The days passed slowly until the Winter Solstice, a day when people eat dumplings and stick them to their ears to prevent them from freezing off.

From this day onwards, we enter the coldest period of winter, and it gets colder every day.

The village has a tradition of ancestor worship on this day, but now it's forbidden to do so openly. Villagers secretly make offerings at home so that others can't see them.

Zhuang Zhimeng herself is from the North, so she absolutely has to eat dumplings.

Tonight she plans to make sauerkraut and pork dumplings. The sauerkraut is ready to eat, and she recently won 500 jin of pork in a lottery.

Yesterday I told An Qingbai to come early to chop the meat, and then when Jiang Yanxia and Su Mengmeng came over, I asked them to chop the sauerkraut, mince the scallions and ginger, and Zhuang Zhimeng to knead the dough and season it. Finally, we all made dumplings together.

Today I'm making dumplings with pure white bread. Dumplings made with white flour taste the best.

"Brother Meng, are you sure you're making dumplings, not steamed buns?"

Jiang Yanxia saw that the dumplings he made were unusually large, and she really couldn't help but ask him the question.

Zhuang Zhimeng and An Qingbai looked up and both laughed.

"Of course! When eating dumplings, you have to eat big ones, one bite at a time, that's the most satisfying. Ah, one bite, the dumpling goes in, how great is that!"

"Zhimeng, did you hear that? He made all those big dumplings and he ate them all himself. Look how much he enjoyed them!"

"Okay, I'll keep an eye on it while I'm cooking and make sure to serve it to him separately."

"Tch, that's because you don't understand. That's how you eat dumplings—eat them in big bites."

"You're absolutely right! You have to eat it heartily!"

"Absolutely, a small mouth can't match my temperament."

Jiang Yanxia rolled her eyes so hard they almost reached the sky…

Once the water boils, add the dumplings, add water three times, and then they're ready to be taken out and eaten.

The sauerkraut and pork dumplings have thin wrappers and generous fillings; they are oily but not greasy, with a perfect balance of salty and sweet—they are delicious.

Su Mengmeng ate the dumplings in big bites, just as he said he would, and finished a plate of dumplings in no time. He ate another plate before he was full.

After they finished eating, Su Mengmeng and An Qingbai took the initiative to wash the dishes and tidy up the table.

When An Qingbai returned home, Zhuang Zhimeng specially brought him some dumplings. Shi Meiling often asked An Qingbai to bring her some homemade food, and she wanted to remember this favor, so she would let him take something home whenever she had the chance.

The staff quarters of the Beijing Iron and Steel Plant.

That evening, Zhuang Zhiwen and Wang Xiaoman took Pingping and An'an home for a family reunion dumpling dinner.

"I wonder if your little sister has eaten dumplings?"

As Zhuang Xingzhou ate his dumplings, he thought of Zhuang Zhimeng.

"Dad, don't worry. Didn't you say her boyfriend is quite capable? He often brings meat to my little sister. She should be eating dumplings right now! She especially loved dumplings when she was little, so she'll definitely get some."

Zhuang Zhiwen had heard his parents describe An Qingbai and felt that he was a good person.

"You're right! She'll definitely get to eat."

"Don't worry about it. I think Xiao An is fine. She won't let your daughter go hungry."

Hao Caiyun had a pretty good impression of An Qingbai.

Zhuang Xingzhou nodded.

"Your second brother is the same. He hasn't said when he'll bring his girlfriend home to meet us. Last time I contacted him, he said it would be soon, soon, but it's been so long!"

Hao Caiyun isn't too worried about Zhuang Zhimeng right now. Nothing serious happens in the countryside, and besides, An Qingbai is by her side, so she can feel a little more at ease.

But the second son is in a relationship and hasn't had time to come home, which is worrying.

"Mom, he's just busy. Soldiers don't have much free time. He'll bring them back when he has time!"

Just then, the sound of the door opening rang out, and everyone turned to look, only to see that Zhuang Zhiwu had returned.

"Mom, Dad, Big Brother, Sister-in-law, Pingping, An'an, I'm back."

"Zhiwu, you're back? Why are you alone? Where's your boyfriend?"

Hao Caiyun was happy to see Zhuang Zhiwu, but then she realized that she wasn't very satisfied with him being alone. She thought that Zhuang Zhiwu was incompetent and didn't want to go home with her.

“They can’t get time off from the hospital, so she said she’ll come to see you next time.”

"Okay, as long as they don't look down on you! You haven't eaten yet, have you? Wash your hands and eat some dumplings."

"Okay, I want to eat dumplings!"

"How are you feeling staying at your little sister's place?" Zhuang Xingzhou asked Zhuang Zhiwu after he sat down at the table.

"My younger sister's life is alright. She's not very busy and has free time every day. Her boyfriend treats her very well and helps her with everything. He doesn't let her suffer. I'm quite satisfied with him."

"Well, at least no one says one thing in public and another in private. I'm afraid they'll act one way in front of us and another way in private. That would definitely make your little sister feel the most uncomfortable."

"No, you can rest assured about that. He cherishes his younger sister very much and can't bear to see her suffer. He helps her with the work so she won't get tired. You're definitely the right son-in-law for him!"

“That’s how it should be!” Zhuang Xingzhou nodded.