Difficult to put into words!
Wu Zhuoya’s helplessness was truly indescribable.
She wanted to scold her but, turning around, she saw her little daughter’s pale face and thin figure, and her heart ached with sympathy.
The child had just recovered from a serious illness, and even the doctor said she needed more nutrition. It wasn’t too much to ask for meat.
After consideration, Wu Zhuoya negotiated softly with He Tiantian, "Tiantian, you’ve just recovered from your illness and can’t eat greasy food, so how about Mommy cooks you some meat porridge and steams an egg custard for you?"
These items were easily digestible and contained some fat and nutrients that should help the child regain her strength.
Hearing about meat porridge and egg custard, He Tiantian feigned an expression of longing and slurped her saliva, nodding repeatedly.
She didn’t even speak as if opening her mouth would let the tears fall out.
Originally, they all thought He Tiantian was too fond of food, a girl of seventeen or eighteen always thinking about eating meat.
But the sight of He Tiantian with a nosebleed, unconscious and dreadful to behold, just a few days ago was far too distressing.
Even the neighbors who hadn’t witnessed it felt troubled after hearing about it from others,
"Could it be that the child craves good food, not just because she enjoys eating, but because she really is too frail?"
"Probably she got malnourished when she was younger and never properly nourished from the start!"
"...Ah, if you look at it this way, Tiantian is really a pitiful child."
"Yes, there is nothing she can do about it. You didn’t hear the doctor, severe malnutrition, tsk tsk!"
The crowd murmured among themselves but did not dislike He Tiantian as much as before and did not overly criticize her.
The weak always elicit more sympathy from the world.
Perhaps everyone still felt a pang over the top-grade things He Tiantian had taken from them but eventually felt more pity than unreserved condemnation and contempt.
Now, watching He Tiantian pleading with her real mother for delicious food made them feel somewhat speechless, yet their feelings were mostly of pity.
Ah, look at that little face, barely bigger than the palm of a hand, and there’s hardly any flesh on her body, just skin and bones.
Having just recovered from a major illness, she indeed needed a good nourishment.
No one spoke idly anymore, but watched with understanding as Wu Zhuoya and her two daughters left.
Back home, Wu Zhuoya helped He Tiantian to her bedroom, "Tiantian, wait here, Mommy will go make something tasty for you!"
He Weihong pouted, wanting to say something, but her sister’s sickly appearance was indeed pitiful.
She was just discharged from hospital, this time, I’ll indulge you.
He Weihong set things aside and took the initiative to help in the kitchen.
The clattering, busy scene unfolded and Wu Zhuoya quickly served up a tender egg custard.
She added a bit of sesame oil and green onions to the egg custard, which emitted an enticing aroma that wafted into the nostrils.
He Weihong couldn’t resist swallowing her saliva, quickly turning her head away, not to gaze upon that bowl of egg custard.
I’m not craving it, I’m not hungry, I’m an adult now, I’ve eaten plenty of good food since I was young, I, I—
He Weihong desperately convinced herself in her mind. Meanwhile, the rich scent of the minced pork rice porridge simmering in the earthenware pot on the stove drifted through the air.
It was the canned luncheon meat brought back from the Capital City by her father, something the family rarely ate, usually saved for distinguished guests or holidays.
He Weihong remembered clearly, the last time they had it was over a month ago.
And the last time the He Family had a meat dish was a week earlier.
It had been several days since she’d eaten any meat.
He Weihong’s mouth was madly salivating, and finally, she couldn’t take it any longer and bolted back to her room.
Wu Zhuoya didn’t notice her older daughter’s actions as she brought the egg custard to her younger daughter’s room.
"Tiantian, eat up, Mommy added sesame oil to make it extra tasty!"
He Tiantian hurriedly took the bowl, err, it was quite hot.
But she pretended not to mind the heat, urgently picking up the spoon and starting to eat.
Soft, tender, smooth, delicious!
It was just a simple bowl of egg custard, but in that era, it was certainly a rare delicacy.
He Tiantian finished the egg custard in just a few bites, looking up at Wu Zhuoya with wide eyes fluttering, though she said nothing.
Having been mother and daughter for a few months, Wu Zhuoya had come to understand her own girl and couldn’t help but laugh at her eagerness, "The meat porridge is still stewing on the stove, don’t worry, it’ll be ready soon!"
Finally reassured, He Tiantian cracked a wide smile.
She passed the bowl to Wu Zhuoya, and as if remembering something, she added a reminder, "Mom, don’t forget the draft paper and pencils, eraser, ruler!"