Holding the steamed buns, I stood motionless, my mind searching for a steaming cloth in the supermarket.
Large iron pots are rare in the city, and the steaming cloths in supermarkets, whether round or square, are all too small.
"what's on your mind?"
Luo Chen was puzzled; why was this woman holding the steamed bun and not moving?
"Luo Chen, what do you put underneath when you steam buns and dumplings here?"
You definitely need to put something underneath, otherwise it will stick.
When it comes to food, Luo Li is always enthusiastic: "I know, I saw Aunt Fang using corn husks at Grandma Yang's house."
Corn leaves are not the leaves on the corn stalk, but the layers of leaves that cover the corn kernels.
When harvesting corn, pick out the larger outer layers without wormholes, dry them, and store them. They can be used for steaming buns and dumplings.
"Luo Chen, go to Grandma Yang's house and borrow some corn husks."
Saying it's a loan is just a polite way of saying it among farmers. No one would bother to return something so worthless afterward. Instead, they would send it over as a way of sharing and expressing their gratitude.
This is the simple, heartwarming exchange of gifts among farmers.
A short while later, Luo Chen returned with a stack of neatly arranged and dried corn leaves.
Xiao Yunying deftly wrapped the buns and placed them on the steamer rack in the pot, lining them with corn husks.
Since everyone in her family was a child except for her, the buns she made were small, only about the size of a fist after steaming.
The first pot was started on the fire, and there was still a small half-basin of filling left.
After finishing the remaining filling, she used the leftover dough to make two brown sugar buns.
I quickly cleaned up the stove, washing and scrubbing what needed washing. After finishing, I went back inside and got a washboard.
Bored while waiting in the kitchen, Xiao Yunying told Luo Xin a story about Sun Wukong, a story suitable for all ages, which even Luo Chen enjoyed listening to.
The aroma of the steamed buns was so enticing that you could smell them even before you opened the pot. It was Xiao Yunying's first time steaming buns in a large iron pot, and she had no experience, so she waited a little longer, worried that they wouldn't be cooked through.
After the steamer boiled, the aroma of the flour became even stronger. Xiao Yunying took two baskets, one large and one small, specifically for storing dry rations, and used a shovel to pick up the buns.
He picked up eight small ones: "Luo Yang, take this to your Grandma Yang."
Luo Li chimed in from the side, "I want to go too."
"Go."
Put the remaining fifteen or sixteen buns in the pot into a large basket, then put the rest of the buns back into the pot, adding some water to prevent the pot from drying out.
She instructed Luo Chen to continue tending the fire, then took the washboard and basket to deliver it to her mother.
A fleeting pang of regret crossed Luo Chen's eyes; so many steamed buns had been given away to others.
Thinking that she bought all of this and could give it to whomever she wanted, and that she had no right to say anything, she chose to lower her head and quietly tend the fire.
The Xiao family's gate was wide open, and a lot of people were gathered around it. Xiao Yunying protected Baozi and managed to squeeze in with great difficulty.
Someone saw her and called out into the courtyard, "Sister Mu, your daughter has brought you steamed buns."
"These buns are made with wheat flour, right? Not long ago, we didn't have enough to eat, and we had to sneak up the mountain to dig for wild vegetables. Now we can afford to eat wheat flour."
"Where did she get the money to buy flour? It was all given to her by old woman Mu."
"What do you think she came here for today? Did she hear that her father is back and she's here to freeload?"
"Her two sisters-in-law are going to be upset again."
Xiao Yunying thought to herself, "Don't listen, don't get angry, it's just nonsense."
Upon entering the gate, she saw her eldest brother tidying up his hunting knives, while her father and second brother were tying up a live deer, with a smaller one nearby.
Xiao Yunying greeted them, "Father, eldest brother, second brother, you're back."
Old Man Xiao grunted in agreement and continued tying the deer hooves with his head down.
Her two older brothers were very welcoming: "Our little sister is back! Perfect timing! Stay for dinner, Mom is stewing pheasant."
"No need, brother. We made some steamed buns at home. I'll send some to my parents to try."
She was meeting her two older brothers for the first time and didn't know them very well yet, so she needed to get used to them. After exchanging a few polite words, she went into the kitchen.
Mu Lianrong was serving the stewed chicken. The old man was lucky this time; he caught two live deer, which were much more valuable than wild boars and could fetch dozens of taels of silver!
Overjoyed, she waved her hand and stewed all three pheasants, filling a large pot.
"mother."
"My daughter is here. I have to say she's a lucky girl. The chicken came right after it came out of the pot, so we can eat it right away."
Xiao Yunying: ...Mom, the way you say that, if you know the truth, you're praising my good fortune; if you don't, you'll think I came here just to freeload.
"Mom, I rendered some lard today and made some buns with the cracklings. I'm bringing them to you to try."
"Why are you sending so much? Take it back quickly and keep it for yourself."
"Mom, don't be so polite with me. I've packed a lot, and there's still a pot of it steaming at home."
She didn't know her father and two older brothers had returned before she came; luckily, she had brought a lot.
"Alright, Mother won't stand on ceremony with you. Eldest daughter-in-law, we won't steam any buns tonight. Just heat up the mixed grain buns from lunch. We'll have enough steamed buns to eat."
After saying that, she took a large porcelain basin and filled it with chicken: "Mom is getting you some stewed chicken. In a little while, I'll ask your dad to bring you two rabbits back. They'll be alive, and we'll feed them some grass. We can kill them and eat them when you want."
Fang, who was tending the fire, saw this and turned to go to the backyard to fetch firewood.
Out of sight, out of mind; she neither looked nor listened, pretending not to know.
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