The Daily Life of a Stepmother in the 1980s
Sizzle—
As Xu Tao poured the hot oil over the boiled fish, the sound of the sizzling oil mixing with Sichuan pepper and chili created a sharp "sizzle" and an enticing aroma filled the air.
"Sister-in-law, your cooking skills are absolutely amazing!" Guo Pingping, a native of Sichuan Province, praised Xu Tao with a thumbs-up as she watched her prepare the boiled fish.
Even though she herself was from Sichuan, Guo Pingping doubted she could make such an authentic dish as Xu Tao's boiled fish.
"I just know how to cook a little" Xu Tao replied modestly. As two large portions of boiled fish were plated, their rich aroma wafted directly into the living room.
"Brother Guo, Sister-in-law's cooking is out of this world" Zhan Yue exclaimed excitedly, praising while eating.
"Exactly! This chicken soup is incredible—better than anything you could find in a restaurant" Liao Tuhang added enthusiastically.
The group, all single retired soldiers, typically made do with simple meals. A feast like this was a rare luxury.
Zhan Yue fared better since he worked at the police station, where his meals were covered, but Qin Yubin and others struggled with both finding decent food and steady work.
"If you like it, feel free to come by often. Your sister-in-law will cook for you. Eat more, drink more" Zhao Weiguo said warmly, pouring wine for his comrades. Hearing their compliments, he couldn’t have been prouder.
"Brother Zhao, you said it! We'll definitely take you up on that" the group replied eagerly, grinning with delight.
The living room buzzed with lively chatter, everyone thoroughly enjoying Xu Tao's culinary skills.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Xu Tao added a few sprigs of cilantro to the boiled fish for extra flavor.
"Could one of the ladies help me bring this to the table?" Xu Tao called out with a smile, asking for assistance from someone in the kitchen.
"I'll do it" Zhang Shufen promptly replied, wiping her hands before deftly picking up a large basin of boiled fish and carrying it out of the kitchen.
Yes, a basin—because of the generous portions and the array of ingredients Xu Tao added, they had to use a basin to hold it all.
"The boiled fish is ready. Lao Qiu, come help me" Zhang Shufen said cheerfully, calling her husband Qiu Tianyong as she brought the dish out.
Hearing her, Qiu Tianyong immediately stood up, quickly rearranged the dishes on the table to make room, and carefully placed the large basin of boiled fish in the center.
"This looks amazing. Sister-in-law's cooking is phenomenal—better than what Guo Pingping, a Sichuan native, could make" Li Jianshu remarked, unable to hold back his praise.
Li Jianshu, also from Sichuan, had struggled to adapt to the lighter cuisine of Yangcheng during his military service there. Even after years, it had taken him a while to adjust.
Now retired, he'd been thrilled to have his wife, Guo Pingping, and their daughter join him in Yangcheng, hoping to enjoy authentic Sichuan dishes again. Unfortunately, Guo Pingping's cooking was average, dashing his hopes of reliving the flavors of home.
Never did he expect that today, at Zhao Weiguo's table, he'd encounter such authentic boiled fish—better than what many Sichuan natives could make. Even without tasting it, just judging from its appearance, Li Jianshu would rate it 100 out of 100.
And the earlier stir-fried eel in hot oil? That dish was so delicious it could make you swallow your tongue.
"Help yourselves, everyone. Don’t hold back. And keep the drinks flowing" Zhao Weiguo said with a smile, pouring wine for his comrades as the festive atmosphere continued.
While the men were enjoying their lively meal in the living room, the kitchen remained bustling.
"It’s getting late, and most of the dishes are done. Why don’t you ladies take the children and start eating? Otherwise, the food will get cold" Xu Tao suggested warmly.
After preparing the boiled fish, only a simple vegetable stir-fry remained. Glancing at her watch, Xu Tao noted it was already past six o’clock, so she invited the women to eat first.
Xu Tao didn’t particularly enjoy eating leftovers, which was why she had ensured Zhao Weiguo prepared generous portions for today.
After all, spending an entire day cooking two tables of dishes left her with little appetite. Waiting for the men to finish so she could eat their leftovers would be utterly infuriating!
"There's no need. We'll wait for you to join us at the table" Wu Hui declined Xu Tao's suggestion.
"That's right! It's still early anyway, and we're not hungry. We'll wait for you" Guo Pingping chimed in, agreeing with Wu Hui.
"Alright then, I'll stir-fry two more vegetable dishes" Xu Tao nodded with a smile.
The atmosphere in the kitchen was harmonious, while outside in the dining room, a few men had gathered for a rare reunion.
