Chapter 9

With that reassurance from Lin Fugui, Jiang Qiuyue felt satisfied.

The room she currently lived in now belonged to her, along with three bowls, three pairs of chopsticks, and a share of the grain: ten jin of unpolished rice, ten jin of sweet potatoes, and ten jin of potatoes.

As for the vegetable patch behind the house, Jiang Qiuyue claimed about fifty square meters. She intended to build a kitchen and a latrine, as she had no desire to share facilities with the Lin family.

With everything settled and the day growing late, Hu Haizhi reiterated his promise: "Qiuyue, don't be afraid. If anything happens, come find me. If anyone dares to bully you and your children, I’ll hold them accountable!"

Jiang Qiuyue was a military dependent; if something happened to a military dependent in his brigade and it escalated to the town level, he, as the brigade leader, would face severe consequences.

"Understood, Brigade Leader. Let me see you out." Jiang Qiuyue walked Hu Haizhi and the others to the gate. Upon returning to the courtyard, she found the Lin family glaring at her with malice.

Having lost the money, Wang Chunhua was in tears of heartache. "Are you satisfied now? You took all the money. How are we supposed to live?"

"Mother, you’re mistaken again. You’re the ones who should be satisfied, aren't you?" Jiang Qiuyue was no saint; she felt no sympathy. "If you hadn't treated me so poorly and badmouthed Beibei and Nannan behind my back, calling them little mongrels, I wouldn't have lost hope. Today, it was because Sanzhu stole food and insulted me that I was terrified enough to push for a separation. You only have yourselves to blame."

Separation was a blessing. Having her own courtyard meant she could do as she pleased. She didn't have to rush to cook before the Lin family returned; she could simply rest when she wanted.

Wang Chunhua, furious, pinched her youngest son. After watching Jiang Qiuyue leave, she asked through her tears what they should do now.

Lin Fugui’s brows were just as tightly knit. "Stop crying. Do you want to be the laughingstock of the village? Wait for Dazhu’s reply. If he won't take care of us, I’ll go to his military unit and report him for being unfilial!"

"That’s right, Dazhu cannot ignore us. I raised him with my own sweat and blood." Wang Chunhua wiped her tears. The bond between mother and son mattered little; the amount of money she could get was what she truly cared about.

While the Lin family pinned their hopes on Lin Dazhu, Jiang Qiuyue headed to the neighboring Niu family.

Niu Sao had spoken up for her warmly that day, and since she needed help building a perimeter wall, this was the perfect opportunity to offer the Niu family some work.

"Oh, it's Qiuyue. Have you eaten yet?" Niu Sao set down her chopsticks and stood up.

The family was in the middle of a meal—much like the Lin family’s, it consisted of wild greens, boiled sweet potatoes, and a plate of pickled vegetables.

"Not yet." Before Jiang Qiuyue could finish her sentence, Niu Sao reached for a bowl for her, but she quickly declined. "The two kids are waiting at home, so I won't eat. I came to ask if Brother Niu and Uncle Niu would be willing to help me with some work. I’ll pay them, and I’ll provide lunch."

Niu Sao had two daughters and two sons. Her daughters were married, her eldest son was married with a child named Niu Zhuangzhuang, and her youngest son was in junior high in town. Their household wasn't small, and it wasn't easy for the couple to support everyone.

In particular, Niu Sao’s health was poor, preventing her from working in the fields to earn work points, which meant one less source of income.

"What kind of wages? We’re all neighbors. Just tell us what needs doing, and they can go help you tomorrow," Niu Sao said, shaking her head.

But Jiang Qiuyue couldn't let them work for free. "Listen to me, Auntie. Since I’ve separated from the family, I want to build a perimeter wall to enclose my courtyard. I also plan to build a new kitchen and latrine. It won't be a one- or two-day job; it will likely take ten days to a fortnight. I insist on paying wages—three mao per person, per day. If you won't take the money, I’ll have to find someone else."

Hearing that she needed to build a wall and a kitchen, it was clear the work would take time.

Seeing Niu Sao looking hesitant, Jiang Qiuyue turned to Niu Dali. "Uncle Niu, if you don't do it, I’ll have to pay someone else anyway. I’d rather have you do it; I trust you not to take advantage of me, right?"

