Translated by Serena Love

Proofread by Soupysuspicions

Edited by Ladyhotcomb

Chapter 15

Zhao Lanxiang paced the room, eagerly waiting for He Songbai to return when a knock interrupted her thoughts.

She flung the door open, hoping to see He Songbai, but instead, Jiang Li’s radiant smile greeted her. She almost blurted out, “You’re back!” but stopped herself just in time.

Jiang Li bubbled with excitement, “Let’s eat noodles today!” Her dark eyes sparkled at the mere mention of ‘noodles’.

After tasting Zhao Lanxiang’s noodles, Jiang Li had tried the stir-fried noodles at the state-run restaurant in the city. To her dismay, they paled in comparison. Not only were they not as fragrant, but eating them also made her irritable. She wanted to find something just as delicious as Zhao Lanxiang’s noodles, but she was disappointed with everything she ate. Even the most expensive dish felt like a betrayal to her taste buds. The meat wasn’t tender, and the noodles were overcooked. What a waste of her food tickets!

Each disappointing bite only deepened her craving for Zhao Lanxiang’s noodles.

Night after night she tossed and turned as she dreamt of those noodles, even waking up once to find her pillow wet with drool. She realized she couldn’t resist any longer. The weekend couldn’t come soon enough for her to visit Zhao Lanxiang.

She had come to a realization she didn’t want to admit: even with all the comforts of her own home, she couldn’t replicate that incredible taste. If she wanted those noodles, she had to turn to Zhao Lanxiang.

Was it just about food stamps and money? She’d gladly trade her meat for those noodles!

Zhao Lanxiang, amused, flicked her forehead. “Noodles don’t just appear when you want them to. I didn’t prepare the soup base last night, so there’s no fresh broth.”

Filled with greed, she had been so engrossed in making mung bean cake that morning that she hadn’t had time to prepare bone broth. Moreover, she wasn’t particularly inclined to cater to Jiang Li’s whims.

Jiang Li, whose cheeks were flushed from the excitement of eating noodles, suddenly felt like she had been doused by a bucket of cold water. For the first time in her life, she had actually encountered a roadblock.

Jiang Li’s rosy excitement quickly turned into a pout. “But I want them now,” she whined.

Doesn’t Zhao Lanxiang still hope to be her sister-in-law? Why pass up this opportunity to please her? When has she ever had to wait for anything?

Unfortunately for her, Zhao Lanxiang did not care for her.

She extended her hands and calmly explained, “If you’re set on having noodles, we’d first need to get some pork bones from the store. That’s a three-hour round trip. Then, simmering the broth takes another three hours. So, if we start now, it’ll be evening before the noodles are ready.”

“But... all of this is not very important. What is important is that the store is always crowded on weekends. You might wait in line for over an hour and still not find any bones available left to buy.”

Want to eat?

In your dreams!

Hearing this, Jiang Li’s enthusiasm wilted like a frosted eggplant. Given Zhao Lanxiang’s explanation, she realized that having noodles today was out of the question. She bit her lip, looking as forlorn as a big, poor puppy abandoned by its owner.

She reluctantly took a step back, saying, “Then, I want to eat tomorrow.”

Zhao Lanxiang continued to say heartbreaking words with a smile, “Didn’t I mention that it’s hard to get pork bones on weekends?”

Frustration bubbled up in Jiang Li and she wanted to stomp her feet. She had been daydreaming about those pork belly noodles all week, and now she couldn’t have them?

She burst into tears suddenly and threw out a sentence angrily, “I know what this is about! You just don’t want to make them for me. This won’t work Zhao Lanxiang! Don’t you want to be with my brother?”

Zhao Lanxiang chuckled, “Next time I get some pork bones, I’ll let you know. But… as you’re aware, I’m running low on food stamps. And as for meat tickets... well, they’re all gone.”

Whether or not there would be a “next time” remained her little secret.

Her pink cheeks warmed up suspiciously, perhaps from this little lie. While she wasn’t exactly rolling in wealth, the earnings from her risky black market ventures ensured she didn’t go without. Most wouldn’t have the luxury of meat in their meals as she did.

As for Jiang Li… even without Zhao Lanxiang’s food, she wouldn’t starve. She could still eat beautifully. Why would such a fat sheep like this Missy still need her “help”?

Zhao Lanxiang felt she was already being generous by not kicking her out right away.

After struggling for a long time, Jiang Li reluctantly pulled out a bundle of food and meat tickets from her pocket.

“Here, take these tickets. I won’t eat for free. Once you accept them, you can’t turn me away.”

Zhao Lanxiang pocketed them with a pleased smile.

Having received such a generous amount of food stamps, she headed to the kitchen and served Jiang Li a bowl of green bean rice and braised pork.

This dish was originally prepared for He Songbai, and Zhao Lanxiang had portioned it out meticulously.

The white porcelain bowl was filled with glistening green bean rice. Each grain glistened with oil, the sauce was a vibrant yellow, and the plump green beans were fried, emitting an irresistible scent. The aroma was so enticing that Jiang Li’s stomach growled loudly as she inhaled deeply, making her groan with a mix of hunger and embarrassment.

