He felt more assured about how the siblings would manage, though he still gave them a long list of advice before leaving.

After the siblings ate their fill and put the little brother to sleep that night, Su Jinyu quietly slipped out of the house and hid on the roof, preparing to lie in wait.

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The long night dragged on, but there was no sign of the Su family coming.

Lying on the roof, propping her chin with one hand, she took out lamb skewers, beef skewers, and pork belly skewers she had roasted from her stash, munching on them as she waited for those rascals to walk right into her trap.

“Big brother, you go in first to release the snakes and scorpions. I’ll keep watch outside for you.”

“Second brother, why don’t you go in to release the venomous creatures while I keep watch outside?”

Hearing noises near the courtyard gate, Su Jinyu quickly stuffed the remaining skewers of beef and lamb into her mouth and chewed noisily.

Second brother Su said, “Big brother, it’s all the fault of the eldest brother’s wife for letting those little pests escape. Your main branch is definitely involved. Father and mother want you to redeem yourselves; how could you forget so quickly?”

Her own second brother was always cunning and sly, making her do all the dirty and exhausting work, but when it came to rewards, it always went to their branch.

Eldest brother Su ground his teeth in anger and snorted coldly.

He grabbed a bamboo basket and climbed over the courtyard wall.

Su Jinyu hid in the shadows, squinting at her eldest uncle approaching the house, her body ready to act at the right moment.

In her hand, she held a packet of obedience powder, which she had spent 500 mall coins on. Once Su Eldest Brother inhaled the powder, he would become like a puppet.

“Su Dewang, give me the basket.”

Eldest brother’s eyes went blank as he slowly lifted the bamboo basket filled with venomous snakes and scorpions and handed it to her.

Su Jinyu had also spent 400 mall coins on poison powder that would cause vomiting, diarrhea, and full-body paralysis after ingestion.

“Su Dewang, take this packet back and poison everyone in your Su family, including yourself.”

Su Eldest Brother, whose name was Su Dewang, nodded slowly, turned around like a robot, and walked toward the main gate.

Moonlight was as dark as ink. Standing outside the gate, Su Second Brother kept watch but couldn’t see clearly through the slightly ajar door.

He was puzzled. His big brother had been inside for so long but hadn’t come out yet.

Just as he was about to peek through the crack, a strange herbal fragrance wafted to his nose.

“Su Decai, leave here and follow your big brother home.”

Su Second Brother was named Su Decai.

Su Jinyu opened the courtyard gate, letting Su Eldest Brother walk out inside. He and Su Second Brother then headed toward the old Su family home.

Watching the two brothers’ backs disappear into the distance, Su Jinyu smiled and waved, then turned back to get some more sleep.

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The next morning, sunlight streamed through the wooden window, bathing Su Jinyu in its warm glow.

She was still covered by the old, worn cotton quilt taken from the old Su family home, which gave off a strong musty odor under the sun.

Today, she had to go to the city to shop. If they kept using such toxic quilts every day, eventually inhaling too much mold would be fatal.

The little brother was still sleeping in another room when she got up.

In the kitchen, she prepared a simple congee of vegetables and lean pork, paired with two baskets of steamed pork buns.

“Hurry up and eat. Once you’re done, we’ll go to the city.”

Su Jinyu poked her little brother’s forehead.

After tidying the house following their family split yesterday, the little brother was exhausted and still groggy.

“Go to the city?” Su Jinxiao’s eyes suddenly opened wide. He immediately perked up, grabbed a big meat bun, and started munching.

He had always envied other village kids who had been to the city, especially those from families owning ox carts, because they could often visit the city and see the world.

Now that he had split from the family with his elder sister, he could finally go to the city and take a look.

“Yes, the quilts at home are too worn. We also need to buy some clothes and cloth shoes. Our food supplies aren’t enough, so we’ll need to stock up.” Su Jinyu finished the last spoonful of rich lean pork congee with satisfaction.

“Sis, I heard there are many delicious things in the city streets, like sugar figurines. I’ve seen Er Zhuang’s father buy those sugar figurines—they look just like real ones. There are also candied hawthorns, which are said to be crispy and sweet...”

Su Jinyu naturally saw the longing in her little brother’s eyes for sugar figurines and candied hawthorns.

“When we get to the city, I’ll buy you whatever you want!”

Su Jinyu beamed, eager to eat more buns and drink more congee herself.

“Eat slowly, don’t choke!”

Meanwhile, at the old Su family home...

“Is anyone there? This old woman can’t get up! Someone please come save me!”

Madam Sun had been lying in bed nursing an injury, but this morning she woke up feeling sick, vomiting and having diarrhea repeatedly, suffering for seven or eight bouts.