Chapter 373: Abundance Every Year
Su Xueyi brought Dabao and Erbao out to play, and did not interfere with the two babies' participation in the play among the children in the village.
At most, he watched from a distance and protected their safety.
There is no need to do this on weekdays, but I am afraid that they will not pay attention while playing with firecrackers.
So Su Xueyi watched quietly from a distance, secretly protecting their safety.
Let Dabao and Erbao relax and play with the children in the village.
If he had been among the children, he would have definitely scared them.
Su Xueyi looked at the children playing and the happy faces of Dabao and Erbao, and her expression was a little dazed.
What is he doing at his age?
Probably when I was four years old.
At that time, he had already received enlightenment, had memorized many books, and could also write poems.
The daily schedule is very full. In the morning, we have to practice martial arts. In the morning, there is a special teacher to teach and arrange homework. In the afternoon, we have to learn the Six Arts of a Gentleman.
There is little time for play.
There are strict rules in the family, and he was always taught by his grandfather that his every word and action represents the Marquisate, so he must restrain himself, observe propriety, and be careful in what he says and does.
I grew up in such an environment.
He had never played like this before, like Dabao and Erbao.
However, Yao Niang loves her two children very much and is good at teaching them. They understand the knowledge and principles that they should know.
Moreover, using fairy tales and stories can more easily deepen their memory and understanding.
When it's time to play, Yao Niang will let them play.
It is said that childhood memories should be better.
I have to say, the two children learn quickly and memorize words quickly by playing and learning at the same time.
In Yao Niang's words, it is highly efficient.
And Yao Niang likes to prepare all kinds of delicious food for them to eat.
The two babies were taken care of so well that they grew a lot and became much stronger.
When playing "Eagle Catches Chicken" with the strong and sturdy kids in the village, he ran very fast and looked very agile.
Su Xueyi knew how to teach them basic skills, and it was somewhat effective.
Su Xueyi just stood by the door, quietly watching them playing in the distance.
The cold winter wind blew gently, blowing up Su Xueyi's snow-white sleeves, making him look like a banished immortal who had ascended to heaven.
Some of the children looked up and thought that the father of Dabao and Erbao was so handsome.
…
Shen Yueyao and the others were making dumplings inside the house.
Let's work together to speed things up.
Seeing that it was almost done, Su Xiuye started putting water in the pot and started to light the fire.
When the pot boils, you can cook it directly.
Shen Yueyao actually likes the feeling of cooking with firewood, because the dumplings cooked with firewood are different from those cooked with a gas tank.
She felt that the smell of woodfire would bring out the natural flavor of the food.
It will be more fragrant.
The wrapped dumplings are placed neatly on the grate.
Su Erya said, "Aunt San, the dumplings you make are so beautiful, just like ingots."
Shen Yueyao said: "I deliberately wrapped it in the shape of a gold ingot, it has a good meaning."
After the pot boiled, Mrs. Meng put the wrapped dumplings into the pot and started cooking.
Shen Yueyao looked at the big pot and thought, with so many dumplings, it would be faster to cook them in a big pot, and they can all be cooked in one pot.
If you cook this in a small pot with a gas tank, you will need to cook several pots.
Su Xiuye was burning firewood in the stove. Old Madam Meng was looking at the dumplings in the pot. After they boiled, she opened the lid and stirred them back and forth with a spoon so that the dumplings would not stick to the pot easily.
Shen Yueyao peeled garlic with Su Daya and Su Erya, then mashed the garlic and seasoned it.
Nowadays, they are accustomed to eating dumplings with soup or with garlic.
When the dumplings were cooking in the pot, steam came out, filling the entire stove with heat.
The heat rose up, almost blocking people's vision.
Shen Yueyao could only open a door to let some of the heat out.
As soon as I opened the door, the cold wind from outside blew in.
In the evening, the sun was setting.
In winter, the daytime is short and it gets dark early.
Firecrackers started to be set off outside again, and the sound of firecrackers continued.
Madam Meng smiled and said, "Everyone sets off firecrackers at this time, usually a while before dinner, so I guess everyone has finished making dumplings."
Su Erya said, "It seems like there are a lot of firecrackers set off during the Little New Year this year. I remember that last year, people set off very few firecrackers."
