noffsinger Chapter 149 Cabbage Dumplings
Chapter 149 Cabbage Dumplings
The snow fell thick and fast, seemingly without end, continuing for a full day and night without any sign of stopping. The outside world was now completely covered in a thick blanket of snow, resembling a fairytale world draped in silver.
Inside, the eldest son of the Su family hurriedly added firewood to the stove, and soon the fire was blazing, warming the entire house. The children, meanwhile, lay comfortably in their warm blankets, engrossed in their books, enjoying this rare moment of peace.
Meanwhile, the hardworking young woman quickly dressed and carefully wrapped her head in a scarf before preparing breakfast for the family. She skillfully picked up a cleaver and chopped the fresh cabbage into even pieces, then expertly made hand-pulled noodles. As the small pot on the stove bubbled and boiled, the young woman unhesitatingly poured the chopped cabbage and freshly made noodles into the pot. With each simmer, a fragrant aroma quickly filled the air.
Just then, the eldest son of the Su family came out of the house with a shovel and began shoveling snow in the yard. Seeing this, Miss Leng quickly put down her work, wanting to help clear the snow, but the eldest son of the Su family hurriedly waved her hand to stop her: "It's too cold today! You should go back inside! Don't catch a cold!"
Miss Leng felt a warmth in her heart and said gently, "Then you should go back inside and rest. Don't keep working here and getting tired." However, the eldest son of the Su family just smiled slightly and replied, "It's alright. I just need to shovel all the snow out of the yard. You should go back inside and warm up!" Hearing this, Miss Leng could only nod gently and say, "Alright then." Then she obediently turned around and went back to her room, gently closing the door behind her.
"My darlings, the sun's already high in the sky! Get up! It's so beautiful outside today, all white and fluffy, like a fairytale world. Come on, let Mommy help you get dressed, okay?" The young lady walked into the room with a smile and said gently.
"Okay! Thank you, Mommy!" As soon as he heard the voice, Xiao Bao immediately poked his head out from under the covers, his face beaming with excitement, nodding repeatedly. The young woman deftly picked up a thick cotton-padded coat and gently draped it over Xiao Bao's shoulders, then carefully buttoned it up. Next, she picked up a pair of equally thick cotton-padded trousers and slowly helped Xiao Bao put them on, tidying up the hems. In no time, Xiao Bao was wrapped up tightly, looking like an adorable little bear cub.
On the other side, Xiao Ni appeared remarkably independent. "I'm all grown up now, Mommy, I can dress myself," Xiao Ni said confidently, quickly sitting up and beginning her dressing process methodically. First, she put on her thermal underwear, then her soft sweater, and finally draped her heavy cotton-padded coat over her shoulders and zipped it up. Next, Xiao Ni skillfully slipped on her cotton-padded trousers and tightened her belt. Once everything was ready, she quickly put on her fluffy cotton shoes, looking both energetic and efficient. Not only that, Xiao Ni also made sure to wear her thick cotton hat, carefully protecting her ears.
After getting dressed, Xiao Ni skipped over to Leng Gu Niang and asked with her big eyes, "Mom, can my brother and I go out to play in the snow and have a snowball fight? It looks so fun outside!" Xiao Ni's face was full of anticipation, and her eyes sparkled with longing.
However, Miss Leng shook her head seriously and replied, "No, sweethearts. It's too cold today. You'll easily catch a cold if you go out to play. So you two can only stay in the room and play. You can draw, build blocks, or tell stories, okay?"
After listening to their mother's words, the siblings exchanged a glance, their faces showing a helpless expression. However, they knew in their hearts that their mother was doing this for their own good. So, they could only obediently nod in agreement. Although they were a little disappointed that they couldn't go out and play to their hearts' content, being able to stay in the warm house with their family was also a special kind of happiness.
After a while, the eldest son of the Su family also responded to the room. He was freezing cold, so he hurriedly went to the stove to warm himself. Then, he took a hot towel to wipe his hands. Miss Leng smiled and said that breakfast was ready, so the eldest son of the Su family went over to help serve the food.
Afterwards, the family gathered happily around a large round table laden with steaming, fragrant dishes. The most eye-catching was a large bowl of steaming cabbage noodles; each strand of evenly thick noodle was soaked in a delicious broth, topped with tender green cabbage leaves—a truly mouthwatering sight. In addition, there were plates of colorful and flavorful side dishes, as well as fragrant sauces, all contributing to a sumptuous dinner.
Paired with these delicious dishes are pieces of crystal-clear, smooth, and fragrant pork skin jelly. Take a piece, put it in your mouth, and gently chew; you'll experience the rich meaty aroma and chewy texture, leaving you wanting more.
Everyone chatted happily while enjoying the delicious meal. Everyone ate with relish, making crunching sounds as if they were playing a cheerful symphony of food.
Meanwhile, far away in the capital, Su Yuning, carrying a bag of fragrant roasted chestnuts, walked excitedly into Princess Wan'er's residence. Her face beamed with a radiant smile, and the roasted chestnuts emitted an enticing sweet aroma that made one's mouth water.
Upon seeing Princess Wan'er, Su Yuning quickly handed her the chestnuts and said warmly, "Second Sister-in-law, come and try my newly bought roasted chestnuts, they're so delicious!" Princess Wan'er took the chestnuts, gently peeled one open, put it in her mouth, and after savoring it, she couldn't help but beam with joy and praise, "Wow, these chestnuts are so delicious! They're fragrant and sweet, and they're so fresh!"
