Siheyuan: A warm home with wife and children

If you can't even retain the basic skills of a chef.

He's finally done with his job, what's the point of him having any more energy?

What grown man doesn't have a bit of pride in his heart?

Sha Zhu was incredibly proud of his cooking skills!

Chapter 136 Sharing the New Year, Every Family Celebrates the New Year Together

"Jianguo, what are the plans for tonight?" Shazhu asked.

In the North, the New Year is celebrated in the evening, and it's also the most lavish meal of the year.

After finishing this meal, we might have to eat leftovers for several days in a row.

But it's a bumper year, a bumper year!

If it's not plentiful, just a table full of leftover vegetables, what kind of bountiful year is that?

"I plan to invite Uncle Liu and his family to come and eat with me."

Yang Jianguo knew what he meant; he wanted him to join the deaf old woman and Yi Zhonghai and his wife.

Yang Jianguo had no interest in that, and the families didn't get along anyway, so why bother getting involved?

Once Yi Zhonghai cures his mental ailment, we can talk about having a meal together.

Now, let's not make things difficult for each other, okay?

Sha Zhu was a little disappointed, but also relieved.

If Yang Jianguo and his wife were really invited, he was afraid he would be caught in the middle and put in a difficult position.

Old Yi loves to put on airs and act like an elder.

That won't work with Ren Jianguo!

"Alright, then I won't ask you to come. Do you need me to help with the cooking?"

Yang Jianguo waved his hand and said, "You underestimate me, don't you?"

"Hey, look at you, so capable. I'll try to get some benefits from you someday, and you won't believe me."

Sha Zhu didn't believe it; he thought Yang Jianguo could cook better than him.

Actually, there really isn't.

But compared to ordinary families, that's the skill of a master chef.

After a simple lunch, Yingzi stayed home tidying up the vegetables and preparing the meal.

Yang Jianguo went out to the front yard and knocked on the door of the Liu family.

"Here, who is it?"

"Auntie, it's me, Jianguo."

Aunt Liu opened the door and saw him, laughing: "Jianguo, come in quickly. Dajuan, pour some water for your brother Jianguo."

Tea is not something everyone has.

A glass of water is a normal welcome.

As for the extraordinary treatment...

I'm sorry, but ordinary people really don't have that kind of means.

"Auntie, Dajuan, don't pour the water, I'll just say one more thing and then leave."

Yang Jianguo stopped Da Juan, who was about to go about her business, and looked at Aunt Liu with a smile, saying, "Auntie, I've come to invite your family to my place tonight."

"How about we celebrate the New Year together tonight?"

How about that? That's great!

But Da Liu, Aunt Da Liu, he was too embarrassed!

What are your family's conditions?

The dumplings I made were nine parts cabbage and one part meat.

It was still that dry, bland meat.

What conditions are required for a person to establish a country?

Four pounds of chopped pork fat were used to make dumpling filling; looking into that bowl, it was all meat filling.

Some people also buy an old hen, a five- or six-pound silver carp, a roast duck from Quanjude, and several vegetarian dishes.

How can I share a meal with someone when my family only makes dumplings with vegetarian fillings?

“Jianguo, you…” Aunt Liu turned to look at her husband, unsure how to refuse.

Liu, who was sitting on the kang (a heated brick bed), sat up and said with a smile, "Jianguo, your aunt and I appreciate your idea, but you can spend the New Year by yourself!"

"You two are having your first year together. It's not appropriate for me to be here with my family. Besides, it's not convenient for me either."

Da Liu patted his two useless legs, his face beaming with joy.

He's really come to terms with things now, and he has a car repair shop.

Life is moving forward now.

With something to look forward to, what are we afraid of?

The two children, however, looked somewhat disappointed; who wouldn't want to eat something good during the Lunar New Year?

Although my family made dumplings, compared to Jianguo's family...

There's no point in comparing; there's simply no comparison.

However, both daughters have been taught to be sensible and well-behaved.

He kept his head down and didn't say a word from beginning to end.

"Uncle Liu, this is no fun. I'll move the table over here and we'll eat here."

