On the other hand, Zhaoji and the Foundation, two industries that belonged exclusively to Xue Huan, had both entered the final stages.
A sign was hung outside Zhao Ji that read "20% off all snacks, hurry to buy."
At the annual meeting yesterday, Xue Huan told her employees about the holiday arrangements, which were from the 28th to the 7th of the New Year, a total of ten days off, and they would return to work on the 8th.
Zhaoji’s snacks have always sold well. At the end of the year, every family has to prepare New Year’s goods. Many families who usually don’t want to buy Zhaoji’s food now grit their teeth and spend the money to splurge.
As soon as the discount sign was hung today, Zhao Ji's business became even more booming. Before noon, more than half of the store was empty.
The clerk stopped restocking the stock because the boss said we would close the store and go on holiday once everything is sold out today!
When someone entered the store and saw the empty shelves, they wondered if they had walked into the wrong store and asked, "Hey girl, why is your store empty?"
"Ma'am, we're closing today after we've sold out. We won't be restocking until the eighth day of the Lunar New Year."
"Oh, opening on the eighth day of the Lunar New Year? Wouldn't that mean we have to wait ten days or so? My grandson is used to eating the snacks you have here. No, I have to stock up more."
The foundation took advantage of the last day to visit the children at the Qionglin Children's Welfare Bureau and sent several trucks of supplies.
After this day, employees from both sides welcomed the ten-day holiday for the Chinese New Year.
Xue Huan has returned to Shanghe Village with her family and started preparing for the New Year's Eve dinner.
Fried various meatballs, including fish balls, pork balls, mung bean balls, radish balls, and sweet potato balls.
The sweet potatoes that Xue Huan had asked Xue Qing and the others to plant in the vegetable garden have now been harvested. Since it was their first trial planting, they didn't plant too many, only one acre. However, the harvest from this one acre was enough to make Xue Huan stare in amazement, nearly 10,000 kilograms!
Of course, she also knew that this was because a spirit gathering array was set up in the vegetable garden, and the water used to water the vegetables was mixed with spiritual spring water, so the sweet potato yield was so amazing. Under normal circumstances, one acre of land would produce at most five or six thousand kilograms.
But five or six thousand kilograms is also amazing.
The fillings of the sweet potato balls include sesame seeds, brown sugar, red bean paste, peanut butter, etc. After they are out of the pot, the skin is crispy, but the inside is soft and sweet, and it tastes great.
In addition to meatballs, of course, various meats are indispensable, such as chicken fillets, chicken steaks, ribs, meat skewers, etc., sprinkled with chili powder and cumin, the taste is amazing.
There are also braised dishes, such as chicken feet, chicken wings, duck necks, duck feet, duck heads, etc. No matter what, you can braise it, whether it is meat or vegetarian, and the taste will be sublimated after braising.
On the 30th day, the whole family got up early in the morning to prepare for the New Year's Eve dinner in the afternoon. They fry, stew, boil and stir-fry. Xue Huan was the chef and everyone else helped her and was ordered around by her.
Of course, she mainly ordered the two men, Pei Ji and Xue Yao, around. Xue's mother and Xue Jun only had to sit there to taste the delicious food she made and give their opinions.
Ancestor worship at noon.
In the main hall, a round table was placed in the center. Candles and incense burners were placed on the side near the door. Eight dishes were placed on the table. These eight dishes were very particular, four meat dishes and four vegetable dishes.
Four kinds of meat: pork, lamb, fish, and chicken.
Four vegetarian dishes: tofu, mung bean meatballs, radish, and soybeans.
These dishes are cooked by stewing, with only oil and salt added. I don't know what the special features are, but it has been passed down from generation to generation.
There are also eight sets of bowls and chopsticks, with rice in the bowls and wine on the side.
After the wine and food are prepared, it is time to start burning paper and kowtowing to the ancestors.
Burning paper is a task that has to be done by the male members of the family. In the past, it was always done by Xue's father. Now that Xue's father is gone, Xue Yao, who has grown into a teenager, has taken on this responsibility.
