Chapter 139 Ancestor Worship
In order to have this rare and sumptuous meal tonight, everything needed was prepared a few days in advance.
The pork elbow with alternating fat and lean parts is roasted over charcoal fire until the skin becomes scalded and white bubbles appear. Then it is washed clean and fried in oil. After the fried pork skin becomes golden and puffy, it is taken out and soaked in cold water.
While the pork elbow was soaking in ice water to set, Sang Zhixia had already prepared the ingredients: "Xu Yu, help me drain the pork elbow. I'll fry the sugar color and add it to the pot."
Xu Yu, who was helping, moved very quickly. When he heard the word "下", he used the lid to block the spurting oil and rolled the elbow into the pot. After stir-frying it for a while, he immediately added water, adjusted the saltiness and added the seasonings.
The pork elbow is stewed in the pot here, and Xu Wenxiu has also cleaned the chicken to be stewed.
Holding the basin, she asked, "Xia Xia, do you want to chop the chicken into pieces? Or stew it directly?"
"No more chopping."
Sang Zhixia looked at the pig stomach that had been cleaned and marinated with onions, ginger and star aniseed. "Let's stew it whole today and make it into pig stomach chicken."
"Xu Yu."
"uh-huh?"
Sang Zhixia gestured at the whole, fat chicken with a kitchen knife, and said awkwardly, "Can you remove the bones from this chicken?"
Xu Yu took the knife and understood: "Can't you chop the meat? Only the bones?"
"It's better not to break it."
Sang Zhixia scratched the pig's stomach and said, "I want to stuff the chicken into the pig's stomach, but I don't think it will fit in without removing the bones. Can you remove the bones?"
"able."
Xu Yu squatted beside him, carefully removing the bones. Xu Minghui brought over an armful of firewood and said, "Is there anything else I can help you with?"
Sang Zhixia said without even looking up, "Get rid of the fish that's thawed in the bucket."
After saying this, she looked up uncertainly: "Can you scrape fish scales?"
Xu Minghui was a little amused: "Maybe. I'll give it a try."
Sang Zhixia didn't pay any attention to him. She said there was hot water nearby and said nothing more. The kitchen knife on the chopping board made a clattering sound, and the smell of fireworks filled the air, bringing with it the most direct and lively atmosphere.
The old man who went out for a walk to relax has also returned.
Smelling the aroma of food wafting through the air, and looking at the bustling and orderly atmosphere of everyone helping out, the gloom in his eyes slowly dissipated. Noticing that the old lady and Uncle Xu weren't around, he simply said, "What's wrong? Is your Uncle unable to get up?"
Xu Yu readily replied, "Second Uncle must be feeling unwell. Grandma is taking care of him. Just call him when it's time for dinner."
The old man snorted in an ambiguous tone, but didn't say much.
If you don't want to come out, just hide yourself, so that you don't come out and cause trouble for everyone.
With the old man's tacit approval, the old lady and Uncle Xu avoided all the work that required manual labor, and when it was time for dinner, their faces were filled with displeasure.
Xu Yu ran out and set off the firecrackers, then strode into the main hall amid the crackling sound. Uncle Xu San had just started to kowtow to the temporary ancestor of the Xu family.
Xu Wenxiu nudged Xu Yu and said, "Go and kowtow quickly and ask for the protection of our ancestors. They will bless you with good health and success in the coming year."
Xu Yu was the next to kowtow, followed by Xu Minghui and Xu Mingyang.
Xu Mingxu was a small man, and his expression as he knelt was serious and pious. If you listened carefully, you could see that he was repeating Xu Wenxiu's words. When he stood up, he emphasized two words seriously: "Get rich."
Sang Zhixia was having a good time, and was about to get a stool to start eating when the old man suddenly said, "Xia girl, come and kowtow too."
Xu Wenxiu was stunned.
She looked at the old lady's face, which had suddenly darkened, and said fearfully, "Is this...is this against the rules?"
The Xu family was exiled here for their crimes. Their lives were in danger, so naturally they had no time to take care of the ancestral tablets in the ancestral hall.
Hanging on top of the offering today is a poem written by the old man himself. Although the form is a bit simple, it is also the Xu family's annual ancestor worship.
Ancestor worship has always been a big event.
According to the Xu family's past rules, women were not allowed to enter the ancestral hall, and it was not their turn to perform rituals such as offering sacrifices to ancestors and bowing to them.
Not to mention that Xu Wenxiu and her two sisters-in-law had never received such an honor, even the old lady had never had the opportunity during the Xu family's ancestral worship, so it was naturally inappropriate for Sang Zhixia to go.
Sang Zhixia hesitated: "Grandfather, this..."
"Come if I tell you to. You are the eldest grandson's wife of the Xu family. What's wrong with letting the ancestors take a look?"
The old man handed her three incense sticks and said solemnly, "Kneel."
Sang Zhixia was forced into a situation where he had no choice but to kneel down.
