Chapter 184 Dinner Party New Year to a Higher Level
The two looked like they were not easy to mess with, but the places they frequented were surprisingly ordinary.
Yu Zhile wrote down the locations one by one and nodded in greeting them.
"Go and have a cigarette, and then move the gifts from the car in." Du Sheng sent the two away.
The two men walked out quickly, tactfully, without lighting a cigarette, and just leaned against the car door and chatted in low voices.
In the courtyard, Du Sheng chuckled and asked slowly, "Guess where I'm going?"
"Hong Kong City." Yu Zhile answered without hesitation.
Du Sheng nodded in affirmation and said with interest, "I'd like to see how it will develop."
"Maybe it will be beyond imagination." Yu Zhile smiled and changed the subject, "Buy at low prices, resell at high prices, hoard land and increase value, these are things you are much more proficient in than me."
After that, she added: "Also, transportation and economic development promote each other."
Although she used a questioning tone, these words still gave Du Sheng a new understanding of her.
Du Sheng looked at her for a while and sighed imperceptibly. Yu Zhile's identity did not even give him a chance to lobby.
At this point, the two stopped talking, and the atmosphere in the courtyard gradually became stagnant.
"Why are you here? Is there something wrong?" Lan Yuanyuan's voice broke the silence.
Du Sheng repeated what he had just said and gestured to the two people outside the yard.
Seeing this, the two men put away their lazy expressions, quickly opened the car door and moved the things, running back and forth several times before they finished moving everything.
"Are you really not going to celebrate the New Year in Hai County this year?" Lan Yuanyuan confirmed again and again.
Du Sheng hesitated for a few seconds and changed his words: "I'm not sure yet. I'll try to come back as soon as possible."
Lan Yuanyuan uttered an "oh" and there was visible disappointment on her face.
"Please accept the New Year's gifts first." Du Sheng changed the subject and pushed five exquisite boxes in front of her. "I heard that good friends like to buy the same things, so I bought some for your friends as well."
Lan Yuanyuan was not interested and just opened it and took a look.
Du Sheng tried to make some conversation, but before he could arouse her emotions, the burly man whispered to him that it was time to leave.
Yu Zhile and Lan Yuanyuan saw him off, and the latter kept waving goodbye until the rear of the car completely disappeared from sight.
"Come and wish me a happy new year on the second day of the Lunar New Year, and I'll give you a big red envelope." Yu Zhile put his arm around her shoulders to comfort her, "Let's go to Huaxi Village to appreciate the plum blossoms together."
"It's a deal." Lan Yuanyuan stretched out her little finger and pinky-pinched with her.
The two smiled at each other, then turned back to the yard to sort out the things that Du Sheng had sent, which were piling up like a small mountain.
When I was halfway through sorting, Yu Chuyue came and pulled out a package from the pile of New Year gifts, saying, "I left it in the car just now and forgot to take it."
"This isn't the first time you've met him, so why are you acting like a mouse seeing a cat this time?" Yu Zhile asked.
Yu Chuyue laughed dryly twice, did not tell anyone what Du Sheng had done to Du Shi, and quietly helped clean up, then took them home for dinner.
Before leaving, Lan Yuanyuan gave watches to both of them and put Zhang Wenxin's watch into her pocket.
On the way, Yu Zhile opened two letters.
The thick one was written by my family, full of warm and trivial things. The thin one was sent by Zhou Yuesheng, with only three big words written through the paper: I miss you very much.
After dinner, the three sisters took a walk to the old warehouse and saw Zhang Wenxin clapping loudly for her brothers in front of the podium.
Chen Zhao went to the garment-making group, but Ye Chengyu and the propaganda team came up with new ideas, so the lively atmosphere here remained undiminished.
It was not until the oil lamps dimmed that everyone left reluctantly.
In the following days, Ge Xiaoju and Zhang Ling brought back orders for raw shrimp and canned food, and the supplementary food team became busy.
Yu Zhile did not miss any opportunity to live broadcast and continued to accumulate cloud coins. Sometimes he would also buy some canned food with his own money and take it home as a gift to give back to old viewers.
Time passed quickly and it was the day to produce the last batch of cans. Just as everyone finished the preliminary processing, they heard the old branch secretary shouting with a loudspeaker.
"Everyone will go to the threshing ground to share money and pork tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock," the old Party secretary shouted as he walked. "Remember to bring your bowls. After the sharing, we will eat the pig-killing dish together."
As he walked away, the sound became quieter, but the processing yard was already in an uproar.
With the good news, everyone's work efficiency was improved and they completed the work nearly an hour earlier than usual.
The next day, before eight o'clock, the villagers had already slowly gathered at the threshing ground, and the whole village was filled with laughter.
After an unknown amount of time, a child shouted, "The big fat pig is coming!"
