“I want to go home. Don’t send me away. They’ll send me back to the traffickers. I don’t want to be caught again. Please.”
Shen Miao couldn’t bear it anymore and pulled him up:
“Which prefecture and county is your home in? Do you remember?”
He looked up at Shen Miao, tears welling up in his previously guarded and wary eyes.
He couldn’t answer Shen Miao; he didn’t know where his home was.
He only remembered a river in front of his house, his mother carrying his younger brother, washing clothes by the river, and cloth of different colors hanging haphazardly on ropes in the yard.
He often played among these clothes.
Shen Miao pressed him to sit on the bed and rubbed his knees.
He was young, and it was impressive that he could remember so much.
Moreover, from his description, it sounded like he was from the Jiangnan area, with houses built by the water, unlike the outskirts of Bianjing he was abducted during the lantern festival this year, and it had been nearly four months since the Lantern Festival.
That meant the trafficker had taken him around for almost half a year before reaching Bianjing.
It was a long journey.
In those days, with slow transportation and communication, finding his family would be like searching for a needle in a haystack.
Shen Miao stood there for a long time, her mind in turmoil, until Xiangjie came bouncing back, holding a bunch of wild flowers she had picked somewhere.
The little glutton peeked in and asked, “Sister, what are we eating today?”
She turned to look.
The room was dark, but outside was still bright.
Xiangjie came in with the light.
Seeing Shen Miao look at her, she tilted her head and smiled, holding up a bunch of pale blue flowers:
“Sister, look at the flowers I picked. This color is rare, isn’t it?”
The thin stems were wilted from Xiangjie’s grip, but under the sparkling sunset, they seemed vibrant.
At that moment, Shen Miao wondered, if she hadn’t come here, what would have happened to Xiangjie and Jie Ge?
Would they have ended up on the streets like this child or been abducted and sold, forgetting their home?
If so, would anyone have helped them?
Shen Miao quickly shook off this terrifying thought.
She looked at the skinny child named Chen Xun and relented:
“Fine, you can stay. We won’t miss a meal for you.”
But she still needed to consult a lawyer to check the laws.
What was the status of a child who had been abducted and sold by traffickers?
Did the traffickers or buyers still have his identity papers?
Were they still valid?
And his injuries the external wounds had healed over the past few days, but what about his leg?
Was there still hope?
After she returned from the Feng residence, she would take him to Dr. Zhao for a check-up.
Many questions popped into her head.
Shen Miao took a deep breath and decided not to dwell on them.
There was always a way out when the time came.
Problems would be solved one by one; worrying was useless.
Thinking this, she went forward and affectionately patted Xiangjie’s head,
“We’re having pickled bamboo shoots with preserved meat rice for dinner. You play first; I’ll go cook.”
What was pickled bamboo shoots?
Xiangjie started drooling at the name—it was something she hadn’t eaten before!
Authentic pickled bamboo shoots should be made with fresh bamboo shoots in spring, but at this time of year, there were no fresh bamboo shoots.
Shen Miao soaked dried bamboo shoots and began slicing pork belly and salted pork into thin slices.
When the water on the stove boiled, she first added the salted pork, brought it to a boil until the soup turned milky white, then added the soaked bamboo shoots and pork belly, reducing the heat to simmer slowly.
The bamboo shoots absorbed the meat’s flavor, and the meat soaked up the bamboo shoots’ freshness, resulting in a rich, white soup ready to serve.
The preserved meat rice was simple.
She sliced the preserved meat thinly, fried it with scallions in oil until fragrant, added some bok choy, and finally mixed in steamed rice.
The preserved meat’s fat permeated the rice, creating a savory and flavorful dish.
Shen Miao quickly finished cooking.
When she brought it out, she found Xiangjie had already started talking to the child named Chen Chuan.
Although Xiangjie said ten sentences for every one of his responses, usually just “yes” or “no,” she became even more enthusiastic with his replies.
Xiangjie was fickle; today she wanted to sit next to Chen Chuan, squeezing in beside him.
Jie Ge ignored her.
Today’s argument with Liu Douhua was over a bunch of wild flowers.
They were competing to see who picked more, but Liu Douhua refused to admit defeat, and Xiangjie wouldn’t back down, so they quarreled over trivial matters.
As for the seating arrangement at the table…
He glanced at his sister and sat even more upright.
Every day, every meal, he firmly occupied the seat to his sister’s left, and no one could take it.
But soon he felt a bit melancholy: in two days, he would start school and wouldn’t be able to eat at home as often.
Shen Miao shook her head.
As she got up to serve soup to the group of children, she suddenly felt like a kindergarten principal-Youyu, though tall, was no different from a child; she would never grow up.
After serving each of them rice and soup, Shen Miao handed the bowl to Chen and added,
“From now on, call me sister. I can’t help you find your family, so I can only take care of you for a few years. When you grow up and have the ability, you can look for them yourself.”
Chen looked up at her, then reached out with both hands to take the bowl, bowing his head and replying, “Sister.”
Xiangjie’s ears perked up, and she persistently asked, “How old are you?”
Chen was already eating, using one hand to scoop rice while the other encircled the bowl protectively.
He never spoke while eating.
“You’re shorter than me, so you must be younger. That means I’m also your sister, and you should call me sister too.” Even without Chen’s answer, Xiangjie concluded on her own.
Shen Miao couldn’t help but laugh.
She didn’t understand why Xiangjie was so obsessed with being called sister, always comparing ages with everyone.
“Alright, hurry up and eat.”
Xiangjie finally sat down and took a sip of the soup.
