บท 21: Chapter 20: Making Their Lives Better
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The water in the pot boiled quickly, and there was still a bit of oil left in the earthenware jar—not much, just about half a spoonful. Xu Niannian directly scooped half a spoonful into the soup.
Xu Zhiqiang saw this, opened his mouth as if to say something, but ultimately didn't say anything at all.
The most important part of making noodle dumplings is the kneading of the dough. As a nationally renowned chef in her previous life, Xu Niannian naturally paid great attention to her food.
Under the right conditions, she would never cut corners.
This was a matter of respecting the food.
Therefore, when kneading the dough, Xu Niannian was particularly meticulous about her technique, kneading it clockwise 36 times, then counterclockwise 30 times, twisting it into a ball, and slamming it on the kneading board with skillful strength. Afterwards, she kept stretching and kneading it continuously.
To Xu Zhiqiang, this seemed purely like a superfluous action with no practical use.
After he finished washing the vegetables, Xu Niannian put them into the pot first and then began to tear the dough into pieces.
Noodle dumplings, as the name implies, don't have a uniform shape—they're just like little lumps.
Xu Niannian worked quickly and in no time had torn all the dough and thrown it into the pot.
The pork fat boiled with the greens, and the fragrance wafted out. When the noodle dumplings began to float, Xu Niannian immediately grabbed a handful of chopped green onions and threw them in, cooking out their aroma.
When the noodle dumplings float, it's time to turn off the heat. However, with a wood-burning stove, there's no way to simply turn it off, so Xu Niannian had Xu Zhiqiang lift the pot off the fire and set it aside.
Yang Cuihua watched as Xu Niannian used up all the white flour in the house to make noodle dumplings and felt a wrenching pain in her heart.
The family of six all sat around the dining table, and Yang Cuihua handed out bowls of noodle dumplings while complaining.
Feeling deeply pained and clutching at her chest, she could only lament, "Niannian, why don't you listen to your mother? You could've just eaten this yourself. Why did you have to make so much? Sigh..."
While speaking, Yang Cuihua couldn't help but let out another sigh.
Xu Niannian hurriedly comforted her, "Mom, don't worry, we'll make money tomorrow. Then Niannian will buy some more."
Xu Zhicheng's eyes were glued to the noodle dumplings in his bowl, his mouth watering, and Xu Duoyu also held his bowl with both hands, staring eagerly, swallowing his saliva over and over again.
Even Xu Dawei and Xu Zhiqiang couldn't help but move their mouths several times, just waiting for Yang Cuihua to finish her scolding so they could start eating.
This was white flour noodle dumplings, after all.
Used to eating rice bran every day, they only got to eat white flour noodle dumplings occasionally, during the New Year festivities, and the family had almost forgotten the taste of it.
Furthermore, in previous years during the New Year, it was coarse flour, not fine flour.
The white flour Xu Niannian used today to make the noodle dumplings was the best high-gluten flour, something they had never eaten before.
Seeing Yang Cuihua ready to continue her scolding, Xu Niannian quickly said, "Mom, I'm hungry, let's start eating."
As soon as Yang Cuihua heard Xu Niannian was hungry, she no longer felt like nagging and immediately called everyone to eat.
Almost the moment Yang Cuihua announced it was time to eat, everyone made their move.
Xu Duoyu slurped the noodle dumplings from his bowl, chewing loudly, holding the bowl and drinking the soup with a gurgling sound.
Xu Zhicheng wasn't any better, and the whole family ate their noodle dumplings heartily, their faces glowing with pleasure.
Xu Dawei was the first to finish, even drinking all the soup, leaving not a drop behind. Wiping his mouth, he thought, "This high-gluten flour is really something else, so satisfying to chew, and the surface is both soft and slick. One bite and your mouth is full of the taste of fine grains."
Xu Niannian received the largest share, but she couldn't finish it. Because Xu Duoyu was little, he got the smallest portion.
After Xu Dawei finished his, Xu Duoyu also finished his own and was still licking the bottom of his bowl when Xu Niannian gave him some from her own bowl.
