Chapter 86

Chen Hongfu, Dong Jianshu, Li Maofa, and several others warmly welcomed Song Qiaoli's group; besides Lu Xiaoya, those who came with Song Qiaoli today included a deputy manager and two drivers.

While the leaders were exchanging pleasantries with Song Qiaoli, Lu Xiaoya whispered to Su Xinghui: "Did you buy groceries?"

Su Xinghui took her to the Party and Government Office and pointed to the large pile of vegetables he had bought: "There, look—I bought all this."

Lu Xiaoya couldn't help laughing; she was already delighted that Su Xinghui remembered this task. She asked: "Can you really cook? Shall I help you later?"

Su Xinghui replied with confidence: "No need—I'll make sure you're completely satisfied!"

The group rode in a large minivan to Ye Zhugou; Song Qiaoli and Gaoshan went separately to the Village Committee to sign contracts, while Su Xinghui carried the groceries he bought and went with Lu Xiaoya to Xia Zhu's home, telling everyone to gather there for dinner in an hour.

He had told Xia Zhu the day before that he would cook at her house today, so she had cleaned everything thoroughly and was waiting for him.

As soon as they arrived at Xia Zhu's home, Lu Xiaoya affectionately took Xia Zhu's hand: "Xia Zhu, I'm back again!"

Xia Zhu, seeing Lu Xiaoya, exclaimed in delight: "Welcome, Xiao Ya-jie!"

Lu Xiaoya said: "I'm having dinner here today—don't mind me intruding."

Xia Zhu replied: "How could I mind? You're a guest I could never invite enough!"

Lu Xiaoya noticed the sketch Xia Zhu was drawing and asked curiously: "Did you draw this?"

Xia Zhu nodded: "Yes, I'm learning sketching from Brother Xinghui—he says I need to study some art, and it will help my bamboo weaving."

These words made Lu Xiaoya glance toward Su Xinghui, who had already entered the kitchen and was busy; after one look, she turned back to Xia Zhu's sketch and asked: "How long have you been learning?"

Xia Zhu calculated: "Today is only the fourth day—Brother Xinghui teaches me one hour each day."

Lu Xiaoya was astonished: "You've only been learning for three days and you're already this good?"

Xia Zhu blushed: "This isn't good at all! Brother Xinghui's drawings are truly good—he says once I master sketching, he'll teach me traditional Chinese painting."

Lu Xiaoya looked again at Su Xinghui in the kitchen: "This Su Xinghui—why didn't he show this talent at school? I thought he could only write articles. Which drawing did he make? Show me."

Xia Zhu pulled out the sketch Su Xinghui had drawn for her and Xia Lan that day and handed it to Lu Xiaoya; Lu Xiaoya stared at it for a long time—she had received some art training since childhood and could easily judge quality: the lines were bold and fluid, the proportions accurate, the expressions natural, and the beauty of the sisters Xia Lan and Xia Zhu captured perfectly.

This was truly an outstanding piece, yet clearly drawn casually by Su Xinghui, with incomplete tools—all lines drawn with a hard pencil; the more limited the tools, the more his deep artistic skill shone through.

Lu Xiaoya muttered to herself: Just how many hidden talents does this Su Xinghui have?

Lu Xiaoya looked again at the sketch, at Xia Zhu's figure, and felt a pang of bitterness—but she quickly suppressed it, knowing Xia Zhu was a pure girl who harmed no one.

Besides, Lu Xiaoya had heard from Su Xinghui on the way about Xia Zhu's background; she found Xia Zhu's life heartbreakingly tragic yet astonishingly resilient, and held deep admiration for her.

She returned the sketch to Xia Zhu and smiled: "I need him to draw me too."

Xia Zhu said innocently: "Xiao Ya-jie, you're so beautiful—he'll make you even more beautiful in the drawing."

Lu Xiaoya laughed and patted Xia Zhu's hair: "I'm not nearly as beautiful as you."

Xia Zhu blushed: "Xiao Ya-jie, you're teasing me!"

Lu Xiaoya said: "I'm not—I really mean it, you're very beautiful."

Xia Zhu said: "Enough about that—I'll go help Brother Xinghui cook."

Lu Xiaoya followed Xia Zhu into the kitchen; cooking in this kind of hearth was truly hard for one person alone—firewood had to be constantly added, and managing both stove and hearth alone would leave anyone flustered.

A small iron pot already held water and rice, ready to be cooked; since many people would be eating today, Su Xinghui had bought ten catties of rice.

He chose to cook at Xia Zhu's home so she could eat better, and also planned to use their minivan to take Xia Shisheng to Yu Maode's house for treatment—the minivan's larger space would be easier for Xia Shisheng than a bus.

This was Lu Xiaoya's first time seeing such a hearth; she realized she couldn't have cooked this meal herself. Curious, she followed Xia Zhu and began adding firewood.

Xia Zhu laughed: "Xiao Ya-jie, don't put too much firewood at once—it blocks airflow and won't burn well."

Indeed, when Lu Xiaoya added too much at once, thick smoke burst from the hearth; she quickly pulled out most of it, while Xia Zhu bent down and gently blew—the flames flared again, growing steadily stronger.

Lu Xiaoya soon mastered the trick and added firewood with proper timing; the two women worked together seamlessly.

When the iron pot heated up, Su Xinghui scrubbed it clean with a bamboo brush and began stir-frying; Lu Xiaoya watched him move with practiced ease and exclaimed: "Su Xinghui, you can cook even with this kind of stove?"

Su Xinghui smiled: "This is my second time cooking at Xia Zhu's—first time's awkward, second time's smooth."

Lu Xiaoya said: "You're good at everything. By the way, that sketch you drew for Xia Zhu was beautiful—you have to draw one for me today!"

Su Xinghui replied without hesitation: "Sure, no problem!"

Seeing Su Xinghui agree so readily, Lu Xiaoya smiled secretly.

Today Su Xinghui bought three catties of meat—he made a large bowl of shiitake pork, a large bowl of wood ear stir-fried pork, and for the fish, he prepared sour cabbage fish using sour cabbage bought at the market; it was locally made, delicious, and perfect for this dish.

When the sour cabbage fish was ready, the aroma was so strong Lu Xiaoya couldn't resist picking up chopsticks and tasting a bite; she burned her mouth and kept blowing, but refused to spit out the fish—after swallowing it, she said: "Why is this so delicious?"

Su Xinghui smiled: "Of course it's delicious—do you know where this fish came from? From an underground river in a mountain cave—the water is clear, sweet, and cold, producing fish with tight, delicate, flavorful flesh. This water is mountain spring water, the sour cabbage is homemade by locals—of course this sour cabbage fish tastes great."

Lu Xiaoya said: "Yes—the fish is good, the water is good, the sour cabbage is good, and your cooking is excellent!"