But it’s okay to have a simple lunch, the New Year’s Eve dinner is the highlight of the day.
A few days ago, Zhao Mingze said he wanted to eat roast duck, so Jianshu prepared it in advance, marinated it with secret sauce overnight, and then put it into the oven after air-drying.
She roasted two ducks in total, which were quite generous and would be a highlight of the evening.
Four o'clock in the afternoon.
"Shushu, are you ready? It's almost time, we have to go." Gu Mingjing stood in front of the door and knocked.
"Wait! It will be ready soon!" There was a busy sound in the room.
Gu Mingjing leaned against the wall and looked up at the sky.
Women's mouths are deceitful. He said the same thing when he came knocking on the door five minutes ago, and he said the same thing five minutes later.
Right away, right away. How long exactly is right away?
This is probably an unsolved mystery.
Another five minutes passed, and Gu Mingjing had given up urging him.
With a "squeak", Jianshu, who had changed into new clothes, finally went out.
"Have you packed your things? Let's go!" Jian Shu straightened his sleeves and called to Gu Mingjing who was sitting on the sofa.
"Don't worry, everything is packed." Gu Mingjing stood up.
He looked Jianshu up and down and praised, "This dress looks really good on you."
"It looks good, right? I just made it a while ago, specially preparing it to wear during the Chinese New Year." Jian Shu spread her hands and turned them in front of him, showing off.
"It looks good. My wife looks good in anything she wears!" Gu Mingjing said proudly.
Jian Shu glared at him and said, "You only know how to say sweet words."
"What I said is all true." Gu Mingjing said seriously.
"Okay, stop joking. Let's go quickly and don't let Aunt Meng wait anxiously." Jian Shu's mouth curled up and he laughed happily.
Gu Mingjing reached out to put Jianshu's hat on her and wrapped her in a scarf. Then he picked up the things he had prepared and walked out holding her hand.
When we rode all the way to the compound, Meng Ying had already started preparing for tonight's New Year's Eve dinner.
Jian Shu walked in, took off her scarf and hat, and went into the kitchen. "Aunt, is there anything I can help you with?"
"Shushu is here. No need. I've almost prepared everything and am just waiting to cook." Meng Ying was chopping meat with a kitchen knife and looked over when she heard the voice.
Not seeing Gu Mingjing, he looked behind him and asked, "Where's Mingjing? Didn't he come with you?"
Gu Mingjing, who was carrying some things, also came over and greeted her, "Hello, Auntie! Where do you put these things?"
Meng Ying's face immediately lit up with an eager smile. "Hey, you too. Since you're here, what are you bringing? It's pretty heavy, right? Just find an empty spot and put it there."
"Wait." Jian Shu called Gu Mingjing, "Give me the bag of food."
Gu Mingjing stopped and gave her the bag of roast duck, buns, etc., then left the kitchen without disturbing them.
Jian Shu handed the food to Meng Ying. "We made some buns and dumplings for lunch, but we couldn't finish them, so we brought them here. We also have two roast ducks, so we'll have an extra dish tonight."
Meng Ying opened the bag and took a look, then said with a smile, "Your Uncle Zhao will be very happy tonight."
"He has to be happy. In previous years, there was always no one to drink with him, but this year there is finally someone. You have to make him a few more dishes to go with the wine. I think tonight's New Year's Eve dinner will take several hours." Jian Shu smiled at the thought.
"Yes, everything is ready."
Meng Ying took out all the roast duck buns and dumplings from the bag and looked back at Jian Shu. "There's nothing I can help you with here. Go play with your brothers and sisters in the living room. Your Uncle Zhao will be back soon."
"It's okay, Gu Mingjing is here. Let him take the child. I'll stay here and talk to you." Jian Shu shook his head and refused.
"It's up to you. If you're bored, go out for a walk."
"good."
Jianshu walked around the kitchen and realized how sumptuous the New Year’s Eve dinner would be tonight.
Then he came close to Meng Ying and joked, "Aunt, tonight's dishes are quite rich. What, you don't want to live a normal life anymore, and want to eat as much as you want at once?"
Meng Ying was amused by her words. "What are you talking about? It's just a New Year's Eve dinner. Are you really going to make me broke and unable to make ends meet?"
"Hehe, isn't it that the dishes this year are particularly good, which will lead to misunderstandings?" Jian Shu said with a smile on his face.
Meng Ying stopped what she was doing, patted her hand gently, and said angrily, "You kid! Who am I doing this for? It's you. Mingjing is coming home for the New Year for the first time, so shouldn't we prepare something sumptuous?"
Jian Shu felt a little jealous and said in a sour tone, "No wonder they say the more a mother-in-law looks at her son-in-law, the more satisfied she becomes. Now that this future son-in-law has arrived, all of us have been forgotten. You're so good to him."
"...What are you talking about? Have I treated you unfairly in previous years? Has the New Year's Eve dinner ever not been sumptuous?" Meng Ying said with both anger and amusement, and couldn't help but patting her head.
"Ouch!" Jianshu covered his head and pretended to be in pain.
Meng Ying glanced at her sideways, "Alright, stop pretending. I know how much effort I put in."
Jian Shu turned and covered his chest with his hands, "Ah - I feel so sad."
"...You should have asked Uncle Zhao to send you to the art troupe back then." Meng Ying said speechlessly.
"Okay, don't be sad. Next time I'll make a big table of dishes just for you, okay? Even more than this, just for you." She's like a little kid, and needs to be coaxed.
Jian Shu was instantly happy and put down his hands, "That's not necessary. It would be a waste if I couldn't finish it. As long as my aunt still likes me the most, that's enough."
Meng Ying shook her head and tapped her forehead helplessly, "You are such a headache. Don't worry, you are the one that Auntie loves the most, and no one else can surpass you."
But I have to say that Jianshu's colorful clothes to entertain his parents are still very entertaining.
Which elder doesn’t like to be surrounded by younger generations?
All the dishes are prepared, and the rest is easy.
Meng Ying first stewed the soup for tonight. It was a light winter melon, corn and pork ribs soup. It was refreshing and perfect for relieving greasiness.
The rest were prepared in order of the complexity of the dishes, and Jianshu also helped her in the kitchen.
Although I was just helping out, there wasn't much for me to do. I just passed dishes and plates and chatted. It was quite leisurely.
Not long after they started cooking, Zhao Mingze came back. He and Gu Mingjing had originally planned to come in to help, but the mother and daughter thought they were in the way and drove them out.
The father and son looked at each other outside the door, feeling helpless.
Forget it, since they are not needed for cooking, I will just wash the dishes after dinner.
"Let's play chess?" Zhao Mingze suggested, as he was bored.
"I'll listen to you." Gu Mingjing was very humble.
Glancing at his youngest son who was making a fuss in the living room, Zhao Mingze rubbed his forehead and said, "Go to your room. It's too noisy here. It's giving me a headache."
Gu Mingjing nodded without any objection.
The father and son over there are playing chess in the room, the mother and son over here are chatting happily in the kitchen, and the brother and sister in the living room are also getting along well. There are six people in one house, each finding their own fun and all looking very happy.
-
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
