This truly was a help in dire need. Yang Ruoqing and Sun-shi exchanged a glance—both thinking the same thing in their hearts.
However, the stove that was built just today—even in dry weather—would need a couple of days to air-dry properly before it could be used.
Let alone today, when it was still raining and the air was damp. The stove would need even more time to dry out before they could light a fire and cook on it.
Thinking of this, a troubled expression once again surfaced on Sun-shi's face. Beside her, Dayun glanced at Daniu and, seeing the subtle signal in his eyes, nodded. She turned and gently took Sun-shi's hand.
"Qing girl's mom, you all come to eat at our house for lunch today. When I left just now, I told my two daughters to rinse more rice. By now, the rice is probably already in the pot. I'll go back and whip up a couple of dishes. Everyone just come over."
"Dayun, you've all come to help us already, and now you're inviting us to your home for food—that's too much…"
Dayun patted the back of Sun-shi's hand lightly and lowered her voice:
"Qing girl's mom, we all know what your situation is like—it's the same as being thrown out with nothing. We're just plain farming folks too. Life isn't easy for us either, and we can't help much, but we'll help what little we can. Please don't turn us away."
"Dayun, you and Guihua, and Daniu and Changgeng—if not for you all, I and the third..."— Sun-shi choked up and couldn't continue. Tears streamed down like broken pearls.
If the Qing girl's father hadn't become crippled, splitting off and starting their household would've been such a hopeful thing!
"Qing girl's mom, don't be sad. Take things slowly—everything will get better. Just look at Qing girl, how sensible she is now. She even helped me carry things just now!"
Dayun turned to look at Yang Ruoqing with a smile. On the way over, she passed by Changgeng's house and chatted briefly with Guihua. That's how she heard the news that Yang Ruoqing had "come to her senses." Dayun truly felt happy for Sun-shi.
"Alright then, it's settled. I'm going back now to finish the dishes. You all come over in a bit. Fifth Brother, Yongjin—you too! I'll send my son to fetch you."
After she left, the men in the kitchen resumed work. Changgeng suggested that since they were already building the stove, they might as well add a simple cupboard for bowls and utensils.
Sun-shi and Yang Ruoqing carried everything that Guihua and Dayun had brought into Yang Ruoqing's room. There was no choice—after two beds and a couple of pieces of furniture were put into Sun-shi's room, there was barely any space left to turn around.
"Once we bring your two younger brothers back, I'll stew that old hen your Aunt Guihua brought. Your father needs the nourishment. And you, Qing girl—you just recovered from a serious illness and haven't eaten anything good yet. Your brothers are growing boys too—we can't let them go without." Sun-shi whispered as she discussed her plans with Yang Ruoqing.
Yang Ruoqing was crouching in the corner of the room, where she had made a makeshift chicken coop out of straw. She carefully placed the old hen inside.
The hen was very docile. It curled up in its new "home" without fuss, not flapping around—just tilted its head, and stared at Yang Ruoqing with its beady little black eyes.
Hearing Sun-shi's plan, Yang Ruoqing turned to her and said:
"Mom, let's not rush to slaughter this hen. I just felt her belly—she's full of eggs!"
"But you and your father need nourishment. How can you get by without eating anything good?" Sun-shi insisted.
"I don't need any more nourishment. I've got plenty of fat to spare. But Dad, he does need it." Yang Ruoqing thought for a moment, then stood up and said,
"Let's keep the hen for her eggs. Starting tomorrow, we can boil one egg a day for Dad. Once things settle down, we can collect more eggs and hatch some chicks."
Sun-shi considered this for a moment.
"That might be the best way."
Dayun worked quickly. Before long, she sent her son over to call everyone for lunch. Just in time—work on the stove was nearly finished. All that was left was opening up the side gate.
Because during the separation, Tan-shi and Yang Hualin had clearly said: that since the third branch was splitting off, they were no longer allowed to come and go through the main gate of the old Yang family home.
So Yang Huazhong asked Changgeng and Daniu to help open a small side door in the back wall of the courtyard. From then on, the third branch would come and go through that little gate.
"Mom, you go to Aunt Dayun's place for lunch. Just bring me back a little something. I'll stay and keep Dad company," Yang Ruoqing suggested.
"You go—I'll stay behind," Sun-shi countered.
"Mom, it's raining today. The roads are slippery. I don't feel like walking," Yang Ruoqing gave this excuse.
Hearing that, Sun-shi said,
"Alright then. Just stay inside. I'll be back after I eat."
"Mm."
Once everyone had left, Yang Ruoqing first closed her room door tightly. Then she went to check on Yang Huazhong. She poured him a bowl of hot tea and told him how things had gone in the kitchen.
Yang Huazhong, still weak and recovering, had exhausted himself in recent days worrying about the family split. He didn't say much before his eyelids started to droop.
"Dad, lie down and get some rest. I'm going back to the kitchen for a bit."
After helping him lie down and gently closing the door, Yang Ruoqing picked up the iron shovel they received during the family division and went to the kitchen.
She began digging forcefully at a corner near the stove. The soil was soft and damp from the rain, so it wasn't too difficult to dig.
Though only twelve years old, Yang Ruoqing had plenty of body weight on her and was strong enough.
After quite a while, she managed to dig out a pit the size of a washbasin. She judged the size of the pit and nodded to herself. Then she sprinkled some moisture-proof ash—left behind by Changgeng and the others—into the pit. After that, she fetched an old stone jar with a chipped rim she had found while cleaning the storage room with Sun-shi a few days ago and placed it into the hole.
It fits perfectly as if made to measure.
She rushed back to her room, brought the ten jin of white rice from Aunt Dayun, the six eggs from Aunt Guihua, the dried wild mushrooms, and put them all into the jar. Then she placed a wooden plank on top, covered it with some dirt so it wouldn't stand out, and finally piled some bundles of straw over it.
After finishing all this, she washed her hands, put the shovel back in place, and returned to her room.
Not long after, Sun-shi hurried back after hastily grabbing a few bites at lunch. She brought with her two upside-down bowls—one for Yang Ruoqing and the other for Yang Huazhong.
In this era, rice yields were low, and peasants bore the burden of heavy taxes. Even the wealthiest family in the village couldn't afford full bowls of pure white rice.
Every household's rice was mixed, more or less, with wild vegetables, sweet potatoes, coarse grains, and such.
(End of Chapter)