Chapter 28 Chinese New Year 3
New Year's Day.
He Yuzhu went to bed early last night and woke up early this morning. It was still dark before dawn. He looked at Yu Yu who was still sleeping soundly, and the corners of his mouth rose unconsciously. I got up quietly and got dressed without disturbing the rain.
After getting up, I still start the fire to warm up the room. In case it rains for a while and you get up and freeze.
I drank a lot last night and when I got home, I was tired from the rain, so I didn’t make dumplings to watch the New Year.
He Yuzhu came to the kitchen and started kneading the dough. He took out the dumpling fillings that had been mixed with pork and cabbage from the space. He took out the rolling pin and started rolling out the dumplings.
There began to be scattered sounds of firecrackers outside, and slowly the sounds of firecrackers became more and more loud. He Yuzhu's dumplings were also wrapped.
The sound of more and more firecrackers woke up He Yuyu.
"Brother, what are you eating today?" He Yuyu came to the kitchen and asked, rubbing his eyes.
He Yuzhu turned around and saw Yuyu standing at the door of the kitchen wearing single clothes.
"Go back and get dressed quickly. You don't mind the cold. If you get sick, you will feel better." He Yuzhu rushed back to get dressed after the rain.
"My brother will make dumplings for you. You have to eat dumplings during the Chinese New Year." He Yuzhu said.
Yu Yu also got up, and He Yuzhu went to the courtyard to set off a firecracker. It crackled, and the firecracker was quickly set off.
Back in the kitchen, He Yuzhu started boiling water and making dumplings. Just brother and sister, just two people, no need to pack much. One pot and done.
After eating dumplings, He Yuzhu and Yuyu put on the new clothes made by the teacher's wife.
"Brother, do you think my new clothes look good?" Yuyu stood in front of He Yuzhu to show off his new clothes.
"It looks good. Yu Yu looks good in his new clothes." He Yuzhu praised.
He Yuzhu went out with rainwater to pay New Year greetings to his master Fan Dakang.
"Brother, you carry me." He Yuzhu said to He Yuzhu as soon as he went out.
"You just carried it last night, why do you have to carry it today?" He Yuzhu said.
"Well, I want my brother to carry me," Yuyu said coquettishly.
"Okay, come up." He Yuzhu squatted down and said to Yuyu.
He Yuzhu jumped onto He Yuzhu's back and held He Yuzhu's neck tightly.
"Let's go!" He Yuzhu stood up and ran forward.
"Let's go~" Yu Yu's happy voice came from behind.
Arriving at Master's house, He Yuzhu brought raindrops with him to wish Master and his wife New Year's greetings as soon as he entered the door: "Master and Master, happy New Year."
"Okay, okay, okay, get up quickly. Take the red envelope." The master's wife happily gave He Yuzhu and Yuyu a red envelope each.
As soon as He Yuzhu got the red envelope, Fan Yao came over with Xiaohu and said to He Yuzhu: "Brother Zhuzhu, happy New Year." Then he stretched out his little hand in front of He Yuzhu.
"Happy New Year to you too." He Yuzhu replied looking at the little hands in front of him. Then he gave the red envelope he just received to Fan Yao.
"Nonsense, how old are you Brother Zhuzhu? I'm the same generation as you. You want some lucky money. Return the red envelope to Zhuzhu quickly." The master's wife came over and gave Fan Yao a slap on the back.
"It's okay, Master, we are just joking." He Yuzhu quickly stopped Master and said.
"Okay, don't get involved in their junior affairs." Master Fan Dakang said.
After sitting at Master's house for a while, He Yuzhu stood up and left.
"Master, Yuyu and I will go to my uncle Peng Dahai's house soon to wish my uncle a happy new year." He Yuzhu said.
"You have to go. You can take the things that your master wife brings to you," the master said.
"No, I'm ready." He Yuzhu said.
He Yuzhu got on his bicycle and took the rain with him. He went home first to get some drinks and went straight to his uncle's house.
Come to the door and knock on the door. The one who came out was Qin Tian, the master's young apprentice.
"Zhuli, Yuyu. You are here, come in quickly." Qin Tian greeted.
Follow Qin Tian inside.
"Uncle, aunt, happy New Year." He Yuzhu led Yu Yu into the door and kowtowed to pay New Year greetings.
"Good boy, wake up quickly." Aunt Shi said.
"Here, take the new year's money." Auntie Shi gave everyone a red envelope.
After taking a seat.
"How are you and Yuyu doing now?" Aunt Shi asked.
"We are living a good life. I am in Fengze Garden with my master now. My master's family is also very good to us. He treats us as if we were relatives." He Yuzhu replied.
"That's good, your uncle and I can rest assured." Auntie Shi looked at her little face that was ruddy from the rain and said.
"Let's go, Auntie Shi will take you to get something delicious." Auntie Shi left with Yu Yu.