The fresh flavor enveloped her mouth, leaving her no time to talk.
She became like Chen, eating one bite of soup and one bite of rice.
After finishing, she was the first to raise her empty bowl, eagerly saying,
“I want more soup! Give me lots of meat!”
At night, the Shen household was quiet, with only the kitchen still lit.
Youyu had gone home, Xiangjie and Jie Ge were asleep, and the picked-up Chen had made a makeshift bed in Jie Ge’s room and was probably asleep too.
Shen Miao sat alone on a small stool, sealing the last bun.
She had already arranged with Aunt Gu to come over the next day to watch the children.
These buns were their provisions.
She would steam them before leaving, and they could eat them.
The next day at dawn, Shen Miao boarded the Xie family’s carriage and left.
At that time, the chickens at home were still sleeping with their heads down.
When Xiangjie woke up needing to pee, rubbing her eyes as she went to the outhouse, she found her sister gone.
Only Aunt Gu, wearing an apron, was watering vegetables and feeding chickens in the yard.
Seeing Xiangjie groggily heading to the outhouse, she smiled and said,
“Your sister is so diligent. Before leaving, she steamed meat buns for you and even cooked a big pot of egg drop soup, keeping it warm in the pot. Are you still sleeping? If not, get up and eat.”
Xiangjie remembered that her sister was going to cater a banquet today at the Feng residence, a place they weren’t familiar with, so she couldn’t take them.
Her sleepiness vanished, and she pouted, pinching her nose as she entered the outhouse.
Aunt Gu also took the dogs for a walk, but as soon as she put on the leash, the two dogs pulled her so hard she flew out the door, leaving a blur.
After that, her feet barely touched the ground, especially with Gale.
If not for the leash, it seemed like he wanted to fly into the sky.
When Aunt Gu returned to the Shen household, her hair disheveled and out of breath, Jie Ge and Chen Xun were already up.
Jie Ge, after washing up, held a meat bun in one hand and a book in the other, reciting on the porch.
The child Shen Miao had taken in, Chen Chuan, huddled in a corner of the yard.
Xiangjie sneaked over to talk to him and handed him two meat buns.
Since the shop was closed today, Youyu also had the day off and didn’t come.
Aunt Gu wiped her sweat and rubbed her sore back, thinking,
“Today, I don’t know if I walked the dogs or the dogs walked me. No wonder Sister Shen specifically warned me to be careful when walking them; they’re strong. I didn’t pay much attention before-how strong could dogs be? Usually, when Sister Shen walks them, it seems effortless.”
But now, her old back was nearly strained.
She untied the dogs and let them roam the yard, then glanced at the shadowy Chen Chuan.
Such a small child, so gloomy, really wasn’t likable.
Only someone as kind as Sister Shen would keep him, feeding him a few meals before sending him away, and no one would say anything.
Although the shop was doing well and Sister Shen’s life had improved, an extra mouth to feed was still a burden.
Aunt Gu didn’t quite agree with Sister Shen keeping him, but since Sister Shen had decided, she didn’t say much.
Every family has its own fate.
Seeing the children had started eating, she went to the front of the shop.
She removed half of the door planks to let in some air and light, then took a broom to sweep the floor for Shen Miao.
Many regular customers, seeing the shop closed today, came to ask.
Aunt Gu smiled and explained for Shen Miao,
“Sister Shen’s cooking is excellent, and she was invited to cater a banquet. The shop will be closed for two days. Please come back the day after tomorrow.”
One after another, dozens of people came to ask.
Aunt Gu’s mouth was dry from explaining.
One, clearly a servant from a wealthy family, wearing new clothes, nearly cried upon hearing Sister Shen wouldn’t be open for two days and left dejectedly.
Aunt Gu hadn’t paid much attention before, but now she realized Sister Shen’s business was so good, with so many regular customers.
After sweeping the floor and wiping the tables and chairs, she put the door planks back.
She clapped her hands, went home to get her sewing basket, and leisurely mended clothes in the Shen household’s yard, watching Xiangjie tease Chen Xun, Jie Ge comb Lei tang’s fur, and Gale chase a few chickens, sneaking a hot one into his mouth when no one was looking…
Not far from the entrance of Willow East Lane, a beautifully decorated carriage stopped.
The servant who had nearly cried earlier dragged his feet to the carriage and reported dejectedly,
“Madam, Shen’s Noodle Shop is closed today. The owner is out.”
Madam Wang’s face fell, and she fanned herself irritably with her round fan, complaining,
“Why did they have to close today of all days! Ah, without those steamed buns, I won’t be comfortable all day!”
While other ladies enjoyed music, chess, poetry, and books, Madam Wang loved all kinds of food.
At banquets where other ladies competed to show off their talents, she remained silent, eating everything.
But today was different; she was going to the Feng family’s banquet!
The Feng family’s banquets were famous in Bianjing.
Famous for being terrible.
Thinking of the Feng family’s love for sweetness-their chefs added malt sugar to everything, even stir-fried spinach she lost her appetite.
“Ah, forget it. Let’s make a detour to Donglou and buy two braised pork knuckles to eat,”
Madam Wang compromised with a sigh.
The servant twitched his mouth, “Madam, isn’t it a bit too… greasy to eat braised pork knuckles this early in the morning?”
“Stop nagging, hurry up!” Madam Wang grew even more irritable, her hometown dialect slipping out.
She slammed the carriage curtain shut and sighed inside.
If she didn’t eat well now, would she go hungry at the Feng family’s banquet?
She didn’t want to eat malt sugar-drenched cold spinach!
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