Chapter 99: Making Dumplings

Chapter 99: Chapter 99: Making Dumplings

The village chief waved his hand. "Don’t thank me. I’m the village chief of Huangtuo Village. It’s my duty to handle these things, so there’s no need for thanks."

Bai Zhi told Uncle Hu and Hu Feng to go back first. She and her mother would follow the village chief to measure the land.

Zhao Lan was a bride from another village, and Bai Zhi was a foundling. Logically, given their situation, it would have been understandable if Huangtuo Village refused to give them a homestead plot. The village chief hadn’t gotten his hopes up, but he was delighted when things went so smoothly.

Not far from Hu Changlin’s house, there was a vacant plot of land next to an old locust tree. Since it was just Zhao Lan and Bai Zhi, the approved homestead plot wasn’t large. Designating the land next to the locust tree was perfect. The plot was right in the center of the village, which saved the mother-daughter duo from being assigned land at the western entrance. It would be very inconvenient for two women living alone to be over there.

The moment she saw the plot, Bai Zhi’s mind began to race with plans. ’Although the area isn’t large, if I build a small, two-story house on it, it would be so comfortable! There would even be some land left over to enclose as a small courtyard. This is exactly the idyllic country life I’ve always dreamed of!’

After they finished measuring the land, Bai Zhi invited the village chief to the Hu Family’s home for a meal, but he adamantly refused. "Let’s forget about the meal. I just handled this matter for you. If I were to eat at your place, who knows how the villagers would gossip. They’d say I accepted favors from you, and that would be a real headache."

Bai Zhi didn’t insist. There would be plenty of opportunities to repay the village chief in the future; there was no need to rush it.

After seeing the village chief off, Bai Zhi took Zhao Lan’s hand and they returned to the Hu Family’s home.

Neither Hu Changlin nor Zhao Lan could easily use their hands for chores, so dinner naturally fell to Bai Zhi and Hu Feng.

When Hu Feng returned from washing the vegetables, he saw Bai Zhi rolling out dough on a wooden board. Round, thin wrappers took shape quickly under her nimble hands, each one looking so identical it was as if they had been drawn from a template.

Seeing him standing there blankly, Bai Zhi pointed to a large bowl of prepared dumpling filling. "Come and wrap them with me."

"I don’t know how," he said bluntly.

Bai Zhi put down her rolling pin, picked up a wrapper, scooped a dollop of the chive and meat filling from the bowl, and slowly folded it for him to see.

The resulting dumpling was adorable, with a plump, round belly and a clean, white skin.

He tried, but failed. He tried again, and still failed.

He couldn’t help but feel frustrated. ’This looks so simple, why is it so hard to do?’

Bai Zhi took his hand, guiding his fingers and teaching him how to pinch it closed. "Just control your strength. A little lighter. A little gentler. A little slower. See? There you go." She looked up at him, her face lit with a brilliant smile, the starlight in her eyes threatening to spill out.

"Try again." She released his hand and went back to rolling out wrappers.

The moment her palm left the back of his hand, he felt a strange pang of disappointment. He couldn’t quite describe the feeling; it was peculiar.

Although Hu Feng was clumsy at first, under Bai Zhi’s tutelage, he finally got the hang of it. His dumplings started to look more and more like they were supposed to.

After they finished making the dumplings, Bai Zhi had Hu Feng start the fire while she quickly chopped the washed vegetables.

Stir-fried Pork with Green Peppers, Red-Braised Fish Chunks, Braised Eggplant and Green Beans. A pot of pork ribs and corn had been stewing on the small stove in the courtyard since morning, and was now beginning to release its savory aroma.

While Bai Zhi stir-fried the dishes, Hu Feng tended the fire, inhaling the delicious smells. He didn’t know how long his stomach had been growling, but it was absolute torture. He hadn’t even been hungry before, but the moment the aroma of her cooking hit him, his stomach started roaring as if it hadn’t eaten in eight hundred years.

.........

New book released: *I’m Bound to the Divine Doctor System*

Synopsis:

"DING!"

"Divine Doctor Clinic System activated."

Mu Qingyi, who had just transmigrated into the body of a peasant girl in ancient times, was utterly baffled. She’d only casually saved a half-dead handsome guy! How did she end up bound to a system?!

What? Completing system missions earns generous rewards?

Rewards like an ultrasound machine? An MRI? A sterile operating room? And even the legendary lost acupuncture techniques I’ve always wanted to learn?

Hey, you over there! Are you sick? Because I’ve got the cure.

***

What? If I complete all the system missions, I’ll get an ultimate reward that lets the host travel back to the past?

Mu Qingyi’s eyes widened. "Don’t tell me the ultimate reward is the Moonlight Treasure Box?"

The system rolled its eyes at her.

To any friends who are interested, please add it to your library!