Chapter 416: Chapter 215 Group New Year’s Meal_2
"The Upper Room fried two types of meatballs," Lady Zhang said after a glance. One was the same as the ones Lian Manman and the others had made, and the other was made with eggs and flour mixed into dough balls.
Lian Manman also tried one and felt that both were quite tasty, although the tofu vermicelli meatballs were not as tender and soft as theirs.
"It’s because we used more starch," Lady Zhang said. ’Starch’ here is a countryside colloquialism, referring to various types of starches.
...
With the main dishes prepared and only a few stir-fried dishes left to make, Lady Zhang sent Xiao Qi to check on the dining preparations in the Upper Room.
"We’ll eat once the Upper Room starts serving," Lady Zhang said.
Xiao Qi came running back, reporting that the Upper Room had started stir-frying dishes, and Lady Zhang then began to cook.
While they were still stir-frying the dishes, the sound of firecrackers burst forth outside, mingled with the cheers of Si Lang and the others.
"Mom, they’ve started eating in the Upper Room," Xiao Qi peeked his head out to look and ran back in, "Mom, let’s also set off our firecrackers."
"Alright, you and your brother go set off the firecrackers, we’ll start our meal too," she replied.
Wu Lang and Xiao Qi took a string of firecrackers out with a stick. The sounds of firecrackers boomed near and far, one after the other. As it turns out, it was the custom of Thirty Mile Camp to have the reunion meal at noontime.
By the time Wu Lang and Xiao Qi returned from setting off firecrackers, the table had already been arranged inside. Usually, the family of six squeezed around one table, but today’s feast was abundant, prompting the addition of another table.
Apart from a few stir-fried dishes and cold dishes served on medium-sized plates, stewed dishes were served in bowls, with a big bowl of braised pork and a large plate of braised fish. Meatballs filled two dishes, fully covering both tables.
Lady Zhang also warmed a small jug of white liquor, placing small cups in front of herself and Lian Shouxin. The children were not allowed to drink liquor, so Lian Manman took out a small jar of grape wine. Lacking proper wine glasses, they simply used bowls. The little jar of grape wine was an extra batch Lian Manman had brewed, with less sugar and low alcohol content, making it perfectly suitable to be drunk as grape juice.
There were no speeches before the meal, Lian Shouxin simply said, "Eat less rice, and more dishes," and everyone began to eat with laughter.
The chicken stewed with mushrooms used a rooster bought at the market before the festival. The rooster, meatier and chewier, along with wild red mushrooms provided by Lady Li, which were all small mushroom caps stewed to tender perfection with the chicken, made for an incredibly silky and savory bite. The braised pork was made of layered belly meat, more fat than lean, but not greasy at all when eaten.
The family’s living standards had significantly improved over time, but this meal was still extraordinarily satisfying.
Having eaten too much meat, some felt a bit greasy. So, after the meal, Lian Manman went out to pick half a basin of frozen pears. Frozen pears were also a special food from Lady Zhang’s maternal family. They take advantage of the low temperatures in winter to freeze the pears outside, then thaw them inside when ready to eat.
Despite the unappealing, dark appearance of the frozen pears, they tasted very good. Once thawed, the pear’s outer layer was its skin, and the flesh inside turned into pear juice. By biting a small opening in the skin, you could suck out the delicious juice.
This uniquely flavored, cool, and sweet frozen pear was the best antidote to the greasiness.
Thawing the frozen pears required soaking them in water, and it had to be cold water.
For the children, the New Year seemed to be about nothing but eating and playing. They had just finished a lavish meal, the food barely digested in their stomachs, and they were already huddled around the basin of frozen pears, eating and discussing the New Year’s Eve dumplings for the evening.
When mentioning the New Year, one thinks of the New Year’s Eve dinner. But at Thirty Mile Camp, this was the tradition: a lavish meal at noon, and staying up late into the night to eat dumplings.
In the evening, Lian Manman and Lian Zhizhi began preparing the vegetable filling, getting ready for the dumplings they would eat later at night.
"What kind of dumplings are you making tonight?" Lian Xiuxiu, holding a bowl, came over again.
"Cabbage and pork," Lian Manman answered. They also planned to make some with green bean and pork filling, but there were very few dried vegetables left, and Lian Manman did not plan to mention it to avoid trouble. "Elder cousin, what about you? What kind are you making?"
"What else could it be, also cabbage and pork," Lian Xiuxiu said. "Zhizhi, mother asked me to borrow some white sugar from you."
"Elder cousin, what do you need the white sugar for?" Xiao Qi, who was tired from playing outside, came back and asked casually.
"What I need it for, do I have to tell you?" Lian Xiuxiu glared, "Si Lang, it’s just some white sugar. If you’re unwilling to give some, just say so. Everyone knows you bought four jin of sugar for the New Year; who doesn’t know that?"
"Xiuxiu, who told you we bought four jin of sugar?" Lian Shouxin asked.
"What does it matter where I heard it, the story is true, isn’t it?" Lian Xiuxiu retorted with her neck stiff.
Lian Manman’s heart stirred. They had bought four jin of sugar and had not mentioned it to anyone. That day, there were no acquaintances around in the Fuda Grocery Store owned by the Zhao Family. Otherwise, Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang would certainly have greeted them... On that day, Zhao Xiu E should have been at the grocery store.
Lian Manman’s feelings suddenly became complicated.
"Elder cousin, whatever we bought and how much we bought, we earned the money for it with our own hard work, without stealing or robbing, nor using your money. Why are you so anxious and irritated? Does anyone owe you anything?" Lian Manman put down the knife and spoke sternly.
"If you won’t lend it, forget it. I’ll go back and tell mother." Lian Xiuxiu’s face turned red, and she stormed off.
"Why is my elder cousin’s face so sour?" Lian Manman said helplessly.
"Just indulge her, and there will be no problems," Lady Zhang said.
Lian Shouxin didn’t speak for a while, but finally, he took a half bowl of white sugar and brought it up to the Upper Room.
"Let’s have some peace, it’s the New Year after all."
...
At night, the family stayed up together to celebrate the New Year’s Eve, eating dumplings. Lian Manman managed to stay awake until Zi Hour, ran outside with Wu Lang and Xiao Qi, and set off a string of firecrackers. The new year began amidst the crackling noise of fireworks.
When Lian Manman returned to the room, just as she had taken off her shoes and was about to climb into the heated brick bed to sleep, she saw a fiery glow reflecting on the window.
"There’s a fire!"
***......***
First update, asking for pink. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
