Chapter 7: Is Sweet Potato Soup Delicious?

When Chu Chaoyun and Mrs. Diao came out to see what was going on, they saw the boatwoman who had just been shouting squatting nearby with a pale face, looking as if she was afraid both of the “slug” in the small boat and that her reckless yelling would attract the supervisor’s attention.

Except for Chu Chaoyun and Mrs. Diao, the other boatwomen working nearby did not dare to come close, not even daring to satisfy their curiosity. Everyone lowered their heads and obediently busied themselves with their own tasks. If they had to come this way, they would cleverly go around them.

Mrs. Diao glanced over as if she didn’t intend to interfere. She was just a worker and knew she didn’t have much authority to meddle in others’ affairs.

But Chu Chaoyun’s gaze toward the small boat was somewhat strange. The boat was as usual, no doubt about that. What was strange was the thing hidden along the side of the boat.

About the size of edamame beans, greenish in color, with a bright, jelly-like, smooth layer like drawn threads on the edge of a notch beside it. If not for some lotus flowers hanging messily on that side of the boat, this small thing might have already slipped back into the water.

Chu Chaoyun thought she had seen it wrong, so she let go of Mrs. Diao’s hand and hurriedly ran to the small boat. She stretched out her hand and skillfully caught that aquatic plant in her palm.

As soon as she grabbed it, the boatwoman who had just been startled called out uncontrollably again.

Chu Chaoyun tilted her head to look at the boatwoman and casually said, “There’s nothing to be afraid of.” Right after she said this, a bit carelessly, the “slug” slipped out of her palm, and Chu Chaoyun failed to hold onto it.

Chu Chaoyun had clearly seen that it wasn’t a slug at all, but a kind of aquatic plant of priceless nutritional value—chun cai.

Seeing the “slug” escape, the boatwoman finally relaxed and hurried over, grabbing Chu Chaoyun’s hand and pulling her toward the river water. “You’re young and don’t know better. If that kind of bug bites you, it can be life-threatening!”

Chu Chaoyun was speechless.

The chún cài, which had been favored by Emperor Qianlong in history, was actually mistaken for a bug by people of this era?

Chu Chaoyun truly opened her eyes.

She had thought that the Ruizhou people, who lived off the water, would recognize all the things in the river better than she could. But it seemed that every era had its blind spots of knowledge.

Chu Chaoyun had eaten water-caltrap for a few days and wanted to try something new, but there were really few things in the river that could be eaten raw. In fact, on recent nights when she went down to the river to forage, she had seen many plants she recognized, but those things at least had to be boiled before they were safe to eat.

After washing her hands, Chu Chaoyun’s mind was already full of a thousand and one ways to cook chún cài.

Chu Chaoyun got up and shook her dripping hands, and Mrs. Diao quietly called to her, “Chaoyun, come help me with some work.” Saying this, Mrs. Diao hobbled toward the dark cabin.

Chu Chaoyun understood. The commotion earlier had been a bit loud, and Mrs. Diao was protecting her. Naturally, she accepted this favor.

She stepped forward to follow Mrs. Diao down to the dark cabin and sat in Mrs. Diao’s compartment.

Just as the woman said, Mrs. Diao’s bedboard was covered with a mattress, on which a cotton quilt was folded. The cotton was the cheapest kind. Though somewhat heavy in texture, it was still better than sleeping on a bare wooden bed.

Seeing Chu Chaoyun pressing down on the bedding forcefully, Mrs. Diao sighed, “Save some moon silver first, and I’ll figure out a way to bring you a bed from off the boat. Once autumn passes, winter will come.”

Although these words didn’t seem significant, they indeed stirred feelings of sadness.

On this Flower Boat, there were always people who couldn’t manage to get things to keep warm, and those people wouldn’t be able to survive the winter.

Chu Chaoyun retracted her hand and softly said, “Mm.” Then looking up, she still wore a bright smile like a blooming flower. “Aunt Diao, what work do you need me to do?”