As if being pulled by some invisible force, everyone tacitly made way and watched the fishing team drive the five pigs to the butcher.
"Wow, this pig is so well raised, so fat." The master patted the pig's body and exclaimed.
The next second, he directed everyone to tie the pigs to the makeshift slaughtering table, ending their lives cleanly and neatly, and skillfully cutting open their intestines and stomachs.
The men brought water and rubbed the fresh pork offal with wood ash to remove the odor and impurities, while the women prepared side dishes or helped the chef to divide the meat.
Yu Chuyue set up a table nearby and used a loud speaker to call people to get the pork.
The first person chosen was Yu Zhile, and no one objected. Aunt Zhang was afraid that she had no experience, so she accompanied her to give her some advice.
She didn't choose pork belly, but picked out some lean meat and ribs.
The master confirmed the total weight again, then cut it with the knife, and it was exactly the same.
"Sister Le, we'll help you take it home." Yu Yang and Yu Qi stepped forward, picked up the meat and ran away.
The work of distributing the meat went smoothly, and everyone came one after another, smiling from ear to ear.
After the meat was divided and the pig-killing dishes were stewed, it was finally time for the much-anticipated part of dividing the money.
As soon as Zhang Wenxin spread out the bag of money, all the eyes were focused on the colorful bills. They rubbed their hands and waited for Yu Chuyue to call out the names of their family members.
This time the order was determined by the notebook for recording work points, and the first family was Yu Feng's.
"Yu Feng's family, three hundred and fifty yuan." Yu Chuyue said in a clear voice.
The whole audience was in an uproar and started talking about it.
Yu Feng's husband disappeared, and she continued to work in a state-owned restaurant in the second half of the year, but the money she received was actually more than last year.
Yu Chuyue wanted this effect, and after a while she explained: "The sideline business is developing well this year, and each household can get 120 yuan."
Everyone suddenly realized and became more and more expectant, except for a few families who had been kicked out of the sideline group for causing trouble before, whose eyes were red as blood.
However, the captain had already arranged for someone to keep an eye on them, so they didn't dare to act rashly in the face of the eager eyes of a group of young men.
As time passed, the money in the bag gradually decreased, and the rich aroma of pig-killing dishes quietly diffused in the air.
People who had received their money early were so attracted by the smell that they started drooling. They picked up their bowls and lined up. Soon, there was a long line in front of each stove.
Everyone was chatting happily, and the warm atmosphere dispelled the chill brought by the north wind.
"Next year, everyone, keep working hard! Let's work together!" Zhang Wenxin also took the opportunity to encourage them, "Kill more big fat pigs by the end of the year! Let's share more money!"
Those present raised their hands and howled in response to her.
The master who goes to the countryside to help slaughter pigs every year saw this scene and couldn't help but sigh: "Sure enough, working together can make life better and better."
"Le Le, Yuan Yuan, come here to your second aunt." Yang Suyun waved at Yu Zhile.
When Yu Zhile and the other person approached, she handed them a bowl full of pig-killing dishes and asked them to taste it.
For a moment, the atmosphere was silent, and hundreds of eyes were focused on the two of them, waiting for their feedback.
Yu Zhile scooped a small spoonful to try, and her taste buds were stimulated by the sour fragrance of sauerkraut and the fresh fragrance of bone soup, which made her linger on the taste.
"It's ready to eat. It tastes good," she said.
As soon as she finished speaking, cheers came from all directions of the threshing floor. The people in front of the stove lifted the lids of the pots at the same time, and the smell in the air suddenly became several times stronger.
The overbearing smell permeated every corner of the village until it was replaced by the aroma of refined lard in the afternoon.
"Le Le, everyone in the sideline group said they want to go to your house to eat hotpot tonight. Just like a barbecue party, we can bring our own ingredients. Is that okay?" Zhang Wenxin came to the door with the smell of fried meatballs.
Yu Zhile agreed and said, "There are so many people, we need to find a few more tables and chairs."
"Leave it to us." Zhang Wenxin patted his chest and left in a hurry again.
After a while, Yang Suyun and Yu Haizong came, and the couple both held jars of wine.
"I went back to Xishan Village, and the plum wine and sweet rice wine my mother brewed are ready to drink." Yang Suyun said with a smile, "I heard you were going to have a dinner party when I just entered the village. I've been busy for half a year, so I'll have a good time drinking with my friends tonight."
Yu Zhile took her arm affectionately and invited: "Uncle and Aunt, come over tonight too. It will be more lively with more people."
"We won't bother you youngsters." Yang Suyun smiled cheerfully, "When your parents come back, Second Aunt will drink with you again."
After that, the couple left, saying they were going home to deal with the remaining pork.
Yu Zhile took out the stopper from the big jar, and the smell of wine mixed with rice aroma hit him in the face.
