CHAPTER 454: 454 MEAT BUNS

Jiang Xinyu added firewood bit by bit on the side, and by evening, it was smoked.

Then hung it in the side room, which is shady, to avoid direct sunlight spoiling it.

In the evening, she specially steamed two sections, and the taste was really good. The flavors of Sichuan pepper and chili covered the gamey taste of the wild boar meat.

The two children especially loved it. Shang Zhenkun felt that his hard work yesterday wasn’t in vain.

There was still a piece of five pounds of meat left. Jiang Xinyu thought of chopping it into meat filling and steaming meat buns for them tomorrow. In the evening, she would steam some more for Wang Ailing to take back for the children.

The aroma wafted around her house all day, making the neighbors on both sides very dissatisfied, but they all knew Jiang Xinyu wasn’t someone easy to provoke, so no one came to make a fuss.

In the evening, Jiang Xinyu began to make dough, and the four of them went to bed early.

On Monday morning, Jiang Xinyu mixed the meat filling with green onions, added some soy sauce and oyster sauce; it must be very delicious.

She cooked a sorghum rice porridge, and the two children were quite happy to have meat buns for breakfast.

"Mom, aren’t you bringing lunch to work?" Feifei asked.

"No, it’s too much of a target for envy. I’ve already tasted it. Alright, you two be good and listen. Mom’s off to work."

The Monday morning meeting was all about last week’s work summary and this week’s plan.

After the morning meeting, Pan Jinliang found Jiang Xinyu and handed her the receipt for the dinner expense last Friday. He also recounted what happened that day.

"Alright, as long as they’re sent off. I’ll sign this for you."

"And the food tickets."

"Yes, I’ll write you a note, and you can take it to the cafeteria, let them deduct it there, but Mr. Qian also needs to sign these."

"Got it."

The whole morning was busy. At lunchtime, Wang Ailing came over.

"Xinyu, I’m thinking of going home this week, are you going?"

"Me? I’ll go back too. I want to take the two children to the reservoir. Shi Jing and Feifei both want to eat fish, so we’ll go see if there are any."

"Alright, let’s go together then."

On Saturday, Jiang Xinyu brought the two children to the textile factory. Some people had already seen them and said that the Vice Factory Director Jiang’s two children were so beautiful, never having seen such pretty kids, so lately everyone’s gossip was all about the children.

Wang Ailing told Jiang Xinyu.

"It’s alright. I had anticipated this situation."

"Who is that woman?" Wang Ailing asked.

"She’s the wife of Vice Factory Director Yao, my high school classmate Qiao Jingyi."

"Haha, everyone’s saying all sorts of things, and some are even saying that you don’t let workers bring anyone into the textile factory, yet you brought people yourself."

"Let them say what they want. Once Qiao Jingyi starts working, rumors will automatically be dispelled."

"You really know how to take things lightly."

"What else can I do?"

"By the way, your secretary’s become quite famous in our factory."

"She’s already gone back, what’s left to say?"

"Xinyu, isn’t Kong Demin a bit too arrogant?"

"Didn’t my brother-in-law tell you? With things so chaotic now, they have significant power, so be cautious when you see Kong Demin in future."

"This is between us, you be careful. He’s not a good person."

"Yes, I know. By the way, come by in the evening to get the meat buns for the kids. Yesterday, Master Shang brought back at least eighty to ninety pounds of wild boar meat; I made sausages, and with the leftovers I’m steaming meat buns tonight."

"That sounds great. I’ll come to your place tonight to get them."

After lunch, Jiang Xinyu received a call from Lv Beiguang.

"I’ll deliver the canning jars to you tonight."

"They’ve arrived?"

"Yes, I urged them."

"I see."

After hanging up, Jiang Xinyu called Ding Shihong to ask for help buying some chili peppers and garlic, and then called She Xiaoyun for some sweet bean sauce.

Took a short break during the noon rest, and continued to work.

In the afternoon, Qian Jun came over. "Mr. Qian."

"Vice Factory Director Jiang, you’re aware of the situation with Meng Weihong, right?"

"Yes, I’m aware."

"Today I called Director Zhu to inform her. She’ll be arriving in the Provincial City soon. Let’s hope there won’t be any issues causing us trouble."

"Indeed, it’s really troublesome."

"I’ve found the new secretary, and he should arrive by next Monday. Secretary Song will assist you then."

"Alright, I eagerly anticipate it!"

"I found a male secretary this time; a female secretary would be inconvenient."

Jiang Xinyu smiled and nodded, not knowing what else to say.

Qian Jun also felt a bit awkward and after a minute, he stood up and left.

The end-of-day bell rang, and Jiang Xinyu packed up to leave. Everyone knew Vice Factory Director Jiang didn’t work overtime; she left on time.

She was stopped by Xiao Liu at the gate. "Vice Factory Director Jiang, your letter."

"Thank you, Xiao Liu."

Jiang Xinyu glanced at it, saw it was from the Provincial City Public Security Bureau, and didn’t recognize the handwriting. She put it in her backpack and rode home.

Upon arriving home, she hurriedly steamed the meat buns. Luckily, she had prepared enough dough, so she could send some with Lv Beiguang in the evening.

"Mom, are we having meat buns again?"

"Yes, or else the meat will spoil."

"Oh, but we can’t eat so much, right? Mom." Feifei followed behind her mom.

"Your Aunt Wang will come by to take some for your sister and brother, and in the evening, Uncle Lv will come to bring canning jars and take some home too."

The remaining meat filling was steamed into three large racks of buns, just enough for one rack per family.

The buns were still steaming when Wang Ailing arrived with the two children and brought a basin.

"Auntie, I haven’t eaten yet, waiting for the meat buns."

"Alright, there are more than thirty, enough for you all to eat."

The pot was already off the heat, and the aroma was wafting out.

She lifted the lid and directly placed them into the basin Wang Ailing brought over.

"Not going to keep you three, go eat at home, I didn’t put much salt. Dip in spicy sauce, it should taste better."

Jiang Xinyu saw them off. Her family also ate.

"Mom, did you use shrimp paste? It’s really delicious."

"Yes, Feifei does have a discerning palate."

When the family finished eating and had tidied up the house, and the two children had bathed, they finally heard a knock on the door.

"They delivered the goods late—three hundred canning jars, and lids too."

The truck stopped at the door. In ten minutes, the two drivers, along with Lv Beiguang, Jiang Xinyu, Shang Zhenkun, and a few others had unloaded everything.

Jiang Xinyu paid them and gave the remaining ten-plus buns to the two drivers to take with them.

After seeing them off, Jiang Xinyu packed a basin with some meat buns in a net bag and gave it to Lv Beiguang to take home. "Take these for Jing Chu and Guodong; today I steamed meat buns."

"Alright, it’s late; I’ll hurry home too."

When Lv Beiguang got home, Jing Chu had already prepared dinner, but the brothers waited for their dad to eat together.

"Dad, are these buns from Aunt Jiang’s house?"

"Yes, Aunt Jiang’s steamed meat buns."

The three of them ate all thirty. "Dad, Aunt Jiang’s cooking is just too good. Even if I had white flour and meat, I couldn’t make it taste like this. I’m really envious of Shi Jing and Feifei for having such a capable mom."