Su Daya also nodded and said: "Yeah, it feels very obvious, there are a lot of them."
"But maybe it's because people's conditions have improved, so more people are buying firecrackers. When we went shopping in the county town yesterday, we saw a lot of people gathered in front of the firecracker stalls, buying a lot."
Madam Meng said, "Not only that, but the firecracker business in town is also good. The headman's family bought quite a few, saying that they were in a good mood because they had a good New Year, so they bought more firecrackers."
Su Erya said, "I see our neighbor Aunt Zhou and her family also bought a lot."
Just as Su Erya was speaking, she heard loud firecrackers, and she knew they were being set off nearby.
Because the sound was particularly loud right next to her, Su Erya was almost startled.
Su Daya said, "I guess these are the firecrackers that Aunt Zhou set off at home."
The Zhou family had just finished making dumplings.
After Liu Cheng helped Zhou make the dumplings, he hurried out to set off firecrackers.
As soon as I arrived at the street gate to set off firecrackers, I saw Su Xueyi, "Mr. Su!"
Liu Cheng knew that Mr. Su was now a juren, so he spoke to him politely and respectfully.
Su Xueyi nodded with a smile and said, "Brother Zhou, come out and set off firecrackers."
"Hey, I just finished making dumplings. I thought I'd go out and set off some firecrackers before eating them to make it more lively. I need to light a fire when I get home later so my wife can cook the dumplings."
Su Xueyi smiled and nodded.
Liu Cheng didn't know what to say anymore and lit the firecrackers.
"Crackling..."
The sound of firecrackers makes people feel a lively atmosphere.
At this time, Liu Cheng and Zhou's son Zhou Damao ran over and said, "Dad, why didn't you call me when you set off firecrackers?"
Zhou Damao also wanted to let go.
Liu Cheng chuckled and said, "Aren't you playing with everyone?"
"Then you can call me."
Liu Cheng knew what his son was thinking and said, "Don't worry, we'll set off the fireworks after we eat the dumplings. We bought a lot of firecrackers this year, and we'll set off several more during the New Year."
"Dad, I smell the aroma of dumplings. Are we making dumplings at home?"
Liu Cheng said, "I just made some meat dumplings. Let's go home and burn some firewood. Help your mother peel some garlic so we can eat the dumplings later."
"good."
Zhou Damao smiled happily, his face full of anticipation.
When he saw Su Xueyi, he hurriedly said respectfully, "Uncle Su."
Su Xueyi smiled and said, "Well, it's cold outside, let's go home quickly."
Zhou Damao is older and takes good care of Dabao and Erbao when they play together. Su Xueyi knows this too.
At this time, Dabao and Erbao also ran back, "Dad, are we going to eat dumplings?"
"Dad, shall we set off firecrackers too?"
"Dad, can I let it go?"
"Dad, we bought a lot during the day."
"Dad, it smells so good, Mom is cooking dumplings."
Dabao and Erbao kept talking excitedly.
Su Xueyi looked at the two treasures, squatted down, took out a clean towel and wiped the sweat from their foreheads, and said, "Are you having fun?"
Dabao said crisply: "Happy."
Erbao nodded vigorously and said, "Happy."
Su Xueyi said, "You asked so many questions just now. Dad answered them one by one. The dumplings should be cooked. Let's set off firecrackers after eating the dumplings."
"But, you are still young, so I can't let you do anything, but you can watch from the side."
"Firecrackers are still dangerous. You have to be careful to avoid them. You know, no matter how fun something is, if it's dangerous, you still have to be aware of the dangers..."
As Su Xueyi spoke, she took the opportunity to lecture Dabao and Erbao.
Dabao and Erbao were listening attentively.
Su Xueyi took Liangbao's hand and walked into the house.
The dumplings are cooked just in time.
Mrs. Meng was just about to scoop out the dumplings.
"Oh, I'm back. It's time to eat dumplings. Go wash your hands."
Mrs. Meng asked Dabao and Erbao to wash their hands.
Su Daya put down the peeled garlic in her hand, stood up and poured water for the two treasures. She first poured hot water from the kettle, then added cold water. When the temperature was just right, she let the eldest and second treasures wash their hands.
Dabao and Erbao squatted down and washed their hands beside the basin.
