New Year’s Eve, the snow continued to fall all day, piling thicker on the roads.
On the 28th, the Xu Family was bustling with activity. Today, Xu Qinghe and Xu Yuchun were slaughtering a pig together. The two families shared a pig, sothing that was unimaginable in previous years. To buy ten pounds of at a year was already considered a luxury.
But now, they don’t feel that way. The Qingsong Furniture Factory allowed them to earn money, giving them confidence. The pig was fattened with leftover food from the factory and occasional pigweed brought by Ji Ying and Xiong Xihua, making the pig both plump and robust.
In past years, during New Year’s, several families would often slaughter one pig together and divide the at among them. The day of slaughtering was the happiest day for both adults and children, symbolizing having at to eat.
Even the poorest families could satisfyingly have at on this day.
Xu Nianhua loved eating the slaughtering day’s als. Fresh pig at was stir-fried with ginger and soy sauce directly after slaughter, resulting in tender, fragrant, and sweet flavors that pig raised on modern feed could never achieve.
At noon, Xu Qinghe distributed half a pig, and the three of them carried it in large tubs. Ji Ying directly sliced off three pounds of at for stir-fry, braised half a pig’s head, bought so tofu for two yuan, and cooked a soup with pork blood and tofu sprinkled with scallions. It slled amazing.
A big bowl full of stir-fried at, pork blood tofu soup, and chili-fried pig’s head at, although only three dishes were on the table, each dish was generously portioned.
"It’s so sweet!"
Xu Nianhua soaked rice in the soup, noting how even the soup had a fresh sweetness.
"I can eat an extra bowl of rice."
Xu Nian’an ate heartily, recalling how at school, when the al quality occasionally dropped, everyone would eat out together. Although it was still chili-fried at, it tasted completely different from today’s ho-cooked al.
In the afternoon, Xu Nian’an brought two pounds of pork belly, a pig intestine, and Xu Family-made sausages and cured at to Du Chang’s house in the county.
Du Chang couldn’t help but ask, "Nian’an, why did you bring so much at?"
"Master, my mom said these two pounds of pork belly are for you to make braised pork. The sausages and cured at were homade by my mom and are delicious. Fried cured at with bamboo shoots is especially fragrant. The pig intestine has already been cleaned by my dad, so you can just stir-fry it." Xu Nian’an cheerfully organized and categorized the items he brought, including fresh at, pig intestine, sausages, and cured at, all of which Du Chang enjoyed.
"Your parents are really generous, sending so much food every year." Looking at these heartfelt gifts, Du Chang felt truly happy and grateful.
He accepted Xu Nian’an, partly because of his talent and hard-working nature and also because he liked his little girl.
Now, it’s more than just that; interacting with the Xu Family feels like being with true family.
"Master, I’m your apprentice; bringing you food is only right." Xu Nian’an said and added, "Tomorrow, our family is sure to fry crispy at and lion’s head atballs. I’ll co again then, Master. I’m heading ho and will check the mountains for bamboo shoots this afternoon."
"No rush, have dinner at ho before going." Watching Xu Nian’an eager to leave, Du Chang invited him to stay, saying, "Yicheng called; his train might have arrived yesterday, so if we wait a little longer, Yicheng might co ho."
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