Chapter 259 Going home for the New Year
The car has already left, and a group of kids chased it for a long distance. The old party secretary was still standing at the entrance of the village watching, thinking carefully about Zhu Xuefeng's suggestion.
Just now, the little guy suggested setting up a full-time or part-time breeder. You need to find a technician in the district to learn. Do you still need to learn how to raise chickens? But what people say is quite reasonable. How come this scholar also knows about farming...
Looks like I really need to find time to go to the area and have a look. People can hatch eggs in November without hens. Maybe there is something special about it.
"Sister-in-law, take this and don't refuse it. My second uncle's house also has it. I have to drive, so don't refuse it anymore."
My sister-in-law blushed. Asking the juniors to subsidize it was not just once or twice. It was really shameful, so I just gave some mountain goods. The money given by my eldest nephew was not old or young.
Zhu Xuefeng said while driving the car.
"My second uncle and I told him that since the two families usually move around a lot, it would be helpful to have someone to help. Besides, the second uncle has a lot of things to do later on, so he really needs an expert like my younger uncle to help."
Speaking of helping with work, my sister-in-law is very confident that her men can’t beat a fart with three sticks, but they are really good at this job, not to mention the work of carpenters and masons, but also all kinds of farm work. Take good care of yourself.
"We are all a family, no matter whether we can help or not, just say hello if you need anything. I will ask your uncle to work hard. It is better to work for your own family than for others. My eldest nephew, you can Don’t worry.”
"Sister-in-law, I won't get out of the car to say hello to my uncle. These are New Year's money for my younger brothers and sisters. Don't keep it for them. Let them have some in their pockets to buy school supplies or something."
…
After leaving the mountainous area, the speed of the car was much faster. The three of them didn’t even have lunch, so they had to rush back. They had agreed to invite Mr. Zou and his wife to have a New Year’s dinner together. If they went back too late, they would not It fits.
Fortunately, there are almost no cars on the road, and there are only a few cyclists and pedestrians.
"Sit down, you may feel a little bumpy for a while. If you are hungry, eat egg snacks by yourself. If you wait until the New Year's dinner, you will probably starve to death."
"I understand, brother, you can do it by yourself Look ahead and pay attention to safety.”
The two kids are in the back, and my sister-in-law was sitting in the front.
…
“You, this eldest nephew, are really promising. At such a young age, you actually drive a small car. Isn’t this something only the district chief has?”
This He was a neighbor. He was a little jealous when he saw the jeep taking my sister-in-law to the entrance of the village at the foot of the mountain, and couldn't help but chat with her.
"He borrowed this from the steel rolling mill. He is still a college student and is not at work. You should be busy first. I have to go back."
My sister-in-law didn't talk much and hurried home. I also saw it, and my wife asked the car to be sent back.
I have been to the district several times, but I have never ridden in this Jeep. My wife drove a car first. Most of the Jeeps at this time were confiscated and imported with original packaging.
"Why didn't you let your nephew come to the house for a meeting, and you left in such a hurry."
The sister-in-law glanced at the man, handed it over to the man to look at, and then took it back.
"My nephew gave it to me, and he also said that from now on, he will ask you to find my second brother more often, saying it is..."
Although the man is not talkative, he has no problem with his mind. I know that this is just to show off, and it is impossible to have good skills without brains.
"Okay, I didn't say anything, I will do this..."
The two of them chatted and entered the house...
…
The New Year atmosphere in the city is very strong. The streets and alleys are full of colors and lanterns are decorated everywhere. Because when you come in from Dongzhimen and pass by the industrial area, the factories along the way are also hung with lanterns and pasted with couplets and big Chinese characters "福". Stick it on the iron door.
I can’t see anyone anymore, everyone should be on holiday. I’m in a hurry. I’ll return the car after I get to work.
After entering the city, there were very few people on the streets and no vehicles. However, buses like breadsticks were still shuttling back and forth. There were quite a few people on them, and happy greetings were posted on the doors of each unit. The big characters to welcome the Spring Festival were hung, lanterns were hung, and flags were planted.
Continuing forward, all the shops along the way are bustling with people coming in and out, seizing the last moment to buy their favorite products. The furnishings in the large transparent windows are also covered in festive red. It’s full of New Year flavor.
Many little kids in the alley were playing with dismantled firecrackers. The naughty ones even stuffed the firecrackers into the cracks in the wall. They heard an explosion, the smoke passed, and a brick was missing from the wall.
Zhu Xuefeng honked the horn, and the frightened kid threw the firecrackers he was about to light. Seeing that it was Zhu Xuefeng who was causing trouble, he chased after him and threw one at the jeep. An explosion sounded from behind the car. , there was laughter in the carriage.
