Chapter Ninety-Three Little New Year

"Why are you in such a panic, child? Since I'm putting you in charge of cooking, I naturally trust you. As for the procedures, I know them well, and I was just about to tell you."

He cleared his throat: "This grand feast is firstly to thank Heaven and the River God for their protection, so that no one was harmed despite the turbid river's danger, and secondly to repay the kindness of our neighbors in helping each other. The date is set for the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month, the day before the Lunar New Year, when the Kitchen God will go to Heaven to report good things, and we can also share in the joy."

"As for the banquet."

He paused, his gaze falling on Zhao's face: "I don't ask for delicacies, just enough food and warmth, chicken, duck, fish and meat. Each household in the village can contribute according to their ability. I and Granny Zhao will take the lead in collecting them. Rice, grain and vegetables, the ancestral hall will contribute the majority, and each family will add their own contribution. I'll ask Xiaoman to give you the exact amount later."

"Hands." Old Master Sun stretched out his withered fingers and counted: "You are the head chef. As for the women helping in the kitchen, you can choose them carefully. They need to be quick, clean, and reliable. There should be at least five or six of them. For the rough work, such as washing, picking, chopping, cooking, and serving, each family can send some young men and strong wives to do the odd jobs. You just need to give the orders and coordinate. The elders will take care of things like greeting guests and setting the tables, chairs, and dishes."

"The stove was built in the open space in front of the ancestral hall. The Zhao family and the Li family both contributed large iron pots, and a few temporary earthen stoves were set up. Everyone contributed firewood, and there was enough to burn."

Finally, he looked at her carefully and said, "Do you have a good grasp of all this? I trust your skills in the kitchen. Managing everything and handling interpersonal relationships are also skills. Just go ahead and do it. If you encounter any difficulties, come to me, Granny Zhao, or any of the uncles and elders in the village. Our Zhuohe Village has suffered a disaster, so we must unite as one and make this feast a grand and lively affair, for good luck!"

Listening attentively to Old Master Sun's words, he stood up and bowed solemnly: "Don't worry, Old Master, I've noted down the plan. I'll go back and carefully consider the manpower and materials. I will certainly not let you, Granny Zhao, or the villagers down!"

Grandpa Sun nodded in satisfaction and waved his hand: "Go on, it's cold, be careful on your way home."

The 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month is the Little New Year.

Before dawn, the open space in front of the ancestral hall in Zhuohe Village was already bustling with activity and lively conversation.

Several borrowed large iron pots were already placed on the makeshift earthen stove, with firewood roaring in the firebox, casting a warm red glow on the surroundings.

Several old tarpaulin sheds were erected in the open space to block the wind. Under the sheds, several long cutting boards were set up, piled with chicken, duck, fish, meat, radishes, cabbage, bags of rice, and bundles of firewood collected from various families.

Zhang Liuyi stood in front of the largest stove, holding a heavy, long-handled iron ladle. Song Ru followed beside her, also wearing an apron, her hair neatly tied back. She deftly sorted the washed cabbage and chopped meat into a large basket.

"Sister Xiaoshi, should this fish be steamed or braised? These grass carp sent by the Sun family are very fresh!"

Song Ru picked up a still-jumping fish and asked in a clear voice.

I glanced over and saw my subordinates constantly pouring the freshly blanched pork belly chunks into another hot pot to stir-fry, sizzling and releasing a fragrant aroma.

"Steam it, Sister Ru, make a big one, to bring good luck for abundance every year. Give me the leftover fish head, I'll make another soup."

"Xiaoman, pass me that rock sugar over there, the meat needs to be colored!"

"Why!"

The two agreed readily and turned around to chop off the fish head from the cutting board. She had now become the most capable assistant, not only with skillful knife work and organized food preparation, but also with considerable knowledge of cooking time and seasoning. Clearly, her experience at Fu Man Lou had laid a solid foundation for her.

As the sun rose higher, more and more people gathered in front of the ancestral hall.

The men helped chop wood, carry water, and set up tables and benches, while the women stood outside the shed, some picking vegetables, some washing dishes, chatting and laughing.

The children were running and playing in the crowd, and the firecrackers were popping and crackling. The adults chased them away to play elsewhere so as not to disturb the banquet.

"Let the feast begin!"

Someone shouted at the top of their lungs.

The first dish, steaming hot and golden-brown fried meatballs, was served quickly on large trays by several teenagers.

Next came the glistening, fragrant braised pork, the tender and flavorful steamed pork knuckle, the steamed fish drizzled with piping hot scallion oil, and the bright green stir-fried vegetables with garlic... One dish after another flowed out of the stove and onto the long table that was already full of people.