Immediately, Yang Cuihua was displeased, "You accursed bunny brat, always eyeing your sister's food."
Startled by her shout, Xu Duoyu shivered, and Yang Cuihua even pretended to grab the chopsticks to hit him.
Xu Niannian quickly held Yang Cuihua back, saying with a headache, "Mom, why are you scaring Duoyu?"
Yang Cuihua retorted, "When did I scare him? I just want to beat him to death."
Xu Niannian was momentarily speechless.
That was a compelling reason.
"Mom, I just couldn't eat that much, so I gave some to Duoyu. Duoyu didn't even ask me for it. Please stop scaring him whenever you can."
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Yang Cuihua's lips moved several times, but she didn't argue with her daughter; instead, she glared fiercely at Xu Duoyu.
Scared, Xu Duoyu shivered again.
Xu Niannian saw everything but was unable to speak up.
It seemed that the mentality of her mother, so-called prime quality, had to be gradually reformed.
She saw clearly that when it came to their daughter's interests, her sons were all class enemies.
After being frightened by Yang Cuihua several times, Xu Duoyu dared not eat anymore. Clutching his bowl, he looked at Yang Cuihua with sad eyes brimming with tears, pursed lips, and dared not speak.
"Duoyu, be good. Come over to sister. Don't be afraid, mom is just scaring you, she won't hit you."
Xu Niannian directly took Xu Duoyu to sit next to her and coaxed him to eat.
Since she couldn't change Yang Cuihua's mindset right away, she could only try her best to be kinder to her brothers.
Xu Zhiqiang didn't speak from beginning to end, but his face was tightly drawn.
Xu Zhicheng also dared not speak much. After being coaxed by Xu Niannian for a while, Xu Duoyu finally began to eat, little by little.
Seeing him continue to eat, Xu Niannian showed a relieved smile.
It wasn't easy.
After eating, Xu Duoyu became a bit clingy to Xu Niannian and kept close to her wherever she went.
It seemed that only by Xu Niannian's side did he feel safe.
Even when Xu Niannian wanted to go to sleep, he wished to follow her into the room. Yang Cuihua tried to nag a few words but was stopped by Xu Niannian's gaze.
Seeing her daughter's pleading eyes, Yang Cuihua eventually held back and didn't curse.
With Xu Duoyu clinging to her, Xu Niannian had no choice but to sit on the stool with him in her arms, telling him stories until the little one fell asleep.
Finally, Xu Niannian breathed a sigh of relief and carefully carried Xu Duoyu towards the three brothers' room.
Xu Zhiqiang and Xu Zhicheng followed into the room as well.
Seeing that there was only one bed about one meter and twenty centimeters wide in the room, Xu Niannian was stunned.
The three brothers squeezed into such a tiny bed?
How could they sleep comfortably?
"Give Duoyu to me!" Xu Zhiqiang lifted the quilt, wanting to take Xu Duoyu.
Xu Niannian frowned, "Nevermind, let Duoyu sleep with me for now."
Although Xu Duoyu was a boy, he had just turned six, so it shouldn't be a problem.
Xu Niannian's words clearly stunned Xu Zhiqiang and Xu Zhicheng, who looked at her incredulously.
Isn't she the one who hates others touching her bed the most?
In the past, if Duoyu even brushed against her bed, he would be grabbed and hit for quite a while.
Xu Niannian didn't have time to consider Xu Zhiqiang and Xu Zhicheng's thoughts. Her arm was very sore now, so holding Xu Duoyu, she headed to her own room.
Xu Zhiqiang didn't even have a chance to stop her.
Before leaving, Xu Niannian also said, "Get up a bit earlier tomorrow, we'll go sell sweet soup together."
Finally putting Xu Duoyu on the bed, Xu Niannian couldn't help but shake her hand; it was really sore.
Looking at Xu Duoyu's rosy little face, Xu Niannian smiled softly.
It felt good. She too had a younger brother of her own now.
In the past, she always envied others for having siblings. And now, not only did she have them, but she suddenly had three.
She would definitely make sure they had a better life.
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