Chapter 205: Digging Some Winter Bamboo Shoots
Jiang Jianhua's fingertips stroked the lining of the wooden box. The light blue and white floral fabric was soft as a cloud. Then he touched the handkerchief embroidered with bamboo leaves. The fine stitches were filled with love. His tears fell on the locust flower pattern on the wooden box, leaving small wet marks.
"Yinyin, the bamboo leaves you embroidered are even more exquisite than last time. And the scarf Aunt Zhang knitted, I mentioned this pattern to you last time, and you still remember it."
Aunt Zhang smiled and wiped her tears. "Silly child, why are you crying? I'm glad you're back. Come on, let me see if you've lost weight outside."
She took Jiang Jianhua's hand and looked him up and down. "You're fine. You look healthy, but your hands are a little rough. It must be the fatigue from carpentry. Rest more at home. I'll make you some chicken soup to nourish you."
Fu Yuanshan placed his luggage in the corner, which contained gifts for everyone. He took out a cloth bag from his bag and handed it to Zhou Desheng: "Desheng, this is some good wine from the city. I brought it especially for you. Let's have a couple of drinks tonight."
He took out another paper bag and handed it to Xiaolan, "Lady Lan, this is crispy candy from the city. It's sweeter than the ones in our town. Share it with Ming'er and Liang'er."
Xiaolan took the candy and smiled so much that her eyes curved. She quickly opened one and put it in her mouth, squinting her eyes because of the sweetness. "Thank you, Uncle! It's sweeter than the candy my mother bought! I'm going to save two for Auntie!"
Jiang Jianhua rubbed her head and said with a smile: "You are so good, Lan girl. Second Aunt also brought you a gift. It is a flower hairband from the city, red and pink. I am sure you like it."
Zhou Desheng's wife came over with freshly brewed brown sugar water and handed a cup to Jiang Jianhua and Fu Yuanshan respectively: "Hurry up and drink some brown sugar water to warm your bodies. You must have been cold on the way."
She looked at Jiang Jianhua and said with a smile, "Jianhua, you're finally back. Yinyin looks forward to seeing you every day. She said she'd like to embroider and make shepherd's purse dumplings with you when you come back."
Yun Tangyin leaned in Fu Yucheng's arms, looking at the lively scene in front of her. The little guy in her belly suddenly moved slightly, as if happy for the reunion.
"Second sister-in-law, look at the rouge I bought for you. It's the new pink color that's just arrived in town. It will definitely look good on you."
She asked Fu Yucheng to bring the rouge over and handed it to Jiang Jianhua, "And there's the wooden box that Fu Yucheng made for you. It's specially carved with locust flowers and covered with red velvet. It's perfect for you to put your needlework in the back."
Jiang Jianhua took the rouge box and opened it. The light pink color was elegant. She put it to her nose and sniffed it. It was full of sweet fragrance. "It looks really good. It makes me look better than the ones sold in the supply and marketing cooperative in the city. Yinyin, you are always so thoughtful."
She put the rouge box into the wooden box, picked up the scarf and tied it around her neck, smiling at Fu Yuanshan, "Do you think it looks good? Aunt Zhang's knitting is always good."
Fu Yuanshan smiled and nodded: "It looks good."
In the evening, the aroma of shepherd's purse dumplings wafted through the kitchen. Zhou Desheng's wife and Aunt Zhang were making dumplings together, and Jiang Jianhua also came over to help. She pinched the dumplings tightly and made beautiful lace on the edges.
"The shepherd's purse at home is still fresh," Jiang Jianhua said as he made dumplings. "I can never eat such tender shepherd's purse in the city. I always crave it when I think about it."
Fu Yucheng lit a fire in the yard, set up an iron pot, and prepared to cook dumplings. Yun Tangyin sat in a rocking chair and watched, reminding him from time to time: "Put the dumplings in after the water boils. Don't overcook them. Second sister-in-law has finally come back, so let her eat a whole one."
Fu Yucheng smiled and replied, "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing and I'll definitely cook it just right."
Xiaolan took Zhou Ming and Zhou Liang to play with slingshots in the yard. Fu Yuanshan also came over and taught the children how to aim: "Don't pull the rubber band too hard. Aim before releasing it, otherwise the stone will fly off the target."
