Seeing that Yun Tangyin liked scallion pancakes, Zhou Desheng's wife took out an oil paper packet from her cloth bag, which contained freshly fried sesame salt: "This was fried by my mother. It's even more fragrant when sprinkled on the pancakes. Your second sister-in-law used to love eating it this way, saying it's salty and fragrant, and goes perfectly with porridge."
She slipped a spoonful of sesame salt into Yun Tangyin's hand. "When they come back in the spring, I'll make a lot more so Jianhua can take it with him on the road. You can't buy such authentic sesame salt in the city."
Yun Tangyin took the sesame salt, sprinkled some on the pancake, took a bite, and the aroma of sesame mixed with the freshness of scallions filled her mouth with the warmth of home cooking.
“It’s delicious,” she said, placing a piece of sweet potato into Zhou Desheng’s wife’s bowl. “Try this sweet potato. It’s steamed until soft and fluffy, and it’s even sweeter than roasted sweet potatoes. Your second sister-in-law said last time that she wanted to learn how to steam sweet potatoes from me, because the sweet potatoes in the city never get soft when steamed.”
After finishing the last stitch of the cloth jacket, Aunt Zhang bit off the cotton thread with her teeth, unfolded the jacket and looked at it. The blue coarse cloth was sewn with neat stitches, and the collar and cuffs were specially sewn with white edges, making it look particularly neat.
"Do you think this jacket fits?" She handed the jacket to Fu Yucheng. "I made it according to the size Yuanshan wore last year. He's been working outside, so he's probably gotten stronger. If it's too tight, I'll take it apart and loosen it a bit."
Fu Yucheng took the jacket, held it up to his body, and said with a smile, "It fits perfectly. Your size is spot on. It will definitely fit Second Brother."
He folded the jacket and put it in the wardrobe. "When he comes back and wears it, he'll definitely look more dashing than in a suit bought in the city. My second brother loves the cloth jackets you make the most; he says they're comfortable to wear."
Xiao Lan squatted by the rabbit cage, holding a carrot in her hand, teasing Snowball.
Snowball came closer, its little nose rubbing against her palm, and suddenly it snorted loudly, making Xiaolan burst into laughter.
"Sister-in-law, look how naughty Snowball is!" she called back. "When Uncle and Aunt come back, how about we let Snowball perform a snorting trick for them? It'll definitely make them laugh!"
Yun Tangyin smiled and nodded: "Okay, your second aunt loves small animals the most. She even said last time that she wanted to sew a little coat for Snowball so that it wouldn't be cold in winter."
She slipped a biscuit into Xiaolan's hand, saying, "Quickly feed Snowball some too. Don't keep teasing it, or it'll get angry and ignore you."
Zhou Ming and Zhou Liang ran around in the yard with the small bamboo swords that Fu Yucheng had made for them. The bamboo swords were wrapped with red ribbons, which fluttered like flames as they ran.
"Uncle Fu, do I look like a great general?" Zhou Ming shouted, holding up his bamboo sword with imposing air. Fu Yucheng clapped his hands with a smile: "Yes! Our Ming'er is the most powerful great general!"
Zhou Liang also held up his bamboo sword and came over: "Uncle Fu, when Second Uncle comes back, how about I ask him to make me an iron sword? The kind that's even more powerful than a bamboo sword!"
Fu Yucheng squatted down and straightened the crooked red cloth strip for Zhou Liang: "When you grow taller, your second uncle will definitely make one for you, but for now you have to use a bamboo sword. An iron sword is too heavy for you to lift."
He slipped a piece of candy into each of the two children's hands, saying, "Don't run too far. It'll be time for dinner soon. Your mother will be worried if she can't find you."
At dinner time, the kitchen was filled with the aroma of radish stew with vermicelli. Fu Yucheng also fried a plate of eggs, the golden eggs coated with scallions, which looked very appetizing.
Yun Tangyin ladled out a bowl of radish stew with vermicelli and handed it to Aunt Zhang: "Aunt Zhang, try it quickly. These vermicelli are sweet potato vermicelli bought from town. They've been stewing for an afternoon and have absorbed all the broth. They're so delicious."
