Chapter Sixty-Three: The Deed Is Done

Zhou Nan felt a certain sense of triumph. In her ongoing battle with Liu Xiaoqin, she believed she had emerged victorious, and she gazed at Liu Xiaoqin with a beaming smile.

“The groceries are back, Sister Xiaoqin. Let’s get started on dinner…” Zhang Hua sensed something off in the air between the two women: one was brimming with fighting spirit, the other was downcast and defeated. Clearly, Liu Xiaoqin was no match for Zhou Nan.

Naturally, Zhang Hua felt closer to Liu Xiaoqin—they hailed from the same place and had endured hardships together. People who have shared weal and woe often form strong bonds. Seeing Liu Xiaoqin at a disadvantage, Zhang Hua quickly suggested they start cooking, hoping to use the excuse to draw her away from the scene.

Zhang Hua’s intention was clear to the clever Zhou Nan. In matters like this, one mustn’t show sympathy; the moment you soften, you’re betraying yourself. Affection is inherently selfish.

“I’ll help too, sister. Let me join you in the kitchen!” Zhou Nan knew that cooking together was the best way to build rapport with Zhang Hua, so she immediately stood up, still smiling, and followed her into the kitchen.

Caught between the two, Zhang Hua glanced at Zhou Nan and then at Liu Xiaoqin, unsure of what to do. Her mind was no match for theirs, so she simply let both women trail her into the kitchen.

They had bought a great deal of food. After Zhang Hua set the bags down, the small kitchen became even more cramped with three people inside.

Seeing that neither woman was willing to leave, Zhang Hua clapped her hands and declared, “You two can handle it. There’s barely room to move. I’ll step out—whoever wants to cook, go ahead. I’ll watch TV and call my brother for dinner when you’re done.”

As soon as Zhang Hua left, Zhou Nan grinned at Liu Xiaoqin, grabbed the apron, tied it around her waist, and gave her a little triumphant nod.

Liu Xiaoqin felt a pang of inferiority. It was obvious that in terms of presence, looks, and attire, Zhou Nan was anything but ordinary. How could she possibly compete?

Zhou Nan glanced at the ingredients laid out on the counter and felt a prickle of anxiety. At home, she had never actually cooked a meal. Abroad, she lived on takeout and instant noodles, never bothering with anything that needed chopping, steaming, or stir-frying. But now, the vegetables Zhang Hua and Liu Xiaoqin had brought back all needed to be cooked, including fresh greens, pork, beef, and even a live fish in a plastic bag!

She looked at the dazed Liu Xiaoqin. Now was not the time to show weakness. What was there to be afraid of? She’d seen plenty of cooking on TV and at home. Wasn’t it just chopping, tossing things in a pan, adding oil and salt, and stirring until done? Nothing too difficult.

Nevertheless, Zhou Nan was nervous, having never done this before. She decided to start with the fish. It was at least three pounds, lively and slippery, and the moment she grabbed it, it wriggled free and flopped onto the floor, thrashing about.

Water splashed all over Zhou Nan’s face, and she completely lost her composure, scrambling after the fish, making several attempts before finally grabbing it and tossing it into the sink. She picked up a knife, but had no idea where to start.

Seeing Zhou Nan’s predicament, Liu Xiaoqin suddenly felt delighted. Zhou Nan clearly didn’t know how to cook. No matter how beautiful or privileged she was, Zhang Can’s parents would hardly approve. In the countryside, a woman’s worth was measured by her ability to care for her family, not by her looks. Of course, Zhou Nan might have other merits, but when it came to household skills, she was nothing but a decorative vase. Was Zhang Can supposed to wait on her?

With this thought, Liu Xiaoqin felt a surge of happiness. Since Zhou Nan insisted on cooking, why not let her go ahead and make a spectacle of herself, so the Zhang siblings could see for themselves whether she fit their family?

“Miss Zhou, would you like me to take over? The women in Zhang Can’s family all know how to cook, though I’m still learning myself. Surely you must be an expert.”

With her confidence restored, Liu Xiaoqin’s voice was relaxed, her posture straight, her chin lifted as she addressed Zhou Nan on purpose.

Zhou Nan snorted, “You can go. I can handle it myself. It’s just a meal, after all.”

Liu Xiaoqin smiled and walked out. Zhou Nan snorted again but had no time to dwell on her. She quickly took out the rice cooker’s inner pot, scooped some rice from the barrel in the cupboard, washed it, put it in the cooker, closed the lid, and then turned her attention back to the fish.

Meanwhile, Zhang Hua and Liu Xiaoqin sat in the living room, listening to the clattering sounds from the kitchen, uncertain how Zhou Nan was faring. The aroma of cooking did waft out, though.

Zhang Hua voiced her concern, “Sister Xiaoqin, do you think she can cook? She seems like a pampered heiress—what if it turns out badly?”

“Don’t worry,” Liu Xiaoqin replied with a smile. “It’s just one meal. If it’s inedible, we can always eat out. We won’t starve, so what’s the concern?”

“That’s true!” Zhang Hua nodded. After all, this wasn’t the countryside. Downstairs there was food available around the clock—if you had money, you could eat anything, anytime.

