flstandardbreds Chapter 106 Staying up on New Year’s Eve
Chapter 106 Staying up on New Year’s Eve
Suddenly a winter rain came.
The weather in Jialin County was getting increasingly freezing cold.
The leaves on the trees outside have all fallen, and there are a few dead leaves scattered on the ground, which looks particularly desolate.
Lin’s breakfast shop has a new meatball today - tofu meatballs.
It is still given away as a gift and not sold, and is given to old customers.
A bite of juicy steamed buns and a bite of tofu meatballs, paired with Ruyilou's hot porridge or tofu pudding, will instantly dispel the cold.
After eating a few more, I felt refreshed all over, the sluggishness of winter was gone, and I felt energetic.
The students of Mingyi Hall have gone on vacation. Those students who used to rush to eat their pancakes as they walked can finally sit down and quietly enjoy other delicacies.
The days are long and the years are endless.
Eating a basket of juicy dumplings has become the most anticipated thing in winter.
-
On New Year's Eve, the Lin family still set up their stall.
However, from the first to the fifth day of the first lunar month, Lin Xiaoman plans to give himself five days of rest.
We agreed with our customers that we will open on the sixth day of the Lunar New Year.
The diners who were used to the Lin family's breakfast had become picky eaters, and when they heard that the breakfast would be suspended for five days, they all showed regretful expressions.
"It's going to be suspended for five days, Boss. Isn't that too long?"
“What can we do without juicy dumplings?”
"Boss, five days is too long. Two or three days is about right."
Li Taohua and Lin Xiaoman always patiently explained with a smile.
These complaining diners are probably long-term customers.
This is the case only if you are used to the Lin family’s breakfast.
After selling breakfast, Lin Dajiang took his wife and children to buy meat and grain.
After returning home, we stewed the pork ribs and ate some simple mushroom noodles, and then the family began to prepare for the New Year’s Eve dinner.
In order to sell breakfast, the Lin family did not make rice cakes in the past few months. Fortunately, Li Erli from next door sent a few over.
Li Taohua and Lin Xiaoman were busy making various fried foods, including crispy pork and meatballs.
Lin Dajiang took Lin Jingzhe and posted the couplet written by Gu Changsheng on the door.
After pasting the couplets, I fed the chickens at home and fed the rabbits with rabbit grass, then killed the fish and washed the vegetables.
The two younger ones at home stayed in the kitchen and did not go out.
Lin Guyu looked at the fire, occasionally putting some wood in it.
She held a bowl in her chubby little hands.
It was filled with Lin Xiaoman’s freshly-cooked crispy meat and meatballs.
The crispy meat and meatballs just out of the pot are very hot, yet extremely crispy. I take a light bite, blow on them a few times, and eat them without caring about the burn.
During Guyu and Lidong, their cheeks are always puffy, a bit like little squirrels stealing food, so cute.
After frying the food, Li Taohua started to process the grass carp.
Cut off the fish tail and stick it on the wall next to the stove with a "snap".
With the phrase "Year after year there will be more than enough."
The whole small kitchen was filled with a New Year atmosphere.
When Lin Dajiang and Lin Jingzhe came in, they saw the two children who had already eaten, and they smiled instantly.
Lin Dajiang said: "These two little ones are so lucky. How could we let them eat like this during the New Year in the past?"
Lin Xiaoman filled a small bowl of crispy meat for Lin Jingzhe, "Brother, your brothers and sisters have some, and you have some too. They are fresh out of the pot and are still hot."
Lin Jingzhe felt warm in his heart and reached out to take a piece of crispy meat into his mouth. It was crispy, tender, fresh and delicious.
He rubbed his frozen hands and fought with Guyu for a seat while holding the bowl.
"Get up and let your brother warm you up."
Guyu ran away with a smile and came to Lin Dajiang's side, "Dad, will we have fish and meat every New Year's Day?"
