My 1995 Small Farm.

After the New Year's Eve dinner, the leftover food was cleaned up and put back in the kitchen.

We can save it for tomorrow, the first day of the Lunar New Year, and reheat it for lunch.

Of all the dishes that need to be cooked hot, the most important is fish. Fish cooked on New Year's Eve is kept until New Year's Day to bring good fortune and abundance year after year.

It's good that there are so many people celebrating the Lunar New Year this year.

Chen Ling didn't need to worry about anything; everyone had already taken care of everything for them.

All that's left is to watch the Spring Festival Gala on TV.

The Spring Festival Gala these days is still very serious and entertaining, and the programs every year are full of surprises.

However, for Chen Ling, it wasn't that novel anymore.

"Fugui, stop what you're doing and come watch TV. This skit is really good."

Zhao Yubao shouted while cracking sunflower seeds.

"Okay, I'm listening. Anyway, I need to chop the dumpling filling first, so we can watch the Spring Festival Gala while we make dumplings..."

"Once the dumplings are ready, we can eat them if we get hungry while staying up late on New Year's Eve."

Yes.

Time to chop dumpling filling and make dumplings again.

This is how the New Year is celebrated in the North.

There were too many dumplings to eat.

With so many people in my family this year, we'll be staying up all night to welcome the New Year.

Staying up late into the night to welcome the New Year.

At the beginning of the year, most people still didn't know when they would get up.

If we don't prepare the dumplings in advance, then when everyone wakes up, there won't be any food to eat.

Hearing Chen Ling say that...

Zhao Yubao put down the melon seeds in his hand and said directly, "Okay, give me a knife too, I'll chop them for you."

As soon as he spoke, Zhao Dahai and the others sprang into action.

"No need, no need, I can do it myself. I'll actually be faster by myself."

Chen Ling waved his hand and continued tidying up.

“Let Fugui do it himself. If you go up to help, you’ll only make things worse. After all that, the dumpling filling you chopped won’t taste good. Fugui will have to process it himself and chop it all over again.”

Grandma Liang Hongyu spoke up and shut them all down.

This is true.

The minced meat that Chen Ling chopped looked just like the beef that Shuang Dao Turkey chopped.

It felt like the dumplings made with filling chopped by others tasted better than the ones made with filling chopped by others.

"That's right."

"Then let's make dumplings together."

This year, Chen Ling's family has had far more meat than in previous years.

First, a pig was slaughtered, and in the small water tower, there was venison, beef, and muntjac meat.

I had dumplings for lunch; there were many different kinds of fillings.

At this time of night, in addition to pork, muntjac meat was also added.

Chen Ling's family eats a lot of wild game.

We've all gained experience from eating them now.

I know that the meat of muntjac and elk is much tastier than that of sika deer.

The muntjac meat is very tender.

It has the flavor of lamb.

Aside from lacking the milky flavor, it has all the other advantages.

However, it's not as tender and slippery as lamb.

As a result, it may appear loose.

Not really suitable for making dumplings.

It's not suitable for the tastes of northerners and people from the mountains.

Therefore, the meat from the muntjac must also be selected.

The meat of the red muntjac, also known as the yellow muntjac, is suitable for making dumplings, but even better for making large steamed buns.

The two muntjacs at home need to be old enough.

Otherwise, it's only suitable for stewing and roasting.

It's about five pounds of pork and five pounds of muntjac meat, both with a good balance of fat and lean.

It tastes better when it has a bit of fat.

Chen Ling used a knife to remove the skin.

Let's start with the pork.

He set out the cutting board, grabbed two knives, and started chopping the meat with a clang.

The knife in Chen Ling's hand was freshly sharpened and very easy to use.

Watching it unfold, the large pieces became smaller, and soon the smaller pieces became minced meat.

As soon as the meat filling was formed, Chen Ling put the ginger and garlic that were placed next to it into the meat filling.

They continued chopping.

Once the ginger and garlic have been minced, mix them evenly into the meat filling.

Add soy sauce at this point, and continue chopping until you can't see any meat chunks in the minced meat. That's basically it.

While Chen Ling was chopping the meat filling, Wang Susu and the others were watching TV while chopping up chives, celery, cilantro, and other vegetables.