At this, Mrs. Diao remembered the excuse she had just casually made up. She tidied some fallen hair—her hair wasn’t very black, mixed with some silver strands—and said, “Sometimes when I go off the boat, I buy scraps of fabric from the silk shops. They’re scattered bits, not worth much.”

She glanced down at Chu Chaoyun’s leaking grass sandals. “Pick some useful pieces and take them back to patch your shoes.”

Chu Chaoyun hadn’t expected Mrs. Diao to think of her so considerately and was momentarily stunned.

Those scraps indeed weren’t worth much, but boatwomen’s monthly wages were rare and precious, so she really couldn’t bring herself to freeload.

After some thought, Chu Chaoyun got up and said, “Wait a moment.” She quickly ran back to her compartment, carefully unwrapped some oil paper, took out half of her water-caltrap, and sneaked back.

Mrs. Diao was naturally surprised to see those water-caltrap.

Smiling, Chu Chaoyun stuffed the caltrap under the quilt and winked, “I picked these when rowing the guests on the river just now. I still have some more. Keep these and eat them quietly. Better not let anyone find out.”

She wasn’t foolish enough to be completely honest with Mrs. Diao—not because she didn’t trust her, but because prudence is needed.

Besides, even if Mrs. Diao were accidentally discovered eating water-caltrap, this excuse wouldn’t make others jealous.

Mrs. Diao, knowing how hard it was to get these water-caltrap, tried to refuse them but couldn’t because Chu Chaoyun insisted, “You’re kind to me, I’m grateful. We have give and take, so I can accept it with peace of mind.”

She scratched her head and awkwardly added, “Besides the fabric strips, I also have other things to ask you. After all, I’ve earned them.”

These words made Mrs. Diao want to laugh.

The two exchanged warm looks briefly before Chu Chaoyun spoke her request, “I’m still able to do simple sewing, but patching shoes is a delicate job. Please, Aunt Diao, teach me.”

When she helped Mrs. Diao patch the workers’ clothes that day, Mrs. Diao could tell she was a novice, but seeing Chu Chaoyun quietly learning without making a fuss, she thought the girl had some cleverness.

Mrs. Diao nodded slightly in consent.

After taking out needles and thread, she lifted the small window a bit to borrow some light and quietly began teaching Chu Chaoyun the techniques of shoe patching.

Mrs. Diao didn’t even have an oil lamp here. Chu Chaoyun didn’t quite understand the prices in this era but guessed those oil lamps must be somewhat expensive.

After resting, they still had to continue working. Having learned half of it, Mrs. Diao told her to come learn again later.

Later, the cook girl came to make sweet potato soup. An old woman brought two baskets of fresh sweet potatoes, and according to the request, Chu Chaoyun washed them clean to one side, peeled each one in turn, and then handed them over.

The cook girl always wore a veil-like hat moving in and out of the kitchen. The brim was lifted at the side, and the back of the hair was let down, swaying with the wind. No one ever really saw her face clearly.

Chu Chaoyun didn’t care much about her appearance but couldn’t help wondering what the sweet potato soup would taste like.

After the kitchen helpers finished, Chu Chaoyun took a cloth to wipe the lantern and then it was time for dinner. She held a steamed bun tightly in her hand and hurried back to her compartment.

While the sun was still not set, she lifted the small window, used the light, and looked down to patch her straw sandals.

Her toes had been exposed to the wind for many days, developing a hard surface, red and rough. If not for the occasional chance to wet them at night, she was afraid they would crack.

Following Mrs. Diao’s instructions, Chu Chaoyun first measured and compared the fabric strips, found a few suitable pieces, and was about to sew them onto the shoes.

Just as she started, she slightly turned her head and saw a pile of reeds under the footstool. Her eyes lit up. If she stuffed some reeds inside the fabric strips, would it be warmer to wear?

She didn’t need to think to know the answer was yes.

Chu Chaoyun hurriedly stood and whispered a few words to Mrs. Diao, who nodded approvingly and taught her how to stuff reeds.

The moon rose and the sun set. Even though the red lanterns of the Flower Boat lit up, the light was too dim for sewing.

Chu Chaoyun put down the work she had just barely started and took out the remaining water-caltrap to eat.

