The next day, as dawn was breaking, Su Xiaoqi, still groggy from sleep, heard the courtyard gate being knocked.
Because of Shen Yun's words about dividing pork yesterday, the villagers' enthusiasm was fully ignited.
Looking beside her, Shen Yun had already risen.
Last night, full of youthful vigor, he had accumulated a heart full of passion.
He had also gathered great courage, intending to complete what was left undone on their wedding night.
As fate would have it, Su Xiaoqi's period had arrived.
Su Xiaoqi had escaped one ordeal, but was not feeling much better now, the menstrual cramps leaving her with a sore back and aching limbs.
But today was a very important day for Shen Yun. She stretched, resignedly got out of bed, and started to get busy.
First and foremost, she had to deal with her period.
She searched through the original owner's memories and discovered that due to long-term malnutrition and poor diet, her menstruation was very irregular.
It had been over two months since she arrived, and this was her first period.
She tried using the local methods, padding herself with a sewn-up piece of coarse cloth filled with ashes.
Oh, heavens, the feeling was indescribably uncomfortable.
Finally, she cut up one of her own fine cotton undershirts.
She made two menstrual cloths that were relatively more comfortable, and then, enduring the backache, went out.
Sister Shen and Zhao Xiaozhu had already boiled water.
In the pot were cooked sweet potato porridge and steamed white flour buns.
Not feeling well, she had little appetite.
She ate a little casually, and then went to help in the kitchen, but as soon as she moved, Sister Shen stopped her.
"Sister-in-law, you're not feeling well, don't bother. Xiaozhu and I are here."
Su Xiaoqi looked at Sister Shen in confusion.
How did she know she was having her period?
After getting familiar with Su Xiaoqi, Sister Shen's inner gossip factor was awakened. She quietly leaned close to her ear and whispered:
"Big Brother specifically told me this morning to make sure we don't tire you out today."
"Xiaomei..." Su Xiaoqi's face instantly flushed red.
Wasn't this ancient times? How could Shen Yun's thinking be so progressive, daring to speak of such matters?
She complained inwardly and shot a fierce glare at Shen Yun, who was busy dividing pork with everyone.
As if Shen Yun had eyes in the back of his head,
the moment her sharp gaze flew towards him,
he happened to turn his face, look at her, and even smiled at her.
Shen Yun was already handsome, and with that smile, Su Xiaoqi could no longer be angry.
Besides, he was acting out of good intentions, showing his concern.
She came back to her senses. This kind of behavior should not only not be suppressed but greatly encouraged.
Her expression changed instantly. She smiled charmingly, her eyes sparkling with radiance.
This radiant smile, like the morning sun, not only entered Shen Yun's eyes but also pierced Zhao Ye's heart, who was not far from her.
Many years later, recalling it, Zhao Ye still found himself overwhelmed, as if it were yesterday.
In fact, Su Xiaoqi wasn't needed for help today.
All the available men and women in the village had come to help.
The women were washing vegetables, chopping them, setting up stoves, and making fires, all busy and joyful.
The men were helping to process the wild boar meat and borrowing tables and benches from nearby neighbors.
Su Xiaoqi, on the other hand, couldn't offer much assistance.
She went to watch the processing of the wild boar meat.
The wild boar had already been divided into several pieces, awaiting stir-frying, braising, steaming, and boiling.
After looking around, Su Xiaoqi noticed all the offal being discarded to the side. Judging by their appearance, no one wanted it, and they intended to throw it away.
Her heart ached. She ran to ask Shen Yun. He said, "This, it's not edible."
It was dirty and smelly; unless it was during a famine,
no one would likely be able to stomach it now.
When Su Xiaoqi heard they really didn't want it, she quickly bent down and picked it up.
"Pfft... So you like to eat this stuff. Tsk, tsk, it stinks so badly," Zhao Hai'e said, looking at Su Xiaoqi with disdain.