All of them were former soldiers who had retired from the army, sharing many similar experiences and topics to discuss. However, after a few rounds of drinks, someone brought up a certain subject, and soon everyone began to share their frustrations and difficulties with their comrades.
None of the men had expected their lives to turn out like this.
The conversations in the living room were loud, and the men had no intention of hiding anything from the women. As a result, those in the kitchen could vaguely hear what was being discussed outside.
Standing in the kitchen, Zhang Shufen listened to her husband complain and happened to notice Xu Tao's slender and beautiful plum blossom wristwatch. She couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy.
She had recently thought about buying a watch to tell time, but when she inquired about the price, she discovered that even the cheapest watches started at several dozen yuan.
Her husband, Qiu Tianyong, had retired from the army around the same time as Zhao Weiguo. However, while Zhao Weiguo managed to secure a stable job in transportation with a decent monthly income, Qiu Tianyong only worked as a security guard, barely earning enough to make ends meet.
Zhang Shufen had considered finding a job herself and sending their son to a daycare center. But after learning that daycare fees were four yuan a month, she gave up the idea and stayed home to take care of the child.
Now, as she listened to her husband's complaints and saw how well-off Xu Tao’s family seemed, Zhang Shufen couldn’t hold back her curiosity.
"Sister-in-law, your husband, Weiguo, earns a decent salary from his transportation job, doesn't he? Could you ask him if his company is hiring? If they are, could he help my husband, Lao Qiu, get in too?"
Zhang Shufen’s eyes were full of expectation as she made her request.
She knew transportation jobs paid well, and Zhao's family seemed to be living comfortably. Otherwise, how could today’s meal be so lavish?
Vegetables aside, the chicken, fish, meat, and eel alone must have cost nearly thirty yuan altogether.
Looking at Xu Tao—young, beautiful, and dressed in clothes far better than her own—Zhang Shufen could tell they weren’t cheap.
Without a good financial foundation, it was impossible to live so well.
While chopping vegetables, Xu Tao was surprised to hear Zhang Shufen's suggestion. She looked up and smiled.
"Sister-in-law, I’m not too familiar with Weiguo’s work. I'll ask him about it later" Xu Tao replied politely.
In truth, Xu Tao didn’t know much about Zhao Weiguo’s job, only that it had been arranged by one of his comrades. Given the current times, it was hard to secure a position without connections.
From what Xu Tao knew of Zhao Weiguo, she was sure that if his company was hiring, he would have already arranged something for his comrades without needing Zhang Shufen to ask.
If he hadn’t mentioned it, it likely meant he couldn’t do anything about it.
"Alright, please do ask him. We really need help; otherwise, life is becoming unbearable!" Zhang Shufen said, her tone filled with hope.
Xu Tao pressed her lips together, not giving an outright promise.
Wu Hui and Guo Pingping were also in the kitchen. While they couldn’t deny the allure of Zhao Weiguo’s transportation job, they kept their thoughts to themselves, unlike Zhang Shufen, who spoke up. They simply listened and let it pass.
Soon, Xu Tao finished stir-frying the vegetables and brought them to the table. She glanced at the dishes, all well-portioned, ensuring there was plenty to eat without being excessive. The spread on the table didn’t seem shabby at all.
"Thank you, sister-in-law!" Zhan Yue immediately spoke up.
"It’s no trouble. Eat as much as you like. There’s still more chicken soup in the kitchen if this isn’t enough" Xu Tao replied with a smile.
"Thank you, sister-in-law."
"Thank you, younger sister-in-law."
"You should join us at the table too" the men encouraged.
"Alright" Xu Tao replied.
After agreeing, Xu Tao went to the courtyard to call the Ye family’s children to the table. She also called back Zhao Linan and Qiu Zhenghao, who had been playing happily.
"Mom, is it time to eat?" Zhao Linan ran over excitedly. The little boy had been hungry for a while but behaved well, playing with his older brother, Qiu Zhenghao.
"Yes, it’s time to eat." Xu Tao wiped the sweat off his head.
As soon as Zhao Linan heard it was time to eat, he turned and ran to the courtyard’s sink to wash his hands. The child was so serious about washing up that Xu Tao didn’t even need to remind him.
Zhang Shufen hadn’t paid much attention to her son earlier. In those days, most parents weren’t overly meticulous about raising children. However, when she saw how disciplined Zhao Linan was—washing his hands without prompting—she couldn’t help but notice the contrast with her own son, Qiu Zhenghao.
Unlike Zhao Linan, Qiu Zhenghao was messy, rubbing dirt on his pants as he ran over without a thought to washing his hands.
The stark difference made Zhang Shufen feel a little upset.
"Xiao Hao, go wash your hands with your brother" she instructed.