Lin Dajiang nodded: "Of course! Not only during the Chinese New Year, we will have meat to eat every month from now on."
As long as they are diligent and hardworking, it is not difficult to let their children live a life of plenty.
Amid the sporadic sounds of firecrackers in Shanglin Village, Lin Dajiang's family sat together to celebrate the New Year.
Lin Dajiang and Li Taohua gave red envelopes to their four children for the first time.
Lin Xiaoman felt it and found it was only six copper coins, quite a lot!
The New Year’s Eve dinner was very sumptuous, with fish and meat.
The bone marrow was hung for an entire afternoon, and I gently sucked the soft and slippery entrance of the marrow.
The Yuanbao fish should be kept until the 15th, and everyone took a symbolic bite to taste it.
We ate the pickled fish to our heart's content; Lin Xiaoman made a generous portion.
There are also various kinds of meatballs, including carrot meatballs, black ear meatballs, tofu meatballs...
There are also steamed and sliced thinly-cooked sausages that are greasy.
Lin Jingzhe ate one bite at a time, his mouth full of oil.
Lin Xiaoman was no longer willing to talk about the matter of him being slapped in the face, so he brought it up with a laugh.
On the night of New Year's Eve, under an oil lamp, Lin Dajiang was filled with emotion.
A few months ago, their family lived in a small and shabby room in the old house. A large piece of mud could be scraped off the wall with just a touch of the hand. The house could be described as dilapidated and depressed.
Food and clothing are all under my mother's control.
Especially the food, which is just boiled in plain water and becomes a paste without any oil.
In half a year, their family has been able to eat delicious food!
Lin Dajiang always felt that his life was more comfortable than in his dreams in the past.
On the other side, in the old house of the Lin family.
"Chunxiu, don't worry about it. Xiaoxue will be fine."
Dahai was in agony, and Chunxiu looked at the door every day these days.
On the day of reunion, she was always hoping that Xiaoxue would come back by herself.
"How do you know she will be fine?" Wang Chunxiu suddenly glared at Lin Dahai, her eyes filled with loss and sadness, without a trace of light.
"It's winter now, is Xiaoxue dressed warmly?"
"Will you be hungry?"
“Have you ever been bullied?”
"Xiaoxue, where have you been? You are my flesh and blood! How can you be so cruel to just leave like that? My heart is empty. Where have you been, you little bitch?"
The further we talked, the more disorganized the army became.
Lin Dahai had a bitter face and held Wang Chunxiu with both hands to prevent her from collapsing.
Looking at his wife who kept crying, Lin Dahai didn't know what to say.
He was also sad that Xiaoxue was gone, but Xiaoxue was not the only child in the family.
"Xiu, what do you want to do?" Lin Dahai asked helplessly.
It was New Year's Day, but Dongzhi's little face was frozen red. He huddled in the corner, not daring to say a word, just watching timidly.
He used to be a naughty child.
Playing with Guyu from my eldest brother’s family.
"Xiu, take a look at the Winter Solstice, then go to the backyard and take a look at the Beginning of Spring."
"You've been clamoring to go look for Xiaoxue, but do you have the money for the journey?"
After saying that, Lin Dahai lowered his head and sat down on the edge of the wooden bed.
"Xiu. Stop it. We've already lost Xiaoxue, so we can't lose the Beginning of Spring and the Winter Solstice."
Wang Chunxiu was in tears, but she didn't wipe them away, letting them fall on the lapels of her torn jacket.
In an instant, a large area was wet.
"Master, wuuuu - I feel bitter and sad. God, please bring Xiaoxue back. If you really can't bring her back, please bless her to have enough food and warm clothes..."
The mud wall was not soundproof enough, and the whimpering sounds from next door could be heard, causing Old Mrs. Lin to start cursing again.
The third son stayed at his in-laws' house to celebrate the New Year because his wife was still in confinement.
Without giving any instructions in advance, he asked the village head's eldest son Linda to bring back the message at noon.
