For dinner, they had lamb spine hot pot. Xiao Yunying had ordered a small stove from a blacksmith's shop, which burned charcoal inside and had an iron pot on top.

To cater to the children's tastes, she specially ordered a divided hot pot, specifically for eating two different flavors of sizzling hot pot.

Her father's table was full of adult men who could handle spicy food, so Xiao Yunying only served them mildly spicy stewed lamb spine in a regular iron pot.

"One side is slightly spicy, and the other side is the original broth. After you finish eating the lamb spine, you can add vegetables to the broth. There are also glass noodles and meatballs here."

Don't force your way out of reach; ask your mother to help you. There's charcoal burning below and hot soup on top; it's dangerous if it spills.

Aunt Yang picked up a piece of vermicelli: "Is this vermicelli? Is this a vegetable or something?"

Mu Lianrong said, "It can be made from sweet potatoes, or potatoes. It's delicious in stews and hot pots, and you can also use it to make steamed buns. Yunyun taught me how. I plan to make some tomorrow. Come to my house, and I'll teach you."

"Aren't you going to put up Spring Festival couplets tomorrow? Have you finished cleaning the house?"

"All done cleaning up? We'll put up the Spring Festival couplets tomorrow morning. What, you haven't finished cleaning up your house yet?"

Aunt Yang was cooking vegetables for the children: "I've finished cleaning up the rooms and kitchen where people lived. The empty rooms are filled with those washboards that Yunying taught us, so I can't clean them up. There are also some pieces of wood in the yard that have been coated with tung oil. Once they're dry, I'll put them away."

"That's alright. Tomorrow's the 27th, so don't bother with the timber. Money can be earned anytime, so don't worry about it for a day or two. You can put up the Spring Festival couplets in the morning, and come to my house after noon. I'll teach you how to make sweet potato noodles and potato noodles."

Xiao Yunying put two pieces of lamb spine on each of the children's plates and whispered to them that they could not eat any more meat. Eating too much meat would cause indigestion and food stagnation. After eating these two pieces, they could only use them to cook vegetables.

Then he said to Mu Lianrong, "Mother, you don't need to have my eldest brother and the others come to put up the Spring Festival couplets for our house tomorrow. I'll put them up myself."

"What's wrong? I'll make it for you when I'm making the paste, it'll save you a lot of trouble."

She scooped two meatballs for each of the children with a long-handled spoon: "I ran into Duan Yingying's mother when I came back today. I told her to let Duan Yingying come and help me for a couple of days."

"You want to help that mother and her two children, don't you?"

"Huh? Mother can see that my thoughts are that obvious?"

Fang Rou said, "How could it not be obvious? Aunt Mu and your two sisters-in-law have done all the chores at your house. I don't even have a chance to help. Why would I need an outsider to help me?"

Xiao Yunying served some food to the children before sitting down to eat.

“I saw Duan Yingying’s mother go to the pawnshop to pawn things. She came out and bought less than ten catties of black flour. Her cotton clothes were so thin that they couldn’t be thinner. The family’s situation is really not good. I felt sorry for that little girl Duan Xiaoxiao. It reminded me of Xin’er before.”

Luo Xin was gnawing on a lamb spine with difficulty when she heard her mother calling her. She looked up and asked, "Mom, did you call me?"

"No, Mom and Grandma are talking. If you can't chew it, don't chew it anymore. You don't have to eat so carefully. Don't break your teeth. Eat the parts with meat."

"Xin'er understands."

Luo Xin turned the lamb spine around and continued gnawing on it, while Xiao Yunying ruffled her hair.

Mu Lianrong did not object: "How do you want to help? That girl learned embroidery from her mother, so I'm afraid she can't do too much rough work for you, or she'll hurt her hands."

"I've come up with some new designs for handkerchiefs and sachets, and I want to teach her how to make them so we can sell them to Sister Cheng Yue."

