The twenty-ninth day of the twelfth lunar month.
The snow is still falling, and the snow on the ground is piled up layer by layer, and there is a deep pit under your feet.
Snowflakes are falling on the chopping board, dyed red by pig blood, and everyone's heart is very hot. This is destined to be a prosperous New Year.
There are seven people in Cheng Wanwan's family. She has an elder, four sons, a daughter-in-law, and the youngest granddaughter. She can receive a total of two kilograms and one tael of meat.
Although the meat was a little short, it didn't matter. As long as there was meat at home, she could buy some more from the mall and add it secretly.
"There are seven people in your family, plus Mr. Yu, Master He, Kong Xiuniang, Cheng Tongsheng, Ah Fu and Wu Xiaochui, the total weight is three pounds and nine taels." Li Zheng said with a smile: "It's all meat, or some visceral bones." ?”
Cheng Wanwan was about to wave her hand.
Li Zheng said: "Being able to stay in our Dahe Village for the New Year is our fate with Dahe Village. Regardless of whether we are from the village or not, we must have everything we should have, don't you think so?"
The people in line behind nodded.
"Master Yu is a teacher, how can he not eat meat?"
"Xiao He also contributed a lot to catch the wild boar today, and Xiao He must have a share."
"Cheng Tongsheng has lived in our village for so long, and he is already half a Dahe villager."
"Kong Xiu Niang teaches embroidery for free. Of course we have to share the meat if we have it. It's free of charge."
"Afu Xiaochui is so sensible, why don't you give meat to your children?"
"According to me, Master Shen should also share some of it. Even though he is not here, we must maintain proper etiquette."
"..."
Everyone spoke to me with kind smiles on their faces.
Cheng Wanwan laughed: "I want two and a half kilograms of pork, a pig's foot, a rib, and the rest will be replaced by big bones and offal."
She handed over the big basin and it was quickly filled to the brim, giving me a sense of abundance and joy.
Not only the people in Dahe Village had a share, but the new people in Dahe Village also received wild boar meat, three or three taels per person, without any bias.
Today is the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month. In the evening, we have to prepare the food needed for the New Year. Every household lights a fire and starts cooking.
Many people came to Cheng Wanwan's house to buy dry firewood. The firewood that was originally stored in the soap workshop had been almost sold out in just four or five days of snow and low temperatures.
"Auntie, there is not much dry firewood left." Wu Xiaochui walked to the kitchen to report, "Based on the firewood burning situation at home, the remaining dry firewood can only be burned until the seventh day of the first lunar month."
Cheng Wanwan said: "We will think about this matter after the New Year."
What if the snow stops in a year, and the problem will be solved.
There is really no dry firewood, and wet firewood is not impossible to burn, but it is just a little more troublesome.
"Xiao Shui, please put your accounting affairs aside for a moment, wash your hands, and come over to help." Cheng Wanwan pointed at the pork on the chopping board, "All of this meat has been minced. The more minced it is, the more it tastes like a lion's head." The better."
Wu Xiaochui was puzzled: "What does this meat have to do with the lion's head?"
Zhao Sidan burst out laughing: "I used to think that the lion's head was made of a lion's head, but later I found out that it was just fried meatballs."
Wu Xiaochui blushed: "I haven't eaten meatballs either..."
"It's delicious." Ah Fu licked his lips, "The lion head made by your second sister is even more delicious than the one in the restaurant."
He said as he kneaded the dough.
Today we are going to make a lot of fried food, which is a New Year custom in Dahe Village. Pure meatballs, tofu meatballs, leek meatballs, deep-fried pancakes, fried rolls... We also need to make some snacks for children, maltose, sugar cakes. Wait, the kitchen is very busy, and the table in the main room is also busy.
Master Yu and He Xiao also came, but they didn't know anything, so they just sat by drinking tea and chatting about current affairs.
Kong Xiu Niang is making some strange snacks that have never been seen in the village. They are nothing more than flour, eggs and some sugar. They can make various snacks.
This was in preparation for the Chinese New Year the next day, and the family was busy until late at night.
On the 30th of the twelfth lunar month, early in the morning, Mr. Zhao asked his two sons to carry the largest table in the house and set up three tables in total.
The old Zhao family also brought all the ingredients and cooked a sumptuous reunion dinner together. This is a custom in the village. Even if the family is separated, as long as the parents are still alive, the younger generations must have the reunion dinner together. .