After finally cooking the meat, the third brother still didn't come back, and Grandma Lin was already very angry.
I kept the meat and had a casual conversation with the old man. I didn't even stay up to celebrate the New Year. I just lit the oil lamp and lay on the bed to sleep.
Just when I was about to fall asleep, I heard someone crying next door.
"Wang Chunxiu, you unlucky star, don't you realize what time it is? If you want to cry, go back to your old Wang family and cry."
"Old woman, please say less." Old man Lin pursed his lips, looking a little irritated.
I don’t know what bad luck has come to his family recently, but the old woman is becoming more and more noisy and unreasonable every year.
-
From the first to the fifth day of the New Year, Lin Xiaoman went to his grandparents' house, and slept until he woke up naturally the rest of the time.
After waking up, he and Lin Jingzhe went around the mountain.
Every time they passed by the large blue brick and tile house, they could always hear the sound of reading.
Sometimes Lin Jingzhe would be in a daze.
Lin Xiaoman saw what his brother was thinking and asked him if he wanted to go to a private school.
Lin Jingzhe, however, looked nonchalant, "It's not like I can't read, I can recognize some words!"
"I know a few words! What's the use? I can't even read the contract signed with Ruyilou. If it weren't for my father's literacy, we would have met a black-hearted boss and helped him count money!"
"But...if I go to a private school, what will happen to my family's business?"
"With my parents and I here, what are you afraid of?" Lin Xiaoman said with a smile, "It's okay if we get a little tired. If we are really too busy, we can ask my aunt to help."
Lin Xiaoman thought, if she were not a girl, she would also want to go to school.
She doesn’t recognize many traditional Chinese characters, and is actually no different from a semi-illiterate person.
"It costs money to go to a private school."
The main reason why Lin Jingzhe hesitated was money.
He knew that his family had been planning to buy a shop.
If Yingkelai hadn't interfered, they would have bought the shop long ago.
Lin Xiaoman knew that his brother was afraid of spending money, so he advised him, "Besides, you can teach me and my younger brothers and sisters after you come back from studying, which means you spend one dollar to teach four students. Besides, you are not going to take the imperial examination. At most, you will study for two or three years to take the Tongsheng exam, which won't cost you much."
Lin Jingzhe was somewhat envious of what Lin Xiaoman said, "I wonder if my parents will agree. In their eyes, we are both grown up."
The two walked away muttering to each other.
The rest of the words were inaudible.
A young man walked out from the courtyard wall and stared in the direction where Lin Xiaoman left, seeming thoughtful.
-
There is a bamboo forest on the mountain.
Lin Xiaoman saw quite a few cracks.
Winter bamboo shoots popped into my mind.
Winter bamboo shoots are hidden underground and need to be dug out with a hoe.
Fortunately, Lin Jingzhe always has enough tools when he goes up the mountain.
"Brother, dig here."
"There's nothing to dig here."
"Digging winter bamboo shoots, you've dug them before, right?" Lin Xiaoman was surprised. Brother, you must know about bamboo shoots, right?
"Winter bamboo shoots? Sister, you must be stupid. How can there be bamboo shoots in winter? Bamboo shoots will only emerge before the Qingming Festival. But you shouldn't dig them. They will break easily if you just break them."
"Those are spring bamboo shoots. What we are digging now are winter bamboo shoots."
Lin Xiaoman snatched the hoe from Lin Jingzhe's hand and started digging without saying a word.
Gently dig the surface soil along the crack, about a palm's width away, and a yellowish tip will appear.
Lin Xiaoman excitedly lowered his voice and said, "Brother, look, this is winter bamboo shoots."
She carefully avoided the winter bamboo shoots and dug away the soil around them, and two round and plump winter bamboo shoots came out.
"Aren't bamboo shoots long and thin?"
