Traveling to Daliang Kingdom starts from falling into the water

Chapter 702 Another New Year’s Eve

There were bursts of laughter in the main hall, and it was also very lively in the west wing where Zhou Banxia and Ma Shan were, with the two sisters-in-law whispering to each other and laughing from time to time.

After the hour of Wei.

The two sisters-in-law, who had been hiding in the west wing counting red purses and red paper envelopes, didn't dare to stay any longer and came out to the main hall of the upper room, where the family just started making dumplings.

With the arrival of the two sisters-in-law, several selected fillings, kneaded noodles, and a kind of rice noodles rarely seen in ordinary families were delivered from the kitchen.

The so-called clarified noodles are actually flour that has been rinsed with water to separate the starch gluten from other substances. When the starch gluten becomes gluten, the remaining dough is dried to become clarified noodles.

This kind of clear noodles is mostly used for steaming dishes, which will not clump or change color. It is also the secret to making dim sum and making them translucent and crystal clear.

The original recipe came from the old lady's kitchen in the Gao family's residence, and was later passed on to the cook Aunt Fang by Zhou Banxia. In order to have it available at any time, a lot of rice noodles was prepared for future use.

Like today's family activity of making dumplings by themselves, the wheat noodles were washed, dried and stored a few days ago after the Chinese New Year.

It’s not that Zhou Banxia was reluctant to stock up more clarified flour at once, and he wasn’t worried about it going bad because the weather was cold. It was because it was washed from the refined white flour and was considered to be too precious.

Unless it was a big festival, Ma Shan would never touch this kind of rice noodles. She would insist that she keep it for making crystal steamed dumplings, cold noodles, crystal osmanthus cakes and other snacks to nourish her body.

It would be like this time, after washing hands, she didn't need to say anything, Ma Shan was the first to mix the clear flour, and she no longer had to count how many ounces of clear flour were in a pound of fine flour.

The family gathered together, some kneading the dough, some rolling the dough, some making dumplings, talking and laughing. Time passed quickly and the sky darkened unknowingly.

After the dumplings are wrapped, they are brought to the kitchen and placed there first. Then after the New Year’s Eve dinner, people have to stay up all night until midnight to say goodbye to the old and welcome the new, and then cook and eat them after setting off firecrackers.

After the family tidied up and rested, they gathered in the main hall again. It was already dusk by then, and Gu Erzhu, the head of the family, announced that the door would be locked and the yard would be closed.

This is called making money behind closed doors. After eating the New Year's Eve dinner, you should clear the dishes on the table and then open the door, which is also called opening the door for good luck.

As the door closed, the New Year’s Eve dinner was served.

Each dish has an auspicious name.

Braised carp is called "Year after Year of Abundance", stewed chicken with chestnuts is called "Good Luck and Prosperity", four-joy meatballs are called "Fu Lu Shou Xi", abalone in sauce is called "Bringing Wealth and Treasure", and stewed sea cucumber with matsutake is called "Fortune as Great as the East Sea"...

Abalone and sea cucumber are both dried and foamed. Qinghe County is still a bit far from Tianjin, and these things are very expensive, but the Gu family can afford them now.

The table was filled with dishes. The family waited for Gu Erzhu to take a seat at the head table before they sat down. Hot dishes and desserts were still being served. The dishes were numerous and exquisite.

Men drink white wine, women drink fruit wine, and pregnant women and children drink sweet water.

It's another New Year's Eve, the whole family gathers together, sits around the table, raises glasses to toast, and eats the reunion dinner together. The feeling of fulfillment in my heart is indescribable, and both adults and children enjoy the meal very much.

Everyone ate very slowly, talking and laughing, and they didn't finish until the end of the You hour, almost the Xu hour, when they left the table.

After the maids and old women cleared the dishes on the table and opened the door, Xiao Changsuo could not bear it any longer and shouted, "Uncle, let's go out and set off firecrackers."

The little guy knew that it was better to find his uncle than his daddy at this time. He remembered clearly that at this time last year, his uncle took him to set off firecrackers and it was so much fun.

Not to mention, this year the return gift for the New Year that his aunt received included some expensive fireworks. Not only was he eager to go out and set off firecrackers, but his aunt was also waiting.

Seeing his nephew tugging at his sleeve, Gu Wenxuan laughed happily and asked his nephew if he wanted lucky money. He could only choose one of the two. Lucky money is also known as money to suppress evil spirits.

Originally, after the New Year’s Eve dinner, the elders would distribute the New Year’s money prepared in advance to the younger generations.

It is said that on the night of the 30th every year, "祟" will come out to harm children. Placing copper coins wrapped in red paper under the child's pillow can scare the "祟" away.

There is also a saying that lucky money can suppress evil spirits, and the younger generation can spend a year in peace and safety if they receive lucky money, which is a very beautiful wish.

While teasing his nephew, Gu Wenxuan had already grabbed the many red purses embroidered with different auspicious characters handed to him by Zhou Banxia with his other hand, picked out two and stuffed them into his nephew's pockets.

Then he stuffed the two red purses of Xiaosuocheng, the little nephew held in Ma Shan's arms, into the hands of his eldest nephew, and then distributed them to his clever little sister Baoya.

I gave New Year's money to my younger sister and nephew, and then the big money came, the red envelope money for filial piety to my parents. Yes, nowadays it is not called red envelope money, it is called filial piety.

This year's "filial piety" is more valuable than last year.

In the big red purse embroidered with the characters for happiness, wealth, longevity and good fortune, there were not only one hundred coins each, the same as those given to the younger sister and nephew, but also a silver note with a face value of one thousand taels each.

These specially minted coins are called auspicious or evil-avoiding items and are usually regarded as amulets for children. Like last year, he and his wife also prepared some for their parents.

It means long life.

In front of their eldest son and daughter-in-law, both Gu Erzhu and Liu tacitly opened their purses and looked at them, but they did not open the banknotes to see the face value.

Gu Erlang smiled knowingly, and hurriedly went up to Ma Shan and handed over two big red purses with both hands, saying words of blessing and kowtowing to ask for New Year's money.

"How old are you two?" Liu was grinning from ear to ear, yet at the same time, she glared at her eldest son and daughter-in-law who were kneeling in front of her and his wife, but her hands were not slow.

With one hand, she took the red purse handed over by her eldest daughter-in-law, and with the other hand she also handed out a red purse, "Mother and father are very happy, you two should live in harmony and happiness."

After Gu Erlang and Ma Shan happily responded, they stood up with the red purses and looked at their younger brothers and sisters with a smug smile on their faces. Then it was Gu Wenxuan and Zhou Banxia's turn.

Seeing that Zhou Banxia was kneeling down and kowtowed despite her big belly, even Xiao Changsuo insisted on kowtowing on behalf of the little brother in his aunt's belly.

Zhou Banxia was very fast, and before her parents-in-law could stand up to stop her, she had already knelt on the mat and said, "Dad, Mom, I want to kowtow to you."

I am honored to be your daughter-in-law and your daughter. I am happy to have you. You are my father and mother. You have given me the home I have always dreamed of.

I am not good at speaking, I can't say much, but I am grateful, thankful, and thankful for having you, my elder brother and sister-in-law, my younger sister, and my two lovely nephews in my life."

Gu Wenxuan asked with a smile, "Wife, what about me?"

"You are fine."

"How good is it?"

"Why did you give more?"

"It's not good to give too much, put it away quickly." Gu Wenxuan quickly helped his wife up, "Don't let big brother and sister-in-law see it, you just didn't hear it."

"Second brother, shame on you~"