Gu Nanyan helplessly reached out and flicked Shen Bei'an's nose, unsure whether to praise her husband's cleverness or not. "An'an, husband and wife are one, so they are a single filling." This was precisely to guard against her husband's thoughts just now.
“Ah…” Shen Bei’an’s face showed obvious disappointment.
Gu Nanyan continued, "However, each person can make a maximum of three portions of dumplings, as long as each person has no more than twelve dumplings in their hands at the end, and a couple can make no more than twenty-four dumplings."
"Then what are we waiting for! Let's go prepare the filling!" Although we don't know what the prize is, this kind of competition seems like a lot of fun, and the Gu family's reward is definitely not going to be small.
"Among these dumplings, I only made ten copper coin dumplings. Whoever gets one later will receive a generous prize!" Old Master Gu was also making dumplings.
According to Gu family tradition, the eldest member of the family will always make the dumplings with the copper coin inside, and they will also make more dumplings.
"Big brother, there are so many of us, isn't it a bit too few to only take ten?" The second matriarch of the Gu family spoke up for the younger generation.
"That's right, brother."
"Oh dear, it's not just copper coin dumplings, there are also sugar nut dumplings, peanut dumplings, chestnut dumplings, and red date dumplings, right? I'll make ten of each, and you can exchange them here. You're sure to get one." Old Master Gu seemed to have known this all along, and said this.
"That's better."
You don't necessarily have to eat the copper coin dumplings, but you can still be happy to eat other kinds of dumplings.
Everyone chatted and laughed as they made dumplings together.
Some of the younger children got flour all over their clothes, faces, and even the ground.
The elders didn't say much, only occasionally remarking, "Don't forget you'll be cleaning up the mess yourself later."
This atmosphere was something Shen Bei'an had never experienced before, and he found it quite novel.
After finishing making the dumplings, Grandpa Gu spoke again, "We're staying up all night tonight, so everyone should go back and get some sleep. Come back here at seven o'clock. If anyone is late, they won't get any lucky money tomorrow!"
With a hearty laugh.
Although everyone present was well-off, who wouldn't want the New Year's money?
They greeted each other and left.
Shen Bei'an and Gu Nan'an also returned to their dormitory to rest.
The couple slept in each other's arms.
The two woke up around the same time and quickly dressed and went to the main hall.
They didn't arrive at the appointed time, but there were already quite a few of them, mostly young people, gathered in twos and threes, full of energy, chatting about something.
Upon seeing Gu Nanyan approach, they all bowed in greeting.
"Get up, everyone." Gu Nanyan waved his hand. "The elders won't arrive for a while, so rest for a bit first."
Gu Nanyan led Shen Bei'an to a casually chosen spot to sit down.
The elders didn't arrive at the appointed time; it's a family tradition that there's only early arrival, not late arrival or late arrival.
"The dumplings aren't cooked yet, but I've prepared some other dishes for dinner. Please have a casual meal with everyone." Old Master Gu waved his hand, gesturing for everyone to sit down.
This time, the elders sat together, and the younger generation sat together.
Gu Nanyan and Shen Bei'an also sat with the younger generation. Perhaps because it was the New Year, the younger generation was quite boisterous and did not restrain themselves even in front of Gu Nanyan.
After dinner, the Gu family members chatted, played cards, and played games together.
At eight o'clock, I turned on the TV to watch the Spring Festival Gala.
Everyone chatted and laughed until eleven o'clock, then they started making dumplings.
"Hey, Gu Nanxing, don't try to trade these dumplings with me. Are those dumplings? They're practically soup!" A young man exclaimed, looking at the plate of food in Gu Nanxing's hand that could no longer be called "dumplings."
Gu Nanxing was furious. "Gu Nansheng, do you have a death wish?! You call that dumpling on your plate? It's all the same, what are you so smug about?"
"Hahaha." Everyone was laughing as they exchanged dumplings.
"Hey, Yi, you can't use cheat codes like that! Why are you holding a magnet?" Gu Nanjin noticed something. "Hey, hey, and you, Gu Nanchang! What's that in your hand? Why are you planning to use a simulator watch? Gu Nanliang! What's that little gadget in your hand, a metal detector?!"
"No, eldest sister, aren't you going to do anything about them? Look at them, they're all using cheat codes!" Gu Nanjin, seeing that she couldn't persuade them, directly called out to her eldest sister.
Gu Nanyan was also leading Shen Beian to exchange dumplings.
Hearing someone call her, she turned her head to look and immediately pulled Shen Beian over, "Are you all using cheat codes?" This was in front of the plate of dumplings belonging to Grandpa Gu.
"Elder sister, this isn't really a cheat code; it's just a matter of skill." Gu Nanyi smiled, her eyes crinkling, clearly enjoying herself.
Everyone else echoed Gu Nanyi's sentiments.
"Oh?" Gu Nanyan raised an eyebrow, seemingly satisfied with the answer. "In that case, please make way, everyone. An'an, which one have you chosen?"
He then looked at the group of people holding various "cheat codes" and said, "Leave your stuff, you can go now." His smile was anything but gentle.
The expressions on their faces instantly changed from (*^▽^*) to o(╥﹏╥)o and o(╯□╰)o
"No, elder sister...you..." Gu Nanyi didn't expect Gu Nanyan to say that. You know, in the past, this elder sister didn't care about these things at all. Unless someone asked her to exchange them, she would just eat them herself and wouldn't care about these things at all.
Shen Beian, however, was quite happy. "Can we play like this?" Isn't this breaking the rules?
“Of course, my husband. Look at these younger brothers and sisters, aren’t they all like this?” Gu Nanyan said without changing his expression, and even stretched out his hand. “Would you be willing to step back a couple of steps and let us two older people choose first?”
Gu Nanyi: This is ridiculous! The eldest sister's temperament has changed so much! Isn't she exactly the same as the rogue eldest sister from before?
No, it's even better.
The group looked at each other, unsure of what else to do. They couldn't win a fight, and they didn't dare to argue back, so they could only silently back down.
"What are you doing? Bullying the younger generation?" Old Master Gu walked over at some point and saw the younger generation preparing to hand over the "stolen goods."
Before anyone else could speak, Gu Nanyan preemptively said, "It's nothing much. My younger siblings saw that An'an really wanted those copper coin dumplings, so they offered to give Yan and An'an the items they had prepared beforehand."
Those words must be as sincere as possible.
Upon hearing this and seeing those items, Old Master Gu instantly understood what was going on. He waved his hand and said, "Zitao, take all the things the young masters are holding out. It's just for fun and celebration, what's the big deal?"
"You're not allowed to do that anymore. Besides, I haven't agreed to exchange with you yet!" Old Master Gu snorted and picked out the most unique crescent-shaped one from his plate and placed it on Old Madam Gu's plate.
——
I'd like to ask if anyone has tried using magnets or other external aids while eating dumplings during Chinese New Year?
Anyway, the author did have this idea at one point.
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