Upon entering the cave dwelling, the refreshing coolness made Xiao Jiu feel completely comfortable.
"These cave dwellings are really comfortable to live in, but it's a pity that they are very rare in our area. They can only be found in some mountainous areas in western Henan. It's such a shame."
He turned to look at Dun Dun: "I was going to hug you, but you're so well-behaved, you're asleep. Let's put him on the kang!"
Upon entering the house, Xiao Jiu laid out the readily available items she had prepared, such as sanitary napkins, toilet paper, brown sugar, and pastries.
"I bought the toilet paper from the supply and marketing cooperative; it should be enough for you. By the way, have you started your period yet?"
Tang Cuihong shook her head, "I haven't come since the lochia stopped."
"Yes, that's normal. It usually doesn't happen during the breastfeeding stage, but there are exceptions, depending on individual constitution."
When Xiao Jiu released a whole case of eggs, Cui Hong was startled.
"I don't need that. I'm raising a few chickens now, and they lay eggs every day, which is enough for me!"
“Then put them in. What if it’s not enough? I have plenty here anyway. Compared to meat, fish, shrimp and crab, eggs are less likely to be noticed.”
Afterwards, Xiao Jiu replenished her sister's food with rice, flour, oil, and seasonings before taking out her carefully selected gold lock and gold bracelet.
“Look, these are all things I’ve kept all these years. The small gold lock and the small gold bracelet are for my nephew, and these two big gold bracelets are for you to wear.”
That's why the craftsmanship of people in the past was so beautiful. Even though they are old objects, they are still shiny and not old at all.
Cuihong didn't really like wearing these things, but when she heard that they were valuable, her younger sister told her to put them away carefully, saying that if she didn't like the old style in the future, she could melt them down and have them made into new ones, so she respectfully put them away.
"You two don't have bicycles, do you? I do have one here, do you want it?"
Cuihong shook her head, "No need, there's no need. Your brother-in-law's company provides a car when he goes out, and I also take a car when I go out. Nobody in the family compound has a bicycle, it's too high-profile."
Hearing this, Xiao Jiu didn't try to persuade her to stop, and then started preparing lunch with Cui Hong.
She took out a large piece of hind leg meat, a whole chicken, and kneaded dough, then placed it in a place where the sun was shining directly to ferment.
Mince the pork hind leg, add shrimp, scallions, ginger, shiitake mushrooms, chopped cabbage, and chopped chives, mix them together to make a three-ingredient filling.
After chopping the whole chicken, blanch it. Heat oil in a wok, add sugar to caramelize the base color, then add the chicken and stir-fry evenly...
"Is this for making braised chicken with potatoes?" Seeing that Xiao Jiu had also prepared green peppers, she asked, "Is it spicy?"
"It's not spicy, don't worry. I remember you were breastfeeding, so I only added a little bit of chives for seasoning. You know that breastfeeding mothers shouldn't eat this, right?"
"Sister Zhou said that the amount you used was fine."
After the dough has risen, start making steamed buns. When the chicken is about three-quarters cooked, add potato chunks, then place the steamer rack on top, arrange the buns, cover, and simmer over medium heat. This will steam the buns as well as the chicken.
After fifteen minutes, turn the heat down to low. Store the remaining filling and fermented dough in your personal storage space.
"Let's make another batch tonight."
When it gets hot, we stop cooking indoors and instead cook under a makeshift shed in the yard.
There were two stoves. On the other stove, Xiao Jiu simmered kelp and pork rib soup over a low flame.
The aroma of meat wafted throughout the entire residential area. From afar, several soldiers in military uniforms, returning home for lunch, all turned to look at Niu Feng upon smelling the aroma.
"Old Niu, your house smells delicious again! What are you cooking today?"
"Look at what you're saying. Don't you also cook delicious food when your family has guests? This is my sister-in-law's special treat for visiting her sister."
After Niu Feng finished speaking, he waved to them and said, "I'm not saying anything more now. I have to hurry home and eat something delicious. It's been so long since I've had any meat."
A group of men chimed in with sneers, "Look how much weight you've gained since your wife's last month of confinement! You still haven't had enough to eat!"
It was common knowledge in the entire residential compound that Tang Cuihong ate well during her postpartum period, and her cousin would go out to buy things every few days.
So when everyone saw that Niu Feng had also gained weight, they couldn't help but make fun of it.
"Who told my son to eat so much?" If it weren't for the need to produce breast milk, who would dare to eat like that!
So after Sister Zhou left, the couple kept a low profile for a long time, usually only eating eggs to supplement their nutrition.
If Xiao Jiu hadn't come over today, I wouldn't have been able to smell such a wonderful aroma.
Sure enough, the fragrance became even stronger as soon as I entered the courtyard.
"Brother-in-law is back? Hurry up and wash your hands, get ready to eat, you're almost done leaving."
Freshly baked steamed buns with meat filling and a large pot of stewed chicken and potatoes—just looking at them makes my mouth water.
"I also made some soup, sis, eat it while Dun Dun is still asleep."
No sooner had the words been spoken than Niu Dundun's loud crying rang out from the east room. Xiao Jiu was about to go over when Niu Feng stopped her.
"You two eat first, I'll clean up the rest later. This kid must have wet himself."
Xiao Jiu ran out first and served Tang Cuihong a large bowl of seaweed and pork rib soup, garnishing it with chopped green onions and cilantro.
It smells delicious.
Xiao Jiu whispered, "If lotus root weren't out of season, I would have stewed it myself. Eat up, eat up."
"Ever since this brat came along, your sister has never been able to eat on time. It's okay when I'm home, but if I'm not, she has to wait until Dundun falls asleep before she can eat. Being a mother is not easy!"
Niu Dundun woke up, and after his diaper was changed, he looked curiously at Xiao Jiu with his thick eyebrows and big eyes. Niu Feng carried him to a chair, and the little guy even made eye contact with Xiao Jiu.
"Oh my, our little Dun Dun is so cute with his chubby face. Come here, brother-in-law, let me give him a hug. Before he gets shy, you eat first."
As a result, the little guy reflexively reached out and grabbed Niu Feng's short-sleeved training uniform. Niu Feng laughed.
"Look, he doesn't want his aunt to suffer. You eat first. Once you're full, you'll have plenty of time to hold him. It's a whole afternoon, so don't find it troublesome."
Xiao Jiu and Cui Hong each ate a steamed bun, a bowl of pork rib soup, and a bowl of meat and vegetables, and they were full.
Niu Feng ate four steamed buns, a large bowl of soup, and a large bowl of meat and vegetables all by himself, finishing everything.
Xiao Jiu wasn't surprised at all by his appetite. Soldiers expend a lot of energy, and he was leaving himself room to eat more than six.
After the meal, Niu Feng left, and Xiao Jiu tidied up while watching Cui Hong playing with the children.
"My brother-in-law said you often don't eat on time? Why don't you take advantage of your free time to cook more and store it in your warehouse?"
Cuihong winked at her, and Xiaojiu suddenly realized, "I knew it! We have a cheat warehouse, how could we not get any?"
"I didn't skimp on myself. I would secretly cook meat dishes, steam buns and dumplings at night after everyone else was asleep. I would make enough for one or two days at a time, and eat a different meal every day. Luckily, taking care of the kids is very physically demanding, otherwise I would have become incredibly fat by now."
Cuihong is now more than ten pounds heavier than before she was pregnant. This time, I only felt that her sister was more plump, but not fat enough to be considered fat.
At least they weren't like the plump, fair-skinned women of later generations, with fleshy faces and bulging chests, looking full and shapely.
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