Chapter 54: Preparing for the New Year

When Song Zhaodi took Zili and Regenerate back, his hands were cold and his face was blue from freezing. Sister-in-law Duan was very upset when she saw the two children like this. Back at Wengzhou Island, Mrs. Duan told Master Liu that the two children were too pitiful.

Liu Ping went to the guard school, and Liu Wei went to serve in the army. The Liu family had no burdens, and they didn't have much to live. Master Liu then explained to Mrs. Duan to help Song Zhaodi more.

Sister-in-law Duan has picked spinach, lettuce and green vegetables to send them to Zhong's house in the past few days. She wants to feed the two children, but she has never considered what the two children will think in their hearts: "Then your house will run out of vegetables, go to my house. Pick it up. I won't give it to you either?"

"Auntie, if there is no food at home, I will naturally go to your house to pick it up." Zong Zhaodi smiled, "I will not be polite to you."

Sister-in-law Duan said with a smile: "Okay. Go back quickly. The sun is already in the west, I guess it's two o'clock, and the child should be hungry."

"Go back, too." Song Zhaodi opened the lock and went in with a sack on his back.

Five children ran out.

"Mother!" Sanwa shouted, "I'm hungry."

Song Zhaodi threw the bag under the eaves of the porch: "You guys are not allowed to touch the sack. Daddy, go and lock the door from the inside. Stand on your own, come and help me make the fire, and I'll cook."

"Okay." Zi Li followed Song Zhaodi in and didn't forget to say, "Auntie, we're drinking milk."

Song Zhaodi paused for a while, and then continued walking: "The milk powder was bought for you to drink. By the way, your Uncle Zhong didn't come back?"

"Uncle Zhong came back." Zi Li said, "Uncle Zhong asked us if we should go to the cafeteria to eat, but the eldest child said no. When you come back, Uncle Zhong will leave. By the way, there is no rice at home, Uncle Zhong buys a bag of rice, he If he wants to cook, the eldest child forbids him to cook."

Song Zhaodi said with a smile, "The baby dislikes his father. The steamed rice is either like porridge or too dry to eat." Immediately, she scooped up half a scoop of rice to wash it and put it on the stove to steam it.

Later, Song Zhaodi poured three scoops of water into the pot. When the water boils, blanch the pork bones, and Song Zhaodi stews the kelp with the pork bones.

Hearing the footsteps, Song Zhaodi put the lid on the cauldron and looked back to see the big baby: "Are you still cooking?"

"What did mother do?" Zhong Dawa asked.

Song Zhaodi: "Pig bone soup for rice. I'll put some winter bamboo shoots that we chopped on the mountain the day before yesterday."

"Then stop cooking." Zhong Dawa said, "Mother, is our family running out of food?"

Song Zhaodi looked at him: "Why do you ask that?"

"Lin Zhong said that my dad bought sweet potatoes and potatoes to keep us as food in the future." Zhong Dawa subconsciously glanced at Zi Li when he spoke.

Song Zhaodi didn't want to but knew that it was Sister Chen who said nonsense in front of Lin Zhong: "We still have 100 catties of food stamps, enough for your father's salary next month, and the army's food stamps.

"You are growing up now, and you are hungry before mealtime. I thought about buying some sweet potatoes to put at home, and when you are hungry, I will bake them by myself. As for the potatoes, they are for cooking, so I will cook them for you to eat at night."

"Is it stewed potatoes?" Zhong Dawa asked.

Song Zhaodi: "It's delicious to stew potatoes with chicken and pork. We don't have meat at home, so we won't stew potatoes today. By the way, when the dishes are ready, put a few sweet potatoes under the pot, and you can eat at four o'clock. already."

Zhong Dawa was overjoyed: "I haven't eaten roasted sweet potatoes."

"I haven't eaten it for many years." Song Zhaodi said, "Don't put too much, otherwise it will not be cooked."

Zhong Dawa: "I know, I know." He still wants to keep his stomach and eat potatoes at night.

