Chapter 24: The Enthusiastic Sister-in-law

Soon, the wooden door creaked open from within.

A young woman, appearing to be about twenty-three or twenty-four years old and wearing her hair in a matronly bun, appeared at the threshold. Her features were well-proportioned; though her skin wasn't porcelain fair, it glowed with a healthy, rosy tint. Her cheeks were flushed from the warmth of the room and the reflection of the stove fire, and her eyes were bright and watery—altogether, she was a quite pretty village wife.

She wore a padded jacket that was well-patched but immaculately clean, with a thoughtful trim of floral fabric stitched around the cuffs. She looked at Zhou Yichen with curious eyes.

Seeing that it was a young woman who had opened the door, and noting the silence of the courtyard—suggesting she was home alone—Zhou Yichen felt a bit of hesitation. In this era, the boundaries between men and women were taken quite seriously. He stepped back half a pace to maintain a respectful distance and offered a polite smile. "Hello, sister."

The young woman looked him up and down. Suddenly, her eyes lit up, and a warm, enthusiastic smile spread across her face.

"Oh my! Isn't this Health Worker Zhou?" She clearly recognized him. "Come in, come in! It’s freezing out there!" She began to turn aside, inviting him into the house.

Zhou Yichen quickly waved his hand, his smile remaining steady. "No, no, sister. I’ll just speak from the doorway; I wouldn't want to interrupt your cooking."

"In this freezing weather? Whatever you have to say, come inside and warm up first! Look at how cold you are!" The young woman remained insistent, her voice bright and clear.

Zhou Yichen pondered that if she were indeed home alone, a young man like him barging in might invite gossip if seen by others, which would be unfair to her reputation. He stood his ground. "Really, it’s not necessary, sister. I won't hold you up." He went straight to the point. "I wanted to ask if you had any spare vegetables. I was hoping to trade for some, as my pantry is empty."

When the young woman heard this, she paused, then flashed a set of even, white teeth. "Ha! Is that all? I thought it was something serious!" She waved her hand dismissively. "It’s just some vegetables! What’s the big deal?"

"You wait here, Health Worker Zhou. I’ll go get them for you! We have plenty of cabbage and radishes in the cellar in the backyard!" As she spoke, she turned with a brisk, energetic motion, clearly heading toward the back. "We’re neighbors, and besides, you’re the brigade’s health worker; we’ll all be counting on you when we have a headache or a fever later on! Giving you some greens is nothing! How could I possibly take anything in trade? That would be a joke!"

Zhou Yichen felt a bit embarrassed. He had genuinely intended to trade for them, not to take them for free.

"Sister, I really couldn't..." He reached into his pocket, intending to offer some money.

Seeing him reach for his pocket, the young woman waved him off, her expression simple and warm. "Oh, Health Worker Zhou, what are you doing? Talking about trades and whatnot—you're being too much of a stranger!" Her voice remained clear, carrying that straightforward, hearty nature typical of people from the mountains. "You just wait, I’ll be right back!"

Without waiting for him to object further, she hurried into the house, her footsteps thumping as she made her way toward the backyard.

Watching her nimble back, Zhou Yichen thought to himself that this woman was indeed a married woman. He was beginning to grasp the basics of traditional Chinese medicine’s diagnostic methods, and this judgment wasn't based on her hairstyle alone. Whether it was the subtle, mature charm in her expression or the settled, steady grace in her movements, there was a distinct difference from an unmarried girl. Moreover, the carriage and temperament she had naturally developed from managing a household and raising children could not escape his increasingly keen observation.

Before long, she emerged from the house, carrying a sizable wicker basket. "Health Worker Zhou, here!" She handed him the basket with a smile; it was brimming with vegetables. There was a lush, crisp head of cabbage and several thick, sturdy radishes still dusted with the scent of the earth.

"This... this is too much, sister!" Zhou Yichen said, looking at the full basket, truly feeling uneasy.

"Ha! Too much?" She waved her hand dismissively. "It’s just stuff from our own cellar; we can’t even eat it all! You’re a young man, just arrived in the brigade, with no elders around to help you—how much could you possibly eat? Besides, you’re our health worker; who won't be relying on you when they have a minor ailment? Taking a few cabbages and radishes off my hands is nothing!"

Zhou Yichen insisted, "Sister, I will accept the vegetables, but you must take the money. Otherwise, I won't be able to rest easy." He tried again to reach for his pocket.

"Hey, Health Worker Zhou, you!" The woman feigned annoyance, stiffening her face. "If you try to pay me, you’re looking down on me, looking down on our neighborly friendship! If you run out of vegetables later, just come by and take more! Do you think I’d let you go hungry?" Her watery eyes were full of sincerity, and her tone carried a firmness that left no room for argument.

Seeing her expression, Zhou Yichen knew that if he continued to insist, he would appear petty and ungrateful for her kindness. He sighed and gave a helpless smile. "Then... thank you very much, sister. I will remember this kindness."

In his heart, he made a mental note to find a way to return the favor. He, Zhou Yichen, had never liked owing people anything, especially not favors.

"That’s more like it!" The young woman’s face broke into a smile, radiant as the winter sun. "Go on back now, it’s getting late. Go start your cooking, don't go hungry."

"Alright, thank you, sister. I’ll be heading back." Zhou Yichen carried the heavy basket of vegetables and thanked her sincerely.

After bidding farewell to the kind-hearted woman, Zhou Yichen returned to his small courtyard. He first placed the pork ribs in a basin to soak in water before starting his meal. It was already late, and he guessed that the girl, Jiang Xiaoman, would be finishing her shift soon.

Zhou Yichen didn't plan on making anything complicated. He washed the rice, started the bellows, and soon orange flames danced in the stove as the grains began to cook. Next, he selected half a cabbage and two radishes, washing and chopping them. As for the two pounds of pork ribs, he decided to save them for the evening to give Jiang Xiaoman a surprise and stew a nourishing soup for her.

"Clang, clang..." The sound of the kitchen knife against the cutting board echoed through the small kitchen. Soon, a plate of stir-fried cabbage and a plate of shredded radish with vinegar were ready. Simple, but fresh and fragrant.

Just as Zhou Yichen was plating the last dish to set the table, the courtyard door creaked open. The familiar figure of Jiang Xiaoman walked in, dragging her heavy feet, looking utterly exhausted.