After an hour of bustling activity, Zhou Nan finally emerged from the kitchen, carrying dishes to the table. She turned to Liu Xiaoqin and Zhang Hua, announcing, “Xiao Hua, go wake your brother for dinner. It’s ready!”

“Okay!” Zhang Hua answered, then went to rouse Zhang Can. Liu Xiaoqin blushed and didn’t follow; she recalled her last attempt to wake him for breakfast and the awkward surprise of finding him sleeping unclothed. The memory of lifting the covers made her cheeks burn.

Zhang Hua opened the door to find her brother fast asleep. She shook his hand vigorously, calling, “Brother, wake up! Time for dinner!”

“Dinner already?” Zhang Can stirred, sat up, and, remembering his previous embarrassment, had kept his clothes on this time.

After washing up, he entered the living room and saw Liu Xiaoqin watching TV on the sofa, heard the kitchen clatter, and then looked at his sister in confusion. “You’re both out here—who’s cooking?”

“Miss Zhou, of course,” Liu Xiaoqin replied, biting her lip with a peculiar look.

“Miss Zhou? Which Miss Zhou?” For a moment, Zhang Can was slow to catch on, but then realization struck. “Zhou Nan? She’s still here? You… you two didn’t have any trouble, did you?”

Having just awakened, Zhang Can hadn’t considered that possibility. Only after a dazed moment did he recall what had transpired before his nap: Zhou Nan and Liu Xiaoqin had met, and he’d escaped to his room with a headache. How had nothing gone wrong?

Liu Xiaoqin seemed perfectly composed, her clothes neat as ever, lounging and watching TV. As for the kitchen, Zhou Nan was bustling about, bringing out dishes.

Unable to contain his curiosity, Zhang Can walked over to the dining area. On the table were five or six dishes: braised carp, stir-fried greens, potatoes with pork, tomato and egg soup, and more. Some dishes looked a bit overcooked, slightly dark, but that was normal. He sat down and picked up some greens with his chopsticks for a taste.

Zhou Nan emerged with a plate of stir-fried lettuce, set it down, and smiled at Zhang Can, “Try it—how is it?”

He noticed her pretty face was smeared with grease and soot, evidently from the kitchen, and couldn’t help but find it amusing. As he chewed, he realized the greens were bland, almost flavorless, but still edible. He swallowed and nodded, “Not bad.”

Zhou Nan’s face broke into a broad smile. She waved to Liu Xiaoqin and Zhang Hua, “Come eat, Xiao Hua, Miss Liu. Let’s have dinner.”

Liu Xiaoqin and Zhang Hua joined them, but noticed there was no rice on the table, only dishes and chopsticks. They both went to the kitchen—one carrying the rice cooker, the other getting bowls.

Setting the cooker on the counter, Zhang Hua opened the lid and, upon seeing inside, froze.

Zhou Nan asked in surprise, “What’s wrong, Xiao Hua? Not enough rice? I remember putting plenty in!”

Blushing, Zhang Hua bit her lip and pointed to the cooker. “Come see for yourself. You serve.”

Puzzled, Zhou Nan walked over, looked inside, and was dumbstruck. She awkwardly shook the cooker and laughed nervously, “I could’ve sworn I closed the lid—why is the rice still raw and the water untouched?”

Zhang Hua, exasperated and amused, explained, “You forgot to press the button! If you don’t turn it on, you could wait a lifetime and it’d still be raw.”

Saying this, Zhang Hua pressed the button with a click.

Zhang Can and Liu Xiaoqin assumed Zhou Nan had simply been too busy and forgot. But her next words left them speechless.

“Oh, you have to press a button? I thought you just closed the lid and that was it!”

The three of them stared in disbelief—especially Zhang Can. In his eyes, Zhou Nan was always so clever and capable, rarely bested by anyone. Whatever she did, she strove for perfection, never falling short.

But, of course, household chores were a different story. Zhou Nan might be an exceptionally intelligent, formidable woman, but she was certainly no homemaker.

For a moment, Zhang Can was embarrassed, Zhang Hua couldn’t help but laugh, and Liu Xiaoqin was delighted. Just as she’d expected—when it came to housework, Zhou Nan was practically clueless!

Zhou Nan realized her blunder the moment she spoke, quickly shut her mouth, and after a pause said, “Forget it. There’s no time to cook more rice now. Let’s just eat the dishes, and afterward, I’ll treat everyone to a meal out!”

Zhang Can picked up his chopsticks and took a piece of braised fish. “Yes, yes, since it’s already made, let’s have some before we head out. Better than wandering around hungry.”

But as soon as the fish touched his tongue, his brows furrowed. The greens had only been bland, but the braised fish tasted strange—so odd it was hard to swallow. Still, he couldn’t embarrass Zhou Nan at this point. He forced himself to swallow the bite and then hesitated about what to try next.

Zhou Nan, undeterred, encouraged Zhang Hua and Liu Xiaoqin, “Help yourselves! Don’t let it go to waste.”

Liu Xiaoqin picked up a slice of potato, Zhang Hua took some lettuce, and Zhou Nan, seeing Zhang Can had just tried the fish, took a piece herself.

But as soon as all three tasted their bites, their reactions were entirely different.

Liu Xiaoqin hissed, Zhang Hua covered her mouth and looked around at the others, while Zhou Nan spun away and immediately spat hers out.