The little star from the Gobi Desert, handed over to the state, is hailed as a national treasure.

No one wanted to miss this rare sight. The mill was overflowing, so everyone lined up at the entrance, and soon a long queue formed in front of the mill.

It's not about getting something; it's about waiting to be pushed around.

"Squad leader, let me push for a while!"

"Go away, I just started, I haven't even broken a sweat yet!"

"Wang Erhu, you've been pushing for ten minutes, it's time to switch!"

"Ten minutes isn't enough! This millstone needs to be heated up before the noodles will come out properly!"

The sounds of scrambling, laughter, and the rumble of the millstone mingled together, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere. Every soldier who was relieved of their duties was reluctant to leave and stayed to watch.

Logistics Minister Zhao Youtian appeared in the ranks at some point. He rolled up the sleeves of his uniform, revealing his muscular forearms. "Make way, I'll handle this."

The soldiers smiled and made way for him. Zhao Youtian was an old hand at it. He gripped the millstone, lowered his waist, and the rhythm of the millstone turning and the speed at which the flour fell increased simultaneously. The surrounding soldiers immediately applauded.

"Minister Zhao, well done!"

"Grandpa Zhao is awesome! Keep it up!" Even Tian Tian waved her little fist and cheered him on in her sweet, childish voice.

Upon hearing Xiao Fuxing shout for him, Zhao Youtian pushed even harder.

"Sweetie, watch Grandpa Zhao grind the wheat and make noodles for you."

"Wow, what are noodles?" Sweetie had a new question.

Commander Liu stood at the door with his hands behind his back, a smile on his face and a gentle look in his eyes. Professor Qian squatted beside the flour receiving station, scooping up a handful of flour to examine it closely, letting the powder slowly drip through his fingers, as focused as if he were scrutinizing a precious experimental sample.

"The quality is excellent." He exclaimed sincerely, "Commander, look, this flour is so fine and white, it's top-quality."

"That's because our wheat is good, and everyone grinds it finely," Chief Designer Wang replied with a smile.

Some soldiers, after grinding flour, had a lot of flour on their hands, so they simply smeared it on their faces, making everyone laugh. Soon, many people had a few playful white marks on their faces.

After the milled flour was carefully sifted, the soldiers meticulously packed it into cloth bags and carried them out of the mill. The cooks were already prepared, with water and basins lined up. As soon as the flour arrived, the kneading process began immediately.

"It's been so long since I've seen dough being kneaded; it really makes me miss it."

Brigade Commander Bai took the apron from a cook, rolled up his sleeves, and began kneading the dough himself. His large, calloused hands kneaded and slapped the dough with surprising skill.

"I didn't know our Brigade Commander Bai had this skill up his sleeve," Chief Designer Wang teased with a smile.

"Back in Yan'an, I helped out in the kitchen for the leaders." Commander Bai continued kneading the dough without looking up. "The key to steaming buns is kneading. If you knead it thoroughly, the steamed buns will be fluffy and chewy."

Sweetie saw this and was eager to try it too. The little girl had never seen such an interesting "game" before.

"Daddy, Daddy, Sweetie wants to play too!"

If it were any other child, they would definitely be scolded by the adults—"This is such precious food, don't waste it!" But who is Sweetie? This whole wheat field was discovered by Little Lucky Star.

Commander Liu immediately waved his hand and said, "Play! Play however you want, as much as you want!"

Liang Zhe quickly hugged his daughter: "Sweetie, let Daddy teach you."

Li, the engineer from the chemical engineering team, had already prepared a small basin and handed it to Tian Tian: "Good girl, no matter what you end up kneading, Grandpa Li guarantees you'll be able to swallow it!"

Sweetie clapped her little hands excitedly as she haphazardly mixed flour and water together, clumsily trying to knead it like an adult. After much effort, she finally produced something that looked neither like a rabbit nor a turtle.

Pointing to her "creation," Sweetie announced in her childish voice, "This is a little monster that Sweetie made!"

Everyone couldn't help but laugh at the strangely shaped dough. Several people had already "pre-ordered" the little monster, and some were even vying to be the first to eat it.

Xing, the cook, and the other female cooks also kneaded several large basins of dough. They shaped the kneaded dough into steamed buns and neatly arranged them in the steamer. The flames in the stove crackled and burned brightly. Snow-white steam billowed out, carrying an enticing aroma of wheat, instantly filling the entire cooking area.

"Almost there! Just another fifteen minutes of steaming and it'll be fully cooked," Xing Yuxiu said with a smile, wiping the sweat from her forehead.

