The Life of a Son-in-Law in a Courtyard House

"Big brother, second brother, Brother Dalin is here."

Before even entering the Huang family's courtyard, Huang Xiaoying called out.

Huang Weiguo, the eldest son of the Huang family, who was helping to prepare cabbage inside the house, was the first to rush out.

Huang Weiguo is Huang Zhongjun's eldest son, and he will be fourteen years old after the New Year.

He's practically a young man now.

He usually just helps with chores around the house.

She is a very sensible child.

The last time Yang Dalin left, this child cried.

He was very grateful to Yang Dalin and regarded Yang Dalin as his own brother.

Just like Zheng Guangming and Zhou Bingkun became acquainted in the human world, when they heard that Zhou Bingkun had arrived, they would say, "Brother Bingkun, you've come."

Yang Dalin patted Huang Weiguo's head: "Well done, Weiguo, you've grown taller again recently. Looks like you've been getting good nutrition lately."

Then Yang Dalin saw Huang Weiguo's younger brother, Huang Jianguo, and the kid pounced on him too.

Huang Weiguo is the second oldest, and he is only twelve years old.

She cries even more than the eldest child.

However, he's also quite daring. Last time back in their hometown, this kid dared to take a brick and prepare to secretly smash the heads of the two adults who bullied their family.

Fortunately, they were discovered and stopped.

Yang Dalin was welcomed into the house by three children.

The room was quite warm, with a heated kang (a traditional heated brick bed) and a stove lit.

Huang Weiguo poured water for Yang Dalin.

Then Yang Dalin asked, "Weiguo, where's your mother, my aunt? Isn't she home?"

They had just moved from the village and were still used to calling her "Niang" instead of "Ma".

Therefore, Yang Dalin respected their customs.

Huang Weiguo said, "Yes, my mother went to work and will be off work soon."

"Or I'll go and call Mother over. She'll be so happy to know you're here."

Yang Dalin saw a large cabbage that had just been taken out of the cellar next to the stove.

Yang Dalin said, "No need, it's almost time to get off work, why call me auntie? I'll wait a bit."

"By the way, what are you doing? Getting ready to cook?"

Huang Weiguo nodded: "Yes, I just took out a cabbage, I'm going to peel it, then put it on the stove and cook the rice."

Yang Dalin patted him on the shoulder: "Good, you've become much more sensible, you even know to help your aunt cook in advance."

I'm here today, let me cook for you.

When my aunt comes back soon, we can have something ready to eat.

I brought some meat and flour; how about I make you some dumplings?

After saying that, Yang Dalin lifted the flap on the top of the backpack and was about to untie the rope at the top of the backpack.

Zippers have been invented for a long time, but they are not commonly used on clothing in ordinary households.

Therefore, the top of Yang Dalin's self-made backpack was still tied with a rope.

Huang Weiguo pressed down on Yang Dalin's hand and said, "Brother Dalin, no need. There's still plenty of meat at home that you brought last time."

You've helped our family so much, we can't accept anything more from you.

Yang Dalin removed the little adult's hand and said, "You brat, you call me brother, so you're my younger brother and sister. What's wrong with an older brother bringing his younger brother and sister some food?"

Besides, I don't lack these things, so don't worry.

Don't be so formal, otherwise how will I come back in the future? Don't you want me to come again?

Huang Weiguo was, after all, a child who grew up in the village, and was still young, so he didn't know how to refuse others.

Yang Dalin didn't have the nerve to mention things like "I and your father are sworn brothers."

Otherwise, it would make the three children miss their biological father again, and they would cry, which would be bad.

Therefore, the only way to build a closer relationship is through older brothers, younger brothers, and younger sisters.

Yang Dalin first took out a bag of flour from his backpack, which weighed ten pounds.

There was also a five-pound piece of pork with lots of fat, two cans of fish, two cans of fruit, and five pounds each of rice and millet.

One pound of brown sugar and one pound of sugar cubes.

When the three little ones saw so many good things, Huang Weiguo tried to stop them again.

Yang Dalin said, "Okay, that's all. The New Year is just around the corner. I usually don't come to see you unless I'm on a business trip and happen to be passing by."

I've come this time, but I don't know when I'll be back next time.

So please accept it, don't refuse.

Weiguo and Jianguo are here to help me out. I'll teach you two how to make dumplings. How about we have some pork and cabbage dumplings for dinner tonight?

"We can eat just as my aunt gets home from get off work."

Seeing that he couldn't refuse Yang Dalin, Huang Weiguo had no choice but to agree to help him and his brother.

Huang Xiaoying asked, "Brother Dalin, my brother and the others are helping, so what's my role?"

Yang Dalin tapped her nose with his finger: "You're the youngest, so you're in charge of eating."

"No, I want to help too. I know how to start a fire back in my hometown. Can I help start the fire? But there's a stove here, not a wood-burning stove."

Huang Xiaoying said, somewhat annoyed.

Well, she's still a hardworking little girl.

Yang Dalin thought for a moment and then asked, "Do you know how to peel scallions? Go peel some scallions."

Huang Xiaoying jumped up happily and said, "I can do it! I can also peel garlic and wash cabbage!"

Yang Dalin nodded: "Okay, Xiaoying is really capable, but today the four of us will be cooking, so you don't need to do so much."

So, I assigned tasks: Jianguo boiled water, helped his sister peel two scallions, and washed the cabbage.

Wei Guo will be in charge of chopping the meat first, and then the cabbage. Be careful not to cut your hand.

I'll be in charge of kneading the dough, and after that, I'll roll out the wrappers. The three of you can be in charge of filling them, okay?

Yang Dalin quickly arranged for the three little ones.

So Yang Dalin first poured several kilograms of the flour he had brought into the basin.

Seeing Huang Weiguo and the others makes me feel so sorry for them.

Even though their family received a lot of grain from Yang Dalin and the army, they still felt bad about eating so much white flour in one meal.

Yang Dalin cut off another two jin of pork. Seeing the children's distressed looks, he cut it into two pieces and put the remaining one jin back in.

Use only one pound of pork; leave the rest for them to eat slowly.

Yang Dalin was strong, and the room wasn't cold, so he quickly kneaded the dough.

Huang Weiguo was chopping meat rather slowly.

Yang Dalin took the knife, and "choo choo choo," the hoof knife began.

After chopping the meat into minced meat and putting it into a small bowl, Yang Dalin chopped up the scallions that Huang Xiaoying had peeled and added them to the minced meat.

Yang Dalin thought for a moment and then asked them if their families ate ginger.

Having received an affirmative answer, Yang Dalin chopped some more ginger.

Then, I only put some soy sauce in the minced meat. I couldn't find any other seasonings. After adding salt, I poured some lard from my space into the minced meat when the children weren't paying attention.

It smells even better this way.

Then mix the chopped cabbage and minced meat thoroughly.

Yang Dalin took out a piece of dough, pinched off a piece, and first shaped it into a long cylinder.

Cut the noodles into small pieces with a knife.

Then press down with your hands and start rolling out the dough.

While rolling out the dough, the three little ones stayed around Yang Dalin, learning from him.

Huang Weiguo also asked, "Brother Dalin, you're so skilled at it, do you often make dumplings at home?"

In his previous life, Yang Dalin's family often made meals for him, and he himself, having been single for many years, also frequently made meals for himself.

He didn't do much in this life, but he won't forget these memories.

He laughed and said, "No, how could that be? I learned it from the adults in my family."

I remembered it.

You three should learn to cook from your aunt more often.

From now on, I need to at least learn how to cook.

"This way you won't go hungry."