Dumplings

Xuxian woke up to the distant sounds of someone moving around in the kitchen outside. Sitting up slowly with a groan, he felt his forehead ruefully. He hadn't drunk for a long time and he was regretting it now.

A shadow fell across the threshold and Suzhen came in, carrying a steaming bowl which she placed on the table. "You're awake. I made some porridge, Granny Hong said it would be good for a hangover."

Xuxian sat down at the table sheepishly. "I'm sorry, Susu. I must have made a fool of myself last night. How did you manage to get me back home?"

"I carried you back," she said simply, passing him a spoon.

He groaned. "It must have been hard on you. I can't imagine how you did it."

She flashed him a smile. "Don't flatter yourself. You're not that heavy."

He dipped his spoon into the porridge and watched the sunlight glisten on the fluffy rice grains like a mess of clouds.

"Eat up quickly, and see if you feel well enough to join us. Granny Hong asked us to come over and help wrap dumplings. They were given some minced pork and they kindly invited us to eat it with them. Qingqing is there too. I'm going to go over now, just so you know."

She tied an apron around her waist, humming, and took up a basket of spring onions she had cut from their garden. Xuxian watched her hurry out, sparing a moment to feed the chicken in its pen, and go over to Yuanzheng's house.

He waited till she had disappeared, then put down the spoon and went over to the wooden box he had hidden under their bed. Pulling it out, he flipped through the pile of rabbit pelts inside, counting them carefully. Four, five, six--he would need at least two more for a cloak, and more if he wanted to have enough for a pair of boots. He smiled, pleased, as he fingered the soft downiness of the pelts and saw how the fur glistened prettily with honey tints in the brownness.

Xuxian put the furs away and stowed the box under the bed happily. He made a mental note to make a few more rabbit traps.

By the time he stepped inside the woodcutter's home, it was already bustling. Steam filled the kitchen as Suzhen stirred a large pot of water over the fire, and Granny Hong tried to teach Qingqing how to wrap dumplings.

"Your fingers are so slender, perfect for making all the little tucks in dumplings, you just need to be patient," coaxed Granny Hong as Qingqing wrestled with the dumpling skin, her face looking blacker and blacker. "You must be gentle with the dough, Miss Qing, you can't press it so hard. That's another hole you've made in it."

Xiaohu was hooting with laughter as he produced yet another faultlessly wrapped dumpling, and gloatingly paraded it in front of Qingqing's face. Yuanzheng shook his head at them as he stocked up the fire. "As long as those dumplings can be eaten, Xiaohu. Did I see you put a clove of garlic inside it, or did my eyes deceive me?"

Suzhen laughed. "I shall be careful when I am eating your dumplings later, Xiaohu." The knife in her hands flashed as she chopped the spring onions with a neatness and speed that would have impressed anyone. She swept the pile of chopped vegetables aside on the blade and deftly arranged a new bunch on the board.

"Your knife skills are outstanding, Older Sister-in-law," Yuanzheng commented, using the respectful but personal title for an older, married woman. "I've been cutting trees for years but I wish I had half your skill with the knife, Dasao."

"That's because you're using a big axe for that, and this is only a little knife," replied Suzhen serenely. "It is a different set of skills."

"Dasao is being kind," laughed Yuanzheng. He dusted off his hands and went over to the dumplings makers, peering at their progress.

"Ah, very good Xiaohu! You've got a natural bent for this. What neat folds." Granny Hong inspected Xiaohu's dumplings approvingly.

Qingqing hurled the deformed dumpling into the pot prematurely in a sudden fit of temper. "How come he can do it so easily and I can't?" she raged. "This is no fun. I'd much rather just eat them after they're done. Stop smirking!" She jabbed a finger fiercely in Xiaohu's direction.

She was about to flounce out of the kitchen when Yuanzheng quickly caught her arm. "Don't be so petty. I'll show you how, it takes a while to get the hang of it. I was worse than you when I first started, to be honest. Mother boxed my ears for wasting so much ingredients."

Qingqing let him pull her back down, still sulking. Yuanzheng put another piece of dough into her hand and spooned some filling into the center. "Here." He guided her hands in his. "You mustn't squeeze it so tightly, you'll tear a hole in it. Now fold it over gently, don't press so hard."

Suzhen paused in her chopping to watch them, a small smile on her lips. She looked up to see Xuxian at the door. He rolled up his sleeves and came besides her. "Susu, let me help."

Granny Hong looked up at him, scandalized. "Physician Xu, how can you speak so casually to your wife, as if she's a little child? You should call her Niangzi, like any proper husband would."

Xuxian bowed obediently. "Niangzi," he repeated, tentatively.

Suzhen made a face and they tried hard not laugh as Granny Hong nodded, pleased. "That sounds more like it. Now, I have a proposal to make, Physician Xu. I'm going to go to town tomorrow with Huajun to get some little things. If you're willing, why not let Suzhen come with us? Miss Qing, you can come as well. Let us women have some fun together. You men are not allowed to come along, you'd spoil the fun. Always telling us not to buy this or telling us to hurry up." She sniffed pointedly in Yuanzheng's direction.

Qingqing was engrossed in making the tucks in the dumpling just as Yuanzheng had showed her. Without looking up she said "Oh, I can't. I'm going to go fishing with Yuanzheng tomorrow."

Suzhen raised her eyebrows. Xiaohu rolled his eyes. "And me," he said loudly and pointedly. "Don't you forget."

Granny Hong turned inquiringly to Xuxian. "How about it, Physician Xu? We will take good care of Suzhen, don't worry."

He glanced at her. "Would you like to go, Su--niangzi?"

Confused, Suzhen frowned as she saw Granny Hong making signs at her behind Xuxian's back and mouthing words. "What are you trying to say, Granny Hong?"

Granny Hong looked innocently back as Xuxian turned around. "Ah, what are you talking about, Suzhen?" She made a grimace as Xuxian turned back and gestured wildly at Suzhen. "Say yes!" she mouthed impatiently.

"Ye--es?" Suzhen said hesitantly. Granny Hong beamed. "Well then, it's settled. Now, Physician Xu, you can start putting this first tray of dumplings into the water, and make sure you watch them till they float. Xiaohu, you'd better wrap more dumplings than you eat, I'll be watching you."

She pushed a tray of dumplings at Xuxian and sent him off to the pot, seizing the chance as his back was turned to whisper gleefully in Suzhen's ears, "Now we'll have a bit of fun!"