Colorful years

With the company of his lover and the warmth of his parents-in-law, Zhang Cong gradually relaxed and adapted to the new environment.

What delighted Zhang Cong even more was that his future mother-in-law, Ms. Guo, was incredibly warm, hospitable, gentle, and virtuous. From the moment they stepped into her home, she treated Zhang Cong like her own son, showering him with concern and care.

The thorough, meticulous, and considerate hospitality made Zhang Cong feel as if he were at home, truly experiencing the wonderful feeling of being welcomed.

Furthermore, it's worth mentioning that Yiyang, this charming city, boasts a unique New Year's folk culture. These rich and diverse customs are vastly different from the long-standing traditions of the Tujia people, Zhang Cong's hometown.

This stark difference not only brought Zhang Cong a novel experience, but also allowed him to deeply appreciate the profoundness of Chinese culture and the diverse regional customs.

Both are New Year's Eve dinners that symbolize reunion and happiness, yet their timing is so different, differing by more than ten hours!

In Zhang Cong's hometown, a small village nestled deep in the mountains and surrounded by green hills and clear waters, live many hardworking and kind Tujia people. The village preserves many unique and charming traditional customs, the most important of which is the "Gan Nian" festival.

As the year draws to a close, the entire village is filled with a festive atmosphere. People start preparing early to welcome this grand annual celebration. They put extra care into the preparation of the New Year's Eve dinner, because it is not just a sumptuous meal, but also carries the deep emotions of family reunion and good wishes for the new year.

Unlike other places, the New Year's Eve dinner here is usually scheduled to start promptly in the early hours of the morning, just as the eve of the Lunar New Year arrives.

As night deepens and all is quiet, lights suddenly illuminate every household, brightening the peaceful mountain village. The clatter of pots and pans and the enticing aroma of cooking food waft from the kitchens, making mouths water.

The whole family sat around the table, laughing and chatting as they shared the events of the past year and their hopes and dreams for the future.

However, in Yiyang, a region far from Zhang Cong's hometown, the New Year's Eve dinner presents a different picture. Here, people also value the New Year's Eve dinner, but they need more patience to wait for this moment to arrive.

It wasn't until after 5 p.m. on New Year's Eve, when the sky gradually darkened and the city streets were lit up, that the New Year's Eve dinner officially began.

Finally, the long-awaited Lunar New Year's Eve arrived. As the inky black night sky, like a thick velvet blanket, slowly descended upon the earth, one by one, dazzling lanterns were lit, instantly illuminating the entire town of Lanxi like a dreamlike fairyland.

The colorful lights intertwined, making the town exceptionally charming, and the air was filled with a rich and festive atmosphere.

At this moment, Wang Li's home was bustling with activity and activity. The spacious and bright kitchen was filled with steam and smoke, making it feel like a misty fairyland.

A mouthwatering, enticing aroma, like a mischievous little sprite, darted around the room, trying to get into people's noses.

Looking closely, one can see exquisite dishes, each with its own unique color, aroma, and flavor, being carefully ladled from the pots by the chefs with their superb culinary skills, and then served one after another.

Some of these delicacies are golden in color, like warriors clad in golden armor; some are red and green, just like flowers blooming in spring; and some are crystal clear, like finely carved jade... It's truly dazzling and overwhelming.

After a flurry of busy preparations, the New Year's Eve dinner is nearing completion. All the delicacies are ready and neatly arranged on the large dining table, like a magnificent army awaiting inspection. Now, all that's left is for the whole family to gather together and begin this joyous feast!

With the last dish served, the New Year's Eve dinner officially began. The table was laden with delicious dishes, including braised prawns, the bright red prawns neatly arranged on the plate, emitting an enticing aroma;

There's braised beef, with its clear marbling and firm texture, drizzled with a special sauce that makes your mouth water; there are stir-fried seasonal vegetables, the vibrant greens fresh and crisp, adding a touch of freshness to the whole meal; and there are steaming dumplings, with thin skins and generous fillings, bursting with juice with every bite.

However, among all these delicacies, the most eye-catching is the red yeast rice pickled fish.

This red yeast rice-marinated fish is a specialty of my future mother-in-law, Guo Jinxian, and it's a must-have for our New Year's Eve dinner every year. The fish is dyed a vibrant red by the red yeast rice, as if it's wearing a festive dress. A thin layer of oil covers the surface of the fish, shimmering with a captivating luster under the light.

Upon closer inspection, a unique aroma wafts up – the perfect blend of red yeast rice, spices, and fish.

With a gentle smile, Wang Yunhui said kindly to Zhang Cong, "Little Zhang, come and try this red yeast rice pickled fish. Your mother-in-law prepared it carefully, especially for our New Year's Eve dinner this year!"

As he spoke, he enthusiastically waved towards the plate of red yeast rice pickled fish, which looked and smelled delicious.

Upon hearing this, a hint of surprise flashed in Zhang Cong's eyes. He happily picked up his chopsticks and carefully reached into the plate, gently picking up a piece of fish that looked tempting and smelled delicious. The fish seemed to exude an irresistible magic, drawing Zhang Cong to quickly put it into his mouth.

The moment the fish touches the tip of the tongue, an intoxicating burst of fresh, tender juices immediately fills the mouth. The fish is not only delicate and incredibly smooth, but it also melts almost instantly without chewing, like a dazzling flower blooming on the taste buds.

At the same time, the unique mellow aroma of red yeast rice flowed gently like a clear spring, blending perfectly with the freshness of the fish. This wonderful combination danced on the tip of his tongue, bringing Zhang Cong an unprecedented and ultimate enjoyment, making him irresistibly immersed in it.

Zhang Cong was deeply impressed by the deliciousness and couldn't help but give a thumbs up, exclaiming sincerely, "Dad, this red yeast rice pickled fish is absolutely amazing! It tastes so good!" As soon as he finished speaking, he couldn't wait to pick up a second piece of fish and start eating it with gusto.

Upon hearing his son-in-law praise his family's culinary skills, a proud and gratified smile immediately appeared on Wang Yunhui's face.

At this moment, he was sitting opposite Zhang Cong. On the table between them, besides the mouthwatering red yeast rice pickled fish, there were two exquisite wine glasses filled with fine wine.

The father-in-law slowly raised his glass, looked at Zhang Cong with loving eyes, and said in a kind tone, "Little Zhang, you've worked diligently and tirelessly this past year, you've really worked hard! Today, on this auspicious day of family reunion, let's have a good drink together!"

After he finished speaking, he gently touched the wine glass in front of Zhang Cong, making a crisp and pleasant sound.