After a day’s wait, the taste of the water-caltrap was not as fresh as just picked but was still better than the buns in her hand.

There weren’t many guests on the Flower Boat that night. The music in the elegant room played intermittently.

After eating her fill, Chu Chaoyun lay on the bed to rest.

With the reeds in between, the comfort level soared.

Unconsciously, she fell asleep.

When she woke up again, the Flower Boat was already closed for the day, the supervisor and the girls had gotten off the boat, leaving only two workers at the dock to guard.

Chu Chaoyun slowly got up, still thinking about the unfinished shoe patching. After considering a moment, she took the needles and thread and went to the stern to continue sewing.

Having eaten water-caltrap tonight and not feeling hungry, she planned to rest for one day before going into the water again.

Although the red lantern had been extinguished, the river surface was covered with silver sparkling light. The sky was filled with dense stars. For someone with claustrophobia, she wasn’t sure if this was beautiful or frightening.

The moonlight was bright enough for her to barely see the needles and thread in her hands.

Chu Chaoyun sat cross-legged on the boatboard and started sewing bit by bit, finishing one shoe before the other. Though she pricked her fingers several times, she felt quite gratified watching the gaps in the shoes being filled.

She even felt a little inexplicable sense of accomplishment.

As she rose to go back to the dark cabin, she couldn’t help but stop and look toward the kitchen, sniffing the lingering scent of sweet potato soup. Chu Chaoyun hurried down the wooden ladder.

That night, Chu Chaoyun finally had a comfortable sleep. Early in the morning, she put on her shoes and went out to wash up, feeling warmth under her feet like never before.

Things would get better.

She splashed some water on her face, feeling refreshed all over.

That morning, it was her turn to clean the elegant room. But when tasks were assigned, Chu Chaoyun noticed Mrs. Diao was missing.

With one person missing, no one was willing to voluntarily take the spot. Besides her and an older boatwoman, the rest all avoided them at a distance.

Manager Zhong originally wanted to randomly point someone to fill in, but Chu Chaoyun spoke first, “How about I clean the second and third floors? Just give me half an hour more rest around noon and that’s all.”

Manager Zhong looked at her unfavorably, his eyes full of a ‘You sure know how to take your chances’ meaning.

Chu Chaoyun blinked her eyes and carried the wooden bucket upstairs. Manager Zhong said nothing else and tacitly agreed.

After finishing cleaning the elegant rooms and coming down, Chu Chaoyun overheard other boatwomen gossiping. Apparently, last night Miss Chunye drank too much again and woke up with a bad stomachache, having vomited several times. Mrs. Diao had gone early to deliver hot porridge to her.

After saying this, another added, usually when it was time to clean the elegant rooms, Mrs. Diao would give the cooked food to Big Zhao, who would assign someone to deliver it. Mrs. Diao wouldn’t always have to go off-boat running errands.

And this morning, there wasn’t much cargo to move; many workers were idle.

“Mrs. Diao really gets craftier as she gets older, sneaking to avoid work!”

“Cleaning the elegant rooms is hard work. Every time I do it, my old back aches for days. She can’t just slack off for herself and make us suffer like this!”

Their words were full of complaint, but they didn’t dare to speak loudly since the managers were still on the boat.

However, Chu Chaoyun felt something was off listening to this. Since she got to know Mrs. Diao, she had never seen her use her benefits to bully anyone. Even if she wasn’t giving special treatment, it was far from “pushing others to the brink.”

Lost in thought, she saw Mrs. Diao carrying a basket of clothes onto the foredeck.

The bluish clothes looked familiar, probably Miss Chunye’s dirty garments. The clothes were light in texture and not heavy, but Mrs. Diao moved with increasing difficulty climbing onto the deck.

Chu Chaoyun’s eyes showed some surprise, and she hurried over to take the basket and casually steadied her. “The wind’s been strong lately, making the foredeck shake. Aunt Diao, be careful not to let Miss Chunye’s little skirt get blown away.”

She said this with a smiling face. Mrs. Diao, supported by her, stepped up and looked at her gratefully.