Hearing what the four little ones said, Ning Huan felt very happy.
Although the four little ones have grown up, I don't know where they are now, maybe they have long since divorced Zhou Jing'an and started living their own lives.
But when she heard them say that they would take good care of her in the future, Ning Huan couldn't help but be moved.
She stroked the heads of her four little ones and said gently, "Okay, then Mother will wait for you to take care of me in the future."
Zhou Jing'an overheard Ning Huan's conversation with the four little ones in the courtyard and secretly resolved to find a way to keep Ning Huan by his side.
Ning Huan is preparing a large feast today, so she started preparing the ingredients in the kitchen early.
She also instructed Da Bao to pile up the firecrackers she had bought earlier in the yard, making sure they didn't catch any sparks.
Early in the morning, many families started setting off firecrackers, and the village was filled with the crackling and popping of firecrackers, making it incredibly lively.
The red firecracker paper was blown all over the sky by the cold wind, and reflected in the snow, it looked like red plum blossoms.
The air was filled with the smell of sulfur, and taking a deep breath made you feel warm.
Ning Huan stood by the stove, watching the fire slowly being added to the pot. Today was New Year's Eve, so she naturally wanted to cook something delicious.
And dumplings are an indispensable part of Chinese New Year.
In no time, she had chopped the vegetables and meat, and then kneaded the dough to make dumplings.
The four little ones peeked out, watching what Ning Huan was doing in the kitchen.
"Mommy, are you making dumplings?"
"Wow, Mommy, are we having dumplings today?"
"Oh my god, Mom's dumplings are so beautiful! I want to help Mom make dumplings too!"
"Mother, I want to help you too!"
Ning Huan smiled and agreed, "Okay, how about Mom teaches you how to make dumplings first?"
The four little ones immediately nodded vigorously: "Okay, okay, let's learn together!"
Ning Huan nodded and led the four little ones into the kitchen.
Then she squatted down and looked at the four little ones, carefully teaching them how to make dumplings.
The four little ones also earnestly followed Ning Huan's lead in learning how to make dumplings, and their dumplings turned out very beautifully.
Zhou Jing'an, who was standing nearby, also came in. When he saw Ning Huan teaching the children how to make dumplings, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up.
Ning Huan looked even more gentle and charming than usual.
"Mother, Father is here."
Ning Huan looked up and saw Zhou Jing'an standing not far away, his eyes fixed on her.
A strange feeling crossed Ning Huan's mind. She looked down at the four little ones and said, "Keep making dumplings. You can't be distracted while cooking."
The four little dumplings nodded obediently.
Ning Huan stood up and walked to Zhou Jing'an's side: "Why did you come here?"
Zhou Jing'an paused for a moment and then said, "I came to see what you're doing."
Ning Huan pointed to the dumplings made by the four little ones: "I'm teaching them how to make dumplings. The little ones are so smart. I only taught them for a short while, and they're already making them quite well."
Zhou Jing'an nodded, and surprisingly, he said, "Let me help you wrap them too?" (He had originally intended to leave.)
After he finished speaking, Zhou Jing'an was stunned.
Ning Huan was slightly taken aback, then realized what she meant and waved her hand, saying, "No need. You can't stand for too long. We'll wrap it up in a bit. You can go back inside now."
Zhou Jing'an pursed his lips, and finally turned and left.
Ning Huan breathed a sigh of relief and continued making dumplings with the little ones.
Listening to the sound of firecrackers outside the window, Ning Huan told the four little ones a story about firecrackers.
After she finished speaking, the four little ones stared wide-eyed in surprise, looking at Ning Huan with admiration.
"Mommy is so amazing!"
"Mother knows so much!"
"Were firecrackers really made of bamboo in the past?"
The four little ones asked questions all at once, praising Ning Huan incessantly.
Ning Huan laughed and reached out to pinch the noses of the little ones: "You are all very good. Mommy taught you how to make dumplings. Look how beautiful they are. In the future, Mommy will teach you how to make even more delicious things."
The four little dumplings nodded in unison: "Mmm."
After making the dumplings, Ning Huan remembered that she should offer sacrifices to the Kitchen God on New Year's Eve, so after the dumplings were cooked, she ladled a bowl of them out and placed it on the stove to pray.
"Kitchen God, please bless our family with good fortune, peace, health, and food every day in the new year."
Zhou Jing'an saw that the four little ones were all seated, but Ning Huan hadn't arrived yet, so he got up and went to the kitchen to see what she was doing.
As soon as they arrived, they saw Ning Huan performing the Kitchen God Festival, and upon hearing Ning Huan's words, they burst out laughing.
Ning Huan turned around and heard Zhou Jing'an's voice. Seeing him smiling, she looked at him angrily and said, "What's so funny? Everyone has a share. Come over and join me in the Kitchen God Festival."
She pulled Zhou Jing'an over, not caring whether he had performed the Kitchen God Festival before. Now that he had seen it, he should join her.
When it came time for dinner, Ning Huan specially postponed the preparation of the meal because the little ones were staying up late to welcome the New Year.
She prepared many dishes that the four little ones loved, including pearl dumplings, squirrel-shaped mandarin fish, sweet and sour pork, and steamed ribs. As Ning Huan arranged the dishes one by one, the four little ones looked at them carefully and couldn't help but exclaim in amazement, "Mommy made such a big table of dishes!"
"It smells so good! Mom's cooking is so delicious. It feels like Mom's cooking is especially delicious during the Chinese New Year!"
"I agree, especially the dumplings at lunchtime are the most delicious!"
"I think so too!"
Hearing what the four little ones said, Ning Huan smiled and said, "You think the dumplings smell good because you made them yourself."
The four little dumplings suddenly realized: "So that's how it is."
"It turns out that the food I cook tastes much better than what others cook."
That night, the four little ones and Ning Huan stayed in Zhou Jing'an's room to celebrate the Lunar New Year.
After dinner, Ning Huan took the little ones outside to set off firecrackers, and even Zhou Jing'an went outside to take a look.
The house was brightly lit, while outside Ning Huan and her four little ones lit firecrackers, then covered their ears to listen to the sound, looking both heartwarming and amusing.
Seeing the eager look in Da Bao's eyes as he lit the firecrackers, Ning Huan handed him the last one: "Would you like to try lighting one too?"
Da Bao hesitated for a moment: "I...I dare not."
Ning Huan patted his shoulder: "Don't be afraid, Da Bao. You're a man now, you should try."
If it were the first firecracker, Ning Huan really wouldn't dare give it to Da Bao to set off.
However, after setting off quite a few, she discovered that these firecrackers were not as dangerous as she had thought; like firecrackers in the modern world, they were relatively safe.
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