Things Are Looking Up

Madam Zheng had not yet returned.

Shen Xiuhan put the millet and cornmeal into the storage jar, then hung the pork belly on a hook above the stove, positioning it closer to the hearth.

The smoke and heat would not only keep stray cats and rats away, but also help cure the meat and remove any gamey smell.

Little Momo followed him step by step, never leaving his side.

Clutching a few roasted fish bones, she sucked on the salty flavor in tiny bites, taking her sweet time before she was willing to chew and swallow one.

“Big Brother, did you catch a lot of fishies today?”

Crouching before the stove to light the fire, Shen Xiuhan smiled without looking back. “Mhm, I caught quite a few big ones.”

“Then... how much money did you sell them for?” Shen Momo sidled up to him, her eyes full of curiosity.

“Why don't you take a guess?”

Shen Momo tilted her head, thinking seriously before boldly gesturing a number.

“Ten copper coins?”

Shen Xiuhan couldn't help but laugh. Without saying a word, he pulled out a string of copper coins and shook it gently.

Clink, clank...

The crisp clinking of the copper coins sounded as sweet as heavenly music.

Staring at the large string of coins, Shen Momo's eyes grew wider than the copper coins themselves.

“Wow, so much money!”

Shen Xiuhan took out her little pouch, added a few more coins to make it ten coppers, and stuffed it back into her hands. He purposely lowered his voice to tease her.

“Here, this is Momo's share for partnering up with me. Keep your wealth hidden, so go hide it quickly!”

“Okay!”

With a serious look on her tiny face, Little Momo solemnly accepted the pouch. Holding it with both hands, she spun around and pattered into the inner room to hide her money.

Her innocent and adorable behavior brought a soft smile to Shen Xiuhan's lips.

Soon, he withdrew his gaze and began prepping the ingredients.

He had originally wanted to buy some soy sauce to make braised fish with the two black carps.

But the price of soy sauce was too exorbitant, so he hadn't been able to bring himself to buy it.

He decided to chop up the smaller one to make porridge and roast the larger one over the fire.

He washed the grain and put it in the pot.

With swift movements of his knife, he scaled and gutted the fish.

After deboning it, he sliced the fish meat into small pieces and dropped them into the boiling millet porridge.

After simmering it over medium heat for fifteen minutes, he lifted the lid and sprinkled in a small pinch of coarse salt.

Then he let it steep for another few minutes.

Instantly, the rich, savory aroma of fresh fish blended with the scent of millet, completely taking over the small kitchen.

As for the other fish, he removed its innards to save as bait for fishing.

Finding a sharpened wooden stick, he skewered the fish from head to tail and placed it over the hot coals in the hearth, slowly turning it to roast.

After waiting for fifteen minutes.

The oil crackled softly as the fish skin was roasted to a crispy, golden brown. Its edges curled slightly, releasing an incredibly enticing aroma.

Shen Xiuhan evenly rubbed a layer of coarse salt over it.

It was done!

Just as he finished scooping the dinner into bowls, the crunch of footsteps on snow echoed from outside.

Outside the wicker gate.

Madam Zheng walked in looking utterly exhausted, carrying a bundle of firewood on her shoulder.

“Mother!”

Shen Momo immediately rushed over to her, eager to show off her treasures. “Big Brother is back! He even bought Momo lots of delicious food!”

Madam Zheng froze slightly.

She unloaded the damp firewood in the corner of the kitchen. Before she could even brush the snow off her clothes, her nose twitched involuntarily.

A rich, savory aroma of fish porridge wafted over, so thick it felt almost tangible.

Madam Zheng subconsciously looked up, and then she stood frozen in shock!

There were several extra bags of grain in the storage jar, a large slab of pork belly hung over the hearth, and on the cutting board sat a pot of thick fish porridge, a sizzling roasted fish, and two salted duck eggs!

“Dalang... This, this is...”

With a smile, Shen Xiuhan briefly explained how he had gone to Xiaojing Bay to cut through the ice, encountered a school of Silver-Striped Fish, and sold them for a handsome price.

Madam Zheng's eyes instantly welled with tears.

She walked to the stove and gently touched the pork belly, then turned to look at the bags of grain. Her lips trembled, and she couldn't find her voice for a long time.

Shen Momo tugged at her hem, holding up the roasted fish bones in her hand like a prized possession.

“Mother, try some! It's so delicious!”

