Chapter Eleven: Adding Dishes
The rich aroma of chicken soup filled the kitchen, carrying the spiciness of dogwood and the subtle sweetness of goji berries, wafting straight into one's nose.
Zhang lifted the pot lid, gently poked the chicken pieces with chopsticks, and found them tender and falling off the bone, while the wild potatoes were stewed until they were soft, powdery, and translucent.
She nodded in satisfaction, scooped up a small spoonful to taste the saltiness, and found it to be fresh, fragrant, and mellow—just the right time.
"Dad, Uncle, the chicken soup is ready! We can head over to Uncle's house now!"
Zhang Yili shouted towards the main room.
Inside the main room, Zhang Dashan and Zhang Dahe were chatting enthusiastically, each with a small pile of melon seeds and peanut shells at their feet.
Upon hearing the shout, Zhang Dahe slapped his thigh and stood up.
"Alright! Let's go! I wonder if that kid Liu Ji has brought back the red paper yet!" He muttered to himself as he picked up a large wicker basket that was full of spices, salted peanuts, and roasted pumpkin seeds that Zhang Xiaoli had specially prepared. The aroma was irresistible.
Zhang Dashan also got up and walked to the corner of the kitchen under the beam, where several strings of homemade smoked sausages hung, deep red, shiny, and emitting a smoky, salty aroma.
He picked the two fattest bunches and wrapped them in oil paper.
Zhang carefully ladled the piping hot chicken soup, along with the meat, into a sturdy, large-bellied earthenware pot, covered it with a wooden lid, and then carefully wrapped the pot with a clean old cotton cloth to keep it warm and prevent burns.
After the three of them finished packing and locked the courtyard gate, they walked along the village road as dusk deepened towards Zhang Dahe's house.
The three chatted and laughed, their steps light and quick, carrying the warmth of heading towards a family reunion.
Zhang Dahe's home.
As soon as you enter the courtyard, an even stronger festive atmosphere hits you.
Two newly pasted red lanterns hung under the eaves. Although it was not yet dark, one could already imagine the warmth they would bring when lit up.
The windows are decorated with skillfully cut red paper-cuts depicting magpies on plum blossoms and fish symbolizing abundance year after year, exuding joy and ingenuity.
An oil lamp was lit in the main room, casting a warm yellow glow.
"You're back!"
Zhang Dahe's wife, Wang, came out to greet him upon hearing the noise. She was wearing an apron, and her face was flushed with busyness and a smile.
"Oh! Yi-jie is carrying such a big pot of soup! Come in, come in! It's warm inside!"
While greeting him, she helped Zhang Xiaoyi take the earthenware jar, carefully carried it into the kitchen, and placed it on the stove to keep it warm.
Inside the main room, Zhang Liuji's four-year-old son, Nan'er, was lying on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) playing with a small wooden pony.
The little guy was listless yesterday, but after eating the hawthorn candy Zhang Liu gave him and taking a nap, he's full of energy with rosy cheeks.
As soon as she saw Zhang Liuyi come in, she immediately dropped Xiao Ma and rushed over like a little cannonball, hugging Zhang Liuyi's leg and sweetly calling out with her little face upturned.
"Auntie! Auntie! You're finally here! Nan'er missed you!"
Zhang Liuyi was amused, bent down, picked him up, and weighed him in her arms.
"Oh! Nan'er, you're so good! Does your tummy still hurt?"
"It doesn't hurt anymore! The candy Auntie gave me is sweet!"
Nan'er wrapped her arms around Zhang Xiaoyi's neck and nuzzled him affectionately.
The men put down their things and went inside.
Zhang Dahe put the roasted nuts basket on the ground and called out.
"Come, come, Dashan, sit down! Yi'er's roasted melon seeds and peanuts smell delicious! Nan'er, don't bother your aunt, come down and play by yourself!" Zhang Dashan handed the smoked sausage to Aunt Wang.
"Sister-in-law, this is smoked at home, add it to your dishes."
Aunt Wang happily accepted it.
"Oh my! This is good stuff! I'll have to trouble Yi-jie to slice it and plate it later!"
As she spoke, her gaze swept around the main room, her brows furrowing slightly: "Where's Liu Ji? That brat, wasn't I supposed to send him to get the couplets? Where has he gone again?"
Just then, Zhang Liuji rushed in from outside, holding several pieces of red paper in his hand, with a bit of sweat on his forehead.
"Father, Mother, I'm back! I brought the red paper back! Scholar Liu just finished writing it, the ink isn't even dry yet!"
Zhang Liuli, holding Nan'er, looked at the red paper in his cousin's hand and asked.
"Brother Liu Ji, why haven't the couplets been put up yet? It's almost dark."
Zhang Liuji slapped his forehead.
"Hey, my memory! I was so busy waiting for Liu Xiucai to finish writing that I ran into Er Gouzi on the way back and we exchanged a few words. I completely forgot about putting up the couplets! I'll go put them up right now! I'll go right now!"
He then went to find some glue and a stool.
Aunt Wang couldn't help but complain to Zhang Dahe about her son's clumsy manner.
"Look! Look! This son is no match for the daughter! So careless! He even forgot to put up the couplets! If Yi-jie were home, we wouldn't need to worry about it. They would have been up neatly by now!"
Zhang Dahe glared at his son: "Hurry up and go! What are you dawdling for!"
"Okay! I'm going right now!" Zhang Liuji quickly responded and ran off.