Shen Yueyao looked at their red cheeks and said, "They are playing so hard that their whole bodies are hot and their faces are all red."
Su Xueyi smiled and said, "They were running and jumping."
Shen Yueyao really admired the energy of the children. They were not afraid of the cold even in such cold weather and just loved to go out and play.
Adults don't want to go out in cold weather and just want to stay warm indoors.
Shen Yueyao looked at Su Xueyi and asked softly, "Are you cold?"
Su Xueyi looked at Shen Yueyao's worried expression and said softly: "Don't worry, I have internal strength and I won't be cold."
Su Xueyi felt that he had been in the academy all the time and had not stayed at home for a long time, so he was willing to visit the two treasures more often and spend more time with them.
Watching them playing and having fun outside, Su Xueyi felt very good.
There is a feeling that he also had the opportunity to play like Dabao and Erbao in his childhood.
Let’s substitute it a little.
Mrs. Meng scooped out plates of dumplings and placed them on the table.
Everyone washed their hands and started sitting at the table to eat.
The dumpling filling prepared by Shen Yueyao is so fragrant and delicious, and everyone thinks it is really good.
Everyone said the dumplings were delicious.
They also say that egg yolk dumplings are delicious, especially the egg yolk in the dumplings is very fragrant.
Shen Yueyao thought that if she could get crabs in the autumn, the crab roe would be extremely delicious.
Shen Yueyao also cut a plate of ham sausage and ate it with dumplings.
After eating, everyone cleaned up and washed up, put on their coats and went to the yard to set off firecrackers.
It was already dark, but the village was extremely lively, with firecrackers going off one after another and the sound never stopping.
They hung firecrackers on a wooden pole, and Su Xiuye went forward to set one off.
Dabao and Erbao covered their ears with their hands and watched.
Both Su Daya and Su Erya had smiles on their faces.
After that, Su Xueyi played another trick, Shen Yueyao and Daya and Erya played another trick, and Madam Meng also played another trick.
Anyway, Shen Yueyao bought a lot, so she might as well put some away for the New Year.
Hearing the sound of firecrackers, everyone had a smile on their face.
At night, no one was in a hurry to go to bed.
Shen Yueyao made playing cards and said, "Let's play poker together."
I have to say, everyone finds playing poker fun.
The eldest and second child are still young and don’t know how to do it very well, so they just watch from the side.
Shen Yueyao also prepared fried peanuts.
Everyone can eat peanuts and play poker at the same time.
There was constant laughter in the house.
It was very late before everyone reluctantly put down their cards and went back to their rooms to rest.
When lying in bed to sleep, Su Xueyi naturally hugged Shen Yueyao.
Since Su Xueyi came back, Shen Yueyao has been able to sleep well every night.
Perhaps the two of them have become accustomed to relying on each other without realizing it.
Leaning in Su Xueyi's arms, Shen Yueyao slept more peacefully.
And they are familiar with each other's breath.
After lying down for a while, Shen Yueyao felt that Su Xueyi had not slept yet, and asked, "What are you thinking about?"
Su Xueyi gently tucked the corner of Shen Yueyao's back and said, "I was thinking about the playing cards you made. They are quite interesting."
Although it is just a game, it also tests people's intelligence and memory.
Shen Yueyao said: "Speaking of this, you are very good at playing. Do you remember the cards? You know what cards everyone has played and what cards are in their hands?"
When playing poker, Shen Yueyao didn't remember these things. Everyone was playing for fun anyway, so just have fun.
Su Xueyi rubbed her brow and said, "I can't help but remember it."
Uncontrolled, all played cards will be remembered at a glance.
Shen Yueyao said: "That's why you have a photographic memory. Only with such a mind can you get twice the result with half the effort when studying."
"But we are all family, so when you play together, please give way to others."
Su Xueyi smiled and said, "So you will also deliberately lose to them to make them happy, right?"
Shen Yueyao said: "Of course, I had fun."
"Oh, by the way, I also made some hexagonal checkers. During the Chinese New Year, we can all get together and play various games. It will be more lively."
In this era, there is no television, no internet, no mobile phones, no movies to watch, and no entertainment programs.
So Shen Yueyao could only find a way to get these out.
This way everyone can play together.
Hexagonal checkers is a game shaped like six corners, played by jumping glass beads.
