Chapter 138 Eating Tangyuan

After spending a few days preparing herself mentally, Zhang Haihua stood outside the gate of Li Jianguo's dormitory with two bolts of floral cloth she had found at home, still pondering how to speak softly to Lin Qiaozhen.

Ever since she heard that Qiaozhen had recognized her aunt Yu Shuxiang, she thought of using the pretext of sending fabric to ease the tension between them.

But when they got to the door, they heard Yu Shuxiang's voice coming from inside the courtyard: "Qiaozhen, if anyone dares to gossip about your background again, Auntie will stand up for you. Don't make yourself suffer."

She hesitated for a moment, but still forced herself to push open the door.

Lin Qiaozhen was sitting in the courtyard sewing a quilt, while Yu Shuxiang sat beside her, helping her thread the needle.

Upon seeing her arrive, both of them stopped what they were doing, their faces expressionless.

"Qiaozhen, Jianguo, I've brought some fabric to make you two new outfits." Zhang Haihua handed over the fabric, her tone deliberately warm.

Lin Qiaozhen didn't take it, but just looked up at her and said, "Thank you, Auntie. We have enough clothes, so please take them back."

Yu Shuxiang also spoke up, her tone indifferent: "We appreciate your kindness, but we still remember what you said before about Qiaozhen being an orphan with no one to care for her. We dare not accept your gifts now."

Zhang Haihua's hand froze in mid-air, her face flushing red and then turning pale. She wanted to say something, but Yu Shuxiang's words silenced her.

She stood there awkwardly for a while, and seeing that the two of them had no intention of paying attention to her anymore, she had no choice but to pick up the fabric and slink away.

Having lived most of my life, this is the first time I've ever encountered such a huge setback in front of a younger generation.

Back home, Zhang Haihua threw the fabric on the table and angrily complained to her husband, Cui Dongchang, "What's wrong with those two? I kindly gave them the fabric, and they didn't even give me a kind look. Especially Yu Shuxiang, she puts on airs just because she's Qiaozhen's aunt."

Cui Dongchang was repairing a stool. After hearing her words, he put down his work, frowned, and said, "How dare you say that? Who was it that spread rumors that Qiaozhen was an orphan and prevented her from getting married? Now that you know she has a powerful backer, you're sending her gifts. No wonder she's not going to give you a good look."

“Wasn’t that for the good of building the country?” Zhang Haihua retorted, unconvinced.

“You can’t talk to a girl like that just because you want what’s best for him.” Cui Dongchang sighed. “Qiaozhen is an honest girl. She’s bought a lot of things for our family before. And you, you turn around and hurt her feelings. Now she doesn’t appreciate your kindness. It’s your own fault.”

He paused, then said, "I advise you not to go anymore, so you don't get humiliated again. The young couple is doing quite well now with Yu Shuxiang's help, so you don't need to go over there anymore. Just live your own life peacefully."

Zhang Haihua was still angry when she heard her husband's words, but she also knew that she was in the wrong.

Looking at the floral fabric on the table, and recalling Lin Qiaozhen's cold gaze just now, she finally gave up insisting on going.

Perhaps Cui Dongchang is right. Some mistakes cannot be made up for by sending gifts. Rather than making a fool of oneself, it is better to watch from afar and not bother them anymore.

Since even her own uncle didn't care, she stopped dwelling on the matter. What's said is said, and it's too late to regret it now.

On the morning of the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, Lu Mingyue got up early, scooped out glutinous rice flour from the grain jar, poured it into a large basin, and kneaded the dough while adding warm water. The snow-white dough gradually became smooth and elastic in her hands.

Yao Yao and Lei Lei sat around the table, their little hands covered in flour, trying to knead small dough balls like their mother. Their faces were covered in flour, making them look like two little kittens.

"Mommy, are we making tangyuan today?" Leilei asked, holding up a small pink dumpling with bright, sparkling eyes.

