A night without dreams.
The next day Cheng Huan got up early to prepare the ingredients for the New Year's Eve dinner.
Cheng Huan saw a lot of fresh vegetables and all kinds of meat in the kitchen last night when he went to the noodle shop. Jiang Mingyuan said that they were delivered by someone. She didn't ask who delivered them, but she knew just by looking at the appearance of the raw materials. All good stuff.
The pre-meal preparations are always the most cumbersome. Cheng Huan boiled the porridge in the pot, soaked the beef in cold water, took out the lamb chops and thawed them out, cut the pork belly into pieces and blanched them, ready to make braised pork.
Add the meat to the pot and boil it over medium-low heat. The porridge on the other side is almost ready. There are pickled radishes from home. Cheng Huan tasted it and it tasted good. It was crisp and refreshing, and slightly sweet. She took some out and put it in a bowl. , baked two egg pancakes with the noodles, and as soon as they were brought out, the father and son came down from upstairs.
Xing Xing was still led and jumped down. As soon as he came over, he raised his nose and said that he was looking for meat to eat, but when he went to the kitchen, he found that all the meat was raw, and he couldn't help but feel a burst of disappointment.
"Mom, I want to eat meat." The little guy pouted.
Cheng Huan patted his head: "You can eat these evenings."
"What about noon?"
"We have chicken noodles for lunch."
"Do you not eat meat?"
"Chicken shreds are meat."
"Okay then." Xing Xing was not satisfied, but there was nothing he could do about it. After all, the person in charge of the spoon had the right to speak. The little guy nodded, reluctantly agreed, and asked again: "I still want to eat chicken legs."
Cheng Huan pulled him to sit on the dining table, took a bowl of porridge from Jiang Mingyuan, tore a piece of cake from the plate and stuffed it into his mouth: "Eat breakfast, don't talk."
"Oh." Xing Xing grabbed the cake and stuffed it into his mouth, chewed it and finished it, and then began to express his opinion: "Mom, the cake is delicious!"
…
After dinner, Jiang Mingyuan went to wash the dishes, and Cheng Huan started to stew the chicken.
The chicken is an old hen raised free-range in the countryside. The meat is tight and there is not much meat all over the body. It tastes best when used to make soup.
The chicken soup was cooking, and the lamb chops had almost melted into ice. Cheng Huan couldn't help it, so he turned it over and over for a few times, moved aside, and asked Jiang Mingyuan to come over and chop it into pieces.
Jiang Mingyuan's hands are very strong, and it's easy to chop a lamb chop, but he is not good at knife skills, and the final products come out in different sizes, and the gap is huge.
Anyway, he was eating at home, and Cheng Huan didn't care about it. He put the lamb chops aside and started to deal with other things.
There are too many things to do, even if there is one person to help, Cheng Huan is too busy.
The chicken soup was ready, and Cheng Huan used the soup to make three bowls of noodles. After the family finished eating, they were ready to go to the grave.
Jiang's father was buried on the mountain, and the cemetery was connected by a winding road. The road was not wide, and there were many cars parked on the road. The cars couldn't squeeze in at all, and several people had to get out of the car halfway and walk across.
There was a stall selling chrysanthemums near the cemetery. The flowers were fresh but expensive. Jiang Mingyuan bought three bouquets, and the three of them walked into the cemetery each holding a bunch of flowers.
The cemetery has a huge area and was built according to the mountain. The front is low and the back is high. A two-meter-wide path was built in the middle. Green cypresses were planted on both sides of the road, which added vitality to the cemetery.
Many people came to worship on New Year's Eve, and people greeted Jiang Mingyuan along the way. He is considered a celebrity in this small town. Although he doesn't come back many times, everyone knows him and wants to have a relationship with him. Jiang Mingyuan didn't show much impatience for these people who came over in an endless stream. He responded to everyone who came, but there were no more.
Rao Jiang Mingyuan didn't talk much to everyone, but because of the large base, it took them nearly half an hour to walk from the gate of the cemetery to Father Jiang's cemetery. Jiang's father's cemetery is behind the cemetery, which is obviously much more luxurious than the front, and the distance between the two is also far.
There were a lot fewer people who came to worship in this area, and the three of them walked more smoothly. Jiang Mingyuan led the way, and two minutes later, he came to a tomb.
