Chapter 58: Treating Guests to Dinner

Ma Cuiyun noticed the shoe cabinet at the door, and she couldn’t help but reach out to touch it. With a tone full of envy, she said, “Sister, this shoe cabinet is really nice. It doesn’t take up much space when placed at the door. It’s convenient for storing shoes, and it looks good too.”

Su Yue smiled and replied, “Sister Ma, if you like it, you can make one as well. As long as you can get some wood, just ask an old carpenter to come to your house. He’ll make it for you for a small fee.”

Ma Cuiyun was moved by her words. She really did want a shoe cabinet like that at home, so she said, “Then I’ll go back and discuss it with my husband to see if we can make one too.”

Her gaze then fell on the sofa in the living room, and her eyes lit up immediately.

“Sister, this thing called a sofa looks so beautiful here. It feels so classy! It changes the entire look of your home.”

Su Yue also felt the same. With this sofa set, the level of their little home was instantly elevated from a small peasant household to something closer to a landlord’s family. She was very satisfied.

She asked Ma Cuiyun to sit on the sofa, poured her a glass of water, and then casually asked, “Sister Ma, did you have any conflict with that sister-in-law just now?”

Ma Cuiyun’s expression soured the moment Wang Lianying was mentioned. She said angrily,

“No, but the person I dislike the most in this compound is Wang Lianying! I’m telling you, sister, don’t bother with her in the future. She spends all day prying into people’s private matters and then spreads them everywhere.”

“When I first moved here, I didn’t know everyone’s character. When Wang Lianying came over to greet me, I thought she was just being friendly, so I let my guard down. Who would’ve thought that she’d twist everything she heard and spread it around like some kind of story, making everyone laugh at my expense? For example, I have two daughters at home, and my mother-in-law wants a grandson. After she found out, she told everyone that I couldn’t give birth to a son, that my mother-in-law was dissatisfied with me, and that she even wanted my man to divorce me! Tell me, how could I not be angry?”

Su Yue frowned. “Sister Ma, after hearing this, I’ll definitely be careful around her in the future. Is she really that kind of person? No wonder you were so angry with her just now, I would be too.”

“You must be careful and just ignore her.” Ma Cuiyun sighed, then suddenly slapped her forehead. “Oh, look at me; I forgot to tell you about my family. My man’s name is Sun Changfu. He’s in the same company as your Han Aiguo. We live upstairs, right above your house.”

Su Yue was pleasantly surprised.

“So your husband is Company Commander Sun? I’ve heard Aiguo mention that the two of them have a very good relationship.”

Just last night, Han Aiguo had told her that one of the men coming to dinner tonight was named Sun Changfu, who happened to live upstairs. She didn’t expect him to be Sister Ma’s husband. What a coincidence.

Ma Cuiyun warmly patted Su Yue’s hand.

“This must be fate. If you ever need anything, just come to me. I’m usually at home. If you’re bored, you can come upstairs to chat with me as I get bored too.”

Su Yue smiled and agreed, “Alright, I usually stay at home as well. When I’m bored, I’ll come to play with you. And you can also come down to chat with me when you’re free.”

Ma Cuiyun clapped her hands happily.

“That’s wonderful. I’ll finally have someone to chat with. You don’t know, I usually don’t like sitting downstairs with those women, gossiping loudly about their in-laws or others’ affairs. I don’t enjoy that kind of talk. Sister, you don’t seem like a gossip either, so I know we’ll get along well.”

Su Yue felt the same. She also disliked speaking poorly of others.

At that moment, Su Yue glanced at her watch and was startled to see it was almost five o’clock. She quickly said, “Sister Ma, we’re inviting Aiguo’s friends over for dinner tonight, and I still need to get the food ready. Since Commander Sun will be coming, why don’t you come too and bring your little daughters along? Don’t bother cooking at home today.”

Ma Cuiyun waved her hands quickly. “Oh, no, no, that won’t do. How could we all come and eat at your place? It would be too much.”

