Chapter 8 – Noodles

 On the way home, although she was very hungry, Li Hehua was happy from the bottom of her heart.
After all, she would be able to earn money soon.

This is a good start.
She didn't have to worry about running out of business in the future.
She is confident with the villagers' ability to spread news.

If this is the case, why not give herself a reward?

Well in fact, she really didn't want to eat brown rice porridge anymore.
She felt weak after eating it for a long time.
　　
She still have about 30 cents with her.
She can still buy some rice and noodles to eat.
The Wang family will have the banquet  in ten days anyway.  She can use the money.

Li Hehua endured the strong hunger and went directly to town.
　　
When we arrived in the town, many street stalls were closed, but some of them were still selling food.

Li Hehua touched her stomach and wanted to eat a bowl of noodles, but a bowl of plain noodles cost three cents.
It was too expensive for her now.

After struggling for a while, Li Hehua overcame her desire to eat and walked away in pain.

Forget it, just go home and make some noodles of her own.
It must be a hundred times better than eating here.

After comforting herself, Li Hehua walked directly down the street and went to a grain and oil store.
She bought a little rice and a little flour, spending a total of twenty-five cents.
She only have five cents left in her pocket.

Li Hehua sighed, turned and walked towards the village.

When she got home, it was almost four o'clock in the afternoon.
At this point, many villagers were still working in the fields.
Li Hehua didn't see Zhang Tieshan and Zhang Qingshan, nor did he see Zhang Tieshan's mother, but the door of the house was open, so she shouldn't have gone too far.

She first put the purchased rice in the woodshed, then went straight to the kitchen with the flour.
Just as she was about to start, she remembered the child from yesterday.
In a silent manner, she went to the back of the stove and again saw the child from yesterday.

He is still in the same sitting position, so silent.

Li Hehua's heart twitched.
A sour, unbearable, and an unknown emotion filled her brain.
It made her want to hug the child, kiss him, and give him the best of things, just to make him laugh and happy.

However, she knew that she couldn't.
This child rejected her very much.
Her approach would only hurt him.
　　

Therefore, Li Hehua suppressed the emotions in her heart and said to the child, “Hello, baby.
I'm going to cook now.
I'm going to make some delicious noodles.
How about making a bowl for you?”

There's no response as expected, but Li Hehua was not disappointed.
She turned around to start making noodles.

There are no other side dishes at home, so she can only make one of the most ordinary plain noodles to eat.

Making noodles is too simple for her.
She can do it in less than ten minutes.
Li Hehua deliberately made a little more.

She first take out half a bowl, then put it on the kitchen stool.
She then moved the stool to the back of the stove.
In front of the little boy, he said softly: “Baby, this is noodles.
It's very fragrant, you can try it.”

Seeing that the child didn't move or react, Li Hehua pursed her lips and sighed.
She said, “Then Baby, I won't disturb you.
Can you eat by yourself? Be careful not to get burned, I'm leaving.” After that, she simply brushed the pot, and then slowly returned to the wood room with her bowl of noodles.

While eating the noodles she made, Li Hehua thought about the little boy in the kitchen.
Did he eat it? Will he get burned?

Halfway through the meal, Li Hehua put down the bowl uneasily.
She got up and walked to the kitchen, wanting to see if the child had been scalded.
As a result, as soon as he walked to the door of the kitchen, he heard a woman's voice inside, it was Zhang Lin.

Li Hehua quickly stopped.

Inside, Zhang Lin was surprised, “Shulin, where did the noodles come from?”

No one answered.

Li Hehua quietly returned to the woodshed.

As soon as the door of the woodshed was closed, she heard voices of two people outside.
It was Zhang Tieshan and Zhang Qingshan who returned.

Li Hehua lowered her head and continued to eat her own noodles.

Zhang Tieshan and Zhang Qingshan didn't see their mother and Shulin.
They put down the things in their hands and went to the kitchen.
They saw Zhang Lin was standing by the stove with her waist bent and talking.
When she saw her sons coming back, Zhang Lin straightened up.
“You guys are back.”
　　
Zhang Qingshan was curious, “Mother, what are you doing? Are you talking to Shulin?”

Zhang Lin's brows were slightly wrinkled: “I just went to the stream to wash some clothes.
When I came back, I saw that there is an extra bowl of noodles in front of Shulin.
I don't know where it came from.
I asked Shulin but he ignored me.”

Zhang Qingshan rushed in to look.
Sure enough, there was a stool in front of Shulin with a bowl of steaming noodles.
When he smelled it, there was a strong and attractive fragrance.

“This noodle is really fragrant.
Where did it come from?” Zhang Qingshan followed suit and couldn't help but look at his brother.

Zhang Tieshan also saw the bowl of noodles.
He didn't speak but his eyes were condensed.
After a while, he shook his head and said in a light tone.
“It's okay.
I'll go out with Shulin.
Let's go out.” He took Shulin into his arms and walked out.

Zhang Qingshan looked at the noodles on the stool.
After a while, he still picked it up and followed out of the kitchen.
This noodle smells really good.
No matter who gave it to Shulin, they must have good intentions.
It not eaten, it will be wasted.

Zhang Qingshan put the noodles on the table and handed over a pair of chopsticks.
“Brother, this noodles are so fragrant.
It must be the same person who gave the buns to Shulin yesterday.
This person must be very good at craftsmanship.
Brother, feed it to Shulin.”

Zhang Lin is still doubtful and said, “It's strange.
I was washing clothes not far from the door.
I didn't see anyone entering the house to give deliver food to Shulin.
And if the villagers are giving something to eat, why don't they make a sound?”

Zhang Qingshan shook his head in confusion, “I don't know.
They probably didn't want us to know.
Anyway, as long as it's good for Shulin.”+

Zhang Lin thought about it, “It must be good so give it to Shulin.
Don't waste the kindness of others.”

Zhang Tieshan glanced at the closed doorof the woodshed without saying a word.
He just took the chopsticks in Zhang Qingshan's hand, picked up some noodles and put it into his mouth first.