Chapter 34 (Dumplings)

After finishing the meal, Xiao Huaiting mentioned why he came—to thank Yan Qiushu.

Though he didn’t specify in front of the children, it was clear that his thanks were important. He also gave her many gifts from Jinzhou to show his gratitude.

Yan Qiushu felt it was a bit too much for just sharing some information. After all, she thought a good rest was what he needed most after a long journey. But she didn’t say anything. As it was late, Xiao Huaiting left with the children.

Yan Qiushu returned to her room to take a bath and rest, and she slept more soundly than she had in days.

Xiao Huaiting’s return brought happiness to the Xiao family for the next couple of days. But no one was happier than Xiao Huaiting himself.

Mrs. Xiao, who had been sickly, started eating on her own, enjoying a snack called “spicy strips.” She ate regularly now, and as a reward, she was allowed two extra spicy strips each day.

Because of these spicy snacks, she had been eating better than ever, and her health was visibly improving. Her sunken cheeks were filling out again, making her look ten years younger.

From Yan Qiushu’s point of view, it seemed like a weight had been lifted off Mrs. Xiao’s shoulders, and she was no longer depressed.

But the Xiao family didn’t talk about it much, and Yan Qiushu acted like she didn’t notice.

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With Xiao Huaiting back, Xiao Huaiwu also visited more often. They both frequently visited Yan Qiushu’s place to eat for free, though Xiao Huaiwu was often teased for bringing her son along too.

Even though she got teased, Xiao Huaiwu always came with gifts, like jewelry or the latest beauty products from the capital. Once it was discovered that Yan Qiushu wasn’t into makeup, they began making clothes for her instead.

Yan Qiushu liked this, and her wardrobe grew quickly. Though she had arrived with little more than seasonings, her closet was now filled with new clothes.

Meanwhile, the Qiao family couldn’t pay a fine, so the entire family—along with others involved—was either killed or exiled. Hundreds of people were affected, shaking the atmosphere in the capital before the New Year.

But heavy snowstorms hit during this time, making it impossible to go out. Yan Qiushu stayed indoors and wasn’t affected by the troubles outside.

As the New Year approached, time seemed to pass quickly. With regular meals, Yan Qiushu noticed that Xiao Huaiting, who had lost weight, was now filling out again.

On New Year’s Eve, every house was decorated with bright lights, red lanterns, and couplets, along with door gods pasted on the doors.

Interestingly, the couplets that were visible outside were written by Shen Pingyu, who took great pride in them. The boy looked quite handsome, standing confidently at his desk, writing as if he were a general on his own battlefield. His handwriting was stunning.

Yan Qiushu repeatedly praised him, which made Dongdong want to write too. Under his lead, Wan’er also joined in. As a result, Shen Pingyu was in charge of the couplets outside, while Dongdong and Wan’er were responsible for the inner courtyard, including Yan Qiushu’s yard.

After pasting the couplets, making dumplings became the next essential activity. Since Yan Qiushu was strongly requested by the Xiao family to join them for the New Year’s Eve dinner, she decided to get everyone involved in making dumplings. To her surprise, the family enthusiastically agreed, and before she knew it, everything was set up.

Nanny Huang invited all the family members to Mrs. Xiao’s courtyard. Several charcoal stoves warmed the living room, and the temperature was just right with open windows. Everyone rolled up their sleeves to work. Two tables were put together as a workbench, with flour and dough neatly arranged. Xiao Huaiting was kneading the dough while Aunt Xu and Shui Yu helped to roll it, and the others focused on making dumplings.

Yan Qiushu, being quite skilled, made dumplings in unique shapes while others stuck to traditional ones. She would rotate the dumpling in her hands, creating new designs each time, which amazed the children. When she noticed their curiosity, she pulled out some pearls from a box and wrapped them in the dumplings, saying, “I hid six pearls in the dumplings. Whoever eats the most pearls will be the lucky star this year!”

The pearls were a part of a gift from Xiao Huaiting. 

Dongdong patted his belly confidently. “I’m going to be the lucky star!” he declared.

Wan’er’s eyes lit up. “Me too!” she said eagerly.

Shen Pingyu, uninterested at first, showed no reaction until Yan Qiushu pointed to a flower-shaped dumpling she secretly made for him. “This one’s for you, Pingyu,” she whispered. Shen Pingyu’s eyes sparkled with joy, but he maintained his composure and politely thanked her.

Dongdong and Wan’er wanted to try making dumplings themselves. Xiao Huaiwu quickly handed them the dumplings she made, trying to avoid the task. However, Dongdong held one up and, seeing the overstuffed filling, frowned, saying, “Mom, you gave it to me after ruining it!”

Xiao Huaiwu put her hands on her hips, retorting, “So what? Just pinch it back!” Mrs. Xiao scolded her, so she quieted down. Xie Qingyun praised the dumplings she made, and Xiao Huaiqi, sitting in a wheelchair, agreed.

Mrs. Xiao looked at the yuan-bao dumplings she made under Yan Qiushu’s guidance. They were chubby and cute on the table, which seemed to bring back memories. She fondly recalled making dumplings for her husband long ago, and how he ate so many that he groaned from being too full. Her second son used to love them the most…

The atmosphere turned somber, and Xiao Huaiting suddenly hit the dough hard on the table with a loud “pop,” startling everyone. He smiled and innocently said, “What’s wrong? I’m just trying to make the dough stronger.” Mrs. Xiao scolded him, telling him not to waste food.

Smiling, he nodded and turned to Yan Qiushu. “Can you make some vegetarian dumplings?” he asked. Although surprised, Yan Qiushu agreed and started preparing black fungus dumplings with him. As they walked out, she remembered the Xiao family’s fifth young lady, who had not come home from the Taoist temple, even for New Year’s.

Once the dumplings were made, Aunt Xu and Shui Yu took over the cooking. They planned to eat them for lunch, as Xiao Huaiting had to attend the New Year’s Eve dinner at the palace later. Eating dumplings slowly at that time would be impossible.

There were many types of dumplings with different fillings. People without dietary restrictions mixed them all, while those with preferences chose only what they liked. Yan Qiushu loved them all and filled her bowl with two of each.

The cooked dumplings had smooth skins and steamed hot from the soup. When she bit into one with leeks and shrimp, she could taste the tender shrimp and slightly sweet winter leeks, enhanced by her homemade spices. To add more flavor, she dipped the dumplings in a special sauce of chili oil made from Sichuan peppercorns and cornus officinalis, along with soy sauce and vinegar, creating a spicy, savory, and sour taste that complemented the filling.