Chapter 40 : Oil-dregs Mustard Dumplings

Nangong Ruochen quickly finished cutting the fat, took the spoon from Yun Siying’s hand, and began stir-frying the fat in the pot. Yun Siying was only responsible for keeping the fire going. Though they didn’t speak much, there was an unspoken, seamless understanding between them.

The fat in the pot sizzled, and a rich aroma filled the entire room. Sunlight poured through the window, casting a golden glow over the warm, peaceful scene.

Once the fat had been rendered into oil, he scooped out the crispy residue and placed it in a basin. Seeing that the clay jar in the yard had dried, he poured the rendered oil into it and began boiling the second batch of fat. Luckily, all of it could be rendered in just two rounds.

While the second batch was cooking, he chopped up the crispy residue from the first batch on the cutting board. By the time the second pot of oil was ready, the first batch of residue had already been chopped and placed in a basin.

He scooped the freshly made crispy residue into another basin and poured the oil into the jar, which was now nearly full. Then he placed the jar in a shaded area, took out a basket, and said to Yun Siying, “Let’s go! I’ll take you to pick mustard greens.”

It was now mid-July. The sweltering summer heat enveloped the land, and the country roads shimmered with warmth. In the fields, golden crops stretched as far as the eye could see, looking like a lush green velvet carpet that swayed gently in the breeze. The air carried the scent of grass and trees , a fresh earthy fragrance that brought peace and calm.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves, scattering patches of light on the ground. The chirping of cicadas mingled with the songs of birds, composing a natural summer symphony. Along the path, wildflowers bloomed in abundance, their vibrant colors dotting the sea of green and evoking boundless daydreams.

In the distance, village homes peeked through the trees. Villagers worked diligently in the fields, their clothing soaked with sweat but their faces alight with simple, contented smiles. The rural scenery radiated vitality and the power of nature, as well as the hard work and resilience of the villagers.

The appearance of Nangong Ruochen and Yun Siying drew the attention of the people in the fields. Not only were both of them strikingly attractive, but Nangong Ruochen was known for his aloof, untouchable demeanor. Still, there was no denying that together, they looked like a perfect match like a “golden boy and jade girl.”

“Who’s that beautiful comrade walking with Comrade Nangong?” Wang Yunfeng perked up instantly, straightening his back and asking Li Hongying, who was working nearby.

“She’s probably the Comrade Yun from yesterday,” Li Hongying glanced toward them and replied, then bent down to resume her work.

“The same Comrade Yun who didn’t acknowledge the Li family yesterday? She’s gorgeous. But why is she walking with that stone-faced Comrade Nangong?” Wang Yunfeng looked disappointed.

“Comrade Nangong was standing next to her yesterday too. I heard they used to be neighbors in the same compound,” Li Hongying said, standing up to rub her sore back.

Unaware of this discussion, Nangong Ruochen took Yun Siying to a field where mustard greens were growing. Together, they picked the tenderest leaves, and before long, they had gathered one or two kilograms.

“That’s enough,” Yun Siying said. “We can’t eat too much, and in this heat, it won’t keep for long.”

Carrying about two kilograms of fresh, green mustard greens, Yun Siying looked toward the nearby mountains and forests and asked, “I wonder if there’s any game in the mountains?”

“There is deep in the mountains but it’s very dangerous. There are wolves, tigers, and blind bears. The villagers don’t dare go that far in. Closer to the edge of the forest, there are pheasants and rabbits, but they’re rare and really hard to catch,” Nangong Ruochen explained, noticing the sparkle in her eyes and speaking with concern.

Yun Siying glanced a few more times at the mountains and forests before returning to the Youth League courtyard with Nangong Ruochen. She scooped some white flour and cornmeal, then added an appropriate amount of water to knead the dough. While she kneaded, Nangong Ruochen washed the mustard greens by the well, drained them, chopped them finely, and placed them in a separate basin.

He then chopped half a pound of pork belly into minced meat and added it to the basin with the previously chopped crispy oil residue. He cracked in two eggs, added soy sauce, salt, chopped green onions, and the mustard greens, then mixed everything together evenly.

Yun Siying divided the dough into small pieces and rolled them into round dumpling wrappers, while Nangong Ruochen automatically began wrapping dumplings. The two of them worked together seamlessly.

Watching his skillful hands, she commented, “I didn’t expect you to know how to make dumplings and you make them so beautifully and quickly.”

“I learned from my mother since I was young. I always helped whenever she made dumplings. After a while, I naturally got faster,” Nangong Ruochen replied with a hint of nostalgia.

By the time they finished making the dumplings, it was already five in the afternoon. Seeing that Han Yuecheng and Chen Banghua hadn’t returned yet, Yun Siying asked, “When do Han Yuecheng and the others get off work?”

“There’s still about an hour. Let’s cook the dumplings now, they can cook some themselves when they get back,” Nangong Ruochen suggested, as he filled the pot with water, lit the fire, and waited for the water to boil.

“Let’s wait for them and eat together. It’ll taste better with more people,” Yun Siying said, feeling it would be inappropriate to eat first since they were all sharing a meal.

About an hour later, the educated youths returned from work. Among them were Han Yuecheng and Chen Banghua. As they walked into the courtyard, Nangong Ruochen said, “Siying and I made dumplings. We’ve been waiting for you to come back so we can eatthem.”

“Really? What a treat today!” Han Yuecheng’s eyes lit up at the mention of dumplings. He quickly rushed into his room, grabbed a clean change of clothes, and headed to the bathroom to wash up.

“You sure move fast when there’s food involved,” Chen Banghua said with a laugh, a step behind. He grabbed his clean clothes and walked past Nangong Ruochen’s window. Seeing so many golden dumplings inside, his face showed genuine surprise. Watching the boss cook the dumplings while Yun Siying made a chili dipping sauce beside him, the whole scene felt unexpectedly harmonious.

“Stand back. Don’t block the light,” Nangong Ruochen said irritably to the person loitering by the window.

“I’m leaving, I’m leaving.” Chen Banghua hurried away, intimidated by his boss’s glare.

The dumplings finished cooking, and the aroma wafted out. Han Yuecheng, who had already finished washing, smelled the scent and walked into the room, momentarily forgetting about his laundry. “It smells so good. I haven’t had dumplings in so long.”

Chen Banghua, still in the bathroom, caught a whiff of the rich meaty aroma and hurried his shower. He quickly dressed and rushed into the room. Seeing the four large bowls of dumplings on the table, he couldn’t help but swallow hard.

Other educated youths also caught the scent and grew envious. They glanced toward Nangong Ruochen’s room then looked down at their own meals, rice porridge in tin lunchboxes and steamed cornbread in their hands. While they ate in large bites, they continued to savor the mouthwatering aroma wafting through the air.