When Uncle Gu and his family came back, the whole Gu family was very happy, especially Grandpa Gu and Grandma Gu. As they were old, they liked to see the children in the family getting together in harmony.
Today is New Year's Eve. After lunch, Grandma Gu, Aunt Gu and Mother Gu started preparing the New Year's Eve dinner. Every year, the Gu family prepares the New Year's Eve dinner together, and Aunt Fu will go back to her own home to celebrate the festival.
Grandma Gu is old now and cooks less often, but her cooking skills are still very good. Grandma Gu was the eldest daughter of a prominent family and was raised by her grandmother. She was proficient in all the arts of music, chess, calligraphy and painting that a lady of a noble family should have. Even her cooking skills were carefully taught by a famous chef. Later, when the war broke out, the whole family died or dispersed. Grandma Gu, who was in the prime of her youth, took off her red dress, put on weapons, cut her long hair, and devoted herself to the revolution.
Aunt Gu and Mother Gu both learned cooking skills from Grandma Gu after marrying into the Gu family.
Gu Huanhuan and Su Nuan knew nothing about cooking, so they could only help out. They watched the three people skillfully prepare the New Year's Eve dinner, and they followed beside them, watching and learning.
For old Beijingers, there are several must-have dishes for the New Year’s Eve dinner.
The method of making Four Happiness Meatballs is somewhat similar to that of Lion's Head Meatballs, but there are only four of them, which symbolize the four kinds of happiness, wealth, longevity and joy, and bring good luck to the New Year. They taste salty, fresh, crispy and tender, and are very delicious.
Braised beef with soy sauce is a halal dish with bright red color and rich soy sauce flavor. There are tendons in the meat and meat in the tendons. It is soft and tender when eaten. It is served with garlic juice, old marinade and sesame cakes. It is usually eaten with old wine. It is very pleasant to take a bite of beef and a sip of old wine with rich soy sauce flavor.
Qianlong cabbage. If the old Beijing people don’t have a dish made with sesame sauce on their New Year’s Eve dinner, it can’t be considered perfect. Qianlong cabbage is made with sesame sauce. The sesame sauce has a strong aroma, and the cabbage has a crisp taste with a light sweet fragrance. It tastes better than meat.
The women in the family are busy preparing the New Year's Eve dinner, and the men are helping to paste Spring Festival couplets and set off firecrackers. The whole family is busy for an entire afternoon. When the New Year's Eve dinner is almost ready, the family sits down at the dining table and prepares to start eating.
Grandpa Gu: "The new year is coming, let's toast to welcome the new year"
Everyone stood up and clinked glasses with Grandpa Gu and Grandma Gu, saying a few auspicious words to bless the old couple.
Grandpa Gu said, "Xiao Nuan, on behalf of the Gu family, I welcome you to our home. I hope you like our Gu family and join our big family soon."
Su Nuan listened to Grandpa Gu's sincere words, and her eyes became a little moist. Whether in her previous life or her current original body, Su Nuan had no family. Grandpa Gu's words made the homeless Su Nuan feel the warmth of her family, and her voice choked with sobs.
"Grandpa, thank you. I thought I would be without my family this Spring Festival, but I didn't expect you to be here. Thank you so much."
Grandma Gu: "Child, we will all be your family from now on"
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Gu Chengfeng, noticing Su Nuan's excitement, silently reached out and held Su Nuan's hand, giving her a firm sense of security.
The family was having a reunion dinner in a lively atmosphere. The Gu family did not have the requirement of not talking while eating or sleeping. After finally getting together for a meal, everyone was chatting very lively.
After dinner, Grandma Gu brought Aunt Gu and Mother Gu to prepare tea and fruits. The whole family sat on the sofa and watched the Spring Festival Gala while drinking tea and chatting. While watching the wonderful gala program, Niu Niu and Little Yuanbao from Big Brother Gu's family sang and danced along with the singing and dancing program on TV. Their baby voices and slightly off-tune melodies made everyone laugh.
As midnight approached, the three Gu brothers brought back some fireworks and firecrackers. Except for a few children and Grandpa and Grandma Gu who couldn't resist the sleepiness and fell asleep, everyone else watched TV in the living room. When it was exactly midnight, the whole family walked out of the living room and went to the yard to watch the fireworks.
Gu Chengfeng leaned close to Su Nuan's ear and said, "Nuan Nuan, Happy New Year."
Su Nuan looked at Gu Chengfeng and said, "Happy New Year, Chengfeng."
The two of them clasped their hands together and watched the fireworks in the sky with a smile.
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