Su Yue insisted, smiling warmly. “Sister Ma, don’t be polite. Please bring your family over. The more, the livelier. I don’t mind at all. Please don’t refuse.”

Seeing how sincerely Su Yue was inviting her, Ma Cuiyun finally nodded.

“Alright then, I’ll be shameless today. But when it’s time for the meal, I’ll help you. Don’t hesitate to tell me what needs to be done.”

Su Yue didn’t stand on ceremony. “Great, then I’ll count on you, Sister Ma.”

“Of course!” Ma Cuiyun rolled up her sleeves immediately and began helping Su Yue.

The two of them chatted while preparing the dishes, and as they talked, Ma Cuiyun grew fonder and fonder of Su Yue. This girl was thoughtful, capable, and tidy; someone truly worth befriending.

Because she liked Su Yue, there were things she hadn’t wanted to bring up before, but for Su Yue’s sake, she said, “Sister, have you met the person living next door to you?”

Su Yue instantly sensed there was a story behind this and nodded.

“I have. The sister-in-law next door, Fang Xiaoli, doesn’t seem very warm toward me.”

“How should I put it?” Ma Cuiyun curled her lip. “It’s not just you. She’s not warm to most of us in this building. She doesn’t bother talking to us at all.”

“She’s from the city, her family has some background, and her father is also in the army. On top of that, she works in the supply and marketing cooperative, so she’s always been arrogant. She looks down on us military wives who came from the countryside. If we greet her in passing, she ignores us. Plus, her husband is a company commander; one rank higher than our men, so she looks down on us even more.”

“But if she meets a sister-in-law from the city, she’ll be all smiles, especially with the regiment leader’s wife, the political commissar’s wife, or the wives of other company commanders. As long as they’re from the city or have powerful connections, she’ll act completely different.”

Su Yue suddenly understood. No wonder she had felt that Fang Xiaoli was cold toward her and Aiguo. It wasn’t just indifference; it was disdain because they came from the countryside.

Ma Cuiyun went on, “Still, most of the women in this building fawn over her. The worst is Wang Lianying. Don’t be fooled by how she picks fights with others as she never dares to cross Fang Xiaoli.”

“Why?” Su Yue asked curiously.

Ma Cuiyun chuckled. Su Yue really was clueless about this kind of scheming.

“Because Fang Xiaoli works at the supply and marketing cooperative. The staff there always get the best goods first. Ordinary people have to queue for ages, and even then they might not be able to buy what they need. Sometimes you finally get the money together, but you don’t have the right ticket, so you still can’t buy anything. But Fang Xiaoli? It’s easy for her to buy things, sometimes even without a ticket. So, of course, the sisters-in-law all want to curry favor with her in hopes of getting some good things through her.”

Only then did Su Yue fully understand. Supply and marketing cooperative workers were indeed highly sought after in these days. But she had no intention of fawning over anyone. If they got along, they got along. If not, so be it.

Ma Cuiyun nodded firmly. “I think the same way. I’ve never asked her to help buy anything. I’d rather go myself, even if I can’t get it. I’ll just try again next time. Nine times out of ten, if someone from the countryside asks her for help, she’ll ignore them.”

Su Yue agreed. “Then we’ll just buy things ourselves. If someone has an urgent need, we can help each other, but there’s no need to grovel to her.”

Ma Cuiyun’s face lit up with a smile. “Sister, you’re absolutely right.”

The two of them chatted happily, and time flew by. Before they knew it, it was already half past six. Just then, the sound of footsteps came from the corridor, and the door opened. A group of men in green military uniforms walked in.

Su Yue hurried out to greet them.

When the group of soldiers saw her, they all called out loudly, “Hello, sister-in-law!”

Only a few of the older ones, such as Ma Cuiyun’s husband, addressed her as “sister.”

When Sun Changfu spotted his wife among them, he scratched his head in confusion and asked, “Why are you here?”

Ma Cuiyun shot him a look. “Sister Su Yue invited me. Why? You’re allowed to come for dinner but not me?”

