Gu Fuying, her heart heavy with unspoken feelings, turned away from Wu Qingsong and sat down in a quiet spot, a cloud of dejection hanging over her. It was so agonizingly clear how she felt, yet he seemed utterly oblivious. Did she have to spell it out for him?
Xu Ying, ever perceptive, noticed her friend’s distress. She sat beside her, offering a handkercheif . “What’s wrong, my dear? You look so wronged. Who upset you?”
At the sight of Xu Ying, Gu Fuying’s dam of emotions broke. Fresh tears welled up, and she buried her face in Xu Ying’s lap, sobbing uncontrollably.
Wu Qingsong, busy with the pots nearby, cast a furtive glance at Gu Fuying. Seeing her face contorted in sorrow, a wave of unease washed over him. Why was she crying? he fretted. I didn’t even do anything!
He turned to Huo Chen, a perplexed frown on his face. “Brother Chen, do all little girls cry so easily? Gu Fuying started weeping, and I didn’t even say anything harsh to her .”
Huo Chen, having known Wu Qingsong since they were children, fixed him with a knowing look. “You and Sister-in-law Chunlan have broken up, haven’t you? Do you still plan to keep dating others?”
Wu Qingsong nodded without hesitation. “Of course, I’ll definitely look for a partner. Just because she broke up with me doesn’t mean I’ll stop. It’s not like no one else wants me, and she already dislikes me. I can’t just grovel and stay single for her the rest of my life.” He spoke with a newfound resignation. He understood now that some fates simply weren’t meant to be, and his heart had given up on that particular dream the moment he heard her dismissive words.
“What do you think of Gu Fuying?” Huo Chen asked, raising an eyebrow, a hint of a plan forming in his mind. “Do you want your sister-in-law and me to play matchmaker for you?”
Wu Qingsong immediately shook his head vigorously. “Brother Chen, please, no! How could Gu Fuying and I ever be together? Just looking at her cry makes me feel upset and uncomfortable. Besides, her father is the head of the county hospital, and her mother is a teacher. Gu Fuying even works at the supply and marketing cooperative. I’m just an orphan with a younger sister, and I don’t even have a steady job. How could I ever be worthy of her family?” He recoiled at the very thought of approaching such a prominent family.
“What if she wants to be with you?” Huo Chen pressed, testing the waters.
Wu Qingsong dismissed the idea instantly. “That won’t work. Gu Fuying must be accustomed to a comfortable life, like your sister-in-law. I’m not as capable as you, Brother Chen. How could I let someone suffer with me?”
Huo Chen’s eyes darkened, and he stole a glance at Xu Ying. He silently vowed that he would work tirelessly to ensure Xu Ying lived a good life, free from any hardship or injustice. “Then you must work hard to become more capable,” he told Wu Qingsong. “No matter who your future wife is, she will never be wronged.”
Wu Qingsong nodded firmly. That was a commitment he could readily make.
“Little sister, look at all these fish!” Third Brother Xu exclaimed, approaching Xu Ying with five or six large fish clutched like precious jewels. “It’s time for a fish feast at noon!”
Second Brother Xu, completely absorbed in his blossoming romance, had entirely forgotten his earlier eagerness for Huo Chen to join the hunt. As he looked up, he saw Huo Chen staring intently at his little sister, and a flash of irritation coursed through him.
“Huo Chen,” Second Brother Xu called out, “aren’t you supposed to be a great hunter? It’s too monotonous to just eat fish. Why don’t you go hunt some other wild animals?”
Everyone turned to Huo Chen, intrigued.
Xu Ying, hearing this, found herself agreeing. “Second brother, then Huo Chen and I will go together.”
Second Brother Xu’s eyes widened in alarm. “Little sister, it’s very dangerous for a girl like you to go hunting! Huo Chen will have to take care of you. If he encounters something big, don’t get him hurt!”
Huo Chen’s mouth twitched. He recalled their first encounter, where Xu Ying had displayed extraordinary skills. It seemed Second Brother Xu might have some serious misconceptions about his younger sister.
Xu Ying met Huo Chen’s gaze, a hint of guilt in her own. “Second brother, it’s okay,” she said, trying to reassure him. “I can run fast.”
