Sweet Rebirth: The Little Healer

Seeing that Zhao Nuanyue had dried her hair, Hua Yusen pulled her into the room. Before going inside, he made sure to say to Zhao Nuanyang, ”Nuanyang, I’ve already heated water for you. Go wash up. I have something to talk to your sister about.”

”Oh!” His brother-in-law’s eager expression said it all. Knowing full well what was happening, Zhao Nuanyang shook his head with a laugh and went to the washroom to bathe.

The moment they were inside, Hua Yusen latched the door, ensuring no one would disturb them.

”Hey, it’s the middle of the day! Why are you in such a rush?” Zhao Nuanyue exclaimed, watching Hua Yusen hurry to close and latch the door.

’So her husband had been missing her too. Could anything be more blissful than this?’

”Nuanyue, tell me what’s been happening in Nianqiao Village, will you?” Hua Yusen asked, stroking Zhao Nuanyue’s back. ”Since leaving Nianqiao Village, I’ve really started to miss the beautiful scenery!”

”Let’s talk about it some other time. I’m so tired,” Zhao Nuanyue mumbled. She let out a soft sound, closed her eyes, and turned her back to Hua Yusen.

Hua Yusen shook his head and chuckled. ’Ah, my Nuanyue must be exhausted from the train ride. Such a long, dusty journey.’

Their passionate reunion just now had also drained a lot of her energy.

Zhao Nuanyue was now utterly exhausted. As her breathing evened out, she drifted off to sleep.

Hua Yusen gazed tenderly at his young wife. He let her continue sleeping on his shoulder, wanting her to be as comfortable as possible.

Zhao Nuanyang went back to his room to unpack his paintings and luggage, not feeling the least bit tired.

After he finished organizing everything in his room, he came out and saw the tightly closed door to his sister and brother-in-law’s room. A glance revealed that Little Red Carp was also sleeping. Zhao Nuanyang shook his head and chuckled to himself.

’Looks like I’ll be in charge of lunch today.’

Zhao Nuanyang went into the kitchen. He found a large piece of meat—a good two or three pounds of pork belly—along with some potatoes and napa cabbage. He decided to make braised pork with potatoes, stir-fried napa cabbage with vinegar, and a pot of steamed rice.

Noticing the mountain delicacies they’d brought from Nianqiao Village, he took out some dried vegetables, soaked them, and made a large pot of dried vegetable and egg drop soup.

There weren’t many dishes, but the portions were generous—more than enough for the four of them and their hearty appetites.

Just as Zhao Nuanyang finished cooking, Little Red Carp woke up. She dressed herself, put on her shoes, and came out of her room. Her hair was a bit of a mess, so Zhao Nuanyang grabbed a comb and tied it into a ponytail for her.

”Wow, Brother, you’re getting so good at this! You made such delicious braised pork, and with potatoes too!” Little Red Carp exclaimed as she walked into the kitchen and saw the table laden with her favorite dishes.

Zhao Nuanyang was delighted to receive Little Red Carp’s spontaneous praise.

”I think my skills are improving too,” Zhao Nuanyang said with a cheerful laugh. ”My work schedule is pretty light, so I’ll be able to cook for you all more often. If you’re hungry, Little Red Carp, go ahead and start. As for your sister and brother-in-law, we won’t wait for them. They can eat whenever they wake up.”

Little Red Carp tilted her head, looked toward her sister and brother-in-law’s closed door, then shook her head like a little adult. She declared in an old-fashioned tone, ”A short separation is better than a honeymoon, and an hour of a spring night is worth a thousand pieces of gold!”

”What kind of nonsense is that for a kid to be saying? Just eat your food!” Zhao Nuanyang was rendered speechless by his sister’s comment. It was always a bit jarring to hear such grown-up words come from a child.

”I’m not wrong! I’m just telling it like it is,” Little Red Carp retorted with a pout, looking displeased. ”You and Sister are always ganging up on me.”

Glaring at her brother, Little Red Carp channeled her indignation into her appetite and began to wolf down her food.

She took huge mouthfuls of meat, potatoes, and rice.

Zhao Nuanyang and Little Red Carp were in the middle of their meal when the door to Zhao Nuanyue’s room opened.

Having slept for over an hour, Zhao Nuanyue was finally awake. She probably would have slept longer if her hungry stomach hadn’t woken her.

The fragrant aroma of the meal had reached her, so she washed her hands, called for Hua Yusen, and they hurried over to eat.

”Wow, Nuanyang, you’re amazing!” Zhao Nuanyue exclaimed, her eyes narrowing in bliss after a bite of the tender, savory-sweet braised pork. ”You have a real talent for cooking, Nuanyang. To think you can make braised pork this delicious! It’s every bit as good as mine.”

”Hehe, that’s only because you taught me well, Sister,” Zhao Nuanyang said humbly. ”I’ll cook more often when I have free time so that you can get more rest!”