279 Eating Dumplings on the First Day of the New Year
After the New Year, it would be the first day of the Lunar New Year.
According to the rules passed down in Stoneback Village, it was the first breakfast of the Lunar New Year. It had to be cooked by the men at home. Women could sleep until late and could not wake up earlier than men. Otherwise, they would be despised.
Even if she woke up early and went to the public toilet, she would be scolded if anyone saw her.
This was clearly discriminatory against women.
Of course, this rule changed a lot with the evolution of the times. Women were no longer scolded whichever time they woke up although there were some old fogeys who would curse when they saw women wake up early.
Even so, on the first day of the Lunar New Year, everyone seemed to have a tacit understanding. Perhaps they were used to men waking up early.
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, the first meal was vegetarian.
They usually woke up early in the morning to make dumplings. After the dumplings were wrapped, the men would wake up the women and children at home for the first breakfast of the Lunar New Year.
However, there were also many families who would not make new dishes for breakfast and eat the leftovers from the previous day.
The Shi family was also used to the men cooking breakfast on the first day of the Lunar New Year.
The first meal this year was dumplings!
The men of the Shi family woke up early in the morning. Even Shi Junxuan and Shi Jiahao, who were three or four years old, were woken up to help.
This morning, three types of fillings were prepared: chive filling, three fresh fillings (carrot, shiitake mushroom and celery), and wrapped vegetable filling.
The dumpling skin was freshly rolled and the filling was also made on the spot. However, the flour and vegetables were prepared by the women at home the night before.
At five or six o’clock, Shi Junxuan and Shi Jiahao rubbed their sleepy eyes and stood in the kitchen with confused expressions.
“I… Why am I in the kitchen?”
“Come, Shi Boyu, Little Junxuan, Little Jiahao, come and choose your vegetables!”
Shi Hangyu placed a handful of chives in front of them and continued, “Remove these rotten leaves and yellow leaves!”
Perhaps Shi Boyu was already used to it. Every year on the first day of the Lunar New Year, he would pick up the leeks without saying a word.
On the other hand, it was the first time that the two children had been woken up so early by their parents. They got up… to work.
Shi Junxuan asked, “Uncle, I… I choose chives?”
“That’s right. You, your brother, and your brother can pick these vegetables ogether. Don’t be lazy!” Shi Hangyu said with a smile. “We’ll make dumplings this morning. These chives are used to fill the fillings. Hurry up and make them. We’ll finish them early and eat them early!”
Shi Junxuan and Shi Jiahao weren’t very picky, but no one cared. The most important thing was to participate.
The eight men, Gu Jianguo, and the three young adults made the kitchen seem very lively.
When Gu Jianguo entered the village, he followed the customs. He was celebrating the New Year with his wife’s family. His parents, wife, and children were all here. He definitely could not fall behind any man in his in-law’s family.
Therefore, when everyone agreed to wake up at five in the morning last night, he also woke up at five.
Eldest Uncle and noodles, Second Uncle and Third Uncle rolled out the skins, and the rest began to make fillings and make dumplings.
There were more than a thousand dumplings for the family’s breakfast. Under the cooperation of a group of men, the white and fat dumplings were placed on the table. They were exceptionally cute and adorable.
A big pot of hot water was boiling in the kitchen, ready to cook the dumplings.
Eldest Uncle wore an apron and instructed his son, “The dumplings have already started to be cooked. Go and get Grandfather, Grandmother, and your mother to wake up to eat the dumplings. You guys also go and get them to wake up to eat!”
Everyone went to call their wives to eat. The three children went to wake their aunt, Gu Qingming, up. Other than the two cousins who were single, they stayed in the kitchen to wash the dishes and eat after everyone woke up.
At seven o’clock in the morning, the women were all wearing beautiful clothes and exquisite makeup to welcome the first day of the new year.
They would greet each other when they met. Then, the elders would give red packets to the juniors.
Grandpa Shi and Grandpa Gu were wearing red traditional Chinese clothes, while Grandma Shi and Grandma Gu were wearing red cheongsams and light makeup!
Of course, Grandma Gu did not know how to put on makeup. Her makeup was done by the three granddaughter-in-laws.
Grandma Gu looked at her Grandma Shi’s attire and smiled. “In-law, you’re dressed very beautifully today! Look, this red cheongsam suits you so well.”
Grandma Shi said shyly, “I didn’t wear a cheongsam when I was young, but I’m wearing it when I’m old.”
However, Grandma Gu disagreed. “We don’t need to differentiate between young and old when wearing a cheongsam. Young people have a young style, and old people have a mature style.”
Grandma Gu loved to wear cheongsams all her life.
At this moment, Eldest Aunt also said sweetly, “Mom, you look so beautiful in this cheongsam. You’re at least ten years younger!”
Third Aunt nodded and said, “That’s right, Mom. Your skin is good, and your figure is thin and tall. From your back, it’s impossible to tell that you’re already in your seventies. From your back, you have the figure of a young girl.”
Grandma Shi chuckled and said, “Haha, look at your mouths. You’re already smeared with honey so early in the morning.”
A moment later, Gu Qingming came down.
She looked at the room full of women and smiled happily. “Ladies, you’re so beautiful today!”
“Haha, your little mouth is smeared with honey!” Grandma said with a smile. “However, no matter how beautiful we are, we can’t be more beautiful than you. You don’t need to dress up. Just stand there and you’ll be the most beautiful flower!”
“Haha, Grandma is right. Sister is beautiful. She’s a hundred times better than us without dressing up.” Third Sister-in-law looked at Gu Qingming’s beautiful face with envy.
Which woman didn’t like beauty?
Mrs. Gu saw that her daughter was pregnant and walked over casually. She immediately shouted, “Girl, walk slower!”
She was close to her eighth month of pregancy. Many people had swollen feet and needed to walk with their hands on their waists.
This girl, on the other hand, ran over casually, followed by the two little boys.
Gu Qingming said, “Mom, don’t worry. I’m very light. I’ll be fine.”
At this moment, Second Sister-in-law said, “Sister, this child must be here to repay your kindness. No matter what, there’s no adverse reaction. You won’t gain weight even if you eat well and sleep well. You only have a belly, but you don’t have a fat figure. It’s really enviable! Back then, when I was pregnant, the morning sickness alone made me think that I was sick. In the late stages of pregnancy, I gained weight, and my feet were swollen like steamed buns. I was so tired after taking two steps!”
Eldest Sister-in-law nodded and said, “Yes, I also think that this child is here to repay a debt of gratitude. She’s so obedient and doesn’t know how to torture others. Sister, could the child in her stomach be a girl? Girls are considerate.”
The Shi and Gu families both liked girls very much. They did not have the bias of favoring boys over girls.
Therefore, on the first day of the Lunar New Year, it was said that girls had no taboos.
Gu Qingming smiled and said, “Yes, I think it’s a girl too!”