Chapter 56: Comparing Yourself to Others Can Drive You Mad

The three of them returned to the camp, gathered their tools, and headed back to the river. They plucked the chickens and skinned the rabbit, while Shi Jian squatted on the other side to peel the mushroom. Once everything was cleaned up, dusk had already fallen, so they made their way home.

“What are we making for dinner tonight?” Shi Jian asked cheerfully, sticking close to Tang Banxia’s side.

Tang Banxia had already thought it through. “Chicken stew. We’ll eat those three wild chickens first, and save the rest for tomorrow.”

Shi Jian had no objections.

Back at camp, the three got busy. They first gutted the wild chickens, then chopped them into pieces and blanched them for later use. Hot oil was poured into the pot, followed by chopped scallions and dried chili peppers. The chicken offal went in first, stir-fried until just turning white, then the blanched chicken pieces were added. Next, a spoonful of homemade fermented bean paste was stirred in, everything was mixed evenly, water was added, and the lid was put on to simmer.

They didn’t attempt to hide their cooking. As the aroma of chicken wafted out, it wasn’t long before the neighbors realized that tonight, someone in Guyue Village was having meat.

In the other villages, it was also the women who cooked. Smelling the rich scent of meat coming from Guyue Village, and looking down at the pebble rice in their own pots, they couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy.

Everyone was struggling, so why did they get to eat meat?

The people of Guyue Village dragged their weary bodies back to camp after a day of hard labor. As they entered, the smell of meat hit them.

At once, stomachs began to rumble all around.

Sun Wenming weakly rubbed his belly. “Which village is stewing meat? Smells amazing.”

Hu Qixin swallowed hard. “Probably Muzi Village. They have the best conditions.”

“What do you think, Bai?” Sun Wenming nudged Wen Mubai.

Wen Mubai didn’t respond, keeping his head down as he strode forward. “I think we should hurry up.”

All right then.

Sun Wenming and Hu Qixin quickened their pace.

But the closer they got, the more something felt off. Why did it seem like the smell was coming from their own camp?

Everyone unconsciously sped up.

When they arrived and saw the steaming pot sending up fragrant clouds, they all stood there in a daze.

Until Shi Jian shouted, “What are you standing around for, don’t you want any meat?!”

Meat?

It really was their own village!

After a day of exhausting work, the villagers exploded with thunderous cheers, then hurriedly lined up with their bowls.

There were only three wild chickens. In winter, wild chickens were thin and didn’t have much meat to begin with, and with the offal and scraps, each person only got a single piece of meat. The rest was cabbage and radish.

However, Tang Banxia had added extra water, so everyone got a ladle of broth and two corn buns. That was dinner for the night.

Even so, everyone ate devoutly and cherished every bite. It was meat, after all—something they seldom tasted even once a year.

They had thought coming to build the dam meant nothing but suffering. Who would have guessed they’d get to eat meat?

After learning from Shi Jian where the meat had come from, everyone’s goodwill toward Tang Banxia peaked in that instant.

Tears welled up—Comrade Tang is so good! Even when eating meat, she didn’t forget about them.

After polishing off his piece of meat, Sun Wenming couldn’t even bear to throw away the bone. He sucked on it and mumbled, “Bai, your wife is amazing, still able to catch game in the dead of winter.”

Hu Qixin dipped his corn bun in the last of the broth and asked again, “Bai, does your wife really not have any sisters?”

Wen Mubai ignored the two hopeless fools and quietly edged away. “What are you daydreaming for? Even if she did, she wouldn’t want you!”

Hu Qixin wasn’t offended. “But what if she did?”

Wen Mubai was about to retort when he saw Tang Banxia waving at him. Instantly, he had no interest in the other two.

He shoved his lunchbox at Sun Wenming. “Wash it for me.”

Without hesitation, he strode toward his wife.

Behind him, Sun Wenming and Hu Qixin looked on with envy.

“Bai’s life is really something,” Hu Qixin said sourly.

Sun Wenming picked up the lunchbox and shot him a look. “Don’t talk nonsense. That’s because Bai’s good-looking. If he wasn’t, do you think Tang would treat him like this?”

With that, he went to wash the lunchbox by the river, leaving Hu Qixin thoughtfully rubbing his own rough face...

Elsewhere,

Tang Banxia pulled Wen Mubai aside to a quiet spot, dug a chicken leg out of her satchel, and glanced around shiftily, “Quick, eat it before anyone sees.”

She had set this aside while cooking. After all, once the chicken was chopped into pieces, who could tell if a leg was missing?

Looking at the steaming chicken leg held out to him, Wen Mubai felt a twinge of guilt and a pang of sourness. He gruffly asked, “Did you eat any?”

Tang Banxia was still keeping watch and didn’t notice his mood. “Of course I did. Would the cook go hungry?”

Wen Mubai didn’t believe her. There was barely any meat to go around—if two chicken legs were missing, it would be obvious.

He took the leg, tore off a piece, and stuffed it into Tang Banxia’s mouth.

“Mmm—”

With the meat already in her mouth, Tang Banxia had no choice but to chew and swallow it, glaring at him as she ate. “I told you I already ate. Don’t give me any more.”

Only then did Wen Mubai obediently nod and finish the rest of the chicken leg himself.

After eating, the two of them reappeared as if nothing had happened. After a moment’s thought, Tang Banxia went to find Shi Jian.

Shi Jian had just returned from the river and was surprised to see her. “Comrade Tang? Did you need something?”

Tang Banxia nodded and got straight to the point. “Captain Shi, you saw how happy everyone was today. So I was thinking, let’s go up the mountain again tomorrow.”

That was a good thing, and of course Shi Jian wouldn’t refuse.

But then Tang Banxia continued, “But we don’t have enough people.”

Shi Jian was about to say they had enough, but when he looked up, he saw Wen Mubai not far away.

Ah, he understood. Comrade Tang was feeling sorry for her man.

He changed his tune and played along. “You’re right, we really do need another hand. I’m sure no one would object.”

Tang Banxia shot him a look of approval, “So who do you think would be suitable, Captain Shi?”

Shi Jian: ...

People from the city really do have their tricks!

He pretended to think for a moment, then clapped his hands. “I’ve got it. I think Comrade Wen would be perfect.”

He even gave his reasons: “Comrade Wen learned trapping from Hunter Hu, so he knows more than any of us. With him along, we’re bound to have a good haul.”

Shi Jian’s square face was the picture of sincerity.

Tang Banxia responded readily, “Whatever you say, Captain.”

Captain Shi twisted his mouth. “As long as you don’t mind.”

The two exchanged a few more polite words before going their separate ways.

Wen Mubai had overheard everything. After Shi Jian left, he walked over to Tang Banxia. “Wife, looks like I’ll never shake off the reputation of living off a woman.”

Tang Banxia glanced at him sidelong. “You don’t want to?”

“Why wouldn’t I!” Wen Mubai declared his loyalty at once. “My stomach’s not good—I’m made for living off a woman.”

“Especially yours. Suits me perfectly.”

“That’s more like it.” Tang Banxia snorted softly. “Come on, let’s go to the hut. I’ll give you a massage so you won’t be sore tomorrow.”

He was notorious for skipping out on village work. Suddenly being put to hard labor, his muscles were sure to ache.

Wen Mubai rubbed his nose and followed her into the hut.