amaotonovel Chapter 376 Chinese New Year
Chapter 376 Chinese New Year
Kid, kid, don't be greedy.
After Laba Festival comes the New Year.
Laba porridge, drink it for a few days.
Twenty-three.
On the 23rd, the sugar melon sticks.
On the 24th, sweep the house.
25. Grind tofu.
On the 26th, I went to buy meat.
On the 27th, a rooster was slaughtered.
On the 28th, let the dough rise.
On the 29th, steam buns were made.
Stay up all night at thirty,
They were everywhere on the streets in the first and second years of junior high school.
This is a popular Spring Festival nursery rhyme that is widely circulated in this time and space, carrying people's expectations and joy for the New Year.
As the Laba Festival, a significant milestone, passes, people begin to feel the approach of the New Year. The air is filled with the festive atmosphere, and every household is busy preparing to welcome the New Year.
On the tenth day of the Lunar New Year, another important event took place in the household—the slaughter of the New Year's pig. This was a traditional activity held every year before the Spring Festival, a moment that everyone eagerly awaited. After the plump pig was slaughtered, it was cut into various parts. Some were kept for the family to eat during the New Year, while others were given to relatives and friends to share the joy of the harvest.
Of course, on the tenth day of the lunar new year, all the neighbors were slaughtering pigs, and the noise was simply unbearable. It was deafening, one after another, like firecrackers going off during the New Year, crackling and popping incessantly. For Su Nuannuan, who preferred quiet, this noise was pure torture; she felt like her eardrums were about to burst.
After finally waiting for the pig to be slaughtered, the next step was to exchange pork. Neighbors would each bring a nice piece of pig's head or brain meat, and the streets were bustling with people during this process.
Time flies, and before you know it, it's the 23rd of the lunar calendar, the Little New Year. According to tradition, people make sugar melons on this day, and Su Nuannuan was originally excited to make them herself to surprise everyone. However, as soon as she stepped into the kitchen, Zhixiang unceremoniously chased her out.
Zhi Xiang is Su Nuannuan's personal maid, and usually obeys her every word. But this time, she acted unusually resolutely. It's likely only Zhi Xiang would dare to do this to Su Nuannuan; anyone else certainly wouldn't. Therefore, when others witnessed this scene, they all gave Zhi Xiang a thumbs up, praising her courage.
While making candied melons, Zhixiang chatted with Yaoqin. Yaoqin had returned to the manor with Canglan Jingyao on the eleventh day of the month. She and Zhixiang were very close and often chatted together.
From October to Chinese New Year, Canglan Jingyao and Qu Jing will stay at Su Nuannuan's place, and everyone will celebrate the New Year together in a lively atmosphere.
During this time, Su Nuannuan's home became exceptionally lively, filled with laughter and joy. The arrival of Canglan Jingyao and Qu Jing made the home even more festive.
As for Granny Song, she didn't live with Su Nuannuan; instead, she helped out at the Jiyao Pharmacy. For her, the Jiyao Pharmacy was like her second home. Before, she lived for her mistress, serving her wholeheartedly; now, she still lived for her mistress, just in a different way. She busied herself at the Jiyao Pharmacy, contributing to her mistress's cause in her own way.
Time flies, and it's already the 24th. Time to start sweeping!
"Your Highness, why don't you change rooms and rest for a while? I'll take care of things here," Tingxue suggested, watching Su Nuannuan energetically wielding a brush.
Without turning her head, Su Nuannuan replied, "No need, I'll help you pack, it'll be faster that way."
So, Su Nuannuan, Tingxue, Jinse, and the others started cleaning the house with great enthusiasm.
However, the result of cleaning up together was that Su Nuannuan was so tired that her back almost broke.
"Your Highness, look how tired you are. You must listen to advice from now on, okay?" Jinse said with concern as she applied the ointment to Su Nuannuan.
"Okay, I'll listen to you from now on," Su Nuannuan said helplessly, as if she was somewhat unwilling to accept her decision, but it seemed that she had no other better choice.
"You can't deny getting old!" Su Nuannuan couldn't help but sigh, her tone revealing a hint of helplessness and a sense of感慨 about the passage of time.
Jinse quickly comforted her, "Your Majesty is talking nonsense again. How are you old? You are mature and steady, a beauty that comes with the passage of time."
Su Nuannuan smiled slightly after hearing Jinse's words, feeling a little better.
At this moment, Tingxue interjected, "In my opinion, it's Eunuch Li who's getting old!"
Upon hearing this, Eunuch Li's face showed a hint of embarrassment, and he thought to himself, "There's no need to put me down."
25. Grind tofu.
That day, Zhixiang got up very early. As usual, she excitedly dragged Yaoqin to the small kitchen.
She first placed the soaked soybeans on a stone mill, preparing to grind them into raw soy milk.
Zhixiang pushed the stone mill with all her might, while Yaoqin helped from the side; the two worked together very well.
In no time, the soybeans were ground into smooth raw soy milk.
Zhixiang poured the raw soy milk into a pot and started cooking it.
When making soy milk, Zhixiang needs to stir it constantly to prevent it from burning.
Once the soy milk was cooked, Zhixiang carefully scooped it into a large bowl, then added an appropriate amount of brine and stirred it well.
Finally, Zhixiang scooped the soy milk onto a tofu cloth, squeezed out the water, and a block of firm tofu was finished.
Then, the day came to the 26th, the day to buy meat. Since a pig had already been slaughtered on the 10th, there was no need to buy pork again.
However, other types of meat still need to be purchased, such as beef and fish.
And so, the days passed by in a flurry of activity, and finally the New Year arrived.
"Oh dear, you pasted that 'Fu' character a little crooked!"
"And your lantern isn't hanging straight either!"
……
Li Desheng stood in the courtyard, directing everyone to hang up various items for the New Year and to post Spring Festival couplets.
Zhi Xiang was busy preparing various dishes in the kitchen, while Su Nuannuan was in charge of making dumplings.
Su Nuannuan led a group of people, chatting and laughing as they made dumplings, creating a lively scene.
As night fell, the sounds of firecrackers popping and crackling could be heard one after another outside, creating a lively and festive atmosphere.
However, there were no fireworks in Huiyang City yet, which was somewhat disappointing.
After the family enjoys a sumptuous New Year's Eve dinner, it's time to stay up late and welcome the new year. Of course, another important activity is distributing red envelopes (containing money) for the New Year!
Everyone in the household beamed with joy when they received the heavy New Year's red envelopes.
After a long wait, dawn finally broke. Su Nuannuan could no longer hold on. She collapsed onto the small couch like a lump of mud and instantly fell asleep.
Seeing this, Jinse hurriedly stepped forward and carefully moved the small table away, afraid that the slightest sound would wake Su Nuannuan. Then, she gently adjusted Su Nuannuan's sleeping position to make her more comfortable. Finally, Jinse gently covered Su Nuannuan with the quilt and sat down beside her to rest with her eyes closed.
Of course, before resting, Jinse had already told Tingxue to go back to her room to rest.