Chapter 808 Setting off Fireworks "Qingyang, quick, try this," Aunt Liu enthusiastically handed over chopsticks.
"I've tried making your brother Dong's new dish, the secret-recipe braised pork hock, a few times, and I think the taste is pretty good."
Lu Qingyang took the chopsticks and picked up a trembling piece of pork hock.
The pork hock was stewed until extremely tender, with the skin and meat almost falling off the bone. As expected, it was soft and glutinous when it entered the mouth.
However, what follows is not the traditional salty and savory flavor, but a mellow and mild aroma of fermented rice wine, mixed with a hint of alcohol, which cleverly cuts off the greasiness of the pig's trotters, leaving a long-lasting aftertaste.
Lu Qingyang's eyes lit up as he savored the flavor. "Aunt Liu, this tastes really good. It's different from the braised or stewed dishes we usually eat. The aroma of this fermented brine is... very special."
Grandpa Fang was attracted by the aroma and gestured for a piece to be picked up for him.
After tasting it, he slowly nodded: "It's a novel way of eating. The fermented brine is used skillfully, cutting through the greasiness and enhancing the aroma. It's quite good."
Seeing that she had received affirmation, Aunt Liu smiled even more broadly and pointed to another plate of brightly colored vegetables garnished with red pepper strips: "And this, Kung Pao Shrimp Balls, is what Chef Chen just taught him."
The shrimp balls were large and plump, coated with a thin layer of sauce. They were crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with distinct layers of sweet, sour, and slightly spicy flavors, which were indeed quite different from the flavor of home-style stir-fried shrimp.
"Dong-ge's cooking skills are getting better and better."
Aunt Liu said with a smile, "Isn't it because you gave him a lot of responsibility? He really wants to make the restaurant a success."
After cleaning up the dishes, Aunt Liu wiped her still-wet hands with the corner of her apron. Her face was flushed from the busy work. She smiled and said to Pan Yun and Fang Zhongwen, "Grandpa, Grandma, everything's all tidied up here. I'll head back now. My son and his wife are probably waiting for me to come back and start preparing for the New Year."
Pan Yun held her hand and said, "You've had a tough year. Go back and reunite with your family. We'll give our regards to Dongzi and the others."
At this moment, Lu Qingyang came out from the inner room, holding a rather thick-looking red paper package in his hand.
"Aunt Liu, wait a minute."
He stepped forward and handed over the red envelope, saying, "This year, our family has been so fortunate to have your help both at home and outside. We all remember it. With the New Year approaching, this is just a small token of our appreciation. Please accept it."
Aunt Liu immediately waved her hand, "Oh, Qingyang, look at you, what are you saying? It's all my duty. You can treat me well all the time. This... this is really not necessary, you're too kind!"
She rubbed her hands on her apron but didn't take it.
Lu Qingyang remained adamant. He stepped forward and gently slipped the red envelope into Aunt Liu's hand.
“Aunt Liu, please accept this. If it weren’t for your kindness, we wouldn’t be able to leave like this while we’re away from home. This is not just a token of our gratitude, but a small token of our appreciation from us younger generation. It’s enough to buy Dong Ge and the others some new clothes or New Year’s goods. If you don’t accept it, we would be being too polite.”
"This...this is really...Qingyang, what can I say...Well, then I'll shamelessly accept it."
She carefully tucked the red envelope into the inside pocket of her cotton-padded jacket, pressing it down with her hand to make sure it was secure.
"Then I'll be going now, Grandpa, Grandma, Qingyang, I wish you all a Happy New Year in advance! May our family have a prosperous and successful new year!"
The main room was brightly lit and warm, with festive music playing on the radio to welcome the spring.
Little Stone and Little Fish sat side by side on a low stool covered with a cotton cushion. In one hand, they held a piece of sesame candy made by Aunt Liu, their faces covered with sesame seeds and sugar crumbs. With their other free hand, they were gesturing and whispering about something interesting, occasionally letting out giggles.
Lu Qingyang looked at his son and daughter with tenderness in his eyes.
He walked up to them, squatted down, and took out two New Year's money packets that he had prepared in advance and carefully sealed with red paper from his pocket.
"Come on, little stone, little fish, this is New Year's money from Daddy. Take it, buy candy and firecrackers to play with." He spoke softly as he handed two red envelopes to his son and daughter.