But there were no glass beads here, so Shen Yueyao asked Zhou Tong to polish the wood into beads, and then she dyed them with colors, so that the beads in each corner were different, and the checkers were different, and the game was the same as playing with glass beads.
"When the Lunar New Year comes, everyone will have nothing to do and can sit on the tatami in the tatami room and play. I think that would be more fun."
"Younger children can also read fairy tales together, but few can read, so you can ask the older child to take out the building blocks and play together."
Su Xueyi didn't expect Shen Yueyao to prepare so much.
Su Xueyi smiled and said, "You are very thoughtful."
"Not only that, some neat-loving little girls probably don't like playing with these. I asked the embroidery workshop to make some wooden dolls so they can play the game of sewing clothes for the dolls together."
"There are also jigsaw puzzles, which are a complete picture made up of pieces of wood. You can shuffle the pieces and piece them together one by one, which is fun."
"There are also pony carriages, wooden toy carriages that everyone can play with."
There were no cars in this era, so Shen Yueyao did not plan to make a car, but made a carriage toy that everyone could push with their hands.
If the weather were warm, Shen Yueyao would like to get some amusement park rides.
But the weather is cold now, so we can only play games indoors.
"The adults can play checkers and cards, and chat over peanuts."
Shen Yueyao knew that during the first month of the lunar year, people here would visit each other and chat.
It's quite relaxing anyway.
Su Xueyi was quite surprised just by listening to it.
As you can imagine, with so many things prepared, everyone had a great time and enjoyed coming here.
"I guess there will be a lot of people visiting by then."
Shen Yueyao said: "That's okay, as long as everyone is happy."
"Anyway, I'll prepare a lot of candy and snacks so everyone can eat them when they come to play."
"The purpose of Chinese New Year is to have fun. This little thing is nothing."
"Mom also has a lot of good sisters. We can get together to talk and play cards. As long as we are happy."
"Da Ya and Er Ya probably have little sisters to play with, and Da Bao and Er Bao will also have little friends."
"I just wonder if there's anyone to entertain, big brother."
Su Xueyi explained: "Big brother likes to drink."
Shen Yueyao smiled and said, "Yes, you can let him receive his brothers in the west courtyard. He can heat the tatami mats there so they can warm up the wine and make tea."
Anyway, our friends don't have to be in the same room.
But there are also several tatami rooms.
They are all spacious enough for playing.
Su Xueyi felt that his Yao Niang was really smart. She had thought of so many things and made so many arrangements.
"By the way, your classmates must be here too. You can sit on the tatami in the tea room, drink tea, eat snacks, read books, and discuss articles."
"I can also make you some snacks like French fries and fried chicken to eat with the sauce."
Su Xueyi lowered her head and gently kissed Shen Yueyao's eyebrows and said, "Yao Niang, thank you..."
Shen Yueyao leaned forward and blocked his words with her lips, saying, "I already said, don't say thank you."
Su Xueyi rubbed her hair helplessly and said, "Okay, I won't say it."
The two of them talked like this, enjoying the warm atmosphere of the night.
Everyone was really busy in the next few days.
Shen Yueyao started making candy with her family and made many kinds of candy.
According to custom, white flour cakes are also made.
Old Madam Meng didn't know how to do these things before. When she came to the village, she followed the local customs and learned how to make steamed buns.
Su Xueyi also followed suit.
Madam Meng said, "The villagers are also used to making millet cakes, which are rice cakes. They have good meanings."
"There are also jujube cakes and bean cakes. We need to make all of these."
"When villagers visit relatives during the first month of the lunar year, they put white flour cakes in baskets and carry them with them when they go out. They seem to be rare things."
Shen Yueyao understood that for farmers, white flour was a precious commodity, and they would carry it with them when visiting relatives.
Although they have no relatives, Mrs. Meng still makes these things according to local customs.
Of course, some饽饽 are used to worship ancestors.
Su Xueyi's father, his second brother and his wife all need to be offered sacrifices.
So we also have to make饽饽.
Shen Yueyao also made a lot of cakes, fried dough twists and other things.
Then there is the freezing.
Shen Yueyao doesn't know how to fight the cold.
But Su Xiuyehui also learned this from the villagers.
Use pig skin to make frostbite.