Aunt Wang shook her head, then turned to Zhang Yili and smiled.
"Yi-jie, don't worry about them, let the men do their work. You must be tired from carrying Nan'er, right? Sit down and rest! Your sister-in-law and I will take care of things in the kitchen!"
The sister-in-law she was referring to was Li Xiulan, Zhang Liuji's wife, a gentle and hardworking young woman who was coming out of the inner room and greeting Zhang Liuli with a smile.
"Sister Yi is here. Please sit down. I'll pour you some water."
Zhang Liuyi put Nan'er down and patted his head.
"Nan'er, be good. Auntie is going to help Auntie cook. How about you play with your building blocks for a while?"
Nan'er, however, tugged at Zhang Xiaoyi's sleeve.
"Auntie! Auntie! There are firecrackers going off outside! I want to go out and play with firecrackers."
Zhang glanced out the window; the sky had darkened, and there were indeed sporadic firecracker sounds coming from afar.
She thought for a moment and then said to Aunt Wang and Li Xiulan.
"Auntie, sister-in-law, I'm taking Nan'er to play in that open space at the village entrance for a while, to get some fresh air, so he won't make a fuss in the house. I'll be back to help in a bit."
"Go ahead, go ahead! Be careful, don't break your hand!"
Aunt Wang gave her some instructions.
"Okay, I got it."
Zhang Yili nodded in agreement, took Nan'er's little hand, greeted the elders in the main room, and then led the excited little girl out the door.
An open space next to the farmland at the entrance of the village.
From the direction of the village, scattered lights and faint sounds of noise could be heard.
There were no crops on this open space, only short stubble left after the harvest.
Nan'er was like a frolicking puppy, jumping and skipping excitedly.
Zhang Liuyi took out a few ordinary firecrackers from his pocket and handed a few to Nan'er, keeping a few for himself as well.
She demonstrated first, picking one up and slamming it to the ground with a loud "thud!"
A crisp sound rang out clearly in the silent field, and even kicked up a small patch of snow.
Wow! Auntie is amazing!
Nan'er clapped her hands and, imitating her, picked up one and threw it down forcefully.
Success! The little guy jumped for joy.
The aunt and niece took turns snapping their fingers, one after the other, the crisp "snap" sounds echoing across the open fields, accompanied by Nan'er's giggles.
After playing for a while, we ran out of firecrackers.
Nan'er's little face was red from the cold, but she was still reluctant to leave: "Auntie, let's play a little longer!"
Zhang glanced at the sky; it was completely dark, and the red lanterns in every household in the village were lit up.
A warm and joyful atmosphere filled the air. She pulled Nan'er's cotton-padded coat collar tighter.
"That's enough playing, it's time to go home. Grandma and the others must be getting impatient. Come on, let's go home and have something delicious to eat!"
“Okay…” Nan’er was a little disappointed, but she still obediently took her aunt’s hand.
The two walked along the ridges of the fields toward the village. Just as they reached the old locust tree at the village entrance, they encountered a familiar, tall figure carrying a basket covered with a thick cotton cloth, hurrying towards them. It was Xiong Zixiang.
"Brother Xiong?" Zhang Yiwu was somewhat surprised and stopped in his tracks.
Xiong Zixiang clearly hadn't expected to run into her here. He paused, his gaze falling on Xiao Nan'er, whom Zhang Liuyi was holding, and nodded.
"Keep an eye on the girl."
His voice sounded deep and clear in the cold night.
"Captain Xiong!" Nan'er recognized Xiong Zixiang and called out in a clear voice.
Xiong Zixiang nodded to Nan'er in response.
He stepped forward and handed the basket he was carrying to Zhang Yili. "Here you go."
Zhang subconsciously took the basket; it felt heavy in his hand, and he could feel its warmth even through the thick cotton cloth.
She lifted a corner of the cotton cloth with a puzzled look, and a rich, enticing aroma, a mixture of oil and char, immediately wafted out.
Inside were golden-brown, crispy meatballs, tofu cubes, and potato slices, still slightly steaming.
"This... Brother Xiong?"
Zhang Yili was even more surprised.
"My mom fried it."
Xiong Zixiang explained succinctly.
"Say...I'll add some more dishes for you." He glanced at Zhang Xiaoyi's slightly red cheeks from the cold, then quickly looked away, looking elsewhere.
"It's cold, eat it while it's hot."
"Please thank your aunt for me!"
Zhang felt a warmth in his heart and quickly thanked him.
"This is too much trouble for you, Auntie!"
"Um."
Xiong Zixiang responded with a sound of agreement, seemingly having nothing more to say.
He glanced at Zhang Yili, then at Nan'er, who was staring at him curiously with her little face upturned, and simply said, "Let's go back, it's dark and the roads are slippery."
After saying that, without waiting for Zhang Yi to say anything more, he turned around and strode towards his home, his tall figure quickly disappearing into the night on the village road.
Zhang Liuyi stood there, holding the basket of hot fried food, looking in the direction where Xiong Zixiang had disappeared.
Until Nan'er tugged at her hand: "Auntie? Officer Xiong left? What delicious food did he give you? It smells so good!"
"Oh, it's fried meatballs, fried tofu, and potatoes sent by Captain Xiong."
Zhang Liuyi snapped out of her daze and tightened her grip on the basket.
"Come on, let's go home and let Grandma and the others try some!"
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