The tomb is not small, about 20 to 30 square meters. A wall was built around the tomb with cobblestones. Inside is a miniature version of a two-story Chinese-style building. At the main entrance of the small building is a tombstone. On the tombstone is written Father Jiang His name and date of birth and death, in the middle above the tombstone, is inlaid with a photo of Jiang's father in front of him.
The cemetery has a special person to take care of it, but the ones who get paid are not so careful after all. There are also some weeds growing around Father Jiang’s grave. These grasses are tenacious, and the cold wind in winter can’t make them give in completely, and they still hold their heads up. .
Jiang Mingyuan walked to the tombstone, put down the bouquet in his hand, went to clean up the weeds, returned to the tombstone, took a handkerchief from his arms and wiped the tombstone clean, then knelt down in front of the tombstone: "Dad, Happy New Year."
He didn't talk much, and after saying a few words, he stretched out his hand and pulled Xingxing over.
Xing Xing knelt beside his father in a daze, staring at the photo on the tombstone, it took him a while to figure out what was going on: "Dad, is this grandpa?"
"Yes." Jiang Mingyuan touched his head with gentle eyes. He asked Xing Xing to kowtow to his grandfather, said a few words in a low voice, stood up with the child, and took Cheng Huan's hand to look at the photo. The man said, "Dad, this is my girlfriend, my future wife."
The two were not married, so Cheng Huan didn't have to kneel down to Jiang's father, but just bowed in front of the tombstone. Jiang Mingyuan looked at her sideways, with gentle smiles in his eyes. When she straightened up, the man turned to his father and said, "I'll bring her to offer you tea for your daughter-in-law when we get married."
In front of Jiang's father's tomb, Cheng Huan couldn't say anything, so he just pinched him quietly. Jiang Mingyuan didn't show any reaction on his face, and stretched out his hand to squeeze her hand even tighter.
The wind was strong, and the few people didn't stay in front of the tombstone for too long. They walked back after speaking. When they returned, the sky was overcast. Many people burned paper in front of the tombstone, and there was the sound of firecrackers setting off. Xing Xing was startled by the sudden sound of firecrackers, and hid in Jiang Mingyuan's arms, covering his head and unwilling to come down.
Back home, Cheng Huan continued to prepare the New Year's Eve dinner, Jiang Mingyuan was helping, and Xing Xing was running around the house, coming to the kitchen from time to time to order something to eat, and then going out after eating.
Starting at three o'clock in the afternoon, some people began to eat New Year's Eve dinner one after another. It is a custom to set off firecrackers before eating New Year's Eve dinner. In fact, fireworks and firecrackers are prohibited at the foot of the mountain because of the fire prevention in the mountains, but the supervision in small places is not so strict, so this regulation is usually just a dead letter, and the sound of firecrackers has not stopped since eating.
Xing Xing was very afraid of the sound of firecrackers at first, but he became less afraid after hearing too much, and asked his family whether to let it go or not.
Jiang Mingyuan raised his head and said to him, "Our house is too close to the mountain to set off firecrackers."
His house was backed by a mountain forest, and it was dry in winter. If he was not careful, it would cause the forest to catch fire. Jiang Mingyuan couldn't control what others did, at least he couldn't do it knowingly.
After he finished speaking, he put the peeled shrimp on the plate and wiped the water off his face with his arm. The prawns are freshly caught and brought over by air. They are still alive and kicking when they are delivered. When you peel them, they can slip out of your hands if you don’t pay attention, and then throw water all over your body.
Jiang Mingyuan peeled a pot of shrimp, and he became extremely embarrassed. The chest of his well-tailored suit was stained with dark water stains, and his hair was wet in wisps, still dripping.
He sighed, stood up with a plate and handed the prawns to Cheng Huan, washed his hands several times with hand sanitizer, the smell was still there, and said to Cheng Huan, "I'm going to take a bath."
Cheng Huan waved at him: "Go, take your son with you."
New Year's Eve means to get rid of the old and usher in the new. Cheng Huan lived with his grandfather when he was a child, and every New Year's Eve he had to take a bath and put on new clothes before going to the New Year's Eve dinner. When she was a child, she would be happy for the new clothes and delicious things, and when she grows up, she will not worry about food and clothing, but those customs have become a kind of good memory, which she keeps.