Sun Changfu, an honest-looking man at first glance, quickly smiled with embarrassment. “Xuxu, I was just asking. I didn’t mean anything else.”

Everyone chuckled at his fear of his wife.

Su Yue then asked Han Aiguo to carry the dining table into the middle of the living room and set out the chairs. Since they didn’t have enough chairs at home, he went upstairs to borrow seven or eight from Ma Cuiyun’s place.

Several young soldiers also brought out a few bottles of wine, though no one knew where they had managed to get them.

Since not everyone had arrived yet, Su Yue told them to sit and chat for a while. She then went into the room to fetch the melon seeds, candies, and fried twists she had made over the past few days, placing them on the table. “Have a little something to eat first. The food will be ready soon.”

The group stared at the table in shock. Melon seeds were one thing, but candies and fried twists were both considered precious treats. How could she be so generous as to bring out such a large amount just to entertain them?

For a moment, they could hardly believe it.

Han Aiguo smiled proudly. “Go on, eat. Don’t be polite. Your sister-in-law made all of this herself. She’s very skilled, try it for yourselves.”

His tone carried undisguised pride, as if showing off his wife.

Encouraged, the men finally reached out, took some of the snacks, and popped them into their mouths.

The moment they tasted them, they realized Han Aiguo hadn’t been exaggerating; his words were completely true.

The candy was better than the most expensive kind sold at the supply and marketing cooperative, the melon seeds were delicious, and the fried twists were fragrant and crunchy, shattering crisply with each bite.

In no time, the group of men abandoned all reserve, eating with enthusiasm they could no longer suppress.

When Feng Junwei entered with Fang Xiaoli, he found them all happily munching away. He couldn’t help but laugh and scold, “Aren’t you ashamed? A bunch of grown men enjoying snacks like children!”

Zhuzhu quickly retorted, “Battalion Commander, these were made by Company Commander Han’s wife herself. They’re so good; have a taste!”

Feng Junwei already knew Su Yue was a talented cook. Just two days earlier, she had sent over a plate of pastries that were so delicious he had been reluctant to stop at just one piece. Even his wife, who was usually picky with food, had eaten them nonstop.

He stepped forward, grabbed a fried twist, and put it in his mouth. At once he was conquered by its crispiness, and before he knew it, he had picked up another.

Behind him, Fang Xiaoli poked his waist.

Understanding immediately, Feng Junwei turned back and handed her a twist.

Fang Xiaoli accepted it cautiously but didn’t hold back once it was in her hand. She finished it quickly, then reached for another twist and two pieces of candy before looking for a place to sit and enjoy them.

But as soon as she turned, her eyes landed on the armchairs and sofa in the living room. Her eyes lit up at first, but then she frowned.

This kind of sofa could only be found in well-off families. Her parents had one back in her maiden home, but she and her husband had none here because the local carpenters didn’t make them and they couldn’t buy one.

How did Han Aiguo, a mere battalion commander from the countryside, have such an expensive set? How could he afford it?

The more she thought about it, the more she wished she had one herself.

She walked over and sat down on the sofa, running her hands over the armrest. The more she touched it, the more she liked it. It felt so comfortable to lean back, if only she could come home after work every day and lounge like this.

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Su Yue was busy cooking while Ma Cuiyun helped her on the side. Knowing that soldiers ate a lot, Su Yue had prepared generous portions with a balanced variety. For meat dishes alone, she made braised pork, steamed pork, meatballs, and shredded pork rolls.

She had also bought ribs in the morning and used them to make sweet-and-sour ribs and a rib-and-corn soup. From the pork offal, she made stir-fried intestines and a fragrant stir-fried pork heart.

She practically used up every bit of meat she could find and turned it into dishes for the table.

After the meat came the vegetables: glutinous rice-stuffed lotus root, three delicacies stir-fry, thousand-layer tofu, fish-flavored shredded pork, braised cabbage with vermicelli, and vegetable fritters.

The dishes came out one after another, her hands never stopping.