"You're talking about spring bamboo shoots. These are winter bamboo shoots. They stay underground when the weather is cold and won't grow." Lin Xiaoman patiently explained, "Winter bamboo shoots can be stewed in soup, stir-fried, and made into dried bamboo shoots just like spring bamboo shoots."
When Lin Jingzhe heard that they could make dried bamboo shoots, he started digging without saying a word.
"Xiao Man, here I come!"
The two men were so busy digging bamboo shoots that they didn't notice the red-faced boy following them.
It was not until the boy deliberately stepped on a branch and made a noise that Lin Jingzhe and Lin Xiaoman saw that there was a boy not far away staring at them.
"Brother, he is a neighbor who just moved in last year."
Lin Jingzhe had a very grim look on his face. He didn't even notice that someone was following him.
"Yes! He is the young master who has horses and a big brick and tile house at home."
"Why is he following us?"
Lin Xiaoman saw the young man only a few times, except for occasionally seeing him during the days of building the house. After the house was built, he only saw an old servant coming in and out.
She felt strange at the time.
Is there no adult at home?
But she heard from the village head that the master and his wife had also moved in...
Lin Jingzhe stared at the boy and asked unkindly: "Why are you following us?"
"I didn't follow." The boy explained with embarrassment.
He did not follow them. After they left, he took a stick and went up the mountain, hoping to dig some wild onions and wild vegetables.
However, the two people who had entered the mountain earlier than him were lingering in one place and would not leave.
After waiting for a long time, I saw two people digging the ground with hoes and dug out two things that looked like fat bamboo shoots.
Lin Jingzhe put the bamboo shoots he dug into the backpack, walked up quickly and grabbed the boy's collar, "Who would believe that?"
Lin Xiaoman was afraid that he would act impulsively, so she ran up to stop him.
They don't know each other's background.
What if the other party is a powerful person?
Unknown things are hard to control, and Lin Xiaoman is afraid that this is a plot bug.
If they fall into a plot bug, all her previous efforts will be in vain.
"Believe it or not, just let me go!" The young man's face turned red, and he was too lazy to explain. He reached out and pried open Lin Jingzhe's hand that was grabbing his collar.
Quite a bit of strength.
There was surprise in Lin Jingzhe's eyes.
The young man in front of him was about the same height as Gu Changsheng, perhaps even taller.
He is as thin as a bamboo pole and looks like he has no strength.
But I didn't expect his strength to be so great.
"Brother! Let's go."
After being persuaded by Xiaoman, Lin Jingzhe gave up the idea of continuing to pester her.
He glared at the young man and walked away, hugging his chest.
"Can I dig bamboo shoots here?" the young man stopped Lin Jingzhe and asked.
"It's not my bamboo shoots, why are you asking me?"
Lin Jingzhe took Lin Xiaoman to another place to continue digging bamboo shoots.
From a distance, he saw the young man digging the ground with a sharpened wooden stick.
The forest is not his, so he can't do anything if others want to dig bamboo shoots.
But the fact that he had to follow them just made him uncomfortable.
By then, everyone in the village will know that they can dig up bamboo shoots in winter, and this mountain will probably be turned upside down.
In the next two days, Lin Jingzhe took Lin Xiaoman to continue going up the mountain to dig bamboo shoots.
Lin Dajiang and Li Taohua cooked, cut and dried bamboo shoots at home.
Lin Xiaoman also made several pots of braised bamboo shoots, which received unanimous praise from the family.
It seemed as if the young man had made an appointment with them. Every time they went up the mountain, the young man would go up the mountain at almost the same time.
Sometimes they come a little earlier, sometimes the teenagers come a little earlier.
But after all, they tacitly agreed not to dig in one place.
Lin Xiaoman is not the type of person who would sit and wait for death.
In the novels she read, no one moved to Shanglin Village to build a house.
I don’t know if it has nothing to do with the male and female protagonists and the author didn’t write it, or if her arrival changed the plot line and the author added a plot bug.
Once triggered, maybe we will return to the starting point...
She would never allow this to happen.