Little Fish was focused on the sesame candy in his hand. He just blinked his big eyes at the red paper package handed to him, took it with his candy-stained little hand, and casually put it on the stool next to him. His attention returned to the delicious snack.
Little Stone, however, immediately put down the sesame candy he had half-eaten, carefully took the red envelope with his little hands, as if he had received some amazing treasure, and clutched it tightly in his hand, saying, "Buy...buy toys."
Sitting in a grand chair to the side, Fang Zhongwen took in the completely different reactions of his grandson and granddaughter, and his wrinkled face smiled even more deeply.
He pulled two red envelopes from the inside pocket of his cotton robe and waved to the two children: "Little Stone, Little Fish, come to Grandpa."
Hearing the call, Little Fish put down his sesame candy and ran over with his short legs. Little Stone, on the other hand, clutched his treasure tightly and followed his sister to his grandfather's knees.
"Come on, Grandpa will give you New Year's money."
Fang Zhongwen smiled and stuffed the red envelopes into the hands of the two children, saying, "May our little stone and little fish grow up healthy and strong in the new year."
Xiaoyuer still grabbed it and was about to stuff it into her pocket, but Gu Panyun smiled and helped her tidy it up.
Little Stone solemnly accepted the red envelopes with both hands, then carefully stacked the two red envelopes together and clenched them even tighter.
"Look at our little fish, she's such a lady, while little stone is a complete money-grubber."
The snow in the courtyard has melted, reflecting the glow of the red lanterns hanging under the eaves.
In the distance, the sound of firecrackers rose and fell, painting the night sky with a noisy atmosphere.
Lu Qingyang took out a few fireworks he had bought from the house. They weren't the large fireworks of later generations, but rather some "Didi Jin" and a small plate of "ground rats" that could spin around on the ground.
"Xiao Mo, come here." He stood in the center of the courtyard and beckoned to Chen Mo, who was standing under the eaves.
Shen Mo wrapped her cotton-padded coat tighter around herself, smiled as she walked down the steps, and took the thin, long "Didi Jin" cigarette that Lu Qingyang handed her.
Lu Qingyang lit the firewood and brought it close to the fuse.
With a soft "sizzle," the fuse instantly emitted a cluster of dazzling golden stars, like tiny stars that suddenly bloomed and then rapidly fell.
Shen Mo carefully held the thin stick that was constantly spitting out silver flowers from the tree. With a gentle flick of her wrist, golden arcs of light drew smooth and bright circles in the dim light, illuminating her smiling eyes and the faint white breath she exhaled.
"It's so beautiful."
She spoke softly, her gaze following the brief but dazzling streak of light, her eyes seemingly filled with starlight.
Lu Qingyang didn't rush to put anything else down; he simply stood aside, watching his wife with a smile.
Bathed in the flickering golden light, her slightly flushed cheeks and focused expression warmed his heart more than any fireworks.
When one burned out, he lit another for her.
This time, he took one from his own hand, and the two "Didi Jin" cigarettes drew intersecting trajectories in the air. The bright light cast their close shadows onto the snow, where they intertwined.
"Do you remember when we set off firecrackers in the alley last year?" Lu Qingyang asked suddenly, looking at Bi Guang.
Shen Mo thought for a moment, then smiled even more: "I remember, you lit the fuse, grabbed me and ran, and I almost tripped over it."
She looked earnestly into Lu Qingyang's eyes: "Back then, I thought that every year from now on, I would stay up with you to celebrate the New Year and set off fireworks. I want to be with you forever and ever."
The "Didi Jin" in his hand was about to burn out. After a few final leaps, it finally went out, and the courtyard became much darker, with only the lantern casting a hazy red light.
Lu Qingyang put down the burnt stick, took out the plate of "ground rats" from his pocket, and lit it on the open ground in the center of the yard.
As the fuse burned out, the little paper trinket immediately "whooshed" and, adorned with silver floral patterns, began to spin rapidly, tracing bright, hot circles on the snow. Finally, after exhausting its energy, it came to a quiet stop in the snow, emitting a wisp of smoke.
The surroundings fell silent briefly, with only the distant, lively sound of firecrackers remaining.
A faint smell of gunpowder permeated the air, mixed with the chill of a winter night.
“Another year has passed,” Shen Mo said softly.
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