56: Chapter 56 Eating Dumplings 56: Chapter 56 Eating Dumplings Lin Xia and her sister Dongzi pushed their bikes out for a shopping trip.
Besides buying two jars of pickled vegetables and a few cabbages, they actually managed to find so at.
Pork was only one yuan and twenty-nine cents per jin now, but because she was with Lin Qiu, it wouldn’t be good to buy too much, so she didn’t dare to buy more and only got two jin.
Moreover, the season wasn’t right, if it were winter, they could buy more and freeze it.
They didn’t know if it would keep fresh in Jade’s room;
So, even though Lin Xia finally encountered at, she could only reluctantly hold back for now.
Lin Xia also bought so pork fatback, thinking that when she got ho, it would render so lard for cooking, which would add a nice fragrance, and they could also eat the crispy bits.
Even though Lin Qiu knew her sister was a big spender, she was surprised once again.
But thinking of the money her sister had and that everything they bought was useful, she didn’t say much.
Wanting to render the lard, Lin Xia asked Lin Qiu to watch the bikes while she went to buy a small jar.
When Lin Xia and Lin Qiu returned ho with their loaded bike, Auntie Xu happened to co out of the house.
Seeing how many things the two sisters had bought, she too ca over to lend a hand.
Auntie Xu looked at all their purchases and casually said, “Why did you buy so much stuff!”
Lin Xia had a better impression of Auntie Xu than Xu Haihua, so she smiled warmly and explained, “We happened to find it, and thought of stocking up on so oil!
Buying soybean oil is too expensive!”
“That’s true!
You have to be frugal and shrewd to get by these days!”
Auntie Xu knew they had no grain ration and had to buy grain and oil at high prices.
With several people in the family, they would run out of their savings if they constantly ate like that.
“And you bought such a big piece of at?” Auntie Xu really thought these kids knew how to spend money; she couldn’t bear to buy it herself.
Even though Lin Xia knew Auntie Xu didn’t an any harm, it still made her sowhat uncomfortable.
But since they lived in the Eastern House, and since it was only a few words, Lin Xia held back her feelings and explained, “Ah!
I was just thinking, since we rarely co across it?”
After moving the jars and stuff into the house, Lin Xia washed her hands.
Looking at all the purchases and considering the early hour, she thought of rendering the lard first.
Lin Xia had bought quite a bit of pork fatback.
She washed, cut it into chunks, and Lin Qiu helped by tending the fire.
Lin Xia then started chopping at and cabbage, planning to make pork and cabbage dumplings.
In the midst of all the bustle, Lin Dong returned ho from school just as the crispy bits were ready.
Lin Xia scooped up a bowl overflowing with them for Lin Dong and Lin Qiu to eat, while she herself had only a couple of bites before feeling greasy.
However, for Lin Dong and Lin Qiu, this was an especially delicious treat, and they ate joyfully, taking turns with each bite.
Having prepared the dumpling filling and brought out the well-kneaded dough, the three of them sat down inside to make dumplings together.
Their rolling board was actually just a flat wooden board they placed on the table, and the small rolling pin was sothing Lin Xia had brought back from her last trip ho.
Lin Dong rolled the skins, while Lin Xia and Lin Qiu wrapped the dumplings.
Lin Dong happily watched his big sister shape perfectly round dumplings.
He recalled the previous day’s events and asked, “Big sister, since we’re having dumplings, should we send a plate over to Second Brother’s house?
After all, he helped you yesterday!”
Lin Xia had actually thought about it before, but people were particularly conservative nowadays.
By the ti their dumplings were cooked, the Zhao family would surely be at ho, and if she went over with a plate of dumplings, it might not look good and could easily lead to unnecessary misunderstandings.
“I think we’d better not send any.
Let’s just buy him sothing quietly later and give it to him privately.
Besides, our big brother will be back soon, and when the dumplings are ready, how would you explain going out to give soone dumplings?”
She hadn’t told her big brother a thing about her near robbery.
If sothing went wrong and they had to spill the beans, wouldn’t that make their secrecy in vain?
Lin Dong and Lin Qiu exchanged glances, realizing there was indeed truth in that.
Also, if it led people to misunderstand that their big sister had feelings for Second Brother, that would be impossible to clarify.