"Your father is irresponsible. He left you at such a young age and ran away. When I see him again, I will beat him up." The uncle said angrily.
"Uncle, don't be angry. My father is like that and doesn't care about us. He sends money back every month." He Yuzhu comforted his uncle.
"Then he still has a conscience." The uncle said.
"Forget it, I won't be angry enough if I don't talk about him. How are you now? How are you doing at your craft?" asked the uncle.
"I can now learn Sichuan cuisine, and I started to learn Shandong cuisine again a year ago." He Yuzhu said.
"You can cook Sichuan cuisine now?" the uncle asked in surprise.
"Yes, my master said I can start training. It's just that I'm too young, so he can rest assured that I'm under his eyes." He Yuzhu said.
"How's your Tan's cooking going?" the uncle continued to ask.
"Before my father left, he left his notes on learning to cook. I studied them carefully. The theory should be fine, but the practice is lacking," He Yuzhu said.
"Come on, follow me to the kitchen. You can eat here at noon and show off your skills." said the uncle.
"Okay, uncle." He Yuzhu replied.
When he came to the kitchen, Qin Tian was busy inside.
"Xiaotian, please stop for a moment and let Zhuzi cook some dishes." The uncle said to senior brother Qin.
"Okay, Master." Qin Tian replied.
"Zhuzhu, go ahead and cook a grilled black ginseng dish, and then a Sichuan dish. Why don't you learn Shandong cuisine first? Then let's make Shandong cuisine." The uncle said.
"Okay, uncle." He Yuzhu said.
He Yuzhu looked at the kitchen, where all the ingredients had been processed.
He Yuzhu started by making Tan's Braised Black Ginseng, which was the most time-consuming dish. Under the watchful eyes of his uncle and senior brother Qin, He Yuzhu did not panic at all and cooked in an orderly manner.
When the uncle saw that He Yuzhu had made no mistakes, he left.
"Zhuzi, you are good, you are quite skilled." Qin Tian said.
"No, it's still a lot worse than senior brother." He Yuzhu replied.
The two chatted while cooking.
At noon, everyone who went out to pay New Year greetings came back, and He Yuzhu and Qin Tian brought the dishes to the table one after another.
"What to drink?" Qin Tian asked.
"Uncle, drink from the bar I brought." He Yuzhu said.
"Okay, Xiaotian, go get the wine." The uncle said.
"Zhuzi, I see you brought four jars of wine with different names. What kind of wine are they?" Senior Brother Qin asked.
"The two large jars are filled with 5 kilograms of white wine to forget worries and yellow rice wine to relieve worries. The two smaller jars are filled with 3 kilograms of medicated wine. Green ants give it to the uncle to drink, to nourish the kidneys and red sleeves, and to nourish the beauty of the aunt. The medicinal wine can only be used every day. Have a drink." He Yuzhu said.
"Then take rice wine, you can drink it." The uncle said.
Qin Tian got up and went to get the wine and boil it. The wine was boiled and brought over.
"I'll try Zhuzi's craftsmanship first," said the uncle.
The uncle tasted the grilled black ginseng first. There are no reviews.
"Come on, you all have a taste." said the uncle.
Everyone took a bite.
"Tell me how you did," said the uncle.
"It's done well, but the heat is a bit lacking. It's on par with Junior Brother Qin." Senior Brother Liu, the uncle's eldest apprentice, said.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
"That's right, Zhuzi, what you lack is the fire, you can only practice diligently." The uncle said.
"Try the Kung Pao chicken and first-grade tofu again," said the uncle.
"I can't find fault with the Kung Pao Chicken. The first-grade tofu seems a bit off, but I can't tell you specifically," Brother Liu said.
"I can't even find fault with it," Senior Brother Qin said.
"I can't find fault with the Kung Pao Chicken. The problem with the first-grade tofu is the heat. I need to practice more," said the uncle.
"'Zhuzi, you have good talent, but you still need to practice more. You have mastered Sichuan cuisine. Tan's cuisine needs practice just like Shandong cuisine." said the uncle.
"Okay, everyone, pick up your glasses and have a drink together," said the uncle.
Let’s all drink together.
"Zhuzi, your wine tastes good. Where did you buy it? I'll buy some too?" Senior Brother Liu said.
"My friend brewed it himself, not much. We have divided it up. I still have some at home. Can I get it for you?" He Yuzhu said with a universal excuse.
"That's no need. When your friend sells wine again, let me know and I'll buy some." Senior Brother Liu said.
"Okay, I remember it." He Yuzhu said.
"I want it too." Qin Tian said.
"No problem, I'll let you know when the time comes." He Yuzhu said.
The lunch ended after more than an hour.
"Zhuzi, if you need anything, come and see your uncle." Uncle Peng Dahai said as he bid farewell to He Yuzhu.
"Okay, uncle, go in quickly, it's cold outside." He Yuzhu said.
He Yuzhu took Yuzhu to say goodbye to his uncle and go home.
