Yang Ruoqing looked at the heaping bowl of sweet potato rice in front of her, along with the stir-fried bright green vegetables and golden fried eggs, and her mouth nearly watered.
She stopped Sun-shi, lifted the lid off Yang Huazhong's bowl, and then picked up her chopsticks.
Sun-shi was slightly startled. She thought Yang Ruoqing was eyeing the two pieces of egg in Yang Huazhong's bowl and was just about to move them to her daughter's bowl when she saw Yang Ruoqing instead pick up the pieces of egg from her bowl and dump them all into Yang Huazhong's.
"Qing'er, what are you doing?"
"Mom, I don't like eggs. I can't stand that fishy smell," Yang Ruoqing lied through her teeth, then pushed half of her rice into her father's bowl.
"Qing'er, don't try to fool me. You used to love eggs! Come on, take your share back—your dad already has two pieces, that's enough," said Sun-shi. She knew her daughter's appetite well.
Even one big bowl wasn't enough—she could easily eat two!
"Mom, please stop arguing with me. From now on, I'm eating less and moving more. I'm going to slim down and get pretty. If you keep trying to make me eat more, I'm going to get mad," Yang Ruoqing said with a laugh.
Sun-shi gave a helpless smile. How could she not understand her daughter's thoughts?
"You little rascal...fine. I'll go give this to your dad now."
"Mm, go ahead—and don't say a word about it."
"Okay!"
…
That afternoon, Changgeng, Daniu, and Yang Huazhou helped Yang Ruoqing's family chisel open a doorway in the yellow mud wall at the back of the courtyard and installed a side gate just wide enough for one person to pass through.
Yang Ruoqing went to check out the side gate. Beyond it was a narrow alley, just wide enough for two people to walk side by side. Opposite the gate was the wall of the old Chen family next door.
Following the alley for a short distance led to its entrance, where it opened onto a road paved with bluestone slabs—one of the main roads that ran through Changping Village. The main gate of the old Yang household faced this very road.
"Qing girl's mom, this stove will need two or three days to dry before it can be used. In the meantime, we'll help you set up a temporary stove in the cattle shed across the way. You can cook there for now," Changgeng said to Sun-shi.
"Alright, sorry to trouble you again!"
"Oh come on, it's nothing—just a small task."
Even though lunch hadn't filled her up completely—maybe just sixty percent full—Yang Ruoqing still felt very satisfied.
Starting now, she was determined to get this body into shape. First, she would reduce her food intake and shrink her stomach. Then, she would actively participate in physical labor to increase her output. If she kept it up long-term, this body's layers of fat would melt away.
Life lies in movement. Exercise would boost her blood circulation and make her stronger, and her complexion would become healthier and rosier—not the bloated, puffy look she had now.
Later in the afternoon, the rain stopped, and a faint rainbow appeared in the western sky.
Yang Ruoqing planned to go for a walk. She had been in this world for several days now but had been cooped up in the back courtyard of the Yang family home the entire time.
She pushed open the side room door. Inside, Sun-shi was feeding medicine to Yang Huazhong. Seeing the bamboo basket Yang Ruoqing was holding, both of them looked surprised.
"Qing'er, what are you planning to do?" Sun-shi asked.
"Dad, the rain's stopped. I want to go walk around the fields and dig up some wild vegetables," Yang Ruoqing replied.
The autumn harvest had just ended, and after a rain like this, it was likely that a fresh batch of wild greens had sprouted in the fields and on the hillsides. Digging some up would surely be better than sitting around at home doing nothing.
"Qing'er, you've never done that kind of work before, and you don't know how to identify edible plants. Put the basket down. Once your dad finishes this last bit of medicine, I'll go dig some, and you stay home," said Sun-shi.
Yang Huazhong nodded in agreement and drank the rest of the medicine in one go. Sun-shi wiped his mouth with a handkerchief and helped him lie back down.
She stood up and walked toward Yang Ruoqing.
"Give me the basket."
But Yang Ruoqing stepped back and shook her head.
"Mom, I know what I'm doing—don't worry. You stay and look after Dad. I'll be right back."
"After your dad falls asleep, I'll come with you," Sun-shi said as she walked out the door.
Yang Ruoqing thought for a moment, then tiptoed close and whispered something into Sun-shi's ear.
Sun-shi's expression changed slightly, and she looked a little strange. She lowered her voice and said,
"Qing'er, that...seems unlikely, doesn't it? Why would your grandma and they be eyeing our things?"
"Mom, it's not that we should harm others, but we must guard against them," Yang Ruoqing replied in a hushed voice.
"Right now, the most valuable thing we have is that old hen. Dad and my brothers are relying on her eggs for nutrition—and we're counting on her to hatch chicks come spring. You'd better keep an eye on her!"
Sun-shi looked hesitant for a moment, then nodded.
"Alright, I'll remember what you said. But don't go far, okay? Just walk around the nearby fields, and be sure to come home before dark so your dad and I don't worry."
"Got it!"
With her bamboo basket in hand, Yang Ruoqing left the courtyard through the newly opened side gate.
After the rain, the village air felt especially fresh. There was a pleasant herbal scent in the air, though it was tinged with the smell of cat and dog droppings.
Looking around, she saw rows of low, earth-brick farmhouses, all with walls coated in yellow mud. Yang Ruoqing followed the bluestone road in front of the old Yang house and headed toward the village entrance. Along the way, she passed many villagers.
She had vague memories of their faces, but couldn't recall any names or tell who was who.
Seeing Yang Ruoqing walking straight toward the village entrance with a basket on her arm, many villagers reacted as if the sun had risen in the west. A few even laughed mockingly and jeered:
"Hey, Fatty Girl, where are you off to with that empty basket? Going to pick wild fruits for your little fiancé again?"
"Fatty Girl, you nearly drowned yourself in the pond over that Mu family boy. Did your future mother-in-law, Widow Liu, even bring you a single egg to check on you?"
Their taunts sparked a burst of laughter from the onlookers.
Yang Ruoqing turned her head and glanced coldly at them.
In a rural village like this—materially and spiritually impoverished—people often found amusement in mocking others. It was their biggest source of entertainment.
If this had been the old Yang Ruoqing, she would've been completely rattled by now.
But this time, Yang Ruoqing merely gave them a cold glance, then indifferently turned her eyes away and continued on her way.
(End of Chapter)