“Then let’s not send them for now!
We’ll wait for another opportunity!”
Lin Dong’s voice had just dropped when Lin Chun’s shout ca from the courtyard, “Dongzi!
Co out and help!”
“Ai!” Lin Dong stuck out his tongue at Lin Xia, “This is really a case of speak of the devil and he shall appear.”
Lin Xia and Lin Qiu couldn’t help but laugh.
After washing his hands, Lin Chun entered the house, and seeing that the dumplings were still not wrapped, he too started to help wrap them.
Many hands make light work, and with the four of them chatting and laughing, the dumplings were done in no ti.
A big pot of water had already been boiling on the stove, and now it was bubbling furiously, ready for Lin Xia to start cooking the dumplings.
Lin Xia had borrowed a strainer basket from Da Xu and, as they served the dumplings, they found they didn’t have enough utensils, so they used every small bowl and dish they had to hold them.
Lin Xia asked Da Xu for a big bowl and also served her so dumplings.
Da Xu felt a bit embarrassed but then thought that since they lived in the Eastern House, they might just reciprocate the gesture in the future.
She carried the bowl of dumplings into the house, where there was a plate of cabbage stew with glass noodles on the table, and Xu Haihua was busy picking up noodles one by one to eat.
Seeing the dumplings in Da Xu’s hand, she asked, “Did they give those?”
“Yes!
That girl Lin Xia served them!
Haihua, eat up!
I saw that they didn’t skimp on the at at all!” Da Xu placed the big bowl right in front of Xu Haihua.
Xu Haihua pursed her lips, “Pretty generous!” She grabbed a dumpling and put it in her mouth.
The mont it touched her taste buds, they were filled with a delightful fragrance, and the seasoning was just right.
After swallowing, Xu Haihua suddenly asked in a low voice, “Mom!
Did you see if they sent any to Brother Mingyuan’s family?”
After Mingyuan had helped Lin Xia the other day, she felt uncomfortably jealous.
Why should he help her?
Seeing them wrapping dumplings today, she thought they might take the opportunity to send so to Mingyuan and felt even more upset about it.
“They haven’t!
Haihua, why do you care about what others do?” Da Xu was a bit annoyed.
Xu Haihua huffed, “What’s wrong with asking?
Yesterday Brother Mingyuan helped Lin Xia, and didn’t even get a drink in return.
Today we have such good food, shouldn’t they at least send over a plate to show so gratitude?”
“Whether they send it or not is their business!
Why are you so concerned about that?” Da Xu thought for a mont and then said, “Haihua, Mom knows what you’re thinking!
But I really haven’t seen anything good about the second Jiang son!
After he ca back from his youth assignnt, he never went to find a job, just loiters around every day without any real business!”
Xu Haihua slamd her chopsticks on the table with a “pa” sound, “Mom!
You just don’t understand!
Brother Mingyuan is the best!
I’m not eating anymore!”
“Where are you going?
You’ve hardly eaten anything!”
“I feel stifled!
I’m going out for a walk, okay?” Xu Haihua muttered as she headed straight out the door.
Da Xu let out a long sigh.
Had she spoiled her daughter too much, leading to this behavior?
In the Western House, Lin Xia and the others were oblivious to what the mother and daughter duo were up to in the Eastern House.
They were munching on the fragrant dumplings, filling their little bellies until they were round and taut.
After belching contentedly, Lin Dong exclaid, “Big sister!
It’s like the New Year’s feast today!
The al is too good!”
It had been such a long ti since he had dumplings!
Since moving out, he felt like life outside was like heaven!
“We never had this much at even during the New Year!” said Lin Qiu as she tidied up the dishes, “Sister used up all two pounds of at we bought!”
Lin Dong stood to pick up bowls, “No wonder it tastes so good!
Sister, after this al, I could go without eating tomorrow!”
Lin Xia teased Lin Dong, “Silly boy!
If you say that, then you better not eat the aty rice tomorrow morning!”
Lin Dong lanted, “How could I not!
Big sister!
I’ve been longing to eat aty rice!”
“Just teasing you!
Now, go help your second sister with work!”
“I will work hard!”
Reviews
All reviews (0)