Chapter 39: Came over smelling the fragrance

She never asked what people did for a living, but the fragrance of her filling was too tempting, and the children of the neighbors on both sides had really sharp noses.

Following the smell, they stole out from home. An eight-year-old boy and a four-year-old boy were pressing against the crack in the door, looking inside.

"Big Brother, this smell is really good."

"Yeah, it's even more fragrant than the meat my mother stews."

"This is the house of the Auntie who sells fruit."

"What delicious thing do you think she's making?"

"Don't know."

Qiao Mai placed the mixed filling on the table in the courtyard and started kneading the dough. Hearing the conversation of the children outside, she laughed.

After kneading the dough, she moved the cutting board to the table in the courtyard and tilted her head to look at the door. Those two little gluttons were actually still there.

Qiao Mai used her mind to look at Ling'er in the space. This little one was sleeping soundly with her limbs spread out.

The child was slowly growing up and couldn't stay in the space all the time; she needed playmates.

Thinking of this, she opened the courtyard gate and looked at the two little ones.

"Who is muttering at my door? State your names."

The eight-year-old boy's face turned red. "Auntie, I... I am Auntie's neighbor on the left, surnamed Chen, given name Hao, nickname Niu Niu."

The four-year-old boy gave her a hehe smile. "Auntie, we've met several times. I am your neighbor on the right. My name is Yuan Haichuan, nickname Chuan'er."

"Welcome to my house as guests."

Qiao Mai moved her body aside and made a gesture of invitation. The two little ones gave a hehe smile and walked in.

Qiao Mai didn't bolt the door, leaving it slightly ajar. She led them into the courtyard and moved two stools to place in front of the table.

"Come, sit down and talk."

The two sat down obediently, still looking a bit restrained.

"Auntie, what delicious thing are you making at home? It's so fragrant."

"Making dumplings. Have you eaten dumplings before?"

Chen Hao held up two fingers. "It seems I've eaten them twice since moving here."

"And you?" Qiao Mai asked Yuan Haichuan.

He pursed his small mouth. "It seems I haven't."

"Then after Auntie finishes wrapping them, I'll treat you to dumplings, okay?"

The two little ones' eyes lit up, and they nodded happily. They sat obediently on the stools without moving, so well-behaved and likable.

Qiao Mai took a small bunch of grapes from the space, found a small basin to rinse them, and placed them in front of them.

"Before the dumplings are boiled, Auntie will treat you to these."

"Wow, what is this?"

"Grapes!"

Qiao Mai reached out, plucked a grape, peeled the skin, put the flesh into her mouth, and then spat out the seed.

"That's how you eat them. They're very sweet. Hurry and have a taste."

The two little ones then reached out their small hands and plucked the grapes from above to eat.

After the dough was ready, she started rolling out the wrappers. She had bought several bamboo mats but hadn't used them yet; now they had a use.

While wrapping, she talked with the two children. Hearing their family calling them, they hurriedly responded.

By the time Yuan Jiaqi and the Chen family from next door found them, they saw such a heartwarming scene.

When Chen Shi saw her son eating such precious fruit at Qiao Niangzi's house, she immediately ran over and pulled his hand.

"You don't play at home, what are you doing running here to disturb Auntie?"

Yuan Jiaqi didn't blame the child and stepped forward to bow to Qiao Shi.

"Sorry for the trouble, Qiao Niangzi."

"No trouble. I also like children. They are all very well-behaved here."

Chen Shi smiled embarrassedly at her. "These grapes haven't hit the market yet, right?"

"They'll be here soon. I plan to sell these in a while. You don't have to take it to heart. How much can a child eat? Coming to my house makes them guests, and I should treat my little guests."

The two little ones liked Qiao Mai very much. Chuan'er looked up at Yuan Jiaqi.

"Daddy, Auntie said she'd treat me to dumplings tonight."

Yuan Jiaqi and Chen Shi were in a dilemma. Qiao Mai could see that both families were thin-skinned.

"You go back. Let them play here. Come pick them up after dinner."

"Isn't that too embarrassing?"

"We're all neighbors; there's no need to be so calculating. I'm alone, and I'll need your care in the future."

"Well, alright. We'll come pick them up after dark."

