Reborn as a Landlord

The first update, asking for pink votes.

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"This plot is not bad, and our two families being close is self-explanatory." Lian Manman, upon learning this, said to Lian Yeye, "Even if there are fewer people now, there will be more in the future. Besides, you are building a house there now, and the front and back yards can be fenced in a bit bigger."

In a farmstead family, with Lian Shouli, Lady Zhao, and Lian Yeye as a small unit, it seemed they were quite small in number, notably "isolated," and living close to Manman’s Family was a wise choice. For farmsteads, having a bigger yard is the hope of every household. It provides enough space to grow vegetables, raise pigs, chickens, etc., all in one yard, which is the most convenient to manage.

Since they were villagers, getting a plot for building did not cost money; they just needed to speak with the Lizheng. With his agreement and no one else contesting, it was settled. Lian Shouxin accompanied Lian Shouli to the Lizheng’s house and settled the matter of the plot.

Still in the first month of the lunar year, no matter how anxious Lian Shouli was, the house couldn’t start construction immediately. So, they just measured the plot, and Lian Shouli continued to recuperate at home.

The happiest about moving out was Lian Yeye, who busily flitted around like a little bee every day, seemingly full of endless energy. She even joyfully came to Lian Manman to reserve flower seeds, saying she wanted to plant flowers around the new house, clearly having a beautiful plan for her future home.

Lian Manman naturally agreed.

"...By then, if there are any fruit saplings available, I’ll also prepare a couple for you."

"That would be great, thank you, Sister Manman." Lian Yeye was overjoyed.

On the other hand, at the old mansion, Old Master Lian hadn’t stepped out for several days, suffering from mouth sores due to being overly angry. Lady Zhou was also in a bad mood, sitting on the kang and cursing continuously for two days without naming names or specifically pointing out Lian Shouli’s move-out, only lamenting her hard life and heartless sons and daughters-in-law.

This was what Lian Manman heard from Xiao Fu, who got the information from the long-term workers.

Lian Yeye had dismantled the windows of the West Wing Room of the old mansion and even broken the kang. Lian Shouli promised to fix it but was currently recovering, so Lian Shouxin sent their long-term workers to repair the West Wing Room of the old mansion. Since it was during the New Year period, they gave extra reward money.

Soon, it was the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. The custom in Liaodong Prefecture was for every household to eat yuanxiao, hang lanterns, and set off fireworks.

Since white glutinous rice was not locally produced in Liaodong Prefecture, yuanxiao made from white glutinous rice dough was considered a rarity in farmstead families. Most farmstead families at this time ate yuanxiao made from yellow rice flour, the same flour used for making steamed buns.

The varieties of yuanxiao fillings were also few, with the most common being preserved green plum rose, black sesame, jujube paste, and five nuts, with preserved green plum rose being the most prevalent.

Liaodong Prefecture’s yuanxiao were made by first turning the fillings into small balls, then rolling them in white glutinous rice flour or yellow rice flour in a Chinese basket to evenly coat the filling balls with flour, known as rolling yuanxiao. Conversely, in the South, they ate tangyuan, made by adding water to glutinous rice flour, similar to wrapping steamed buns in the North, but with fillings inside.

Lian Manman wasn’t too fond of boiled yuanxiao; she preferred fried yuanxiao with a crispy skin. Yuanxiao could withstand frying, but tangyuan were unsuitable for frying.

Manman’s Family ate yuanxiao made from white glutinous rice flour purchased from the county town. These yuanxiao were shared with the Lian Family Old Mansion, Wu Yugui’s Family, Lian Yeye Household, and Zhang Qingshan family.

The yuanxiao for Zhang Qingshan family was sent by Lady Zhang, who dispatched a long-term worker driving a cart, and besides yuanxiao, there were also meat and snacks.

In the kitchen, Lady Zhang, along with Han Zhong’s Wife, was frying yuanxiao. The soybean oil in the pot was already bubbling, as Lady Zhang and Han Zhong’s Wife carefully placed each yuanxiao into the hot oil.

When bought, yuanxiao were usually frozen, so before frying, the frozen yuanxiao needed to be defrosted on the kang. Otherwise, when put in the oil, they would "pop."

Even defrosted yuanxiao were somewhat dangerous during frying. For instance, Lian Manman heard a gentle "pop" as a yuanxiao burst open, causing oil to splash.

Lady Zhang and Han Zhong’s Wife were both well protected and experienced, so they dodged, preventing splashes from touching their skin.

Lian Manman and Zhang Caiyun came to play in the front courtyard and wanted to enter the kitchen, just in time to witness this scene. Han Zhong’s Wife put the lid on the pot, after which only muffled sounds could be heard from inside.

"Oh, Mother, how about we stop frying the yuanxiao; it is quite scary," Lian Manman laughed. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

"It’s okay; it’ll be done in a moment," Lady Zhang waved her hand, laughing. Since it was only once a year on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, she wouldn’t let her children down over a little hassle. "You two go play elsewhere; it’s smoky here."

Lian Manman and Zhang Caiyun did not leave, but stood at the kitchen door talking to Lady Zhang. During this time, Han Zhong’s Wife lifted the lid and used a slotted spoon to remove the yuanxiao, which were golden brown and fragrant; many of them had burst, revealing the snow-white glutinous rice inside.

"Miss Manman, we’ve got the fried yuanxiao ready. Why not try stir-frying them?" Han Zhong’s Wife suggested, smiling at Lian Manman as she took out the fried yuanxiao. "With slightly more oil and on high heat, the stir-fried yuanxiao aren’t much different from the fried ones and don’t burst. The only difference is the skin isn’t as crispy but slightly softer."

"Then let’s try stir-frying a plate," Lian Manman said.

Han Zhong’s Wife agreed, scooped out most of the oil from the pot, leaving only about a spoonful, added more firewood, then poured a plate of yuanxiao into the pot, quickly stirring with a spatula to ensure each yuanxiao was evenly heated. The yuanxiao, coated in hot oil, visibly expanded, with their white skin gradually turning yellow.

To make fried-like yuanxiao through stir-frying, first the heat must be well controlled, and second, the cook must be quick. Han Zhong’s Wife was evidently skilled, managing to stir-fry the yuanxiao in no time. The stir-fried yuanxiao had doubled in size, with golden skins shimmering with oil and none of them burst.

Lian Manman picked one up to taste. Surely, it was crispy on the outside, glutinous inside, with sweet filling, making it very tasty.

After the grand meal of the fifteenth, the family sat around on the kang discussing their plans for going to town tomorrow. Having celebrated the Lantern Festival at home, they planned to go to town on the sixteenth to view the lantern show and see the decorative lanterns.

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That’s all for today. I’m too embarrassed to ask for pink votes now.

Ruoyan hasn’t been well these days but still managed to write two updates, ignoring the doctor’s advice. Today, I really can’t push any further; the doctor said if I don’t rest well, the consequences could be severe. Sorry, everyone, today’s update is limited to this. (To be continued. If you like this work, you’re welcome to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets, your support is my greatest motivation.)