Xia Xue left the town's train station, went to a street shop to buy fillings, and returned home alone along the gentle hillside.

The rice, flour, oil, and salt at home, Leng Zhong prepared enough for Xia Xue before leaving. Xia Xue returned home, took off her coat, washed her hands, put on her apron and began to meet.

Then, while the noodles were awakening, Xia Xue used condiments to adjust the meat filling and put it aside for sauce. At this time, she began to choose vegetables unhurriedly, washed them, controlled the moisture, and chopped the vegetables.

Xia Xue does housework and never worries. When I was a child, I was never pampered in front of my parents, and I didn't do any less work, and I practiced a good job. Baoton dumplings, for Xia Xue, is even more of a problem. Some people think that making dumplings is troublesome, but Xia Xue thinks that making dumplings is convenient. Isn't it easy to eat dumplings and even have vegetables and noodles?

When the headmistress and Jacques rang the doorbell, Xia Xue had already wrapped the dumplings in advance, and the kitchen had been cleaned up. On the dining table, according to the domestic custom, melon seeds, peanuts and a few dried fruits, as well as a few snacks and fruits, are placed. Xia Xue didn't know the eating habits of the people in the town, and everything was according to the old ways.

The headmistress and Jacques walked in the door and were surprised to hear that Xia Xue had already wrapped the dumplings.

The headmistress said in amazement. Xia Xue, such a complicated manual work, you can actually do it alone, it's incredible!

Jacques stood in front of the kitchen door, looking at the dumplings on the curtain, and opened his mouth wide in surprise, and did not speak for a long time.

The pot on the kitchen stove was steaming hot. Blue flames, licking the bottom of the spotless pot.

Xia Xue stretched out her hand, gently pushed Jacques aside, and walked into the kitchen. She turned to the two guests and said, "You go eat something else first, drink some tea, and the dumplings will be cooked soon." I treat you as family, so don't be polite to me, I hope you are here as if you are in your own home, okay?

The headmistress smiled and nodded, stepped forward movingly, hugged Xia Xue, and kissed her on the cheek. Thank you, Xia Xue, thank you so much! After saying that, the headmistress left.

I want it too, Teacher Xia Xue, I want to hug you too! After Jacques finished speaking, without waiting for Xia Xue to answer, he gently hugged Xia Xue condescendingly, leaned down and kissed Xia Xue lightly on the forehead.

Xia Xue's cheeks turned red, and she turned her head and smiled embarrassedly.

Jacques let go of Xia Xue and said, don't you still want to send dumplings to little Evan?

Xia Xue smiled, don't worry, I have an arrangement. It's still early for dinner, so let's eat first. When we were done, and it was time for dinner, I cooked dumplings for Evan. When the time comes, let's go visit little Evan together, okay?

Jacques smiled and said, okay, can I watch you cook dumplings? In this way, when I learn it, I can cook dumplings for everyone to eat in the future.

Xia Xue had no choice but to nod her head and put Jacques into the kitchen.

Xia Xue opened the lid of the steaming pot, picked up the rice spoon, and gently stirred the water surface with the extension of the spoon, so that the water in the pot gently swirled. Then, she lifted the curtain and lowered the dumplings into the pot. At this time, gently push the dumplings in the pot with the extension of the rice spoon.

Xia Xue, why do you have to stir the water surface instead of pouring the dumplings directly into the pot? Jacques asked earnestly, frowning slightly.

Xia Xue said with a smile, because doing so can prevent the dumplings from sinking to the bottom and sticking to the pot. If the dumplings stick to the pan, it's not good, and our people there are very particular about this. Especially during the Chinese New Year, the cooked dumplings must be complete and beautiful, and no flaws are allowed.

So, how long do dumplings take to cook before they can be cooked? Jacques looked unashamedly asking, like an open-minded schoolboy.

Xia Xue said. We cook dumplings, pay attention to opening three times and rolling three times. In other words, the water in the pot is boiling before the dumplings can be served. When the pot is boiling, you need to add a little cold water along the edge of the pot and continue to boil. Do this three times, let the water in the pot boil three times, let the dumplings roll in three times, and the dumplings are cooked. But I cook dumplings, and for the sake of insurance, I open five opens. In general, the dumplings float on the surface of the water and are basically cooked. If you really can't get the heat, you can take out the dumplings and taste them, so that you know if they are cooked?

The dumplings are cooked. Xia Xue turned off the fire and put the dumplings on the plate, and Jacques was responsible for serving them to the table. Jacques served three large plates of dumplings in front of each of the three seats.

When Xia Xue continued to hold the dumplings and asked Jacques to continue serving them to the table, Jacques looked at Xia Xue strangely.

Xia Xue, only the three of us eat, why do we continue to hold so many dumplings after serving three dumplings?

Xia Xue smiled, this is according to our habits. The extra dumplings can be placed in the middle of the table, and if you need to add dumplings later, you can pick dumplings from these plates in the middle.

Jacques suddenly realized. Xia Xue handed him a bowl full of garlic again, and said, dumplings should be eaten with garlic paste to be delicious! Jacques took the garlic puree slightly dazedly and walked into the dining room in the back room.

