CHAPTER 27: CHAPTER 27: STEAMED BUN MOM’S COUNTERATTACK

Gu Ruhai thought about it and realized it made sense; he really couldn’t send this bowl of dumplings. If he did, his parents would definitely think he was trying to provoke them on purpose.

He sighed, sat down, and tacitly agreed.

Gu Xiaoqing walked over, pulled Li Xuemei, and gave Gu Ruhai a look, "Mom, don’t be angry. These dumplings are a labor of love from us sisters. There’s no need to be upset."

She sat Li Xuemei down on a stool right next to Gu Ruhai.

"Alright, sis, quickly put the dumplings down. Xiao Jie, come and sit, it’s time to eat dumplings."

Suddenly, she remembered her pot was still on the stove and dashed out like the wind.

"Oh no, my pot!"

Li Xuemei was amused, "This kid, always so hasty."

Seeing his wife laughing, Gu Ruhai edged closer to Li Xuemei with a grin. Li Xuemei shot him a glare, then burst out laughing.

The whole family immediately laughed along.

Soon, the potstickers and steamed dumplings were ready.

A table full of dumplings, all kinds of them, made everyone feel comfortable and satisfied.

Xiao Jie already had a mouth full of oil.

His little mouth kept munching, eyes flitting between the steamed dumplings, potstickers, and boiled dumplings, clearly wanting what he didn’t have yet.

Li Xuemei tapped Gu Xiaojie on the head with her chopsticks, which made Xiao Jie wince with pain.

"Mom, what are you doing?"

His expression was truly adorable.

Li Xuemei laughed, "Eat properly, why are your eyes darting around? We’re not stopping you from eating, it’s all ours, eat as much as you like. No one’s going to fight you for it."

Gu Xiaojie grinned as he swallowed a dumpling before speaking, "Mom, I’m just used to it. Whenever we visit Grandma’s for New Year’s, I can only feast my eyes; it’s hard to change the habit all of a sudden."

These words embarrassed Gu Ruhai, wondering how his own parents could be so indifferent to their own grandchild.

Poor kid.

He purposely put a fried dumpling in Xiao Jie’s bowl, saying, "Eat up, eat well. We use our mouths to eat, not our eyes."

He felt sad, realizing that he had just glared at his wife when, in fact, Li Xuemei wasn’t wrong. The ingredients for these dumplings were all gifts from her family; how could he justify giving any to his own parents?

As Gu Xiaoqing ate, she asked, "Mom, how are the dumplings?"

Li Xuemei praised, "They’re really delicious. I can’t make this taste. The dumplings at your grandparent’s every year aren’t as good. Seems like Xiaoqing really has skills."

Gu Ruhai also said, "Xiaoqing, these dumplings do taste great. I didn’t expect your cooking skills to surpass your mom’s."

Receiving a side-eye from Li Xuemei, Gu Ruhai chuckled sheepishly.

Gu Xiaoqing actually knew it would turn out well; she had used a secret recipe from years ago, so it had to be good.

"Mom, what do you think about selling steamed and fried dumplings in town? Wouldn’t that be nice?"

Li Xuemei’s eyes lit up; indeed, these are just flour and meat filling. If she could really make them taste like Gu Xiaoqing’s, it might be worth a try.

After all, the people in town are different from the countryside villagers.

She hesitated, "But would anyone buy them?"

Gu Xiaoqing encouraged, "Mom and Dad, the townspeople are mostly workers and civil servants, getting paid wages. Haven’t you heard Third Aunt complaining about how expensive everything in town is?

They’re different from us rural folks. They’re willing to spend. And these are food items; if sold outside factory gates at mealtimes, it should be popular. Even if they don’t sell, we can have them for our own family celebrations. Nothing goes to waste."

Li Xuemei nodded, "You’re right, townspeople are different from us country folk. I see Third Aunt buying pastries and soymilk for Gu Xiaofeng and Gu Xiaomin every morning. In our village, who’s so extravagant?

They’d go broke eating like that. People with wages live differently."

It was a sentiment, a bit of envy in Li Xuemei’s heart too because everyone has their standards. For Li Xuemei, living like city folks, earning wages, feeding the kids well, keeping warm, and having a decent life, was the best life.

Gu Ruhai didn’t quite understand, asking, "What are you and Xiaoqing talking about? Buying and not buying?"

Gu Xiaoqing laughed and said, "Dad, from now on, I’m in charge of our household."

This shocked Gu Ruhai, causing him to furrow his brow. Such a big girl, speaking so carelessly, what if people overheard, what would they say?

If the villagers found out, they’d say the two of them couldn’t raise their children properly, that they let a child run the house.

He slammed his chopsticks on the table.

"Xiaoqing, what did you say? Who said you’ll be in charge from now on?"

The authority in his voice was probably the only time Gu Ruhai got angry, which made Li Xuemei angry too.

She calmly picked up a dumpling, took a bite, and said, "I did. From now on, Xiaoqing’s in charge."

Hearing it was Li Xuemei, Gu Ruhai felt deflated. Although Li Xuemei had listened to him for years, Gu Ruhai wasn’t a tough guy. He would act tough at home but would shrink instantly when push came to shove.

Moreover, Gu Ruhai was not a domineering person.

He couldn’t stand firm.

Sheepishly, he said, "Why are you joining in with the child playing games? This is a big family, you can’t have a child in charge. If word gets out, we’d be laughed at, two old people not as good as a child. Laughed at for having a family where the old doesn’t act old, and the young doesn’t act young."

Li Xuemei giggled, "So, you do know the old doesn’t act old, and the young doesn’t act young?"

Gu Ruhai’s expression soured, knowing this was his wife fuming over the earlier matter, but he insisted obstinately, "Wife, this isn’t a joke. Xiaoqing’s still so young, we can’t do this. Trust me, she should focus on her studies, while the house matters are handled by me."

Li Xuemei sneered, slamming her chopsticks down too, "Gu Ruhai, don’t you feel embarrassed saying this? You’ve run this house for so many years, and look at how it turned out. The three kids are as skinny as in ’60, wearing patched clothes. How many in the village look like this? You still have the nerve to say you’re in charge.

What a joke. You think the village folks don’t already laugh at us enough? Whose brother clings like a vampire to his elder? Whose elders are so unfairly biased? What more do I have to fear from ridicule now?"