She settled down at the table, eagerly digging into the bowl with her chopsticks.

Not only did the dish look and smell delicious, but it also tasted heavenly.

It tastes so delicious!

Ao ao ao...

The green beans were cooked to perfection - crispy yet tender, and incredibly smooth when eaten. The thinly sliced braised meat was succulent and full of flavor, striking the perfect balance between richness and lightness. The oil that lingered on the lips made people crave more. How could this braised meat be so delicious?

This bowl of rice felt like a refreshing spring breeze, healing Jiang Li’s emotional wounds.

Jiang Li’s discouraged eyes suddenly regained their brightness. She buried her head in the bowl for a couple of minutes, finishing most of the rice.

Now that her stomach was full, Jiang Li hummed and said, “Why didn’t you bring this out earlier?”

Zhao Lanxiang covered the pot of green bean rice with a lid and wiped her hands with a clean cloth near the stove.

“I wasn’t expecting you, so I didn’t prepare much. But after you gave me those food tickets, I couldn’t let you leave hungry, or I would feel embarrassed. Enjoy that bowl, but don’t expect seconds. I had to take some from everyone else’s meals to fill yours.”

Zhao Lanxiang’s straightforward words almost made Jiang Li choke.

She was blunt, openly admitting that she gave her the rice bowl in exchange for the food tickets. If Zhao Lanxiang hadn’t mentioned it, Jiang Li might have assumed it was a gesture for her brother’s sake!

Although Jiang Li wasn’t thrilled with Zhao Lanxiang’s bluntness, she appreciated her honest way of speaking. She preferred people who spoke their minds rather than hiding their true feelings behind flowerly words. Over time, she had noticed a change in Zhao Lanxiang’s temperament. She had become less annoying than before.

Naturally, Jiang Li couldn’t have known that the woman in front of her, Zhao Lanxiang, had been reborn and had undergone a profound transformation. Instead, she attributed all the psychological changes to the meal she had just enjoyed. After all, good food has a way of soothing one’s heart and clouding judgment. Jiang Li lowered her gaze to finish her meal, chewing the beans, slurping the sauce, and devouring the food with gusto. It seemed as though she had forgotten all about Zhao Lanxiang’s audacity.

Zhao Lanxiang kept an eye on the time, expecting He Songbai’s return after selling all of the food.

Luckily, Jiang Li’s bowl was almost completely clean, suggesting she hadn’t eaten well in days. She looked she wanted to eat a little more, but Zhao Lanxiang was having none of it. Playfully, she grabbed Jiang Li by the collar and led her towards the door.

...

Around noon, Zhao Lanxiang heard footsteps outside and assumed He Songbai had finally returned.

Peering out of the window, she saw the face of a familiar young man with a sour expression.

The young man caught a glimpse of the girl’s peeking face and flashed a grin at her.

“Do you still remember me?”

Zhao Lanxiang recognized the voice and immediately closed the curtains. Wasn’t this the young man who sold food on the black market? How did he find her?

People involved in such underground dealings usually dreaded running into someone they knew. Zhao Lanxiang was puzzled by his presence at the He residence. Despite his persistent knocking, she remained seated at the table, engrossed in her book.

After a while, the visitor grew impatient and coughed to clear his throat. “It’s me, open the door.”

Recognizing He Songbai’s voice, Zhao Lanxiang hurried to open the door.

He Songbai’s face was covered in sunburn marks, his skin red from the scorching heat. Standing in front of Zhao Lanxiang’s door, he was sweaty but full of energy. His tanned features appeared sharp, and for once, his brows were relaxed instead of furrowed in their usual stern expression.

This gave him a youthful, almost heroic, appearance, making him radiate with charm.

“Count these.”

He placed a thick stack of tickets on Zhao Lanxiang’s table. As she counted, she realized they were worth more than ten yuan for ten pounds of mung bean cakes. She estimated that the weight had increased by four pounds after steaming. She had expected to earn around eight yuan, but he had given her an extra two yuan!

Furthermore, the tickets he had collected were diverse, including meat tickets, food stamps, coal tickets, cloth tickets... Zhao Lanxiang was dazzled by the selection. Among the colorful tickets, she even spotted some for menstrual pads.

Zhao Lanxiang’s face darkened with embarrassment.

He Songbai could really tease people. She had only asked him to sell her mung bean cakes, and he had come back with menstrual pad tickets for her. Heat crept up to Zhao Lanxiang’s ears, turning them a subtle shade of red.

Quickly, she hid the money and tickets in a cupboard, then attempted to change the subject, “Have you eaten yet?”

In his rush earlier, she couldn’t remind him to get some food from the county after selling the mung bean cakes. He had a tendency to not eat food, even the most delicious ones, to save everything for his sisters. It was his thrifty nature to save money desperately.

His slightly parched, pale lips hinted at dehydration and low blood pressure, making her worry. She hated this part of his personality.

Ignoring her question, He Songbai said, “Next time you have something to sell in the city, give it to me. It’s not safe for a young woman like you to be involved in such dealings.”

Without saying a word, Zhao Lanxiang slipped past him into the kitchen and quickly served him a bowl of the still-warm green bean rice with braised pork.

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