From humble beginnings to the pinnacle of life

She took the fire tongs and, imitating me, picked up the thin firewood and put it into the stove.

But her movements were clumsy, and she didn't aim the firewood correctly, kicking up a handful of black ash that smeared half of her face.

Su Qing stood there stunned, and subconsciously raised her hand to wipe it, but the back of her hand was covered with charcoal ash, which only made the tip of her nose look even more smudged.

His face was covered in black and white spots, but he was completely unaware of it.

When my mom saw this, she couldn't help but laugh so hard she almost fell over: "Girl, look at you! Your face is covered in ash, you look like a little kitten!"

"what?"

Su Qing looked up at me blankly, a black mark on half of her cheek and a small piece of charcoal on the tip of her nose. Her silly look was especially cute.

I couldn't help but chuckle softly.

Seeing me laugh, she was even more confused: "What's wrong? Is there something on my face?"

"Hmm, it's all black charcoal ash."

She frantically rubbed her face with the back of her hand, but the more she rubbed, the more messy it became, and the left side of her face looked like it had been splashed with a layer of light ink.

My mom was laughing so hard she could barely stand up straight, and she almost dropped the spatula in the pot.

I haven't seen my mom laugh so heartily and happily in a long time. It's clear that she likes Su Qing from the bottom of her heart.

Seeing us laughing like that, Su Qing started laughing too, but when she laughed, she rubbed the dust off her face.

My mother turned around and walked to the water vat, wrung out a clean, damp towel and handed it to me: "Quickly wipe your face, girl."

"Thank you, Auntie."

Su Qing took the towel, vigorously wiped her cheeks, and looked down to see a large patch of black ash on the towel. She smiled sheepishly.

"This firewood is so mischievous, it keeps hitting people in the face."

My mom laughed and said, "It's because you're not skilled enough. When Yezi was little, she never got her face smeared when she was tending the fire."

Su Qing turned to look at me, her eyes full of curiosity, and asked, "So what was he busy with every day when he was little?"

"His childhood was tough. He had to herd cattle, cut pig feed, and chop firewood in the mountains. He had to do all kinds of work in the fields."

"His father passed away early, and he learned to take on all the chores inside and outside the house, so I never had to worry about him."

As my mother spoke, she sighed softly, her tone filled with pride yet also tinged with heartache.

In my mother's eyes, I have always been a sensible and promising child.

But I felt guilty. After working so hard for so long, I still couldn't give her a peaceful and stable life.

Su Qing's smile slowly faded, and she listened quietly to what was said.

I then stood up and walked to the stove, earnestly saying to my mother, "Auntie, could you teach me how to cook? I want to learn."

"Okay, cooking is very simple. If you don't know how to cook, you can have Yezi cook for you from now on."

Su Qing immediately turned to look at me, raising her chin confidently: "Did you hear that? Auntie has spoken, you have to cook for me from now on."

I shook my head helplessly and smiled bitterly, watching the old man and the young man chatting and laughing in front of the stove, and a sense of bewilderment suddenly welled up in my heart.

The scene before me was so warm and beautiful that, for a moment, I actually felt that she and I were a real couple.

In the following days, Su Qing really took my mother's cooking lessons very seriously.

My mom was very patient, standing by her side and teaching her step by step how to pour oil, add vegetables, and control the heat when stir-frying.

As I stood by the stove adding firewood and tending the fire, my gaze fell upon two figures standing side by side beside the stove, and I felt a sense of warmth and comfort.

By the time dinner was served, it was completely dark, and only the chirping of insects and the evening breeze remained outside.

My mom made four dishes: a clay pot chicken soup, spicy cured meat, stir-fried bok choy, and a refreshing cucumber salad.

Su Qing set the table and sat down, then pointed to the plate of vibrant green bok choy, her eyes full of anticipation, and said:

"I cooked this dish myself, you should all try it."

I picked up a piece with my chopsticks and put it in my mouth. The taste was actually not bad, but there was a little too much salt.

"It tastes good." I nodded and gave my honest opinion.

My mom also picked up a piece with her chopsticks, and praised with a smile: "It's already very good that you can cook it like this for the first time. It's much better than Yezi's first time cooking."

After being praised, Su Qing's eyes were full of pride, and she even said that her cooking skills would definitely surpass mine in the future.

With Su Qing, this lively character, around, the atmosphere at the dinner table was incredibly cheerful.

I am usually quiet and reserved. Even when I eat alone with my mother, I remain quiet and say very little at the table.

Su Qing, on the other hand, chattered incessantly.

One minute she'd recount embarrassing stories about me climbing trees and having heart-to-heart talks when I was little, and the next she'd tell me funny stories from her own school days.

It made my mom laugh non-stop, staring at her with delighted eyes.

I sat quietly to the side, smiling from the bottom of my heart, but that warmth vanished in an instant.

I understand that this perfect and lively scene before me is all an act, ultimately a fleeting illusion.

A hint of reluctance even quietly arose in her heart; she didn't want to return to Jiangzhou so soon.

If we could stay in this moment forever, it would be quite nice.

But eventually, all good things must come to an end; there is no banquet that doesn't end.

It was already past nine o'clock when we finished eating, so I took the initiative to clear the dishes and take them into the kitchen to wash.

In the main room, my mother chatted with Su Qing about everyday things.

Su Qing was completely at ease and chatted enthusiastically with my mother.

After I finished washing the dishes, dried my hands, and walked out of the kitchen, I looked at the dark mountain road outside and said:

"Mom, it's getting late, we should head back to Jiangzhou."

The smile on my mother's face vanished instantly. She looked up at the pitch-black fields outside and said:

"It's pitch black outside, don't leave tonight."

I paused for a moment, then gently shook my head: "It's okay, Mom. It'll be quick and safe to drive back."

"Why would you open it in the dark?"

My mother was very firm in her stance. Before we could say anything more, she said, "I've cleaned your room thoroughly and changed the sheets and blankets. Stay here tonight and leave when it's light tomorrow."

After saying that, she reached out and tightly grasped Su Qing's wrist, her tone softening: "Girl, the conditions in the countryside are simple, please make do for one night, don't mind."

Su Qing looked at me from left to right, then at my mother, whose eyes were full of expectation.

After a moment's hesitation, she replied softly, "It's not a hardship for you, Auntie. I'll stay for the night."

"It's settled then. You're not allowed to leave tonight. You'll set off first thing tomorrow morning." My mother's tone left no room for negotiation.

I turned to look at Su Qing, momentarily at a loss for words, unsure how to refuse.

Su Qing walked slowly to my side, tilted her head slightly, and asked me in a low voice, "Where is the room?"

I lowered my voice and asked her in return, "No, you're really planning to stay overnight?"

"What else? Look, it's completely dark. Auntie is right, it's really not safe to drive on mountain roads at night."

She paused for a moment, then said, "Besides, didn't you see how happy Auntie was just now? If we insist on leaving, she'll feel disappointed and sad."

My Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and I managed to utter a sentence that instantly plunged both of us into an awkward silence:

"So...we'll be sleeping in the same room tonight?"