Chen Lan was about to take out the gifts she had purchased from the system warehouse, but then reconsidered. It was too early to reveal them. If she brought them out too soon, there would be no surprise tomorrow.
She planned to present them on her mother's and three younger brothers' birthdays tomorrow, to give them a pleasant surprise and move them.
After lying in bed daydreaming for a while, she had a persistent feeling that she had forgotten something. She pondered for a long time but couldn't recall what it was. As she drifted off, she fell asleep.
Chen Lan only woke up when her mother came upstairs to call her for lunch. Seeing her mother, she finally remembered what she had forgotten: she still needed to buy gifts for her mother-in-law and Ming Wei.
While going to the bathroom to wash up, she followed the same pattern as buying a gift for her mother. She bought a silk scarf with a slightly brighter color for her mother-in-law, who preferred such shades.
Then, she still needed to select a gift for her sister-in-law, Ming Wei. Chen Lan spent a long time browsing the system, finding nothing truly suitable for a young girl in the 1950s.
She decided to choose a Chanel No. 5, a girlish fragrance, for Ming Wei – specifically, the Chanel Coco Mademoiselle perfume.
This was a refreshing women's perfume, blended to suit the characteristics of Eastern people, an Oriental-style fragrance. Its enchanting scent outlined a woman's courage, confidence, intellect, and charm.
Chen Lan felt Ming Wei would surely like this fragrance. Without hesitation, she immediately placed the order.
As they had decided to have a big meal tomorrow, Chen Lan kept lunch simple, opting for a one-pot stew, some steamed cornmeal buns and flower rolls, a few pieces of marinated spicy fermented tofu, and a plate of pickled spicy cabbage. She also steamed a meat and vegetable custard for each of the little ones. The lunch was ready, and everyone could start eating.
After everyone finished lunch and before they prepared for their afternoon nap, Chen Lan gathered everyone and informed her mother-in-law and the others about the plan to celebrate her mother's and two brothers' birthdays tomorrow.
"Mother-in-law, tomorrow is my mother's and Wen Kai's and Wen Qi's birthday. I want to make it a lively celebration. Last time, Ming Xuan left in a hurry, and my mother was sick for several days.
The welcoming feast for the comrades was rushed and ended abruptly. I want to take this opportunity, while celebrating my mother's and my two brothers' birthdays, to gather everyone together again, have some fun, and liven things up in our valley. What do you think?"
Upon hearing this, her mother-in-law immediately clapped her hands in agreement, saying happily, "Of course! Of course! Xiao Lan, you're right. We should take this opportunity to have a good time! Not only should we have a celebration, but a grand one. Let everyone come to the house to have fun and chase away the bad luck in the valley.
I'll discuss it with Aunt Xiao Shan this afternoon. Tomorrow, let the sewing group members have a day off and come help you. Xiao Lan, tomorrow, just let Mai Zi be the head chef. You only need to prepare the ingredients and be the overall commander."
Chen Lan was thrilled to hear about such support and happily agreed, "Mother-in-law, I understand. I will definitely make tomorrow's birthday banquet lively and ensure everyone eats and drinks happily."
With the strong support of her mother-in-law, Chen Lan decided not to go with a simple stew for tomorrow. While a stew was delicious, it wasn't visually appealing.
While the twins were napping, Chen Lan decided she needed to seriously consider the dishes for tomorrow's banquet. After all, it was her mother and two brothers' first birthday celebration in the valley, and they were the first to have their birthdays there. The dishes needed to be exquisite and delicious.
Considering the cold weather, hot pot seemed the most appropriate. Similar to last time, she would prepare two broths: one spicy for the adults, and a non-spicy clear broth for the children and those with weaker constitutions, like her mother.
She also recalled that the steamed pork with pumpkin from last time was well-liked by the elders and children, so she would steam some of that as a meat dish.
Since coming to the valley, they hadn't eaten fish in a long time, and her mother particularly enjoyed it. Coincidentally, her mother-in-law had mentioned that the pickled vegetables were ready.
For her mother's birthday tomorrow, she would prepare a slightly spicy pickled fish. She was sure her mother would love it.
Children liked sweet and sour flavors, so she would prepare a sweet and sour dish for her brothers – sweet and sour pork ribs.
For the men who would be drinking, she would prepare five or six additional braised dishes to accompany their drinks.
For the women, with no fresh vegetables available in winter and everyone feeling a bit overheated, she would simmer a large pot of tremella and lotus seed soup. It was not only soft and smooth with a delicious taste but also had benefits for digestion, strengthening the body, and enhancing brain function.
She suddenly remembered that she had barely tasted the stir-fried pork intestines with green peppers last time before Xu Ming Xuan took it away.
This time, she had to ask Lin Mai to make it again so she could satisfy her cravings. She would make a larger portion this time, as it was also a good dish to pair with drinks. She was confident that once others tasted its crisp texture and savory aroma, they would love its unique flavor.
Given the extreme cold, these dishes would suffice. By increasing the portion sizes of each dish, there would be enough for everyone.
With the menu for tomorrow finalized, Chen Lan mentally opened the system to order the ingredients for the banquet.
She would order from the usual shop specializing in hot pot ingredients, stocking up on chilled fresh beef and lamb, fish balls, shrimp dumplings, and beef balls.
She would also purchase the famous spicy hot pot base for the spicy broth.
As for the beef and lamb slices for the hot pot tomorrow, with Mai Zi, the master chef, handling it, she wouldn't need to embarrass herself. The thought made her happy.
She also needed to prepare a clear broth. Too lazy to search again, she would order five catties of large beef bones and one freshly slaughtered pigeon from the same shop to make the soup.
She would also order other hot pot accompaniments like tofu skin, duck intestines, cabbage hearts, and vermicelli.
Winter melon and pumpkin, along with cabbage, were already in the cellar, so there was no need to buy them.
She wouldn't prepare the alcoholic beverages yet, as she would ask the men tomorrow if they preferred spirits or beer.
For the women, she would ask tomorrow if they preferred wine or orange juice.
Once everything was prepared, the twins had woken up.