Chapter 579: Fried Buns
Zhang Heyao stayed in the northwest for another half a month.
Because Song Mingzhen died, he found a reason to hold a funeral and lingered for so long.
In fact, he didn't go at all.
But he really couldn't stay any longer.
He brought Xiaoman back to Beijing, and Lu Qiniang would definitely be reluctant to let her go.
In the future, she will probably go to Beijing again because she misses Xiaoman.
Zhang Heyao told Sun Shun to prepare to return to the capital, while he himself was looking at the urgent official business sent from the capital.
After I go back, I will have to face all this again.
It's tiring, but there's nothing you can do about it.
Zhang Heyao sighed.
He must be getting old, he's been sighing a lot lately.
After reading for a while, Zhang Heyao pushed the official newspaper in front of him and stood up.
——Since everyone is leaving, why is he still insisting here?
I want to go see Lu Qiniang again.
Once this thought came to my mind, I could no longer suppress it.
Zhang Heyao stood up and walked straight out to Lu Qiniang's residence.
Before entering the courtyard, the noisy laughter of children could be heard.
In the yard, San Ya was like a child king, leading Hu Rui and a few naughty boys from the neighborhood, chasing a tatami mat and sweating profusely.
Xiaoman followed Sanya happily, picking up the ball that rolled away from time to time and handing it to her sister happily.
San Ya seems to have this kind of magic that can make all her younger brothers follow her willingly.
Ah Huang was not willing to be lonely either. He ran around the ball and patted it with his paws from time to time, making the children laugh.
Lu Qiniang and Lin were busy in the kitchen, and the chopping board was filled with kneaded dough.
She skillfully wrapped the buns, and from time to time she took the time to look at the lively scene in the yard, with the corners of her mouth unconsciously raised.
The aroma of fried bun fillings wafting from the kitchen, mixed with the warm scent of firewood, makes people feel particularly at ease.
Zhang Heyao stood at the gate of the courtyard, unable to bear to disturb this noisy and warm scene.
Until Xiaoman spotted him with her sharp eyes, ran over excitedly, hugged his thighs, and called out affectionately: "Dad!"
Lu Qiniang raised her head upon hearing the voice and saw him through the window. Without stopping her hands, she nodded slightly and gestured for him to come in with her eyes.
Zhang Heyao bent down and picked up Xiaoman, took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat off his face, "Are you tired?"
"I'm not tired. Dad, I want to go downstairs and play football." Xiaoman struggled and said, "Dad, I want to stay for dinner. Let's eat buns today!"
The buns made by my mother are delicious!
Mother prepared many kinds of fillings, many of which he had never eaten before.
My mother said that if we packed a few different kinds of food, there would always be something he liked.
"Okay." Zhang Heyao put him down with a smile, "Run slowly, don't fall."
Xiaoman waved her hands and chased after Sanya, saying cheerfully, "Sister, I'm here."
Zhang Heyao walked to the kitchen door, leaned against the door frame, looked at the busy figures inside, and finally spoke with difficulty after brewing for a long time:
"I will be leaving for Beijing in three days."
Lu Qinniang's hands, which were kneading the dough, paused for a moment almost imperceptibly, and then regained their strength.
She didn't look up, just said "hmm" softly, but her eyes were already red.
She couldn't bear to leave Xiaoman.
How come the days of reunion go by so quickly?
Silence filled the kitchen, with only the sound of dough being kneaded on the chopping board.
Zhang Heyao's eyes fell on her floury hands, and he suddenly said, "Before I leave... I want to eat the oil residue and pickled vegetable buns you made."
Lu Qiniang: “…”
Is this a time to reminisce about the good times?
In the past, because her family was poor and could not afford meat, she would occasionally buy a few pounds of fatty meat, take it home to press the oil, and use the remaining oil residue to make dumplings for Zhang Heyao.
Unexpectedly, now that he is used to eating big fish and meat, he would miss this again.
"No."
"Forget it then." Zhang Heyao felt lost.
"...There's meat. I'll be ready in a minute. You sit outside and watch Xiaoman. I'll be ready in a minute."
Zhang Heyao smiled and nodded.
very nice.
Before leaving, it was probably a comfort to be able to eat the food she had cooked.
Lu Qiniang took a piece of pork with more fat, picked up a kitchen knife, and chopped it finely, making a clattering sound on the chopping board.
Zhang Heyao did not leave, but stood quietly at the kitchen door, his eyes fixed on Lu Qinniang's busy back.
The aroma of refined oil soon wafted from the kitchen.
Lu Qiniang neatly mixed the oil residue and chopped pickles.
Zhang Heyao watched her skillfully roll out the dough, fill it with stuffing, and pinch the pleats... Every movement carried the familiar smell of everyday life, as well as the warmth that was about to fade away.
He didn't say anything, and Lu Qiniang was also silent.
There was only the crackling of firewood in the stove and the laughter of children in the yard.
The buns were quickly wrapped and neatly stacked in the steamer.
Lu Qiniang closed the lid, then turned around, wiped her hands with her apron, and looked at Zhang Heyao.
Her eyes were slightly red, but she tried her best to remain calm: "Is there anything else you want to eat?"
She made him whatever he wanted to eat.
She knows how difficult it is to raise a child.
She owes Zhang Heyao.
"That's enough."
He has eaten all kinds of delicacies from land and sea.
What she longed for was nothing more than the taste in her memory.
Zhang Heyao stayed for dinner and left holding Xiaoman's hand.
Lu Qiniang leaned against the door, watching the two figures, one big and one small, completely disappear from her sight.
Three days, and three more days.
How come time passes so quickly?
Zhang Heyao was also talking to Xiaoman about leaving.
Xiaoman couldn't bear to leave.
"Where's Mom? Where's Sister?" He looked up at Zhang Heyao and asked, "Dad, didn't you say to bring Mom back to the capital? Take Sister with you."
He couldn't bear to leave his sister.
Zhang Heyao's throat was choked.
How could he tell Xiaoman that his beloved mother would rather stay in the northwest and keep a thought for herself than go back to Beijing with them?
Let the child be happy for a few more days.
He also thought about what reasons he could use to comfort Xiaoman.
After returning to the inn, the wet nurse took Xiaoman to bathe and change clothes.
As a result, the little guy was too tired from playing and fell asleep in the bathtub. He didn't wake up even when he was taken out and wiped. He just fell into a deep sleep.
Zhang Heyao went to see him before returning to his study to continue handling official business.
When Sun Shun knocked on the door and came in, he stood up and stretched his sore neck. "It's so late, is there anything else?"
"Sir, this is a letter from the capital via carrier pigeon."
Unless it was something important, Sun Shun didn't dare to disturb him.
After all, Zhang Heyao has been in the army for many years, so he is used to the military system, training carrier pigeons and having his own information transmission channels.
"...and three pigeons arrived at the same time."
This shows that the matter is urgent and important, and in order to ensure the delivery of the message, multiple carrier pigeons will be sent.
So Sun Shun did not dare to delay and reported immediately.
Zhang Heyao's face was serious. "Give it to me, let me see it."
He opened the first note, glanced at it, and his expression changed immediately.
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