There are more than a dozen people in Lao Zhao's family, and there are also more than a dozen people in Cheng Wanwan's family, adding up to nearly thirty people.
The kitchen is dominated by women. They gather around to discuss the dishes and chatter non-stop.
Children were making noise outside the yard, chasing each other, and it was so lively.
The main room is dominated by men. Old man Zhao is sitting on the main seat, Master Yu He Xiao is drinking tea, and Cheng Zhao and others are accompanying him to talk.
"It turns out that the New Year can be so lively." Master Yu sighed, "Dahe Village is really unique."
Before he left the Yu family, he had celebrated the New Year, but it was not as lively as this.
Later, I left the Yu family and wandered alone, experiencing the misery of celebrating the New Year alone. Later, I married a wife and had children, and the New Year slowly took on a flavor.
Suddenly, I felt homesick.
Not the Yu family, but the wife and a son and a daughter.
He originally made an appointment to go back on the 20th of the twelfth lunar month, but unexpectedly, he couldn't go back. After waiting for the passage, he must borrow the Suiru family's carriage to return to Huzhou as quickly as possible and return to his family.
He Xiao took a sip of tea and said slowly: "It is indeed lively."
The He family should be more lively.
Red lanterns, crackling firecrackers, an endless stream of visitors...
The He family that is far away in the capital, the He family that cannot go back, and the He family that will no longer have any connection... And the woman who smiled sweetly at him, she should be married, I hope her choice will not be the same Wrong, I hope she will be peaceful and happy for the rest of her life...
He Xiao lowered his head, mistook the tea for wine, and drank it all in one gulp.
"Why do you feel that you are not in a high mood?" Old Man Zhao twirled his beard, "But that's right, it's the Chinese New Year and every family is reunited. You are all alone in a foreign country, so it's normal to feel unhappy. Come on, Master Yu, hurry up Tell me what the Tongsheng Examination is about, and let me, an old man who has never read a book, understand it."
When it came to exams, Zhao Sidan could no longer play happily outside and was forced to come over to attend classes.
"The first exam is called the county exam. There are test centers in Ping'an County. The exam time is on the second day of February. There are two exams." Master Yu touched his beard and said, "Those with poor handwriting will be eliminated in the first exam, Jing Si, Your handwriting is still a bit poor, you need to practice more..."
Zhao Sidan cupped his hands and said, "Yes, Master."
Cheng Wanwan could understand the pain of this boy. It had only been half a year since he could read, and he was already pretty good at being able to write clearly. If he wanted to learn handwriting like Cheng Zhao, it would probably take at least several years. The four eggs on the left and right are still small, so just practice them slowly.
Old man Zhao said with a smile: "Sidan, you are the hope of our family. You must be a child student when you come back."
Zhao Sidan said with a bitter face: "My eldest cousin didn't pass the Tongsheng Examination until he was sixteen years old. I'm not as smart as my eldest cousin. I definitely can't do it..."
"You two can't be compared together." Zhao Dashan said, "The Cheng family has no money. My eldest cousin needs to make money by himself for studying. It would be good if he could spend half of the day reading... And I remember, the first When taking the annual exam, you need to pay a deposit of several taels of silver, because the Cheng family can't get it and my eldest cousin is delayed, otherwise he will become a child at the age of twelve..."
Zhao Ergou nodded: "Cousin, it's hard to study. Si Dan, you don't have to worry about anything. Ah Fu also took over the job of feeding chickens and ducks. If you don't pass the Tongsheng test, it means you are lazy in studying. .”
"Okay, okay, you brothers, why do you threaten your younger brother?" Cheng Wanwan laughed and scolded, "If a child is so easy to take the exam, will you all give me a pass in the exam?"
Zhao Dashan quickly shook his head: "What the hell, Si Dan, you just have to work hard. It's okay if you don't pass the exam."
Zhao Ergou coughed: "I have no interest in the imperial examination. It's too difficult. Sidan, it's still too late for you to give up now."
"I won't give up." Zhao Sidan puffed up his chest. "If you can't pass the exam this year, then next year. If you don't pass next year, then next year. I don't believe I can't get it."
Only when he became an official could he give his mother the title of wife. He wanted to make her the most beautiful old lady in the country.
