CHAPTER 25: CHAPTER 25: TAKING CHARGE OF THE HOUSEHOLD

Back at home, the two sisters started getting busy. Gu Xiaoqing taught Gu Xiaoying hands-on. Gu Xiaoqing aimed to train her sister to become the main force in the family. Relying on Li Xuemei and Gu Ruhai wouldn’t cut it, as their comprehension and learning abilities can’t really compare.

The sisters worked together, one picking chives, the other chopping meat filling.

The meat filling Gu Xiaoqing made contained special secret ingredients, which was a family secret recipe handed down from the owner of a steamed dumpling shop back in the day.

These ingredients are actually just some common household items and seasonings, nothing too new or unusual, but the effect of these seasonings is something most people can’t quite achieve.

The taste is incredibly delicious.

Most rural households have just gotten past the point of having enough to eat, so they hardly worry about satisfaction with taste.

Also, many people don’t view the wild greens growing on hills and village edges as potential seasonings.

Who thinks of grabbing a handful of wild greens while cooking meat?

So, Gu Xiaoqing’s seasoning is considered a secret recipe.

Gu Xiaoying had long ago finished preparing the dough, leaving it to rest on the side.

Gu Xiaoqing pinched off a piece of dough, placed it on the board, and began to roll it evenly into a thick, even strip, then pinched off small, evenly-sized portions.

She rolled each one into a smooth round ball, then flattened it into a circular disc.

With one hand holding a rolling pin and the other holding the dough disc, she started to roll each one evenly into a round dumpling wrapper.

"Wow, both of you are already wrapping them."

Li Xuemei, having heard the bustling activities in the kitchen, thought she’d let the two sisters have their fun before going out, intending to show these two naive girls that making food isn’t as easy as they thought.

But when she lifted the curtain, she saw Gu Xiaoying skillfully rolling dumpling wrappers while Gu Xiaoqing held a wrapper in one hand, placed the filling with the other, and then pinched it with both hands, forming a beautiful dumpling.

Neat and tidy like seasoned women, and to be honest, each dumpling Gu Xiaoqing made had a plump belly, and the edges had attractive folds, truly looking exquisite.

Li Xuemei couldn’t help but be impressed.

This child of ours is so clever.

How can she do everything?

But internally, she sighed, these tasks really are nothing for Gu Xiaoqing, considering every year, they make dumplings at Mr. and Mrs. Gu’s place during New Year. Even the kids would pick up the skills.

However, back then, Gu Xiaoqing didn’t have such exceptional skills.

It seems the child felt left out, so she didn’t bother to work wholeheartedly.

"Mom, look how pretty our dumplings are," Gu Xiaoqing showed off the dumplings in her hand to Li Xuemei like a treasure.

Li Xuemei chuckled and pinched Gu Xiaoqing’s nose, "They are pretty, you little clever one, all you think about is eating."

Gu Xiaoqing awkwardly smiled. She couldn’t just admit it wasn’t just for eating.

She couldn’t say that; she had to get her mom’s approval for her skills first in order to get Li Xuemei to accept her proposal.

Gu Xiaoqing was also planning for the upcoming months, hoping the family could earn some money. Before it gets freezing, they need to fix the heated kang. It has been broken for a long time, but they couldn’t afford to fix it.

Every winter, they suffer greatly.

This year, since she was reborn, she intended to improve everything at home.

Fixing the house isn’t feasible as it requires more than a hundred or two hundred bucks, which they can’t gather all at once.

At least they should repair the kang, replace the mattress and bedding, and make everyone some new cotton-padded clothes. Her own padded clothes have been worn for five years now, and the cotton inside has become hard as a rock.

That’s because her parents picked out excellent cotton to refill their three children’s clothes, fearing they’d catch cold; otherwise, it would have been worse.

But the cotton clothes of Li Xuemei and Gu Ruhai were in bad shape, practically falling apart and offering no warmth during winter.

Each winter was the family’s toughest time.

This time, Gu Xiaoqing didn’t want to continue living like this.

The family should live well, with enough food and warm clothes, holding some money, not aiming for wealth but living a good life, worthy of this lifetime.

Li Xuemei washed her hands, rolled up her sleeves, and took over the rolling pin from Gu Xiaoying, starting to roll out wrappers quickly.

Gu Xiaoying was instructed by Gu Xiaoqing to boil water. Gu Xiaoqing planned to prepare some dumplings for steaming, some for pan-frying, and some for boiling.

Considering they’ll be running a business, boiled dumplings are not easy to store and can’t be prepared in large batches. If they don’t sell, it’ll be wasteful and doesn’t taste good, and isn’t easy to keep warm.

But steamed and pan-fried dumplings are much easier to deal with.

Gu Xiaoqing wrapped enough dumplings to fill two bamboo trays before stopping.

"Mom, I’ll cook the dumplings now."

Li Xuemei was just about to offer to go herself.

But Gu Xiaoqing stopped her.

"Mom, we agreed today that I’d be testing my cooking skills. If they turn out well, we’ll be using this to run our business. If you don’t let me do it, and it doesn’t taste good, who’s to blame for that?"

Li Xuemei playfully swatted Gu Xiaoqing’s backside and laughed, "Alright, I concede. You’re getting sharper with your words. No wonder your second uncle couldn’t win against you today. I can’t out-talk you. I guess you’ll have to take charge of the family someday."

It was meant as a joke, though who knew Gu Xiaoqing would reply, "Then let me take charge. If you and dad are too soft-hearted, I don’t want Xiao Jie growing up in this house, calculating just to go to school. At the very least, I want our family to live good lives, not bullied, with enough food and warm clothes."

Li Xuemei was taken aback.

This was shocking to hear.

What family lets a daughter as young as this take charge?

This isn’t, this isn’t.....

Yet, these words were very genuine. Gu Xiaoqing’s intentions were good, hoping for the family to live well.

What a simple wish.

Li Xuemei gritted her teeth, "Your dad wouldn’t agree, no family lets a girl take charge."

But the meaning behind the words was that Li Xuemei agreed.

Gu Xiaoqing was so happy she jumped high, hugged Li Xuemei, and even with her flour-covered hands, smeared her mom’s face white with powder.

"Mom, with your support, that’s all I need. Dad managing things has got us living like this, and I don’t want us to continue suffering. Whoever has the ability should be in charge. That’s a basic truth. We can’t just because it’s dad, live poorer lives when we could be living well."