Rebirth: Not Being a Waste - Chapter 46

When Zhang Shu says there’s a new way to eat it, everyone becomes interested and asks him how he makes it.

Zhang Shu keeps it a secret and says they’ll find out once he makes it. He asks Li Mujin to help him wash a few potatoes, then boils water and puts the whole potatoes in to cook.

Is this different from the previous way of eating? Li Mujin looks at Zhang Shu in confusion, but Zhang Shu just smiles mysteriously at him.

While the potatoes are cooking, Zhang Shu goes to the small vegetable plot on the edge of the backyard and pulls out two shallots. The backyard of the Zhang family is larger than the front yard, with many miscellaneous things planted there. Items that are not usually used are also piled up here, and the entrance to the cellar is located here as well.

He squats in the backyard, picks off the roots and yellow leaves of the shallots, then takes them to the front yard to wash. Li Mujin is still in the kitchen. When he sees Zhang Shu come in with a few shallots and cut them into chopped green onions on the chopping board, he thinks to himself, Is the new way to eat potatoes to eat them with sauce? Otherwise, why cut them into chopped green onions?

After the potatoes are cooked, Zhang Shu takes them out, drains them, and then peels them together with Li Mujin.

The smooth potatoes are placed side by side on the chopping board. Zhang Shu picks up the big kitchen knife at home and presses them horizontally. The steamed, soft, and glutinous potatoes are pressed into a mash.

“Jin’er, go and scoop out a spoonful of flour.”

Li Mujin takes out a small basin with some flour. “Ah’shu, is this enough?”

“Enough, bring it over.”

He takes the basin, mixes some water into it, and pours a ladle of water in. The flour instantly turns into a paste.

“Did you add too much water? Should I get some more flour? Look at this—it’s too thin to do anything with.”

“No, just watch me.” Zhang Shu uses a kitchen knife to scrape the paste from the chopping board into the flour, then cracks two eggs, adds chopped green onions and salt, and stirs with chopsticks.

After adding the paste, the flour mixture thickens, and a fragrant aroma wafts out. Zhang Shu heats the pan, pours some oil into it, then uses his hands to shape the mixture into small pancake shapes and places them into the pan to fry.

The oil is very hot, and as soon as the pancakes enter the pan, beautiful bubbles form around them, sizzling as they fry. After one side turns golden and crispy, Zhang Shu flips them over with chopsticks and continues frying.

A rich aroma fills the air, more tempting than the ones baked in the morning. Li Mujin never considers himself particularly greedy, yet he finds himself salivating at the smell.

Zhang Shu places the fried pancakes on a plate to cool slightly, then picks one up with chopsticks and holds it to Li Mujin’s mouth. “Try it and see if it tastes good.”

Li Mujin takes a big bite. It’s crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The chopped green onions taste even better after being fried. Although the only seasoning is salt, it’s still delicious!

After one bite, he takes another, then pushes the chopsticks to Zhang Shu’s mouth. “You eat it too!”

Zhang Shu stuffs the rest into his mouth and thinks it tastes very good.

“Let’s fry the rest together and take them out for Grandpa and Grandma to taste.” Li Mujin doesn’t wait for Zhang Shu to do it—he pushes him aside and starts frying them himself. After all, he has just learned how.

Grandpa Zhang and Grandma Zhang also think they taste good. Elderly people prefer lighter flavors, and they especially love these fragrant little cakes. But Zhang Shu doesn’t let them eat too many while they’re still hot, worrying they might upset their stomachs, and tells them to let them cool before eating.

The aroma of the fried sweet potato cakes drifts out of the yard and reaches Laiwang’s house. His son, Dabao, smells it and drools.

But he is always well-behaved. Unlike other children who would cry and fuss, he simply moves a small stool and sits under the wall of his yard, basking in the sun while enjoying the scent nearby.

“Bang, bang, bang.” There’s a knock on the door outside the yard. Dabao’s grandmother and mother are busy, and no one is in the yard at the moment. Dabao looks around, then tiptoes to the door and pulls the bolt to open it.

When he sees who has come, his eyes light up. “Uncle!” Then, he hesitates when looking at Li Mujin, unsure of how to address him.

