Fu Yucheng brought out two bowls of corn porridge from the kitchen. Steam rose from the rough porcelain bowls, and the sweet aroma mixed with the fragrance of corn wafted out.
"Sister-in-law, have a taste," he said, handing the bowl to Zhou Desheng's wife. "Yinyin added some millet, which is better for the stomach than pure corn porridge. You just walked a long way, so drink this to warm yourself up."
Zhou Desheng's wife took the bowl, blew on it, and took a sip. The warm rice porridge slid into her stomach, warming her eyes and making them well up with tears. "It's so delicious. It's much better than what my husband makes. He always makes the corn porridge either too thin or too thick. It's never just right."
Yun Tangyin pulled out a new piece of cloth from the cabinet. It was a piece of fine cotton cloth that Fu Yucheng had bought from the town a few days ago. It had a light blue background with tiny white flowers printed on it, giving it a refreshing feel.
“I was thinking of making a lining for my second sister-in-law,” she said, spreading the cloth on the kang (a heated brick bed) and measuring it with a ruler. “This cloth is soft and won’t itch when worn next to the skin. She works outside, and if she’s comfortable, she’ll suffer less.”
Zhou Desheng's wife came over and touched the fabric, her fingertips brushing against the fine texture: "This fabric is really good, even softer than what's sold at the supply and marketing cooperative. If Jianhua wore the lining you made, he would definitely say it's more comfortable than what you buy in the city."
When Xiaolan arrived carrying a bamboo basket, it was filled with freshly picked shepherd's purse and her mother's pickled radish, and the red ribbon in her hair was still damp with dew.
"Sister-in-law! Brother Fu! I've come to help you pick shepherd's purse!" She hopped into the yard and saw Zhou Desheng's wife kneading flour. She immediately went over and said, "Auntie, shall I knead the dough for you? My mother says that the dough I knead is the most elastic, and the dumplings I make won't break no matter how long they're cooked."
Zhou Desheng's wife smiled and handed over the dough: "Okay, Lan'er is skillful, her dough will definitely be good. If you're tired, just say so, don't force yourself."
Aunt Zhang also came carrying a cloth bag, which contained freshly fried sesame salt and small shoes she had made for the children.
“Let me lend you a hand,” she said, putting the cloth bag on the kang (a heated brick bed). “This sesame salt can enhance the flavor of dumpling filling. Your second sister-in-law said last time that she loves the sesame salt I make; it’s even more fragrant than the spices you buy in the city.”
She picked up the little shoes and showed them to Yun Tangyin. The shoes were embroidered with tiny tiger heads and the stitches were very fine. "These are for your child. They have soft soles and will be perfect for when your child is learning to walk. If Jianhua sees them, he will definitely want to make a pair for his future child too."
The group divided the work among themselves. Fu Yucheng and Zhou Desheng were in charge of chopping the dumpling filling. As the cleavers rose and fell, the aroma of shepherd's purse and meat wafted out.
Yun Tangyin and Aunt Zhang were in charge of rolling out the dumpling wrappers. The dough spun quickly in their hands, and in no time they had rolled out a stack of them, round and smooth like little moons.
Zhou Desheng's wife and Xiao Lan were in charge of making dumplings. Xiao Lan even pinched decorative edges on the dumplings, making them look like tiny flowers, which drew praise from everyone for her competence.
“Brother Fu, you chopped the filling so evenly,” Zhou Desheng wiped the sweat from his forehead. “When Yuanshan comes back, you have to teach him. He used to chop the meat and vegetables into pieces that were big and small, and the dumplings he made were never even. Jianhua always laughed at him.”
Fu Yucheng nodded with a smile: "Okay, then the two of us brothers can chop the filling together, and Second Sister-in-law and Yinyin can embroider on the side, while the children play in the yard. It will be so lively."
He sprinkled some sesame salt into the filling. "Aunt Zhang's sesame salt is so fragrant. Just a little bit makes the whole filling so fresh. If my second sister-in-law were to eat it, she would definitely say it's even better than the shrimp dumplings in the city."
As Yun Tangyin was rolling out dumpling wrappers, she suddenly remembered something and said to Fu Yucheng, "Don't forget to leave some shepherd's purse for your second sister-in-law."
Fu Yucheng nodded: "Don't worry, I've already left a basketful. I'll put it under the eaves to dry later, and I'll make sure it's completely dry so she can take a lot back with her."
Around noon, the dumplings were finally wrapped, filling two large bamboo baskets. The plump white dumplings looked like little gold ingots lined up, exuding a festive atmosphere.
Fu Yucheng put the dumplings into the pot to boil. The water bubbled and soon a fragrant aroma filled the air.
"Almost done," he added some cold water to the pot. "It'll be ready to eat in a little while. Everyone, wash your hands and get ready to eat."
Once the dumplings are cooked and served, everyone sits around them, takes a bite, and the aroma of shepherd's purse mingles with the freshness of the meat, filling their mouths with the warmth of home cooking.
"So delicious!" Zhou Ming said, biting into a dumpling. "It's even better than the ones my mom makes. Uncle Fu, I want to eat your dumplings again next time."
Zhou Liang nodded in agreement, his little mouth bulging so much that he could barely speak.
Aunt Zhang put a dumpling into Yun Tangyin's bowl: "Eat more, these dumplings are nutritious and good for you and the baby. When Yuanshan and Jianhua come back, they will definitely love them too."
She put another one into Fu Yucheng's bowl, saying, "You should eat more too. You work very hard every day chopping wood and weaving bamboo cages, so you need to replenish your energy."
After the meal, Fu Yucheng and Zhou Desheng froze the remaining dumplings in the cellar. The temperature in the cellar was low, so the dumplings froze quickly and could be stored for a long time.
“That way, we can cook it anytime Yuanshan and Jianhua come back,” Fu Yucheng patted the flour off his hands. “It will save them the trouble of preparing when they get back. We can prepare it in advance so they can stay at home comfortably.”
As Zhou Desheng's wife was clearing away the dishes, she suddenly remembered something and said to Yun Tangyin, "Yinyin, shall I go to town tomorrow to buy you some red dates and longans? You're pregnant, so you need to eat more nourishing foods. Red dates and longans can replenish your qi and blood, which is better than eating anything else."
Yun Tangyin quickly waved her hand: "No need to trouble you, there's still some at home, enough for me to eat. I feel embarrassed that you're always thinking of me like this."
Aunt Zhang sat under the eaves basking in the sun, knitting a scarf for Jiang Jianhua. The dark blue yarn spun rapidly in her hands, and she had finished knitting a section in no time.
"Don't be so polite with her," Aunt Zhang said with a smile. "Desheng's wife is thoughtful and always likes to help others. You're pregnant, so it's only right that she helps you out. We're all neighbors, so it's more lively when we help each other out."
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