Aunt Zhang took the bowl, picked up a piece of rice noodles with her chopsticks, and found it soft, smooth, and flavorful. She couldn't help but nod and say, "It's so delicious. With your cooking skills, Yinyin, the children will definitely be lucky to have such good food in the future."
Zhou Desheng took a sip of wine, then suddenly remembered something and said to Fu Yucheng, "Brother Fu, shall we go to the back mountain to chop some firewood tomorrow? It snowed a few days ago, and the firewood is all wet. We can dry it to heat the kang (heated brick bed) for my sister-in-law. She's pregnant, and she can't get cold."
Fu Yucheng put down his wine glass and nodded: "Okay, I'll go first thing tomorrow morning. If you're free, come with me too, let's cut down a lot, enough for us to burn until spring."
Yun Tangyin put a piece of egg into Fu Yucheng's bowl: "Wear more clothes when you go. The snow is thick and the road is slippery on the back mountain. Be careful not to fall."
She then pointed to the cloth bag in the corner, "I sewed you a pair of cotton gloves. They'll keep you warm. Wear them tomorrow."
Early the next morning, Fu Yucheng and Zhou Desheng carried their machetes and headed towards the back of the mountain, leaving two deep footprints in the snow.
The snow on the back mountain was ankle-deep, and the branches were covered with snow. When the wind blew, the snowflakes fell down in a flurry.
“Brother Fu, look at that pine tree,” Zhou Desheng pointed to a pine tree not far away, “It has a thick trunk and the firewood burns well, let’s cut it down.”
Fu Yucheng nodded, raised his machete and chopped down. With a "thud," the machete embedded itself in the tree trunk, causing the snow to fall.
Yun Tangyin was busy sewing clothes at home, holding a small cotton-padded jacket she was making for her child. It was made of red cloth with a blue lining, and the stitches were dense and even.
Zhou Desheng's wife came over with a freshly brewed locust flower tea and handed her the teacup: "Yinyin, rest for a while before you sew. Your eyes are almost closed. You can't work so hard while you're pregnant."
Yun Tangyin put down her needlework, took the teacup, drank some hot tea, and said with a smile, "It's alright. I wanted to finish all the children's clothes before spring, so that my second brother and sister-in-law can see them when they come back."
Xiao Lan, along with Zhou Ming and Zhou Liang, were changing the cotton wadding for the rabbits in the yard. Xiao Lan carefully laid the cloth on the straw, Zhou Ming helped pass the cotton wadding, and Zhou Liang fed the rabbits soybeans.
"Look, Flower Ball loves pink fabric the most. It always lies on the pink fabric," Xiao Lan said with a smile, pointing to Flower Ball curled up on the pink fabric. "When Uncle and Aunt come back, let's show them Flower Ball's little nest. They'll definitely love it."
When Fu Yucheng and Zhou Desheng returned with firewood, it was already noon. The bundles of firewood on their shoulders were higher than a person, and their faces were covered in sweat.
Yun Tangyin quickly went over to them and handed them towels: "Quickly wipe your sweat, don't catch a cold. I cooked some corn porridge for you, drink it while it's hot."
Fu Yucheng took the towel, wiped his sweat, and said with a smile, "It's nothing, this little bit of work is nothing. We've chopped enough firewood to last until spring, so you won't have to freeze in the winter."
Zhou Desheng put down the bundle of firewood, took a sip of corn porridge, and said with a smile, "Brother Fu, shall we chop the firewood this afternoon? Chopping it into small pieces will make it easier to dry. Otherwise, burning wet firewood will produce a lot of smoke, which is not good for your breath."
Fu Yucheng nodded: "Okay, let's chop firewood after we finish eating, and try to finish chopping it all today."
The afternoon sun shone warmly in the courtyard. Fu Yucheng and Zhou Desheng were chopping wood in the yard. The "thump, thump" of chopping wood mixed with the children's laughter filled the yard.
Yun Tangyin sat under the eaves, holding a handkerchief she had embroidered for Jiang Jianhua. It was embroidered with two locust flowers, the stitches were fine and the colors were bright.
She gazed at the scene in the courtyard, listening to the sounds of chopping wood and laughter, still clutching the small silver bell in her hand, her heart filled with anticipation.
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