Given Duan Yingying's family's current situation, they wouldn't have any spare money to buy good fabrics and threads. If she provides the materials and hires Duan Yingying to make them, there is no risk for their family.

“I thought you were going to give her money directly. Okay, this is a good idea. Let her earn money herself. It’s better than giving it to her directly. After all, you can only help her once or twice. You can’t help her for a lifetime.”

"Mother, do you think I'm too outgoing, that I have ways to make money but don't teach them to my family, instead I teach them to outsiders?"

Mu Lianrong said, "Teach the method you came up with to whomever you want."

Besides, do you think your mother is that short-sighted? You already said you'd take your mother and your two sisters-in-law to plant vegetables in the spring. That's the main expense. Compared to planting vegetables, what are embroidered handkerchiefs and sachets? I know exactly which one will earn more.

Aunt Yang smiled and said, "Yun Ying, your mother may not have a good temper, but she is actually a soft-hearted person. She used to often tell me that the Duan family mother and her two daughters were quite pitiful. If you can help them out, your mother will not object."

Xiao Yunying coaxed her mother with kind words: "I knew my mother was a kind and generous person."

Mu Lianrong put a piece of lamb spine on her plate: "It's not like you'd stop helping them if I disagreed. Hurry up and eat."

Xiao Yunying took a bite of meat: "Mother's meat is so delicious."

Luo Xin chimed in from the side, "Yes, Xin'er also thinks that the meat Mom makes is more fragrant than the meat Xin'er makes herself."

Luo Li put down the bone in her hand and licked her lips: "Little sister, when have you ever picked up food by yourself? With your short arms, you can't reach any of the food. Every time, it's Mom who puts it on your plate for you."

Everyone at the table laughed at her words. The little girl thought about it and realized it was true. Unable to refute it, she muttered something under her breath.

"Anyway, I think the food my mother serves is the best."

Xiao Yunying picked up a cabbage leaf for her: "Then I'll keep putting food on your plate. You can't eat any more mutton. There's still plenty left in the kitchen. If you want some, I'll make it again tomorrow."

"Okay." Luo Xin put the cabbage in her mouth: "Cabbage is also very delicious, it tastes like meat."

"Then let me put another slice on your plate."

The meal lasted until dark. While they were clearing the table, Xiao Yunying went to the kitchen and retrieved two jars of wine, one jar of baijiu (Chinese liquor), and several small jars of honey pomelo tea from the supermarket, intending to have her parents and Aunt Yang take them home.

"There aren't many wine jars and small jars left."

She gives away a lot of things as gifts, and the oil paper and jars go through quickly. She should buy more next time she goes to town to keep on hand.

Take the leftover mutton out of the pot, divide it into two portions, and put them into a porcelain bowl. Wrap some dipping sauce in oil paper.

"Yun Ying, my girl."

Xiao Yunying's hand trembled, spilling some of the dipping sauce: "Second Brother Yang, what are you doing here?"

Her tone was a little sharp in her surprise, which Yang Tianyun noticed: "Ah... can't I come in?"

Xiao Yunying softened her tone: "No, I was just lost in thought about what dipping sauce to make, you startled me. What's wrong, Brother Yang? What do you want to see me about?"

Yang Tianyun stared intently at Xiao Yunying and kept moving closer: "Yunying, I have something to tell you."

Looking at his flushed cheeks from drinking, Xiao Yunying thought to herself, "Oh no, is this guy going to confess his feelings to me under the influence of alcohol?"

He stretched out an arm to block his path: "Wait, Brother Yang, I think you seem drunk. Let's talk about it later."

Yang Tianyun took a few steps back: "Yun Ying, have you been avoiding me lately?"

Xiao Yunying cried out in her heart, "Big brother, you sensed it all, you should know that I wanted to avoid suspicion."

Get rid of those unrealistic ideas in your head. If we don't expose this, we can still maintain a friendly neighborly relationship thanks to Aunt Yang and Fang Rou's connection. But if we expose it, our families will really break off relations.