Xia Xue took off her apron, took three small plates and cutlery, and walked to the table and sat down. Xia Xue picked up the dry red that had been woken up in advance on the dining table, filled the wine glasses for the headmistress and Jacques respectively, and symbolically poured a little more for herself. Then, Xia Xue put chopsticks and knives and forks in front of the headmistress and Jacques respectively.

Xia Xue said with a smile, I'm afraid that you won't be used to chopsticks, so I also prepared knives and forks for you, you can eat as much as you want!

Jacques couldn't wait to take the knife and fork, and after cutting a dumpling in half, the filling and skin were eaten separately and one after the other.

Xia Xue sneered and looked at Jacques, but did not speak.

The headmistress seemed to see the doorway and asked. Xia Xue, isn't it wrong to eat like Jacques?

Xia Xue smiled, yes, if you eat like that, you can't taste the deliciousness of dumplings. We eat the dumplings directly, dipped in garlic, instead of separating the dumpling skin from the filling.

Jacques patted his head in frustration and said, I'm so embarrassed that I made a fool of myself! However, it doesn't matter, I'll correct it right away. After saying that, Jacques put the knife and fork aside, grabbed a dumpling with his hand, dipped it in garlic, and put it in his mouth. His eyes widened, and he shouted again and again that it was delicious!

The headmistress laughed, and Xia Xue looked at their happy appearance, and her heart was as happy as the New Year. The headmistress, following Jacques's example, gave up her reserve, munched on dumplings, and let out a cry of admiration.

Jacques was the opposite, raised his glass, and said, let's not live up to Xia Xue's wine, let's have a toast!

The headmistress raised her glass and said thank you to Xia Xue again!

Xia Xue politely raised her wine glass and said. Thank you for your care and love. Your love means so much to me! I'm pregnant, so I don't dare to drink, so you two must drink to your heart's content! Just, Jacques, don't get drunk first. Because, we still have to send dumplings to little Evan!

Jacques nodded again and again, and said, I won't get drunk. There is an old saying in your hometown, called, a thousand glasses of wine for a confidant! So, even if I drink a thousand glasses, it's not too much, and I don't get drunk!

The three of them raised their glasses and laughed heartily. At this moment, the weight in Xia Xue's heart disappeared without a trace.

The headmistress and Jacques didn't drink much, because everyone was worried about little Evan.

In the evening, the three of them went to the hospital in the town to visit little Evan and brought dumplings that had just come out of the pot to their family.

Little Evan, sleeping. The three of them did not linger, but spoke for a while at the door of the ward, and then took their leave. Evan's parents repeatedly thanked Xia Xue, saying that they liked Oriental dumplings very much.

On the way back from the hospital, the headmistress talked about little Evan.

Evan is lively and active by nature, especially on Christmas Day, looking at the newly decorated town, Evan will become extremely happy, and his eyes will jump with joy.

Since learning how to draw simple pictures, Evan will also hand-draw some simple greeting cards on Christmas, and then accompany his mother to hand deliver those greeting cards to the town's postman uncle, police uncle, and aunt who set up a stall.

When he was very young, Evan often innocently asked his mother, "When will I meet Santa Claus?" ”

My mother always smiled lovingly and said, "Santa Claus gives out gifts late at night every year, but you don't hear it when you fall asleep!" ”

Since then, whenever Evan finds the red socks by his pillow stuffed with gifts on Christmas morning, he can't help but exclaim: "Wow, so Santa Claus is here again!" ”

That's how Evan grew up carefree. Who knows, when he was six years old, an accident suddenly befell this cute little boy. Unfortunately, he contracted cerebral palsy, and the doctor had no choice but to spread his hands, saying that there was no cure for the disease.

One day in late autumn, Evan was admitted to the hospital as his condition worsened. After a series of examinations, the doctor said in a heavy tone to Evan's mother that perhaps the child would not be able to wait for Christmas this year.

When my mother heard the verdict, she was stunned as if she had been struck by lightning. Although she had been mentally prepared for a long time, she didn't expect this day to come so quickly, and tears kept flowing down her cheeks. She couldn't imagine that the joyous festival had not yet arrived, but the child's life was coming to an end.

Evan, who is ignorant of the world, is still giggling on the hospital bed, drawing colorful greeting cards one by one. Because his mother told him the other day that Christmas was coming.

Evan's illness was like a gust of wind blowing through every household in the town. Everyone was incredulous at first, why did this child, who has the childlike heart of an angel, suffer such a cruel truth?

In the end, when everyone prayed in the church, they unanimously decided: in order not to let little Evan leave with regrets, let's bring this year's Christmas forward! This suggestion was recognized by the people of the town, and everyone was busy with all their hands.

When the headmistress said this, tears fell like rain and she had to stop.

Xia Xue was beside her, and she kept shedding tears.

Jacques turned his face to the side with red eyes and the cold wind, so that no one could see his expression.

The three of them walked in silence for a long time. Don't be sad, Jacques said, but we've got a special Christmas for little Evan in store! The day after tomorrow, Santa Claus will visit our town in a special way.