"Mm-hmm."

The children's parents both left, relieved knowing they were playing here.

Half an hour later, all the dumplings were wrapped. She lit the fire, filled the pot with water, and planned to boil a pot first to let the two children eat.

It happened that Shopkeeper Lu and the others all came. Some burned the fire, some boiled the dumplings, which freed her and Lu Sanniang.

"Little Sister, who are these two children?"

"Neighbors' children. They came over smelling the fragrance when I was mixing the filling."

"Be cautious when making friends. I'll help you inquire about their character and family background later."

"When catching the thieves that day, they both came over. I'm so busy, where would I have time to make friends?"

"I understand. Take it easy."

The first pot of dumplings was boiled. Everyone took their own bowls. Being so familiar, no one was polite.

Qiao Mai placed two small bowls in front of the two little ones and put the dumplings in their bowls.

"Let them cool before eating, or you'll burn your mouths."

The two little ones looked at the dumplings, swallowing their saliva, and blew the hot air with their small mouths. They were as cute as could be.

Shopkeeper Lu observed Qiao Mai while eating. Seeing her so fond of children, she couldn't help but add a sentence.

"Seeing them, are you missing your child?"

"Yes. If that child were alive, he would be able to ask for food and drink now, and even crawl all over the floor."

"Once things are stable and the household registration is done, find another family? You're still young; you'll have children."

"Sigh, eat. Let's not talk about this."

Lu Sanniang knew she was sad and hurriedly changed the subject.

"I say, your craftsmanship is truly good. Everything you make is especially delicious. Why not open a restaurant?"

"Opening a restaurant is too tiring. Besides, I don't want to snatch people from Shopkeeper Tong. As long as it's a business someone else is doing, I won't do it. I don't like competing with others."

"You think that if you don't compete or snatch, trouble won't come to your door? If others are envious of you, you won't be able to escape either."

"We'll talk about it when that time comes."

All the dumplings were boiled. Everyone sat around the large table eating dinner. Tonight's dumplings were especially delicious, and they praised them while eating.

After Chuan'er was full, he patted his small belly. "Auntie, these dumplings are too delicious. I'm full, but my daddy hasn't eaten such delicious dumplings. Can I take a bowl back for him?"

This little fellow was truly filial. Eating good food himself, he didn't forget his daddy.

"Sure. Auntie has plenty of dumplings here. If you can't finish them, they'll spoil by tomorrow. Just take a bowl back to help Auntie share the burden."

Qiao Mai thought to herself: You little bean, taking my things home to be filial to your daddy—you really weren't raised in vain. I have a space; how could the dumplings spoil? Tomorrow morning, pan-frying them will be the most fragrant, wuwuwu.

"Then I'll go send them to my daddy now. If it's too late, they'll get cold and won't be delicious."

Qiao Mai pointed at Chuan'er and said to Shopkeeper Lu and the others: "Look, he's only this big, and he already knows how to care for his daddy. Being so capable, he'll definitely have a future when he grows up."

"Where is his mother?"

"Died during childbirth."

"How pitiful!"

Shopkeeper Lu picked up a bowl of dumplings and placed it in front of Chuan'er.

"Go, Auntie will send you back."

Lu Sanniang picked him up, and he walked out of the courtyard gate holding the bowl with both hands.

Chen Hao also wanted to ask for a bowl of dumplings for his mother. "Auntie, I want one too."

"I'll give you a bowl too. You pick."

"Thank you, Auntie."

The two little ones came to her house as guests and left with food in their hands.

After Lu Sanniang returned, her look at Qiao Mai was a bit strange. Qiao Mai asked her.

"Big Sister, what's wrong?"

"I see that young man looks quite good. You treat his child so well—don't tell me you've taken a fancy to him?"

Qiao Mai was between laughter and tears. "Then I treat that boy well—don't tell me I've taken a fancy to his mother?"

"Pfft, haha!"

Everyone in the courtyard laughed, and Lu Sanniang couldn't help but laugh out loud either.

"It's me overthinking!"

"I've already said it: no matter what, I have to buy my own residence and get the household registration done. Nothing else is being considered."

"Why don't I just give you this residence? Get the registration done early so you can be at ease."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 40 =====