Chapter 1222: Leave the Hard Work to Me

This turned dinner into a gathering for all three families.

Tao Saozi was naturally straightforward and not shy: "Alright then, I happen to have dried radish strips from last autumn at home; we can use them for the filling."

Liu Chuxue did not refuse, after all, this season is when vegetables are scarce: "Fine, then I won't stand on ceremony with you, sister-in-law."

Liu Chuxue saw that Fu Yan Cheng had brought back quite a bit of meat and thought to use most of it for minced filling, stir-fry the rest for them to drink with, since they couldn't just eat dumplings.

Unexpectedly, when Mo Ruhua arrived, she brought back the fish they had taken over at noon: "There are many people tonight; we can make it for everyone to share."

What else could Liu Chuxue say? She could only smile and say, "Then I'll listen to you."

Tao Saozi arrived soon, bringing not only dried radish strips and dried long beans but also a big handful of vibrant green baby bok choy: "Sister-in-law, don't mind how these dried vegetables look; once rehydrated, they taste wonderful. By the way, this is the bok choy I sowed earlier; it hasn't grown much yet, so I picked a handful to see if it can be used."

Liu Chuxue felt a bit embarrassed: "Sister-in-law, it's a pity to pull up such small seedlings."

Tao Saozi waved her hand with a smile: "No problem, no problem. I sowed them too densely; this is thinning out the seedlings from the vegetable bed. Otherwise, they'd all be crowded and none would grow well."

Hearing this, Liu Chuxue felt no guilt and thought of the dried dried shrimp she had brought: "Then today we'll have three kinds of dumpling fillings."

Mo Ruhua also loved to eat: "Sister-in-law, what fillings are there?"

But after asking, she felt a bit embarrassed and quickly added: "Is it too much trouble?"

Tao Saozi chimed in: "Yes, it's good enough just to have something to eat; no need to make it so troublesome."

Liu Chuxue looked at the baby bok choy on the ground: "No trouble at all; with many people, there is great strength."

Fu Yan Cheng walked over from behind: "No problem; leave the hard work to me."

Liu Chuxue turned and smiled at him: "Go soak these dried vegetables first, then take some of the dried shrimp we brought and soak those too; later we'll make and eat bok choy and dried shrimp dumplings."

Fu Yan Cheng heard the order: "Understood; leave it to me."

Truly, with many people came great strength; by the time Shen Kaiyuan and Tao Luancheng returned, all three fillings were already wrapped into dumplings. Fu Yan Cheng was stewing fish in the kitchen, stir-fried dried long beans with meat was warming by the stove, and a small stove was simmering millet porridge, though with little rice and much broth, meant for everyone to drink as soup after the meal.

When Deputy Battalion Commander Tao was called over by his wife, he still looked bewildered: "Why did you run over to Battalion Commander Fu's house?"

Seeing her husband's expression, Tao Saozi couldn't help but chuckle: "Look at your silly face. Naturally, it's because I have a good relationship with my sister-in-law, so you're just benefiting from my connection."

Deputy Battalion Commander Tao then remembered his wife had mentioned earlier that she had come to the unit on the same bus as Battalion Commander Fu's fiancée: "Where's our son?"

Tao Saozi pointed to the small square not far away: "He's playing there with the children in the courtyard. Go call him home to wash his hands and face before coming over; otherwise, that dirty look won't be presentable."

Deputy Battalion Commander Tao looked in the direction of his son: "Children are all like that."

Seeing his wife glare at him, he said, "Alright, I'll go drag him back right now, wash him clean, and bring him over."

Deputy Battalion Commander Shen and his wife had no children yet, so they were spared this scene; they only needed to take care of themselves.

By the time they arrived, the dishes were already on the table, and the dumplings were already in the pot.

Shen Kaiyuan was a cheerful person; as soon as he entered, he loudly said, "It smells so good; I'm so hungry I washed up much faster than usual."