After the frail beauty went to the countryside, she went crazy with scientific research.

Chapter 90, Episode 0092: New Year's Eve Dinner

On the 26th, slaughter the pig.

Actually, it's not just on the 26th that pigs are slaughtered; usually, the queue starts as early as November.

There aren't many pig butchers, so this can be considered a family-inherited craft.

In some villages, only one household knows how to do it, and in other villages, no one knows how at all.

So at the end of the year, pig butchers are extremely popular and their business is booming.

How can a pig farmer not slaughter pigs for the Lunar New Year to have a prosperous year?!
On the 27th, we pay respects to our ancestors.

On the 28th and 29th, we made delicious food.

Lin Yuexi didn't know if her family was following Northeastern customs or if they simply wanted to cook more food.

On the 28th, the family made two large basins of dough the night before, basins the size of foot bath basins.

Then the pot never stopped steaming from morning till night, making steamed buns all day long.

Not content with a single shape, steamed buns have become incredibly diverse, with each one displaying its unique charm: flower rolls, layered rolls, brown sugar steamed buns, cornmeal three-ingredient steamed buns, and so on.

On the 29th, things got even more intense. They even started using the stove at Xu Zhichuan's new place. One side was for steaming buns, while the other side was for the main dishes: a large pot of fried meatballs, fried dough twists, fried spring rolls, fried fish, and so on, while smaller pots were used to stew chicken, stew duck, and so on...

Not just their family, but the whole village has been filled with the aroma of food these past two days.

Although we were poor at that time, and although the authorities had banned superstition, the festive atmosphere during the Lunar New Year was truly strong.

No matter who I run into when I go out, the first thing I ask is always, "Have you eaten?" or "What did you eat?"

Thirtieth, Lunar New Year's Eve.

Lin Yuexi's house was very lively today. During the day, everyone was busy preparing for the New Year's Eve dinner. In the evening, a few young people sat together and took out a few bottles of wine for the first time. After taking a sip, they all started bragging to each other.

Unfortunately, with the elimination of superstition, the tradition of setting off firecrackers was no longer allowed, and the custom of keeping vigil at night was also abolished. After everyone had a lively meal, they all went home.

When the night was deep and quiet, two figures squeezed out of the back door of Lin Yuexi's house.

A male voice, barely suppressed, rang out, "Sis, be careful."

As he spoke, he wrapped her up even more tightly in his overcoat and Lei Feng hat. “I can go. It’s so cold, and the snow is so thick.”

"I'm fine." Her life was saved by Old Chen, how could she not visit him during the New Year?

Leng Xingran understood what she meant, and because she understood, she did not stop her.

Even at night, they couldn't be careless. The brother and sister didn't dare turn on their flashlights, but relied on the moonlight to help each other, stumbling and sinking as they made their way toward the cowshed.

Inside the cowshed at this moment.

Several elderly men and women, all dressed in patched clothes, sat on a large kang (heated brick bed) in the same room, around a square kang table that was missing two legs and propped up by bricks.

The kang table wasn't as shabby as I'd imagined; it was set with eight large bowls of dishes, including fish, meat, chicken, and duck. The dishes just looked a bit familiar.

Old Feng struggled to pull his eyes away from the kang table, anxiously looking towards the door. "Why haven't they arrived yet? Could they be on their way...?"

Before he could finish speaking, Old Mrs. Zhou slapped him across the face, saying, "Stop jinxing it! It's New Year's Eve, the villagers definitely won't go to bed early. They'll have to go out later, won't they?"

Old Chen stared intently at the doorway, saying, "That kid is really something. I told him not to come, especially in this weather."

Old Zhang, who was standing nearby, laughed at him, "Just keep showing off. Everyone knows you're happier than anyone else."

Old Chen wasn't embarrassed at all when he was exposed. Instead, he smiled smugly at Old Zhang and said, "That's right. Among us old men, only this little girl really cares about me." These words were like a cold air blower, making everyone's hearts feel a little chilly.

Just then, a faint sound came from outside.

Old Chen immediately got up excitedly and put on his shoes, "It must be the brother and sister who have arrived."

As if anticipating their arrival, Leng Xingran's voice rang out, "Gentlemen and ladies, please don't move. We'll come in ourselves. It's cold outside, don't catch a cold."

As soon as the words were spoken, the door was gently pushed open from the outside in, and the brother and sister squeezed in one after the other.

The two had already brushed the snow off themselves at the doorway; the faint sound that had just come in was caused by them brushing the snow off themselves while standing at the door.

Seeing that the two had already come in, Old Chen didn't insist on getting off the kang anymore. He sat back down and moved further in, leaving more room for the brother and sister.

"Come on up and warm up on the kang. I told you not to come over. We have a group of old men and women here. It's just as lively during the New Year."

He was making sarcastic remarks, but his smile kept getting wider and wider.

Grandma Zhou chuckled and replied, "You've already sent so many dishes. Not to mention these past few years, even back in Beijing, we've never eaten this well. Your kindness is more than enough, and you've come to keep us old folks company on such a cold night."

"I just want you guys to spend the New Year with me."

Lin Yuexi also took off her shoes and sat cross-legged next to Old Chen. Her sweet and soft voice touched everyone's hearts.

As was his habit, Old Chen first took her hand to check her pulse. Seeing this, all the elderly people watched him nervously.

Even Leng Xingran, who was a step behind Lin Yuexi when she got onto the kang (heated brick bed), pursed her lips tightly.

Fortunately, after taking his pulse, Old Chen gave everyone some good news: "Your health is recovering well, but you still can't overexert yourself. After another year or two of rest, you'll be basically back to normal."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

The eldest, Mr. Feng, picked up his chopsticks and greeted everyone with a smile, "Everyone, quickly pick up your chopsticks and start eating."

Everyone was already drooling with envy, so no one held back and started eating with their chopsticks.

It's not that the elderly have to wait for the two young people to arrive before starting the meal, but the food tonight is so good that they can't eat it earlier.

Good food has a strong aroma that easily wafts out and can be smelled by others.

Although the Red Star Brigade has a good atmosphere, these people have long been terrified of being persecuted and dare not take any risks.

So they preferred to endure hunger and eat later, after everyone in the village had gone to sleep.

However, Lin Yuexi and Leng Xingran had already thought of this. When Leng Xingran brought the food earlier, she had already brought plenty of steamed buns and rolls.

With half the food gone and everyone feeling about 60-70% full, everyone gradually slowed down their eating pace.

After taking a sip of soup, Old Feng suddenly asked Lin Yuexi, "I heard you're also interested in physics?"

This question?
Professor Feng is a leading figure in the field of physics, so it's hard not to think twice when he asks such a question!
But Lin Yuexi, who was asked the question, didn't think much of it and looked up at him with a blank expression. "I can't say that I'm interested in physics. I'm interested in many subjects."

Old Feng: "..."

This is a provocative tone.

Are young people these days so arrogant?
If it were anyone else, Old Master Feng certainly wouldn't dare to pay any attention, but Lin Yuexi...

Mr. Feng was one of the people who knew her true identity, and he knew that she was not just boasting.