“These bad guys are doing explosives, brother, don’t imitate me.”
“Brother, didn’t you do the same thing when you led us to set off whips in the past? You stuck them in the snow. You are harming people in the pile.”
The younger sister asked from behind, while the second brother was snickering.
“Is this happening? It’s impossible, my second brother, you’ve brought your little sister into trouble before, right?”
The second child suppressed his laughter and scratched his sister's nose.
"Brother, the second brother bullied me, he scratched my nose..."
The younger sister was not one to keep silent after suffering a loss, so she reported it immediately and was enjoying herself in the car.
It gets cold early this year, and the beginning of spring is also early. Although the temperature is not high now, there is almost no snow in the city. Without the fun of blowing up snowdrifts, there will probably be more people blowing up shitholes.
"Third uncle, you haven't finished writing the Spring Festival couplets and the word "Fu" yet. It's a cold day. You can write it at home. It's still useful in the yard."
Three brothers and sisters The people came back very quickly, the car was almost empty, they were all locals, there was nothing to be afraid of, and they were in a hurry to come back, so they drove very fast all the way.
Spring Festival couplets have been posted at the entrance of the courtyard and the front door. Several people in the outer courtyard are also busy, and some are still posting them.
"Hey, Xiao Zhu is back. Your family hasn't written it yet. Do you have any ready-made lyrics? If not, I will choose one for you."
The third uncle holds it in one hand. Holding the writing brush, holding the couplets in one hand, he raised his head and looked at the three brothers and sisters. There were three little kids next to him waiting for the third uncle to give him ink.
On a cold day, I set up a table at the door of the front yard, and wrote couplets and the Chinese character "福" here. There were a lot of melon seeds, peanuts, candies, and two apples on the table. It seemed that I had written couplets. Quite a few.
This is the custom of the courtyard. Every year, the third uncle will write Spring Festival couplets for everyone here. There are no requirements, just some peanuts and melon seeds. This is what people want. He is a cultural person in the courtyard. This is what the third uncle has been doing for a year. highlight moment.
But don’t be dissatisfied, the third uncle is really good at calligraphy. After all, as a teacher, you have to write on the blackboard every day. It’s been a long time, and no one can compare to this blackboard writing skills. superior.
Don’t look at Zhu Xuefeng’s two lives, his calligraphy is indeed inferior. If he has a match, he will dictate it, and the third uncle will write it. If he doesn’t, the third uncle will take it from his stomach on the spot. It’s not that good. But there are still a lot of words about things like the sky increasing the number of years, the flowers blooming and the moon blooming, and the spring blooming in China.
"Third uncle, there is no need to trouble you about this matter. Our family will not do this this year, thank you."
The third uncle was stunned for a while, and it took him a while to react. Zhu Cai left. It was true that he couldn't stick this. If he wanted to stick it, he would have to find some paper of other colors. After all, there were only a few people who needed this kind of paper and it was not easy to get.
As for what to write in this situation, what is the importance of it, I can’t understand it, I am confused, this is a big festival, it has touched other people’s sad things, how inappropriate it is, I just wanted to apologize, they are three The brother and sister have left, but they didn't change the peanuts and melon seeds, which offended people.
"Xiaofeng, you guys are back. You haven't had lunch yet. Why don't you get something to eat first? Just take a bite first. Otherwise, you'll be so hungry that it's still early for the New Year's Eve dinner. This is unbearable."
Uncle Zou and his wife had been helping to prepare in the house for a long time. When they heard the noise outside, they quickly opened the door.
"It's okay, Uncle Zou. There are a lot of snacks at home. We can just come by ourselves. You see what's going on here, and we agreed that you would come to have a New Year's dinner. You are already busy with work, so it's not appropriate. It’s not appropriate, please take a break, we can come.”
The old couple had the keys to the house, and they were originally asked to add coal to prevent the heating from going out. Unexpectedly, the old couple were quite enthusiastic and got busy right away. .
"Is everything okay at home? You guys have been going back and forth for the past two days, and you are very tired. Let us do it first. We have nothing to do."
Uncle Zou took off his cotton-padded coat and rolled up his sleeves. It looked like They were also busy in the kitchen just now, so the three siblings quickly put down their small bags.
“It’s all good, uncle, there’s nothing tiring. The car was running and we were sitting, and these two little things fell asleep along the way. It’s really okay.”
“ Auntie, what are you doing?" The little girl came over quickly. Aunt Zou was taking some potatoes and peeling them. When she saw the little girl coming over, she explained with a smile.
“I see that you have prepared a lot of dishes in your cabinet. I am thinking of making a few cold dishes. I guess you haven’t prepared any. I want to make a mustard dumpling with mashed potatoes. ”
It is said that people in the old capital like to use vegetables, especially Chinese cabbage, to make mustard dumplings. But after eating the mashed potatoes made by Zhu Xuefeng, she heard that mashed potatoes are also good to make mustard dumplings. Aunt Zou remembered it. If I don't find a chance, I want to try it.