Song Zhaodi asked Zhong Jianguo to buy potatoes and braised braised rice at first, in order to save food. Now that Lin Zhong said it, the eldest child began to worry that the food at home was not enough. Song Zhaodi instantly decided to eat as much as she wanted in the future.

When the food stamps are not enough, please ask Mrs. Duan to find Commander Zhao. Anyway, he is a commander, and his monthly food stamps are much more than Zhong Jianguo, and there are not as many people in his family as Zhong's family.

Not wanting to save food, and to prove that she bought potatoes for her independence and rebirth, it was not because there were too many of them in the family that she did not have enough food, so Song Zhaodi started making noodles after lunch.

When it was time to wake up, Song Zhaodi picked six large potatoes, each about a pound or so, peeled and shredded them, and put them in water for later use.

Around seven o'clock, when it got dark, Zhong Jianguo returned home and saw that there was no one in the living room. He was shocked and hurried to the kitchen. Seeing that the children and Song Zhaodi were in the kitchen, Zhong Jianguo breathed a sigh of relief: "Isn't the meal ready yet?"

"Steamed buns." Zhong Dawa said, "Dad, mother said to make shredded potatoes later."

Zhong Jianguo saw a kettle on the stove: "Why don't you do it on the stove?"

"The wok used on the stove is too small." Song Zhaodi picked up the last pot of steamed buns, scooped out the water in the pot, and said to Zi Li, "Go wash your hands and prepare to eat. Zhong Jianguo, burn the fire, and I will cook."

Standing still.

Zhong Jianguo chuckled, pulled himself up and said, "Go pull the table, move the bench, and get the chopsticks."

Zi Li then led his younger brothers to wash their hands.

The whole family has a good mouth, so Song Zhaodi makes shredded potatoes with vinegar.

Zhong Jianguo had only eaten stewed potato cubes and was curious about how to make shredded potatoes. However, when the red vinegar was poured in, even though he had confidence in Song Zhaodi's cooking skills, even though he had expected that the shredded potatoes would not be too bad and the vinegar smell came out, Zhong Jianguo couldn't help swallowing: "Mr. Song, cooking skills. See you."

"It's been two years for you to cook some for your grandfather." Song Zhaodi said, "If a home-cooked stir-fry can't be cooked again..." Looking outside, no one came in, "I'm embarrassed to say that I live an extra life."

Zhong Jianguo saw her turn around to get the pot: "Is this all right?"

"The water in it will be dry." Song Zhaodi said, "If you don't believe me, try it."

Zhong Jianguo reached out and squeezed one and put it in his mouth: "It's really cooked. Hey, why is it a bit spicy?"

"I'll put two red peppers." Song Zhaodi asked quickly, "Is it spicy?"

Zhong Jianguo squeezed another one: "Only a little bit. Three babies can eat it." After saying that, he reached out and squeezed another one.

Song Zhaodi had a black line on her forehead: "Captain Zhong, have you washed your hands?"

A trace of discomfort flashed across Zhong Jianguo's face, and he coughed lightly, "I'm going to wash my hands now."

Seeing this, Song Zhaodi smiled helplessly.

The two pots of shredded potatoes were brought out, and Zhong Dawa reached out for the big steamed bun.

Song Zhaodi's brows twitched: "Big baby, break half of the steamed buns for Erwa."

"I'll get another one for Erwa." Zhong Dawa said.

Zhong Jianguo continued: "Your mother is afraid that you will eat again. The shredded potatoes she made today are very delicious."

"Really?" Zhong Dawa hurriedly broke half of it and stuffed it into Zhong Erwa, picked up chopsticks and folded the shredded potatoes, "Crispy, sour? Mother, why didn't you do it before?"

Song Zhaodi smiled and said, "I'm in a good mood today."

"It depends on the mood?" Zhong Dawa pouted, "I don't believe it."

