Chapter 643 Dinner
The three of them were chatting about the latest news in the village, from whose crops were growing the best to whose new daughter-in-law was the most capable. Before they knew it, the sky outside the window had become completely dark.
The light bulbs in the room were bright, illuminating everything clearly. Zhou Yimin looked out the window and slapped his thigh, "Let's have hot pot tonight! It's lively and it's cold out, so we'll warm up while eating."
“Okay!” Chow Tai Fook was the first to respond, his eyes lighting up.
"Let's have hotpot! I'll go get Zhao Gang and Xiao Mei over right away!"
Zhou Dazhong also nodded in agreement: "I think it's fine. It will be more lively with more people. Then I will tidy up at home and prepare all the pots and pans."
Zhou Yimin stood up and said, "I'll go home first and get some meat and ingredients. I still have some bacon and meatballs that I brought from the village yesterday, which are perfect for hot pot."
They acted immediately and divided the work into two groups.
Zhou Yimin put his keys in his pocket and walked out quickly. The evening breeze blew on his face with a little coolness. He tightened his collar and hurried home with light steps.
There are still some undelivered New Year's goods in the cloth bag at home, including two pounds of bacon, a bag of frozen meatballs, and some dried vegetables, all of which are good ingredients for hot pot.
He dug out a small iron pot, found some onions, ginger and garlic, put them all into the basket, and rushed to Zhou Dazhong's house.
On the other side, Zhou Dafu was humming a little tune as he walked towards Zhao Gang's house.
He knocked on the Zhao family's door, and Zhao Gang's voice came from inside: "Who is it?"
"Gangzi, it's me, Dafu!" Zhou Dafu shouted.
"Uncle Sixteen wants us to eat hot pot, bring Xiaomei with you!"
The door creaked open and Zhao Gang poked his head out with a smile on his face: "Oh, such a good thing? Wait, we'll be there soon!"
He turned around and went back to the house to call Xiaomei. After a while, the two of them followed Chow Tai Fook. Xiaomei was holding some candies in her hand. These were bought for her by Zhao Gang during the Chinese New Year.
He said he wanted to give it to Zhou Yimin to try.
Zhou Dazhong was not idle in the house either. He moved the table to the middle of the room, wiped it clean, and found the charcoal stove used for hot pot. He added some charcoal into it and lit it with a match. The orange-red flames "crackled" as they licked the charcoal and soon became strong.
He placed the pot on the charcoal stove, poured some water into it, threw in a few slices of ginger and green onion, and waited for the water to boil.
Then he began to wash the vegetables, spinach, cabbage, and radish. He washed them clean, put them on a plate, and placed them neatly on the table.
When Zhou Yimin came back with the basket, he happened to see Zhou Dafu bringing Zhao Gang and Xiaomei in.
"Brother Zhou!" Xiaomei greeted him with a smile and handed over the candy in her hand.
"My brother bought this for me during Chinese New Year. It's so sweet."
Although Zhou Yimin didn't like sweets very much, since Xiaomei had already asked for it, he couldn't refuse, so he picked one and ate it.
“So sweet.”
After hearing this, Xiaomei smiled smugly and ate one as well.
Zhou Yimin handed the things he brought to Zhou Dazhong, "Dazhong, wash all of this."
He opened the basket, cut the bacon into thin slices, poured the frozen meatballs into a plate, and soaked the dried vegetables in water to let them ferment.
Zhao Gang came over to take a look and said with a smile, "Brother Zhou, your bacon looks fragrant, it must be delicious."
"Yes, this is pickled by my grandma herself. She hung it in the countryside for a whole winter. It tastes amazing."
Zhou Yimin said proudly, "I'll cook it in the pot later. I guarantee you'll want to eat more after you've eaten it."
Zhou Dafu joked, "Gangzi, don't fight with me for it. I've been eyeing the bacon from Uncle Sixteen's house for a long time."
"Go away! Who's trying to steal it from you?" Zhao Gang smiled and pushed him, and the room was suddenly filled with laughter.
After a while, Zhou Dazhong washed all the vegetables and filled the table with them.
The water in the pot also boiled, bubbling and steaming, dispelling the coldness in the house.
Zhou Yimin poured the bacon and meatballs into the pot, added some dried vegetables, covered the pot, and waited for the delicious food in the pot to be cooked.
Everyone sat around the table, watching the steam bubbling out of the pot and smelling the fragrance gradually wafting out, and couldn't help swallowing.
Zhou Dafu rubbed his hands and said, "It smells so good. I'm almost starving."
"It's almost done, just wait a little longer." Zhou Yimin said with a smile and poured a cup of hot water for everyone.
"Drink some water to warm your stomach first."
