There were peanuts at home, and adding some sesame seeds made it even more fragrant.
There were also walnuts at home, and peeling a few more walnuts made Lu Liu so hungry just talking about it.
Their family is related to Daqiang’s family, and Sanmiao is good friends with Wang Meng. This time, when sending sesame seeds, they gave half a pound to Daqiang’s family and another half pound to Wang Meng’s family, not wanting to show favoritism.
Miaoxiaohe went into the house to have a private conversation with Lu Liu. Just as they sat down, Yao Fulang also arrived.
The so-called private conversation was about the hundred ways to eat chicken.
There were only nine books, and they had been exchanging them back and forth lately, so they had all read them.
Miao Xiaohu and Yao Fulang had each only read eight of them. When Miao Xiaohu went to Daqiang’s house to deliver sesame seeds, he had discussed it with Yao Fulang. Both of them were missing one book, so they wanted to come to Lu Liu’s place to see which one was missing.
Lu Liu hesitated and refused to say.
Which one could they be missing? It was the one that was worn out from being read everywhere, inside and outside the house, the one that Da Feng had read to pieces.
He had never realized that picture books could be such a secretive thing. Putting them out in the open was like stripping naked for others to admire.
When the new books came back, everyone was unclear about them, and he didn’t think anything of it.
Li Feng had already worn out the book, so he couldn’t just hand it over. He would definitely be mocked!
The three of them gathered around the bedside table, staring at the worn-out illustrated book, their faces flushing red as they stammered.
Lu Liu shook his head without hesitation.
The book had been confessed, but the words couldn’t be confessed.
He didn’t say anything.
But he and Li Feng were a couple, so if Li Feng liked it, he liked it too.
Miao Xiaohu was so shocked that her eyes widened: “Lu Fulang, you… you… you’re really something.”
Lu Liu grew even more evasive.
He recalled an incident where, to save Li Feng’s face, he had claimed that Li Feng had struck him.
This time, he had made amends.
Da Feng valued his reputation, but since he didn’t go out, he didn’t need to worry about it.
He nodded vaguely, trying to cover it up and drag others into it: “What’s wrong? Don’t you like it?”
Miao Xiaohuo said, “How can we just blurt this out?”
Lu Liu and Miao Xiaohuo both looked at him.
Yao Fulang, as the youngest husband present who had been married the longest, was experienced.
He said, “If you don’t lend them out, will that stop it? Your family’s Dafeng and their family’s Sanmiao will brag about it, and everyone will want to borrow them. If you keep them, won’t everyone still find out? It’s better to lend them out. You’ve read them, I’ve read them, and they’ve read them. If you keep them, people will only know that some things are popular, but they won’t know exactly who likes them.”
Lu Liu still didn’t understand: “Isn’t there a borrowing order?”
Lu Liu treasured these books and didn’t want to lend out too many. He still wanted to read them himself.
“I need to study them thoroughly. We’ll talk about it when I’m pregnant.”
Yao Fulang and Miao Xiaohu looked at him at the same time: “Study?”
They pointed at the picture book: “This?”
They had already said everything in private, yet they were still so surprised. Lu Liu panicked.
“What’s wrong? Can’t I study it?”
Of course you can, but you’re being too blunt.
Yao Fulang and Miao Xiaohuo laughed at him heartily, their laughter as embarrassing as shame. Lu Liu couldn’t sit still, staying put and feeling like he was being steamed alive.
Lu Liu panicked and said to Li Feng, “Da Feng, what should I do? I think I’ve embarrassed you.”
Li Feng asked him how he had embarrassed him.
Lu Liu told him the truth.
Li Feng didn’t think it was a big deal: “It’s okay, we all joke around and say dirty things when we’re together.”
It was normal for young men to gather and talk about such things.
Lu Liu felt reassured. He was easy to comfort, and he believed everything Li Feng said. After feeling reassured, his body temperature slowly returned to normal, and he could go out to peel peanuts and walnuts, prepare the filling, and make yuanxiao.
The fifteenth day of the first lunar month is when people eat yuanxiao.
Here, the yuanxiao are made by rolling them. The prepared filling is rolled into small balls, then rolled in glutinous rice flour, dipped in water, and rolled in glutinous rice flour again. This process is repeated until the desired size is achieved.
Lu Liu kept her promise and sent a bowl of yuanxiao to the wine seller as agreed.
Chen Jiu also received half a pound of sesame seeds, but the yuanxiao made with them had the same flavor, so he wasn’t interested.
His expression betrayed his feelings, recalling the scolding he received after returning to his mother’s home, and he reluctantly thanked her.
Lu Liu saw that he was willing to speak nicely and smiled, saying, “I’ll be stir-frying mushroom sauce today. I’ll send you a bowl to try later.”
Chen Jiu didn’t say whether he liked it or not. After the person left, he brought the yuanxiao into the house and let Wang Meng eat them.
Wang Meng just gave him the silver and reminded him again.
Lu Liu didn’t know about his family situation. After delivering the yuanxiao, he came back and ate some too.
Shun Ge said to them, “I heard that there’s a yuanxiao lantern festival in the county. Someone stayed there and saw the lantern festival. It was so lively!”
He looked at Lu Liu: “Sister-in-law, isn’t that right?”
They had no place to stay in the county, but now that they knew people, they could stay at Lu Yang’s place.
Shun Ge’er was shy and embarrassed, so he laughed awkwardly and said, “I just want to join in the fun. Let’s go to the new village later. The new village is far from the mountain, and they have so many lanterns!”
Lu Liu took a bite of the yuanxiao. Beneath the soft, sticky skin was hot, steaming filling. The peanuts and walnuts had crunchy bits, and the sesame seeds and sugar mixed together created a blend of sweet and fragrant flavors—the best yuanxiao he had ever eaten.
He looked at the sun and asked, “When are we going to New Village?”
If it’s early, can we go to Lu Jia Tun first?
“Da Feng, you’re so considerate.”
Lu Liu blinked and tentatively suggested, “Mature? Thoughtful? Capable?”
The three of them went out to play, while Chen Guizhi stayed home to watch the store.
The mother was worried. Seeing them heading to the new village, she reminded Li Feng again, “The tools for making rice cakes need to be moved. Remember that.”
Li Feng nodded. She then instructed Lu Liu, “You need to remind him. He has a bad memory.”
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