Northeast: My Absurd Woman

Lin Qiu returned, carrying a large bag of white steamed buns. He placed the bag in front of Yang Wuni and smiled.

"Zhang Changyao, look, there are steamed buns that are this white."

"You really bought this for me, so I'll really eat it?"

Yang Wuni's eyes lit up when she saw the white steamed buns; she had no mind to be angry anymore.

I had long forgotten the relationship between Zhang Changyao and Lin Qiu.

If Zhang Changyao hadn't come over and rebuked her, preventing her from losing her composure, she might have kowtowed to Lin Qiu.

"Okay! Wu Ni, you eat!"

Lin Qiu rolled her eyes at Zhang Changyao, preventing him from stopping Yang Wuni.

Yang Wuni ignored Zhang Changyao and picked up a steamed bun and took a bite.

White flour steamed buns are different from sorghum flour steamed buns; they are soft and fragrant with every bite.

Yang Wuni didn't care about table manners and ate seven steamed buns in a row.

Although the steamed buns weren't big, they still filled Yang Wuni's stomach.

"Uh," Yang Wuni burped, holding a half-eaten steamed bun in her hand and grinning foolishly.

"Wu Ni, stop eating, or your stomach will get too big."

"Dr. Qiu thought you had more worms in your stomach again."

Zhang Changyao came over somewhat awkwardly, snatched the steamed bun from Yang Wuni's hand, and stuffed it into his bag.

"Zhang Changyao, have a few too, these steamed buns are really delicious."

Yang Wuni took out a steamed bun and stuffed it into Zhang Changyao's mouth.

Zhang Changyao blocked Yang Wuni's hand and did not eat the steamed bun.

Lin Qiu, who was watching from the side, stopped laughing. She couldn't laugh at the woman who had eaten twelve steamed buns.

"Sister Lin Qiu, you must have spent a lot of money on these steamed buns, right?"

I have a few dollars left, I'll give them to you. If that's not enough, I'll save up for a few more days.

We may be poor, but we can't just eat other people's food for free.

We country folk have a strong sense of self-respect and won't take advantage of others.

Yang Wuni only now realizes the need to reclaim her dignity.

She took out the money from her pocket and stuffed it all into Lin Qiu's hands.

"Wu Ni, I'm not short of money. Buying steamed buns is nothing to me."

Keep this money; buy whatever you want to eat in the future.

Lin Qiu placed the money that Yang Wuni had stuffed into her hand on the bed.

She glanced at Zhang Changyao, her eyes no longer filled with resentment.

"Lin Qiu, our family is doing alright now, but we just can't afford white flour steamed buns."

My wife has always been prone to hunger since she was a child, and she has a bigger appetite than others.

I'm sorry to have let you see her eat so much.

Zhang Changyao had considered ways to prove to Lin Qiu that his family was poor, but he never thought of this one.

Yang Wuni ate twelve steamed buns, leaving him at a loss for what to do.

"Zhang Changyao, I've found you a job. You can go tomorrow morning."

Clearing out the stockpile wasn't tiring, and the money was substantial; a settlement was made every day.

If you have money, treat your wife better and make sure she has enough to eat.

I now realize you were right; I really can't endure this kind of hardship.

Lin Qiu waved her hand, refusing Zhang Changyao's offer to see her off, and silently pushed open the door and walked out.

"Lin Qiu, thank you for helping me find work. I'm strong enough to make you proud."

Zhang Changyao followed behind Lin Qiu, expressing his gratitude in a very soft voice.

"Zhang Changyao, that's not what I want, you know that."

Helping you now doesn't mean I've forgiven you.

"Later...later...we...I want you to repay me properly."

Lin Qiu blushed and glanced back at Zhang Changyao, her shy eyes filled with endless love.

"Lin Qiu, I...I will repay you, but...but we can't overstep the bounds."

Zhang Changyao instantly understood Lin Qiu's meaning, and was speechless for a moment, but had to explain.

"Zhang Changyao, it's not up to you. I... I'm leaving now."

Lin Qiu remained as persistent as ever; how could one hide their love for someone?

Zhang Changyao's heart was pounding, and he closed his eyes to calm himself down before daring to go inside.