"Alright, it's settled then. Auntie, please get ready and make room for me. I'll be there around mealtime."

Before the two could speak, Yang Jianguo left.

"Jianguo, Jianguo..." Aunt Liu called out several times, but couldn't stop them.

Then, turning around, she looked at Da Liu with difficulty and said, "This, how can we possibly accept this!"

Ren Jianguo not only helped her out in the past, but also set up a car repair shop for his husband.

Afterwards, he went to the courtyard and acted as the third uncle.

No one dared to think that just because they were a useless man, they could be bullied at will.

All of these things happened in total.

Aunt Liu felt ashamed because she owed so many favors.

During the Lunar New Year, people are still eating and drinking at each other's expense.

How will she be able to hold her head up in front of people after this? How will she be able to speak properly?

"Alright, don't make things difficult for me."

"Go, take this money and buy a good bottle of wine. After that... fry up the peanuts you have left at home, and make a couple of dishes."

Aunt Liu nodded in agreement and took the two yuan from the man's hand.

Two yuan for a bottle of wine is a huge luxury for his family.

In the past, those two yuan would have been enough for the two children's groceries for a month.

"Dajuan, go buy some wine, and buy the good ones."

"Xiaojuan, help Mom peel peanuts."

Just as she was getting busy, Yingzi came over from the front: "Auntie, are you busy?"

"Oh, Yingzi, I've prepared two dishes. Your Uncle Liu and I thank you both."

Aunt Liu looked at Yingzi with gratitude, her eyes filled with tears.

These past few months have been filled with bitterness in her heart.

Only you yourself truly know the answer.

When the pillar of the family collapses, it's like the sky has fallen.

The light in their eyes vanished instantly.

The bright road ahead had become completely dark.

I felt completely lost and uneasy.

Fortunately, he's a man, and he's tough.

Instead of giving up, he stayed home pasting cardboard boxes to supplement the family income.

Behind this, there was also the mess that Jianguo helped to fix.

The road, which had been darkened, was now slightly bright again.

Although it can't be compared to the past, at least we don't have to stumble and grope our way forward in the dark.

Even though it's slow, I know where to go and how to get there.

Not only do they help out every now and then, but they also remember to support us during the Chinese New Year.

May your family have a good and bountiful New Year!

Aunt Liu kept repeating all these good things, but she couldn't express even a fraction of her gratitude.

Yingzi stepped forward, took her hand, and said softly, "Auntie, it's the New Year, we should be happy."

Aunt Liu wiped her eyes with her hand and nodded in agreement: "Yes, I'm happy, I should be happy."

Seeing her like this, Yingzi lifted the jar she was carrying higher.

"Auntie, Jianguo asked me to bring the wine over first."

She casually tossed the bag inside the doorway, then turned and jogged away, saying, "Jianguo said I should have a good drink with Uncle Liu tonight."

Upon seeing the wine jar placed on the threshold, Mr. and Mrs. Liu looked at each other in bewilderment.

This young couple truly are a family.

When it comes to getting things done, they don't give you any chance to refuse.

"Okay, don't bother buying any more alcohol, just get some peanuts."

"If we keep making trouble, it will only seem like we're trying to drive people away."

After hearing what Da Liu said, Aunt Da Liu stopped arguing.

He deftly picked up the wine and placed it on the cabinet against the wall.

After that, we found the peanuts in the cloth bag in the cupboard and asked Da Juan and Xiao Juan to help us peel them.

He thought to himself, 'I need to pour in more oil later and fry these peanuts until they're crispy and crunchy; that'll make them truly fragrant.'

"happy New Year."

Happy Chinese New Year.

"have you eaten?"

"We're wrapping things up at home right now, what about you?"

"Same."

You have to ask everyone you meet a few questions politely.

Those little conflicts and disagreements from the past.

At the end of the year, I let go of all my worries.

In the backyard, in the deaf old woman's private room, Yi Zhonghai and his wife, along with Sha Zhu and his sister, were making dumplings.

The best pork belly, with its fat layer as thick as an inch, is chopped into dumpling filling.