Chapter 13: The Auspicious Omen Emerges

Wu Wei entered the main room and selected the fatter of the two fish to keep. She took the other out to hang under the eaves and, while she was at it, cut off a small piece from the fresh meat the village head had delivered last time. Embroider Maiden had already divided the large slab into smaller portions for convenience. In this season, the outdoors made for a natural icebox, and hanging the meat in the open kept the rats at bay—ideal.

She returned to her room, ladled two basins of water, and dropped the meat and fish into them separately. Carrying the basin with the fish, she headed to the courtyard, squatted down, and pulled out her dagger to clean it.

This dagger was a military-grade one Wu Wei had splurged on back on Blue Star. It was top quality, packed with features, and perfect for survival in the wild. The serrated edge on the back was especially handy for scaling fish. She scraped off the scales, removed the gills, extracted the stink glands, gutted it, scored the back with diagonal cuts, rinsed it clean—done!

Wu Wei poured the bloody water some distance from the house to avoid drawing wild beasts foraging down from the mountains.

Back inside, she seasoned the fish with a basic marinade and set it aside. Then she started rinsing rice. With guests in the house, Wu Wei decided to steam up a pot of white rice to treat Second Sister properly—and to give her own delicate stomach a break from coarse grains. It was a win-win.

Once the rice was in the steamer, Wu Wei added a bamboo steamer tray on top for the fish. She chopped cabbage, beat eggs, sliced meat—ingredients prepped. Counting them up… three dishes. An odd number wouldn’t do for entertaining guests. Scanning the shelf, her eyes lit up. “Pickled vegetables? Perfect, that’ll make it even.”

Embroider Maiden’s stove had only one burner. Normally, she cooked the dishes first, then the rice, letting the cooled food steam back to warmth in the pot. But with guests today, Wu Wei wanted to keep the textures perfect, so she skipped that. Scrambled eggs and cabbage-stewed pork slices were quick-cook dishes anyway—she’d whip them up after the rice and fish were done.

With everything prepped, Wu Wei didn’t go back inside. Instead, she took advantage of the mild weather to haul a bucket of water from the well.

…

Lunch was ready: steaming white rice, clear-steamed fish, scrambled eggs, cabbage-stewed pork slices, and crisp pickled vegetables.

Truth be told, Second Lady Liu had smelled the rice the moment the pot started steaming. “Family dropping by for a meal—no need for fine grains,” she protested, but Embroider Maiden stopped her.

“It’s not a holiday or festival, and I’m no outsider. How can I eat your fine rice?”

“Second Sister,” Embroider Maiden replied, “I’ve set up my own household since splitting off. You’re the first to visit me—I’d do the same in your shoes. Besides… the aroma’s already filling the air. Too late to back out now.” She’d seen Wu Wei struggle to swallow coarse grains and guessed her friend was used to finer fare. Even when conditions didn’t allow, Embroider Maiden always snuck a handful of white rice into the pot, clumping it together during cooking so she could secretly serve it at the bottom of Wu Wei’s bowl. Letting her enjoy a proper bowl of white rice openly was Embroider Maiden’s little wish—especially now with Second Sister here.

Hearing this, Second Lady Liu grabbed her sister’s arm and pinched it hard, shaking her head in exasperation at her thick-headedness. “You’ve gone daft from all those years slaving away at home! White rice fetches silver at the market, you know that? Coarse grains are worthless—the miller might not even take them, depending on his mood. But white rice? They buy it every time. You’re holding down your own home now, shouldering all the expenses. Salt, iron—they all cost silver. Your embroidery skills aren’t paying off anymore. Can you farm? Hoard some rice; it could save your life in a pinch.”

“I know. Once Weiwei leaves, I’ll start saving up slowly,” Embroider Maiden murmured.

“Time to eat, Embroider Maiden~”

“Second Sister, stop. This stuff was all from the village head for Weiwei anyway…”

“I know! I’ll set the table—you help out.”

Even with her mind prepared, Second Lady Liu couldn’t help gasping when the food hit the table. “This is landlord’s fare, isn’t it?”

Wu Wei chuckled and settled on the kang edge. “Second Sister’s an honored guest. You braved the cold wind, coming all this way with food for Embroider Maiden. If she’d cooked, it might’ve been even heartier.”

Her words drew laughs from both women. Wu Wei caught the heartache in Second Lady Liu’s eyes and pressed on. “Don’t worry, Second Sister. I know a few tricks—snares for rabbits, ice-fishing holes. I won’t let Embroider Maiden go hungry.”

Second Lady Liu sighed. “It’s just… so lavish. I…”

“Eat up, Second Sister. Try my cooking.”

The three took their seats. Wu Wei used her clean chopsticks first to serve fish and eggs to Second Lady Liu and Embroider Maiden, only eating after they did.

“So fragrant~ Fried in lard?” Second Lady Liu asked.

“Second Sister’s got a sharp tongue—spot on,” Wu Wei grinned.

Second Lady Liu lifted her rice bowl and glanced at her sister, who was beaming at Wu Wei. She turned her gaze to Wu Wei, watching her casually tuck into the white rice. Silently, she labeled her “big household origins” in her mind.

Heartache aside, Second Lady Liu was practical. As Embroider Maiden said, Wu Wei had earned it fair and square—let her eat as she pleased.