Hearing Princess Wan'er's praise, Su Yuning smiled even more happily. Then she took out a thick crocheted blanket from behind her and handed it to Princess Wan'er, saying, "Second Sister-in-law, the weather is getting colder. This blanket is for you; it will keep you warm when you sleep at night." Princess Wan'er happily accepted the blanket, feeling its soft texture and warm touch, and said with emotion, "Thank you, Yuning, you are always so thoughtful."
The two sat at the table, chatting and eating roasted chestnuts. Princess Wan'er suddenly asked curiously, "Were these chestnuts just bought? They taste so good!" Su Yuning smiled slightly and explained, "Actually, I bought them yesterday, but I thought they might affect the taste if left out for too long, so I had your brother-in-law roast them again to keep them warm and sweet!"
Princess Wan'er suddenly understood and immediately gave Su Yuning a thumbs up, praising her profusely: "Oh my, Yuning, you are so clever and skillful! To think of such a way to preserve the deliciousness of chestnuts is truly ingenious!"
"By the way, how are your factory's orders these days? You seem to be chatting with me so leisurely. Is it because there's not much business to do at the factory?" Princess Wan'er asked with a concerned expression.
Su Yuning smiled slightly and replied softly, "Princess, you may not know, but the workers in this factory are working overtime to sew quilts. This winter is much colder than usual, so these heating devices are selling very well. However, I can't really help much there, so I took some time to come and keep you company. Oh, by the way, has my brother come back to visit you recently?" As she spoke, her bright, sparkling eyes gazed at Princess Wan'er with a smile.
Upon hearing this, Princess Wan'er's pretty face instantly flushed crimson, like a ripe apple. She lowered her head slightly and replied in a voice barely audible, "He... he has come back a few times. And... most importantly, I'm pregnant." After saying this, she was so ashamed that she dared not look Su Yuning in the eye.
"Oh my, that's wonderful! This way, not only can your parents rest easy, but my parents can finally give us an explanation. Congratulations, I'm so happy for you!" Upon hearing this good news, Su Yuning's face blossomed into a radiant smile as she joyfully congratulated Princess Wan'er.
"Little sister, why don't you stay for lunch? I'll make dumplings for you," Princess Wan'er said with a warm smile. Her smile was as warm as the spring sun, making it impossible to refuse.
"Oh dear, Second Sister-in-law, you're pregnant, how can you work so hard! Don't overexert yourself. I'll have Ye Beichen come over and help make dumplings, then the three of us can have a lively lunch together. What do you think?" Su Yuning looked at Princess Wan'er with concern, her tone quite serious. Actually, she was very worried about her second sister-in-law's health, fearing she might become too tired from making dumplings.
Princess Wan'er felt a warmth in her heart upon hearing Su Yuning's thoughtful words, and quickly smiled and nodded in agreement, "Alright, alright, then I'll follow your arrangements!"
After saying that, Su Yuning hurriedly turned around and went to the Ni Chang Pavilion to find Ye Beichen. A short while later, Ye Beichen's tall figure was seen following Su Yuning back to the kitchen.
As soon as he entered the kitchen, Ye Beichen rolled up his sleeves without saying a word and began to skillfully roll out the dough. His large hands deftly manipulated the rolling pin, quickly turning pieces of dough into thin, even, and appropriately sized dumpling wrappers.
Su Yuning stood to the side, skillfully wrapping dumplings. With nimble fingers, one after another, exquisitely shaped dumplings, like works of art, were neatly arranged on the cutting board.
Then look at Princess Wan'er. Although she was six months pregnant, she was not idle. She sat in front of the stove, carefully instructing the maids to control the fire and make sure it burned brightly. At the same time, she quickly prepared various delicious sauces to dip the dumplings in.
The kitchen was filled with a warm and cozy atmosphere, and everyone was busy with their own tasks.
After quite a while, the enticingly fragrant cabbage dumplings were finally freshly made! The filling was carefully prepared with cabbage and tender tofu, and one bite was simply divine! The refreshing aroma and delicious flavor blended perfectly, leaving a lingering aftertaste.
Despite being heavily pregnant, Princess Wan'er couldn't resist the delicious dumplings and devoured a whole bowl in one go. Su Yuning, on the other hand, had a smaller appetite; she only ate less than a bowl before stopping, even saving a few for Ye Beichen. As for Ye Beichen, his appetite was truly astonishing; he ate almost two full bowls of dumplings before feeling only half-full. However, being a guest at his sister-in-law's house, Ye Beichen felt embarrassed to continue wolfing down his food, so he pretended to be completely satisfied.
At this moment, Xinghua Village resembles a fairytale world meticulously adorned by snowflakes. Looking into the distance, the rolling mountains are already covered in a thick white blanket, and the trees, like guardians in silver attire, silently protect this peaceful land. The entire village is immersed in a pristine, dreamlike atmosphere.
In the Su family home, the spacious and bright kitchen was filled with the aroma of cooking. Old Su and his wife had just enjoyed a sumptuous lunch, and after a short rest, the two began preparing a delicious feast to welcome the New Year.
Old Su stood in front of the stove, skillfully wielding the spatula, constantly stirring the peanuts, melon seeds, and chestnuts in the pot. With his movements, the ingredients danced merrily in the hot pot, making crackling sounds. Soon, an enticing aroma rose from the pot, quickly filling the entire kitchen.
"Oh my, the aroma is absolutely mouthwatering! But this alone isn't enough." Old Su muttered to himself as he turned and opened the cupboard, taking out all the walnuts, pumpkin seeds, and pine nuts that his daughter loved. Then, he returned to the stove and continued stir-frying with great enthusiasm.