"Of course, you know what kind of people we are," Niu Dali said immediately. "Alright, it’s settled. But forget about lunch; we live so close, we can just go home to eat."

"It’s not the same. Just do as I ask." Jiang Qiuyue didn't give them a chance to object. As she turned to leave, she said, "It’s settled, then. I’ll wait for you tomorrow, and we’ll go buy bricks together."

She had already arranged with Hu Haizhi to borrow the village tractor for a day, and she would cover the fuel costs.

By the time she returned home, it was dark. Jiang Qiuyue made a simple noodle soup for the children, and after their meal, they went to sleep early.

The next morning, Niu Dali and Niu Jianshe came to find Jiang Qiuyue, and they headed to the production team together.

Wang Youren took them to the brick factory. On the way back, Niu Dali tried several times to bring something up but felt embarrassed. Finally, Jiang Qiuyue asked him what was on his mind.

"It’s like this: my brother-in-law's family has many sons, and they eat a lot. I was thinking, since it’s just me and Jianshe working, could I bring two of his boys to help us?"

The brother-in-law’s family was struggling, and Niu Dali wanted to lend a hand, but he feared Jiang Qiuyue might overthink it, so he added, "It looks like more people, but it will take fewer days, so the total wages won't increase!"

Jiang Qiuyue wanted the work finished quickly too, so she smiled and said it was no problem.

"Great! Then I’ll have them come tomorrow!" Niu Dali was an honest man, as was his son, and both worked hard unloading the bricks.

Jiang Qiuyue went to prepare lunch. She had been at the brick factory and hadn't had time to buy meat, so she made hand-pulled noodles and fried a bowl of pickled vegetables with lard.

The hand-pulled noodles were chewy and smooth, and the combination of lard and pickled vegetables was fragrant without being greasy. Jiang Qiuyue loved spicy food, so she added some homemade chopped chili sauce. Every bite was pure satisfaction.

The Niu father and son wolfed it down. Niu Jianshe gave a thumbs up. "Sister-in-law, this pickled vegetable stir-fry is so good. I’ve never tasted anything better."

Jiang Qiuyue smiled. "I didn't buy meat today, but I’ll make something even better for you tomorrow."

Niu Dali quickly said it wasn't necessary. "We’re farm folk, we aren't picky, and it’s not like it’s New Year’s. Please, don't buy meat." He already felt guilty enough eating lunch at her place, feeling as though he were taking advantage of her. If he ate the meat she bought, he would have no face left.

Jiang Qiuyue just smiled. The next morning, she went to town to buy meat anyway.

Having received two hundred yuan from the separation, she was now a woman of means and refused to make life hard for herself. The Niu family was working hard for her, so she had to treat them well.

Having been to the black market once before, she was much more confident this time.

Jiang Qiuyue bought ten jin of meat in one go, startling the vendor. "Young lady, are you hosting a banquet?"

"Something like that." Jiang Qiuyue didn't want to draw attention to herself, and since no one knew her, she added, "I want pork belly and lean meat."

Fatty meat was the most expensive, and since she didn't like pure fat, the vendor, seeing her generosity, offered the bones at a lower price. Jiang Qiuyue also bought three jin of large marrow bones.

She added thirty eggs, a large carp, and some seasonings before heading home with the iron pot on her back.

By the time she arrived, Niu Dali and the three young men were working intensely. Little Lin Beibei, acting as the young master of the house, brought water over from time to time.

"Beibei, come help me start the fire." As soon as Jiang Qiuyue called out, Beibei and Nannan came running happily.

"Mommy, I’ll help!" Beibei loved helping his mother now; she praised him every day, and even his little sister seemed to smile more often.

He didn't understand what "separation" meant, but since his mother said they wouldn't have to fight with Grandma and the others for the kitchen anymore, he was delighted.

Wang Chunhua refused to let Jiang Qiuyue use the kitchen, so Jiang Qiuyue had Niu Dali build a simple stove. She used fatty pork to "season" the new pot so it wouldn't stick when cooking later.

She marinated the meat and hung it up, while the bones simmered in the pot, soon filling the air with a rich aroma.

The Jiang brothers smelled the scent and their stomachs growled. They leaned toward Niu Jianshe. "Cousin, was the noodle dish Sister-in-law Lin made yesterday really that good?"

