Chapter 87 New Year's Eve Sweet Dumplings
The snow stopped on New Year's Eve.
Early in the morning, Huihong led Li Yousheng to the greenhouse to harvest vegetables. The greenhouse was heated by a stove, and it was humid and hot. Li Yousheng kept wiping his sweat and exclaimed, "Huihong is really amazing. She has maintained this greenhouse for two years, and now, even in winter, the village can eat green vegetables. Look at these vegetables, they are so fresh. There are still more after we finish eating them, and we don't even need to pickle them."
Huihong laughed and said, "It's not that I'm good, it's that Suiqing taught me well."
"Not at all, don't be modest," Li Yousheng gave a thumbs up. "Teaching requires being able to learn, you know. You want us old bones to learn about temperature and humidity? Our brains can't remember it. We can only do manual labor. For Miss Huihong to reach this level is truly remarkable!"
Huihong blushed and smiled, and Li Yousheng smiled along with her. But then his words took a sudden turn, "Miss Huihong, do you have a lover you admire?"
Huihong was caught off guard and stood there stunned.
Li Yousheng rubbed his hands and said, "Sigh, as I get older, I like to play matchmaker. Last year, a strong young man named Fan came to our village. He's tall and strong, with five rooms, a donkey, and a millstone. His parents passed away long ago. If he marries into the family, he won't have to take care of his in-laws. Oh dear, look at my mouth, I'm being too forward. A few days ago, this young man came to me and said he wanted to get to know you."
Seeing Huihong's eyes widen as if she were moved, Li Yousheng continued, "This young man came to the village and took a liking to you at first sight. He held back for a whole year, arranging everything from a house to his property, before telling me about this. The young man is good in every way, except he's a bit younger than you..."
Younger than her? Huihong snapped out of her daze, lowered her head and pondered for a moment, then tentatively asked, "How much younger?"
Li Yousheng: "Not many, just three years old, the perfect age to be able to work and also to be caring."
Huihong thought about it and realized that it wasn't much; compared to Gong Xiaoyang, it was considerably larger.
Thinking of Gong Xiaoyang, Huihong rubbed her hands helplessly.
Three years have passed in the blink of an eye, and she is now thirty-one. Most women her age would have children who are already able to work in the fields, but she is still all alone.
Having spent a considerable amount of time with Jin Suiqing, Huihong's mind had become much more active. Suiqing said that women could live well without marriage, so she taught her how to farm, how to build greenhouses, and how to make machinery. Watching the money come in, she realized that making money was much happier and more fulfilling than getting married, just as Jin Suiqing had said.
Because of her family's wealth, Huihong felt a sense of freedom, as if she didn't belong to anyone.
It was precisely because of this sense of freedom that Huihong had the courage to refuse.
Over the past three years, several people have come to talk to her, but Huihong has always refused them.
If she doesn't want to get married, then she doesn't have to. She can live her whole life on her own without any problems.
But this year, having passed thirty, everything seems different.
She can still live alone.
What about Gong Xiaoyang?
He's nineteen, and will be twenty by the New Year. Perhaps because he lost his mother at a young age, he's been more inclined to show affection to those who care for him. In his heart, he may have confused "motherly love" with "romantic love" and harbored different feelings for her.
Now that he has passed the exam for the Magic Weapon Sect, his future is limitless. Although he may not be from a high-ranking family, he will still be an official. For ordinary people, there will definitely be no shortage of young ladies of similar age who want to propose marriage to him.
Is he still waiting for her? Huihong also began to wonder.
Seeing that Huihong was completely distracted, Li Yousheng waved his hand in front of her, "Miss Huihong?"
"Oh, Uncle Li," Huihong said with a smile, "Never mind, I don't have any ideas."
Li Yousheng sighed. Huihong thought she was about to receive a lecture, but to her surprise, he said, "Alright, alright, it's normal. You, Suiqing, and that Boss Ji are all capable women with bright futures ahead of you. Marry if you want, or don't if you don't. If Huihong has a man she likes, talk to your Uncle Li, and I'll arrange it for you. If it works out, it would be most suitable for you to marry into his family."
Huihong was shocked. Old Man Li laughed and said, "Don't think of me as an old-fashioned old man. This mine is different from the outside world. Production is not divided by gender. Anyone with the ability can do it. Now that we have a factory, we have no worries about food and drink. We don't need to think about living together. If you don't want to think about it, then don't. Don't feel guilty. I will take responsibility for the work I take on. I will just turn it down."
Huihong quickly said, "Thank you, Uncle Li."
"You're welcome, you're the one who should be thanking us for providing such delicious food."
