Chapter 214 New Year's Goods
Several neat characters were arranged on the telegram, and Nan Zhiyi stood in the snow, smiling as she looked at it for a long time.
When she returned to the house, the kitchen was steaming with sweet, warm white vapor, and Sister Zhang, wearing a coarse cloth apron, was taking a basket of steamed buns out of the pot.
There was also a basket of steamed brown sugar buns next to the kitchen stove.
Xiaoman sat on a small stool by the kitchen door, happily munching on half a steamed bun. When she saw her mother come back, she immediately held up the drool-covered bun to share.
“My dear, you can eat it yourself.” Nan Zhiyi quickly declined her son’s offer.
"The dough is prepared on the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month." Today is the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month.
Gu Xiao had already discussed it with her. She needed to wait for the political review in Beijing and wouldn't be returning to Jian'an for the Spring Festival this year. He would be responsible for informing Commander Gu and Gu Yan of this news.
Knowing that her family of three would be spending the Spring Festival in Beijing this year, she asked Sister Zhang, "How are the New Year's preparations going? Is there anything we're still missing?"
Sister Zhang calculated: "Everything's almost ready. The army gave us five jin of ribbonfish and ten jin of high-gluten flour. We also received the special fruit rationed for the officers. With the coupons you gave us, we bought two jin of sesame paste and three jin of melon seeds and candy. Yesterday, the service station got some frozen pears, and I grabbed three jin..."
She added, "There's not much fresh food; we only have cabbages and radishes stored in the cellar..."
"That's enough," Nan Zhiyi said, taking out a handkerchief to wipe Xiaoman's hands. "It's just the three of us celebrating the New Year this year, so let's just have something simple to eat."
Actually, she had something else on her mind that she didn't say: if she failed the political review, she wouldn't be able to swallow even the most delicious food.
Sister Zhang arranged the last batch of jujube flower steamed buns neatly and turned on the heat to continue steaming.
Amidst the rising steam, Nan Zhiyi spoke somewhat apologetically, "Sister Zhang, I'm afraid you'll have to work very hard during the New Year holidays. My cooking skills are really not up to par, so we'll have to rely on you to cook the New Year's Eve dinner."
Sister Zhang wiped her hands with her apron: "Look at what you're saying! It should have been me who came. We domestic helpers don't have fixed holidays. We have to be there when the employer needs us. In previous years at Chief Wang's house, I had to cook from the 30th of the lunar month to the 3rd of the lunar month."
Nan Zhiyi was relieved and smiled, "I'll definitely give you a big red envelope then."
When Gu Xiao returned in the evening, he was carrying a fresh carp: "It's freshly caught from the logistics department's pond! Sister Zhang, could you please make sweet and sour fish for dinner tonight?"
"Okay." Sister Zhang took the carp and went to clean it up in the pond in the yard.
Nan Zhiyi quickly stopped her: "Sister Zhang, it's cold outside, you can just clean up in the kitchen."
Sister Zhang refused, saying, "It smells fishy, don't worry about it, I can clean it up in no time. You take Xiaoman back inside, don't let the cold wind blow on you at the door."
After washing his hands, Gu Xiao came over and led his wife and child back to the living room. Xiaoman scrambled onto her father's arms, pleading, "Dad, Dad, Dad, get out!"
Nan Zhiyi patted his little bottom, "It's so cold outside, silly boy, stay home and play."
After putting Xiaoman to sleep at night, the couple leaned against the headboard and talked.
“Honey, I’ve called Dad and Gu Yan. We’ll be spending this year in Beijing. On New Year’s Eve, Gu Yan brought his girlfriend over… she said she’s a businesswoman from Guangzhou who makes electronic watches.”
"Your boyfriend?" Nan Zhiyi sat up abruptly, anxiously saying, "What are we going to do? We don't have much vegetable or meat at home. I originally told Sister Zhang that the three of us would just have a simple New Year's celebration, but now Gu Yan and his boyfriend are coming... We have some dried mushrooms and other dried goods, and enough cabbage and radishes, but what if we don't have enough..."
Gu Xiao chuckled and pulled his wife back into bed: "What's the rush? Tomorrow's the 29th, and I'll be on holiday from then on. I'm lucky this year; my holiday starts on the 29th and ends on the 4th of the new year. I only have to go to the operations department for a shift on the 1st."