The night outside the window was getting darker and darker, the charcoal stove in the house was burning brightly, the aroma from the hot pot was getting stronger and stronger, mixed with everyone's laughter, the whole house was filled with warmth and liveliness.
Xiaomei's mouth was watering when she smelled the fragrance.
"It's almost done, ready to eat!" Zhou Yimin lifted the lid of the pot, and a puff of white smoke came out, carrying the salty aroma of bacon and the meaty aroma of meatballs, rushing straight into his nose.
The bacon slices in the pot were curled up at the edges, with oil floating in the soup. The frozen meatballs had absorbed the soup, becoming round and shiny with oil. The dried vegetables had also stretched out, swaying gently in the soup.
Zhou Dazhong had already set the table, with a coarse porcelain bowl filled with soy sauce and vinegar in front of each person.
"Hurry, hurry up and get some food!"
He picked up the chopsticks and picked up a meatball for Xiaomei first: "Xiaomei, try this."
Xiaomei took it with a smile and took a small bite. The hot soup burst in her mouth, and the deliciousness made her eyes narrow. "Hmm! Delicious! The meat is very firm and has a hint of sesame oil."
Zhao Gang wasn't idle either. He picked up a piece of bacon with his chopsticks, blew on it, and put it in his mouth. The fat part was oily but not greasy, and the lean part became more and more fragrant the more he chewed. He said vaguely, "Brother Zhou, the bacon you brought is amazing! It's the best bacon I've ever eaten."
"Of course." Zhou Yimin raised his chin proudly and picked up a piece of bacon for everyone.
"When my grandmother cured meat, she had to smoke it with cypress branches for three days, then hang it on the beams to dry, protected from wind and rain, to get this flavor."
Zhou Dafu quickly scooped up a large chopstick of dried vegetables and ate them with rice: "This dried vegetable is delicious too. It absorbs the broth and is even more flavorful than fresh vegetables."
His mouth was stuffed full and his speech was unclear, but his eyes were always fixed on the pot, afraid that if he was a step slower, the delicious food would be snatched away by others.
Zhou Yimin added some cabbage and spinach to the pot. The green leafy vegetables softened when exposed to the heat and swirled in the soup.
"Eat more vegetables to relieve the greasiness."
He put some in everyone's bowl, "It's different when it's freshly picked from the ground. It looks so juicy."
Xiaomei picked up a piece of spinach with chopsticks. The green leaves were still dripping with juice. She ate it in small bites and said with a smile, "It's delicious. I've been eating cabbage for so many meals and I've been wanting to change my taste for a while."
The soup in the pot was bubbling, and hot steam kept rising, making everyone's face red.
The fire in the charcoal stove was still crackling, and sparks popped out from time to time, reflecting on everyone's smiling faces.
Zhao Gang picked up the wine glass on the table and raised it towards Zhou Yimin: "Uncle Sixteen, I toast you. This hot pot is so delicious today!"
"Drink less, or the food will have no taste in a while." Zhou Yimin clinked glasses with him and took a sip. The spicy taste of the wine mixed with the aroma of the hot pot burned a warm current in his throat.
Zhou Dafu also picked up his glass and said, "I want to toast Uncle Sixteen as well. Thank you for treating us to hot pot!"
"What's there to thank me for? We're all family." Zhou Yimin waved his hand and put some more radish slices into the pot.
"Radish is very resistant to cooking and will become more flavorful if cooked longer."
Everyone ate and talked, talking about things in the village and the latest news in the city. Zhou Yimin and Zhou Dazhong listened on the side and said something from time to time. The laughter in the house rose and fell, mixed with the sound of soup boiling in the pot, and it was as lively as a wedding.
Before we knew it, most of the food on the table had been eaten and everyone's stomachs were full.
Zhou Dafu burped and patted his stomach. "I'm so full, Uncle Sixteen. Your bacon goes really well with rice. I've already eaten three bowls of rice."
"If you feel full, sit for a while and digest it." Zhou Yimin said with a smile, and gave the last few slices of radish to everyone.
"This radish is almost cooked. Eat it quickly, or it will become mushy."
Zhao Gang picked up a piece of radish and took a bite. The soft radish absorbed the broth and melted in his mouth. He sighed with satisfaction, "This hot pot is so delicious. It's even more delicious than eating in a restaurant."
Xiaomei also nodded: "Yes, it's mainly because we eat together, it's lively and the food tastes delicious."
The soup in the pot gradually became less and the fire in the charcoal stove also became smaller, but the heat in the room did not decrease at all.
Everyone sat at the table with smiles on their faces, savoring the delicious aroma of the hot pot, and feeling warm in their hearts, as if they were holding a little sun.
