On the twenty-fourth day of the twelfth lunar month, the Xu family killed a pig.
Although Xu Shiqin is getting married, there is no need to prepare a banquet here to entertain guests, but he still has to prepare some food to entertain relatives from far away.
Besides, don’t we still have to prepare for the New Year?
The Xu family has been like this in the past few years, killing pigs and having a lively New Year celebration.
No matter what era it is, pig killing during the Chinese New Year is the most lively event.
A large iron pot was set up in the yard, with dry wood underneath and a fire burning. The water in the pot was boiling with white flowers.
The pig-killer held a sharp knife in his hand and raised the knife. The big fat pig screamed in despair several times and then fell silent.
Take the pig's blood here where it's time to catch it. Immediately after it's done, pour hot water on it to remove the hair, disembowel it, and then cut the meat into pieces.
Then wash what needs to be washed, cut what needs to be cut, add a pot of meat to the big pot, and cut a large pot of pickled vegetables at the other end.
Come and have a pot of big bones stewed with sauerkraut, or sauerkraut and white meat blood sausage. It's a hot and delicious meal.
The Xu family was killing a pig for a happy occasion. Zhao Jianshe and others stopped what they were doing and came to help.
Xu Shian was also there. In the provincial capital before passing by, Xu Shian, Huang Shengli and others were also familiar with each other, and they got along well.
The guys were talking and laughing together, grinning from time to time, it was lively and interesting.
While they were busy, Xu Shixian, Xu Shide and Xu Shixiang also arrived together.
Needless to say, this must have been arranged in advance and we came back together.
"Young, a pig was killed at home? It was really lively." Xu Shixian smiled as soon as he entered the gate and saw the scene in the yard.
"Dad, Mom, the fourth and fifth brothers and I are back. The sixth sister is leaving the day after tomorrow. Let's come back and see if there is anything we can do to help with the work?"
The brothers all carried things in their hands. After greeting everyone in the yard, they entered the east room with smiles on their faces.
In the east room, Xu Chenghou was chatting with Zhao Dahai, Yu Shouguang, Zhou Changhe and others.
If you are going to kill a pig during the Chinese New Year, you must invite relatives and friends over to have a fun time.
Hearing his son's voice, Xu Chenghou showed a kind smile on his face and looked up at the door of the house.
Then I saw three sons leading their wives and their children, and a dozen people came in from outside.
"Young, you came back so early? I was thinking that you would arrive home tomorrow.
Are you not busy at work? Is it okay to take a long leave?" Xu Chenghou asked with a smile.
"It's okay, it's the Chinese New Year, who doesn't want to take a few days off to do some New Year shopping?
Dad, Mom, how are you doing recently? Are you okay?"
Before anyone else could speak, Xue Xiulin was the first to speak. As she spoke, she put the things in her hands on the table.
"Well, the Chinese New Year is almost here, and there are a lot of goods for sale in the county these days.
Just buy some food for the family, and it will save my parents money on buying new year's goods."
"Fourth, Fifth, please quickly put down the things in your hands. It's very heavy to carry so many things."
Xue Xiulin winked at her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, asking them to say something and put their things down.
"Dad, Mom, what my sister-in-law said is that we don't come back very often, so we can just buy some things for the family, and the two of us can eat them later."
On the other end, Xu Shixiang and others reacted and quickly put everything on the table.
The three families did buy a lot of things. They stood aside on the floor and half a table was piled up.
"Look, it's not easy for you to earn that little salary at work. Why do you spend so much money?
Your mother and I are in need of nothing, and the third child and his wife have bought everything they should buy."
Xu Chenghou didn't even look at the things on the table, he just smiled at the children.
"Jingyi, Jingwen, come here, come to my grandparents and let them see if our good granddaughter is fat again?"
The old man clapped his hands and greeted the two little granddaughters with a smile.
I don't want Xu Jingyi and Xu Jingwen to have two children, but they each hold their mother's thighs and refuse to look for Xu Chenghou.