Lu Mingyue smiled and nodded, taking out sesame seeds and peanuts from the cupboard. "Today is the Lantern Festival, let's make two kinds of glutinous rice balls, sesame and peanut filling."

She poured the sesame seeds into a pot, slowly roasted them over low heat until fragrant, then ground them into powder with a mortar and pestle. She mixed them with white sugar and melted lard, and the sweet aroma instantly filled the house.

Peanuts are roasted in advance, the red skin is removed, and they are also crushed into powder, mixed with brown sugar, and made into a sweet and sticky peanut filling.

When making glutinous rice balls, Lu Mingyue taught the children to pinch the dough into small holes, put in the filling, and then slowly seal and roll it into a ball.

Yao Yao's glutinous rice balls were crooked and leaked filling, but she was not discouraged and insisted on making another one.

Looking at the children's earnest expressions, Lu Mingyue thought about how this season in the 21st century would always cause arguments between netizens from the North and South.

Is it better to eat savory or sweet? Is it better to eat Yuanxiao or Tangyuan?

When Lu Mingyue was a child, she had only ever eaten Yuanxiao (sweet rice balls), which were slowly rolled out by a machine. Every time she went to the market, she would stare at them for a long time.

Yuanxiao (sweet rice balls) are made by cutting the filling into small pieces and rolling them in glutinous rice flour, which makes them chewier.

The glutinous rice balls are just like the ones they make now, with softer skin and more filling. They are round and plump when cooked in soup, symbolizing a happy reunion.

Once the water in the pot boils, drop the plump white glutinous rice balls into the pot. They are cooked when they float to the surface.

Lu Mingyue filled three bowls, sprinkled them with a little white sugar and osmanthus flowers, and the children held their bowls, eating in small bites, the sweet sesame filling melting in their mouths.

Yao Yao ate until her lips were covered in sugar, but she still said, "Mom's glutinous rice balls are so delicious."

As evening fell, Huo Zheng returned from the army, carrying a bundle of small red candles.

Lu Mingyue had already cleaned the yard, moved a small table to the yard, and placed freshly made glutinous rice balls and several plates of snacks on it.

When the moon rose and its light spilled into the courtyard, Lu Mingyue lit candles and arranged them in a circle around the entrance of the house.

"Mommy, why are we putting candles in the yard?" Yao Yao asked curiously, holding her mother's hand.

Lu Mingyue made her stand still and close her eyes. She gently smoked her eyes with the candlelight and then pulled Leilei to smoke his nose as well. She said gently, "This is a custom in our hometown. On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, we smoke our eyes and nose with candles. This will bless our children to see the road clearly, smell the fragrance, and live a peaceful, healthy, and happy life."

While clearing away the dishes, Huo Zheng suddenly suggested, "Let's go to the beach and release them. We asked the fishermen to keep some small fish for us. Let's take advantage of the good moonlight tonight and send them back to the sea. It'll be a way to bring good fortune to the children."

Lu Mingyue's eyes lit up and she immediately nodded: "Great, it'll be good for the children to see too."

She found a bucket and carefully put the small sea fish that Huo Zheng had raised in the basin beforehand into it. There were small sea bream with patterns, and a few silver noodle fish, gently swaying their tails among the seaweed.

Yao Yao and Lei Lei huddled together beside her, whispering, "Little Fish, don't be afraid, we'll take you home."

When they arrived at the destination, Lu Mingyue squatted on a rock and had Leilei and Yaoyao reach out to put the small sea fish into the sea one by one.

As soon as the small fish entered the seawater, it nimbly swung its tail and quickly disappeared into the shimmering moonlight.

Yao Yao watched the direction the little fish swam away and asked softly, "Mommy, will the little fish find its way home?"

Lu Mingyue patted her head and said with a smile, "Yes, the ocean is their home. Letting them go back will allow them to grow bigger and also protect our family's safety."