He picked up the slingshot and aimed at the old locust tree in the yard. With a "pop", the stone landed right on the scar of the tree, causing the children to cheer: "Second uncle is so powerful!"
The dumplings are cooked and served on the table. The steaming dumplings are white, plump and cute. When you bite one, the fragrance of shepherd's purse mixed with the freshness of meat fills your mouth with the warmth of home.
Jiang Jianhua took a bite and squinted his eyes in satisfaction: "Homemade dumplings are still the best, even more delicious than those in restaurants in the city. I have to eat a few more meals this time when I come back."
Fu Yuanshan put a dumpling in her bowl and said, "Eat more quickly. If you don't have enough, cook more. We have plenty of shepherd's purse at home. You can eat as much as you want."
He put another dumpling into Yun Tangyin's bowl and said, "Yinyin, you should eat more too. You need to nourish yourself while you're pregnant. These dumplings are nutritious."
Aunt Zhang watched everyone enjoying the meal, her heart filled with joy: "In a few days, let's go to the back mountain to dig winter bamboo shoots and stew them with meat. We'll let Yuanshan and Jianhua have a taste of the fresh food, and Yinyin can also replenish her body."
Zhou Desheng's wife nodded and said, "Okay, I'll steam some more pumpkin cakes. It will be a lively family affair for us, which is better than anything else."
At night, the moonlight shines in the yard, and the buds on the old locust tree glow with a tender green light under the moonlight.
Fu Yucheng and Fu Yuanshan were sitting in the yard drinking, Jiang Jianhua and Yun Tangyin were sitting nearby embroidering, Aunt Zhang and Zhou Desheng's wife were cleaning up the dishes, the children were already asleep, and the yard was filled with a warm atmosphere.
"Acheng, I won't leave this time when I come back," Fu Yuanshan said softly after taking a sip of wine. "I always miss home in the city. Now that Yinyin is about to give birth, our family must be together and take care of each other."
Fu Yucheng's eyes lit up and he patted his shoulder: "Great! I've been looking forward to your return for a long time. Life will definitely get better and better."
Jiang Jianhua held Yun Tangyin's hand and said with a smile, "Yinyin, when you have a baby, I will help you take care of it. We can embroider together and dry radishes. Let the children play in the yard. It will be so lively."
Yun Tangyin nodded: "Okay, then we can embroider a large handkerchief together, covered with locust flowers and bamboo, and hang it in the house as a decoration. It will definitely look nice."
Under the moonlight, everyone was chatting about family matters, their laughter drifting far away. The old locust tree outside the yard seemed to be rejoicing as well, its buds swaying gently, as if it was looking forward to the tree being full of flowers in the near future.
Yun Tangyin leaned in Fu Yucheng's arms, touching her belly, feeling at ease.
She knew that the days to come would be as warm as the moonlight on this spring night, and like the old locust tree in the yard, deeply rooted and evergreen year after year. The happiness full of the flavor of everyday life would remain forever in this small locust tree yard.
The next morning, just as the sky was getting light, Fu Yuanshan woke Fu Yucheng up with a hoe on his shoulder: "Acheng, let's go to the back mountain to dig winter bamboo shoots. Aunt Zhang said yesterday that the winter bamboo shoots in the back mountain are growing well, which is perfect for stewing meat for Yinyin to nourish her body."
Fu Yucheng rubbed his eyes and nodded with a smile: "Okay, I've wanted to go for a long time. It's a good opportunity for me to learn from you how to find winter bamboo shoots. I could never dig good ones before."
The two walked towards the back mountain in the morning dew. The mountain road was still a little slippery. Fu Yuanshan walked in front, bending down from time to time to check the roots of the bamboo. "To find winter bamboo shoots, you have to look at the direction of the bamboo shoots. Generally, the direction the bamboo leans is the direction the bamboo shoots extend, and the winter bamboo shoots grow at the end of the bamboo shoots."
He pointed to a mound of earth at the base of a bamboo plant and said, "Look at this mound. There are cracks on it. There must be winter bamboo shoots underneath."
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