Chapter 191 Too Generous_1
"That’s right, Sister Chunhua; that’s how it should be. None of us are strangers here, so there’s no need for any of that pretense. This straightforwardness is much better,"
With Zhang Chunhua leading by example, Zhao Dahuo and his wife, along with Chunxi mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, stopped insisting and quickly picked up their bowls and chopsticks to eat. Just as Wu Qiang’s family had said, it was crucial to finish eating quickly and get back to work to avoid wasting time.
When it came to making zhongzi, everyone here knew how, but the shapes and sizes varied, not to mention the level of delicacy. Lin Yue took special care to teach everyone, painstakingly showing them step by step how to make zhongzi until they gradually started to get the hang of it.
Lin Yue had prepared a total of eight different fillings, four sweet and four savory, symbolizing good fortune and prosperity all year round. The most critical part was the mixture of the zhongzi fillings, all handled by Lin Yue and Zhao Erhu. They didn’t let anyone see this process, even though they trusted all those who had come to help. But it’s always wise to be cautious, and keeping a little distance was better for everyone. Still, Lin Yue and Zhao Erhu didn’t make a big deal about it. Their kitchen was too small to accommodate everyone, so making zhongzi was done in the main hall. Lin Yue and Zhao Erhu prepared the fillings in the kitchen before bringing them out, allowing everyone to layer and wrap them using her method.
Qiuqiu and her siblings, who were used to working in the Zhao family’s old house, were very adept with their hands. Qiuqiu, her older brother Zhao Fuquan, as well as Dalang and Erlang, were all capable of helping Lin Yue make zhongzi. What they made was no worse than the adults’ creations, though a bit slower. The younger kids helped by tending the fire, which indeed provided substantial assistance to Lin Yue.
"Sanlang, Siliang, can you help me pick some greens from the field?" Lin Yue said while making zhongzi, noticing it was almost midday and time to prepare lunch. She put down her work and headed to the kitchen to start cooking.
"Auntie, I’ll go too. I often help my mom pick and wash vegetables at home. I can do it well," the youngest son of Zhao Dahuo’s family, Zhao Lin, was six years old this year, about the same age as Sanlang. He had been diligently tending the fire and volunteered eagerly when he heard Lin Yue asking Sanlang and Siliang to pick vegetables. In his young mind, helping his kind and lovely auntie was a matter of great honor.
"Alright, you can all go together. Be careful not to damage the greens while picking. Sanlang, Siliang, did you hear that? Also, Alin is our guest, so take good care of him." Lin Yue knew that although the boys were obedient at home, they became mischievous once they went outside. Except for Dalang, who was more sensible and steady, the other boys were all troublemakers, even the clever Erlang. They had all learned a bit of martial arts from Zhao Erhu and often bullied others, which is why Lin Yue specifically reminded Sanlang and Siliang. She knew the boys were disdainful of the people from Zhao’s old house and feared they would bully Zhao Lin because of it, which would upset his parents.