Zhu Xuefeng blushed. The New Year's Eve dinner in the old capital emphasized "four and four bottoms", which means that the banquet consists of four cold dishes, four hot stir-fried dishes, four meat dishes, and four soup dishes.
I thought about it and arranged a lot of dishes, but I really didn’t prepare them according to this particular rule. It would be fine if the three brothers and sisters ate it by themselves. Now that I’ve invited Mr. Zou and his wife to have a meal, it’s a bit inappropriate not to follow the rules. suitable.
But for these few people, it is really useless to follow the old rules. The common people's homes have also changed to "four plates and eight bowls", that is, four plates of cold dishes and eight bowls of hot dishes. For home cooking.
I really need to re-plan what dishes will be served at the New Year's dinner, otherwise the old couple will have to laugh at it.
Four traditional cold dishes: fried glutinous rice dumplings, mustard dumplings, pork skin jelly, and colorful peanuts. The fried glutinous rice dumplings are replaced with Qianlong cabbage. It’s too late to make them now. Uncle Zou has already prepared the peanuts, pork skin, etc. Feng Shazhu still helped to cook it, and kept it in the icehouse in the cellar. The cold dishes were all ready.
Eight hot dishes are prepared: Braised carp, braised sea cucumber with green onions, stir-fried shrimps, braised meatballs, twice-cooked pork with green garlic, and braised chicken. Then stir-fry two vegetarian dishes to make eight. In this way, the reunion will be happy and happy. When you are happy, having chickens and fishes is considered auspicious.
These are all ready-made and have been prepared for a long time. They are all in the icehouse. Silly Zhu helped distribute these sea cucumbers. Once they are cooked, they are frozen in the icehouse.
If the four soup dishes cannot be prepared according to the old rules, firstly, there will be no time, and secondly, there will be no ingredients. It is estimated that given the current situation this year, it will be difficult for everyone to get them together.
I can only make up the numbers, that’s what I mean. Besides, there are only five people, and four soups are a waste. When the time comes, make a pot of bone soup, a pot of mutton, and add seaweed, seaweed and egg droplets. Soup, chicken soup is all it takes. The so-called "four or four bottoms out" means that everything is even and stable.
When Zhu Xuefeng discussed the dishes he had arranged, the old couple agreed without hesitation. Unexpectedly, the eldest son of the Zhu family was quite well prepared. He also prepared a few at home, but it seemed that they were not needed.
"This Aunt Zou has already been fried. Don't mess with that emperor's cabbage. Don't let him come to the house to cause trouble during the Chinese New Year."
Uncle Zou reminded Zhu Xuefeng Can only accept it.
“Uncle, it’s not the Emperor’s cabbage, it’s the Qianlong’s cabbage.”
"Things about Qianlong and Kangxi are all from the old Huangli. This is not popular now. I think fried glutinous rice is good."
"Okay, okay, I'll listen to you."
"Don't make bone soup and chicken soup. By coincidence, your aunt has already cooked it. I didn't expect you to arrange it this way."
Uncle Zou looked at Zhu Xuefeng with a smile. The old couple had already made the soup early. Paying attention to the things prepared by the three brothers and sisters, I guessed that it would be early to come back today. This soup had already been stewed next door.
"Sedar, you and your sister go to the cellar to get all the vegetables, and then go take a shower. We will get started later."
"Okay."
< br>The second child happily took the key and went down with his sister. He took a shower before this year. He couldn’t bring the dirt from the previous year with him to celebrate the New Year. Zhu Xuefeng would also have to take a shower soon. He was still a little tired from the bumpy past two days. human.
With a plan, the rest will be easier to handle. Everyone performs their duties and works together. In a short time, the New Year's dinner is ready. There is no room in the kitchen, so Uncle Zou and his wife also found a Zhu Xuefeng made an excuse to go back first. Zhu Xuefeng knew that the old couple were avoiding it, and it was time for the old Zhu family to worship their ancestors.
I don’t know whose house it is in the yard, and it has already started to set off firecrackers in a hurry. The sound of firecrackers can be heard in the distance from time to time. A bunch of children are running around in the yard, so go to whoever’s house is setting off firecrackers. Whose house.
"Sedar, hang up the firecrackers and put them away. We have to set the table later."
"Okay." The younger brother and sister dropped what they were doing and went to set off firecrackers. Zhu Xuefeng arranged the memorial tablets of his grandparents and parents, rearranged them, and placed the tributes.