…

“Second Niang!” A hearty shout rang out into the room.

“Is that Second Brother-in-Law?”

“So early?” Second Lady Liu set down her bowl. “You two keep eating. I’ll check.”

“Ask Brother-in-Law to come in and eat?” Wu Wei suggested.

“Not proper, is it?”

“Embroider Maiden, what do you think?” Wu Wei asked.

“Second Sister, invite Second Brother-in-Law in.”

“Alright, I’ll fetch him.”

It took a good while before the couple entered, instantly crowding the little room.

Embroider Maiden’s second brother-in-law was named Zhang Shuisheng. His family hailed from the same Qinglu County as her natal home, but a different village—thirty li apart. The Zhangs were poor farmers with a few acres of thin soil. By sixteen or seventeen, he’d had no prospects for a wife until they scraped together two hundred copper cash, hired a sharp-tongued matchmaker, and sealed the deal with the Liu family.

After Second Lady Liu married in, the Zhang household prospered. Last year, they’d bought prime fields; this year, the family could afford white rice. Husband and wife were devoted, and the in-laws weren’t troublemakers.

When Zhang Shuisheng heard Embroider Maiden had been split off, he volunteered to help—and even skimped on his own rations to send her fine rice. But just now outside, his face had been stormy. Spotting his wife, he’d yanked her aside, ready to drag her home.

“What are you doing?” Second Lady Liu shook off his hand.

“Tell me—is there a pretty boy holed up in there? Have you no shame? We’re decent folk. What will people say? Come home, and don’t come back!”

Second Lady Liu frowned and thumped her husband’s chest. “Who told you that? Eldest Sister’s family? Or who? Do you think I’m that shameless? Third Sister’s my flesh and blood—we grew up sharing a bed. Do I not know her character? Come see for yourself!”

“I’m not going! I heard the village head came with men to catch them in the act…”

“Pah! That ‘pretty boy’ is a young lady passing through, heading to the capital to file a grievance for her father. She dresses as a man for safe travels. How dare you slander a filial daughter like that? The village head wasn’t catching adulterers—he brought grain. Miss Wu’s a good soul: fixed Third Sister’s house, called a doctor when she fell ill. Without her, Third Sister would’ve been gone by the time we arrived. She’s treating me like royalty with fine rice and flour, and here you are!”

“Really?” Zhang Shuisheng eyed her suspiciously. Liu Cuicui had sworn it was true, with Mother Liu wiping tears beside her. He’d rushed over without pause, fearing for his wife.

“Come inside with me!”

Second Lady Liu dragged him in. Seeing the four dishes and white rice on the table, guilt flickered in Zhang Shuisheng’s eyes.

Embroider Maiden and Wu Wei scooted the kang table inward. Wu Wei fetched a bowl and chopsticks for him, smiling as she called out, “Second Brother-in-Law,” and invited him to sit.

Zhang Shuisheng rubbed his fan-like hands on his clothes, a bit sheepish. Second Lady Liu shot her husband a glare and shoved him toward the end of the kang.

“Miss Wu, this is my husband, surnamed Zhang. And this is Miss Wu.”

“Good day, Second Brother-in-Law.”

“Aye, good.” Zhang Shuisheng’s dark complexion hid any blush.

He had a big appetite. Second Lady Liu reheated the two flatbreads she’d brought. At Wu Wei’s insistence, the three women each had a bowl of rice, leaving the rest—and every scrap of the four dishes—for Zhang Shuisheng. He even sopped up the vegetable broth with his bread.

After such a feast, guilt weighed heavy on him. He gave Wu Wei his address at once. “Miss Wu, if you ever need a hand or run short on anything, send word via your Second Sister. I’ll be there the next day.”

“Exactly. Family should help each other,” Second Lady Liu agreed.

Embroider Maiden’s eyes reddened, and she looked away.

Second Lady Liu asked, “How’d it go with Eldest Brother-in-Law?”

Zhang Shuisheng’s expression grew awkward. He glanced sidelong at Embroider Maiden and shook his head. “No dice. Eldest Brother-in-Law… hurt his back a few days ago. Can’t work the fields.”

“What’s going on? Has he fallen ill or something?”

“No big deal. He just needs to rest for a few days and can’t come up the mountain with me anymore. Alas… what a shame.”

“Is Second Brother-in-law planning to go hunting in the mountains?” Wu Wei asked.

“No, it’s to gather herbs up the mountain before the heavy snow seals off the paths,” Zhang Shuisheng replied.

“Gathering herbs? Is Second Brother-in-law a physician?”

Wu Wei’s curious and innocent expression was utterly endearing. Second Lady Liu laughed. “Him? He can barely read a few characters, much less be a physician.”

Zhang Shuisheng chuckled too. He pulled a piece of cloth from inside his robe, shook it out, and spread it across the table. Sketched on the cloth were several medicinal herbs. “A few days ago, the county office posted a notice right at their gate. The Yan Prince’s Residence urgently needs these herbs to refine pills for presentation to Your Majesty. Our Qinglu County is the closest to Prince Yan’s fief, so the office is offering a reward—one hundred coppers per stalk!”

Second Lady Liu suddenly leaned in with a mysterious air. “I also heard that an auspicious omen has appeared in Prince Yan’s fief. This time, he’s bound to form his golden core—that’s why the rush!”