Traveling through ancient times, I led my family to prosperity

Because there are many things to fry this year, the kitchen is preparing to heat two pots of oil and fry them at the same time. Today's lunch is what we must eat every year. After lunch, everyone sat together and talked. In the evening, Zhang was planning to take Xiaolan to prepare the dumpling fillings for the evening, and Sheng Hao came.

Sheng Hao came to convey what Grandpa Sheng said, saying that he would invite Sheng Xuan's family to eat dumplings in the evening. "Our father also said that we should worship the ancestral tablets in advance..."

After hearing what Sheng Hao said, Zhang and Xiao Lan looked at Sheng Xuan. "I have talked to the child's grandfather before," Sheng Xuan said hurriedly, and then said to Sheng Hao, "Old Four, I have talked to our father about this before. We will not go there this year. Tomorrow morning, we will go to pay New Year's greetings to our parents, visit the graves, etc. We will go together..."

Sheng Kai was firm in his attitude. Sheng Hao didn't know what he told the old man when he returned, but no one was sent over anyway.

It snowed heavily all night on New Year's Eve. It was a good sign, indicating a good harvest.

On the first day of the New Year, Xiaolan's family got up early. Shengxuan first took people to sweep the snow, and then the family hurriedly ate a simple breakfast and dressed neatly to go out.

Just as Sheng Xuan promised yesterday, they were going to the old house to pay New Year's greetings to Mr. Sheng and Cui. Farmers were hardworking. Although it was the first day of the new year, many families got up early to clear the snow in front of their houses and courtyards, and also cleared the road in front of the door. While everyone was clearing the snow, they also said auspicious words to wish a happy new year, making the originally cold morning lively.

The group arrived at the door of the old house. Mr. Sheng was also a diligent man. At present, the snow in front of the door of the old house had been cleared. Except for the old man, everyone else in the old house came out to greet them.

When they entered the upper room, they saw the old man and the old lady sitting on the kang, dressed neatly. After entering the room, Xiao Lan looked around and saw that the room was very clean, and there were some chairs and stools placed there, which were obviously prepared specially for them.

After paying New Year's greetings to Mr. Sheng and Mrs. Cui, the family sat down one after another. After Xiaolan's family sat down, the men of the old Sheng family also sat on chairs and stools. After they sat down, the old man chatted with Sheng Xuan and Xiao Wen. Mrs. Xu brought in a tea tray with two kinds of dried fruits, melon seeds and peanuts. Now the second daughter-in-law of the old Sheng family is not presentable, so she is not suitable for this occasion. She is burning fire in the outer room, and Mrs. Xu is becoming more and more like the daughter-in-law in charge.

Xu smiled and said polite words while pouring tea for everyone. It was the New Year, and everyone in the old house was dressed more decently than usual. On the first day of the New Year, people should naturally wear their best clothes and jewelry. After Xu poured tea for the man underground, she came over and served the hot tea to Zhang, Xiao Lan and others in turn.

On the female side, no one had much to say to Cui, because Cui was too difficult to please, and no one wanted to offend her during the festive day of the New Year. On the male side, the old man was talking enthusiastically with Sheng Xuan and Xiao Wen. "Where are we going after leaving here?" Old Man Sheng asked Sheng Xuan.

"We are not going anywhere yet. We have to go home first... We will come out to pay New Year's greetings later in the afternoon. We are only here this morning." Sheng Xuan said. Then Sheng Xuan stood up and said goodbye to Mr. Sheng and Cui.

The whole family came out of the old house. Mr. Sheng and Mrs. Cui were still sitting on the kang without moving. Everyone else had been sent out.

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Xiaolan's house was full of guests. Xiaolan and Zhang entertained the visiting female guests in the backyard, while Shengxuan entertained the visiting male guests in the front yard.

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, people would greet each other and generally would not eat at other people's homes. This is a custom passed down from ancient times. Of course, families would not cook on this day because they would have food from the previous day and leftover dumplings from the night before. Xiaolan's family simply heated up a few dishes and dumplings, and then the whole family sat together and had a warm meal.

The first month of the lunar year is spent eating and drinking, and soon it is the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. According to the custom in Liaodong Prefecture, every household eats Yuanxiao, hangs lanterns, and sets off fireworks and firecrackers on this day.

The Yuanxiao of this era is similar to the modern ones. The fillings are first made into dough, which are then rolled into small balls. Then they are placed in glutinous rice flour and the basket is shaken to allow the outside of the balls to be evenly coated with glutinous rice flour. This method is called rolling Yuanxiao.

Xiao Lan likes to eat Yuanxiao, because the cooked Yuanxiao is white, plump and very sweet. This year she plans to tell Zhang a new way to eat it, which is to fry Yuanxiao. In modern times, she likes to fry the skin of Yuanxiao until it is crispy and delicious.

In the kitchen, Zhang was frying Yuanxiao with Su Ye's wife. Oil bubbles were already appearing in the half pot of soybean oil. Zhang and Su Ye's wife were frying the Yuanxiao one by one in the pan.

Because Xiaolan had told Zhang in advance that the glutinous rice dumplings might burst when they were fried, Zhang sent Xiaolan far away, fearing that the oil in the pot would burst and hit her precious little girl. Xiaolan heard a bang at the door and knew that the glutinous rice dumplings were burst, followed by splashes of oil.

Zhang and Su Ye are both experts in the kitchen. They had already wrapped the dumplings tightly before frying them. They also had many years of experience in the kitchen, so they dodged before the oil splashed out. Xiao Lan happened to see this scene at the door. At this time, Su Ye's wife had already covered the pot tightly, and then Xiao Lan heard bursts of crackling sounds coming from the pot.

"Mom, why don't we not set off the Yuanxiao? It sounds like setting off firecrackers, which is really scary." Xiao Lan said with a smile.

"It's okay, it will be ready in a while." Zhang waved her hands and said with a smile. There is only one fifteenth day of the first lunar month in a year. Xiaolan wants to eat fried glutinous rice dumplings. How can she, as a mother, not satisfy her child? She will not refuse to satisfy her child's request just because frying glutinous rice dumplings is troublesome. "Xiaolan, go play outside. There is too much smoke here. Don't choke on it."

Xiao Lan did not leave, but still stood at the kitchen door talking to Zhang. Meanwhile, Su Ye's wife had already opened the lid of the pot, and used a colander to scoop out the fried golden rice dumplings. However, it was obvious that many of the dumplings had cracked, revealing the glutinous rice flour inside.

"Miss Xiaolan, we have fried glutinous rice dumplings. Do you want to try stir-frying them?" After Su Ye's wife took out the glutinous rice dumplings, she asked Xiaolan with a smile, "To stir-fry glutinous rice dumplings, all you need to do is add more oil and use a higher fire. The taste should be similar to deep-fried ones, but they won't fall apart. The skin won't be as crispy as deep-fried ones, but will be a little soft."