Chapter 103: Making Dumplings, Long-Legged Birds, and Firecrackers

After the team leader and the others left, Ming Dai and Zhou Sinian locked the door and entered the space.

The two of them went to harvest some leeks first. They had already cut the leeks twice from two long rows. They had eaten leek-filled pastries several times and stored the remaining ones in the warehouse to keep them fresh.

Once they finished harvesting the leeks, they brought chairs outside to bask in the sun.

Zhou Sinian continued knitting a sweater while Ming Dai picked more leeks, planning to make leek dumplings for lunch.

Zhou Sinian knitted quickly, with one sleeve almost finished. He even pretended to measure it on Ming Dai, then nodded in satisfaction and resumed knitting.

Ming Dai thought of him in the role of a mother and couldn’t help but giggle.

Zhou Sinian looked at her in confusion, not understanding what had just happened.

Ming Dai waved her hand and gestured for him to continue, then turned her gaze toward the grassy field.

The two cows had already settled down to lie down and had successfully left a pile of manure. Zhou Sinian didn’t want to shovel it, so Ming Dai went ahead and did it.

At that moment, the two cows kept chewing and seemed to be in good spirits.

By noon, Ming Dai prepared the filling, while Zhou Sinian made the dough and rolled out the skins. They worked in perfect harmony, boiling two large pots of dumplings: one with leek and egg, and the other with sauerkraut and pork.

Zhou Sinian, being a meat lover, ate the sauerkraut and pork dumplings, while the leek and egg ones served as a way to refresh the palate.

Ming Dai lay on the sofa, holding her full belly: “In the afternoon, let’s make all the dumplings. The New Year is coming soon. If we make them now, we won’t have to worry about it later.

I’ll make you extra dumplings with just meat, like pork and scallions. We can also make dumplings with celery, which are really tasty.

I’ll make leek and egg dumplings, and spinach and egg dumplings. It’s a shame I don’t have shepherd’s purse seeds, so we’ll have to wait until next spring for those.

As for eggs, we need to raise chickens. Otherwise, once we run out of eggs, what will we eat?

If only we had ducks or geese… Imagine a big goose stew in an iron pot! It would smell so delicious!”

As soon as Zhou Sinian heard about food, his eyes sparkled with excitement: “Sounds great! Yes, let’s do it!”

Ming Dai smiled and said, “Let’s wait until spring and see if Aunt Huang can help us find some chicks. We can raise a few, and we can also check the black market to see if there are any for sale. We’ll buy more and keep them in the space.”

Zhou Sinian thought for a moment and asked, “In the summer, there are long-legged birds by the river. Are those tasty?”

Ming Dai paused for a moment, her hand still on her belly. “What long-legged birds?”

Zhou Sinian described them: “They have really long legs, and their heads are red. They also like wearing red scarves.”

!!!!

What long-legged birds? Those are red-crowned cranes! Red-crowned cranes!!

“No, no, no, you can’t eat them! Absolutely not! Those are divine birds, do you understand?!!”

Zhou Sinian didn’t understand. “Why not? They look like they should be delicious. I want to try them.”

Ming Dai shook her head wildly. “No! You don’t want to! They’re not tasty at all. Really, they’re not!

They are birds raised by immortals. If we eat them, the immortals will punish us. What if they take away their divine home? Then, won’t we starve?!”

Upon hearing this, Zhou Sinian immediately grew tense. “We can’t eat them! Definitely not! I’ll keep an eye on them and make sure no one else eats them!”

Once he had abandoned the idea, Ming Dai breathed a sigh of relief.

Can red-crowned cranes be eaten?

In her previous life, she couldn’t even protect them, and now she was supposed to eat one? Ming Dai felt the pressure mounting. She decided it was better to just admire them and not do anything foolish!

(Everyone has a responsibility to protect animals!)

In the afternoon, Ming Dai mixed the filling while Zhou Sinian rolled out the dough. Once he became skilled at it, he was able to roll out two dumpling skins at the same time, and his speed was as fast as an assembly line.

Luckily, they had a food processor and a meat grinder, or their hands would have been sore from all the work.

While she worked on the dumplings, Ming Dai thought to herself that both she and Zhou Sinian were food lovers. The two of them, both obsessed with food, had found themselves working hard just to make it.

In the end, looking at the shelves in the warehouse filled with trays of dumplings, Ming Dai couldn’t help but feel that, despite the exhaustion, she was both happy and tired.

That evening, the team leader and the others returned just before dark.

“Xiao Ming, here’s the money from selling the vegetables. Take it!”

Ming Dai took the money and counted it—fifty yuan in total.

Zhou Sinian stretched his neck to look at it, and Ming Dai handed him the money without a second thought.

