Chinese mother's '666-yuan dumpling package' wins netizens' hearts
What would your mother do if you were not going back home(不回家 bù huíjiā) for a once-a-year reunion holiday? A Chinese mother recently sent over a "dumpling package" to her son far away studying in Shenyang, capital city of northeast China's Liaoning Province, hoping he would make traditional Chinese dishes based on her recipe(教程 jiàochéng) to share with schoolmates(同学 tóngxué) and friends(朋友 péngyǒu) during the coming 2020 Spring Festival.
The mail-delivered package consists of a rolling pin(擀面杖 gǎnmiànzhàng), filling(馅 xiàn) made of three ingredients, some colored dough(面团 miàntuán) and loose flour(面粉 miànfěn) and medium-sized dumpling boxes. Delivered by cold-chain transportation(冷链运输 lěngliàn yùnshū) from the provinces of Shandong to Liaoning, the mother spent altogether a costly 665.7 yuan.
Xiaoli, the son, a university student who is working as a computer-design intern, is going to spend his first Spring Festival holiday alone and away from home.
"Surprise, son? I have prepared for you some semi-finished dumpling products. The salty filing is well adjusted while the dough made up just about right. The rest is up to you." Having hand-written down a manual, Xiaoli's mother also gives out specific instructions on how to make dumplings step-by-step, with own drawing.
Firstly, you brush the panel clean, wipe dry, sprinkle flour, and use the rolling pin to roll out some wrappers. Then put some filling in the center of the wrappers(皮 pí) and press the edges(边 biān), pinching(捏 niē) it hard to make the half-moon shaped dumplings. The mother also reminded him to put some salt(盐 yán) in the boiling water to make sure the boiled dumplings are not broken.
The reason the mother went to great trouble to send the full set of semi-dumpling products and not just finished dumplings is due to her concern over the holiday atmosphere. She wants him to call other students to come over and make dumplings together. The process is seen as a traditional Chinese Lunar New Year ceremony.
By receiving the package Xiaoli posted a message on his Wechat Moments(朋友圈 Péngyou quān), calling it a mum's "hardcore operation" and is "the most expensive dumplings he will have." He also said many of his schoolmates are now expecting to try the dumplings.
Xiaoli's Wechat Moments message. [Photo: official Weibo account of Shenyang Metro Times]
The message has gone viral on China's social media, attracting tens of thousands of comments. Netizens expressed that such heart-warming behavior does not only show a clear notice on the process of dumpling-making but also filled with a mother's love.
Screenshot of a netizen's comment on Weibo
"This is the most heart-melting meal set I have ever seen," commented a user @henokdejinrongxin on Weibo, China's Twitter-like social media platform.
Screenshot of a netizen's comment on Weibo
"This is so full of love," commented Weibo user @_fanchadouskr
Screenshot of a netizen's comment on Weibo
"What a godly mother! Although I would be having my mum's dumplings so I'm not that jealous," joked by Weibo user @mali.
Both mother and son did not expect such popularity. While the mother thought it was worthwhile investing time and money into the act, Xiaoli said he initially had concerns over the cost and felt he should not be lavish by having such expensive dumplings considering he was only on his internship. However, many friends around said it was a worthy holiday gift, and he felt warm and empowered by this piece of love from home.
重点词汇 Key Word:
感动 be moved/touched; move; touch
E.g. Wú bù wèi zhī gǎndòng.
无不为之感动。
None were unmoved.
Tāmen de rèqíng hàokè zhēn lìng wǒmen gǎndòng.
他们的热情好客真令我们感动。
Their hospitality really moved us.