vrcanaries Chapter 132 Those Little Things Before the New Year
Chapter 132 Those Little Things Before the New Year
Once the Little New Year has passed, every household in the village begins to get busy preparing various New Year's goods to welcome the new year.
25. Grind tofu.
Tofu, in Chinese, sounds like "abundant blessings," symbolizing a prosperous life in the coming year.
Experienced families will prepare more beans, since the tofu will be lost twice before it is pressed.
Sure enough, as soon as the soy milk, filtered through a strainer to remove the soybean pulp, boiled, a group of children gathered nearby, each holding a large bowl, eagerly waiting.
The children are small in stature but big in spirit; they look down on the small bowls they usually use for eating and instead use the bowls meant for serving vegetables to make soy milk.
I just finished drinking the soy milk, and lo and behold, the tofu pudding has solidified.
"Grandma, I want tofu pudding, a whole big bowl!"
"I want it too! I want it too!"
"Go away, go away! Do I look like tofu pudding to you?"
The adults might complain, but they'll honestly scoop up a big spoonful and pour it into the child's bowl.
"There's only this one pot! We don't have any more!"
After finally getting rid of the children, the adults quickly cut the pressed tofu into small square pieces and threw them into the boiling oil. In just ten seconds, plump tofu puffs were formed.
The tofu puffs should not be fried too long or too short.
The adults had to keep a close eye on the pot, quickly scooping the fried tofu puffs onto a winnowing basket with a slotted spoon before starting the next batch. They simply didn't have time to keep an eye on it.
This is perfect for kids with a sweet tooth.
The smallest one, taking advantage of its height, sneaked over to the winnowing basket.
With its chubby little hands outstretched, it would grab the basin in its arms with all its might, and it would never leave until it filled the basin to the point of creating a small mountain.
Outside the door, the little mice responsible for the backup listened intently to the sounds around them.
As soon as her younger siblings came out, she quickly put her arms around them and ran.
They ran to a deserted corner and began to "divide the spoils".
By the time the adults realized something was wrong, the little mice had already eaten their fill.
I know that Hua Lichu's family is busy making rice candy and doesn't have time.
The dozen or so households that bought goods from her wholesaler would eagerly deliver them to her house, no matter what they were doing.
You take one basket, I take one basket.
In the end, Hua Lichu's family, who didn't have time to prepare all the New Year's goods, actually had more items than everyone else!
On the 26th, go to cut meat, which symbolizes "abundance and wealth".
After raising pigs for a year, their time has come to an end.
On the first night, many families came to invite Hua Lichu, his grandson, and his granddaughter to a pig-slaughtering feast.
Finally, Hua Yuanqing broke through the encirclement by relying on his status as the older brother.
At dawn, just as the sky was beginning to lighten, everyone in Hua Yuanqing's family got up early, started boiling water, and waited quietly for the butcher to arrive.
With the year-end approaching, pig butchers are so busy they're practically running around in two places at once.
By the time the butcher had prepared the wooden bucket, chopping board, knives, and other butchering tools, the water in the large iron pot was already boiling hot.
A group of people, each holding a pig's leg, drove the pig out of the pigpen.
The pig probably knew it didn't have long to live, so it struggled desperately.
Someone without strength really can't hold him down!
Therefore, the people of Huajia Village like to have their new sons-in-law help pull the pigs, in order to test the other's strength.
The newly arrived son-in-law seized the opportunity to show off.
The one with the greater strength is naturally the one who is happy.
If you have little strength and no experience, you'll make a fool of yourself.
Within moments, the whole village knew.
"That so-and-so's new son-in-law is no good; he can't even hold onto a pig's leg."
How can a man be told he can't do it?
That's a huge disgrace to the boss!
After some fuss, the pig was finally pinned to the chopping board, and with a sharp slash of the knife, its squeals abruptly ceased.
Then, they were quickly scalded in boiling water to remove their fur.
While the pig was being slaughtered outside, the kitchen also became busy.
For the cook at this moment, the quality of the "pig-killing feast" is closely related to her reputation.
Who doesn't want a good reputation?
Who doesn't want to be praised?
Therefore, everyone put in their best efforts to prepare this feast of pork slaughtering.
There couldn't be fresher ingredients.
Fresh ingredients often only require the simplest cooking methods.
Braised pork with vermicelli, braised pork ribs, pork blood and tofu soup, pork liver and spinach soup... one dish after another takes shape under the chef's hands.
In an instant, the aroma filled the air, and the entire village was enveloped in the temptation of the delicious food.
Around noon, families who have slaughtered pigs will set up two large round tables in their courtyards, laden with dishes.
Everyone sat together, raising their glasses in a toast.
The Hua Li Chu sisters were among them, eating so much that their heads were almost buried in their bowls.
Of all the dishes, Hua Lichu's favorite is the pork liver and spinach soup.
The pig liver was sliced thinly, with slightly curled edges, and looked very fresh.
The first sip of soup brought a warm sensation that instantly spread from the tip of the tongue throughout the entire body.
The broth is clear yet not bland, carrying the unique umami flavor of pork liver, mixed with the fragrance of scallions and ginger, creating distinct yet harmonious flavor layers.
The pork liver slices are incredibly tender, melting in your mouth as if gently dissolving on your tongue, releasing a rich, sweet flavor.
Its texture is neither as chewy as old liver nor as fishy as some stale liver; instead, it is just the right amount of smooth and tender, with a hint of sweetness and no fishy smell at all.
On the 27th, a rooster is slaughtered, symbolizing "good fortune and happiness".
On the 28th, the dough is left to rise, symbolizing "getting rich and prosperous".
And rice cake, which symbolizes "rising higher every year," is the main dish of this day.
After the rice cakes are made, fry them until golden brown on both sides, then dip them in brown sugar or crushed peanuts. The taste is absolutely amazing.
Despite the villagers being so busy, they haven't given up on their rice candy business.
On this same day, Hua Lichu's family finally managed to finish shipping out the rice candy for the next two days.
After distributing the rice candy to the villagers in the next two days, the rice candy business will officially come to an end.
On the 29th, Hua Yuansheng took Hua Lichu and her sister to the market to buy various New Year's goods.
I want a little bit of all kinds of candy, snacks, and firecrackers.
On the 30th, after wholesaling the last of the rice candy, Hua Antao finally calculated the profits from the past two weeks.
"On the first day, we sold 35 packs, each pack yielding a profit of 20 yuan, and sold 70 packs individually, earning a profit of 707 yuan."
The next day, 42 packs were sold in bulk, and 60 packs were sold individually...
On the third day, ... a total of 8800 yuan.
My aunt and uncle came to help and gave me a 500 yuan red envelope.
Hua Yuansheng nodded repeatedly: "Good, good, good!"
Hua Antao then dropped an even bigger bombshell: "Right now, we have a total of about 5 yuan in our hands."
Hua Lichu swallowed.
Hua Yuansheng stared wide-eyed, looking quite surprised.
To be honest, when Hua Antao first calculated this, he was just as surprised as they were.
What should you do with the money?
"Pears, peaches, after the New Year, we'll buy a few more shops... um, and houses too... then you can focus on your studies, and I'll mind the shops!"
The new year has arrived amidst the earnest anticipation of Hua Li Chu Zu Sun San.