Chapter 175: Chapter 175
Grandma Niu left, and Wang Cuihua and Lin Xue looked at the saddened but forced smile of Niu Yingying, comforted her for a while, and both returned home.
There are still so much meat at home to roast lard from, and Lin Xue needs to visit the chicken farm more often. Although she doesn’t know how to hatch eggs, she feels comfortable by checking the place frequently.
Niu Yingying was sad, but she quickly helped her mother-in-law cut the pork sent by her sister-in-law, roasted the lard from the fat, marinated the pork belly, and then prepared her luggage to report to the milk powder factory the next day.
She didn’t give the Niu Family any chance to stir trouble and also told Li Xiuying that if the Niu Family came to cause issues, she shouldn’t hesitate.
Today is Friday, the four little ones should be back in the evening, and Lin Xue started making dumplings after returning from the chicken farm.
The dumpling filling was ready-made chopped pork she took out from her storage space.
Once the filling and dough were ready, they began to make dumplings.
Together with Wang Cuihua, they made a full three trays before finishing.
There are many people, and they eat a lot as well. Since it’s pure meat filling, the little ones haven’t had anything good to eat at school, so they’ll surely eat a lot.
After making the dumplings, Lin Xue made a few dishes while her mom steamed the dumplings.
With the same few dishes, she took out a chicken and made stir-fried chicken, ribs stewed with dried beans. Everyone loves ribs, so she made two more dishes with available vegetables.
Because of the roasted lard before steaming the dumplings, the house smelled delicious, and Wang Cuihua was a bit afraid to open the door, worrying others might smell it.
Just as the second batch of dumplings was out, the sound of four little ones hurriedly running inside was heard.
Like they’re competing, they ran fast with cheerful voices.
"Big Sis... Big Sis, open the door!" The voice barely sounded when the door was pushed open, and Lin Xia ran in.
"Why are you still so reckless? Studying doesn’t change you!" Wang Cuihua said while securing the door, letting the others inside.
The four little ones plus Zhang Yuan, Li Jianshe, and finally Lin Daliang walked in.
"Daliang, did you get a break today too?" Wang Cuihua exclaimed in surprise.
Every time she made delicious food, she thought of her husband. After living together so long and having so many children, their bond was deep.
"Yes! I’m off for two days tomorrow and the day after, so I came back! Just in time to be with the kids!" Lin Daliang said with a smile.
Listening to the kids’ lively chatter along the way made his mood particularly good.
"Why did you guys make Dad carry all the bags?" Wang Cuihua turned and asked the kids crowded by the pot, her face showing slight reproach.
Zhang Yuan had long entered the house to chat with Lin Xue, the two whispering secretively, leaving Li Jianshe to make the fire for Lin Xue.
Upon hearing the question, the little ones dared not peer into the pot. Lin Yun said softly,
"Dad insisted on carrying them, and even Brother-in-law couldn’t snatch them back!"
Wang Cuihua listened, then glared at Lin Daliang.
"I was worried the kids would be tired!" Lin Daliang said, raising his hands.
"Let them learn to handle their own things! You can’t always bring it back every time you’re on break, can you?" Wang Cuihua’s personality had grown a bit strong these days.
"Alright, alright! I was wrong, let me inside! It smells so good, I’m starving!" Lin Daliang admitted obediently.
At the milk powder factory, although the daughter often sent delicious food there, they still had to cook for themselves. The three of them could barely cook grains, let alone delicious food.
It’s worth noting that Bai Dajiang didn’t distance himself from his brother even after he became his cousin; they remained close.
"Alright, the dumplings and dishes are ready. I’ll set the table right away, you all go freshen up! Time to eat!" Wang Cuihua heard her husband calling out for food and hurriedly started arranging the table. The source of this content ɪs 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝⟡𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕥⟡𝕟𝕖𝕥
"Zhang Yuan, let’s talk outside!" Lin Xue saw the little ones sneakily glancing and listening, amused, she led Zhang Yuan out.
The little ones all pouted, watched Big Sis turn around, and immediately change face, winking and smiling.
Zhang Yuan had important things to discuss with Lin Xue, so despite being hungry, he followed her out.
"Xiao Xue, I found a suitable place to store supplies, it’s a row of old warehouses in the north of town. They were originally canning factory warehouses, later abandoned when the factory closed, they’re brick houses. I checked, no leaks, still good inside, no need for renovation. The key is the location is remote, usually, no one goes there. As long as we secure it, there’ll be no problems!"
The two walked into the yard, speaking softly, so others couldn’t hear and merely thought they were whispering.
"Secure it? Have someone guard it? But that’s inconvenient! How can I fetch things with someone watching?" Lin Xue was a bit troubled.
"Dumb, designate a time. You fetch the supplies in advance and have Uncle Wang move them quickly! This warehouse is for transferring stuff, not storing, so guarded or not makes no difference! Usually, it won’t hold much!" Zhang Yuan flicked her forehead playfully.
Lin Xue wasn’t angry, rather enlightened.
Yes, why hadn’t she thought of that? She could use the warehouse purely for transferring things, with limited output each time, then have Uncle Wang act before fetching more supplies herself. This way, there’s no issue of safety or theft, and scarcity of food would only be for these few years, things would be better afterwards. She wouldn’t be secretly dealing with supplies once the economy opened, who would sneak around then?
With this thought, she laughed, like a fool, radiantly.
When the two came back in, Xiao Yun and Xiao Xia saw their big sister smiling and smiled brightly as well.
"You two turned silly? Smiling about what?" Lin Xue asked, feeling ticklish under their gaze.
"Copying you! What are you laughing about? Like a big fool!" Lin Xia said bluntly.
Lin Xue felt awkward, just being happy, forgetting these little ones were watching them. They thought the two laughed over something said, but in reality, she laughed because of money, but could she say that? Certainly not, so she changed the topic.
"Come here, all of you! Sihan, come down! Meet your brothers and sisters!" Lin Xue waved to Dong Sihan on the kang.
Actually, the little ones had seen her early on, only thinking she was a child brought by grandma, so none asked.
"This is Xiao Yun, the second sister, Xiao Xia, the third sister, Xiao Shan, the fourth! Little Chuan, the fifth brother!" Lin Xue introduced Dong Sihan one by one, then said, "This is Dong Sihan, she’ll be your sixth sister in the future! I picked her up outside! From now on, we’re all family!"
Once Lin Xue finished introductions, the little ones exchanged greetings, Xiao Yun asked, "Big Sis, since we’re family, isn’t she changing her name?"
"No, she has her own name!" Lin Xue replied.
"Big Sis, I want to change my name! I also want to share the surname Lin!" Dong Sihan suddenly said firmly and loudly.
She felt only by changing her name could she confidently call them brothers and sisters, and also call Dad and Mom.
She felt the surname wasn’t important, her parents didn’t treat her well anyway, and since she was just a girl, couldn’t continue the family line.