"Sister Xiaoqi, you can't eat this," Zhao Xiaohua came over to advise her.
Su Xiaoqi glared at them: "Who says it can't be eaten?"
She put it in a bamboo basket and took it to wash.
Zhao Xiaohua and Zhao Hai'e kept their distance from her, filled with disgust.
Instead, Shen Yun, mindful of her not feeling well today, took it from her and asked how to wash it.
The offal was indeed dirty and smelly, especially the intestines and stomach. Shen Yun found the washing to be quite arduous.
Su Xiaoqi couldn't help but chuckle and guided him from the side.
After it was done, Su Xiaoqi took it into the kitchen.
She was determined to let them know today:
Not only could this offal be eaten, but it was also incredibly delicious.
She cut it, and with Sister Shen's help, made Stir-fried Fat Intestines, Tender Fried Pork Liver, Pig Stomach Stuffed with Chicken, and Sliced Husband and Wife Lung.
As soon as the dishes were out of the pot, their aroma wafted out.
Seeing Sister Shen and Zhao Xiaozhu helping with the cooking, and Shen Erdan tending the fire, they couldn't stop swallowing.
Su Xiaoqi smiled and scooped out a portion of each dish, letting them taste first.
"Sister-in-law, is this really offal?" Sister Shen, who had participated in the entire process of preparing the offal, widened her eyes in disbelief as she tasted it.
The taste was too good.
It was so fragrant that she almost swallowed her tongue.
"Delicious, delicious, Sister-in-law, I want more!" Shen Erdan licked his lips as he ate, even licking off the oil that stuck to it.
Zhao Xiaozhu also marveled, looking at Su Xiaoqi with admiration.
Sister Xiaoqi was too amazing, how could she make such smelly things taste so good?
The small kitchen was filled with the taste of delicious food, while tables and benches had already been set up outside.
A circle of village girls was gathered around Zhao Hai'e.
They were discussing Su Xiaoqi.
Laughing at her for wanting to eat offal.
Someone even mimicked Su Xiaoqi's supposed look of gagging while eating offal.
Zhao Hai'e laughed heartily.
Zhao Xiaohua sat in a corner, not speaking, but her eyes couldn't help but stray to the side.
There sat Zhao Dexing, an old bachelor from the village.
He was forty years old today. Because he had fallen ill as a child, he suffered from malnutrition.
His height was less than five feet, not even as tall as the village girls and young wives.
Coupled with his lazy nature and dull mind, and his family being so poor they couldn't even afford to put food on the table, he had long failed to marry.
Today, the Shen family was holding a grand banquet, and he took the opportunity to come for a meal.
He hadn't had the chance to see Su Xiaoqi before.
Today, seeing her, he was stunned by her beauty.
His eyes kept darting towards Su Xiaoqi.
His lips trembled incessantly, his face filled with longing.
Others were busy, and no one paid attention to him.
Only Zhao Xiaohua, a discerning observer, kept glancing at him.
She saw all his thoughts about Su Xiaoqi.
However, her own intentions were deep, and she understood everything.
But her expression remained unchanged, and she only scoffed heavily in her heart:
Su Xiaoqi, that flirtatious vixen, promiscuous and hook-up artist everywhere.
Even with her dark skin, she could still make men lust after her.
Zhao Xiaohua was watching too intently, and Zhao Hai'e, who was beside her, finally noticed her peculiarity.
The sisters put their heads together and whispered for a while.
Suddenly, Zhao Xiaohua sat up straight and stopped talking.
She gently nudged Zhao Hai'e, signaling her to look at the kitchen.
It turned out that Su Xiaoqi had come out with a small basket of offal.
She had divided the offal into two portions; one portion was made, and this portion was to be taken home.
Today, the Shen family was hosting guests, and everyone had come to the Zhao family's old residence.
There was no one from the Shen family at home.
Zhao Hai'e's eyes rolled, and a wicked idea popped into her head.