Colorful years

Shi Daya, who had just returned from a collective labor construction site, had a few beads of sweat still clinging to her face, glistening in the afterglow of the setting sun.

Her eyes revealed the weariness of her work, but this weariness was instantly replaced by boundless joy when she saw her husband Zhang Zhong and son Congcong walk safely into the house. Her eyes seemed to sparkle with stars, a testament to her deep longing and endless love for her family.

"Old man, you're home already?" Shi Daya's voice was filled with surprise and tenderness.

She hurried forward, her gaze falling on the fresh pig offal Zhang Zhong was carrying, her eyes flashing with barely concealed excitement.

You have to understand that in this not-so-wealthy family, such ingredients were a rare luxury.

Zhang Zhong smiled and nodded, replying, "It's getting late, the sun has already set. Da Ya, you should cook this pig offal dish, and the whole family can have a treat tonight."

After saying that, he handed the pig offal to Shi Daya. Its heavy weight seemed to convey his love and responsibility for this family.

Shi Daya quickly reached out and took it, her heart filled with joy.

"Congcong, my darling, has your tummy been rumbling for a while now?" Shi Daya gently patted her son's head, her voice full of concern and love.

Congcong blinked his big, bright eyes and looked at his mother expectantly, as if to say, "Mom, I'm so hungry I'm starving!"

Looking at her son's adorable face, Shi Daya's heart softened even more. She asked softly, "Tell Mommy, is my little darling hungry?" Congcong smiled mischievously and replied, "Mommy, I'm really starving! You'd better hurry up and cook!"

Hearing her son's words, Shi Daya felt a surge of warmth in her heart. She knew that although this family wasn't wealthy, every member cherished each other and loved life so much. This simple happiness was precious enough for her.

Looking back on what has happened in her family over the past year, Shi Daya is filled with emotion.

The second daughter, Zhang Fang, got married. The wedding was simple, but filled with laughter and joy. The family was happy that she had found happiness, but at the same time, they couldn't help feeling a little sad. After all, their second daughter was a member of the family, and her departure left the house feeling a little less lively and warm.

The eldest son, Zhang Ming, is already quite old, but he has not yet started a family or established a career.

Shi Daya watched with growing anxiety, but was powerless to help. She could only silently pray that her eldest son would soon find someone who would capture his heart.

Meanwhile, their youngest son, Zhang Liang, has turned three! He is at an innocent, lively, and active age, bringing much joy and laughter to the family.

Whenever she saw his innocent smile, Shi Daya's heart was filled with warmth and emotion. She knew that this little guy was the family's treasure and everyone's source of joy.

Fortunately, Grandpa Zhang Quan is still in good health and lives with his family in high spirits. Although he is old, his love and dedication to life have not diminished in the slightest.

Whenever the family gathers together, he is always the best storyteller, adding much joy to the family with his wisdom and humor.

In this way, three generations of the family gathered together, forming a warm and loving extended family of ten people.

Every mealtime, the scene is truly spectacular! A large dining table is placed in the middle of the main room, laden with steaming hot dishes. The fragrant food seems to tell the story of this family's happiness and sweetness.

Because of the large number of people in our family, we need a lot of ingredients every time we cook. However, due to limited financial resources, we rarely eat meat, even once every few months.

Even the rapeseed oil used for stir-frying is used very sparingly, resulting in vegetables that are almost devoid of oil when stir-fried.

Despite this, the family members never complained; they always faced life's difficulties with an optimistic attitude.

Under such circumstances, farmers naturally developed a very large appetite. It was common for adults to eat eight ounces of rice in one meal, and if a child could not even eat half a pound of rice, then they could not be considered full.

For a large family like Zhang Zhong's, with ten members, they need to prepare a full five jin of rice for each meal so that everyone can eat their fill.

Because both meals lack oil and fat, whether in my past life or in my present self, I feel extremely hungry every day, and the hunger makes me feel anxious.

The thought of the family enjoying pork offal that evening filled everyone with joy. Shi Daya felt as sweet as if she had honey in her heart.

Humming a little tune, she walked briskly towards the kitchen. Inside, the cooking utensils were neatly arranged on the stove. Although the kitchen was simple, her skillful hands could always conjure up mouthwatering dishes.

She placed the pig offal on the cutting board and began to process it skillfully. First, she carefully rinsed it with clean water to remove surface impurities and any fishy smell; then she carefully cut it open and removed the internal organs one by one; and then she carefully cleaned each part to ensure that there was no odor.