Ch 40: Daily Farm Life After Returning from Interstellar

Rice Noodle Rolls

In the evening, while scrolling through her friends’ moments, Su Mu saw a photo posted by Wei Liu. The photo showed him, He Fu, and Gu Shi, an elderly man, and a finely featured young man.

She felt strangely familiar with the young man, but she couldn’t remember where she had seen him before. After staring at the photo for a while, she finally succumbed to the call of sleep and drifted off.

The next morning, it was rainy. Su Mu went downstairs. When Mother Su passed by her with a small basket, she said, “Breakfast hasn’t started yet. You’ll have to wait half an hour. If you’re hungry, just eat a piece of bread to fill your stomach.”

Su Mu nodded curiously. “Mom, where are you going?”

Mother Su was wearing water shoes and a bamboo hat. “I’m going to pick some wild vegetables. We’re having Rice Noodle Rolls for breakfast today.”

Rice Noodle Rolls, also known as Changfen or Cheung Fun, are made from rice batter, minced meat, eggs, and various wild vegetables. The prepared rice batter is spread into a thin pancake on a steaming tray. Then, the minced meat and other ingredients are evenly sprinkled on top before it’s steamed over boiling water. After a minute or two of high-temperature steaming, the rice skin puffs up and then falls back down when the lid is lifted. It’s scooped out and rolled into a circular shape using chopsticks, then placed in flat bamboo trays. When eating, a bit of soy sauce or prepared sauce is added, giving it a chewy and smooth texture.

When Su Mu was younger, every rainy day, she would pester her mother to make Rice Noodle Rolls. Back then, the family still used a wood-burning stove, and her mother would be responsible for steaming the Rice Noodle Rolls, while she sat on a small bamboo stool helping with the fire.

The first bite of Rice Noodle Rolls would forever remain in her little stomach, filled with savory minced meat and sweet wild vegetables. There was plenty of filling, so just one roll would make her feel full.

She didn’t know why every household would make Rice Noodle Rolls on rainy days. This habit had been retained until now.

Sure enough, Mother Su continued, “Your father went to grind rice flour. You prepare some minced meat and season it. I have to go now. Aunt Li and Aunt Zhang are waiting for me to go dig wild vegetables together.”

As soon as she finished speaking, she hurriedly left the courtyard.

It had been a long time since Su Mu had enjoyed freshly made Rice Noodle Rolls. On an empty stomach, she entered the kitchen, brimming with anticipation, and started working.

The pork was fresh, probably brought by the uncle from the neighboring village who slaughtered pigs. Lately, the news about selling land in Huayuan Village had been making waves, and they all knew that the villagers had become wealthier and were willing to buy meat to eat.

Not only the uncle who slaughtered pigs, but also those selling pots, bowls, ladles, and pots, those selling fish and shrimp, those selling fruits, and those selling roast duck and sausages.

The village had become quite lively lately. The villagers didn’t need to go to the county to buy groceries anymore.

Su Mu cleaned a large piece of pork, sliced it thinly, and then minced it finely. After turning it into minced meat, she placed it in a large bowl, added salt, soy sauce, and white wine, and mixed it evenly. Since salt would also be added during the preparation of the rice batter, and additional soy sauce and seasonings would be used while eating, she added very little salt, just enough for a hint of saltiness.

With everything ready, she opened an umbrella and entered the vegetable garden, picking a small bunch of green onions and digging up a piece of ginger. Su Mu liked spicy food, so she also picked a few Facing Heaven peppers. Thinking that her father liked cilantro, she also pulled out a few coriander plants.

She considerately took everyone’s preferences into account.

Next was washing what needed to be washed and chopping what needed to be minced. The chopped green onions also needed to be mixed in with the minced meat, enhancing the aroma of the meat even more.

Su Mu cleaned a large pot and filled it with hot water. She started heating the water on low heat. The utensils needed for making Rice Noodle Rolls were also cleaned one by one. The bamboo trays had to be dried with kitchen paper to prevent the rice rolls from sticking to them.