Others need to come forward one by one, kneel down on the cushion and kowtow three times.
Xue Huan had no objection to this. When her grandfather was still alive, he had taken her to worship their ancestors in this way.
The older generation is more traditional and abides by the rules passed down from generation to generation.
These rules, which are denounced by young people as feudal superstitions, actually express the living people's remembrance of their ancestors.
After offering sacrifices to the ancestors, the food and dishes on the table are removed.
Seeing Pei Ji bringing a wine glass to his lips, Xue Huan patted him, "What are you doing?"
Pei Ji blinked innocently and unkindly gave Xue Yao away: "A Yao said that things that have been enjoyed by ancestors have no taste, so he asked me to have a taste."
Xue Huan glanced at him with a chilling look, and Xue Yao immediately ran out.
"Stop! If you dare to run, you won't get any of the lion's head, braised pork elbow, or roast duck tonight!"
Intimidated by the delicious food, Xue Yao slammed on the brakes and stopped.
Xue Huan walked over, grabbed his ear and twisted it, "Are you going to tease your brother-in-law again next time?"
Xue Yao hurriedly shook his head, "I don't dare anymore."
Only then did Xue Huan let him go.
Xue Yao covered his ears and walked to Xue Jun dejectedly, saying aggrievedly: "Jun'er, please rub my ears for me."
Xue Jun poked him with his finger and scolded him with a smile: "Serves you right."
Xue Yao felt even more aggrieved.
Mother Xue smiled as she watched the children making noise. "Alright, hurry up and clear the table. Let's have a simple meal. We'll have the New Year's Eve dinner this afternoon."
New Year’s Eve dinner is a reunion dinner. The dishes must not only be delicious, but also have auspicious names.
Today, Chef Xue Huan prepared a New Year's Eve dinner with ten dishes in total, which meant perfection.
Good Luck (Fish Head Stewed with Tofu), Great Fortune (Roast Chicken with Chestnuts), Happy Gathering (Rich Winter Melon Soup), Abundance (Shrimp and Egg Custard), Five Blessings (Sea Cucumber Stewed with Pork Tripe), Year-round Abundance (Steamed Fish with Soybean Paste), Peace and Prosperity (Hericium Stewed with Bamboo Shoots), Prosperity (Braised Spare Ribs), Four Happiness Meatballs, Crystal Pig's Trotter.
These are the main dishes, and there are also rich side dishes such as blessing cakes, reunion dumplings, fried meatballs, braised chicken feet, roast duck, etc.
Even a large round table with eight seats couldn’t accommodate all the food, so they had to bring in a few high tables and place the dishes on them.
There was a brazier burning under the table, which was warm. Sitting at the table to eat, I didn't feel cold at all. People like Xue Yao and Pei Ji, who were very passionate, even broke out in sweat on their backs.
They simply took off their down jackets.
Xue's house.
In the small courtyard, Mei Jiqin and her wet nurse were also having the New Year's Eve dinner.
Originally, Xue Huan wanted to invite Mei Jiqin to go back to the village with her family to celebrate the New Year, but Mei Jiqin declined. Although the Xue family treated her well, she always remembered her identity as a tutor. It would not be right for her to go back to their hometown with the Xue family, especially since she had a wet nurse.
She and her nanny had been dependent on each other for so many years, and they had long been accustomed to each other's company. It was a good thing that the two of them were reunited.
Besides, they don’t have to live under someone else’s roof this year, and the New Year’s Eve dinner was prepared and delivered by the kitchen. It was especially sumptuous, much better than in previous years.
Mei Jiqin felt that this kind of life was already very good.
But the nurse doesn't think so.
"Young lady, when you lived in the nunnery before, I tried to persuade you to marry, but you always refused. Now we have found a good master, and you don't have to worry about anything else. You are not young anymore, isn't it time to find someone to marry? With your looks and character, even though you are older, there are still many people who want to marry you. Why not, I will find a matchmaker to find you a couple when the year comes?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
