Chapter 150: Chapter 150 Making Dumplings Chapter 150: Chapter 150 Making Dumplings “Sister, I’ll go and get some meat. Let’s just make dumplings for lunch. We have to prepare something nice for big brother when he gets back. After I get the meat, I’ll stop by godmother’s to get some chives or fennel from her field. Let’s make two kinds of dumplings,” said Bai Xiao, glancing at the grain supply.
Bai Yue had returned with her three nephews just a few days ago, and Li Chunmei and her husband had already brought over three bags of grain, remarkably one of white flour and two of cornmeal, each weighing over 100 pounds. The neighborhood watch Director Li Guoqing also delivered two bags of grain in the middle of the night, one of white flour and one of cornmeal. This act of kindness was significant— all five bags together added up to five or six hundred pounds.
Bai Xiao, of course, knew that this was their way of repaying her kindness. Although they didn’t say so explicitly, it was all because she had saved Li Guoqing and Liu Baoguo’s daughter, Liu Hong, back in the day. Although both families were well-off, this was essentially them giving her free grain. With this grain, they had enough to last them until after the New Year. If they could hold out until then, their pigs would be ready for market, and they would certainly have the extra money to buy more grain.
She naturally did not refuse the two families’ good intentions. Solve it on her own?
Taking care of three children, who were all half-grown and starving, meant that grain was precisely what was needed. It would be downright foolish to fake modesty and decline their offer.
Villagers were simple folks. If you saved their life and then refused their grateful repayment, they might think you looked down on them.
She took it graciously, knowing there would be plenty of opportunities to repay their kindness in the future.
Bai Xiao wasn’t burdened by this at all, but Bai Yue hadn���t slept well for several days, feeling as though she owed them a huge favor.
Bai Yue nodded, “You go and get some money from the chest on the kang bed. Cut a generous amount of meat. Since Commander An is here today as well, let’s have a hearty meal as if it were New Year’s,” Bai Yue said while sweeping the kang and laying out the sleeping mats.
Bai Xiao nodded. She took five yuan from her own money, not touching Bai Yue’s, thinking it was better to leave her sister’s money for any emergency that might arise.
After leaving the house and reaching the entrance of the village, they encountered the village’s renowned butcher Zhang’s home.
Coincidentally, the village committee’s loudspeaker had been announcing all day that Butcher Zhang had slaughtered a pig and those in the village who wanted pork should go to the entrance to buy it.
On ordinary days, even fantasizing about eating meat was unlikely.
Even if the village held a large market every so often, there was never that much meat to sell.
One could only hope to indulge in some after several busy months when someone in the village slaughtered a pig.
Today was a stroke of good luck.
Butcher Zhang, of course, did not slaughter the pig to sell to these villagers. People here lived frugally and wouldn’t spend money on meat unless it was the New Year or a festival. His pork was actually meant for a wedding in the neighboring village, where folks were quite generous and had bought two whole pigs in one go.
Of course, they had asked Butcher Zhang to slaughter the pigs, and he was given all the offal and trimmings, which the generous family didn’t want.
However, the cook there thought there was too much meat, especially since they had also procured beef and mutton. So, Zhang thought of bringing back twenty pounds of pork. Once announced on the village loudspeaker, it was enough for those who wished to enjoy a little luxury.
When Bai Xiao arrived, she asked for three pounds of pork, choosing a piece with a good mix of fat and lean. Butcher Zhang was very polite—after all, Bai Xiao was the only college graduate in the village and the village chief’s adopted daughter. Could he be anything but extra courteous?
He adamantly refused to take Bai Xiao’s money, insisting she just take the meat home to eat.
But Bai Xiao couldn’t accept that. She pulled out the money from her pocket and insisted on leaving it with Butcher Zhang.
The two pushed back and forth until finally Zhang the butcher accepted the money, and gave Bai Xiao a set of pork tripe and intestines for free; if she didn’t take them, he wouldn’t sell her any meat.
Left with no choice, Bai Xiao could only accept it.
She made a detour to Li Chunhua’s house. Li Chunhua’s vegetable garden was right behind their house, separated by just a wall, very convenient.
Li Chunhua was in the yard feeding chickens.
Seeing Bai Xiao approaching with a basket, she smiled and said, “You girl, where are you off to with that?”
“Godmom, isn’t it because my brother came back? We plan to make dumplings at noon, and I want you, goddad, and Liu Hong, the three of you, to come over for lunch. I’m thickening my face to ask for some chives and fennel from you,” Bai Xiao said without any embarrassment, knowing well after these days of being together that Liu Baoguo’s family were actually quite nice people.
Li Chunhua took a sickle, “Oh, spare me the talk. It’s not easy for your brother to come back and have a meal of dumplings. Now you even invited our family of three over. Isn’t that like slapping your goddad and godmom in the face?” She led Bai Xiao to the vegetable garden, and swiftly cut a big bunch of chives and fennel.
“Godmom, what are you talking about? I took out 3 pounds of pork, we’re practically celebrating New Year’s in advance. The day after tomorrow, I’ll be leaving, so just think of the meal as a farewell. It’s livelier when everyone eats together. It so happens that my goddad always complains about not having a drinking buddy. With my brother and Director An here, we can prepare some liquor for them later. I’ll stir-fry some peanuts, perfect to go with the drinks.
Moreover, don’t they say the more you eat dumplings and drink wine, the better it gets? You can’t miss out. My sister and I will definitely wrap those dumplings for you. If you don’t come, I’ll have to bring them over myself,” Bai Xiao threatened Li Chunhua straightforwardly.
Li Chunhua gave Bai Xiao a stare, putting the chives and fennel in her own basket, “Look at you, acting all important. Fine, we’ll come over for lunch. When someone invites you over for a meal and you don’t go, that’s just foolish. I’ll have Liu Hong bring the vegetables over for you, so she can help out too. I’ll finish up with what I’m doing and then head over with your goddad. As for the liquor, we have some at home, no need to go to the village entrance to get it. Later, I’ll ask your goddad to carry a couple of bottles over.”
“Liu Hong, Liu Hong, come out! Bai Xiao is here, go help her wrap dumplings.” Li Chunhua had already called out for Liu Hong in a loud voice.
Liu Hong came out, took the basket from her mother, and hooking arms with Bai Xiao said with a smile, “Let’s go, are we making dumplings? Wow, it’s not even a holiday, and your family is actually making dumplings?”
“My brother has come back. We’re having dumplings at my place for lunch. Come on, help me with the work,” Bai Xiao led Liu Hong back home.
Once home, she found a basin and started soaking the pork tripe and intestines.
Bai Yue had finished tidying up the house and was surprised to see the tripe and intestines, “Why did you buy these things? They’re tough to handle and if they’re not cooked well, they can smell very gamey.” She rolled up her sleeves, ready to chop the meat filling.
At that time, there were no meat grinders; if a family wanted to make a batch of dumplings, one would have to spend a whole morning chopping on a cutting board.
Liu Hong, holding the basket, found a basin and began picking vegetables, “Big sister, I plan to freeload for lunch at your place.”
Bai Yue laughed, “I’m more afraid you’ll eat me out of house and home.”
Everyone shared a laugh.
Bai Xiao took out some cornmeal and carefully washed the pork tripe and intestines. If not cleaned properly, they would indeed smell gamey. People in the village generally didn’t bother with such things because although they yielded a lot of meat, the hassle of preparing them, let alone the waste and effort involved, was hardly worth it.
It was much less trouble to just eat a piece of pork.