According to the rules here, a firecracker should be placed in front of the door or in the yard before eating to express celebration. Only after setting off the firecrackers can the food be served to the table.
Firecrackers crackled at the door, and Zhu Xuefeng also went out to light four kicks. He only heard a loud "Peng" sound from the sound of firecrackers, and then it was heard in the air for a long time. There was an explosion with a "pop".
The second child placed a lot of marlezi on the side again. This thing made a lot of noise, but unfortunately it only made one sound.
The children, headed by Niu Xiaoben, were all waiting aside, waiting for the release to be over, and then started picking and picking, looking for the ones that hadn’t exploded.
"You have to be careful for a while. Some of them may be triggered slowly and explode when you catch them. Don't hurt anyone. Wait a little longer before picking them up."
Zhu Xuefeng has had experience. When I was a kid, I quickly grabbed a handful and blew up a dozen firecrackers that had fallen down. Unfortunately, they exploded in my hand. It was so painful that three purple blood bubbles exploded on the spot. It hurt for many days.
The children of the third uncle’s family were also hanging firecrackers in the yard. When they saw Lao Zhu’s family starting, they covered their ears and watched, and waited until they let go before setting off firecrackers at home.
"Hey, big brother, this is booming. You're kicking your feet a lot. Do you have any more? Give me a few, and I'll let them go too."
Silly Zhu saw Lao Zhujia kicking his legs from a distance, and hurried over. There were too few of them, so it was difficult to come across them.
"Yes, come and get it. When will dinner be served at your house?"
"I've already prepared it. I'm going to pick up the old lady and we'll start in a minute."
Silly Zhu also got it. After four kicks, he walked away happily.
"Thank you, brother. After a while, our house will be prosperous, and there will be four rings."
Looking at the three little guys from the Yan family, they were jealous, and looked at Silly Zhu happily taking two I kicked my feet, but I couldn't speak even if I wanted to.
"Little sister, I made a trip to deliver four kickers to the third uncle's house. Let's put them together."
"Thank you, Brother Feng, thank you, Sister Xiaomei."
Yan Jiedi was the most familiar with the younger sister, so she stepped forward to take it and said thank you.
"You have to be careful later. This thing explodes very hard. Come on, let it go at your house. We have to go and serve the food."
No one listened to Zhu Xuefeng's nonsense, and the firecrackers exploded. Stop, a group of children jumped in, and then...
Accompanied by the sound of firecrackers at Lao Yan's house, the three of them brought the dishes to the table one by one. They were all cold and hot, including the hot pot and four soups.
"Kneel down and kowtow..."
After paying homage to grandparents and parents, these tributes still have to be placed.
"Go and invite Mr. Zou and his wife over, we are also going to have dinner."
It is still early, it is not yet seven o'clock. People in the capital celebrate the New Year, and this New Year's dinner is also called the New Year's Eve dinner. , there is no fixed point. Some people start eating early at 5 o'clock, and many people start eating later at 8 o'clock. Each restaurant arranges according to its own time.
This is different from that in the south. I remember that many New Year’s dinners in the south are eaten at noon. Here in the capital, it’s called New Year’s Eve dinner. Usually it’s the second half of the meal, and it’s followed by the bread dumplings.
The New Year’s Eve dinner is the most solemn meal of the year. Its significance, the pomp of the meal, and the length of the meal can all be said to be ‘one meal alone’.
No matter how difficult the family life is, they will try their best to prepare a New Year’s Eve dinner, which is not only a reward for everyone’s hard work over the past year, but also carries a strong meaning and wish.
There is no entertainment at night now. There is no TV. By the way, there is a radio at home. How could I forget this?
"Boy, take out the radio, I still want to talk about this."
There was an opera program on the radio, which the old couple loved to listen to. The three brothers and sisters wanted to eat first because they had been hungry for most of the day.
The New Year's Eve dinner was very sumptuous, and there was also a plate of shredded radish. This was not included in the dish, but it was just the first dish. There were also two kilograms of hot-boiled mutton. The table was full of dishes, so I was happy to watch them and eat them, but I really couldn't eat much. Except for Zhu Xuefeng, I ate three of the steamed buns that the two elders helped steam yesterday, and everyone else only ate one.
The steamed buns were all dotted with red dots, which were all done with the help of the old couple. Zhu Xuefeng had forgotten it a long time ago. He only remembered it when he saw the red dots. The three of them were not prepared at all. Fortunately, the old man helped. So as not to show cowardice.
The younger siblings had known that their eldest brother's appetite had skyrocketed since he started practicing martial arts, so they were not surprised. However, Uncle Zou and his wife were a little surprised to see that the eldest son of the Zhu family had eaten a lot of vegetables and was able to kill three big steamed buns. , is this monthly food enough?
(End of this chapter)