This was the first time Jiang Sheng called him by his name, with anger and rudeness.
To Zheng Ruqian's ears, it was like a fairy voice coming down from the earth.
"Little Jiang Sheng." He exclaimed, "Why are you in Fucheng?"
When tall and short figures appeared one after another, Zheng Ruqian's eyes became wet, "Big brother, third brother, fourth child, and fifth child, are you all here?"
Xu Mo smiled softly and said in a cold voice, "How can I do it if I don't come? If I don't come, wouldn't it be a violation of the agreement?"
Fang Heng broke the stick with a click, "In other words, I came to teach those who broke the agreement a lesson."
Wen Zhiyun pursed his lips and said nothing, but stood firmly behind Fang Heng - listening to the third brother.
Chang Yan coughed twice and hid behind Xu Mo - listening to his elder brother.
Zheng Ruqian's expression changed, he seemed happy and sad, he seemed about to cry but he also seemed trembling.
After a while, Liu Cui behind him spoke, "I said, you guys are not cold, the two of us are going to freeze to death."
Zhang Qiquan rushed out quickly, put a blanket on Liu Cui, and helped her into the house to keep warm.
Liu Cui did not leave immediately, but held Zhang Xianglian with her backhand and spread out half of the blanket.
The deadlock at the entrance of Hairpin Courtyard was broken.
Zheng Ruqian clenched his hands into fists and apologized very sincerely, "It's my fault. I shouldn't have coveted that bit of business and didn't go back to celebrate the New Year with you, but asked everyone to come all the way to Fucheng."
"I know I was wrong, and I won't dare to do it again next time."
"Do you still want a next time?" Jiang Sheng relented and rushed over to grab his clothes tightly. "Second Brother, I will punish you by washing everyone's dishes today."
They have been dependent on each other since they met each other. They are the closest family members and they have agreed not to separate.
"Okay, I'll wash it." Zheng Ruqian agreed with red eyes.
Fang Heng then hummed and threw away the two sticks, and Jiang Sansheng behind him handed over another one with a wink.
Thicker and stronger.
Fang Heng was stunned.
Xu Mo was the first to lose his temper, lowered his head and chuckled. Now everyone laughed, including the eight servants, and the entire Hairpin Flower Courtyard was filled with warmth and joy.
In the warm room, Liu Cui looked at the children from the window and raised her lips, "This year's Chinese New Year will definitely be lively."
Looking back at Zhang Xianglian, this woman who had been extremely miserable in the first half of her life was also smiling.
After leaving my bad family, my life is indeed getting better and better.
This night, everyone had a good rest.
On New Year's Eve, things officially start to get busy.
Zhang Qiquan washed the fresh pork he bought, added onion and ginger, and chopped it into fine particles.
Zhang Xianglian kneaded the dough and divided it into portions, while Liu Cui rolled out the dough with a rolling pin.
Fang Heng took his younger brothers, sisters and servants to clean the courtyard and remove all the spider webs that had been hidden for a year.
Zheng Ruqian held a pile of dried beans, smoothed them out like gold, and finally took out a small handful and soaked them in warm water.
"Second brother, why are you still studying these beans?" Jiang Sheng came over and said, "If you can't sell it, then you can't sell it. Just find a way to earn back twenty-five taels of silver in the future."
That's what he said, but the little girl's eyes clearly showed distress.
Although the eldest brother, the second brother and the fourth brother all made money, the third brother and the servants also spent a lot. After careful calculation, they actually didn't save much money by the end of the year.
At least Jiang Sheng's little pocket has never been fuller again.
But in order to comfort her second brother, she would rather speak without conscience.
Zheng Ruqian couldn't help but laugh, his nose was slightly sore while smiling. He touched his sister's little head and said softly, "No, Jiang Sheng. Although the acquisition of dried beans this time has encountered difficulties, it is also an opportunity."
As long as this opportunity develops, when he does business in Fucheng in the future, he will no longer have to ask his grandfather to sue his grandmother for help.
What's more, they have now overcome the difficulties.
Jiang Sheng didn't understand at first. After Aunt Zhang finished making the dumplings, she got up and simmered the dried beans and pork belly in a large pot. Then she opened the lid of the pot and the rich aroma hit her face, which almost made her hungry.
"We haven't been able to make it delicious before because we haven't found the key." Zheng Ruqian proudly introduced, "Dried beans are dried vegetables. Everyone thinks they need to be soaked in warm water. In fact, after soaking, they are boiled in boiling water. That’s the best.”
"Dried vegetables absorb oil, so the meat you choose should be rich in fat. Dried beans are resistant to stewing, so it's best to stew twice as long as usual."
It is then simmered and stir-fried with spices to create a rich soup, and then wrapped in thin and tough pancakes. After taking a bite, half of the soul is gone.
New Year's Eve, New Year's Eve.
In the warm room, everyone was wearing all kinds of new clothes and sitting around the big round table.
In addition to the fragrant pork belly stew and dried vegetables, there are countless dumplings on the round table, both vegetarian and meat, filled to the brim everywhere.
Jiang Sheng knows about dumplings, which are a delicacy that people in Shilipu Village can only eat during the Chinese New Year. Each person can only have one bowl, and they will be gone after eating.
Naturally, it cannot be left to feed the dogs, and it is even less likely to appear in the mouths of beggars.
Anyway, Jiang Sheng didn't get together with anyone on New Year's Eve, so she just walked back and forth in the village. When the smell of someone's dumplings came out, she grabbed the door frame and inhaled hard.
Later, when they arrived at Aunt Zhang's house, Aunt Zhang felt sorry for her and secretly left two dumplings for her, but they were just dumplings with plain fillings.
Because the Zhou family's rule is that only men can eat minced meat, and women can only eat vegetarian food.
The wild vegetables with a little bit of lard residue were not delicate and fragrant enough, and even a bit harsh on the throat.
But Jiang Sheng still held it in his mouth, tasting it carefully over and over again before swallowing it.
Last year, none of the brothers knew how to make dumplings, so Jiang Sheng never thought about it.
Until this year, there were finally plates of dumplings placed in front of her.
Jiang Sheng did not feast, but picked up a bowl of dumplings stuffed with pure meat and placed it in front of Zhang Xianglian. He grinned and said, "Auntie, we also have meat dumplings to eat."
One who has only ever eaten vegetarian food.
I have only eaten two vegetarian ones.
Zhang Xianglian felt sad when she thought of the past, and tears suddenly fell from her eyes.
But she still picked up the meat dumplings and stuffed them into her mouth. Feeling the rich meat aroma, she choked and said, "It's delicious, especially delicious."