Li Yousheng loaded the vegetables onto a donkey cart and delivered them to each household. He also gave Huihong a ride, taking her to the front of her courtyard. He then took a pork belly from the cart and put it in her basket. "I heard you're all from the capital. People in the north have a habit of making dumplings, so I brought you some pork to chop for filling."
Huihong offered him money, but Li Yousheng declined, saying, "No, it would be too formal to give money. Miss Huihong has never asked us for money for vegetables every winter. This is just barter, so please accept it."
As he spoke, Li Yousheng patted the iron donkey's rump, and the donkey sped off like lightning, even making a beautiful drift at the corner, disappearing at the end of the road with a clatter, kicking up a trail of snow. Not only did it not slip, but not a single vegetable on the truck was spilled.
Huihong was stunned, completely unaware that Jin Sui had come out of the yard, holding a hand warmer, and stood behind her, clicking his tongue and saying, "I never thought Grandpa Li could drive the iron donkey like an AE86."
“Suiqing,” Huihong’s body trembled, and she turned around abruptly, “You scared me to death!”
Jin Suiqing chuckled, "What is Sister Huihong thinking that could scare me like this?"
"No...it's nothing."
Huihong walked past her, carrying the basket into the kitchen. As soon as she entered, she was startled by the scene inside.
Jin Shiyu was wearing an ill-fitting floral apron, holding a knife, and skillfully killing a chicken and bleeding it. His beautiful hands were covered in chicken feathers and blood, and coupled with his perpetually expressionless face, he created an indescribable comical scene.
Huihong panicked, "Young Master Jin... I can do this!"
Jin Shiyu ignored her, and Jin Suiqing couldn't help but laugh. She stopped Huihong, who wanted to help, and just then Gong Dagou squeezed over, took the vegetable basket from her, and quietly squatted down next to the water vat to wash the vegetables.
With her hands empty, Huihong felt uneasy and looked to Jin Suiqing for help. Jin Suiqing smiled and pushed her out of the kitchen, saying, "My brother wants to show off, so let him do it. Don't worry about it."
"But...they are guests, how can we let them cook?"
Jin Suiqing winked and said, "What kind of guest is this, coming to see me? This is a son-in-law coming to make a good impression on his wife's family."
Huihong paused, then let Jin Suiqing push her out of the kitchen. Once outside in the courtyard, Huihong grabbed Jin Suiqing and asked, "From what you're saying, you two are getting married?"
“Yes, Xu Village has grown to a certain scale, and X-factory has become a system. Everything here has stabilized, and I should go back to the capital,” Jin Suiqing said. “Of course, it’s not just for the wedding. The main reason is that the innovation of the sulfur combustion engine has shown some promise, and the capital can better mobilize resources and invest in research. Also, Ye…Afeng is in the capital, and I have to go back to help her.”
Huihong understood that Jin Suiqing had already taken sides in the struggle for the throne. Huihong did not interfere with her thoughts, but she couldn't help but wonder. After thinking for a long time, she asked, "Once you return to the capital and get married, it will be difficult for you to leave again. Won't Suiqing feel uncomfortable?"
Jin Suiqing looked at Huihong and noticed the doubt in her eyes. She patiently said, "I don't think so because I grew up with him. I know him better than anyone. If I wanted to leave, he could have a divorce agreement brought to the Empress's door. He would have risked his life to protect me."
"You...you trusted him that much?"
Jin Suiqing smiled and said, "I don't believe him, I believe in myself."
The system cannot imprison her, the Jin family cannot confine her, and Jin Shiyu cannot lock her up. Because she has the ability, naturally no cage can confine her, so why would she feel uncomfortable?
Therefore, she dares not to love, dares to love even more, and is more capable of bearing the weight of love.
However, Kim Si-ok probably can't.
Jin Suiqing could imagine that if she really left without looking back and without leaving anything behind, given his personality, he probably wouldn't live for more than two days.
She felt sorry for him.
Jin Suiqing patted Huihong on the shoulder, "Sister Huihong, you've asked me so many questions, now it's my turn to ask you."
She asked earnestly, "Do you still want to go back to the capital?"
*
At night, the food and drinks were served, filling the entire round table. After Jin Shiyu served a steamed fish, he began to take off his apron. Jin Suiqingzhi, the New Year's Eve dinner was ready.
She smiled and invited everyone to sit down, making room for two seats next to each other. She patted and slapped her hands, then called for Kim Shi-ok to sit down.
After Jin Shiyu sat down, Jin Suiqing hugged his face, gave him a big kiss on the cheek, and said with a laugh, "Thank you, brother, for cooking such a big meal tonight!"
Suddenly, Jin Shiyu's ears turned bright red. She nodded slightly and quietly tugged at the jujube blossom pastry on the edge of the table towards her.
Jin Suiqing's eyes lit up: "Brother, you made this too?"
Jin Shiyu cleared his throat: "I learned it on purpose at Zhanxing Tower."
