The walls inside the Sheng family's house were whitewashed, but over the years they have turned yellow.

So a few days ago, after Sheng Xiping and his team finished cleaning, they repainted the walls and ceiling.

The partition wall and the area below the window were specially covered with a wainscoting pattern, similar to the floral pattern on quilts from Northeast China.

Zhou Qinglan and Sheng Yunfei also cut paper-cuts and hung paper money, which instantly created a festive atmosphere inside and outside the house.

The adults were busy, and the two children followed along, running around inside and outside the house. Seeing the yard full of red, the two children clapped their hands with joy.

After finishing all that, the family started preparing for the reunion dinner.

The pig was just slaughtered yesterday; the pig's head, shank, heart, tongue, and aspic are all readily available.

We still have pickled cabbage and pork belly left. We can reheat them and add some blood sausage for another dish.

I'm planning to make braised pork belly, which is simple. Just cut it up, put it in a bowl, and steam it.

In early spring, Zhang Shuzhen caught twenty chicks, some of which died, but she eventually raised about ten to adulthood.

There were five roosters. When winter came, Zhang Shuzhen thought the roosters ate too much, so she kept only the prettiest one and killed and froze the rest.

This morning, Zhang Shuzhen brought back a chicken from the storeroom to rest, planning to stew it with mushrooms and vermicelli later.

In addition, Sheng Xiping led his younger brothers to fish out of the ice holes. If they just stew one of those fish, that would be enough for today's family reunion dinner.

Around 3 p.m., all the food was prepared, so it was placed in the middle of the ground and set aside.

This table is big enough to hold more dishes.

Sheng Xiping was busy before the Lunar New Year and didn't have much opportunity to go hunting in the mountains, so there was less wild game on the dinner table this year.

Fortunately, we had slaughtered a pig, so the meal was still quite plentiful.

Braised pork knuckle, chicken stew with mushrooms and vermicelli, braised fish, sauerkraut, pork belly and blood sausage, sweet and sour pork ribs, deep-fried pork tenderloin, braised pork belly, assorted pork heart, pork tongue and pork liver, aspic, pork head meat, and pork trotters.

The last dish was a fruit platter. Apples and pears were peeled, cored, and chopped, while hawthorns were washed, cut open, and pitted. The three fruits were arranged together and drizzled with honey.

Zhang Shuzhen originally wanted to serve stir-fried pork, but Zhou Qinglan said that since it was all meat dishes, everyone might find it too greasy, so she suggested serving a fruit platter instead, something refreshing.

Zhang Shuzhen thought it was a good idea; there was still plenty of fruit at home, so why not eat it? It had been sitting for so long, and if she didn't eat it soon, it would probably rot.

As it turned out, the most popular dish after the meal was served was actually that large plate of fruit.

The Sheng family, with their comfortable lifestyle, usually have no shortage of meat. Especially now, with a table full of meat, they feel a bit too full to eat and want to have a couple of pieces of fruit to cleanse their palates.

"Oh dear, if this table of dishes were served normally, even if we just put one or two dishes on the table, our family would devour it in no time."

Look at today, everyone's going all out for fruit.

Zhang Shuzhen is getting old and can't eat much meat anymore. She prefers the mushrooms and vermicelli in chicken stew with mushrooms, or sometimes she'll eat some aspic.

Seeing the fruit plate quickly emptied, Zhang Shuzhen couldn't help but sigh.

"Mom, this is just the beginning. Just you wait and see. Life will get better and better. In the future, not many people will eat meat at the dinner table. They will all prefer vegetables."

Upon hearing this, Sheng Xiping laughed. As living standards improve, people's dietary structure will gradually change.

"Hmph, I don't believe vegetables can be better than meat. Meat has always been the tastiest food. If you don't eat meat, you'll just get bloated."

Let alone in the past, even a few years ago, it was difficult for our family to even have a meal with meat.

"You've only enjoyed a few years of good times, and you don't want to eat meat anymore?"

Sheng Liancheng snorted dismissively, picked up a soft, trembling piece of pork knuckle skin with his chopsticks, put it in his mouth, and showed a satisfied expression.

"Hmm, you know what, this braised pork knuckle is really good, it's delicious."

"Yes, yes, Grandpa is right. Meat is so delicious. I love eating meat."

Sheng Xinhua was the first to agree, nodding as he picked up a piece of sweet and sour pork ribs. "Delicious, so fragrant."

On the other end, Sheng Xinyu was also gnawing on a spare rib, mumbling indistinctly, "Yes, yes, the meat is so delicious."

The people at the table burst into laughter at the sight of the three generations of the family.

"Yes, the meat is delicious and very fragrant. We slaughtered a pig this year, so you two can eat it however you like."

Sheng Liancheng was pleased and put some pork knuckle on the two children's plates for them to try.

"People of this generation are born into a blessed life."

Look at them, what hardships have they endured since birth? They have enough to eat and wear, and whatever they want, their families have it all.

What did we have back in our day? Let alone us, even when my older brother and his friends were kids, how many times a year did they eat meat?

Looking at his two grandsons, Sheng Liancheng couldn't help but sigh.

"Dad, why have we worked so hard and earned so much money generation after generation? Isn't it so that our descendants can live a good life?"

Upon hearing this, Sheng Xiping laughed and poured wine for Sheng Liancheng as he did so.

"Life will get better and better from now on. When you retire, you can relax and enjoy life with your mom without having to do anything."

Sheng Liancheng picked up his wine glass, took a sip, and then nodded.

"Well, in a few years, the second and third kids will graduate, get jobs, get married, and the fourth, fifth, and sixth kids will graduate too. Then your mom and I won't have to do anything and can just enjoy ourselves."

It's the Lunar New Year, so naturally we have to say nice things. Sheng Liancheng didn't argue with his sons today.

"Come on, let's have a drink together."

Your father is a rough, uneducated man who doesn't know many words. He has no other ambitions in life than for all of you to succeed. That's enough for him.

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