Chapter 9: Making Dumplings

After dinner, the family washed up and went to bed.

The night passed without incident.

The next morning, Mi Xia woke up Mo Zhixia and they got ready and went to eat breakfast. Their older brother had already left for work. After breakfast, Zhang Hongxia started making the dough while Mi Xia prepared the fillings.

One filling was pork and wild vegetables, the other was mushrooms, wood ear mushrooms, and eggs. She secretly added oyster sauce. After preparing the fillings, Mi Xia and Zhang Hongxia began making dumplings and buns.

Mo Zhixia and Mi Xiaohuan saw the dumpling wrappers on the table and their eyes curved into smiles. “Mom, I want to help you make dumplings!”

It was really just a desire to play. “Then you and your sister go wash your hands and come help.” Mi Xia smiled.

The two little girls rolled up their sleeves as they approached. “Auntie, Mom, we’re here!”

Mi Xiaohuan looked eager to try, and Mo Zhixia followed her sister excitedly.

“Xia Xia, come, Auntie will teach you how to make dumplings.” Zhang Hongxia intended to tease Mo Zhixia, but the little girl seriously began to learn.

“Mom, you’re biased! You’re teaching my sister but not me, humph!” Mi Xiaohuan looked indignant, making Mi Xia chuckle. Children were so amusing.

Zhang Hongxia laughed and pulled Mi Xiaohuan over to teach her as well. Mo Zhixia diligently made dumplings, but even with her best efforts, as a little girl of just over a year old, she soon started playing.

Mi Xiaohuan, however, was quite serious. Her first dumpling failed—she couldn’t seal the edges properly. Zhang Hongxia carefully showed her how to crimp the edges, and on her third attempt, she succeeded! Mi Xiaohuan was overjoyed.

“Sister, you’re so amazing!” Mo Zhixia said enviously, looking at the dumplings Mi Xiaohuan had made.

“Sister, can you teach me? I want to make a dumpling like that too.”

“Okay, Xia Xia, if you study hard, you can be as good as your sister!” Mi Xiaohuan answered without hesitation.

Mi Xia nodded in agreement. Mi Xiaohuan patiently taught Mo Zhixia, and the little girl studied diligently. Finally, on her tenth attempt, she succeeded, jumping up with joy.

After more than an hour of hard work, the dumplings were finally finished. Zhang Hongxia’s buns were almost ready too. Since Mi Xia didn’t know how to make buns, she learned from Zhang Hongxia after finishing the dumplings.

After cleaning up, Mi Xia checked the time. It was time to cook the dumplings. By the time they were ready, her brother and nephews should be home from work. The dumplings finally went into the pot, along with a steamer basket of buns.

Looking at the plump dumplings bobbing up and down in the boiling water, Mi Xia felt a sense of accomplishment. These were all made by her.

Soon, the aroma of dumplings filled the air, tempting Mi Xia’s appetite. She had always loved dumplings in her past life.

After adding water a few times, the dumplings were almost cooked.

Zhang Hongxia served the dumplings, placing them on the table to cool slightly; they were very hot straight from the pot.

When her three nephews returned, they saw the dumplings and jumped for joy. “Wow, we’re having dumplings today! We don’t even get this many dumplings during the New Year!”

Mi Xia felt a pang of sadness. In this era, it was difficult for ordinary people to eat their fill, let alone have so many dumplings. “Go wash your hands before you eat.”

The family sat down together at the table. “Little sister, don’t laugh, but our family hasn’t eaten dumplings in years.”

“Thanks to you, we’re able to eat pork dumplings and pork buns, and so much delicious food. Big brother, thank you.” A big man’s eyes welled up over a meal of dumplings.

“Brother, what are you saying? We’re family.” Mi Xia quickly interrupted Mi Qiu.

“That’s right, dear, little sister is right, we’re family.” Zhang Hongxia said earnestly.

Mi Xia sensed Zhang Hongxia’s sincerity. Perhaps when she first arrived, there had been some reservations. With so many children in the family and their own hardships, who would readily accept a younger sister-in-law and her children? It would only add to their already difficult lives.

It wasn’t her fault. In an era of hunger and poverty, gossip was rampant. The fact that Zhang Hongxia allowed her to stay was a testament to her kindness. It was simply the times, and poverty that caused the difficulties.

“Mom, it’s delicious!” Mi Xiaohuan said in a milky voice.

Mi Xia looked up at her brother again, and felt a pang of sadness seeing how slowly he was eating his dumplings. He was rationing himself.

He was eating slowly to eat less, so the children could have more.

“Big brother, eat more. There are plenty more in the pot. Everyone will have their fill.”

Mi Qiu ate faster after that. In the end, everyone rubbed their bellies, their faces filled with satisfied smiles.

Mi Xia, a modern woman, was content with this simple life. While there was no internet or cell phones, every day felt fulfilling. She had her daughters, her brother’s family, and her space. She felt a hopeful future, and she would create that future for those she loved.

In the afternoon, Mi Xia took a bowl of dumplings to give to the village head. He had helped her a lot while she was at Mo’s house, and she wanted to show her gratitude.

Putting the dumplings in a basket, she told her sister-in-law, and headed to the village head’s house.

As she neared, she also took out a wild chicken. Because she took a small path, and most people were in the fields, she didn’t meet anyone on the way.

“Is the village head home?” Mi Xia asked.

“Who’s there?” A woman’s voice came from inside.

“Auntie, it’s me, Mi Xia. I’ve come to bring the village head something, to thank him for his help to me and Xia Xia.”

“Oh, it’s Lao Si’s wife! Why so formal? Come in, come in.” The village head’s wife pulled Mi Xia into the courtyard.

After entering the house, Mi Xia handed the dumplings and chicken to the village head’s wife. “Auntie, we made dumplings at home, so I brought a bowl over. And this wild chicken, my brother hunted it in the mountains, so I brought that too.”

The village head’s wife smiled broadly at the gifts. “Such precious things! Take them back for Xia Xia to eat.”

“Auntie, Xia Xia has already eaten. This is especially for you.”

Seeing Mi Xia’s sincerity, the village head’s wife went to the kitchen and brought a bowl. Mi Xia poured the dumplings into the bowl and prepared to leave.

“Auntie, I won’t disturb you any longer. There’s still much to do at my brother’s house, so I’ll go now.”

Hearing this, the village head’s wife saw Mi Xia to the door. “Since you have things to do, I won’t keep you. Bring Xia Xia over to play sometime, I’ll make you something delicious.”

“Okay, Auntie. I’ll go now.”

“Be careful on your way.”

Mi Xia didn’t take it seriously. In these times, everyone treasured their food, so the village head’s wife was just being polite.