After three kowtows, the old man looked deeply at the rudimentary elegy for his ancestors, which was almost ridiculous, and closed his eyes and said, "Yanran, you come too."
Xu Yanran was pushed forward by Aunt Xu San and knelt down. When she stood up, the old man said solemnly: "The descendants are powerless. The Xu family's century-old foundation has been destroyed in an instant. The future is uncertain, and the ups and downs cannot be told to others."
"You are all descendants of the Xu family. No matter how hard or difficult it is, you must remember to work together. If it is truly impossible to recreate the glory of our ancestors, you must not let yourselves sink into depravity. You must work together to protect the Xu family and do your best to live up to your conscience and owe nothing to heaven and earth."
"Have you memorized everything?"
Several people, led by Xu Yu, bowed their heads and said, "Thank you, Grandfather, for your teachings."
The old man exhaled slowly: "Okay, sit down and eat."
In the past, the dining table was a square table. When there were many people, it could not accommodate them all. The elders who sat at the bottom had to move their own small stools to find a place to sit.
There was not enough space on one extra table for the dishes cooked today, so Xu Yu simply put two square tables together, which was just enough to accommodate everyone.
Yesterday's dispute was in the past, and today Sang Zhixia was allowed to offer ancestor worship as an exception. Amid the lingering aroma wafting from the dinner table, the old lady's face looked uglier than ever.
Uncle Xu and his family were very happy.
Anyone with a discerning eye could see that the old man asked Xu Yanran to kowtow to the ancestors in order to make Sang Zhixia less conspicuous, but so what?
The couple probably won't have any more children. They only have Xu Yanran. It's a good thing that she can get more attention from the old man under the care of Sang Zhixia.
Anyway, as long as Xu Yu and Sang Zhixia from the eldest house are around, their Yanran will have someone to protect her. Isn't this better than anything else?
Aunt Xu was also in a good mood.
Xu Minghui's injury was not serious, and he was in much better spirits today. Xu Mingyang was also considerate and sensible. With two good sons to look forward to, what did she need that useless and bastard husband for?
Before the fight, everyone still remembered that the husband was superior and the wife was inferior, and they were worried about this and that. But now that they have already torn their faces apart and fought, what is there to be afraid of?
If you’re not convinced, just hit me with the carrying pole!
Xu Wenxiu looked at the extra green jade hairpin in Sang Zhixia's hair and was very satisfied.
The relationship between the son and daughter-in-law is very affectionate. The changes in the family have not affected the feelings of the young couple. The harmony between the couple is sweeter than any honey in the mouth, and it is a pleasure to watch.
The little ones were also very happy holding their own bowls. The only unhappy ones were the old lady and Uncle Xu with a sullen face.
Uncle Xu was severely beaten yesterday, and today his skin and flesh are in excruciating pain all over his body.
He wanted to throw down his chopsticks, but he didn't dare because he was worried about the old lady's warning. His face was as dark as the bottom of the pot, and he stuffed some food without tasting it. Before the old man could put down his chopsticks, he said stiffly, "I'm not feeling well. I'm going to rest first."
The old lady reached out to grab him but was stopped. A flash of panic flashed across her eyes before she quickly explained with a wry smile, "His body is covered in bruises and blood. If we weren't all here tonight, he wouldn't be absent. Otherwise, he would be lying in the house recuperating from his injuries."
Speaking of hurt, she looked at Aunt Xu with a harsh reproach: "You have become more and more unruly since entering the village. You have no respect for your husband and no etiquette. Your behavior has become more and more vulgar!"
"Don't hang out with those vulgar country women, lest you pick up on the unpresentable roughness of their ways!"
Second Aunt Xu didn't care about being scolded at all, and handed Xu Minghui a bowl of chicken soup with a natural expression.
"Your sister-in-law simmered this chicken soup for a full hour. Drink an extra bowl to nourish your body."
Xu Minghui took it with both hands and smiled. The old lady was about to say something else when Aunt Xu suddenly interrupted: "Minghui, you should eat more."
"Look at your father. We both work in the same place, but he looks very healthy and plump. Why are you so thin?"
"While you're still young and growing, you should learn your father's self-care methods to avoid harming your body over the years."
Xu Minghui curled his lips and lowered his head to say okay. The old lady thought of Uncle Xu's much rounder body, and forced herself to swallow the scolding that was on the tip of her tongue.
Uncle Xu is now a stinky rat that everyone wants to beat. The more he says, the more mistakes he makes.
No matter how big the grudge is, you have to bite the bullet and swallow it.
only……
The old lady glanced at Xu Yu and Sang Zhixia who were talking with their heads leaning over, with an uncertain look on her face, and a hint of coldness passed through her eyes.
The old man had always been biased before, but he had never focused all his attention on the eldest house like he does now. The eldest house only had Xu Yu, but Xu Wenxiu and others did not win the old man's favor.
She finally realized that the first person to cause trouble was Sang Zhixia.
We can’t let the people in the eldest house be so proud for long.
Otherwise, if this goes on for a long time, where will she find a place in this family?
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