Chapter 36: Kindness and Magnanimity

Ning Xin had never tasted wontons this delicious before. Her mother’s cooking was good, but it didn’t compare to this. The same went for the steamed buns; the meat filling was bursting with savory juices, and every bite was an absolute delight. She decided to buy twenty, then realized that wasn't enough—she needed thirty to take home.

After eating her fill, Ning Xin placed her order. The shopkeeper smiled and said, "If you buy twenty buns, we can provide a bamboo basket to carry them." The basket was crudely woven with large gaps, but by lining it with a bit of straw and banana leaves, the buns could be tucked inside safely without falling out.

"Shopkeeper, do you sell the wontons raw? I’d like to take them home to cook myself."

"Of course, we do." The shopkeeper wasn't worried about anyone stealing his recipe. The secret was in the filling and the dough, which contained his special ingredients; the soup itself only required salt, lard, and a sprinkle of scallions.

"Then I’ll take ten servings."

"Very well, I’ll put those in a bamboo basket for you as well."

Ning Xin paid promptly and walked away, carrying one basket in each hand. As she passed the fabric shop, she glanced inside a few times, and ultimately, she couldn't resist going in.

"What can I help you with, miss?"

"I’d like to buy some fabric to make clothes." Her parents hadn't had new clothes in years, and neither had her younger siblings. Her two sisters wore her hand-me-downs, and her brothers wore whatever their older siblings outgrew. Her mother wouldn't let her give money directly to the family, so she would buy food and necessities instead.

Ning Xin gestured to describe her parents' heights and builds. Her sisters were shorter than her, her two brothers were about her height, and Ah-Wen, Ah-Wu, and Ah-Qi were smaller still.

"You want a full outfit for everyone?"

Ning Xin nodded emphatically.

"Miss, you’ve picked out fine cotton and even some printed fabrics. That won't be cheap."

"I know."

She spent three taels and five silver coins for the outfits, a sack of fabric scraps, and a set of needles and scissors. Ning Xin felt it was a reasonable price. She picked out another set in different colors for her maternal grandparents. Seeing the silk-satin hair ornaments, she bought one for herself and one for each of her two sisters. In total, she spent eight taels of silver.

The shopkeeper gifted her a small bag of even smaller fabric scraps, and Ning Xin happily carried her heavy load home on a wooden pole provided by the shopkeeper.

Back home, Mother Meng had been wondering if Ning Xin would eat in town, but she had set aside a portion of food just in case. The mule was still asleep, only opening its eyes with a look of disdain whenever someone came near before closing them again, looking as if it might be dead.

Aunt He was visiting, accompanied by her son, Ning An. She was sitting to the side, diligently stitching a shoe sole, coughing every few words, and watching Ning An, who was crouched by the mule with Ning Qi, with a look of gentle affection.

"Mother, I’m back!" Ning Xin called out, carrying her load into the courtyard. She greeted Aunt He warmly, "Auntie."

"Ah-Xin." Mother Meng, who had been busy in the kitchen, came out. Seeing the heavy load, she couldn't help asking, "What did you buy now?"

"Some fabric for clothes, and some buns and wontons. Mother, the buns and wontons in town are delicious!" Ning Xin set her load down. Feeling that the buns were still warm, she called her brothers over. "Come here, have some buns! They’re incredibly tasty."

Ning Wen, Ning Wu, and Ning Qi ran toward her excitedly. Ning An hesitated. Aunt He stood up, intending to take him home, but Ning Xin stepped forward and pressed a large bun into his hand.

"Ah-An, eat up! It’s still warm, it’s delicious."

Ning An’s eyes lit up instantly. Forgetful of his mother, he quickly took it, "Thank you, big sister!"

"Be careful, there’s soup inside," Ning Xin cautioned. She then handed buns to Ning Wen, Ning Wu, Ning Qi, and one to Aunt He as well.

Aunt He waved her hand, "Ah-Xin, I shouldn't."

"Auntie, try it. It’s really good."

"Go on, sister-in-law, have a taste," Mother Meng added with a smile.

While Aunt He hesitated, Ning Xin firmly pressed the bun into her hand and handed another to Mother Meng. "Mother, you try one too."

"Yes, yes, alright." Mother Meng took it, smiling.

Her brothers were already exclaiming over the flavor, carefully slurping the soup from inside the buns. Aunt He and Mother Meng ate cautiously, having never tasted such delicious buns before.

Mother Meng asked Ning Xin, "Have you eaten?"

"I have, Mother. I had a bowl of wontons, a steamed bun, and a meat bun." Ning Xin showed her the rest of her purchases. Looking at the fabric, Mother Meng took a deep breath to keep from scolding her. It was true that the girl could earn money, but she shouldn't be so extravagant.

"Sister-in-law, you are truly blessed to have such a filial daughter as Ah-Xin," Aunt He remarked.

Mother Meng sighed, "She is filial, and she is sensible, but she just can't seem to hold onto her money." Despite her words, she looked at the fabric with longing, afraid to even touch it. She had never worn clothes made of such soft, fine material.

Ning Xin gave each of her four younger brothers another bun and stored the rest in the kitchen, carefully sprinkling flour on the wontons to keep them from sticking together.

Feeling guilty that she and her son had eaten three buns from the eldest branch’s supply, Aunt He said, "Sister-in-law, you’re all busy clearing land and fixing the house; you surely don't have time to sew. Why don't I make these clothes for you?"

"That would be wonderful, sister-in-law," Mother Meng replied. She hoped to make clothes for the children first so they could finally wear something new. Some of the clothes Ning Xin wore were still from Mother Meng’s own girlhood. She thought of the old saying: "New for three years, old for three years, patched for three years." Since Ah-Xin had bought the fabric, she felt a pang in her heart; it was better to make the clothes and let the family be happy.

Seeing four rolls of darker-colored fabric, Mother Meng guessed they were for her own parents and felt even more touched. She also cherished the fabric scraps; they would be perfect for patching clothes, and the wider pieces could be used for shoe soles or uppers, while the strips could be braided into ropes. Nothing would go to waste.

When she saw the new scissors and needles, Mother Meng’s eyes turned red. The scissors at home were part of her dowry and were long past their prime, and the needles had been ground down until they were too short to use.

Aunt He watched with envy—envy of her sister-in-law’s healthy children and, even more, of her capable, filial, and generous daughter. Few children were as giving as Ning Xin. She looked at Ning Xin and noticed the girl’s own cloth shoes were worn through. "Ah-Xin, what do you plan to do with these fabric strips?"

"I don't know, ask my mother."

Mother Meng already had plenty of plans. "Sister-in-law, could you help us starch a few pairs of shoe soles?"

"Of course," Aunt He agreed, smiling at her son, who was beaming with joy.

The mule, which had been asleep for so long, slowly stood up, let out two cries, and trotted off quickly toward the outside.

"Sister, it ran away!"

"Ah-Xin, it’s gone!"

Ning Xin wasn't worried. She said with great certainty, "It’s probably just going to relieve itself; it will come back."