Brother Xu’s face fell. Clearly, his sister was too independent, already thinking of adventuring with someone else before even marrying. “Forget it, then. I won’t eat. Fish is pretty good,” he mumbled, unknowingly shooting himself in the foot.
At that moment, the thought of delicious beggar’s chicken stirred a craving within Xu Ying. She couldn’t help but swallow, her mouth watering. “Second brother, you don’t want to eat, but I do! I want beggar’s chicken!”
“Beggar’s Chicken? What’s that?” Gu Fuying asked, curiosity momentarily overriding her sadness. She sat up from Xu Ying’s lap, her eyes still red and swollen.
Wu Qingsong, seeing her distress, felt a pang of guilt. He stood up and clapped Huo Chen on the shoulder. “Brother Chen, I’m coming with you! Sister-in-law Xu Ying, you and the others can prepare things here. Let’s go get some delicious food right now. I just need to accompany Brother Chen. As long as I’m here, nothing will happen to him!” Wu Qingsong couldn’t resist a playful jab at the two.
Xu Ying wasn’t worried about Huo Chen’s safety. Her main concern was stretching her own muscles. But when she looked up, everyone was staring at her with eager anticipation.
With a sigh, Xu Ying nodded resignedly. “Okay!”
Once the two men had departed, Xu Ying began delegating tasks to the others. Second Brother Xu and Third Brother Xu were put in charge of gutting the fish, while Gu Fuying, Gu Fuzhu, and Xu Qiuye were sent to collect firewood. Xu Ying and Lu Daya, meanwhile, started preparing for the cooking, digging a few large holes.
“Fuying, do you like that Wu Qingsong?” Gu Fuzhu asked her cousin, her voice full of sympathy as she noticed Fuying’s swollen eyes.
Gu Fuying stubbornly shook her head, unwilling to admit it. “No, how could I like him? He’s so incomprehensible and uninteresting!”
But her words rang hollow. Everyone present could see Gu Fuying’s special feelings for Wu Qingsong. It was only his “thick head” that seemed genuinely oblivious—or perhaps he just pretended to be. As the saying goes, those directly involved are often confused, while outsiders see clearly. Everyone hoped Wu Qingsong would eventually come to his senses.
After hearing her fruitless denial Gu Fuzhu divert her attention to her work again and ask “Yingying, is this enough?”
Gu Fuzhu and the other two had indeed been diligent, gathering a sizable pile of firewood, stacked as high as a small hill. Xu Ying nodded quickly. “That’s enough, that’s enough!” she declared. It seemed unlikely they’d use it all.
“Yingying, why are you still playing with this?” Gu Fuying asked, returning to find Xu Ying engrossed in digging with mud, a look of distaste on her face. Wasn’t that something only children did?
Shitou and Huzi, whose faces were already covered in mud, giggled. Shitou, however, quickly retorted, “My Aunty isn’t playing with mud! She’s preparing to make beggar’s chicken for us! It’s so delicious, it will make you drool later!”
Gu Fuying’s interest was immediately piqued. She squatted down in front of Shitou. “Is beggar’s chicken made of mud?” she asked curiously. “Have you ever eaten it?”
Huzi shook his head. “No, my Aunty told me she wraps the pheasant with mud, and that’s how beggar’s chicken is made. It’s really delicious! All the dishes my Aunty cooks are delicious!”
While Huzi’s enthusiasm was infectious, Gu Fuying was still filled with doubt. If the pheasant is wrapped in mud, wouldn’t it be dirty? Can it actually be eaten?
“What’s this big pit for?” Gu Fuying asked, her curiosity insatiable. She had often wanted Xu Ying to teach her how to cook, but Xu Ying had been too busy, only managing to meet her a few days a week when she worked at the restaurant. Now that Xu Ying was at the food factory, seeing her even once a fortnight was a challenge.
“I’ll make beggar’s chicken her later,” Xu Ying said with a smile. “If you want to learn to cook, I’ll teach you now.”
Gu Fuzhu and Xu Qiuye’s eyes lit up as well. “Yingying, we want to learn too!”
“Okay, all of you come together!” Xu Ying agreed, her smile widening.