At this moment, Father Su hurriedly entered the kitchen carrying a wooden barrel. His hair was dampened by the rain, and water droplets were dripping down strand by strand.

Su Mu felt very distressed and quickly found a clean towel to wipe his face. Father Su enjoyed his daughter’s care and smiled, “It’s okay, just a little rain.”

“You say that, but if Mom finds out, it won’t be that simple.” Su Mu glared at him. He usually told her to take care of herself, yet he didn’t pay attention to his own health.

Father Su begged for forgiveness repeatedly, “I’m sorry, I was wrong. You have to keep it a secret from Mom.”

Su Mu gave a light snort, “We’ll see how you behave from now on.”

Father Su smiled sheepishly and went to the room to change into dry clothes.

The wooden barrel was well-covered by the lid, so rainwater hadn’t gotten inside. Su Mu lifted the lid and glanced inside. Half of the wooden barrel was filled with milky-white rice batter, with ripples still swirling on the surface.

The freshly ground rice batter couldn’t be used directly. It needed to be mixed with a certain proportion of hot water and quickly stirred to prevent the rice skin from falling apart when steaming.

Salt also needed to be added; otherwise, the rice skin would be bland.

However, for this kind of highly technical task, she still had to wait for her mother, an expert, to do it. She didn’t dare to mess around with it.

The water in the pot was already boiling. Su Mu turned off the heat and grabbed a small stool, sitting at the kitchen door, waiting for her mother to return.

With the sound of the falling raindrops, this kind of weather was perfect for spacing out. She rested her head on her hands and let her mind wander. When Mother Su returned home, she saw this familiar scene. Her daughter used to be like this when she was a child, and even now that she had grown up, she hadn’t changed at all.

Taking off her bamboo hat, Mother Su walked to the kitchen door and touched her daughter’s forehead with her cool hand. Su Mu was startled, and her gaze refocused. She smiled and said, “Mom, you’re back so soon?”

Her eyes looked at the small basket, which was full of wild vegetables poking out.

Mother Su entered the kitchen and answered, “I picked the wild vegetables from your vegetable garden. They’ve grown a lot there, so I picked them quickly. By the way, Aunt Li also picked some sweet potato leaves. Is that okay?”

Su Mu shook her head, “It’s no problem.”

In the countryside, no matter whose homegrown vegetables were in the fields, villagers could pick them as long as they didn’t disturb the owner’s property.

Actually, the wild vegetables from her garden were also meant to be sold to Rui Shang, and they were even more popular than regular vegetables.

However, Grandma Li and a few others had good relationships with her, so she wasn’t that stingy.

Su Mu felt satisfied with the preparations she had made for her daughter and instructed, “Go wash the vegetables; I’ll start preparing the rice batter.”

Su Mu took the task and went to the pond to clean the vegetables.

Mother Su immediately lit a big fire, and it was on in less than two minutes. She scooped some boiling water with a ladle and poured it into the rice batter, stirring it.

The vegetables weren’t washed yet, so she started making a plain meat one first. She brushed some oil onto the steaming tray, poured the rice batter into it, spreading it evenly at the bottom. After distributing some minced meat with chopsticks to ensure an even distribution, she placed it in the pot to steam.

It only took a short wait. When she lifted the lid, a rich aroma of rice mixed with the meat filled the kitchen.

Her eyes fell on the small bowl beside the bamboo trays, and she chuckled.

“Mu Mu, one Rice Noodle Roll is steamed. Hurry up, or it won’t taste good if it cools down.”

Upon hearing this, Su Mu sped up her actions. In just a few minutes, she had washed all the vegetables. After putting the vegetables in a convenient spot for her mother, she picked up a small bowl, used chopsticks to cut a small piece of the Rice Noodle Roll, and fed it to her mother’s mouth. “Mom, ah, open your mouth.”

Feeling indulgent, Mother Su ate the Rice Noodle Roll, and said, “Alright, go eat outside.”