"Wow! These meatballs are fried so crispy! They're cooked to perfection!"

"Try this braised pork! It's fatty but not greasy, melts in your mouth, and is even better than the ones in town restaurants!"

"This fish is steamed to perfection, with absolutely no muddy taste. The cooking technique is amazing!"

Exclamations of praise rose and fell across the table, chopsticks flew across the table, and laughter filled the air.

It's rare to have such a hearty and warm meal in the winter.

Those older people who had initially had reservations and felt it was against custom to let women cook were now also seated at the table.

The second uncle of the Sun family was the one who disagreed the most. At this moment, he picked up a piece of braised pork and put it in his mouth, chewing it carefully. The tension on his face slowly relaxed.

He put down his chopsticks, picked up the rough porcelain wine cup in front of him, and said to Uncle Wang, who was engrossed in gnawing on a chicken leg next to him.

"Old Wang, this meat... is cooked to perfection, the heat and the flavor are impeccable. It seems... I made the right choice in Zhao's wife and my brother."

Uncle Wang wiped the grease from his mouth and chuckled, "That's right! I knew it! Keep an eye on this kid; he's honest and quite capable!"

Notice the sweat rolling down his forehead from the smoke and fire in front of the stove, but he didn't bother to wipe it away.

She had to keep an eye on the heat of several pots, adjust the flavors, and direct the women helping her in the kitchen to cut, prepare, and plate the food.

Song Ru hovered around her, handing her seasonings, tasting the food, watching the fire, and serving dishes, arranging everything perfectly, greatly reducing the burden of paying attention.

"Hey, can we serve this chicken soup yet? It looks milky white!"

Song Ru lifted the lid of a large pot, and a rich aroma wafted out.

She glanced at him briefly and said, "Roll it around a bit more, skim off the oil, sprinkle some chopped green onions on top, and it'll be done! Sister Ru, pass me the salt shaker, this stir-fried liver tip needs a bit more seasoning!"

The two worked together seamlessly, and Xiong Zixiang was also busy.

He led the able-bodied men in the village to maintain order and serve wine and tea.

His tall figure moved among the guests, exuding composure and reliability.

Occasionally, his gaze would drift to the figure in an apron, completely absorbed in front of the stove, and his eyes would be filled with pride.

After several rounds of drinks and several dishes, the atmosphere at the banquet became even more lively.

With his grandson's help, Grandpa Sun stood up, raised his wine glass, and said in a loud voice: "Fellow villagers! Today is the Little New Year. This feast is to thank the gods of heaven and earth, and to thank the people of Zhuohe Village for their mutual support. The chef of this feast is Zhang Jiajiu from our village, and the good wives and girls of our village are helping out. Come, let's all toast them!"

Everyone stood up, raised their glasses in response, and the sound was deafening.

Just then, Uncle Sun also stood up shakily.

He held his wine glass and walked to a spot not far from the stove, addressing Zhang Liuyi and Song Ru, who were busy directing the serving of soup: "Liuyi, Song Ru... this glass of wine is for you both. Your skills are excellent, and your hearts are even better! This feast is wonderful! You've brought honor to our Zhuohe Village!"

Having said that, he tilted his head back and drank the wine in his cup in one gulp.

Both Xiaoshi and Song Ru were stunned.

She quickly wiped her hands on her apron, looking somewhat flustered.

After calming himself down, he picked up a bowl of warm vegetable soup from the side and solemnly replied, "Second Uncle, you flatter me. It's all thanks to the help of the villagers."

Xiong Zixiang walked up to Xiao Jin at some point and silently handed her a clean cloth to wipe her sweat.

He took it carefully, smiled at him, and the lively atmosphere continued until the sun began to set, when the cups and plates were scattered everywhere and the laughter gradually subsided.

The women who were helping started clearing away the dishes, while the men helped dismantle the stove and move tables and chairs.

The area in front of the ancestral hall gradually quieted down, leaving only wisps of smoke.

She was so tired that she could barely stand and leaned on Xiong Zixiang.

Song Ru was also exhausted, but her eyes were shining: "Sister Xiaoli, we...did it!" Song Ru said softly, her tone filled with disbelief.

She was also delighted; having completed a major task, she finally felt relieved. After resting for a while, she handed Song Ru a red envelope: "Sister Ru, this red envelope is from the clan elders. Please accept it quickly; we'll be relying on you to help with the shop during the New Year holidays."

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