Zhong Jianguo: "Your mother cut all the shredded potatoes little by little. It's very tiring. Dawa Zhong, do you want to make your mother sick from exhaustion?"

How could his dad learn to speak like him? Zhong Dawa almost choked: "Well, then I won't eat shredded potatoes tomorrow, and I will eat kelp bone soup."

"It will be New Year's Eve in two days." Song Zhaodi said, "Steamed steamed buns and steamed buns tomorrow. By the way, Zhong Jianguo, go back and buy two ducks. You can also buy a goose without ducks. Let's eat iron on New Year's Eve. Stew the goose in a pot."

He swallowed the potatoes on his own, hesitated for a while, but still felt that he should say, "Auntie, you can eat anything during the Chinese New Year."

Song Zhaodi was stunned for a moment, then she reacted and laughed dumbly: "Don't you think that I told your uncle to buy geese because you and Gengsheng came to our house? It's not. Last Spring Festival, we killed two ducks. This year, we didn't kill them. It's because the roosters and ducks are too small to eat."

"That's right." Zhong Dawa nodded again and again, "My mother's braised duck is very delicious." After speaking, she found that she was eating steamed buns by herself and didn't eat much vegetables, "Don't you like potatoes?"

Zi Li shook his head: "No."

"Then why don't you eat?" Zhong Dawa was curious.

Song Zhaodi: "I'm sorry to be self-reliant, but you can help him."

Before seeing self-reliance and rebirth, Song Zhaodi told Zhong Dawa that self-reliance and rebirth were orphans and no one wanted them anymore.

Zhong Dawa later saw that Zili and Gengsheng didn't even have a pair of thick cotton pants, and felt that they were really pitiful. Hearing what Song Zhaodi said, she pushed the pot of shredded potatoes in front of Zi Li, "Eat, don't be embarrassed."

"Yes." Zhong Jianguo said, "Self-reliance, you and Gengsheng are already in our household registration, and we will be a family in the future. Family members are not guests, so don't be so polite."

Zi Li opened his eyes wide: "Uncle has already gone to do it?"

Song Zhaodi said: "There are many orphans in this world, and we say that you and Gengsheng are orphans, and no one doubts. Therefore, you two don't have to be afraid anymore. When you go out to play in the future, when people ask your name, you have to stand up and tell them what your name is. Zhong Zili."

"Zhong Zili?" Erwa repeated.

Song Zhaodi nodded: "That's right. You have the same last name as your father and your brothers." Seeing that Zhong Dawa's half a piece of steamed buns took a bite, she immediately wanted to beat someone up, "Zhong Dawa, eat your steamed buns before you eat them. eat vegetables."

"I've eaten steamed buns." Dawa took a small bite, "Mother, eat it quickly, if you talk again, the food will be cold."

Song Zhaodi nodded at him: "I will eat too much later, and my stomach will feel uncomfortable. I won't make egg pancakes for you tomorrow morning."

Zhong Dawa immediately slowed down the action of picking vegetables.

Zhong Jianguo noticed and was speechless: "Zhao Di, there are no eggs at home."

"I know, there are duck eggs." Song Zhaodi said.

The big baby quickly swallowed the food in his mouth: "Mother, duck eggs are smelly, I don't like to eat them."

"You are eating too much of the good stuff." Song Zhaodi glared at him, "Believe it or not, I will steam cornmeal buns tomorrow and make bean noodles at night."

Da Wa nodded: "The steamed buns with cornmeal are delicious, and the bean noodles are also delicious. You can make them."

Song Zhaodi choked: "You bastard!" Turning to Zhong Jianguo, "Can I buy rice wine? Put some rice wine and it won't be fishy."

"It's probably difficult." Zhong Jianguo said, "The last time I drank was when I defeated Lao Jiang four years ago." After a while, "I'll go check it out tomorrow." However, he didn't buy any wine.

Commander Zhao asked Mrs. Duan to give Song Zhaodi two kilograms of oil. The two kilograms of oil were unexpectedly extra. Song Zhaodi put a little more oil when she made duck omelette for the children. Duck eggs tasted fishy.