When she saw the lees in the jar, she suddenly remembered the traditional snack of Southern Province - lees vinegar, and decided to try fermenting it.
When Zhang Haimei and Zhang Haizhu carried the long table in, she was filtering out the lees with gauze.
"Le Le, what are you doing?" Zhang Haizhu asked curiously.
After Yu Zhile told her the purpose, she asked again: "Can this vinegar be used to cook noodles? Or how about trying to sell it at a food stall after the New Year?"
"Of course." Yu Zhile replied, and then teased her, "However, since it's the holiday, just put the sideline group's work aside for the time being and have a good rest."
"I'm used to it." Zhang Haizhu gave a shy smile.
As they were talking, others came with tables and chairs and started to set up the place in a lively manner.
After arranging everything neatly, Zhang Wenxin waved his hand and said, "Gather here after the sun goes down. No one can be left behind. Don't leave until you are drunk!"
"Whoever doesn't let me come, I'll be the first one to refuse." Ge Xiaoju joked.
Everyone agreed and left. Zhang Haizhu stayed in the Yu family courtyard to learn how to ferment dregs vinegar.
"Natural fermentation will make the taste more mellow. You can also use white vinegar and wine lees to make it directly." Yu Zhile introduced it to her and briefly explained the process. "The second method has a lower cost and is more suitable for food stalls."
She first took Zhang Haizhu through the natural fermentation process, then prepared other ingredients and made a pot.
Zhang Haizhu sniffed the scent and commented, "The sour taste is very direct and strong, and there is a little bit of wine aroma."
Yu Zhile nodded, gave up his seat and gave her the opportunity to practice.
The whole process was very simple. Zhang Haizhu easily made the same hotpot base, and then sat down to discuss the possibility of other new products.
The two of them asked and answered questions until the sun went down and until their friends arrived one after another.
Just like the last barbecue party, everyone wore their best clothes and came with a big basket.
The difference is that this time, everyone not only brought vegetables, but also different parts of pork, and the fishing team also brought seafood.
The most special one among them was Chen Zhao. His basket was piled with many small bowls of vegetables, including pork scraps mixed with sugar, fried meatballs, and crispy pork.
"Where did you get it?" Yu Zhile asked.
Chen Zhao chuckled and replied, "The ladies in the clothing group gave it to me. They said my story was interesting."
"Chen Zhiqing, you are amazing. You earned a meal with your voice." Zhang Wenxin made an exaggerated expression, and then changed his expression the next second, "Come and help wash and cut the vegetables, or you will be the last one to eat."
Chen Zhao was so delighted by the first half of the sentence that he simply ignored the second half and started to work happily.
About half an hour later, pots of hot pot were spread out around the two pots in the middle of the table, and every table was filled.
The sky was getting dark, and the sound of cattle hooves became clearer and clearer. Zhang Hailan, Yu Feng and six others hurried in, carrying hot dishes in their hands.
"Everyone is here, let's get ready to eat!" Zhang Wenxin said loudly.
Her words were like a switch, and everyone started moving, some pouring wine, some burning charcoal, each doing their own job.
Yu Baiwei carefully put the pen she bought with her royalties into her pocket and raised her glass with everyone else.
"Everyone has worked hard this year. This glass of wine is for everyone." Yu Zhile raised his glass and said loudly, "In the new year, we will work together to take the sideline group to a higher level."
"Go up one more floor!" The neat and loud voices echoed over the courtyard.
The candlelight and the firelight reflected on everyone's face. Everyone's resolute expression remained the same as before, and they raised their heads and drank the wine in their glasses.
The pot started to boil, making a gurgling sound. The aroma of butter and the mellow aroma of dregs vinegar blended together, teasing everyone's sensory nerves.
Without being shy, everyone picked up their chopsticks and dipped their favorite dishes into their mouths, revealing satisfied expressions.
The steam rose slowly, blurring everyone's faces, but it couldn't conceal the happy atmosphere.
Chopsticks moved back and forth between pots and plates, the sound of clinking glasses rose one after another, and laughter and joy never stopped.
It was not until late at night, when everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, that they left together.
On the third day after the dinner, Zhang Hailan brought a letter from Beijing to Yu Zhile. This time, the family members wrote the exact date of return in the letter.
In the days that followed, Lan Yuanyuan accompanied her in preparing things for the New Year.
As the year draws to a close, Lan Yuanyuan moves back to town, leaving Yu Zhile alone in the Yu family courtyard.
At midnight on the twenty-eighth day of the lunar year, it started snowing lightly in Hai County.
Early in the morning, Yu Zhile heard the sound of cars and quickly opened the gate, only to see several cars braked to a stop one after another.
She looked at the huge crowd of people with a puzzled look on her face.
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