"Okay!" Qiu Zhenghao obediently went to the sink to wash his hands alongside Zhao Linan. However, his effort was clearly half-hearted.
"Brother Hao, you need to use soap, scrub properly, and rinse it off!" Zhao Linan patiently explained.
Qiu Zhenghao nodded and washed his hands. After both children had cleaned up, they sat down at the table to eat.
The four women and seven children shared a table, making it a lively scene.
"Be careful with the fish; there are bones!" Xu Tao reminded the children while serving food to Zhao Linan.
"Sister-in-law, you’re so patient" Guo Pingping remarked. Impulsive by nature, she wasn’t as meticulous in caring for her child. She simply seated her daughter beside her and focused on eating, not worrying about whether the child could manage the food.
But Xu Tao showed great patience, and Zhao Linan, unlike other children, sat quietly, eating the food his mother served him. If he wanted something, he would simply ask Xu Tao.
"He’s still young and can’t handle chopsticks well. I don’t want him making a mess, so I usually serve him myself" Xu Tao explained with a smile.
"Your Xiao Nan is really well-behaved. You’ve raised him so well" Guo Pingping praised sincerely.
Zhang Shufen looked at Zhao Linan's delicate and well-behaved appearance, then at her own son, Xiao Hao, who ate like he was fighting a battle, leaving a messy and unappetizing scene. She couldn't help but think that Xu Tao had spoiled the child too much. Yet, she had to admit that in terms of habits, her own son couldn't compare to Zhao Linan.
Feeling frustrated, she quietly ate her food.
At the side table, no one drank alcohol. The group chatted while taking care of the children, and soon they finished their meal. Despite starting later, they wrapped up earlier than those at the main table.
Several women, being diligent, cleared the dishes from the table and took them to the kitchen to clean up. Once everything was tidied, they sat back at the side table to accompany those at the main table.
"Mom, I'm sleepy!" Zhao Linan, full and satisfied, leaned lazily against Xu Tao.
Xu Tao picked Zhao Linan up and sat him on her lap. The little boy was especially quiet and didn't fuss, just leaning against her and dozing off.
Initially, Xu Tao wanted to give Zhao Linan a bath, but seeing him fall asleep on her, and with so many people in the house, she decided to dampen a towel in the kitchen and give him a quick wipe-down instead. Then, she carried him to the bedroom to sleep.
After Zhao Linan had fallen asleep, the other children began yawning too. Li Pandie snuggled into Guo Pingping's arms and dozed off.
Meanwhile, Qiu Zhenghao was nodding off, his head bobbing as if he might fall asleep at any moment.
"Sister-in-law, younger sister, why don’t you let them sleep together with Xiao Nan for a bit?" Xu Tao suggested to Guo Pingping and Zhang Shufen.
Most of the people present were older than Xu Tao, but because Guo Pingping’s husband, Li Jianshu, was a year younger than Zhao Weiguo, the forms of address followed the men’s ages. Thus, Xu Tao called Zhang Shufen "sister-in-law" and Guo Pingping "younger sister."
"No need. They’re almost done anyway" Guo Pingping shook her head.
The men, having gathered together and drunk some alcohol, had become sentimental, talking about the hardships of military life and the uncertainty of the future.
The women, sitting with the children and listening, couldn’t help but feel uneasy, but none dared to interrupt.
Eventually, it was Wu Hui who stepped forward. She asked Xu Tao for the time, and upon learning it was already past 9 PM, she spoke up to stop the men: "Alright, that’s enough for today. Everyone go home now with your wives and kids!"
It was getting late, and if no one stopped them, the men might have kept drinking and chatting until dawn. Wu Hui was the wife of Ye Zhenhua, who was the oldest among the men and had been their squad leader. Because of this, everyone respected Wu Hui a bit more.
At her reminder, the men finally checked the time and realized how late it was.
"It’s already 9 o’clock. Time to go," one of them said as the group got up, preparing to leave.
The dinner finally came to an end. Xu Tao and Zhao Weiguo stood shoulder to shoulder at the courtyard gate, watching everyone leave before they closed the gate and headed back to the small living room.
"Are you drunk?" Xu Tao raised an eyebrow and asked Zhao Weiguo.
If he wasn’t drunk, she had no qualms about leaving all the dishes and utensils to him.
She had cooked for two whole tables, and it had been exhausting.
"A bit" Zhao Weiguo nodded, glancing at the dining table. Then he walked over to Xu Tao, hugged her from behind, and rested his head, smelling of alcohol, on her shoulder.
"Oh! So, you’re drunk. What about all the dishes on the table?" Xu Tao felt a bit sorry for herself.
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