Liu Dazhu and Liu Laosan were both thrilled. Just two baskets of mushrooms had brought in fifty yuan! How much did they even earn from a whole year of hard labor?

Their expectations for next year’s winter vegetable planting grew even higher!

Ming Dai then asked Zhou Sinian for ten yuan and handed it to the brigade leader. “Brigade leader, we’ve been using the village’s cart every day. Take this ten yuan to cover the cost of the wear and tear.”

Liu Dazhu waved his hand. “No need, no need. We even got a free meal in the county town. Secretary Wang told us to eat lunch before coming back. We even had mushroom meat at noon—it was so delicious!”

Ming Dai smiled and pushed the money into his hand. “It’s just ten yuan, and there won’t be any more in the future.”

She gave the money partly as a gesture of appreciation for Liu Dazhu and Liu Laosan’s efforts. But more importantly, with the village planning to grow vegetables next year, people would inevitably find out that her produce had already been sent to the county. If she didn’t contribute even a small amount to the village, it would seem like a personal venture rather than something benefiting the collective.

The ten yuan was also meant to silence the nosy villagers—especially the educated youths in the front courtyard.

 Anyway, the villagers wouldn’t know how much Ming Dai had earned, and Liu Dazhu and the others wouldn’t talk about it. If they had, it would have spread by now.

When vegetable prices dropped next year, the 10 yuan would be just right and wouldn’t cause any jealousy among the villagers.

Liu Dazhu understood this as well and took the money. “Alright, Xiao Ming, I’ll take it. From now on, you don’t need to ask. I’ll deliver the vegetables on time.”

Ming Dai asked, “Have you met with any leaders from the county recently? Did they say the vegetables are good?”

Liu Dazhu gave Ming Dai a thumbs up. “They all praised them! They said the leeks and yellow leeks were extremely fresh and tender. The mushrooms were also delicious, and the stir-fried pork was a standout. People who usually don’t eat at the canteen have been going there for every meal.

They’re all praising us in Liujiawan for having someone talented like you. Many of the leaders want to reserve next year’s fresh vegetables from our village.

The commune has already started the approval process, so next autumn, we’ll begin building the vegetable houses.”

Ming Dai’s eyes flashed slightly. “Who have you been getting along with lately? Who are you close to?”

Liu Dazhu scratched his tobacco pouch and said, “I have the best relationship with Chef Zhou. He’s very enthusiastic about the vegetables, and then there’s Secretary Cheng. He always smiles when he sees me and actively greets us.”

Ming Dai nodded thoughtfully and replied, “Uncle, next time I send the vegetables, I’d like to go to the county town again. Do you think it’s convenient?”

Liu Dazhu seemed a bit puzzled. “What do you need to go to the county town for? It’s even colder on the road now, you’ll freeze.”

Ming Dai pointed to Zhou Sinian. “Do you remember those bicycle parts we got before? He’s assembled a bicycle, but it’s missing some parts, so we need to go to the county town again. The commune’s waste station probably doesn’t have them.”

Liu Dazhu looked at Zhou Sinian, who was counting the money, in surprise. “He can do that?”

Ming Dai nodded. “Don’t be fooled by how he acts now. He’s actually very clever. Just look at how well he’s knitting this sweater.”

Liu Dazhu glanced over at the sweater by the stove and nodded. “That’s true. Your aunt can’t even knit something like that.”

He nodded again. “Alright, if you’re going, I won’t go. You can just take the vegetables to Chef Zhou directly.”

Ming Dai agreed. “Alright. Then I’ll have to trouble Grandpa Laosan to pick me up.”

Liu Laosan nodded. “No problem, Xiao Ming. By the way, I checked the post office, but there’s no letter for you.”

Ming Dai nodded. “Alright, we can stop by the commune on the way and check again.”

Liu Laosan agreed.

After they left, the two of them continued to relax on the heated brick bed.

Ming Dai held up the sweater, examining it. It fit perfectly and was ready to wear soon.

Zhou Sinian, on the other hand, was lying on the bed table, seriously counting the money. He went through it again and again, eventually dividing it into two equal parts. He pushed one pile toward Ming Dai and put the other in his own shirt pocket.

Ming Dai, curious, asked, “You know how to count money?”

Zhou Sinian took the sweater from her hands and continued knitting. “Of course, I’m clever!”

Ming Dai raised an eyebrow. “What do you even need money for? You don’t even know how to spend it. Just give it to me.”

Zhou Sinian said seriously, “I’m saving it. My money is useful, so spend yours first.”

Ming Dai couldn’t help but laugh in frustration. “So, your money is useful, but mine isn’t?”

Zhou Sinian, feeling a bit embarrassed, looked at her out of the corner of his eye. “I need money to send something to someone.”