While people were busily steaming buns on one side, the squad leader led two young soldiers to quietly sneak into the back kitchen.

He was carrying a bulging blue cloth bag in his arms, moving it carefully as if protecting some rare treasure.

When he set off for the city the day before yesterday, he took out his allowance that he had saved for half a year, and also brought all the meat coupons that his family had sent him that he had been reluctant to use. During the break between purchasing the millstone, he went to the supply and marketing cooperative's meat shop and pleaded for a long time before finally getting a piece of pork belly that weighed more than two pounds.

There was meat, but no vegetables. Vegetables were scarce at the base, and they usually ate dried pickled vegetables and radishes. The newly planted vegetables were not yet ready for harvest. After making inquiries, he finally found a vegetable farmer and bought two cabbages from his own seed at a high price.

He treasured this little thing all the way, and today, it can finally be put to use.

When he carefully opened the cloth bag, Li Dazui's eyes widened immediately upon seeing it: "My God! Where did you get this?"

This is meat, as rare as a gold nugget. The entire base hasn't smelled any meat in who knows how long.

The squad leader's dark face flushed red. He scratched his head and said, "We scraped together our allowances and meat coupons to get this from the city." He paused, then lowered his voice, "Brother Li, don't tell anyone. There's not much meat, just enough to make a few trays of dumplings... for the leaders, and for Tian Tian, ​​to satisfy her cravings."

Li Dazui looked at the meat and vegetables on the cutting board, and his eyes suddenly welled up with tears. He patted the squad leader's shoulder heavily, said nothing, and turned to grab a knife from the cutting board.

The meat was carefully minced, the cabbage was blanched, squeezed dry, chopped, and mixed into the minced meat. After seasoning, it was quickly stirred to create an incredibly tempting flavor.

Li Dazui waved his hand, looking at the smiling soldiers, "What are you all standing there for? Get to work, make dumplings!"

Before the dumpling dough was even finished being rolled out, steam from the stove had already filled the entire room.

Someone shouted at the top of their lungs, "The steamed buns are ready—!!!"

With a loud "boom," everyone in the crowd stood up.

The steamers were lifted off the ground one by one and placed on a long cutting board. The moment the lid was lifted, a white wave of heat rushed out, revealing plump, white steamed buns inside, carrying an intoxicating aroma of wheat.

Wearing an apron, Sister Xing stood in front of the steamer and called out loudly, "Line up! Everyone line up! There's enough for everyone!"

As she spoke, she used long chopsticks to pick out the first steamed bun and put it into the sweet enamel mug.

"Sweetie, you eat first, be careful it's hot."

Looking at the soft, white steamed buns, Tian Tian clapped her hands with delight, exclaiming, "Daddy, they smell so good!"

Liang Zhe quickly tore off a small piece, blew on it, and brought it to his daughter's lips, saying, "Slow down, don't burn yourself."

"Oh dear, Liang Zhe, your feeding method isn't right. Let me do it." Seeing his awkwardness, Chief Designer Wang quickly picked up Tian Tian and put her on his lap. "Grandpa will feed her. Our little lucky star has done a great job, so she deserves to be the first to eat."

"Hey Liang Zhe, you don't know how to feed him, let me do it."

"Wow, the steamed buns are so delicious! Grandpa Wang, Tian Tian loves them!"

Eat as much as you like, there's plenty!

"Come on, have some more soup, don't choke." Commander Liu brought over the fish soup that Li Dazui had specially prepared—it was essential to give Tiantian the best nutrition.

"My dear, I have some good news for you." Professor Qian also came over with a smile, "Those duck eggs you picked up last time should be hatching in the next couple of days. When the ducklings hatch, Grandpa Qian will take you to see them."

"Really?" Sweetie's eyes lit up instantly. "Great! Sweetie can play with the little ducks!"

"Really?" Sweetie's eyes lit up. "Great! Sweetie can play with the little ducks now!"

"Look what I got!" Zhao Youtian held up a strangely shaped steamed bun, which was made by Tian Tian herself.

Sweetie immediately laughed and pointed at the "ugly monster," saying, "Sweetie's wrapping is ugly, it looks like a little monster."

"Who says it doesn't look good?" Zhao Youtian immediately corrected with a straight face, "The sweet buns are the prettiest, not only do they look good, they taste good too."

As he spoke, he tore off a piece and stuffed it into his mouth, then smiled at everyone and said, "My lords, I'm truly blessed by our little lucky star."