She made fire using a lighter and immediately hid it. She washed the meat carefully and then put it in the pot and began stewing. Taking advantage of the night she added some cured meat and other lion meat in her space. Adding a bit of spring water and some spice like ginger and scallions she left it to cook till tender.
The aroma had already spread throughout our the camp attracting many glances. They were swallowing their spit while staring at her pot in envy. The cooked meat that was served to them no longer seemed delicious but bland and tasteless. Su Xiao casually opened the pot and let the aroma spread more.
Gurgle..
Their stomach growled. The children were already awakened by the aroma and sat at the cart staring intently at her. Mu Wei was also surprised at the cooking. Clearly she didn't add anything but it smelled so delicious and mouth watering. He could even feel his stomach growling.
Su Xiao was almost done cooking before she realized a problem. There was no plates and spoons to serve the food. Just as she was pondering what to do, a woman walked up to her.
"Mrs, please can I exchange some food with you?"
Su Xiao sized the woman up. She was a woman probably in her late thirties. She had a wrinkled face and a kind smile with a pair of honest eyes. Su Xiao was quite surprised at that, because it was hard to find people who had not been corrupted by the murky water of greed. She nodded and asked
"What do you have to exchange with me?"
Hearing her agreement, her face lit up as she responded enthusiastically.
"I have some silver and mushrooms"
Su Xiao was not expecting to hear anything valuable so she asked.
"Do you have plates and spoons?"
"Huh?"
"Do you?"
Snapping out of her confusion she responded
"Yes, I do"
"Give me four plates and four spoons and your mushrooms. In exchange you get three piece of meat".
Her meat was much larger than others. Adding to the fact that food was hard to find, it was a profitable deal. The woman weighed the options and agreed.
"Okay"
She went back to her camping site and fetched the plates and spoons and came back. Su Xiao gave her the food in a plate she came with and she thanked her. Just as she was about to leave, Su Xiao called her back.
"Do you have anyone injured at home?"
Hearing her words, she showed surprise before her eyes turned red.
"Yes, Mrs. My husband is sick, that's why I came to borrow some food to feed him"
Su Xiao nodded and thought about something. She needed people in her camp. Mu Wei was injured and the kids were little making it inconvenient for her to leave them to go hunting. It would be good to have some help.
"Bring him here and all your belongings".
The woman whose name was Ba Ling was stunned. She actually let them come to her camp. She knew how strong this woman was, killing a lion and skinning it. Naturally, she knew that anyone she took into her camp was protected. She nodded with tears streaming down her face and hurried to bring her husband.
She arrived at her camp were a man laid on a pile of leaves breathing heavily. He opened his eyes and saw it was his wife so he tried to prop himself up but failed.
"Husband be careful. I brought food for us"
He could hear the mouth watering aroma and his stomach growled in hunger. He frowned at the thought of such good food
"Where did you get the food from?"
Helping him to sit properly she answered his question.
"The young lady that killed the lion gave it to me"
"Why did she give it to you?"
"We exchanged with some plates and spoons and she even invited us over to help"
"Just that?"
"Yes. I think she needs help with kids. No talking and eating your food"
Shi Dong remained silent and quietly sipped the food which was very delicious. Before he knew it he had eaten two pieces of meat and half the water. He was astonished at his appetite but felt his whole body go warm.
"Wife, I'm already full. Eat some too"
Seeing that he was really full, she finished the food before exclaiming.
"She is truly a good cook. It's so delicious"
She smacked her lips reminiscing about the taste. Shi Dong saw his wife expression had his heart felt sour. When he was still a scholar, they had no shortage of meat but now, they were just exiles. He was grateful to his wife who insisted on accompanying him despite knowing the hardship she would face unlike some unfilliar children. They had immediately severed all ties with them immediately he was banished.
Ba Ling packed all their belongings which was not much and supported her husband back to the place. Meanwhile, Su Xiao had used the plates and spoons to serve food to the children and husband. Everyone had three pieces of meat each. Seeing their meat, they children exclaimed.
"So many meat!"
"Mother, is this all for us"
Seeing their expression both parents felt sad. Mu Wei remembered when they always had excess during his reign as an army commander general but now.....
"Yes, babies. They're all yours. If you're not satisfied then tell mother okay?"
"Yes, mother".
They immediately dug in and their eyes lit up at the taste. They immediately devoured the food and asked for more. Su Xiao happily added more for them.
"Mother, it's so delicious".
"Yes, mother cooks so well"
Su Xiao heard their compliments and smiles happily. Mu Wei looked at the harmonious scene and felt warmth in his heart. When the noticed his gaze and turned to look at him, he smiled and said
"It's really delicious"
Su Xiao was momentarily dazzled by the smile before recovering. The man looked so gentle and intoxicating when he smiled. She finished her food and went to wash the plates. After washing, she saw the couple from afar and was surprised. The husband wasn't he....
She calmly retracted her gaze and walked back to the cart. The couple approached and Shi Dong was stunned when he saw the general. He stumbled to the cart and kneeled with tears in his eyes.
"My Lord, you're alive. That's good...that's good".
Mu Wei was also surprised to see his subordinate. He lifted him up and comforted him.
"It's good you're okay. Our days will be better"
He nodded in agreement to his words. He called his wife closer and introduced her.
"Wife, this is general Mu. He was the one that saved my life when I was ambushed"
Ba Ling immediately knelt down to thank him.
"Thank you so much my Lord. Our family owes you our life".
Mu Wei asked her to stand up and she did. Turns out Shi Dong was ambushed by his competitors almost losing his life. Mu Wei who was on disguise roaming the city encountered them and saved him. Since then, he swore to repay him with his life. So when he was selected as a scholar in the imperial palace,he worked for Mu Wei. Unfortunately, there was a mole in his place that exposed him and he was banished after Mu Wei.