And so, the three of them worked enthusiastically at Wei Yuyan's house for half an afternoon, and basically finished everything.
By evening, the kitchen was already full of ingredients: covered dough fermenting, chopped minced meat, mushrooms, washed scallions, and cooked red bean paste.
"We've finally finished, sister-in-law. We'll come again tomorrow morning."
With nothing else to do, Sister-in-law Xiuhua and Brother Zhang prepared to go home.
"Wait a minute, I made some zongzi with pork belly today. Take them home and have a taste. Here you go."
Wei Yuyan grabbed three zongzi and handed them over.
“You didn’t pack many, why are you giving them to us? Give them to the children.”
Xiuhua's sister-in-law refused.
“You’ve definitely never had meat-filled zongzi before. Try it and if you like it, you can make this kind next year.”
Wei Yuyan insisted on giving it to Sister-in-law Xiuhua.
"Okay then, but two will be enough, thanks."
Sister-in-law Xiuhua placed another one on the table and quickly walked out.
Wei Yuyan smiled and put the zongzi in the kitchen. Zongzi are a bit hard to digest at night, so she decided not to give them to the children tonight.
"Sister-in-law, I want to eat zongzi (sticky rice dumplings)."
Qianqian pouted when she saw that there were no jujube rice dumplings she liked on the table.
"Your sister-in-law is worried that you won't be able to sleep if you eat too much at night."
We finally finished eating the red bean paste rolls for lunch, and then Wei Yuyan cooked rice for dinner. But then Qianqian said she wanted to eat zongzi (sticky rice dumplings).
"No, I'll just eat one."
Qianqian held up one finger.
"Okay, Xiao Lei, have a meat one."
Wei Yuyan thought that Xiao Lei might also want to eat it.
"I...I'm fine with anything."
Xiao Lei hesitated for a moment.
"Here you go, sister-in-law still prefers to eat rice."
Wei Yuyan stir-fried water spinach for dinner, which was especially delicious. Since she hadn't eaten rice for the past two days, she ate two bowls of rice in one go.
"Oh no, now I'm the one who won't be able to sleep."
Wei Yuyan felt a little annoyed, realizing that she had become just as greedy as the children.
"Sister-in-law, I'll wash the dishes."
Seeing his sister-in-law resting on a stool, Xiao Lei immediately cleared away the dishes and went to the kitchen to wash them.
Whether it was because she was too full and sleepy or because she was really tired, Wei Yuyan fell asleep as soon as she got to bed after taking a shower.
He no longer had the leisure to spend half a day reading.
The next morning, after the rooster crowed twice, she got up, washed up, and just as she turned on the light, Brother Zhang and his wife came over.
"I'll stir-fry the filling now. You two knead the dough first, and then make the red bean paste rolls. Anyway, those are ready-made."
Wei Yuyan managed her time well, otherwise there really wouldn't be enough time, given the sheer number of tasks.
“Sister-in-law, we won’t be selling steamed buns on the sixth day of the new year. We’re going to start transplanting rice seedlings. Two days should be enough for two mu of paddy fields. We can go buy meat as usual on the eighth day.”
Brother Zhang talked about his plans.
"Okay, I'll cook for you then, but you really don't need to bring our own food. It's just cooking, why be so formal?"
Wei Yuyan simply wanted to make things easier for Sister-in-law Xiuhua; she didn't want to have to eat their food again.
"Alright, I got it. This time it'll just be me and your Brother Zhang planting rice. I won't call him Brother anymore."
Xiuhua's sister-in-law was chatting idly.
"Why?"
Wei Yuyan was puzzled.
“His older brother is transplanting rice seedlings these days, so we can’t help him because we’re here to help you sell steamed buns.”
This kind of thing is about you helping me and me helping you. We didn't help his older brother, so he didn't have to go through all that trouble this time.
Sister-in-law Xiuhua knew that if she called her eldest brother, he would naturally come.
But there's no need for that; my husband and I can finish it in a day if we work hard.
"So that's how it is."
Wei Yuyan nodded. People say that brothers and sisters are family before marriage, and relatives after marriage.
The three of them chatted while making red bean rolls and steamed buns, and time flew by. The only problem was that Brother Zhang's steamed buns were too ugly.
"Alright, alright, go start the fire. Honestly, you'll smash our signboard in a minute."
Xiuhua's sister-in-law pushed him away in disgust.
"I've never done this before, it's like a young woman getting into a bridal sedan chair for the first time."
Brother Zhang scratched his head. This bag of steamed buns looks simple, but it's difficult to wrap them.
"Sister-in-law Xiuhua, we can let Brother Zhang practice more in the future, so that the three of us can take turns resting."
Wei Yuyan was completely open with them, explaining in detail how to make delicious steamed buns.
"Okay, let him practice when we get home after selling the steamed buns today."
Sister-in-law Xiuhua nodded, agreeing with Wei Yuyan's statement.
As dawn broke, the steamed buns and red bean rolls were already packed: two wooden buckets of steamed buns and a basket of red bean rolls.
"Xiao Lei, Qian Qian, wash your faces, let's go."
Wei Yuyan poured hot water and placed it on the table, then combed her hair herself.
I didn't expect there to be so many people when I arrived in town.
"Oh dear, it seems we're late?"
Brother Zhang quickly unloaded the wooden buckets and tied the oxcart to a tree in the alley.
"The meat sauce buns are here!"
Wei Yuyan called out, and her regular customers all gathered around.
"Hey little sister, are you selling on Dragon Boat Festival? My husband is coming back that day, and I'd like to buy some for him to try."
"Yes, sister, these steamed buns are so delicious, I want to eat more of them."
Two regular customers bought steamed buns and stood by chatting.
"Auntie, sister, we'll come on Dragon Boat Festival. Oh, and we also have red bean rolls today."
It's especially sweet. If you have kids at home, you definitely have to buy some and try it. Here, have a taste.
Wei Yuyan took out a red bean paste roll and shared it with everyone.
"It really is! It's so sweet, like red bean cake. How much is it?"
"This is delicious, much better than big white steamed buns."
"Red bean paste rolls, one coin each, filled with red beans and white sugar. Only a few dozen available today, first come, first served."
Wei Yuyan shouted loudly, but the market was so crowded that no one could hear her unless she shouted loudly.
"I want five."
"I want six."
Instead of buying one by one, people started with three or four at a time.
So the red bean paste rolls sold out even before the steamed buns.
"Why didn't you prepare more?"
Customers who couldn't buy anything couldn't help but complain.
"Sorry, sorry, we will definitely prepare lots of red bean paste rolls on Dragon Boat Festival."
Wei Yuyan could only apologize to the guests.
The steamed buns sold out more slowly than usual today, but at least they're all gone.
Wei Yuyan was glad that she hadn't increased her orders. Today, everyone was drawn to the red bean paste rolls, so naturally fewer people bought steamed buns.
"Sold out, sister-in-law, what are your plans now?"
Brother Zhang drove the oxcart over, and everyone got on.
"I need to buy one and a half pounds of white sugar and two pounds of red beans."
Wei Yuyan wanted to buy the red beans and soak them tonight so she could make red bean paste tomorrow afternoon.
"Okay, I'll buy the meat I need for making steamed buns for the Dragon Boat Festival tomorrow, otherwise it won't keep in this weather."
Brother Zhang looked at the weather; it was getting hotter and hotter.
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