Su Xiuye washed and scraped the pig skin bought at home very cleanly, and then stewed it and froze it.
Shen Yueyao would only help adjust the flavor.
In the past, a small piece of pig skin was used to make a large pot of jelly, so there was little meat in the pig skin.
This time, I just froze three pieces of pig skin.
Because we have to cook and light a fire almost every day, the kang in our house has been very hot these days.
When I sat on the kang, my butt felt hot.
There is no other way. We have to light the fire every day to steam and cook buns, make frozen food, and cook all kinds of delicious food, which all takes a long time.
Otherwise the heat is not enough and the food is not cooked.
Not only that, Shen Yueyao also took Daya and Erya to cut paper-cuts together.
Shen Yueyao can make very beautiful window paper-cuts. She taught Daya and Erya together, and they cut a lot of them and pasted them on the windows.
As for the door-to-door couplets, they simply bought red paper and Su Xueyi wrote the couplets on it.
Many families in the village also bought red paper and asked someone to help them write.
Everyone wanted to ask Su Xueyi to write it, but they were embarrassed.
So I asked someone else to write it, but it couldn't compare to Su Xueyi's handwriting.
After Su Xueyi finished writing, Shen Yueyao put it away.
Shen Yueyao also made a lot of colorful lanterns.
When the Chinese New Year comes, you can put an oil lamp inside and light it up. Then you can hang it under the eaves or on the trees. It will become a beautiful decoration.
Time flies, and in the blink of an eye it is New Year’s Eve.
Early in the morning, everyone got up early to prepare lunch.
After breakfast, Shen Yueyao led everyone to register the lanterns, which would be very beautiful and bright when lit at night.
There are two big red lanterns at the door, which makes it more magnificent and beautiful.
In the morning, Shen Yueyao and Madam Meng cooked various dishes.
We have to make a table full of dishes, and of course there is also a steamed fish.
Making a fish dish also means having surplus every year.
Everyone was very busy that day, even the eldest and second child were busy, but the two children were happy to be busy.
At noon, Mrs. Meng also placed all the offerings.
Before the whole family eats, they light incense and kneel down to worship.
It is also to worship ancestors.
When Mrs. Meng thought of her ancestors, Su Xueyi's father, and the second son and his wife, her eyes became red.
But she controlled herself and didn't cry.
She thought that life was getting better now, and if they could see it, they would be happy for them.
Old Madam Meng said silently in her heart that she was grateful that the Su family had such a good Yao Niang, and their lives had become better.
After lighting the incense.
Everyone started to eat lunch.
The table was full of lunch, which was very sumptuous.
Before, Madam Meng and the others would never have imagined that they could have such a rich and delicious lunch in the village.
Madam Meng said, "Today is the New Year. Everyone, have a good meal. Eat well and be full. May there be plenty every year."
Everyone expressed their blessings.
Then he picked up the chopsticks to eat.
Everyone was very full after this meal.
After lunch, we cleaned up and started making dumplings in the afternoon.
We made a lot more dumplings this afternoon because we not only had to make dumplings for the evening but also for the next morning.
It is their custom to eat dumplings on the morning of the first day of the New Year.
So at noon, Mrs. Meng started to get busy.
But Su Xueyi wants to post couplets.
Shen Yueyao helped to make the paste.
In the village, everyone makes paste with flour and uses the paste to paste couplets.
After preparing the paste, Su Xueyi and Shen Yueyao took Dabao and Erbao to paste the couplets together.
The whole family was busy working on this matter, and everyone had a smile on their face.
This is the anticipation for the New Year.
Shen Yueyao looked at Su Xueyi's calligraphy and the couplets she wrote and thought they were very beautiful.
When the couplet was posted, Shen Yueyao felt festive just looking at it.
The window decorations have also been pasted up, and they all look beautiful.
Su Xueyi also had a gentle smile on her face.
Looking at Shen Yueyao and the two children, there was a tender light in his eyes.
During the Chinese New Year, firecrackers were set off all over the village and the sound of firecrackers could be heard continuously.
More lively atmosphere.
Shen Yueyao's eyebrows and eyes were all smiling, "It really is the New Year."
She felt that time passed very quickly.
I feel really good during the Chinese New Year.
After putting up the couplets, Shen Yueyao went into the house to help make dumplings.
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