Satisfied, Su Mu hugged the small bowl and sat at the kitchen door. She took out her phone, snapped a picture, and added a caption: “Rainy day, Rice Noodle Roll, the taste of childhood.”

The pure white rice skin had been stained with the color of soy sauce, and the vibrant red chili flakes were particularly eye-catching.

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

Su Mu enjoyed every bite.

Meanwhile, the others on the road were getting extremely hungry.

Holding his phone, He Fu’s mouth watered, “Mu Mu’s family is cooking something delicious again. If we hurry, we might catch a taste while it’s still hot.”

Gu Shi saved the photo and stared at him for a few seconds. “You’ll have to pay for the food.”

“Did you pay? I’ve done business with Mu Mu for at least ninety million. How much have you spent?”

He Fu’s retort left him speechless. Is he the only one who had been living off Mu Mu’s cooking without contributing much?

“I’ll pay in the future.” He said earnestly, “What I’ll pay is worth more than your ninety million.”

He Fu spread his hands, “I’ll wait and see.”

Tang Hui looked out the window. Raindrops were clinging to the glass, and the passing scenery was blurry. He couldn’t help but smile as he listened to his friends banter. It seemed like this journey was going to be a lot of fun.

Having finished one Rice Noodle Roll, Su Mu was about to eat the second one, this time with both minced meat and vegetables. It was bound to taste even better!

At that moment, He Fu and the others arrived.

Another familiar sight, they were well-acquainted with the place.

Su Mu was thinking of bringing an umbrella to welcome them, but she had just reached the eaves when they walked in.

He Fu greeted with a smile, “Mu Mu, it’s been over half a month, and you look even more beautiful.”

Su Mu replied, “Big Brother He, you seem to be even more lively.”

She turned her head to look at Gu Shi, “How did your medical checkup go?”

“Pretty good.”

The medical facility belonged to He Fu’s family, so his results came out quickly. They were available this morning.

He Fu chimed in with a teasing smile, “He here is somewhat undernourished. Mu Mu, us guys don’t want to just freeload, so could you give them a bit of living allowance? Please ask your aunt to take good care of them.”

Before Su Mu could answer, He Fu pulled Tang Hui aside and introduced, “This is Tang Hui, also our childhood friend. You should know him too, right?”

Su Mu looked at Tang Hui and did find him familiar.

Seeing her reaction, Gu Shi’s mood suddenly improved. “He’s the faded movie emperor. It’s normal if you don’t recognize him.”

Only now did Su Mu realize, her eyes blinking in astonishment as she looked at Tang Hui, excitement in her voice, “So you’re the Film Emperor Tang! Could you please sign an autograph for me?”

Gu Shi’s mood felt like a roller coaster; it had plummeted to the valley again.

He Fu, as an amused onlooker, almost burst out laughing. If he could capture this scene on camera, that would be great. But he didn’t have the guts for it.

“Of course, I can. I’ll sign as many as you want. Miss Su, I’m Tang Hui. I’ve heard your name before.” He extended his hand, and they exchanged a light handshake.

Gu Shi wished he could pull the two of them apart. Fortunately, the handshake only lasted a few seconds.

“I have a friend who is your devoted fan. Her dream is to get your autograph in person. I’m getting an autograph to give it to her. Would you mind?”

Her friend was Chen Guo. She had liked Tang Hui since his debut and still loved him now. Last time they talked on the phone, she had expressed concern for her idol because he hadn’t been in the news for a long time.

If she found out that Tang Hui was here, she would definitely go crazy with happiness. She might even drop everything and rush over. Su Mu remembered that her friend’s birthday was in a few days. She had been worrying about what gift to give her, but now she had the best gift—Tang Hui’s autograph.

Encountering such straightforwardness for the first time, Tang Hui was amused by her words. “Sure, I don’t mind.”

Gu Shi’s mood soared again. It turned out she didn’t like Tang Hui…

♡︎♡︎♡︎♡︎♡︎

Author: The male lead has never been in love before, he’s a bit childish, a bit introverted, and a bit awkward. Well, he’s a very contradictory person.