The next afternoon, Sister-in-law Duan came over to help Song Zhaodi steam the buns. Seeing that the buns were filled with vermicelli, tofu skin and lard residue, she asked casually, "Have you bought meat for oil refining?"

"I bought it in the morning." Song Zhaodi said, "I didn't dare to use this month's meat ticket, I just kept it for the New Year to buy fat pork to refine oil and make steamed buns."

Sister-in-law Duan was surprised: "It was planned at the beginning of the month? Xiao Song, you really know how to eat."

"My mother is the best at cooking." Zhong Dawa looked at Song Zhaodi as she spoke, and while Song Zhaodi was not paying attention, she squeezed a piece of lard and stuffed it into her mouth.

Song Zhaodi noticed from the corner of her eyes: "Zhong Dawa, if you dare to steal it again, I won't make shredded potatoes tomorrow."

Zhong Dawa stood up and waved at her brothers and sisters: "Let's go upstairs to play." After a while, "I'll get you toffee."

"You haven't finished your toffee yet?" Sister-in-law Duan asked curiously.

Song Zhaodi: "I bought a lot, enough to eat until the fifteenth day of the first lunar month."

"Xiao Song, I told you not to be unhappy. If you eat this way, you won't be able to save any money." Sister Duan said, "The child is still young, so it doesn't matter. When you grow up in a few years, if you don't have any money on your hands. It's hard to find a daughter-in-law."

Song Zhaodi: "My daughter-in-law doesn't live with me and Jianguo for a lifetime. Whoever wants a daughter-in-law will find it by himself."

Sister-in-law Duan choked for a moment, and then smiled: "Even if you ask a few children to look for it, when you get married, you have to pay. I went out to buy vegetables a few days ago, and I heard that the teacher who lives on the next island is married. Daughter-in-law, daughter-in-law asked for sewing machine, radio.

"When the eldest child grows up, if your daughter-in-law asks for any TV, it will worry you to death. Don't believe it, the little girl now, even if she thinks she wants it or not, it doesn't matter if she sees the little sister getting married. When there are a few things like that, they will also ask for it.”

Song Zhaodi thought to herself, when our five cubs go to college and eat commercial food after graduation, because of this, our family will not buy TV sets and sewing machines, and there are many girls who are willing to marry into the Zhong family.

"The eldest baby is only eight years old now, and there are still ten years before he gets married." Song Zhaodi said, "If he goes to serve in the army in the future, I don't know that he can get married in the year of the monkey and the month of the horse. It's too early to think about this now. When he is twenty years old, we will It’s not too late to save money. Jianguo and I have high wages anyway.”

Seeing this, Sister Duan couldn't help but say, "If you have money in your hand, don't panic."

"Auntie, do you take your family's money or my Uncle Liu takes it?" Song Zhaodi asked.

Sister-in-law Duan: "Of course it's me, and he doesn't care about the family's affairs."

"Our family's money was hidden by Zhong Jianguo." Song Zhaodi didn't want to talk about the topic of daughter-in-law any more, she said nonsense, "Give me one hundred per month."

Sister-in-law Duan's hand trembled, and the steamed bun instantly deformed: "A hundred yuan is still less? I heard Lao Liu said that Jianguo is only a hundred yuan a month. I'll give you one hundred yuan, including your own salary... Xiao Song. , you are spending too much money. When I come back to Jianguo, I must tell him that I will give you a maximum of fifty per month, no more."

Sanwa was thirsty, so she stood up and took the thermos. Hearing what Sister Duan said, she walked back quietly and asked Zhong Dawa in a low voice, "Is your family poor?"

"It's not poor." Zhong Dawa said it, but found that it was wrong. "Self-reliance, if you want to say our family, we are a family."

Zi Li nodded and said that he remembered: "Is our family out of money?"

"Yes." Zhong Dawa said, "I have a lot of money."