"Why would I lie to you?" Since returning home, Niu Jianshe had been raving about Jiang Qiuyue’s cooking. "Haven't you smelled it? It’s probably noodles again today."

Jiang Youcai swallowed his saliva. "I saw Sister-in-law Lin stewing large marrow bones. It’s been so long since I’ve tasted meat. When can we eat?"

His older brother, Jiang Youde, slapped his head. "Eat, eat, eat, that’s all you think about. You’ll get your share. Keep working; she’s paying us wages."

"I know, brother! I’m working!" Thinking of the marrow bones, Jiang Youcai worked even harder.

The perimeter wall wasn't finished yet, and Qian Li was also cooking nearby. When the Lin brothers saw Jiang Qiuyue stewing the bones, they couldn't help but swallow hard.

They wanted to ignore it, but even back in their rooms, the scent was inescapable.

Lin Sanzhu, who had been beaten by his father, was full of resentment. "I’m telling you, Brother, you and Mom are really something. Why did you have to badmouth Jiang Qiuyue behind her back? If you hadn't, we might have had some meat to eat."

"Are you blaming me now?" Lin Erzhu glared at him. "If you hadn't stolen that food, would Jiang Qiuyue have found the chance to separate?"

"Why are you blaming me? It was clearly you and Mom who broke her heart first!"

Seeing his two sons about to fight, Lin Fugui slammed the table twice. "Shut up, both of you. Until we get a reply from Dazhu, you stay quiet. Whoever causes more trouble will be the first one I beat!"

The family’s recent affairs had left him exhausted. He couldn't handle Jiang Qiuyue himself; he could only wait for his eldest son’s reply.

The two Lin brothers dared not speak again, but the aroma drifting in made them hungrier than ever. Lin Sanzhu could only drink water to fill his stomach.

Once the bone broth was ready, Jiang Qiuyue boiled the noodles.

Bowl after bowl of noodles, topped with savory broth and stir-fried pickled vegetables—the Jiang brothers stared, transfixed.

Niu Jianshe wiped the drool from Jiang Youcai’s chin with a look of disgust. "Control your saliva; don't scare the children."

Jiang Qiuyue served the children first, then called Niu Dali and the others to eat. "Eat as much as you like; there’s plenty more in the pot."

She knew young men could eat, especially after laboring all day, so she had prepared extra.

"Thanks, Sister-in-law!"

Jiang Youcai couldn't wait. He took a sip of the bone broth, and it was so delicious he felt his eyebrows might fly off. Ignoring the heat, he dug in. "Good... *huff*... so good!"

Jiang Youde was eating too quickly to speak. Niu Jianshe, however, went home to share his portion with his wife and children.

When he returned, Jiang Qiuyue handed him an extra portion of bone broth. "I saw Zhuangzhuang hovering around eight times. Take this home for him and the others to taste."

"No... no need." Niu Jianshe was surprised that Jiang Qiuyue had thought of his family. His face flushed, realizing she must have seen him taking his bowl home. "Really, I..."

"You are helping me work, so I should feed you, but this is a thank you for Niu Sao; she has helped me so much in the past. Like you said, we’re neighbors. We should look out for each other." Jiang Qiuyue smiled. "Go on, I still have work to do."

Niu Jianshe returned home with a flushed face. When he came back, he brought a bamboo basket filled with seasonal vegetables. Regardless of whether she wanted them, he placed them on the stove. "My mother said since you just separated, Auntie Lin surely won't let you into the vegetable patch. These are for you. If you need more, I’ll pick some more."

With that, Niu Jianshe hurried off, afraid Jiang Qiuyue would refuse.

Jiang Qiuyue was delighted. Distant relatives aren't as good as close neighbors. With Lin Dazhu away, building a good relationship with the Niu family would make life much easier.

Living life is all about give and take. If she were surrounded only by people as toxic as the Lin family, it would be unbearable.

Seeing that Jiang Youcai and the others were finished, Jiang Qiuyue skillfully directed Beibei and Nannan to clear the bowls.

"Sister-in-law, what are we having tomorrow?" Jiang Youcai asked with a satisfied burp, his main concern now.

Jiang Qiuyue smiled. "Braised fish!"