GBP Chapter 115: New Year's Eve Dinner with Hot Pot
Chapter 115: New Year's Eve Dinner with Hot Pot
Li Xiaoxiao helped to bring the food to the table and called Li Fang and Li Linlin to come over for dinner. The weather was cold now, so they mostly ate in the kitchen. There was a fire burning in the kitchen, which was much warmer than the main room.
"Mom, let's wash the quilts tomorrow while the sun is shining. The New Year is just a few days away." Li Xiaoxiao said while eating.
"Okay, let's get up early tomorrow morning and wash up after breakfast. It's freezing cold, so we have to clean up early." Bai replied.
After everyone finished dinner, Li Xiaoxiao was responsible for clearing the dishes, while Bai took a wooden basin to the pot, ready to scoop some hot water for Li Fang and Li Linlin to soak their feet. It was cold now, and they didn't have to do any work during the day, so farmers didn't need to take a bath every day. Just like now, the family simply soaked their feet and went back to bed.
The next morning, Li Xiaoxiao got up early at daybreak. She went to the kitchen to light a fire and boil water to prepare breakfast. The weather was so cold that if she washed the quilt directly with well water, her hands would probably be frozen after washing. So Li Xiaoxiao decided to wash it with hot water. Although it was a bit more firewood-consuming, it was still cold.
Li Xiaoxiao had been busy in the kitchen for a while when Mrs. Bai, wearing a thick cotton coat, entered the kitchen. She skillfully took the spatula from Li Xiaoxiao's hand and began to prepare breakfast for the family. Breakfast consisted of lean meat porridge and cornmeal pancakes. Because it was cold, Li Xiaoxiao and Mrs. Bai didn't wake Li Fang and Li Linlin up, letting them sleep until they woke naturally. After breakfast, they warmed the porridge and pancakes in the pot and began to wash the bedding.
Li Xiaoxiao went to the utility room and fetched two large wooden tubs. She then went to the kitchen and scooped half a bucket of boiling water into the tubs. She added well water and, after testing the temperature to make sure it wouldn't freeze her hands, had Bai soak the washed bedding in one of the tubs. Bai added some soapnut powder. Once the bedding was almost soaked, the two began scrubbing each piece of fabric carefully.
By the time they finished washing the last quilt, it was almost noon. The sun was shining brightly, so they hung the washed quilts on a rope in the yard to let them fully enjoy the warm winter sun.
After lunch, Li Xiaoxiao and Bai took a short break. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. It was their neighbor, Aunt Zhang, who wanted to borrow something. They warmly welcomed her and invited her to join them for tea and chat. By evening, the bedding was almost dry. Li Xiaoxiao and Bai took it into the house, breathing in the fresh scent and feeling a sense of accomplishment. A day's work was over, and they drifted off to sleep with smiles of satisfaction.
A few days passed like this, and it was the 29th day of the lunar year. Now most people in Lijia Village have made some money by following Li Xiaoxiao in raising crayfish, and their lives are much better than before. Therefore, on the 29th day of the lunar year, every household in Lijia Village lit the oil pan and started frying New Year's goods.
Li Xiaoxiao's family was no exception. She and Bai Shi rose early to prepare all the ingredients. The village was filled with enticing aromas. Children ran around the alleys, excitedly awaiting the arrival of the New Year.
In the afternoon, the Li family's courtyard was bustling with activity. The family gathered together, making dumplings and fried meatballs. Li Xiaoxiao, remembering the sweet potato fritters she had eaten in her past life, taught Bai Shi how to make some. The soft, sweet, and sticky flavor immediately won the hearts of Li Fang and Li Linlin. As night fell, Li Xiaoxiao's family's fried New Year's goods were finally ready. Bai Shi took the opportunity to pack some of the fritters and other items for Bai Dong and Bai Jing's families, and everyone praised their deliciousness.
The next day was New Year's Eve. As dawn broke, Mrs. Bai quietly rose from her bed. In the kitchen, she carefully lit the fire, fearing to disturb her family's still-sleeping state. It was New Year's Eve, the last day of the year, and every household, including Li Xiaoxiao's, was immersed in a busy and joyful atmosphere. Mrs. Bai planned to prepare the ingredients for the New Year's Eve dinner in advance, to end the year with warmth and happiness.
When Li Xiaoxiao woke up, an enticing aroma wafted from the kitchen. She dressed neatly and hurried into the kitchen, where she saw Mrs. Bai busy stewing a pot of fragrant chicken soup. She also prepared a variety of vegetables, meats, and hot pot ingredients specially prepared for tonight. Li Xiaoxiao's heart warmed, and she stepped forward to help. "Mom, why are you busy so early?"
Mrs. Bai turned around with a smile, "Today is a big day, we need to prepare early so that you can have a good meal. Your brother and sister will be waking up soon, go and call them, we can have breakfast early and then put up window paper-cuts together."
Li Xiaoxiao left immediately. A moment later, Li Fang and Li Linlin, rubbing their eyes, were drowsily pulled to the dining table by their sister. Breakfast was simple but nutritious, and the family sat together, enjoying the tranquility and harmony. Afterward, as was customary, they began decorating their home. Red spring couplets were affixed to the doorframes, and bright lanterns hung from the eaves. The entire courtyard was instantly filled with the festive atmosphere of the Lunar New Year.
In the afternoon, the sound of firecrackers echoed throughout the village, heralding the approach of the New Year. Li Xiaoxiao and Mrs. Bai busied themselves with the final preparations for the New Year's Eve dinner, while Li Fang and Li Linlin were dispatched to gather the families of Bai Dong and Bai Jing. As the sun set, a sumptuous New Year's Eve dinner was finally ready. The hot pot, the highlight of the evening, sat in the center of the table, surrounded by a variety of delicious dishes.
As night fell, the small courtyard of Li Xiaoxiao's home was brightly lit. The whole family gathered around the hot pot, enjoying the steam and warmth. Li Xiaoxiao picked up her chopsticks, picked up a thin slice of beef and dropped it into the boiling pot. After a while, the meat turned from red to white. She quickly fished it out, dipped it in a special sauce, and placed it in Grandma Wang's bowl. "Grandma, try it quickly. Eat it while it's hot."
Bai Dong and Bai Jing had eaten hot pot once before when Yun Che was around, so they knew how to make it and what it tasted like. Without Li Xiaoxiao having to do anything, the two of them helped put some of the ingredients on the side into the pot and cook them. After they were cooked, they distributed them to the other people at the table.
Wang put the mutton that Li Xiaoxiao had given her into her mouth, and the delicious taste instantly awakened her taste buds. "This mutton tastes so good, Xiaoxiao, this hot pot method is really good, it's both warming and delicious!" Wang said with a smile.
Mrs. Bai also smiled from ear to ear, "As long as you like to eat, eat more. Today is New Year's Eve, we must eat happily so that the coming year will be smooth."
Li Fang and Li Linlin ate with gusto, occasionally joking and playing over a piece of meatball, creating a warm and joyful atmosphere. After dinner, the whole family gathered around the fireplace in the main room, warming themselves, eating melon seeds, chatting, and enjoying their rare leisure time.