The night outside the window deepened, and the courtyard was quiet. Only in this room was the warm yellow light still on, with the faint aroma of meat and wine wafting in the air, and the room full of laughter.
Zhou Yimin touched his round belly and looked up at the wall clock. The hour hand was pointing to ten o'clock.
He stood up and brushed off the debris on his body: "It's getting late, I should go back, you guys should also go to bed early."
"Don't you want to sit for a while?" Zhou Dazhong also stood up. "I just had a meal, so I need to digest it."
"No, I'm afraid of disturbing the neighbors if I go back late." Zhou Yimin waved his hand, took out two red envelopes from his pocket, and walked up to Zhao Gang and Xiaomei.
"Come here, Gangzi, Xiaomei, this is your New Year's money, take it."
Zhao Gang quickly waved his hand and declined: "Brother Zhou, this won't do. We are all so old now, how can we ask for your red envelope again? Besides, I can live such a stable life now, all thanks to your help. I am already grateful enough, how can I accept anything from you."
He spoke sincerely, his eyes filled with genuine gratitude.
Xiaomei also echoed: "Yes! Brother Zhou, we really can't accept it."
Zhou Yimin stuffed the red envelopes into their hands, his tone firm and unyielding: "Just take it if I tell you to. Why are you being so polite to me?"
"This is a New Year's custom, meant for good luck. It's not something valuable. Besides, Gangzi, you and Xiaomei are hardworking and diligent, and your life is prosperous. I'm happy to see that too."
He held down Zhao Gang's hand as he tried to push it back, and continued, "Don't refuse. If you continue to refuse, it will be too awkward. If you don't accept me, it means you don't treat me as your own family."
Zhao Gang looked at Zhou Yimin's determined eyes, then looked at the red envelope in his hand. The red paper was printed with a gold-plated "Fu" character, and it looked heavy.
He knew Zhou Yimin's temper. He was a man of his word. It would be inappropriate to refuse. He had no choice but to pull Xiaomei along to accept it. He said gratefully, "Then...thank you, Brother Zhou."
"Why thank me? It's my duty." Zhou Yimin smiled and said hello to Zhou Dazhong and Zhou Dafu. "I'm leaving now."
"I'll see you off." Zhou Dazhong said as he was about to go out.
"No, no, I'm familiar with the way around the yard, I can walk by myself." Zhou Yimin stopped him, opened the door and walked out.
"Also, you have to go to work tomorrow, so you should get some rest early!"
When Chow Tai Fook and the others heard Zhou Yimin's words, they were stunned. They didn't expect time to pass so quickly. In the blink of an eye, a few days had passed.
The courtyard was exceptionally quiet at night, with only the slight sound of the stone pavement underfoot.
The moonlight shines through the gaps in the leaves, casting mottled shadows on the ground.
Zhou Yimin wrapped his cotton-padded jacket tightly and walked quickly towards his home, thinking about today's New Year's greetings. Although he went to many places, it was lively and his heart was warm.
When he reached his door, he took out his key and opened it. The house was quiet.
He took off his coat and hung it on the wall, poured himself a cup of hot water, and looked out the window at the moonlight. He couldn't help but smile slightly. This year had been truly peaceful.
Just as he put the cup of water on the table, Zhou Yimin's head suddenly clicked, as if it was hit by something.
He patted his forehead and frowned instantly. He had to go to work tomorrow, but his motorcycle was still parked in the village!
How could he have forgotten about this? He scratched his head in frustration. He had been so busy visiting relatives and friends during the New Year holidays that he had actually forgotten such an important matter.
Zhou Yimin is already used to using a motorcycle, so if he were asked to use a bicycle for a few days, he would definitely not be able to bear it.
Now, the car is still locked under the shed in the old courtyard of the village, and I only have the key to the tractor in my hand.
He walked to the window, looked out at the dark night sky, and thought to himself.
If I try to think of a solution tomorrow morning, the trip back and forth will definitely delay work. Although I'm a leader, no one will say anything even if there's a little delay.
But Zhou Yimin was worried. According to normal procedures, tomorrow was the first day of work and all leaders had to hold a meeting.
What I fear most is that if I don’t go, someone will come looking for me again, which would be bad.
The most important thing is that Zhou Yimin is used to driving a motorcycle, and riding a tractor is really a bit uncomfortable for him.
Besides, the village also needs the tractor. Although the tractor is a reward from the commune, I can't use it myself, so I leave it to the village.
"It seems I have to get up early." Zhou Yimin muttered to himself and had an idea in his mind.
We will set off before dawn tomorrow, drive the tractor back to the village first, and then ride the motorcycle back. This way we can get back to the city before work without any delays.
In order to get up smoothly tomorrow, Zhou Yimin quickly turned off the lights, without even taking a shower, and lay directly on the bed.
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
