From Chapter 20 onwards, I'll listen to you.
In this desolate place, there are almost no fresh vegetables. These scallions can only be stored and frozen in winter. The price is cheap though. I bought a bunch for three coins, and then added two coins to buy a small piece of ginger.
The locals like to store all kinds of vegetables in cellars, and scallions and ginger are among the best preserved.
Jiang Nuan's family also has a cellar, but her cellar is completely empty, with nothing inside.
While pondering when to go out and get some vegetables to store, he started kneading the dough again.
Actually, everyone knows how to make steamed buns with leavened dough these days, but without the lye water to neutralize it, the buns and steamed bread I bought yesterday all had a slightly sour taste.
Jiang Nuanzhi didn't have time to get the alkaline water from the bottom of the pot, so she simply decided not to let the dough rise and instead rolled the dough out thinly to make thin-skinned buns.
Knead the dough into a long, thin strip, then pinch off small, evenly sized dough balls.
I went out again and found a stick of uniform size. I peeled off the skin, and it wasn't very good, but it was still usable. So I started rolling out the dough.
By the time the dough was almost rolled out, the stewed meat in the pot was already emitting a rich meaty aroma.
Open the large iron pot; the meat inside was already tender, and the scallions had almost dissolved into the broth. Reduce the sauce over high heat, then ladle it out of the small bowl and let it cool.
I took the prepared dumpling wrappers and started making dumplings. I also made a few dumplings and wheat ears while I was at it.
Since there was no steamer at home, Jiang Nuanzhi brushed oil on the bottom of a large iron pot, placed the wrapped buns directly on the bottom of the pot, added a little water, covered the pot, and simmered them over medium to low heat until cooked.
While waiting for the steamed buns to cook, Jiang Nuanzhi rinsed some millet, set up a stove in a small pot outside, and cooked a pot of millet porridge.
After all that work, Jiang Nuanzhi was covered in sweat, as if she had been pulled out of the water.
Although she was born strong, her constitution was actually not very good; she was quite weak. She also suffered from blood deficiency and excessive dampness.
Taking good care of yourself will also help control your weight, so there's no conflict between the two.
Thinking this, she soaked some more red beans, planning to cook some red bean and millet porridge for them the next morning. It would nourish their spleen and stomach and replenish their qi and blood, making it the perfect way for the family to nourish their bodies.
When the time was almost up, the pot was opened. The large iron pot lid was lifted, and steam rose up. The buns, about half the size of a fist, were fried until golden brown and crispy on the bottom, and an enticing aroma wafted out.
"Brother, this smells so good! It's even better than the dumplings made by the village chief!"
Xiao Baozhu was speaking to Li Xiaoer, but before she knew it, she had walked up to Jiang Nuanzhi and tugged at a small piece of Jiang Nuanzhi's clothes.
Jiang Nuanzhi moved the pot lid away to avoid burning her, and quickly put the buns into the porcelain bowl.
"Little Pearl, go sit quietly and wait."
"Waiter, go get the bowls and chopsticks."
Then he turned to look at Li Junping, who was standing there silently, and after thinking for a moment, he said, "Ping'er, go and get a stool."
Li Junping was stunned for a moment before realizing that the "Ping'er" was calling him. He then silently went out to fetch a stool.
The family of four sat comfortably at the table.
The children, who were just having fun, suddenly became reserved.
Jiang Nuanzhi was puzzled: "Eat! Didn't you just say the steamed buns smelled good? Why aren't you eating?"
Little Baozhu blinked her beautiful big eyes: "Can I eat it?"
"certainly."
Little Baozhu was genuinely happy to hear this, and her legs kept swinging back and forth as she sat on the stool.
She hesitated for a moment with her chopsticks before picking up a slightly broken bun: "Then my brothers and I will eat the broken ones, and we'll save the good ones for the second young master."
After saying that, she was overjoyed: "Brother, we can all eat them! I saw that several of them were a little bit spoiled."
