The Happiness of Being a Mother

In March, my husband and I embarked on a 5-day trip that cost us 2000 yuan per person. We relished [[...]

In March, my husband and I embarked on a 5-day trip that cost us 2000 yuan per person. We relished gourmet food and opted for independent travel, embracing a petty bourgeoisie lifestyle. Our journey was a culinary adventure, with a special highlight being the Gourmet Forest.

On March 23, 2024, at 12:23, I reminisced about our early days as a couple. Back in 2016, when we were dating, we were fans of Cuilongzhai. Both of us adored their soup dumplings. As poor students, we would visit the Confucius Temple whenever we were free, and Cuilongzhai was our go-to spot for a meal. We had so much to talk about back then, conversing non-stop from the moment we met until we returned to our dormitories.

Every visit to the Confucius Temple was followed by a trip to Cuilongzhai for soup dumplings. I vividly remember our first time there, when we had a heated debate over which type of soup dumplings to order. I was eager to try the crab roe soup dumplings, but my husband, being frugal, preferred the chicken ones. I called him stingy and insisted on the more expensive crab roe option. Suddenly, the shop owner chimed in, saying, “Just order the expensive ones and don’t save money for him. Eat.” This comment made us both laugh, leaving a deep impression on us.

Their buns were peculiar; they were served upside down, with the folds on the bottom. The soup dumplings resembled small balloons, swollen with soup sloshing inside the dough. One bite was pure delight. Now, with our child in kindergarten and having returned to Wuhan for several years, I still find myself missing that taste.This time, we took two children to Shanghai. When passing by Nanjing, my husband teased me. On impulse, we got off the highway and headed straight for Cuilongzhai. It was still the familiar boss, familiar cashier counter, familiar tables, familiar photos, and familiar soup dumplings. Only the boss didn’t recognize us. Our son, like me, likes eating roast duck and crab roe soup dumplings. Our daughter likes eating crab roe soup dumplings and red bean glutinous rice balls. My husband is still the same as before. Everything he can’t eat goes to him. When my husband was chatting with the boss while eating, the boss still didn’t realize that we were old fans (it has been six years since we last came). I asked the boss if he still shipped to Wuhan. The boss immediately remembered us and was extremely enthusiastic, giving us snacks and drinks. When we left, he also gave us a gift box of soup dumplings. It’s really a kind of emotional rendering. My husband had no choice but to call the boss and ask him to send us some.