Liu Jianguo also felt a sense of empathy, saying, "Who can disagree? Fortunately, I can make money, and that's the greatest comfort."
Erlinzi kicked him and said, "Don't take your good fortune for granted! Even if I wanted to leave, I couldn't."
Zhang Hongmei was busy at home, making dumplings with scallions and pork, but hadn't wrapped any other fillings yet. The dishes included braised pork, spare ribs, stir-fried bean curd strips, tofu with scallions, and stir-fried cabbage hearts.
After preparing all the vegetables, I started mixing the filling. One meatball dumpling. I added some steamed fish soy sauce, oyster sauce, light soy sauce, Sichuan peppercorn powder, dark soy sauce, ginger, and salt. Once all the seasonings were in, I added a bowl of water and stirred vigorously until the meat filling became firm. Then I added soybean oil, chopped green onions, and stirred again.
It was just the two of them eating, but they made quite a lot of dumplings. Dumplings are a special kind of delicacy, and there's a certain art to it.
In rural areas, there must be leftover dumplings from the New Year's Eve dinner. They are then pan-fried and eaten on the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year.
Zhang Hongmei doesn't like eating leftovers, but she still follows the customs.
Three trays of dumplings, 182 in total, are probably more than enough for two people to finish in two meals.
After making dumplings, there's always a piece of dough left over. This is called "New Year's Fat," which symbolizes that life will get better and better in the coming year.
Thinking about this makes me feel a little down. I wonder how my parents are doing? My little nephew should be in elementary school now. I wonder if he's like me, able to sit still and read, or if he's like his dad, a restless monkey who can't sit still for even a minute?
My sister-in-law wanted a daughter, I wonder if she's given birth yet? I wonder if my brother's supermarket is as profitable as he imagines?
Tears fell onto the panel, and I finally understood the meaning of missing loved ones even more during festivals.
I wiped away my tears with the back of my hand, tidied up the board, and decided to live well. My life's pursuit was simply to live a life of leisure and waiting to die.
Looking at the time, Er Lengzi should be coming over for dinner soon. Let's boil water and prepare to cook dumplings.
Take out a large piece of pork belly and cut it into thin slices. Transfer a bag of sweet bean sauce from the space and throw the outer packaging into the stove. Only the transparent plastic bag containing the sweet bean sauce remains.
I poured in about half a bowl of sweet bean sauce and some soy sauce. I didn't dare add chili sauce, so I just added a chopped bird's eye chili and mixed it well.
Dip one side of the sliced meat in the sauce, then place the un-sauceed side against the bowl with the meat shreds facing down, repeating this process. Finally, cover the meat with the sliced bean curd strips. Cover with a plate and place on a steamer rack.
Braised pork, spare ribs, and braised fish are all placed in large bowls on a steamer rack, then covered and steamed.
Er Lengzi came over intending to help make dumplings, but when he saw that Zhang Hongmei had already finished, he felt quite embarrassed.
"Hongmei, I'll start the fire for you."
"Okay. The water will be boiling soon, just start cooking the dumplings."
The dumplings were cooked, and the meat was served as well.
"Thank you for taking care of me, Brother Er Lengzi. Eat more meat."
After saying that, he turned the bowl of sliced meat over so that the bean curd was facing down and the meat skin was facing up.
"Brother Er Lengzi, try this meat, I think it's delicious."
Er Lengzi picked up a slice and put it in his mouth. He nodded repeatedly, "Delicious, even better than braised pork. How is it made?"
"It's basically stewing large chunks of meat with braised pork, letting it cool, slicing it, adding sauce, and then steaming it again."
"That simple?"
"Is it simple? I think it's quite troublesome, but as long as it tastes good, eat more if you like it."
Zhang Hongmei secretly rejoiced, thankful that she had only cooked thirty dumplings, otherwise it would have been a complete waste.
The sliced meat and bean curd strips were all eaten up, only a few pieces of braised pork were left, half of the braised fish was eaten, and Zhang Hongmei ate one piece of spare ribs, while Er Lengzi didn't touch his chopsticks at all.
Zhang Hongmei only ate one dumpling as a token gesture, but it was incredibly delicious as soon as she bit into it, with soup oozing out.
Er Lengzi rubbed his stomach and looked at the dumplings, thinking, "What a waste! If I'd known dumplings were so delicious, I would have eaten a few first."
"I've left a tray of dumplings outside to freeze for you. You can cook them yourself whenever you want. It's convenient."
"I never knew eating meat all you want felt like this. Some people can't even afford porridge, while we can eat meat all we want. What a difference!"
Zhang Hongmei chuckled. She didn't know how to answer.
Er Lengzi didn't expect anyone to answer him; it was just a reflection after he had eaten his fill.
The two of them quickly cleaned up the table, and Er Lengzi was still carrying a tray of dumplings and a large bowl of braised pork.
Dumplings are supposed to be eaten at midnight, since they're a traditional Chinese New Year feast. But since the man and woman were alone together, they ate them early to avoid bad rumors. That's why Zhang Hongmei brought some raw dumplings back for Er Lengzi.
The eve of the Lunar New Year, without the sound of firecrackers, was so peaceful, just like any other day.
Zhang Hongmei retreated into her private space to take a bath and sleep. With no entertainment, sleeping was the best way to pass the time.
The next day is the first day of the Lunar New Year, and in rural areas, the whole day is for visiting relatives and friends to exchange New Year's greetings.
Zhang Hongmei carried a bag of brown sugar, a bag of white sugar, a bag of peach shortbread, a bag of steamed rice cakes, a bag of fruit candies, and a rabbit figurine. She went to the old lady's house.
"Grandma, I've come to wish you a Happy New Year."
"Hongmei is here. Come in and sit down."
Zhang Hongmei said auspicious New Year's greetings to the old lady, and then left when she saw someone coming.
When I got home, I brought the New Year's gift for Liu Maocai. It was the same as the old lady's, except that there was no white sugar and two packets of brown sugar instead.
Wang Hongxi's family only has one rabbit and one bag of brown sugar; that's all.
When I got home, my face felt stiff from smiling so much. Today, it's absolutely forbidden to lock the door; if someone comes to wish you a Happy New Year and you lock the door, it's like you're cutting ties with them.
Although she was young and of low seniority, she figured no one would come to pay New Year's visits. So Zhang Hongmei sat on the doorstep with a book in her hand and read.
A little while later, Shi Tou San Ya arrived. "Happy New Year, Sister Hong Mei."
"Happy New Year to you both. Thank you for coming. Here are some fruit candies for you to share."
Zhang Hongmei gave each of them a large handful. More children, mostly young, came to wish them a Happy New Year, and each of them received candy.
It wasn't until lunchtime, when everyone gathered at the brigade headquarters to collectively kowtow and wish the old lady a Happy New Year, that the scene was truly awe-inspiring.
The first row consisted of the old lady's direct relatives. After them were the men and boys from the village, followed by the women and girls, all kneeling on the ground and shouting "Happy New Year!"
The old lady kindly called everyone to get up. Only then did they begin eating.
I originally planned to eat at home for the first and second days of the Lunar New Year. But everyone objected, saying, "What if we have guests? In this day and age, are you going to provide meals or not?"
If you're going to provide meals, you should at least make sure they're full, right? There should be some meat, right? But we're reluctant to eat the little bit of white flour left at home, let alone give it to outsiders.
If you don't provide food, people will talk behind your back later.
So the best solution is a communal canteen. There's no other way; nobody can complain. It avoids offending anyone and saves on food costs—a win-win situation.
It would be even more difficult if my daughter came.
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