On the twenty-fourth day of the lunar month, Xiao Qi's whole family carried out a big cleaning of the house together, all the furniture and objects in the house were removed and cleaned up, and even the dust and cobwebs on the beams were cleaned with the help of ladders.

Liu Dahe also took Xiao Qi and Ah Fu to cut the grape trellis bare, and the things in the cellar were neatly stacked.

On the twenty-eighth day, there were snowflakes outside, Xiao Qi and Ah Fu got up early, built a snowman in the yard, made a nose out of a carrot hidden in the kiln, and rounded the charcoal to make eyes.

After breakfast, Niu took a lot of noodles out of the noodle jar, added water to work, and let Xiao Qi knead the dough, Xiao Qi quickly made the son proficient under the guidance of Niu Shi, kneading the dough is a hard work, the noodles are kneaded well, and the steamed buns can be more delicious.

Niu Shi took out the amaranth dried in the summer from the utility room, soaked it in water, and boiled a lot of lard residue. No matter how muddy Niu is, she has a great advantage, that is, the food she makes tastes really good, and the women of the entire Niujia Village have to admire this, and she will basically ask her for help in the red and white ceremonies in the village.

On the 29th, Niu washed and drained the soaked dried amaranth, mixed in lard residue and seasonings, wrapped three large pots of white bread, and steamed a large pot of steamed buns mixed with bean noodles.

When Niu was busy working in the stove, Liu Dahe helped to light the fire, and the husband and wife seemed to be harmonious.

After the first pot of steamed buns came out of the pot, Niu picked up a few beautiful white breads and put them in bowls and put them on the stove and the windowsill outside the main house, bowed and bowed, and said a lot of auspicious words.

The fragrance of the bun spread far away, and after a while, the little mouse at the door snorted and walked into the courtyard of Xiao Qi's house, and Pear Blossom followed the little mouse and pulled the little mouse home, and the little mouse cried.

Xiao Qi picked up a plate of buns and walked out of the stove, the little mouse ran to Xiao Qi's side, grabbed two buns from the plate and ran away, Pear Blossom hurriedly shouted: "Little mouse, be careful not to burn your hands." The little mouse was so hot from the bun that he inhaled, and stuffed it into his mouth as he inhaled.

Xiao Qi handed the plate to Pear Blossom: "Sister Pear Blossom, don't worry, this plate of buns has been picked up for a while, and it won't be too hot." ”

Lihua didn't want to refuse this plate of steamed buns, she had eaten a dried amaranth bun of Niu's bun last year, it was very fragrant and very delicious, she had a long aftertaste after eating, such a beautiful white bread was close in front of her, she could touch it with her hand, she wanted her mother to taste this delicious food, so she took the plate with a red face and thanked Xiao Qi: "Thank you, Xiao Qi, I'll go home first, and I'll send the plate back later." ”

After Pear Blossom left, Niu pointed at Xiao Qi with his finger: "You loser child." ”

Liu Dahe smiled and persuaded the Niu family: "Didn't we get ten taels of silver for nothing a few days ago, don't scold the child for the New Year." ”

After a while, Pear Blossom led the little mouse over to return the plate, the plate was full of dried radish, Xiao Qi handed two more buns to the little mouse, and then took the plate and said to Pear Blossom with a smile: "I especially like to eat dried radish, thank you Sister Pear Blossom." ”

Pear Blossom was afraid that the little mouse would be busy after eating, so she led the little mouse away.

Niu picked up eight plates of steamed buns and asked Liu Dahe: "Which ones to send?" ”

Liu Dahe reported a few names, Niu: "I know you can't remember, in fact, I can't remember clearly, so let's just send them all." ”

Niu called Xiao Qi and Ah Fu to the front and said: "You two send these buns to everyone, remember, except for the Peach Blossom family, everyone else will send them, and each family must take back the plates, our family only has a total of eight plates, if you don't take them back, you won't be able to send them on the next trip." ”

Xiao Qi and Ah Fu agreed, so they each took baskets and buns and went out.

Xiao Qi was the first to send it to the Hua family, Hua Xi'er was wearing a red and bright dress today, and her hair was tied into two small balls, which looked beautiful and festive. Hua Xi'er saw Xiao Qi send a bun, picked one up and stuffed it into her mouth, and said to Xiao Qi: "Xiao Qi, the buns made by your mother are much more delicious than those sold in the town." ”

Xiao Qi nodded in agreement: "I also think my mother's cooking is delicious, Aunt Xi, you are so beautiful today?" ”

Hua Xi'er was coquettish: "Wasn't I beautiful before?" ”

Xiao Qimeng nodded: "Beautiful, Aunt Xi has always been beautiful." ”

Hua Xi'er stroked her face: "Xiao Qi, who do you think is more beautiful, me or Lihua?" ”

Xiao Qi replied very simply: "Sister Pear Blossom is more beautiful, Sister Pear Blossom's skin is as white as snow." ”

Hua Xi'er stroked her forehead: "Xiao Qi, why are you so honest, can't you tell a beautiful lie to make me happy?" ”

Xiao Qi hurriedly bypassed the topic: "Aunt Xi, you said that if Sister Lihua goes to the town to sell dried amaranth buns, can she make money?" ”

Hua Xi'er: "It shouldn't be very good, you have to put a lot of lard in this dried amaranth bun to be delicious, the cost is too high, the price is low and you can't make money, the price is too high, people may think that you are not a meat bun, how can it be sold so expensive?" ”

Xiao Qi: "Aunt Xi has a point, I'll go first, it's time to get cold when I turn around." ”

Hua Xi'er waved her hand at Xiao Qi: "Go ahead, some places are icy, be careful on the road." ”

Xiao Qi's third family sent it to his grandmother's house, Xu saw Xiao Qi hand a plate of steamed buns to Liu Dajiang, so he said to Liu Dajiang: "Throw it into the pigsty." ”

Liu Dajiang sniffed the aroma, and it was a pity to lose it, so he took advantage of Xu's inattention to secretly take the bun into his arms and take it to the east wing for his daughter-in-law and children to eat, and was unanimously praised by his daughter-in-law and children.