While she was at it, Aunt Li dug out some wild hazel mushrooms that she had dried herself. She took a handful and soaked them in hot water. She would wash them later and stew them with the roe deer. This way, they would not only be more nutritious, but the roe deer meat would also be more fragrant.
The other pot wasn't idle either. The eldest daughter-in-law's cooking skills have always been the best among the daughters-in-law, so she made braised pork ribs and put them in the big pot to simmer slowly over low heat.
The two main dishes are almost ready. Just be careful not to let the water boil dry and burn the pot.
As the sun gradually set and evening approached, the courtyard was filled with a delicious aroma. The enticing smell of meat could be smelled from every corner. Several of the younger grandchildren were peering at the two large pots at the kitchen door, their mouths practically watering.
Aunt Li estimated that it was about time, so she started leading everyone in the kitchen to chop meat, mix fillings, and knead dough. Once the dough was ready, they immediately rolled it out into dumpling wrappers of moderate thickness, and everyone pitched in to make dumplings.
Rows of thin-skinned, generously filled dumplings were quickly laid out on the bamboo mat. Mao Mao and her sister Xiu Xiu squatted at the kitchen door, looking at the plump, fragrant dumplings, their smiles wide and wide.
"Sister, look! Dumplings, the kind we only eat during Chinese New Year!"
Xiuxiu was only a little over a year older than Mao Mao, and seeing so much delicious food, she couldn't stay calm and whispered, "Yeah, there's more meat in the dumplings we eat during Chinese New Year."
Xiuxiu was much more observant. When her aunt started chopping the meat, she noticed with her sharp eyes that there was much more meat on the cutting board than when they made dumplings for the New Year. On the contrary, there was not much shepherd's purse. At a glance, the large bowl for mixing the filling was full of meat.
Mao Mao nodded vigorously, seemingly about to drool again.
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