After putting up the couplets, the family started making dumplings.
I made two kinds of dumpling fillings: one was the traditional pork and cabbage filling, and the other was a filling made with mustard greens as a substitute for herbs, dried shrimp, wood ear mushrooms, and eggs.
Twenty days postpartum, Fang Qiao was already able to move around freely in the house.
She also joined in making dumplings.
She had studied cooking before, and among the family, she was the fastest and most versatile at making dumplings. Her skillful hands left Tian Tian wide-eyed in amazement, and she kept exclaiming, "Auntie, auntie, I want to learn too! I want to learn too!"
Sweetie wanted to learn from Fang Qiao, so she taught her. It was the New Year, and the point was to have fun. In the end, both of their faces were covered in flour, making them look like little kittens.
When Wang Yun arrived, Fang Qiao was rubbing flour on Cheng Baidong's nose. She was being childish and wanted to tease Cheng Baidong to break his serious demeanor.
"Xiao Qiao, you're still so young! You're a mother now, but you're still acting like a child," Wang Yun teased. "Be careful, or Bai Dong will grab you and spank you."
Fang Qiao hadn't thought anything of it at first, but after Wang Yun teased her like that, she felt a little embarrassed, and secretly glanced at Cheng Baidong, only to unexpectedly meet his meaningful gaze.
Okay, she only has about ten days left in her postpartum period, so it's not impossible that she'll be caught and spanked or something.
Fang Qiao hurriedly looked away, and said to Wang Yun with a guilty conscience, "No, don't talk nonsense."
Wang Yun was a quick learner; upon hearing this, she burst into laughter.
In the evening, the old lady invited her third aunt's family over as well, and the two families ate New Year's Eve dinner together, preparing a whole table of dishes.
My aunt's two children, Xiaojing and Xiaoqiang, are both quiet and introverted, and they don't talk much during meals.
After dinner, the whole family gathered together to listen to the broadcast coming from the village loudspeaker and stay up to welcome the New Year.
Sweetie was bored and insisted on going out to set off fireworks. Wang Yun took her out, while the old lady urged Xiao Jing and Xiao Qiang to come out and join in the fun.
After 10 o'clock, the sounds of fireworks and firecrackers outside began to subside, and the night became much quieter. However, the quiet was only temporary. As soon as midnight struck, it was as if the start button had been pressed. The crackling and popping of firecrackers ripped through the night sky from all directions, vying with each other, as if afraid of being left behind.
Cheng Baidong also lit the firecrackers that his family had prepared long ago.
Amidst the deafening sound of firecrackers, plump, white dumplings were dropped into the pot one by one.
"Amidst the crackling of firecrackers, the old year departs, and the spring breeze brings warmth to the New Year's wine."
As the sun shines brightly on every door and window, new peachwood charms replace the old ones.
Another new year has begun.
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