Nan Zhiyi muttered to herself, "Will I still be able to buy vegetables on the 29th? I heard there are long queues at the Dongdan vegetable market starting in the early morning..."
"Are you silly?" Gu Xiao wrapped his arms around her waist. "The logistics department sent over some special vouchers this morning, which can be used to buy chives, garlic sprouts, and frozen prawns. Tomorrow I'll go to the Friendship Store again and use the foreign exchange vouchers to buy some tangerines and chocolates, and that should be enough."
Hearing his well-organized arrangements, she finally felt relieved. "Okay, then I'll leave it to you."
The two fell asleep in each other's arms.
The next morning, a light snow began to fall. Gu Xiao went out before dawn and returned in his jeep by mid-morning, fully loaded with fruit, snacks, and fresh vegetable baskets wrapped in quilts.
When Nan Zhiyi looked through the package, she was pleasantly surprised to find fresh chives and celery, which were in high demand and could only be bought with special ration coupons for military officers.
"This is enough to last until the Lantern Festival!"
Gu Xiao took out a tin box: "Guanshengyuan butter cookies, for you and Xiaoman."
Nan Zhiyi hadn't eaten this in a long time, so she took the cookie box to the cupboard and opened it.
She carefully arranged several cookies into a flower shape on a porcelain plate, then picked up the thermos and poured two glasses of hot milk into them.
After the weather gets cold, Sister Zhang pours warm milk into a military-style thermos every morning. It's always hot when she drinks it, which is perfect for the Lesser Fullness of Grain (a solar term).
"Xiaoman, come and have some snacks!"
She carried the tray to the coffee table, turned around and called her son, who was peering through the kitchen door frame at Sister Zhang and Gu Xiao as they dealt with the pile of New Year's goods.
The little guy turned around immediately when he heard the call, and waddled over like a little penguin, his red cotton shoes making a pattering sound on the floor.
Wash your hands.
Nan Zhiyi pulled her son aside and went to the bathroom to carefully wash his chubby little hands. The mother and son then returned to the carpet to share snacks.
The radio on the coffee table is playing "On the Golden Mountain of Beijing".
Xiaoman grabbed a cookie and took a big bite, swaying her head to the rhythm of the music.
When Gu Xiao came out after finishing his work in the kitchen, he saw Nan Zhiyi sitting cross-legged on the wool carpet, with Xiao Man nestled beside her.
His wife and children were relaxed and happy, and he felt extremely content. Perhaps this is what it feels like to have a wife, children, and a warm bed.
He smiled, squeezed onto the carpet, and sat down next to his wife.
Nan Zhiyi held the half-eaten biscuit in her hand to his lips, and he opened his mouth and ate it. "It's alright, better than compressed biscuits."
Xiaoman, seeing this, also held up a cookie covered in saliva, wanting to feed her father.
Gu Xiao leaned back in disgust: "It's all drool, Daddy won't eat it." But he took the cookie from Nan Zhiyi's hand and deliberately brushed his tongue across her fingertips.
"Isn't it dirty..." Nan Zhiyi blushed and tried to pull her hand away, but he pulled her into his arms.
Seeing this, Xiaoman rushed over and hugged his leg. Gu Xiao picked up his son with one hand and put a cloth tiger in the sofa: "Go, play with your Tiger Brother."
He sat on the carpet, his arm around his wife, nuzzling her nose against hers, saying, "My wife smells so good. That kid's only so little, and he already smells..."
Nan Zhiyi spat at him: "My son smells so sweet! You're the one who stinks."
Gu Xiao froze, released her slightly, lowered his head to sniff his military uniform, and his brows gradually furrowed.
Nan Zhiyi laughed when she saw that he had actually taken it seriously: "I was just kidding."
His ears turned slightly red, but he tightened his arms around him: "Really no taste?" After receiving an affirmative answer, he gritted his teeth and slowly approached, about to kiss him.
Nan Zhiyi's heart trembled, and she hurriedly pressed against his chest: "Sister Zhang is in the kitchen!"
He bit her cheek: "I'll settle the score with you tonight."
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