The kang (heated brick bed) for left-behind women

Lin Dachun dragged the ram back home with a grim face.

The sheep was still struggling, its hooves kicking the ground, and it let out a low growl of resentment.

But Lin Dachun's hands gripped its horns like iron clamps, and no matter how hard it struggled, it couldn't break free.

The blade flashed a cold light in the setting sun, and soon the sheep stopped moving.

Lin Xilei hid at the entrance of the cave dwelling, covering her mouth, tears welling up in her eyes.

She wanted to say "Don't kill it," but remembering the terrifying scene from that afternoon, she swallowed the words back.

Li Ruoxue stood beside her, gently putting her arm around her shoulder, without saying a word.

Lin Dachun slaughtered, skinned, and gutted the sheep in one go.

His technique was very efficient; as a farmer with decades of experience, this kind of work was no challenge for him.

A basin of sheep's blood was collected, the offal was taken out and placed in a large wooden basin, and the mutton was cut into two pieces and hung on the branches of a jujube tree in the yard.

"There's so much, we can't finish it all." Li Ruoxue walked over and looked at the fresh mutton.

Lin Dachun wiped the blood from his hands: "Okay. We'll take half to town and sell them tomorrow. The rest... we'll send one pound each to Xiulan and Yali."

Li Ruoxue paused for a moment, then nodded: "Okay, I'll go deliver it right away."

She selected two of the best pieces of meat, wrapped them in clean tung leaves, tied them tightly with hemp rope, put them in a bamboo basket, and covered them with a blue cloth.

Lin Xilei was still standing at the entrance of the cave dwelling, her eyes red, staring blankly.

"Xilei," Li Ruoxue walked to her side, "Want to come with me?"

Lin Xilei shook her head: "Sister-in-law, I...I'm afraid to see that blood."

Li Ruoxue didn't insist and went out the door with her basket on her shoulder.

"Xilei, go boil some water. We're going to stew a goose for dinner tonight," Lin Dachun called out.

"oh."

When Li Ruoxue returned home, it was already completely dark.

A rich aroma wafted through the courtyard—the smell of mutton offal soup.

Lin Dachun was squatting at the kitchen door, adding firewood to the stove.

The iron pot was bubbling and steaming, with lamb offal tumbling in the soup, mingling with the aroma of ginger slices, Sichuan peppercorns, and dried chilies, making one's mouth water.

Lin Xilei was already sitting on the kang (a heated brick bed), with three large bowls in front of her. Her eyes were fixed on the pot, and the fear on her face had long been replaced by craving.

"You're back?" Lin Dachun looked up at Li Ruoxue. "Did you send everything over?"

"Hmm," Li Ruoxue replied, sat down by the stove, and lifted the pot lid to take a look.

The soup had turned milky white, the lamb offal was tender and the aroma was irresistible. She picked up a spoon, stirred it, and added some salt.

"Can we drink it now?" Lin Xilei asked impatiently from the kang (a heated brick bed).

"What's the rush? It's not ready yet." Lin Dachun said this, but started picking up a bowl.

Li Ruoxue took the bowl and filled three bowls to the brim.

Lin Xilei took it, carefully blew on it, and took a small sip.

The delicious flavor exploded on her tongue, and her eyes lit up instantly: "Delicious! So delicious!"

The three people sat around the kang (a heated brick bed), slurping up their soup.

The soup was so hot that it made people gasp for breath, but no one was willing to stop.

The lamb offal was tender and flavorful, with no gamey taste at all, only a rich and fresh aroma.

The chili in the soup was just right, making you sweat profusely, yet you couldn't help but keep eating it.

"Your cooking is excellent!" Lin Xilei said, her forehead sweating and her face flushed.

Lin Dachun smiled but didn't say anything.

Watching the two women drink so heartily, he felt sweeter than if he had drunk honey.

That sheep almost hurt Shire; it deserved to die.

But the meat and soup it left behind can provide a good meal for the people he cares about, which can be considered... making amends.

Li Ruoxue suddenly spoke up, "Sister Yali's eyes were red after she finished eating the meat."

Lin Dachun paused for a moment, then didn't reply.

After a long pause, she said softly, "She's had a tough time too."

"Mm." Li Ruoxue nodded and continued drinking her soup.

Lin Xilei looked at this and then at that, without saying a word, but simply drank the soup in her bowl with even greater relish.

A large pot of mutton offal soup was completely devoured by the three of them.

In the end, Lin Xilei even ate the last bit of broth at the bottom of the pot by dipping her cornbread in it.

She rubbed her round belly, lay down on the kang (a heated brick bed), and sighed contentedly, "Oh, I'm so full. I wish I could drink this mutton offal soup every day."

Lin Dachun laughed and scolded, "You greedy girl. Drinking every day? How many sheep would you have to slaughter?"

Li Ruoxue smiled as she cleared away the dishes.

Lin Dachun is currently struggling to scrape together 300 yuan to pay for Sun Taohua's betrothal gifts.