The vegetables for making dumplings don't need to be chopped too finely; they can all do that.

It is worth mentioning that……

Cilantro and muntjac meat are a perfect match here.

Just like how you pair it with cilantro and beef or lamb.

The more flavorful the meat, the better it tastes when paired with cilantro.

Liang Hongyu and her son kneaded the dough, preparing to roll out dumpling wrappers.

There is strength in numbers.

Before long, the dumplings were wrapped up.

"I'm so envious of you guys, being able to make dumplings and go wherever you want."

Du Juan lay on the bed against the wall, her face full of envy.

"Just hang in there. I've been getting through these past two years."

Wang Susu sighed, adopting the air of someone who had been through it all.

This caused everyone to laugh.

Susu is really too young.

She has a youthful, delicate face and a strong girlish charm.

Such mature-sounding words are truly amusing.

"Wang Wang Wang..."

Just as things were getting lively at Chen Ling's house, the sound of dogs barking came from outside.

Someone rushed into the house; they ran in.

But if they come at this time, it must be someone from the village, needless to say.

Therefore, the dog doesn't bark too fiercely.

"Fugui, something terrible has happened! Yongsheng and Yonggang are fighting, they've used knives, and they're going to kill each other!"

It was Chen Yuqiang and his father Chen Guoping. At this moment, the old village doctor Chen Guoping ran even faster than his son Chen Yuqiang.

"What? They've started using knives? What's going on? What are they trying to do during the New Year holiday?!"

Chen Ling was startled.

When he went to the mountain to pay respects at the graves this afternoon, he saw the two brothers arguing on the way and had a premonition that the two brothers were similar to the Wang Jusheng brothers.

Sooner or later, something will definitely happen.

I didn't expect it to happen so quickly, and with such a vengeance.

"Grandpa Fourth was at his wit's end and lay down on the ground in anger. In this freezing weather, Uncle Sangui told me to hurry up and call you, saying that whichever of the two brothers angered Grandpa Fourth to death, they wouldn't be able to celebrate the New Year this year."

Chen Guoping was sweating profusely with anxiety.

Chen Yuqiang, who was fat, was panting heavily as he said, "Uncle Fugui, bring the dog, they have axes and machetes, they're going to kill us."

"Walk."

Chen Ling's face fell.

Anyone would be unhappy to be disturbed like this during the Lunar New Year.

In fact, he could ignore both Chen Yongsheng and Chen Yonggang.

But Fourth Grandfather couldn't just ignore it.

Fourth Grandfather was good to his father and to him.

Even when his mind was confused, he still thought about Chen Juncai and repeatedly mistook Chen Ling for his father.

If there were no feelings involved, it would be impossible to remember.

So Chen Ling changed his clothes, and without saying a word, he called Erhei and the others, pulled out the little green horse, and started heading towards the village.

He couldn't care less about Chen Guoping and his son Chen Yuqiang.

……

"Fugui is really something. Now everyone in the village comes to him for everything."

Liang Hongyu said with a slight complaint.

During the Lunar New Year, the whole family is happily making dumplings while watching the Spring Festival Gala.

He ran over and called Chen Ling out.

It's really hard for those who care to be happy.

“Ah Ling will definitely go. The village doesn’t ask him for everything these days, but they’ll definitely ask him for help with Fourth Grandfather’s family matters.”

My fourth grandfather was very good to my father-in-law and A-Ling.

Wang Susu said.

That's when everyone realized why.

That's how relationships are in the village.

The situation is complex and complicated, involving relatives and friends, and when problems arise, especially those that are difficult to resolve.

Then you need to find the most capable and influential relative among them.

Otherwise, things will escalate.

It's not good for anyone.

……

When Chen Ling arrived, the courtyard was bustling with activity.

The sounds of crying, shouting, and barking created a chaotic scene.

When Chen Ling arrived, Chen Yongsheng was already lying on the ground, fortunately not injured by a machete or axe.

But he was hit on the head with a shovel.

There's a cut on my head that's bleeding.

Chen Yonggang was pulled aside, but he was still jumping up and down and shouting.

Seeing Chen Ling approach, his brows furrowed even more.