"Wu Ni, are you full? Would you like to have a few more?"

After seeing Lin Qiu off, Zhang Changyao calmed his rapid breathing.

He had just returned to the ward when he picked up a steamed bun and handed it to Yang Wuni.

"Zhang Changyao, do you really think I can eat twelve steamed buns?"

I'm eating this to show Lin Qiu, not to fill my stomach with empty food.

They kindly bought these steamed buns for us, just to see how many I can eat, right?

If I only eat three or five pieces and then stop, that would be such a disappointment.

The more I eat, the more she'll think I'm an incompetent man.

If you starve your wife like this, she won't care about being with you anymore.

Yang Wuni snatched the steamed bun from Zhang Changyao's hand and stuffed it into his mouth.

He straightened his back and, with a mischievous grin, revealed his little scheme.

"Yang Wuni, Yang Wuni, I thought you were really hungry."

Neither of us high school students could outsmart you, you illiterate little devil.

I'll have to be careful around you from now on. Don't let you sell me out one day, and then I'll have to count the money for you.

While eating his steamed bun, Zhang Changyao didn't forget to scratch Yang Wuni's nose.

"Wu Ni, should I still go do the job Lin Qiu mentioned?"

Zhang Changyao ate two steamed buns, leaned against the other side of the package, and asked Yang Wuni for her opinion.

"Why not? We earn money with our own strength, not by sitting around doing nothing."

Lin Qiu helped us find work, so we owe her a favor.

If you get paid, buy her something to repay the favor.

We're short on money right now. If we don't earn some more, what will we eat?

If a chestnut horse has just given birth, can it pull a plow without being given some extra feed?

Your sister-in-law's donkey died, so we might have to farm for her.

Your dad and Aunt Xiulan were fiddling around in the car, fussing and nagging.

I could tell from his words that he was just reciting little rhymes to the two of us.

I've figured it out these past couple of days: if you want to use our chestnut horses for farming, you have to pay.

If you don't have money, corn will do. The chestnut horse earns its own food through work, so it's not like it's losing out.

Yang Wuni fiddled with her fingers, calculating and pondering as she spoke to Zhang Changyao.

"Wu Ni, you're right. We don't want money, we want corn."

As long as the chestnut horse is well-fed and strong, it's no problem for it to plow a few more rows of land.

Our request isn't unreasonable, and they'll understand.

Zhang Changyao agreed with Yang Wuni's idea, and the couple smiled at each other in perfect agreement.

Zhang Changyao went to work at the grain depot the next morning.

Yang Wuni obediently cooperated with Dr. Qiu's treatment.

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye, and it was time to plant the crops.

"Dr. Qiu, my illness is almost cured. I want to go home and farm. If it rains in a few days, it will be too late."

After Zhang Changyao finished his work, Yang Wuni couldn't stay in bed for the past few days.

She had a feeling that something was about to happen, and she couldn't stand it anymore, so she went to talk to Dr. Qiu.

"Okay! That works too. Yang Wuni, but you must remember that you can't stop taking this spleen-strengthening and liver-protecting medicine."

Your liver and spleen aren't in very good condition; you need to take medication.

After you leave the health center, I will no longer be able to provide you with free treatment.

Before you leave, I'll prescribe some extra medicine for you to take home.

You have to eat it all; you can't take your own body lightly.

Dr. Qiu gave Yang Wuni a motherly, nagging reminders, as if afraid she wouldn't take good care of herself.

"Dr. Qiu, is Wu Ni fully recovered?"

When Zhang Changyao returned from the restroom, he saw that the hospital bed was empty and he had come to Dr. Qiu's office.

Hearing what the two were saying, he asked nervously.

"Zhang Changyao, Wu Ni can't stay here any longer, she wants to go home and farm."

It will take her some time to recover from this illness.

"Take the medicine back with you later, and remember to take it all."

Dr. Qiu was still worried, so he repeated the conversation to Zhang Changyao.

The two bowed to Dr. Qiu and carried their large bundles home.

After losing her pregnancy, Yang Wuni became a stunning beauty.

She followed behind Zhang Changyao with her face tilted back, looking quite pleased with herself, trying to impress others.

"Changyao, you two are finally back! Hurry home and visit your family!"