51 Remnants of the Republic of China V (1/2)

The plain congee was finished when Jiang Feng arrived at the kitchen, only a few bowls worth of thick congee were left. Auntie Li and her daughter were eating Chinese cornbread with the thick congee. Yellow wasn't the only color in the cornbread, Jiang Weiguo could tell that whoever made it added the cob into it too. Even though it would taste weird, at least it was much more filling than the congees.

In the steam basket next to them were four slightly yellowed buns. It seemed like the people that were working for Manager Wang had arrived earlier and taken the buns that seemed fresher with them. When Auntie Li saw Jiang Weiguo arriving, she quickly gave him a stool and a bowl.

”Xiao Jiang, come.”

Auntie Li's daughter was staring at the buns while munching on the cornbread in her hands.

Before Jiang Weiguo escaped to the south, he had a good life. But when war broke out, he had been living without a home for half a year. After he boarded the ship 15 days ago, he hadn't had a filling meal since. Now that he saw the food that was in front of him, his belly was grumbling so hard that it started to heat up. But even so, he still took one of the buns and gave it to Auntie Li's daughter.

”Here, this is for you,” Jiang Weiguo smiled.

Auntie Li's daughter took the bun happily and jumped with joy.

”Look at you!” Auntie Li scolded as she slightly slapped her daughter's hand. ”Hurry up, and thank Xiao Jiang.”

”Thank you, Brother Xiao Jiang,” Auntie Li's daughter thanked him with a small voice.

”Thank you so much,” Auntie Li thanked him too. ”My daughter has never had one of the steamed buns before. Here, take these cornbreads. I'll go fill a bowl of thick congee for you.”

Jiang Weiguo took a bun from the steam basket and ripped half off with his teeth. In just a short moment, Jiang Weiguo finished the three remaining buns that weren't large from the beginning.

”Hey, don't choke yourself,” Auntie Li said when she saw Jiang Weiguo eating that fast. ”I'll go get a bowl of rice paste for you.”

The rice paste that Auntie Li got for Jiang Weiguo was thicker than what he would usually get in the cabin below. After having three buns, a bowl of thick congee, and a bowl of rice paste, Jiang Weiguo finally felt full after starving for a few days. It was a warm and safe feeling that Jiang Weiguo hadn't felt for quite a long time.

Auntie Li's daughter tore the bun into two and gave the bigger one to Auntie Li. Auntie Li took a small bite and gave it back to her daughter.

Jiang Weiguo started to munch on the cornbread that Auntie Li gave him.

Looking at how Jiang Weiguo ate, Auntie Li asked carefully. ”Xiao Jiang, you've been staying in the cabin below, right?”

Jiang Weiguo nodded.

”Where are you from? You must be from the north, right? I've heard that the north is not habitable, and everyone is running to the south. The chef before you was from the north too, but they found out he had an incurable disease and threw him into the ocean.”

Like many other women of her age, Auntie Li was a talkative person.

”I'm from Beiping,” Jiang Weiguo said.

”Beiping! What a great place!” Auntie Li exclaimed. ”I've never been there, but I've heard a lot about it. I've been working on this ship for many years, and I can only leave once or twice a year. Were you a chef before this?”

Jiang Weiguo did not ask about Auntie Li's husband. Everyone knew that there were just too many ways for a person to die during these times. Seeing Auntie Li and her daughter working on the ship, Jiang Weiguo could guess that her husband died quite some time ago.

”My dad was a chef,” Jiang Weiguo replied and got himself another bowl of thick congee.

”Are you going to Modu(1)?” Auntie Li then asked, since most of the people on board were going there.

Jiang Weiguo nodded.

”It'd be better if you didn't go there. Why don't you stay here?” Auntie Li suggested. ”If Manager Wang gave you another bun, it meant that he likes you. If you ask him nicely, he will probably let you stay.”

Jiang Weiguo looked at Auntie Li, not understanding why she was trying to persuade him to not go to Modu.

”You need money to survive there,” Auntie Li explained. ”I've heard that even the rent of a small room would cost you one silver coin per month! What's more, it's hard to find a job there. Then there are the taxes too. No one would hire you there. Staying on the ship would be a better choice, no? You get food, a place to sleep, and 60 cents per month. Manager Wang might give you steamed buns every day too.”

It was clear that the buns were something luxurious to Auntie Li.

Jiang Weiguo shook his head. ”I can't. Before my dad saw me off, he told me to succeed in Modu so that I can return to Beiping and take back what's ours.”