370 Porridge and Letters, Before and in the Future (1/2)

Chapter 370: Porridge and Letters, Before and in the Future

Translator: TransnEditor: Transn

Ning Que woke up and sighed before he even opened his eyes due to a splitting headache. The pain confused him, and he could not remember the last thing that happened at the Building of Pines and Cranes. He wasn't sure if his headache was due to a hangover or something else.

He thought for a long time before he remembered the tall old man in fox-fur robes. He thought about the thick, short rod in the man's hand and understood the reason for his headache. He could not help feeling angry, or perhaps, a little ashamed. He was angry that the man had actually dared to hit him, and was ashamed that he, a core disciple of the Headmaster of the Academy, had been beaten by a frail rich man of Chang'an.

Was he still lying on the balcony of the Building of Pines and Cranes? Ning Que felt around himself subconsciously, and knew that he was in the Old Brush Pen Shop by the hardness of the brick bed beneath him and the scent of the bedding. Who had sent him back? Was it the manager or the evil old man?

The familiar scent of the bedding wafted past his nose. It wasn't an odd scent, but one that made him feel at ease. It was his and her scent. However, he also smelt another unfamiliar scent that he remembered clearly. It was a scent of beef and egg porridge. He suddenly felt confused, as if he had returned to the past.

Many years ago, he brought Sangsang along with him to join the army in the City of Wei. When they passed through Tushi town, they had met a barbarian cook from the grassland selling beef porridge. An old man had cracked an egg in his beef porridge in a very particular manner. The boiling beef porridge cooked the fresh egg into a slurry, and it became an amazingly fragrant and smooth dish. It looked tasty even from afar.

Sangsang wanted to eat the beef and egg porridge, but Ning Que did not buy it as he was trying to save money. The two walked past the town silently. After that, he had killed a Horse Gang with the team in the City of Wei. When he received his first payment, Sangsang made beef and egg porridge for four days straight. The two ate it till they felt sick. That was when they realized that beef and egg porridge was very nourishing, but was ordinary after they had too much of it. And from then on, they never made it again.

Ning Que opened his eyes and looked at the white paper stuck on the roof. He smelt the scent of beef and egg porridge wafting in through the cracks of the door. He rubbed his hurting head and sat up.

Tugging on his robe from the foot of the brick bed, he pushed the door open and walked into the courtyard. He looked at the neatly stacked firewood in the corner where some pieces were missing on the very top row, as if a rat had come by and stole some in the middle of the night.

Then, he looked towards the shop and realized that the vegetables, rice and roast duck that were left on the table the day before were missing. The table was wiped down and the floors had been scrubbed clean and were devoid of any dust.

Hot steam floated from the kitchen. Ning Que walked over and discovered that the leftovers had been thrown out. The stove that had been cold for two days was heated up once more by firewood. A bowl of porridge bubbled noisily on the stovetop, steam and fragrance escaping from it.

There was a small stool before the stove. Sangsang sat in her usual spot. She looked at the firewood, listened to the porridge cook and controlled the fire. She seemed a little tired, and her slightly tanned face was flushed by the fire. The tendrils of yellow hair on her forehead curled even more in the heat.

Ning Que looked at her frail back. After a moment of silence, he walked up and patted her shoulder.

Sangsang woke up. She raised her face to look at him. ”You've woken up?”

Ning Que made a sound of agreement. He said, ”It seems that you haven't slept much all night.”

Sangsang murmured in agreement.

Ning Que said, ”Go and sleep. I'll cook the porridge.”

Sangsang stood up from the stool and pushed the curly hair on her forehead back. She suddenly remembered something when she exited the kitchen, and turned back, ”Mind the fire, don't let it grow too big.”

Ning Que said, ”I know.”

Sangsang continued, ”You can't drink, drink less in the future.”

Ning Que said, ”I know.”

Then, he sat down on the stool before the stove. He removed the firewood that was burning too fiercely, and adjusted the heat, turning down the heat in the stove.

...

...

Sangsang woke up at noon. She retrieved her towel and toothbrush and washed up simply. She went to take a look at the porridge in the kitchen, and then, walked to the front of the shop.

There was a plate of deboned and skinned roast duck on the table as well as two plates of vegetables with spring onion and garlic. Also on the table was a pot of beef and egg porridge, two pairs of chopsticks and two empty bowls.

All the dishes were the same as the previous day other than the beef and egg porridge that Sangsang cooked. Ning Que had gone to the market and made them while she was asleep.

Sangsang looked at the dishes on the table and suddenly lowered her head to look at her shoes that stuck out from beneath her skirts. She said in a low voice, ”Have your injuries healed? If they have, I'll return to the Scholar's Mansion.”

Ning Que said, ”You don't have to go back.”

Sangsang froze slightly. She thought for a moment before scooping him a bowl of porridge and placing it before him. Then, she handed him chopsticks and began to serve herself porridge.

”Let's eat some rice.” Ning Que placed a drumstick in her bowl.

Sangsang said seriously, ”This is a dish, not rice.”

Ning Que replied, ”It's all the same.”

Then, the two began to eat in the shop silently. He would occasionally place some vegetables in her bowl, and she would dip duck skin in sauce and place it in his. Then, she scooped another bowl of porridge for him.

Ning Que suddenly smiled.

Sangsang smiled as well.

...

...

There was a horse carriage outside the Lin 47th Street.

Mo Shanshan sat by the window and peered at the Old Brush Pen Shop through the curtain. The doors to the shop were not closed and she could clearly see what was happening in the shop. She saw many things and many nuances.

Her expression was calm as usual. However, her lashes fluttered slightly.