Thinking of what I just heard: "Grandma Liu told my aunt to save money, isn't it because our family has no money?"

Zhong Dawa's heart suddenly burst, and she looked at Zi Li: "Didn't you go to pour water for Sanwa? Why do you suddenly ask this?"

Independently looked at Zhong Dawa.

Zhong Dawa also looked at him and said, what do you want to do.

Zili pursed his lips, hesitated for a while, and went back to the room to open the wooden box of his clothes.

Da Wa followed up: "What are you doing?"

Zi Li took out a roll of things from inside the white shirt and handed it to the big baby.

Dawa opened it subconsciously, saw what it was, and couldn't help exclaiming: "You, where did you get so much money?!"

"Uncle gave it to me before." I thought for a while, "I, I said, if I don't have money, give my money to my aunt."

Song Zhaodi has never mentioned the relationship between self-reliance and rehabilitation and Commander Zhao in front of the child. The eldest child is most interested in eating at this stage, and occasionally hears a sentence or a half, but forgets it.

Zhong Dawa wondered: "Then why didn't your uncle adopt you and regenerate?"

"He's getting old," Zi Li said.

The big baby patted him on the shoulder, the poor baby: "I'll give you the money, our family has a lot of money." Pause, "You show me your money, and I'll show you our money. Come, follow me. Come." Pushing open the door of his parents' room, he beckoned to Zili.

Follow up on your own. Da Wa tore the quilt open and took out two stacks of ten-yuan bills from the quilt.

Looking at the money in his hand, and then looking at the money in Dawa's hand, Zi Li immediately understood that it wasn't because Song Zhaodi was too busy that he forgot about the money. It's that Song Zhaodi doesn't care about his child's money, but it's wrong: "Then why does Grandma Liu think that our family has no money?"

The big baby put the money back: "Because Dad goes to the non-staple food factory to buy delicious food every day, and every time he buys a big bag, he doesn't need a ticket to buy anything, it's like he doesn't need money for things." After a pause, "Mother in the forest I also said, my mother said that everyone knows that our family has no money, and no one cares about our family borrowing money."

Self-reliance couldn't help admiring: "Auntie is so smart." After thinking about it, she put Qian into Dawa's hand, "Put it in." Pointing to the quilt, he said.

"These are left to you by your uncle." The big baby returned it to him.

Self-reliance and stuffed it back: "You said just now, we are a family, and the family's money should be put together."

"It seems to be the same." Zhong Dawa thought about it.

Self-reliance: "Of course. My aunt also said that she would send me and the rehabilitated students to college, which would cost a lot of money."

"I don't need it." Zhong Dawa said, "My mother said that if you go to a normal university or a military academy, the state will give you money."

Choking on your own, Dawa Zhong, you know too much: "I don't want to go to a normal school or a military academy, I want a university in God."

"Didu University?" Zhong Dawa didn't know what to study. "Then I'll put it back. You, you are not allowed to go back."

Self-reliance: "A manly man, keep your word, I will not regret it."

"Isn't there a man as tall as me?" Zhong Dawa looked at him, "The tone is really big, and it's almost a little man."

Zi Li immediately understood why the elders in the family always wanted to beat up Zhong Dawa, and he wanted to beat up people for this shit.

"There's nothing left to say." Zhong Dawa proudly pushed herself out and closed the door, "You watch them upstairs, I'll see if Mother wants me to set the fire."

Self-reliance said rudely: "You want to steal lard residue again."

"I don't have it." Zhong Dawa blushed and paused, "Don't you want to eat it? Let me tell you, sprinkle a little salt on the lard residue, it tastes better than shredded potatoes in vinegar, it's delicious on earth. ."

Swallow saliva independently.

Zhong Erwa said, "Brother, I want to eat."

"I know where it is." Zhong Dawa said, "There is still a bowl in the kitchen cabinet. If you want to eat it, I can go and get it, but my mother found it. If you say you want to eat it, don't say me."