Chapter 130: Sugarcane in Lamb Head Soup

After entering the compound and dropping Yuxiu off at home, Yan Rushan returned the car to the Cheng family. Having frequented the compound for many years, he knew exactly which vehicles were official; by glancing at the license plate, he could tell this one was assigned to the head of the Cheng household.

Returning to the Zhong residence, neither Hao Nan nor Tian Shangguo were in the main hall, nor was Yuxiu. He headed straight for the kitchen, where he found only Gou Dan, Hao Nan, and Tian Shangguo.

Noticing someone at the door, Hao Nan turned his head and smiled. "Comrade Yan is back. Comrade Zhong has gone upstairs to put her things away."

"I see. Are you starting dinner so early today?" His gaze fell on Gou Dan, who was holding a piece of fresh pork that looked newly purchased. "Is there still meat for sale these days?"

Hao Nan replied, "Yes, though not much. We had to pull a lot of strings to get it. We bought ten pounds in total, enough to last through the holidays."

Yan Rushan nodded in understanding. "Let me know if you need more meat."

"It's still available for now. We'll tell you when it's not." They could afford to shortchange anyone, but never Comrade Zhong... or her intellect.

"Alright, carry on."

Yan Rushan turned and left the kitchen, heading straight upstairs. He arrived at Zhong Yuxiu’s door and knocked. "Knock, knock, knock. Yuxiu, I’m back."

"Come in, it’s unlocked."

With a smile in his eyes, Yan Rushan pushed the door open. Several sets of clothes she had chosen that day were laid out on the bed. The winter garments were thick; a small hill of coats, sweaters, and trousers in various colors was piled up. Under the bed sat several pairs of leather shoes, lined with rabbit fur to keep them warm.

"What are you doing?"

"I’m seeing if these new clothes can be matched with my old ones. If they coordinate, I can mix and match them later." Zhong Yuxiu stood before the wardrobe, digging out various garments—the clothes Xi Nian had brought over, as well as her own old attire.

The large bed was covered in clothes. Yan Rushan stepped forward to help; as she picked them up, he took them and tossed them onto the bed.

Once the wardrobe was cleared out, Zhong Yuxiu returned to the bedside. She picked out a beige cashmere sweater and paired it with a teal coat. It worked well. She tried pairing a red sweater with the teal coat, but it looked awkward. She swapped in a gray cashmere sweater, but that also felt off; the beige was definitely the best choice.

She busied herself with rearranging the sets, having a wonderful time. Yan Rushan sat on a stool and watched her antics, his demeanor suggesting that he was happy to indulge her whims. By the time she finished, she had managed to put together three or four entirely new combinations—some of which looked exceptionally stylish and flattering to her waistline.

"Brother Yan, come over and help me fold these."

"Coming." He was more than happy to oblige. Yan Rushan walked quickly to her side, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with her as they folded the clothes together and placed them back into the wardrobe.

Ever since Yan Rushan had proposed, Zhong Yuxiu’s boundaries toward him had shifted. Previously, she would never have allowed a man to touch her private belongings, especially those worn close to the skin, but now she had taken a step back—and found that ordering him around actually felt quite good.

Once the clothes were back in the closet, she pointed to the new garments left on the floor. "Help me take those downstairs. I'll have Gou Dan wash them this afternoon and hang them out to dry."

"Sure thing, on it." Pleased to be of service, a smile bloomed on Yan Rushan’s face. "Is there anything else you need to move? I’ll take it all down at once."

Zhong Yuxiu looked around, handed him the dried seafood as well, and shook her head. "No, that’s all."

Beaming, Yan Rushan bent down to scoop up the clothes and shoes. He followed Yuxiu downstairs and delivered the items to the washroom.

"I’m free now. Shall I wash them and hang them out to dry?"

"Not... just yet." Let's wait until after we're married.

Yan Rushan nodded repeatedly. "Understood. I’ll do your laundry from now on."

"Good."

Zhong Yuxiu’s expression was bright and warm; their eyes met, and they shared a smile. Yan Rushan was so overjoyed he almost forgot to move, until Yuxiu led him out of the washroom to sit on the sofa.

There were candies, melon seeds, and peanuts on the coffee table. Yuxiu grabbed a handful and placed them in his palm, her eyes flickering. Yan Rushan understood immediately and considerately peeled them for her.

"Eating too much dried food makes you thirsty. I’ll go pour you some hot water. I’ll also peel a pomelo for you to snack on."

"Mm." Zhong Yuxiu nodded absently, enjoying the treats.

Yan Rushan fed her a few more peeled peanuts before rising to head toward the utility room. He returned holding a pomelo, went to the kitchen to peel it, left half for Hao Nan and Tian Shangguo, and placed the rest in a white ceramic dish. He then poured a cup of steaming hot water and brought it all out.

In the kitchen, Hao Nan muttered, "Why does Comrade Yan feel more and more like a doting househusband? Aren't men supposed to handle the outside and women the inside? It’s the complete opposite with him and Comrade Zhong."

"What are you babbling about?" Tian Shangguo glared at him. "Comrade Zhong shouldn't waste her time on these trivialities; her time is precious. Besides, don't act like a gossiping old woman over a married couple's business."

He might as well have called him a busybody.

"Who's an old woman? I was just saying." Hao Nan scoffed, and ignoring Tian Shangguo, who was still washing vegetables, he turned and walked off to enjoy the pomelo.

Zhong Yuxiu had overheard the gist of the kitchen squabble. She felt that Yan Rushan was doing an exceptional job as a partner—few men could compare. In this era, most men were chauvinistic and looked down on women, whether in the city or the countryside. Seen in that light, Yan Rushan stood head and shoulders above the rest. She suddenly felt that perhaps marriage wouldn't be so bad after all.

If he could keep this up, living together until they were old might not be impossible.

"Yuxiu, here’s your hot water and pomelo. The water is boiling, so wait a bit before drinking; eat the pomelo first." He placed the items on the coffee table before her, then picked up a handful of seeds and peanuts, patiently shelling them. "They’re stewing mutton soup in the kitchen, and Gou Dan is making braised pork. We’ll have a feast tonight."

"What are they stewing the mutton with?" Mutton could have a gamey odor if not prepared correctly.

Yan Rushan handed her the shelled seeds before replying, "Radish."

"Radish-stewed mutton is warming and nourishing, so that works. I just hope it’s not too gamey. I’ll go check." She stood up to leave. Yan Rushan watched her head toward the kitchen, his hands never stopping; soon, he had another small pile of snacks ready.

When Zhong Yuxiu entered the kitchen, she saw that in addition to the mutton and radish, there were two segments of sugarcane in the pot. It was local sugarcane; adding it to mutton stew made the broth fresh and fragrant, with a faint, clean sweetness that also neutralized the gamey smell—a perfect multi-purpose ingredient.

Sugarcane was known for clearing heat and promoting body fluids; combined with the mutton, it was both nutritious and healthy.

"Why are we making so many dishes today?"

Hao Nan and Tian Shangguo shook their heads. "It was Gou Dan's idea; we’re just helping. Comrade Zhong, have you ever heard of adding sugarcane to mutton stew? Look at the pot—we tried to stop him, but Gou Dan wouldn't listen."

They were skeptical about whether the resulting soup would even be edible.