Li Huai's sudden departure also disrupted some of Zhao Qinglan's plans.
Before, Li Huai was at home, although he was mainly in the military camp during the day, but at least he was close to the children.
Zhao Qinglan was also thinking of taking the bus that took the children to the city every day to visit her mother and sister, and teach them how to cook.
The sooner they learn and master the skills, the sooner they can set up their money-making business.
But now that Li Huai has left on a mission, she doesn't dare leave the children behind forever.
However, she was also worried about her mother and sister, not knowing when Li Huai would return. After much thought, she could only come up with a compromise.
Previously, she planned to go early and return early so as not to delay cooking for the children.
Now, she plans to take her three children into the city every morning, cook at her rented apartment, and then take the bus back to pick up the students in the afternoon.
This way, neither side will be delayed.
In the morning, when she woke the children up for breakfast, she told them about her plans.
Xiaoduo still prefers to go with her mother to visit her maternal grandmother and aunt.
When Erwa heard that he could eat his stepmother's cooking, he was happy to go.
As for the eldest child, with everyone in the family gone, what would he do alone at home? He could only nod in agreement.
Having reached an agreement, as soon as they finished eating, Zhao Qinglan took some rice, flour, and cooking oil and hurried with the dressed children to the bus that would take the students.
Wu Mei's sister-in-law was worried, so she specifically told her before she left.
Wu Mei knew that Zhao Qinglan's mother and sister had come, and she understood. She also said she would help look after the house.
Worried that the children would get cold, Zhao Qinglan specially found their thickest cotton-padded coats. The children also wore gloves, scarves, and hats, so they were fully armed.
Mrs. Sun knew that her eldest daughter was coming back, but she didn't expect her to bring several children with her.
As soon as she saw the children, Mrs. Sun began to lecture her daughter.
"Qinglan, you're one to talk. It's fine if you come, but why make Xiaoduo and the others go out in this freezing weather? Aren't they afraid of getting cold?"
After saying that, he quickly pulled Xiaoduo and the others to the stove to warm their hands.
"Mom, do you think I wanted to? Li Huai went on a mission, and there was no one at home. I was worried about leaving them alone. You haven't even settled them in yet, so I just brought them along. Look how warmly they're dressed; they won't get cold."
Upon hearing that her son-in-law had gone on a mission, Mrs. Sun became worried. "What kind of mission did he go on?"
"Mom, how would I know? It's all a secret, I can't tell you." Zhao Qinglan deliberately kept quiet.
Upon hearing that it was a secret, Sun immediately covered her mouth. "I won't ask anymore, I won't ask anymore,"
This is the first time that Da Wa and the others have come to this newly rented house, so they find it quite novel.
Before coming, Zhao Qinglan packed all the textbooks and pencils the children needed for their studies, so that even after arriving here, the children wouldn't be idle.
Upon hearing that they would be learning how to make the snacks, Zhao Qingzhu and her sister became curious.
"Hey lady, what kind of snack is this?"
"It's nothing special, just fried dough sticks, firm tofu, and delicious bone broth wontons."
These items are actually not uncommon in later generations; they can be found at almost any breakfast stall.
But now, there are really not many.
Fried dough sticks are too oily, firm tofu is too much trouble, and bone broth wontons all sound delicious.
Ordinary families are reluctant to cook for themselves, while families that can afford it may not be willing to put in the effort.
Nowadays, state-run restaurants mainly serve the same common dishes, such as steamed buns, rice, and noodles.
There are very few privately owned shops these days, so Zhao Qinglan's choice to do this still has a broad market.
Frying dough sticks requires flour and a lot of cooking oil, firm tofu requires soybeans, and bone broth wontons require large bones; you also have to find a special place to buy them.
Needless to say, oil was a scarce commodity, and each household had a fixed monthly supply of stamps. Soybeans were also a rare commodity, with only sick patients in hospitals receiving an extra supply, and even then, it was limited.
After much thought, Zhao Qinglan decided to start with one thing: the simplest bone broth wontons.
Once her mother and sister are skilled and the shop is on track, she will then try to secure the sources of other ingredients to add new varieties to the shop.
Bone broth wontons require large bones and meat.
Zhao Qinglan first went to the butcher shop and bought some meat to teach.
Because she was sweet-talking and knew how to talk, the butcher gave her an extra big bone, since big bones didn't require a ration coupon.
Actually, making wontons isn't difficult; it's just that preparing the filling and simmering the bone broth require some thought.
Both Sun and the Qingzhu and Qingju sisters studied very diligently.
They also wanted to rely on their own abilities to be self-reliant and didn't want to keep asking Zhao Qinglan for help.
By noon, these wontons, which they had made for practice, became their lunch.
Erwa was overjoyed to eat the fragrant bone broth wontons he had never tried before.
Sure enough, following his stepmother meant he'd get all the good food; from then on, he'd go wherever his stepmother went!
Li Huai and many others from his unit left to carry out their mission.
Although the mission cannot be revealed casually, the people in the family quarters are pretty much aware of it.
Soon, Yu Huimin, who was far away, learned of this news and was immediately overjoyed.
She had been feeling unlucky lately, but finally she heard some good news.
That guy Li Huai, it would be best if he died out there and never came back, so she wouldn't have to figure out how to deal with him.
She was unable to find any leads regarding the beating her son received, and the matter was eventually left unresolved.
After all, she didn't have any powerful connections, and all she relied on was her husband. Even so, she still had to act secretly and keep it a secret from him.
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