Reborn as a Fake Heiress Marrying the Tycoon - Chapter 921

Chapter 921: Generosity

Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

In that moment, Su Li remembered how pitiful he and his siblings had been before their mother arrived. He thought to himself that if Mom hadn’t come, he and his brother and sister would still be in that same state of misery, or perhaps even worse.

With this thought in mind, Su Li stepped forward and hugged Gu Zi tightly. He didn’t say anything particularly profound, just, “Mom, I want to learn how to make zongzi too.”

Of course, Gu Zi agreed. The next morning, she woke up early to prepare the ingredients for making zongzi. By the time Su Bing and the others came downstairs, they were ready to start wrapping the zongzi.

Gu Zi worked with practiced hands; she took the bamboo leaves, filled them with glutinous rice and fillings, folded the leaves over, and tied them securely with string. One by one, plump and fragrant zongzi took shape, filling the air with a delightful aroma.

Su Bing picked up the technique quickly, and soon he was able to wrap up zongzi that looked quite presentable, though not as plump as Gu Zi’s.

Su Li managed to wrap a few, but he didn’t quite get the hang of it. Instead, he clutched a large bamboo leaf tightly, bringing it to his nose to inhale the scent, and asked a whirlwind of questions. “It smells so good! Why do these leaves smell so nice, Mom? How did people figure out that zongzi can be wrapped in these leaves?”

Without pausing her work, Gu Zi replied gently, “Well, that knowledge comes from years of practical experience. Long ago, people discovered that certain plant leaves could be used to wrap food. There are many kinds of leaves; all you have to do is pick them, and they help keep food fresh. So, to preserve their food, they naturally started wrapping it in leaves.”

She continued, “Over time, the tradition of eating zongzi during the Dragon Boat Festival developed. Depending on the region, people used different leaves to wrap the glutinous rice. For instance, in the South, we often use bamboo leaves because they are large and flexible. The zongzi made with these leaves have a natural fragrance. Bamboo leaves contain chlorophyll and various amino acids, which are beneficial for our bodies.”

Su Li nodded, still curious. “But Mom, if bamboo leaves are so great, why don’t we eat zongzi every day?”

Gu Zi chuckled, “Even the best things can become burdensome if we have them too often! Especially glutinous rice, which can be a bit sticky. Eating it in moderation can nourish our energy and blood, but too much can be hard for the body to digest. Our ancestors were wise to set the tradition of eating zongzi only during the Dragon Boat Festival. That way, we can avoid overeating!”

Gu Zi was unsure about the answer to Su Li’s question. She was simply sharing her understanding, knowing that it wasn’t necessary to trace every question back to its origins. If the opportunity arose, Su Li would receive a more precise answer from someone else—after all, no one person is always right.

They spent the entire morning wrapping zongzi. Despite Gu Zi’s swift hands and the help of Su Bing, the number of zongzi they needed to make was overwhelming; they had to prepare over two hundred to satisfy everyone on their list.

In addition to their immediate family, they had to send zongzi to Aunt Zhang, who was watching their house in the village. They also had to send some to Li Zhu’s family, to their city neighbors, the Gao family, to old friends like Gong Xin, and even to the Guan family, despite Guan Xin being away. There was also Yang Zhen’s family to consider.

With the Dragon Boat Festival just around the corner, time was tight, but Gu Zi was determined to finish in time.

She had already arranged for her brother to come over in the afternoon to help transport the zongzi back to the village, while Jin Long would handle deliveries to the farther city neighbors. Jin Long was eager to help, as it gave him another opportunity to visit Gong Xin.

When her brother arrived in the afternoon to pick up the zongzi, he brought with him a whole basket of zongzi made by Li Hua and the others at the store. Gu Zi was taken aback by the sheer quantity. “Is Sister-in-law feeding pigs?” she joked.

However, Gu Zi knew that her sister-in-law was just being thoughtful. Understanding that Gu Zi had many people to send zongzi to, she prepared an ample supply for her. The straightforward nature of rural folks meant that when they liked someone, they showed it by giving generously.

Gu Zi had no reason to refuse, and she planned to share some of the zongzi her sister-in-law sent with their neighbors, the Gao family.

After sending Lin Cheng off with the zongzi, Gu Zi returned to find Su Li leaning on the dining table, his eyes sparkling with desire as he stared at the zongzi.

He had always loved sticky rice dishes; in his mind, glutinous rice was delicious and fragrant, especially with the rich fillings his mother had packed inside. He adored cooking with Gu Zi and relished the festive atmosphere—it was one of his favorite times of the year!