The people sitting around the table looked at them, and unlike usual, they didn't pretend not to see them. Upon hearing "Zhanxinglou," Xu Qingqing recalled the past, narrowed her eyes, and found Jin Shiyu displeasing no matter what. She picked up the wine jar and poured wine.
"In this remote place, people don't care about drinking utensils or cups. They drink homemade wine from large bowls and drink until they're satisfied."
With a thud, a bowl full of wine was smashed in front of Kim Shi-ok.
Xu Qingqing sneered: "You want to marry Suiqing, huh? Drink up."
Her gaze swept across the room and met Ji Saiyu's. The two remained silent, but in their hearts, they both wanted to use the same witty remark.
She refused to believe that with so many people, they couldn't get Kim Shi-ok drunk.
You can't get rid of it.
The meal was a continuous drinking session. Except for Huihong, who had no interest in drinking, everyone else was too drunk to drink anymore. However, Jin Shiyu remained sitting upright and perfectly fine. He even went to cook some dumplings in the middle of the meal. When he came back, he slapped away Jin Suiqing's hand that was about to touch the wine, picked up the top dumpling, and put it into Jin Suiqing's bowl.
Jin Shiyu put down his chopsticks and said calmly, "Want some more?"
Xu Qingqing was unconscious, Ji Saiyu was so drunk she was rubbing her forehead, and Gong Dagou was pointing at the dumplings and chuckling, saying "Dumplings, delicious!" as he reached for one. He had only just reached halfway with his chopsticks when he suddenly covered his mouth and rushed out of the room.
Kim Shi-ok answered his own question, "Then I won't drink it."
Jin Suiqing wanted to suggest she drink it, but Jin Shiyu slapped her hand away again, saying, "This wine is strong, not as good as fruit syrup, don't touch it."
Jin Suiqing was fuming, thinking to himself that he could actually drink so much.
Looking back now, it's clear that Jin Shiyu was feigning drunkenness the night he disguised himself to enter Zhanxing Tower. If it weren't for the sleeping potion Qingqing gave him, he probably would have really been bitten by that sick dog.
As she was thinking, Jin Suiqing reached out and pulled Jin Shiyu over, slapping him hard on the forehead. "I didn't expect you to have such thoughts back then."
Back then, she was still his own sister.
Jin Shiyu blinked in confusion, her eyes welling up with tears: "When?"
Playing dumb?
Jin Suiqing raised an eyebrow, stared at him for a moment, then held up a finger and waved it in front of his eyes. Jin Shiyu obediently followed her hand, looking from left to right and from top to bottom.
After circling around a few times, Jin Suiqing reached for the wine bowl, but Jin Shiyu gently pushed her hand away, placed the chopsticks in her hand, and, holding her wrist, led her to the bowl of dumplings. "Sister, eat dumplings."
Jin Suiqing suddenly realized: "Jin Shiyu, you're drunk."
Jin Shiyu nodded and said again, "Let's eat dumplings."
Seeing that he was drunk and unaware of his own intoxication, Jin Suiqing deliberately teased him, "Why do you have to eat? Can't you not eat?"
"Eat." Kim Shi-ok looked at the dumplings, his drunken mind probably feeling that his words were a bit cold and hard, so he added, "Eat."
Jin Suiqing stared at the dumplings on the plate, took a bite with a puzzled look, and a sweet taste entered her mouth. She found it strange and frowned, picking up the dumpling to examine it against the light.
There was a piece of candy inside, which she had already bitten in half.
Jin Shiyu vaguely remembered that when she was a child, her mother was neither Jin Guizhong's wife nor his concubine. She had no official status and was not even considered a maidservant. There was no place for them at the Jin family's New Year's Eve dinner, so they stayed in the side courtyard to make wild vegetable dumplings.
The portions were small, so Gu Hanjiang got less meat, and the dumpling filling was all loose, but she always managed to wrap them beautifully. Once they were cooked, she would give the first one to Jin Shiyu, saying, "Shiyu, your mother put a piece of candy in the dumpling. Whoever finds it will be the luckiest person next year."
Every year, he was always the one who got to eat the candy. When he grew up, he would understand that it was his mother who specially gave it to him.
That piece of candy was one of the few sweet things he experienced in his childhood.
He did the same to Jin Suiqing, giving her a dumpling filled with sugar.
He stared intently at Jin Suiqing, watching her wide eyes fixate on the half-eaten dumpling. He thought she was so cute, she had always been cute, and he liked her so much. Suddenly, he turned his head and pecked her cheek.
"My little sister ate the candy I put in the dumpling. Everything will go smoothly for her next year." He couldn't help but kiss her again before calmly saying, "You ate candy tonight, so you have to brush your teeth before bed."
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