Jiang Mingyuan did not have the custom of taking a bath before eating, but Cheng Huan said he would not object. The father and son took a bath and put on new clothes. When they went downstairs, Cheng Huan had just finished the last dish.
She brought out the prepared dishes and put them on the table, and reached out to untie her apron. Seeing this, Jiang Mingyuan came over to help. The apron was taken off, and Cheng Huan asked him to get the bowls and chopsticks: "I'm going to take a shower, and I can eat later."
"Yeah." Jiang Mingyuan put an apron on his arm, lowered his head and licked her lips: "Wait for you to come down."
Xingxing looked at them with wide eyes, but didn't say anything. Cheng Huan was a little embarrassed, pushed him, turned and ran upstairs.
After taking a shower and putting on new clothes, Cheng Huan put on light makeup and looked at the beautiful woman in the mirror. She raised the corner of her lips and said "Happy Chinese New Year", then turned around and walked down the stairs gracefully. .
She is wearing a beige long coat today, paired with a pair of cropped wide-leg pants of the same color, her waist-length hair is loose, and she looks a little lazy.
When Cheng Huan went down, the cousin he met before came again and asked them to have a New Year's Eve dinner. He said that he did not leave after cooking, so he had to say that there were so many people in the past.
Jiang Mingyuan has always politely refused, but his cousin always has countless reasons. It wasn't satisfying until he agreed to come over for dinner tomorrow. After seeing off the people, Jiang Mingyuan let out a breath, closed the courtyard door, returned home, with a smile on his face again, and walked over to sit at the dining table.
The dishes are very rich. Although the portions are not large considering the number of people, it is far from what they can finish.
There was a cheerful soundtrack on the TV, and the atmosphere on the table was lively. Jiang Mingyuan hadn't had such a reunion Spring Festival for many years. He was so excited that he couldn't help but drink a little too much. He wasn't drunk, but a little tipsy. He also talked a lot more, holding Cheng Huan's hand on the table, calling her name after a while, and watching her smile, Cheng Huan's heart itch.
After eating, Jiang Mingyuan took out the red envelope and handed it to Xingxing: "Come, lucky money, Xingxing will also be healthy and happy next year."
Considering his son's knowledge, Jiang Mingyuan's red envelope contained real money, not much money, enough to fool the little guy. Xingxing took it happily, opened it for a look, smiled happily, and said thank you dad.
Jiang Mingyuan gave it to Cheng Huan, and Cheng Huan also took out a red envelope. After discussing it, the two gave the same money, so Xing Xing was happy again, holding the two red envelopes in his arms, and jumping around like a little fool.
Cheng Huan leaned beside Jiang Mingyuan and watched his son running around, feeling satisfied and peaceful. She couldn't help thanking this time travel, which gave her the opportunity to experience a different life.
The man beside her put his arms around her shoulders, and Cheng Huan leaned into his arms without paying attention. Who knew that a red envelope would be handed to him in the next second, and the man whispered, "The lucky money for you."
Cheng Huan glanced at him with a smile in his eyes: "What kind of New Year's money do I want?"
Jiang Mingyuan put the red envelope in her hand, hugged her from behind, and said close to her ear, "I gave it to her, of course I can take it."
"You..." Cheng Huan paused without saying anything else. She took the red envelope, got up and went upstairs, and came down again after a while, holding a similar red envelope in her hand and handing it to him: "For you, next year Be healthy and safe throughout the year, and earn a lot of money."
"Okay." Jiang Mingyuan took the red envelope, took her hand and kissed it in the palm of his hand: "Make money to support you."
"No need, I can support myself." Cheng Huan retorted softly, pulled out his hand, took off his coat and rolled up his cuffs to prepare to wash the dishes.
"Come on, you should take a break after a busy day." Jiang Mingyuan held her down, got up and walked over to pick up the pile of dirty dishes.
He washed the dishes in the kitchen, Cheng Huan wiped the table, went in to wash his hands after wiping, found a clean cloth, and wiped the dishes Jiang Mingyuan had washed.
Neither of them said anything, but their movements cooperated tacitly, and the occasional eye contact revealed some sweetness.
After washing the last bowl, Jiang Mingyuan wiped his hands, put his arms around the woman's waist from behind, smelled the fragrance of her hair, and murmured in a low voice, "I'm so happy."