"So what if I call Fugui? If Fugui comes, I'll kill him too. He's bullying my family. I'll kill him if I don't kill him."

Seeing this, Chen Ling stopped going forward.

Ask the surrounding villagers what happened.

"Sigh, it was Yonggang's family that was unreasonable first. His wife, Cai Ni'er, complained that Uncle Gan Nian didn't come to his house to help during the New Year..."

Yongsheng said that they had been taking care of the elderly for the past two years, and that the elderly had never eaten a meal at Yonggang's house or worn a piece of clothing from them.

It would be right not to help them.

Yonggang became anxious upon hearing this.

They said that Yongsheng bullied their family because he was the eldest son.

They're keeping the old man occupied and won't let me go to their house to help.

These words were spoken by Chen Guoping, who rushed over on his bicycle.

Chen Guoping is a village doctor, and he is highly respected in the village.

Speaking such fair and objective words will inevitably offend people.

Others might be afraid to speak up, but he called Chen Ling over, so it's definitely Chen Ling who will speak.

really.

This time he spoke.

A short-haired, square-faced, dark-skinned, thin woman got angry.

This was Yang Caini, the wife of the second son, Chen Yonggang. Her eyes were wide open, her face flushed red, and she jumped three feet high, shouting, "What business is it of yours, you old bastard, to meddle in my family's affairs?"

After cursing Chen Guoping, he yelled at Chen Gannian, who was lying next to him, "Old people who don't care about their children are better off dead."

Chen Ling frowned immediately, unable to bear it any longer: "If you want the elderly to take care of you, you have to support them first. You can't just ask them to support you for no reason."

No matter where or when, this person should always be reasonable.

"Ha, my family doesn't take care of him? If you're so capable, why don't you take him home and raise him like a father!"

Charlie Yeung started criticizing Chen Ling.

That's just how women can be sometimes.

When it comes to family conflicts and arguments, it doesn't matter who's in front of you.

Even if the King of Heaven himself were right in front of you, he would still find a way to criticize you.

But Chen Ling wasn't about to let her get away with it and slapped her across the face.

He couldn't be bothered to even acknowledge an unreasonable woman after he had beaten her.

He turned around and stopped calling Chen Yonggang "Uncle".

“Chen Yonggang, if you don’t care about my fourth grandfather, then don’t fucking come here and lick your big face, expecting my fourth grandfather to take care of you…”

Come on, I'm standing right here today, let's see who you can kill.

If you keep causing trouble and making a scene, especially during the New Year, I'll break both your legs first. Let's see if I dare!"

Chen Ling's face was cold, and his eyes were cold as well.

Chen Yonggang was unconvinced and wanted to say something, but when he met Chen Ling's eyes, his open mouth trembled, he mumbled something, and swallowed back the words that were about to come out.

Too many thoughts raced through my mind at that moment.

He remembered what the villagers said about Chen Ling often going hunting in the mountains and even taming a tiger; people said he was cursed.

In Yangtougou, one person killed more than fifty wolves, and the murderous aura was even stronger.

He felt a chill run down his spine after being given a cold look by Chen Ling.

Suddenly I felt that what they said was true.

Before they faced off against Chen Ling, no one knew.

Now, upon hearing Chen Ling mention dislocating his two legs, he immediately thought of Wang Juxiang's miserable state and was so frightened that he trembled like an old quail.

They didn't dare utter a sound.

Wang Juxiang, who was watching the commotion from the sidelines, was also terrified when he heard Chen Ling's words. He turned around and left immediately, not daring to stay for even a second longer.

"That damn beast, who can withstand a punch from him? Yonggang is in for it."

He feared Chen Ling and hated Chen Ling, often cursing him in his heart. But when he saw others about to suffer misfortune, he felt a morbid sense of schadenfreude.

Chen Yonggang remained silent.

Chen Ling was still displeased, his brows furrowing even more: "Speak up, do you dare?"

Chen Yonggang was already terrified, and when Chen Ling shouted, he was so frightened that his heart skipped a beat, his scalp tightened, and he collapsed to the ground.

His lips trembled; this time, he truly couldn't speak.

The crowd burst into laughter.

But Chen Ling couldn't laugh, nor did he feel any relief, because his fourth grandfather was still lying beside him. (End of Chapter)