RKCFE -Chapter 6 Where Did This Complete Idiot Come From?

Meanwhile, Song Wei paid no attention to Luo Yecheng’s overconfident assumptions. She was busy efficiently cleaning the snake meat.

She might not know how to cook, but cleaning a snake was no problem at all.

She slit open its belly, removed the internal organs, and carefully set aside the gallbladder.

Snake gall was valuable—it was used in traditional medicine.

Then she peeled off the snake’s skin in one smooth, practiced motion.

Watching from the side, Li Juan swallowed nervously.

Why does Song Wei look so terrifying when she’s skinning that snake with a smile on her face…?

“Done. The rest is up to you.”

Patting her hands clean, Song Wei went to start the fire.

Li Juan was an old educated youth. Behind her room was a back door leading to a small outdoor stove she had built herself, where she usually cooked.

She didn’t own an iron wok—only a clay pot.

Buying an iron wok required industrial coupons, and even then there was no guarantee you could actually get one.

Iron woks were scarce at the supply and marketing cooperative.

Fortunately, a clay pot was more than enough for stewing snake meat.

Li Juan skillfully chopped the snake into sections. She heated a little oil in the clay pot, tossed in some garlic and a few seasonings, then stir-fried the snake meat.

Song Wei glanced over.

Li Juan had used very little oil.

But she understood.

Oil was precious.

Anything with even a little grease tasted heavenly. Most rural families simply boiled vegetables in water because they couldn’t bear to waste oil.

Once the meat released its aroma, Li Juan poured in water.

Suddenly remembering something, Song Wei brought over the mushrooms she had gathered.

“Add these.”

Li Juan’s eyes widened with envy.

“You actually found this many mushrooms?”

Song Wei had truly struck it rich on this trip into the mountains.

“Just got lucky.”

Few people ventured deep into the mountains, and it happened to be mushroom season.

Snake meat was tender and didn’t need long to cook.

The moment the rich aroma drifted out, everyone in the educated youth compound smelled it.

Their own coarse grain meals suddenly tasted like chewing wax.

They were dying of envy.

Someone swallowed hard and took a vicious bite out of a mixed-grain steamed bun while inhaling the delicious scent.

Luo Yecheng finally made his move.

He came out of his room holding a handful of leafy greens and headed toward Li Juan’s place.

The other educated youths secretly watched the scene unfold.

One by one, they cracked open their doors just enough to eavesdrop.

Luo Yecheng walked confidently into the backyard.

He first glanced at the meat simmering in the clay pot, secretly swallowing before turning his affectionate gaze toward Song Wei.

“Song Wei, I know you’ve been heartbroken because of what happened with Jiang Xiaowan. But you have to believe that you’ve always held a place in my heart. Ever since we met, I’ve always treated you like a little sister. I never imagined you felt… that way about me. Still, don’t be too sad. Even though I’ll be marrying Jiang Xiaowan in the future, you’ll always be that little sister who needs taking care of. I’ll continue looking after you.”

When he finished speaking, Song Wei stared at him in stunned silence.

Not because she was touched.

Because she was amazed by the sheer thickness of his skin.

Luo Yecheng straightened proudly, wearing a gentle, refined smile.

The next second, his smile froze.

“…Where the hell did this complete idiot come from?”

Li Juan nearly burst out laughing.

She clapped both hands over her mouth.

She never would have imagined Song Wei would react like this.

If this had been the old Song Wei…

The old Song Wei would have been deeply moved and forgiven Luo Yecheng already.

Luo Yecheng’s expression stiffened.

“I know you’re still angry…”

Song Wei glanced at the bunch of greens in his hand and interrupted his sickeningly mushy speech.

She didn’t want to hear another word.

“Say, Scholar Luo… don’t tell me you’re planning to trade one handful of greens for my snake meat? You even wrapped it all up in that flowery nonsense. I didn’t enjoy hearing a single sentence you said, so kindly turn around and get lost.”

Luo Yecheng looked at her with disappointment.

“How did you become like this? You weren’t like this before.”

