He mumbled inside his heart. He swore that he was definitely going to become someone accomplished in the future.
At that time, he would return the favor and more importantly, take his revenge!
He was not going to live the rest of his life as a useless person.
When Qiao Xuan and Shao Yunduan were back home, the glutinous dumplings were already steaming.
The dumplings were put in a large iron pot, covered with a heavy wooden lid, and cooked on the stove. Some of the steam was escaping the lid, spreading the aroma of fresh grass and leaves in the whole room.
It was festival time and everyone was craving the dumplings, which were eaten only once a year.
They did not even eat lunch, and instead waited for the dumplings.
Seeing them returning, Ms. Fang opened the lid and scooped out some large ones for them to eat.
Meat dumplings, pork ribs dumplings, bean dumplings, eight-treasure dumplings, and alkaline water dumplings were marked when they were being wrapped. The length and number of straw cores in each kind of dumpling were different, so it was easy to distinguish.
Shao Taotao and Qiao Xuan helped open the dumplings. The dumplings were cut into pieces with the straw core that bound them, before they were placed on the plate.
The shining dumplings looked beautiful and smooth in appearance, and when they were twisted open, the aroma of rice, meat, or sweetness inside was mouth-watering and attractive.
“The meat dumplings smell so great!”
“I want meat dumplings too, they look so delicious!”
Ms. Fang smiled. “Alright, alright, we have a large number of them. Eat as many as you want!”
She had money and could afford to make those dumplings.
It was a festival and they should all be happy during this period.
Long strips of pork belly and large ribs had been marinated with five-spice powder, soy sauce, shredded ginger, green onion, cooking wine, etc last night. They were wrapped in the dumplings and boiled for nearly two hours. The bones could be easily broken in one bite.
Mixed with the fragrance of glutinous rice soaked and boiled in alkaline water, the dumplings were really delicious.
They had never eaten meat dumplings before. This year’s food was really sumptuous.
After the glutinous dumplings, they ate a few fresh bayberries and loquats to relieve tiredness, which was perfect.
Among the fruit trees transplanted in Qiao Xuan’s garden, the bayberry, loquat, and plum did not fall out. A lot of them were left on the tree. They were now ripe, so Qiao Xuan brought a few young ones to the yard to pick the fruits. It was a lively scene.
Everyone was amazed, saying that it was not a wasteland. It was obviously a treasure land. Not only was the sweet spring water dug up, but also the fruit trees and gastrodia elata were growing very well.
The fruits tasted so sweet!
At night, Qiao Xuan cooked the food.
She had pickles at home, and really wanted to make a bowl of pickled fish today, so she took Shao Xiaoqi and Shao Taotao to go fishing in the river in the afternoon.
They held fishing poles in their hands, which were brought by Shao Sanlang from somewhere.
Shao Yunduan also went fishing with them.
Shao Sanlang came back with a fishing rod two days ago and had been shouting ever since to go fishing with them. But when the time came, he was nowhere to be seen.
“Where is Third Brother? He was here just a while ago!” Shao Xiaoqi was confused.
Shao Taotao shook her head, looking bemused as well.
Qiao Xuan thought for a while and burst into laughter. She said to Shao Yunduan, “I have an idea…”
Shao Yunduan was startled and smiled. “Just leave him alone.”
He would be very careful about it.
“Yes!” Qiao Xuan nodded with a smile. “Let’s go!”
Shao Xiaoqi and Shao Taotao were confused about what was happening, but were extremely motivated to go fishing.
“We are going fishing!”
It was alright even if Third Brother wasn’t with them.