Chapter 36: Secrets Cannot Be Kept Forever

A pot of steamed cakes was soon ready. The moment the lid on the steamer was lifted and the steam billowed out, the old man and his grandson could no longer sit still. They both stood up and headed for the kitchen, even their footsteps perfectly synchronized.

When Wen Yao turned her head, she saw the pair standing in the doorway, both sniffing the air at the same time. Their actions and expressions were uncannily alike.

People often said that the three siblings took after the Liu family, but at that moment, Wen Yao felt they resembled the Wen family far more.

“It’s ready!” Wen Yao grabbed two cloths, preparing to take out the cakes.

Old Wen strode forward quickly, “Let Grandpa do it, don’t burn yourself.”

Seeing the wide grin on his face, Wen Yao happily stepped back, giving him space.

These cakes could be eaten hot or cold, but when steaming hot, their sweetness seemed even more intense.

Old Wen cut the cakes into small pieces, handing some first to his grandson and granddaughter, and only then cutting his own share.

Wen Yao didn’t eat right away; instead, she watched the two of them, mouths burning but unable to resist eating. Propping her chin in her hand, she said, “Slow down, it’s hot. All of this is for you.”

Old Wen took a bite, and the sweetness seemed to fill his heart.

“Our Yao Yao’s skills really are unmatched. These are far better than any pastries sold in town,” he praised his granddaughter without forgetting to compliment her.

Wen Yao smiled proudly. This was only the simplest of techniques. She could make far more delicious pastries than this, but for now, the conditions were too basic to attempt more.

“Grandpa, be sure to take some home for Grandma and the others later,” Wen Yao said.

Old Wen paused mid-bite, waving his hand, “No need, just leave them here.” If he took them home, he wouldn’t manage even a single crumb for himself.

Wen Yao raised an eyebrow and suddenly asked, “Grandpa, could it be that Grandma doesn’t let you eat sweets?”

Old Wen’s face changed, and he hurriedly denied it, “How could that be? I’m not under her thumb.”

But his words sounded far from convincing.

After finishing a piece in comfort, Old Wen reached for another. When he tried to grab a third, Wen Yao stopped him.

“Grandpa, you’ve had two already. That’s enough. Too many sweets at once aren’t good for you.”

Old Wen looked at her with longing, “Just one more piece?”

Wen Yao simply moved the plate out of reach, “No, if you eat more, I’ll tell Grandma.”

He drew his hand back, giving her a mock glare, “You child, fine, fine, I won’t eat more.”

Wen Yao couldn’t help but stifle a laugh. “Father and my brother will want some when they get home tonight. I’ll save two pieces for you—come back tomorrow.”

Old Wen’s eyes lit up, “Really?”

Wen Yao nodded, “As true as gold.”

Though he wouldn’t get more today, the promise of tomorrow’s treat left Old Wen in high spirits, and he grew even fonder of his granddaughter.

Still, he couldn’t help but ask, “Yao Yao, who taught you to make these pastries? You never made them before.”

Good heavens, the old man was even more curious than their Da Tou.

“I learned from my mother. In the past, how could we? We could barely put food on the table,” Wen Yao replied, laying the blame on the ever-useful Liu.

Old Wen, hearing that Liu had taught her, found nothing odd about it. In their eyes, a scholarly daughter-in-law ought to know a bit of everything.

Da Tou, however, glanced at Wen Yao when he heard this, suspicion written plainly in his eyes.

Wen Yao saw but chose to ignore it. The old Wen was right—one can hide things for a time, but not forever. Da Tou would eventually have to get used to living with them. No matter how clever the boy, he’d never guess that the three of them were no longer who they once were.

And even if he did suspect, so what? Wen Yao felt certain Da Tou would still like the three of them.

Da Tou’s curiosity faded quickly, and he soon returned to his well-behaved self, taking small bites of the pastry in his hand.

With his sweet tooth satisfied, Old Wen left contented. Before he went, he sneakily slipped a few copper coins into Da Tou’s hand. It was only after Old Wen had gone that Da Tou gave the money to Wen Yao, and she found out.

Six copper coins, each one polished to a shine—proof of how much the original owner had cherished them.

Could this be Grandpa’s secret stash?

Just for those six coins, Wen Yao decided to make something different and sweet for the old man next time. He couldn’t have too much, but a change now and then would be fine.

Wen Xiuyi and Wen Jun didn’t come home until it was nearly dark. If not for Wen Xiuyi having saved enough of the family’s rations for the four of them, everything they took out would have been sold.

Wen Yao bought half a jin of green peppers and secretly made a plate of stir-fried pork intestine with peppers for Wen Xiuyi, as well as a dish of vinegar cabbage and a pot of egg soup. With the rice Wen Xiuyi brought back, the family of four ate heartily.

The taste of the green peppers nearly brought Wen Xiuyi to tears. If not for the help of the space, in these times it would be impossible to know when they’d next taste chili.

“It’s a pity we can’t save the seeds,” Wen Xiuyi muttered, ever the agricultural scientist. His first thought was for the seeds.

With seeds, they could grow their own, as much as they liked.

To save chili seeds, you had to choose the best peppers and let them mature naturally on the plant. These green peppers, however, had been picked early and sent to market. The seeds inside weren’t impossible to plant, but their chances of germination were far lower than those from fully mature chilies. Even if they did sprout, the plants would likely be poor.

Wen Yao, without looking up, said, “We can buy them, so don’t worry.” She hadn’t forgotten that in the original novel, the heroine had made a name for herself with such things.

Now that the heroine was nowhere to be found, Wen Yao had all the time she needed to take everything from the space.

Wen Xiuyi’s eyes lit up at the thought, but after considering, he said, “It’s not the right time yet. Let’s wait a little longer. For now, if we want to eat, we can just buy fresh ones. We’ll have to wait for the right opportunity to get seeds.”

The three of them agreed.

They didn’t hide any of this from Da Tou. Since she never said exactly where the food came from, and Da Tou was too busy eating to care what they talked about, it didn’t matter.

As the moon climbed high, someone came from the old house—Wen Nong, delivering eggs.

“Yao Yao, there are a hundred in total. Grandma said if you use them up, she’ll collect more,” Wen Nong said.

Three coins for two eggs—a hundred eggs came to a hundred and fifty coins. Wen Yao quickly counted out the money and handed it all to Wen Nong.

“Aren’t you going to count them?” Wen Nong asked, hefting the coins.

“What for? Grandma will have counted them for me,” Wen Yao replied, trying to lift the basket, but at her age, a hundred eggs were still too heavy.

Not wanting her hard work to come to nothing, Wen Yao decided to give up and let Wen Nong carry them straight to the kitchen.