Chapter 34: You are really thoughtless
Daqing, Erqing, and Gao Gao didn’t get angry despite Lu Mingliang snapping at them. Instead, they laughed it out. The dumplings were irresistibly hot, yet having white flour dumplings even during New Year was a luxury for them—after all, they were poor children from the start. Where could they easily access such fine food?
Erqing and Gao Gao had just been salivating, but after hearing a few words, they no longer wanted to eat and didn’t even glance at it.
"Go ahead and eat. In the past, my brother, my younger siblings, and I used to eat the food from Aunt Lianhua and Aunt Xifeng quite often. This time, my mother bought meat specifically for these dumplings. She even wants you to secretly take some back, so don’t let your elder aunt and grandmother find out. Hurry up and eat. My mom doesn’t usually show such kindness; who knows if there’ll be a next time—quick, eat up."
While talking, Lu Mingliang nudged the three towards his table, placing a big bowl of fragrant dumplings in front of them. The trio hesitated for a while and dared not eat, even the youngest, Gao Gao, tried to leave. But Mingliang quickly caught him and stuffed a dumpling into his mouth. Gao Gao instinctively bit and immediately froze.
The white dumpling skin was chewy, the filling fresh and slightly spicy, making his whole mouth salivate. Unable to control himself, Gao Gao chewed a couple more bites and swallowed with a gulp.
"Heh, is it tasty? I won’t say much else, but my mom really can cook. Daqing, Erqing, you should eat too. We’ve had our fill; this whole bowl is for you. My mother is still making dumplings in the kitchen, and it’s especially for your mothers. Eat up and go back quickly so they can try it too."
Lu Mingliang was a bit excited; he was happy to finally repay those who had once helped him, and he felt a renewed affirmation towards his mother, Shen Meng.
From outside, Shen Meng listened for a while before she returned to the kitchen, dangling her ladle. Hearing Lu Mingliang’s words about her didn’t make her feel anything; they were familiar with each other by now, but if it was to describe it as a close mother-son bond, she always felt something was missing.
When Xie Jinghao brought Xiao Gang over, Shen Meng had just served a big bowl of two-grain noodle dumplings. The rest she left on a plate to cool down, waiting for Daqing, Erqing, and Gao Gao to finish so she could send some dumplings back for Lianhua and Xifeng to eat.
"Jinghao, come quickly. Xiao Gang, look at the dumplings Aunt has made; hurry and eat while it’s hot. The dip is already prepared; it’s fine to eat during pregnancy."