Wu Qiuyan and Chen Chunling's expressions immediately changed, and they each pushed their daughter.
"What are you doing? Your grandparents miss you and want to hug you. Why don't you come forward? What the hell are you doing?"
The two little girls were about to cry with their mouths flattened. When Zhou Guilan saw this, she quickly got down to the ground, took out a few pieces of candy from her pocket, and gave them to the two granddaughters.
"Come, grandma, there is delicious food here, two yuan per person."
When the two girls saw the candy, they stopped crying immediately and each took the candy in their hands.
"How old is the child? Why do you want to compete with the child?
They come back twice a year and don't see us at all. How can we not give birth? Just tell them."
Zhou Guilan was not very happy and glanced at the two daughters-in-law.
Wu Qiuyan and Chen Chunling each opened their mouths, wanting to speak but not knowing what to say.
Just at this time, Xu Jinfeng and Xu Jinxiu came over and hugged Zhou Guilan with smiles on their faces.
"Grandma, we miss you so much. You won't go to the county to stay for a few days."
Xu Jinfeng is fourteenth, turning to the fifteenth day of the New Year; Xu Jinxiu is eleventh, turning to the twelveteenth day of the New Year.
Both of them are old and sensible, and they both grew up next to Zhou Guilan. After all, they have feelings for each other and will kiss each other when they meet.
When Zhou Guilan saw the two granddaughters, she immediately smiled and said, "Hey, you, we haven't seen each other for half a year, and the two children have grown up again, and they are becoming more and more handsome as they get older.
Lao Xu, look, our granddaughter has grown into a eldest daughter."
For the old lady, her grandchildren are her treasures, especially the ones she brought up since childhood. It really hurts her heart.
"Nai, there's me too. Why don't you tell me that I've grown into a young man too?"
Xu Haibin jumped out from behind his sister and said with a pout.
"Isn't that right? He's a serious young man.
Oh, looking at you children, your grandpa and I feel so happy."
Xu Haibin, who is nine years old this year and will be ten in the new year, has inherited the tall height gene of the Xu family, so he is indeed not short.
It's just that he has an out-of-touch and naughty personality. He is absolutely a naughty monkey, and he is so naughty that he wants to go to heaven and earth.
Of course, in the eyes of grandparents, no matter how naughty they are, they are still their eldest grandsons, and they look down upon them.
"Quick, come here, get on the kang, and let me find something delicious for you."
Zhou Guilan took Xu Jingwen and Xu Jingyi, two little girls, and called the older ones to the kang.
Xu Jinfeng, Xu Jinxiu, and Xu Haibin all gathered in front of Grandpa at this moment.
Xu Haibin beat his grandfather's back, Xu Jinfeng filled his grandfather's cigarette pouch, and Xu Jinxiu took a match to light the fire.
The three children were wandering around Grandpa, making Xu Chenghou so happy that the wrinkles on his face became much deeper.
But Xu Haiyang was the only one standing next to Xu Shide. He neither stepped forward nor spoke to his grandparents, but quietly looked at everyone in the room.
When Wu Qiuyan saw her son like this, she couldn't help but feel a little angry, so she pushed Xu Haiyang.
"Look at you, when you were at home you said you missed your grandparents, but why don't you say a word here?
Come on, go talk to your grandparents?"
Xu Haiyang was pushed by his mother and turned to look at Xu Shide. Seeing his father nuzzling at him, Xu Haiyang walked to the kang.
"Grandpa, grandma." He called out gently.
"Hey, hey, okay, our family Haiyang has also grown taller. Has he gone to school yet? Is it time to enter the first grade?"
Xu Chenghou smiled and pulled Xu Haiyang forward and asked.
"Dad, Haiyang hasn't gone to elementary school yet. He's going in the fall." Wu Qiuyan explained from behind.
"Oh, I haven't gone to school yet.
Look at me, I can’t remember well when I’m older. Haiyang is eight years old after the New Year, right?
I thought Yuanyuan was already in the second grade, and Haiyang was in the first grade."