Ma Cuiyun stood frozen in amazement as she watched Su Yue stir-fry, flip the wok, and add seasonings with dazzling speed. Her movements were so fast that Ma Cuiyun’s eyes could barely keep up; one pot on the left, another on the right.

What should have taken over three hours to prepare was finished in what felt like no time at all, and every plate smelled so good that Ma Cuiyun’s stomach growled.

This was the first time she had seen someone cook with such skill; it was like watching a performance. Compared to this, her cooking was nothing at all.

She swallowed hard and blurted out, half joking, “Sister, your cooking is so amazing, it’s like a show. I feel like giving you a round of applause!”

Su Yue laughed as she kept her hands moving. “Sister Ma, save your applause for later. Right now, help me serve the food as they must be starving out there.”

Reminded of the task, Ma Cuiyun quickly snapped back to her senses, hurried out with a dish in hand, and called, “Hurry, hurry! The food’s coming out. You’re all in for a treat tonight, Company Commander Han’s wife is a genius in the kitchen!”

At her words, the soldiers immediately swallowed their saliva and cleared space on the table. Some even rushed to the kitchen to help carry out the dishes.

When the table was finally set, everyone dug in eagerly.

After the first bite, they were stunned. Each dish was so delicious that they couldn’t help but envy Han Aiguo even more. Not only did he marry a beautiful and generous wife, but she was also a masterful cook. To eat like this every day, how lucky could one man be?

They voiced their admiration one after another, and Han Aiguo, usually so reserved, couldn’t hide the proud smile tugging at his lips. His joy was written all over his face.

Even Feng Junwei, though reluctant to admit it, felt envious. That kid Han Aiguo, who used to have such bad luck, had somehow married the kind of wife one could hardly find even with a lantern. If only his own wife could be half as capable…

He glanced at Fang Xiaoli beside him, who only knew how to eat without once helping in the kitchen, and sighed silently.

There were fourteen dishes in total, each portioned as if three dishes in one. It seemed like there would surely be leftovers, yet in the end, not a morsel remained. Even the sauces on the plates were wiped clean with steamed buns.

Looking at the spotless dishes, Su Yue didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

It was as if a strong wind had swept through and left not a blade of grass behind. Still, it proved that they truly enjoyed her cooking, which was the best compliment she could ask for.

After dinner, Fang Xiaoli excused herself and left early, leaving Feng Junwei a little embarrassed.

The others, however, didn’t mention it. Instead, they took the initiative to clear the table, sweep the floor, and even offered to wash the dishes.

Su Yue felt so embarrassed she had to shoo them away, leaving only herself and Ma Cuiyun to finish up in the kitchen.

Because of this meal, the young soldiers held Su Yue in even greater esteem. Company Commander Han was truly blessed to have found such a wife. If only they could be as lucky someday.

Ma Cuiyun’s two little daughters had also eaten their fill. The younger one, only three years old and nicknamed Taozi, tilted her head up to Su Yue and asked sweetly, “Auntie, can I come eat at your house again next time? Your food is way better than my mom’s.”

Ma Cuiyun was so angry she almost wanted to spank her. After one meal, she was already afraid this child would start running to Su Yue’s house every day. She scolded, “You eat so much so how can your aunt’s family have extra food for you? If you eat at her place, there won’t be enough for her own family.”

The little girl thought for a moment, then brightened with an idea. “Then I can bring the food over, and Auntie can cook it for me. That way there’ll be enough.”

Both Ma Cuiyun and Sun Changfu were left speechless.

Su Yue was amused. She reached out to pinch the little one’s cheek and said, “Alright, if little Taozi wants to come eat, just come to Auntie’s house.”

At once, the child jumped up and down happily as they walked home.

Translator’s Food Notes:-

braised pork:-

steamed pork:-

meatballs:-

shredded pork rolls:-

stir-fried intestines:-

stir-fried pork heart:-

glutinous rice-stuffed lotus root:-

thousand-layer tofu:-

fish-flavored shredded pork:-

braised cabbage with vermicelli:-

vegetable fritters :-