I trade in both worlds

Braised pork with pork represents good fortune and I hope that in the new year, my family will have more good luck and blessings.

In addition to fried fish and fried pork, Xu Xu also prepared a special dish - fried fish balls.

This was something she had just learned from a small video. Xu Xu first chopped the fish meat into pieces, then added some starch and seasoning, stirred evenly, rolled it into small balls, and then fried them in a pan until golden brown.

Fish balls symbolize reunion. I hope that in the new year, the family can get together and enjoy the happiness of family.

After a busy whole day, we finally prepared the New Year’s Eve dinner.

On New Year's Eve, the sky was just beginning to brighten and snowflakes were gently falling. Xu Xu got up early in the morning and fished out the big pig's head that had been braised all night. There was also pork belly that had been simmered over charcoal fire for a whole day and night in an earthenware pot on the small stove next to it.

Xu Xu took a bamboo basket and a round winnowing basket. The bamboo basket was just big enough to hold a pig's head, and the round winnowing basket was filled with a plate of pork, a scalded rooster, and a pot of wine.

The twins carried bamboo baskets with incense, candles and paper money, while Xu Xu held a round winnowing basket. Together they stepped on the crackling snow and came to Xu Jizong's house.

Seeing them come in, Xu Jizong, who was waiting in the yard, stood up and took the round winnowing basket from Xu Xu's hand.

He called Xu Youliang and Xu Youyin: "Let's go. Xuxu, you go back first. Youyin will send them back after we finish offering sacrifices to the ancestors."

After saying that, he walked out of the yard. After seeing them go far away, Xu Xu turned around and went home.

This time the ancestor worship was held sooner than on the winter solstice. Just as Xu Xu finished cooking the paste, the twins came back.

"Xiao Jin, Xiao Zhun, are you hungry? Do you want to eat something?" Xu Xu asked.

Xu Jin shook his head: "I'm not hungry. My second uncle gave me the buns for the ancestor sacrifice."

"Okay, then let's prepare to post the couplets." Xu Xu went back to the room and took out the couplets.

Xu Qiwei ran out behind and looked at the couplet in Xu Xu's hand and asked curiously, "Mom, you got the wrong one. The couplet is red."

Xu Xu's eyes flashed with sadness, and she explained softly: "This year, our family will put up white couplets. Because grandma is gone, according to custom, our family will put up white couplets every year."

Xu Jin and Xu Zhun also lowered their heads with sad expressions.

Xu Xu walked over and touched the back of their heads: "Come on, you are the men of the family, you two have to post the couplets together."

"Yeah." They both responded in unison.

Xu Xu brought the twins with him, moved a small table from the yard and placed it in front of the door, and together they applied paste on the couplets.

Another person took one side and slowly pasted the couplet on the door frame.

The white couplets swayed gently in the cold wind, appearing particularly eye-catching and also particularly desolate.

After pasting the couplets, Xu Xu took the children to send off the Kitchen God.

Xu Xu placed a few simple offerings on the stove, then lit a stick of incense and inserted it into the incense burner. She took the children's hands, knelt in front of the stove together, and began to silently pray.

"Grandpa Kitchen God, please speak well of good things in heaven and keep the world safe. I hope you can protect our family from heaven and keep everything going smoothly."

Xu Zhun also secretly glanced at the offerings on the stove and made a silent wish in his heart, hoping that the Kitchen God could bring more delicious food to their family.

After sending off the Kitchen God, Xu Xu and the children cleaned up the stove and began to prepare lunch.

After lunch, other families in the village also began to get busy. The sound of firecrackers, the laughter of children, and the sound of gongs and drums in the distance filled the village with the atmosphere of the New Year.

Xu Xu looked at the sky and hurriedly put the chicken and pork tripe into a small clay pot and started to stew them. He also put the hard-to-steam braised pork in the pot and steamed it slowly.

I have been in contact with modern life for more than half a year, and I find that life there is indeed very convenient. I don’t need to chop firewood, I can cook with a gas stove and take a bath with a water heater.

However, Xu Xu still thinks that food cooked with firewood is the most delicious.

Stew what you want, steam what you want, and stir-fry the rest and deal with it later.

Now, take a few children to modern wash their hair and take a bath.

"Xiao Jin, Xiao Zhun, Weiwei, let's go wash our hair and take a shower." Xu Xu picked up Xu Tiantian and shouted outside the utility room.

Xu Qiwei was the first to run out and asked excitedly, "Mom, after washing my hair and taking a bath, can I wear new clothes?"

"Yes." Xu Xu nodded.

"Wow, it's time to put on new clothes, put on washed clothes..." Xu Qiwei shouted excitedly all the way, jumping all the way to the bathroom to take a shower.

Xu Xu put Xu Tiantian in the cradle and moved them to the bathroom. After filling the bathtub with water, he let the twins and Xu Qiwei take a bath together.

Xu Xu picked up a piece of cloth, soaked it, squeezed some shower gel on it, and then rubbed the children's hair one by one.

Her movements were gentle and skillful, and she quickly washed the children's hair clean.

The twins' hair is black, shiny and as smooth as silk.

Xu Qiwei's hair is a little yellowish, but also very soft.

"Mom, it feels so comfortable to wash my hair!" Xu Qiwei said with a smile. He slapped the water with his hands, splashing water.

"Yes, sister, I also want to wash my hair every day." Xu Zhun also said.

He was having a lot of fun paddling his little hands in the water. He felt that washing his hair was like a game and was very interesting.

Xu Jin just smiled comfortably with his eyes squinted, without saying a word, but he was obviously enjoying the process.

"Sure, it's convenient to take a shower here, and you can wash your hair every day." Xu Xu helped them rinse the water while replying, "But you have to blow dry your hair as soon as possible after washing, otherwise you will easily catch a cold."

After washing their hair, Xu Xu gave the children a bath.

She scrubbed their bodies carefully, making sure every part was clean.

Just like going to war, I changed the children into new clothes and blow-dried their hair.

Xu Xu looked at them with satisfaction. They all looked full of energy.

Xu Jin touched the new clothes on her body and said, "New clothes are so comfortable to wear."

"Yeah, not only are the new clothes comfortable, they're also very beautiful!" Xu Zhun jumped twice with excitement. He felt that he became more handsome after putting on the new clothes.

"Mom, I like new clothes too." Xu Qiwei ran circles around Xu Xu.

Looking at the happy faces of the children, Xu Xu's heart was filled with satisfaction.

Xu Xu picked up Xu Tiantian and waved at them: "Okay, you can go and play by yourselves, but don't get your new clothes dirty, otherwise you won't have any new clothes to wear during the New Year."

"Okay, uncle, let's go back and play." Xu Qiwei wanted to fly out and show off his new clothes to the villagers.

Xu Jin held him back: "Weiwei, let's go home and play on the kang. Don't go out. If you go out and get your clothes dirty, you will have to wear old clothes tomorrow."

Xu Qiwei pulled at his clothes, looked at Xu Xu aggrievedly, and pouted: "Okay, I won't go out."