Xu Mingxuan's comrades were not polite to him. Early in the morning, before dawn, they set off from the camp. Although they came by sleigh along the riverbank, they had also brought a large group of old and young people who had walked many mountain paths. Everyone was already ravenously hungry.
Chen Lan quickly took Huijia from Xu Mingxuan's arms, letting him take care of his comrades and urging them to eat something to fill their stomachs. Xu Mingxuan himself must have been starving.
No one complained about the simple breakfast, as everyone was hungry. Even Gangdan, who was about six years old, ate a large steamed bun and drank more than half a bowl of spicy soup. He only let his father help him finish the last bit because he couldn't eat any more.
Soon, everyone had finished breakfast like a whirlwind.
Xu Mingxuan walked to the side and asked his mother-in-law in a low voice, "Mom, have you and Lan'er discussed it? How do you plan to arrange for my comrades' six families?"
His mother-in-law clapped Xu Mingxuan's arm and said with a hearty laugh, "Mingxuan, don't you trust your old mother to handle things? You can put your mind at ease! We've already made arrangements.
You see, your Uncle De and I have moved in. Our house has long been vacated and cleaned.
The quilts, luggage, bedding, and their cotton clothes and pants are all ready. We just don't know their exact heights and whether they are tall, short, fat, or thin, so we only made three sizes: large, medium, and small. We can pay attention to that when we distribute them later.
The pots, bowls, and ladles are ready in the kitchen! The grain, some dried goods collected from the mountains, and preserved dried chicken and spicy rabbit are in the storeroom. The winter vegetables are in the cellar behind the house, and the firewood pile is just outside the yard. They can start cooking immediately."
Xu Mingxuan was immediately relieved and said happily, "Mom, thank you and everyone for your hard work! Everyone got up before dawn to travel, and they are already tired and sleepy. Let's quickly arrange for everyone to rest!"
His mother-in-law immediately nodded in agreement and said loudly, "Come, everyone follow me. The houses are all ready for you. There's an empty house next to this one, and two more empty houses not far away.
The houses have all been cleaned, and we've prepared some daily necessities for you. Don't worry, we have plenty of grain for the winter, winter vegetables, and firewood. You can start cooking and living with peace of mind.
It's just that we currently only have three houses, and all three houses are the same size. You will need to share a house for two families.
Don't mind it. After the winter, when the ground thaws, we will build new houses, guaranteeing one house per family."
Everyone quickly expressed their gratitude, "Auntie, you are too kind. We are too grateful to thank you enough!"
Zhao Tie also quickly said, "Auntie, we are comrades who fought in the same trench as Old Xu. We have a life-or-death friendship, and we won't be polite to you. Don't feel like a stranger. We are already content to have food to eat and a place to live."
His mother-in-law said happily, "That's good! That's good! It's good that you're not polite! Now that you've come to the valley to settle down, we are all family from now on. It's better to be straightforward so we can get along well."
After saying that, she turned and led everyone out the door, heading to the next house. Xu Mingxuan followed behind.
When his mother-in-law and Xu Mingxuan stood at the entrance of the yard of the second house and pointed to the firewood pile, she said, "This is the firewood pile for this house. If you need firewood, you can get it from here.
For the two families living here, don't be too polite to each other. It's too cold, and the elderly and children can't bear it. The two houses behind are exactly the same as this one, and the provisions for winter are also the same."
Then, his mother-in-law and Xu Mingxuan led everyone into the house, showing them the grain and dried goods for winter in the storeroom, and the cellar in the backyard.
Seeing the cornmeal, white flour, and rice piled high in the storeroom, the dried goods, the dried chickens and rabbits hanging on an entire wall, and the cellar full of winter vegetables, everyone who had been anxious finally felt at ease.
Zhao Tie, Xu Hao, and comrades Zhou Sixi, who had lost an arm, and Chen Erlin, as well as Li Daqiang and Zhou Dashi, who had lost a leg, tightly clasped Xu Mingxuan's hands.
The eyes of a few people turned red and moist. They only managed to say one sentence: "Old Xu, thank you!"
Xu Mingxuan patted each of their hands to comfort them.
Finally, after their own discussion, Zhao Tie and Xu Hao would live in the fifth house. Li Daqiang, who had lost a leg, would live in the second house with his family, along with Zhou Sixi's family, who had lost an arm.
Zhou Dashi, with his mother, wife, and children, and Chen Erlin's family would live in the fourth house. After all, several of them had physical inconveniences, so living like this would allow their comrades to take care of and help each other.
Meanwhile, back at home, after Xu Mingxuan and his mother-in-law took the comrades and their families out, Mama Liu and Mama Cui went to the kitchen to get busy.
Chen Lan placed the dragon and phoenix twins on the carpet to play with toys, entrusting them to her mother's care.
As soon as she entered the kitchen, Chen Lan hurriedly asked, "Mama Liu, Mama Cui, what good things should we make for lunch to welcome Brother Mingxuan's comrades?"
Mama Cui thought for a moment and said, "Xiao Lan, the weather is too cold now. Even if you make a dish with seven bowls and eight plates, it will be cold by the time it's taken out of the kitchen.
It's better to do what we did a few days ago and make a big pot of stew. The elderly and children like it anyway.
As you said, it's nutritious and delicious, warm to eat, satisfying, and appetizing.
As for the men, you should prepare more braised dishes. Let them have a drink with their comrades, liven things up, and strengthen their bonds. Do you think this is okay?"
Mama Liu nodded repeatedly beside her, "This is good! Sister Cui is right! Xiao Lan, let's do it this way!"
Chen Lan hesitated for a moment and said, "In that case, will they think we are intentionally neglecting them?"
Mama Liu hurriedly said, "How could they? That stew is not bad! It has meat, pig's blood, tofu, vermicelli, and various vegetables. Besides, we have enough steamed buns made with mixed flour and flower rolls. What's more, we have braised dishes for them to go with their drinks. I dare say they might not eat this well even during New Year's at home!"
Since both of them said it was good, Chen Lan no longer hesitated. At most, she would prepare more meat dishes and use less vegetables to make a high-quality, hearty stew.
At this moment, Chuncao also came into the kitchen to help. Chen Lan still arranged for her to help manage the two stoves.
With so many people today, two stoves are not enough. Chen Lan decided to make rice in five large rice cookers for the guests to eat first. If it wasn't enough, they could steam more buns and flower rolls when the large pots were free. This way, it would be timely. They would be eating over there, and the buns would be ready over here. They wouldn't have to wait too long.
Since the decision was made, everyone began to busy themselves with their respective tasks.