Song Wei picked up an unburned piece of firewood from the ground.

“Don’t make me beat you with this. Have you prepared the coupons you owe me yet? Or do you really think I wouldn’t crash your wedding and make a scene?”

The way she held the stick made it obvious she meant business.

Startled, Luo Yecheng instinctively took two steps back.

“Song Wei, you—”

Before he could finish, Song Wei hurled the firewood at him.

It flew past his face with a sharp whoosh.

This time he was genuinely frightened.

He stumbled backward and fled in panic, dropping the handful of greens along the way.

Song Wei picked them up and tossed them after him.

“Take your lousy greens and get lost! We don’t want them!”

Humiliated beyond words, Luo Yecheng fled.

He had never expected to be driven away like that.

His dignity had been completely crushed.

How did Song Wei become like this?

Selfish… rude… completely unreasonable.

Good thing I never fell for her. Otherwise I’d regret marrying such a shrew for the rest of my life!

Comforting himself with those thoughts, he returned to his room wearing a gloomy expression.

The educated youths who had been secretly watching all realized that if even Luo Yecheng had been chased away, they had no chance at all.

Xu Laidi sniffed the delicious aroma in the air and cursed bitterly.

“Eat, eat, eat! Why don’t you choke on it? What’s wrong with sharing a little of such a huge snake? So selfish. No wonder Luo Yecheng doesn’t like you. If I were a man, I wouldn’t either…”

No matter what the others thought, Song Wei and Li Juan enjoyed themselves immensely.

The meat was unbelievably delicious.

The broth had turned milky white.

Even dipping coarse grain buns into the soup made them taste amazing.

Li Juan felt rather embarrassed.

“Next time, dinner’s on me. I’ve still got a piece of cured pork.”

No matter how she looked at it, she had gotten the better deal today, even if she’d contributed the grain.

Without even looking up from her bowl, Song Wei nodded.

“Sure.”

Just as they were eating, someone called for her from outside.

Carrying her bowl, Song Wei walked out and saw a middle-aged man standing at the entrance to the educated youth compound.

“Educated Youth Song, I’m here to build your kang.”

It was none other than Aunt Ma’s husband, Jiang Erzhu.

Song Wei immediately smiled.

“Thank you for coming, Uncle Erzhu.”

“No trouble at all. Building a kang isn’t difficult. It’ll be finished before long.”

For farmers accustomed to hard labour, this kind of work was easy.

Almost every man in the village knew how to build a kang.

Winters here were brutally cold.

Without one, people could literally freeze to death.

Uncle Erzhu quickly unloaded the adobe bricks from his cart.

After finishing most of her meal, Song Wei asked Li Juan to keep the remaining snake meat warm before joining him in carrying bricks.

Naturally, she wanted her little home finished as soon as possible.

“Educated Youth Song, you’re incredibly fast.”

Watching her carry a huge stack of adobe bricks at astonishing speed, Jiang Erzhu worried she would be crushed beneath them.

Song Wei smiled shyly.

“I’m just… a tiny bit stronger than most people.”

She might look delicate.

What did that have to do with being incredibly strong?

Jiang Erzhu worked until evening.

By nightfall, the kang was mostly finished, though it still couldn’t be used yet.

So Song Wei made do by sleeping on the wooden bed for the night.

Around nine o’clock, just as Uncle Erzhu was preparing to leave, Song Wei brought out a bowl of snake soup.

Chunks of meat and mushrooms floated in the fragrant broth.

The aroma alone was mouthwatering.

“Uncle Erzhu, you’ve worked hard. Take this bowl home and have a taste.”

The rich scent made Jiang Erzhu swallow, but he still waved his hands.

“No, no. I already ate before I came. I’m not hungry.”

Song Wei pressed the bowl into his hands.

“It’s not much. Let the children have a taste. Aunt Ma and I are on good terms too—let her try some as well.”

Thinking of his children, Jiang Erzhu gave a simple, honest smile.

In the end, he accepted it.

“Then I’ll shamelessly accept your kindness.”