Chapter 289 Happy New Year
Time flies by in our busy lives, and before we know it, it's Lunar New Year's Eve.
The house was bustling with activity early in the morning.
Some are hanging lanterns, others are pasting paper-cut window decorations.
Grandma Huo took out the red paper she had cut in advance. Knowing that Jiang Si was good at calligraphy, she called her over.
"Sisi, you should write the Spring Festival couplets this year."
Jiang Si was about to respond.
Suddenly, my gaze fell upon the old man standing to the side.
Thinking of how the old man had been writing diligently at home these past few days, Jiang Si smiled.
"Grandma, I haven't practiced calligraphy in a long time, and my hand is very rusty now. Let Grandpa write it instead."
After saying that, he didn't forget to praise, "Grandpa's handwriting is good."
Upon hearing this, the old man couldn't help but smile.
Grandma Huo understood Jiang Si's thoughts perfectly well. "Alright, I'll listen to you. Let your grandfather write it."
Despite his mediocre chess skills, the old man's handwriting is quite good.
Each stroke is powerful and penetrating, carrying an undeniable strength and vigor.
The Spring Festival couplets were written quickly.
The old man admired his work for a while, and finally handed the Spring Festival couplets to Huo Tingzhou with great satisfaction.
I was worried he wouldn't apply it properly, so I watched him the whole time.
It goes left one minute and right the next.
It took almost two hours to put up the Spring Festival couplets.
Normally, Grandma Huo would have scolded them long ago, but today is the New Year, and she's unusually happy, so she let them be.
After a quick lunch, everyone started kneading dough and preparing fillings.
This year's New Year's Eve dinner emphasizes that everyone should participate.
Mother Huo had told the families long ago that each family should contribute two of their signature dishes on New Year's Day.
Brother Huo is making a specialty dish from Xinjiang Province, Dapanji (Big Plate Chicken), which includes crumbly potatoes and wide noodles.
Just smelling it makes your mouth water.
The second dish was hand-pulled mutton.
He grew up in Northwest China, and this dish is one of the most common things he eats during Chinese New Year, emphasizing its original flavor.
Combined with the chive blossoms they brought, the taste was absolutely amazing.
Brother Huo is making a traditional dish that every household in Beijing must eat during the Spring Festival – Four Happiness Meatballs.
They're called meatballs, but each one is the size of a fist.
This dish alone used several kilograms of pork, and Mrs. Huo was originally worried that her second son would eat all of it.
The taste was unexpectedly good.
The second dish that Brother Huo made was mustard greens, which were made with the stalks of Chinese cabbage.
It has a sweet and sour flavor and tastes very refreshing.
Jiang Si isn't very good at cooking, so this task can only be left to Huo Tingzhou.
He made braised prawns and steamed yellow croaker.
In addition, Uncle Zhong also made two dishes.
These are all essential home-style dishes for the Chinese New Year in Shanghai. One is Four Happiness Braised Gluten, and the other is Jiang Si's favorite, Pickled Bamboo Shoots and Pork Belly.
Spring bamboo shoots are not yet in season, so we are using winter bamboo shoots.
It also contains plenty of pork belly and tofu knots. The soup is white and rich, and one bite is so delicious it'll make your eyebrows fall off.
Finally, there's the fourth brother's family.
He makes fried food that kids like.
Fried ribbonfish, fried lotus root slices, fried dough sticks, fried radish balls...
As soon as they started frying, the kids came running over, drawn by the smell.
"Here, take one each. Be careful when you eat it, don't burn yourself."
Today, she made a large batch, and Mrs. Huo couldn't bear to part with her beloved grandchildren, so she fed them as soon as the food came out of the pot.
After seeing Sui Sui and Zhao Zhao smack their lips twice, drool was dripping down their faces.
Jiang Si couldn't help but laugh. "Not this year, they haven't grown any teeth yet. Let's wait until next year to eat them."
As soon as he finished speaking, Huo Tingzhou stuffed a fried radish ball into her mouth.
The meatballs are very crispy.
Jiang Si took a bite, and there was a crisp crunching sound—
The two little ones immediately raised their heads when they heard the noise.
His eyes were full of question marks.
Jiang Si had half a meatball in her mouth and didn't dare to move.
They were afraid of making even the slightest sound.
Fortunately, Mrs. Huo had already prepared apple puree for the two little ones.
There's no need to call them; just tap the rim of the bowl with a spoon, and the two little ones are successfully distracted.
After feeding the baby with sweet and fragrant fruit puree, the New Year's Eve dinner was almost ready.
The Huo family's New Year's Eve dinner wasn't very traditional. After the food was served, the old man took out a bottle of fine wine that he had been treasuring for a long time.
Those who can drink alcohol should have their cups filled, while those who cannot should be given orange soda instead.
Even Sui Sui and Zhao Zhao were given a little warm water in their small bottles to make up the difference.
After a burst of firecrackers, the old man stood up with a look of satisfaction on his face.
"It's rare to have everyone gathered together like this year. The past year has been tough for everyone, but we've all made it through smoothly."
"Without further ado, let's raise a glass together to celebrate this year of reunion!"
"Dad, Mom, Happy New Year!" Mr. and Mrs. Huo stood up together.
The younger generation also raised their glasses, wishing their grandparents (great-grandparents) good health and all the best!
"cheers!"
After the lively New Year's Eve dinner, it was already quite late.
Next came the part the children were most looking forward to.
After the excitement subsided, Jiang Si looked at the thick stack of red envelopes in her hand and couldn't help but sigh to Huo Tingzhou.
"After this Spring Festival, I doubt my parents and grandparents will even have enough money for this month's salary."
Huo Tingzhou was tidying up the cradles for the two little ones when he heard this, and nodded.
"But they were happy to have spent the money."
Jiang Si smiled and said nothing more.
At this moment, Huo Tingzhou walked over and handed her a red envelope.
The red envelope is the same as last year, with the inscription "May you have peace and health every year."
It feels noticeably thicker when you pinch it.
"Why are there so many?" Jiang Si asked, puzzled.
Huo Tingzhou touched his nose. "I haven't finished spending the pocket money you gave me before."
Since last year when she said she would increase his allowance, Jiang Si now gives him twenty yuan a month.
He didn't have many expenses on a regular basis, so he saved all the money.
When Lao Xiao learned that he had 20 yuan of pocket money every month, he was so envious he almost twisted his body.
Huo Tingzhou then realized that Lao Xiao only made ten yuan a month.
Old Lei is about the same.
By comparison, he has the most pocket money!
Jiang Si never expected that the money she gave out would eventually come back to her, but she was very happy.
This is the second year she has spent in this era.
The wind and snow continued outside.
But she truly felt that life was getting better year by year!
...
Once Lunar New Year's Eve is over, the next few days will be for visiting relatives and friends.
As agreed, Jiang Si took her two children to visit her master and his wife.
Even during the Lunar New Year, Master only gets half a day off.
That afternoon, the master and apprentice talked for a long time.
Jiang Si could sense that her master had high hopes for her, and she was even prepared that her master would assign her a new round of tasks.
But unexpectedly, her master only told her to get more rest.
Jiang Si was still a little confused, feeling that her master's words had a hidden meaning.
Several days later, she received a call from the Ministry of Construction.
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