Jiang Nuanzhi frowned more and more as she listened: "What second young master?"
Xiao Baozhu said, "I will listen to you from now on. You gave me steamed buns, so you are a good person. I will treat Second Young Master as my master from now on."
"What are you listening to!"
Her sudden shout startled Xiao Baozhu, who immediately hid behind Li Xiaoer, peeking out at Jiang Nuanzhi with red eyes.
Li Xiaoer blocked his sister's way and said angrily, "If you don't want to give us any food, just say so. Why are you playing us like this?" With that, he grabbed his sister and tried to leave.
"Wait, when did I say I wouldn't give you any more food?"
Li Xiaoer: "Anyway, whatever delicious food you make is for the second young master."
After saying that, her eyes also reddened.
Jiang Nuanzhi was at her wits' end. In the original owner's memories, she did indeed cook at home frequently. She prepared at least three dishes and a soup for the second young master every day, and would come back to cook when the second young master's stove was not big enough.
Little Baozhu is most susceptible to food. She is often teased like a dog, given a treat, snatched back, and then cursed as a slut for daring to covet the Second Young Master's things.
"What I mean is, if we don't give any to the second young master, all these buns are ours, and we won't give any to anyone else. Let my Baozhu eat her fill."
After saying that, he picked up the little one and placed her on his lap, then put a small, unbroken bun into her bowl.
"Don't treat others as your masters, understand? Our precious pearl deserves the best. Eat."
Baozhu stared blankly, but didn't eat the bun. She couldn't help but bury her face in Jiang Nuanzhi's shoulder. Her little shoulders trembled.
Jiang Nuanzhi felt the dampness on her shoulder, sighed inwardly, and gently stroked her back, soothing her gently.
"Don't cry, shall we eat some steamed buns?"
Children's emotions come and go quickly. Before long, he was sitting next to Jiang Nuanzhi, eating heartily, his little mouth covered in oil, his face full of satisfaction. But his other little hand never let go of Jiang Nuanzhi's clothes.
Jiang Nuanzhi then looked at Li Xiaoer: "Little devil, I never thought that way. I worked so hard to cook so that we could have a good meal tonight, and you still wronged me. I'm very sad."
Li Xiaoer was clearly at a loss: "You...how are you going to punish me?"
"If you don't apologize to me, I'll really cry."
Li Xiaoer asked in confusion, "Say sorry?"
Jiang Nuanzhi: "Okay, I accept your apology and forgive you. You two, stop standing there and sit down to eat."
The family of four finally sat down to eat in peace.
However, it seemed that both of the larger ones had their own agendas.
The little one was obviously easy to fool. When she saw Jiang Nuanzhi looking at her, she foolishly showed a big smile, her eyes full of joy.
Jiang Nuanzhi served her a small bowl of porridge. She thought to herself that she should teach this little one a good lesson in the future. She couldn't be so easily fooled. What if she went down the same path as the villainous female supporting character in the future?
And that second young master, could it be that her infatuation with him is influenced by her wicked stepmother?
That's absolutely unacceptable.
Jiang Nuanzhi also served herself some porridge and sipped it slowly. After a bowl of piping hot millet porridge, she felt warm all over. She then ate two steamed buns and felt about five or six tenths full before putting down her chopsticks.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw that Li Xiaoer's entire face was buried in the bowl.
This was quite a sight; the boy had started crying at some point, and tears were falling steadily into his bowl.
"Waiter, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Did you hurt your leg today?"
Jiang Nuanzhi frowned and squatted down to look at his legs.
Li Xiaoer shook his head: "No, I just think the steamed buns are so delicious."
Jiang Nuanzhi was a little confused: "If it's delicious, then eat more. Why are you crying?"
Li Xiaoer: "If only Daddy could eat such delicious buns too."
This steamed bun is so delicious; it's the best thing he's ever eaten.
The day Father left, there wasn't a single grain of food left in the house. He didn't even take any dry rations. I wonder if Father will go hungry.
(End of this chapter)
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