Zhang Shu, already familiar with him, reaches out and picks him up. “You can’t call him ‘Uncle.’ You have to call him ‘Shūme.’ Understand?”

(Translator’s Notes:叔么 (shūme) appears to be a specific form of address, likely used in certain dialects or cultural contexts to refer to an uncle’s wife (such as an uncle’s husband in a same-sex marriage).

“Shūme!” Dabao purses his lips and calls out crisply. Then he spots the small cake in Li Mujin’s hand—the very thing he has just smelled.

“Is your Aba and father home?”

“Father’s in the back.” Dabao wriggles in Zhang Shu’s arms, and when Zhang Shu puts him down, he immediately runs to the backyard, shouting, “Father, Uncle is here!”

Laiwang is chopping wood. When he hears the call, he wipes his hands and comes out holding Dabao. “Oh, it’s Zhang Shu! And Brother-in-law—you two are visiting today?”

Laiwang’s mother and husband also come out after hearing the voices. Since it’s Li Mujin’s first visit as Zhang Shu’s newlywed husband, the family has to treat him well. Laiwang’s husband brings out a plate of homemade fried peanuts and boiled potatoes, pours a few bowls of tea, and places them in the yard to entertain the guests.

Li Mujin places his own plate on the stone table. “Auntie, Brother Yue, this is something new that Ah’shu made. It’s from the city—try it.” Then, he picks up a piece and hands it to Dabao, who is eagerly watching from the side. Dabao looks at his Aba for permission. Seeing him nod, he takes it and politely says, “Thank you.”

“So well-mannered! Brother Yue, you’ve raised this child so well. He’s so polite at such a young age!”

“No, he clings to me all the time—it’s annoying.” He Yue says this, but his face shows a completely different expression.

“Then let me take him home. I wouldn’t mind at all,” Li Mujin teases with a smile.

“If you want a child, go find your Zhang Shu.” He Yue leans in and whispers into Li Mujin’s ear.

Li Mujin turns red in embarrassment, lowering his head to sip his tea to cover it up.

Zhang Shu and Laiwang are sitting on the other side, chatting about farm work, completely unaware of the conversation. Meanwhile, Dabao sits next to his father, nibbling on his small cake with a contented expression.

After returning from Laiwang’s house, Zhang Shu washes some potatoes and prepares to make more cakes. Tomorrow morning, they’ll visit his in-laws, and he wants to bring some for them to taste.

The next day, the two of them set out with baskets on their shoulders. Upon arriving at the Li family’s house, Li Mujin follows his Aba inside, leaving Zhang Shu to sit in the main hall with his father-in-law and brother-in-law.

The Li family is quite at ease with Li Mujin marrying into the Zhang family. Their families live close together, and if anything happens, they can walk over in a quarter of an hour. Still, they ask a few questions, wanting to hear things directly from Zhang Shu. Upon confirming that Li Mujin is happy, they feel reassured.

At the dinner table, the Li family tries the small cakes and finds them delicious. Li Yan even wraps up the leftovers to take to the mountains for a snack.

After dinner, the couple takes a stroll before heading home. Upon arriving, they greet Zhang Shu’s grandparents, wash up, and go back to their room.

On cold winter nights, Zhang Shu asks Li Mujin to place his hands and feet on him for warmth, then pulls him into his arms.

“Jin’er, the New Year is still a month or two away, and the farm work is almost done. I think I need to find something else to do.”

“Do whatever you want. I’ll take good care of the house for you.”

Zhang Shu suddenly has an idea. “Jin’er, do you want to go with me?”

“Ah?” Li Mujin is startled. “Really?” Then he quickly brightens up. If he can, he’d rather not be separated from Zhang Shu.

Zhang Shu calms down. If it’s just a short-term job, he definitely won’t take Li Mujin with him. But what if he starts a small business of his own?

“Well, I’ll give it a try for the next two days. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll think of another way.” Solutions come from thinking. They’re still young, and the worst that can happen is losing some effort—nothing to be afraid of.

“Alright! I’ll think it over with you!”

Zhang Shu smiles and hugs Li Mujin. It’s time to sleep. Either way, he has already made up his mind.