Chapter 312: Eight Treasures Porridge
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Su Fengzhang looked at his three younger brothers and felt genuinely happy for them. He patted their shoulders and said hoarsely, “I’m truly happy for you guys. You three look well. I no longer have to worry about you guys.”
In the past, he was always worried and anxious whenever he looked at his three younger brothers. At that time, his second brother’s foot had gotten severely injured, his third brother was discouraged, and his fourth brother’s hand was injured.
Su Fengzhang was highly concerned for them, but Ding Wan was seriously ill then, so he could only take care of her first and not his family. Naturally, he did not have the energy to look after his three younger brothers.
He often took his wife to visit several doctors back then, ultimately abandoning his home and land. Nonetheless, his three younger brothers tried to help him salvage his land. They even harvested grain for him during the autumn harvest.
Su Fengzhang felt terrible, but he had no choice. He could not leave his wife and could only bring her around to visit various doctors.
Ding Wan had spent all the money she had accumulated from embroidering over the past few years. Her husband only kept a bit of the grain he had harvested for food and sold the rest. The two made many sacrifices for Ding Wan’s treatment.
Su Fengzhang was mentally and physically exhausted, losing so much weight that he was mostly skin and bones. He no longer looked like how he was before.
However, after returning to the village, he realized that his family had undergone drastic changes since he had been away for a few months.
Nonetheless, Ding Wan was finally recovering, and Su Fengzhang was excited. He felt there was still hope for them.
Su Fengmao comforted his eldest brother, “Everything will be okay, Big Brother.”
Su Fengzhi echoed thoughtfully, “Big Brother, look at me, Fengmao, and Fengchen. You should know Binglan’s medical skills by now. Ding Wan will be alright.”
Su Fengchen added, “With Binglan’s help, I started making salted duck and chicken eggs, preserved eggs, and grilled chicken and roast duck. I’ve earned a
10t or money With these.
“I couldn’t bring those dishes today because I was in a hurry to check on you and Ding Wan, but I will bring them over tomorrow for you two to taste. Then you’ll know how delicious those dishes are.”
Su Fengzhi said smilingly, “I have a shop in town selling barbecued lamb skewers and some dishes that go with wine. My business is booming, Big Brother. My family and I also started making charcoal, which Binglan taught us how to do.”
Su Fengmao felt a little embarrassed when he heard his two brothers speaking highly of what his daughter had done for them. Still, he was proud. “My family and I live in a bigger house now. Wenzhe and his wife have a shop in town and a tofu factory in the village.
“You don’t have to cook tonight, Fengzhang. I’ll go to the factory later and bring some tofu to you. I’ll make some tofu dishes for you and Ding Wan to try.
Su Fengchen said smilingly, “The tofu Second Brother makes is delicious. Tofu is a versatile ingredient, so we can add them to several dishes. Also, Second Brother’s built his house with bricks. Our parents and I also rebuilt our house with bricks.”
The three brothers talked about the changes in their lives during Su
Fengzhang’s absence. Su Fengzhang’s jaw dropped as he listened to them. His mouth was so wide that one could easily stuff an egg into it.
‘Everything they said sounds like a fairytale. Am I mishearing and hallucinating? I’ve been away for only a few months, yet so much has changed?’ Su Fengzhang thought all this was unbelievable.
Even Su Wenxian was stunned. His eyes were wide open as he thought he was listening to fairy tales. When he saw his father’s expression, he realized he had not misheard and that everything his three uncles said was true.
Ding Wan leaned against the wall and sat, listening to the conversation between Su Fengmao, Su Fengzhi, and Su Fengchen. She imagined the changes in the family and smiled.
She was delighted for everyone. ‘It seems that Binglan is truly a capable person. Binglan told me to recover as soon as possible so that I could help her with her embroidery shop. I believe what my niece said is true.’
With those thoughts in mind, Ding Wan felt a warmth in her heart. She wanted to get well quickly and help her niece. She wanted to be helpful to her family and feel needed by everyone. Ding Wan did not want to be sick and weak, causing everyone to worry about her.
She did not say anything as she listened to the three brothers seriously. They could not stop talking about the changes in the family. The more they talked, the more excited everyone became.
Su Fengzhang became emotional. “Binglan is amazing!’
He started believing in his niece’s words even more. ‘If she says Ding will get better, then she will.’
It was already late at night, and the three brothers did not want to disturb their sister-in-law’s rest, so they went home.
When Su Fengmao reached home, he asked if his wife could cook something delicious to send to his eldest brother and sister-in-law.
Shen Qiuhua said smilingly, “Do you think you’re the only one who thinks about these things? Binglan is already making eight treasures porridge in the pot.”
Su Fengmao was stunned. “What kind of porridge is that?”
He had never tasted this kind of porridge or heard of it. Moreover, his daughter had never made it before.
Shen Qiuhua took some firewood from the yard and entered the house. “It’s just a different kind of porridge anyway. Still, it’ll be delicious. Of course, all of
Binglan’s dishes are.”
Su Wenzhe and Liu Yinyin were also at home.
Liu Yinyin said, “Father-in-law, Binglan said that Aunt Ding’s body is weak and she can’t overeat right now. She can only eat something light, so that’s why Binglan is making eight treasures porridge.”
Su Binglan made quite a lot of porridge, enough for the whole family to eat. Since the pot was big enough, she knew it was best to make more and send some to Su Fengzhi and Su Fengchen. Then even her grandparents could have some.
Meanwhile, Su Wenxiu looked at the human acupoint diagram in his room. He held the diagram his sister drew and looked at it excitedly. He thought that once he studied acupoints, he would be able to learn acupuncture finally.
Su Wenwu had just returned from the neighboring village as he was responsible for getting ingredients for the hotpot restaurant. He was in charge of the entire restaurant’s operations now.
He entrusted his three close friends to gather the ingredients, but he would sometimes oversee them and give them instructions. That was why Su Wenwu was so busy that he barely stood still anymore.
Therefore, he did not know about his Aunt Ding Wan’s situation, as he had just gotten home. He only heard about these things after returning from a neighboring village.
“I’ll go and visit Aunt Ding,” he was about to leave as he spoke.
However, Su Binglan said, “Don’t worry. Aunt Ding is fine now. You can send the porridge over when it’s ready.”
“Okay.” Su Wenwu instinctively listened to his sister.
Soon after, Su Binglan finished cooking the eight treasures porridge and filled some food boxes with it. “These are for Aunt Ding and her family. Those are for Uncle Fengzhi and his family. That one is for Grandpa, Grandpa, and Uncle
Fengchen.”
Then she remembered something and scooped more for Su Fengchen. “Mother, that woman, Zhizhi, that Uncle Fengchen saved back then is still in his house, right?”
The unconscious Zhizhi could not remember much when Su Fengchen saved her last time, so she relied on him a lot. Old Madam Su allowed Zhizhi to live with them and told everyone Zhizhi was their distant relative.
Shen Qiuhua replied, “Yes, she’s still there. I don’t know if she remembers her past yet, though..”
