Chapter Twenty-Four: I Need No One’s Sympathy

"Yes," Chunning nodded, acknowledging the truth. His grandfather had died an unjust death, and mentioning his name was nothing to be ashamed of.

"Tsk, tsk, what a tragedy." Shopkeeper Lin looked Chunning up and down again. "To think you were once a lady from a prominent family in the capital, and now you have to rely on embroidery to make ends meet. How miserable."

Chunning’s face flushed red upon hearing this. It was not out of shyness, but indignation.

"Madam, my mother relying on her own two hands to support our household is nothing to be ashamed of. We are neither tragic nor suffering."

Indeed, they had never needed anyone’s pity, nor did they wish to be the subject of mockery or gossip.

"Life is unpredictable, and no one can guarantee smooth sailing forever," Chunning said sternly. "Wealth and poverty are fleeting. If you have no need for an embroiderer, that is fine, but please do not mock those who are working hard to live."

"Oh? Little brother, are you getting angry?" Seeing Chunning’s serious expression, Shopkeeper Lin burst into laughter. "Interesting. Grandson of Imperial Physician Xiao, you really are different."

"Excuse me. Farewell." Chunning felt that her words carried an insulting undertone, so he cupped his hands in a salute and turned to leave.

"Hey, little brother, wait."

Chunning didn't want to say another word to her, but one still had to be polite. No matter what, he should hear her out.

"Little brother, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to mock the Xiao family; I just..." If he said he was sympathetic, this young man would surely be relentless. "I just felt that for a man like Imperial Physician Xiao to meet such a misfortune... I was just feeling a bit emotional, that’s all."

"My grandfather used to say that his conscience was clear before heaven, earth, the Emperor, his kin, and his mentors."

"We all believe Imperial Physician Xiao was innocent," Shopkeeper Lin said quickly. "About your mother’s embroidery—truth be told, my little shop is too small to accommodate a ‘great Buddha’ like your mother. Look at this; it is so well-stitched. Without exaggeration, this skill surpasses even the embroiderers in the Changzhou embroidery houses. If I hired your mother, I’d be embarrassed to pay her low wages, yet I couldn’t afford high ones. Furthermore, my fabrics simply aren't worthy of such craftsmanship."

Chunning… his comprehension skills were somewhat lacking when it came to needlework. After processing her words, he realized it was a polite rejection.

"If there is ever a commission from a wealthy family that can afford the price, I will certainly come to your home to invite your mother."

"Thank you." These polite lies sounded quite pleasant.

"Hey, don't disbelieve me. I really will come," Shopkeeper Lin added hastily. "My maiden home is in Shuikou Village, the big house past Lin Bamboo—the Lin family. If you don't believe me, go ask around. Who doesn't know the name Lin Qiaoqiao?"

So, her name was Lin Qiaoqiao.

"Thank you." Since she seemed sincere, Chunning thanked her genuinely.

Upon returning to the wharf, Luo Xiaogang came running over happily with a small basket on his back. "Brother Chunning, look!" He tilted the basket toward him.

"What is it?" Chunning peered inside. Good heavens, it was half a basket of fish, big and small. However, they appeared to be dead.

"I saw a fishing boat docking earlier, and they didn't want these dead fish. I asked the boat captain, and he said I could take them. I picked these up to take home. Brother Chunning, we need to hurry, or they’ll start to smell."

"Right." This was an unexpected harvest for Xiaogang, even though Chunning’s own search for work at the embroidery shop had come to nothing.

When Chunning got home, he reported the situation to his older sister. "The shopkeeper said she’s from the Lin family near the bamboo forest and that she’d invite Mother to embroider if an opportunity arises."

"She was being honest." It seemed the wharf embroidery shop didn't handle high-end work after all. "Let’s put this matter aside for now."

As they were talking, Luo Xiaogang entered the Xiao household, looking dejected. "Brother Chunning, my mother won't let me cook the fish. She said they smell and told me to throw them away." He had carried them such a long way, hoping for praise, only to be scolded. If he hadn't run fast with his basket, he might have even been beaten.

"What fish?" Chunnuan looked at Chunning, confused.

"Xiaogang picked up half a basket of dead fish." Chunning handed the basket over for her to see.

"Your mother doesn't want these?" Chunnuan picked up a few and sniffed them. They had a fishy smell, but it was a normal scent; they were still edible. Surely fish was better than wild vegetables?

"Yeah, my mom said to throw them out. I think it’s such a waste," Xiaogang said. "Sister Chunnuan, you’re so good at cooking. Why don’t you make them? I... I only need one."

"Sure, I’ll do it." Free food was not to be turned down; they could have a feast tonight.

Chunnuan directed Chunning and Xiaogang to the small creek to clean the fish. "Scrape off the scales, remove the gills, slice open the bellies, and throw away the guts."

They still had some oil and seasonings left from making the flower cakes. Should she fry them? No, that would use too much oil. Better to boil them.

"Sister Chunnuan, do you want to cook them with pickled vegetables?" Xiaogang suggested. "My dad says they sometimes cook fish with pickled vegetables at the wharf; it’s delicious. I’ve always wanted to try it, but my mother says it’s not good and has too many bones. My fourth sister once got a bone stuck in her throat, so she doesn't make it anymore."

"We don't have any pickled vegetables." Chunnuan remembered the two jars in the Xiao family kitchen. Because their late father had been from the Shu region, he had a habit of eating pickled vegetables, a tradition the whole family had adopted. Pickled radishes, chili peppers, and ginger were especially refreshing in the summer. She suddenly felt her mouth watering.

"We have some! I'll go get them."

"Xiaogang, maybe don't bother," Chunnuan said, feeling embarrassed to take their fish and their pickles too.

"It's fine! My mom already said if you don't have vegetables, you can come to our place to get some. We have three jars, including pickled radishes from last year. We have so much, we can't possibly finish it all."

Hearing this, Chunnuan’s mouth watered again, and she quickly wiped it away. She felt both annoyed and amused—when had she become such a gluttonous girl?

It must be said, Auntie Luo was very generous; she let Xiaogang bring over a large bowl of pickled radishes, ginger, and chili peppers.

"How do we make this?" Mrs. Huang, who was helping with dinner, looked at the fish and pickles, bewildered. She knew how to eat it, but had never cooked it herself.

"I’ll do it." Chunnuan didn't exactly know how either, but she had asked questions while eating it in the past and had even consulted Auntie Zhu, so she had a rough idea.

She chopped the pickled radishes, ginger, and chilies, sautéed them in a little oil until fragrant, added water to create a broth, and then added the cleaned fish one by one. Chunnuan noticed that Chunyan and the others had dug up some wild scallions earlier, so she washed those and threw them into the pot as well.

In a short while, a sharp, sour aroma wafted through the air.

"Third Aunt, Second Sister, what are you having today?" Mrs. Zhu couldn't resist. Holding her large belly, she waddled into the kitchen. "It smells so good!"

She didn't dare say that the scent had made her mouth water. As a lady of the Zhu family, it felt quite humiliating to be reduced to drooling over the smell of cooking.