Madam Zheng squatted down and took a tiny bite. As the salty, savory flavor melted on her tongue, the tears she had held back for half a month suddenly burst forth like a broken dam.

She raised a hand to wipe them away, laughing with a choked but deeply comforted voice.

“Good, good... My son has grown up. You've done so well...”

...

A moment later.

The simple fire pit was lit. The dry branches crackled, casting their three long shadows against the wall in a warm, orange glow.

The family of three sat around the kang table to eat dinner.

Madam Zheng and Shen Momo had not eaten a full meal in half a month, without a single drop of grease in their stomachs. Shen Xiuhan, having run around outside for most of the day, was similarly starving.

This dinner was devoured like a whirlwind.

There was no idle chatter, only the constant sound of chewing and swallowing.

Within fifteen minutes.

The three of them managed to clean out the entire pot of fish porridge, the roasted fish, and even one of the salted duck eggs, leaving the dishes so spotless they might as well have licked the bottom of the pot three times.

Little sweat beads popped up on Shen Momo's forehead as she ate, her tiny face flushed with a healthy color. She patted her round little belly in deep satisfaction.

“Big Brother's cooking is so delicious! Even better than Mother's!”

Hearing this, Madam Zheng, who was clearing the empty bowls, also showed a look of surprise.

“Come to think of it... Dalang, when did you become so good at cooking?”

In the past, Shen Dalang had been dull and taciturn. While he wasn't lazy, he only knew how to do mindless manual labor.

He had always believed that a gentleman should stay away from the kitchen and had never set foot in it once, let alone prepared such a flavorful and aromatic meal.

“Having walked through the gates of death once, I had to learn how to support the household. I can't keep letting Mother overwork herself in the future...”

Shen Xiuhan's expression remained perfectly natural as he brushed it off with a casual excuse before changing the subject.

“By the way, Mother, how much spare money do we have left in the house right now?”

At those words, the howling wind outside seemed to pierce through the walls once more, instantly dampening the warmth that had just filled the thatched hut.

Madam Zheng didn't say a word. She silently moved one corner of the wooden bed and dug up the accumulated soil, revealing a small wooden cover hidden beneath.

Underneath the cover, she pulled out a small black clay jar, and from within, she fished out a cloth pouch.

Sitting down at the kang table, Madam Zheng lined up the copper coins from the pouch one by one.

By the dim firelight, she counted them over and over, twice in total.

After a long while, Madam Zheng let out a long sigh and said,

“This is all of it... All in all, we only have ninety-one copper coins left.”

Shen Xiuhan nodded slightly.

After a moment of thought, he pulled out two full strings of coins, pushed them in front of Madam Zheng, and comforted her.

“Mother, keep this money.”

“From now on, I'll go fishing by the lake every day. As long as we work hard, I'm sure we'll be able to pay off our debts very soon.”

Staring at the pile of bright copper coins, Madam Zheng nodded with red-rimmed eyes and carefully gathered them together.

Next, she fumbled around in her patched coarse cloth pocket for a while.

Then, she pulled out six copper coins.

This was the wages distributed by the Bai Family Textile Mill.

It was supposed to be eight copper coins a day.

But ever since Shen Sanhuai passed away, the manager would always find various excuses to deduct one or two coppers every time wages were settled.

Madam Zheng did not dare to complain.

The household had lost its pillar, and her only son, Shen Dalang, was suffering from consumption. She absolutely could not afford to lose this job.

She silently gathered all the money together, put it back into the cloth bag, tied a tight knot, and stuffed it back into the small black clay jar. Once again, she moved the bed leg, dug up the dirt, and buried it back in the corner.

By the time she finished, the night was already deep.

Outside, the snow began to fall thickly again, rustling as it pelted the thatched roof.

Shen Xiuhan added a few logs to the fire pit, got into bed, and fell fast asleep not long after.

Having eaten and drunk her fill, Shen Momo also began to yawn.

Madam Zheng pulled her little daughter onto the bed and held her in her arms. Before long, the sound of steady, sweet breathing reached her ears.

In the darkness, Madam Zheng quietly wiped away a tear.

The past few days had driven her nearly to madness. She would often lie awake staring into the darkness until dawn, listening to the wind outside howling like wailing ghosts.

But tonight, her heart finally felt at peace, allowing her to close her eyes and sleep.

Dalang's illness was cured, the house had food, and they had a source of income.

Things... were finally looking up!