Ming Dai’s eyes lit up. “Who? Is it for the person you’re receiving a package from?”

Zhou Sinian shook his head, a hint of melancholy in his expression. “No… I just remember that I need to send something, but I forgot to whom. I know it’s not for him, but I haven’t figured out who it’s for yet. I’m sure I will remember, so I need to save up for it.”

Ming Dai felt a bit disappointed. “Well, keep saving then. After all, the vegetables we grew are for both of us. It’s only fair we each get half. I’ll give you half of the money from last time, too.”

Zhou Sinian silently stared at her for a while. Suddenly, he let out a light sigh, stopped knitting, sat up, and, without warning, reached out and patted her head. “You’re good. Don’t be mad. From now on, all the money I earn will be for you.”

Ming Dai was stunned, completely caught off guard by his action. She stared at him, confused.

Seeing that she didn’t respond, Zhou Sinian took a piece of candy from his pocket. After unwrapping it, he pressed it between her lips and teeth, forcing it into her mouth.

Ming Dai still hadn’t reacted. She had the candy in her mouth, her lips half-open, and some saliva trickled down.

Zhou Sinian hesitated for a moment, then reached out to wipe it off her face, rubbing it onto her clothes.

“Really, from now on, I’ll give you all the money I earn. Don’t be mad, okay? Be good, I care about you.”

Ming Dai’s face turned bright red, and she quickly swallowed the candy, almost choking on it.

“Cough, cough, cough!”

She buried her face in the pile of blankets behind her, feeling like she was burning up from embarrassment!

She wasn’t jealous at all!!!

Where did Zhou Sinian learn all these things?!

Who taught him how to sweet-talk people!?

Zhou Sinian looked at Ming Dai, who had buried her head in the blankets and hadn’t come out for a while. He scratched his head in confusion.

He remembered how Goudan’s mom used to comfort him like this.

Goudan always seemed happy when she did it, so was Ming Dai happy or not?

Because of this misunderstanding, Ming Dai didn’t press Zhou Sinian further about who he needed to send a package to. The two of them awkwardly stayed together until dinner time, when the atmosphere finally lightened again.

Ming Dai developed a little hesitation around Zhou Sinian’s newfound way with words.

In the following days, Ming Dai and Zhou Sinian spent their time in the space, making all kinds of delicious foods in preparation for the New Year.

At the same time, Ming Dai began preparing for the acupuncture treatment she planned for him, hoping it would help him remember who he needed to send a package to.

Zhou Sinian lay in the bathtub, holding an umbrella over his upper body while covering his lower half with another. He was thoroughly shielded from view.

The murky black medicinal water enveloped him entirely, leaving only his head exposed. The steam from the water spread under the umbrella, causing his cheeks to flush with a subtle redness.

Ming Dai knocked on the door. Zhou Sinian shifted slightly, adjusting the umbrella to cover himself better. “Come in.”

Ming Dai kept her gaze steady, carrying a small bucket of freshly boiled medicinal water. She carefully poured it into the bathtub. “How do you feel?”

Zhou Sinian’s voice sounded muffled. “A little itchy?”

Ming Dai nodded. “That’s normal. The herbs are working. Just soak for another fifteen minutes, and you’ll be done.”

Zhou Sinian responded obediently, curling up in the tub. His head slowly emerged from the water to look at Ming Dai, his face flushed and beads of sweat rolling down his cheeks. His bright eyes were striking against his pale skin, giving him a fragile, delicate beauty. The contrast between this image and his usual, upright demeanor made him seem more vulnerable, evoking a strange urge to tease him.

Tease him? Not a chance!

Ming Dai quickly pushed the strange thought out of her mind, reminding Zhou Sinian not to fall asleep and to rinse off after soaking before drinking the medicine. In her haste, she ran out, completely forgetting to take the medicine bowl with her.

Zhou Sinian moved his wrist, spinning the umbrella. The edge skimmed the surface of the water, creating ripples.

Lately, he had been taking a lot of medicine, and he wasn’t happy about it.

Outside the villa, Ming Dai adjusted the temperature to cool her face down.

It was all Zhou Sinian’s fault!

If it hadn’t been for his earlier misunderstanding, she wouldn’t have had those random, ridiculous thoughts and ended up in this awkward situation.

She couldn’t help but think it was probably because she had been too frustrated lately, which made her overthink things!

She decided she’d need to drink two bowls of cooling medicine that night to get rid of the heat in her body.

Later that evening, seeing Ming Dai gulping down a bowl of bitter soup, Zhou Sinian felt a little better. He tilted his head back and swallowed his own medicine.

Both of them stuck their tongues out at the bitterness, making faces at each other, and they couldn’t help but burst into laughter at the sight of each other’s silly expressions.