Chapter 1285: If She Doesn't Speak Up Now, the Boy Might Suffer Internal Injuries

These past few days, she had heard no end of frugal living tips from the military wives in the family compound; they were right—if she wanted to fit into this big family, she had to learn occasionally, like today when steaming buns: using a wood-fired stove saved trouble and money, since the steamer was large enough to cook everything at once, and the firewood could be gathered directly from the mountain without spending a penny.

In fact, she had already pulled out the larger logs earlier; even if she forgot, the pot wouldn't run dry.

Steaming the buns was also in case Fu Yan Cheng returned in the dead of night, so he could have something to tide him over.

When Mo Ruhua entered, Liu Chuxue had just lifted the steamer lid; inside, half were cornmeal-and-white-rice mixed buns, and half were plain flour vegetable buns, looking truly excellent: "I must say, your skills are really good; they look so inviting."

Liu Chuxue used chopsticks to pick up a vegetable bun, placed it in a bowl, and handed it to Mo Ruhua: "Try it and see how it tastes."

Mo Ruhua had grown familiar with her over these days; whenever Liu Chuxue made something delicious, she shared it, so Mo Ruhua didn't stand on ceremony, took the bowl, and only then asked: "What's the filling?"

While picking up more buns into a porcelain basin, Liu Chuxue replied: "Zucchini, egg, and wood ear mushrooms; pity there's no carrot, otherwise the filling would be not only tasty but also good-looking."

Her space had no shortage of eggs, so she certainly wouldn't be stingy; the filling was very generous.

The wood ear mushrooms had been stockpiled at a black market during a business trip to Northeast China earlier; she had quite a few stored in her space.

After letting the buns cool for a while, Mo Ruhua took one, bit into it, and said: "Mm, the taste is really good; this is my first time trying zucchini filling. Who would have thought it could be used as filling?"

Seeing that Mo Ruhua liked it, Liu Chuxue handed her another one once she finished.

Mo Ruhua quickly waved her hands: "Your buns are quite large; with my appetite, one is already enough to fill me up, saving me from dinner. By the way, tell me quickly how to make the zucchini filling. While there are still a few misshapen zucchinis left in the vegetable patch, I'll learn to wrap some for my family to try; otherwise, we won't get to taste them until next year, by which time the vines will have been pulled up."

Liu Chuxue naturally wouldn't keep secrets; she explained the filling recipe step by step: "Don't steam vegetable buns too long, or they'll get soggy and lose their flavor."

Mo Ruhua was decent at cooking and loved experimenting with food; she was the type who understood at a single hint: "Then I'll try it tomorrow."

Liu Chuxue had originally intended to give her a few to take home, but Mo Ruhua refused outright: "Sister-in-law, I'll go back and tidy up first."

After seeing Mo Ruhua off and just as she was about to close the door, she saw Tao Yushan, Tao Saozi's son, chasing Cui Lianchang's daughter Cui Yaohao: "Give me back my sesame cake!"

But Cui Yaohao had already entered the courtyard: "Mom, Mom, save me quickly!"

No need to ask what had happened; Liu Chuxue just couldn't understand—being scolded all day long, didn't the Cui couple feel ashamed?

Zhang Lianhua was picking vegetables in the yard; hearing her little daughter's cry, she quickly stood up: "Yushan, why are you chasing my Yaohao?"

Tao Yushan was only six years old; asked by an adult like this, his small face turned bright red: "She snatched my sesame cake! Make her give it back!"

Seeing the child on the verge of tears, Zhang Lianhua shamelessly declared: "Look, both you and our Yaohao have the character 'Yu' in your names; isn't that like being real siblings? What's wrong with her eating a bit of your cake?"

Upon hearing this, six-year-old Tao Yushan could hold back no longer and burst into tears.

Tao Saozi was a good person who had helped her quite a bit; if she didn't speak up now, the boy might suffer internal injuries from holding it in. She suddenly threw open the main gate, ignored Zhang Lianhua, and looked directly at the group returning from training nearby: "Cui Lianchang, hurry up and take a few quick steps; your wife and daughter are snatching Tao Yushan's sesame cake!"