When Chen Lan brought out fried potato strips and a series of fried chicken items from the kitchen, the potato strips, chicken strips, and popcorn chicken were loved by the three younger brothers. Ming Wei, Ru Yi, and Xiao Xue preferred the more flavorful options like potato strips and spicy chicken wings and legs.
Surprisingly, the twin siblings, Xiao Tie Dan, Xiao He Hua, Hu Tou, and Xiao Shi Tou were particularly fond of the mashed potatoes, eating them with great relish. Hu Tou, Xiao Shi Tou, and Xiao He Hua, the younger ones, scooped spoonfuls into their mouths, swallowing the mashed potatoes whole without much chewing. Chen Lan thought it was a good thing it was mashed potatoes; otherwise, how could they digest them if they swallowed them without chewing?
Uncle De and Uncle Fu ate rou jia mo, and so did Old Mother, Mother-in-law, Mother Liu, and Mother Cui. The other items like potato strips and popcorn chicken were just for a taste.
Mother-in-law took a big bite of her rou jia mo and said with her cheeks puffed out, "This stuff is truly substantial. Things like potato strips, popcorn chicken, and chicken strips can only be eaten as snacks; they don't fill you up at all."
Old Mother, Uncle De, and Uncle Fu nodded in agreement, "Yes, yes, exactly!"
Uncle De swallowed his mouthful and continued, "Speaking of filling, you need to eat grains. Otherwise, no matter how full you are, you always feel like something is missing?"
Mother-in-law and Uncle Fu nodded in agreement, "Yes, yes! That's exactly the feeling, right!"
Old Mother also nodded, "These potato strips, popcorn chicken, and steak are all foreign foods. In foreign countries, potatoes are their staple food, just like our staple food is rice and steamed buns. It's just that our dietary habits are different."
Then, everyone started discussing delicacies, and finally, they all agreed that their own country's cuisine was the most delicious. The discussion finally concluded! It was truly a discussion sparked by potato strips.
Everyone had been busy all day, and in the blink of an eye, it was New Year's Eve.
Chen Lan and Old Mother's temporary kindergarten officially began its holiday today, a three-day break. Three days later, on the third day of the Lunar New Year, the kindergarten would reopen. On this day, Mother-in-law's Yangge dance competition also officially kicked off.
Chen Lan got up early that morning, turned on the air conditioner in the washroom, and took a hot bath herself. She planned to wash the twin siblings after they woke up, so they could change into new clothes and shoes after eating the New Year's Eve dinner.
After tidying up the twins and carrying them downstairs, everyone was already busy. Uncle De and Uncle Fu were cleaning the yard, while Cui Qiao and Ming Wei were cleaning the house. Everyone made the inside and outside of the house spotless. Mother-in-law and Mother Liu were preparing a simple breakfast in the kitchen.
Everyone quickly finished breakfast and cleaned up the kitchen. Hu Yuzhen then made paste to prepare for pasting the Spring Festival couplets. These couplets were written by Uncle De and Uncle Fu themselves, and the red paper was purchased by Chen Lan through the system.
Chen Lan glanced at the content of the couplets. The upper couplet on the main gate was "Tian Zeng Sui Yue Ren Zeng Shou" (Heaven bestows years, people gain longevity), and the lower couplet was "Chun Man Qian Kun Fu Man Men" (Spring fills the universe, blessings fill the door), with the horizontal scroll reading "Ji Shan Zhi Jia" (A family that accumulates virtue).
There were also "Liang Shi Man Cang" (Grain fills the granary), "Chu Ru Ping An" (Safe coming and going), "Tai Tou Jian Xi" (Looking up brings joy), "Wan Shi Ru Yi" (All things as one wishes), and several large "Fu" (blessing) characters.
Afterward, Cui Qiao, Hu Yuzhen, and Ming Wei, the women, pasted the Spring Festival couplets, while Uncle De and Uncle Fu carried a ladder, preparing to hang large red lanterns at the main entrance.
After Chen Lan took care of the twins and let them play on the seesaw, Cui Qiao and the others had already finished pasting the couplets. Truly, many hands make light work!
Chen Lan walked out to take a look. With the large red couplets pasted on the main gate, the atmosphere immediately felt different. The red color added to the festive mood and also signified good fortune for the coming year.
The hanging of the large red lanterns at the main gate also symbolized longevity and an unbroken lineage.
In the kitchen, Mother-in-law, Mother Liu, Mother Cui, and Sister Chun Cao were busy, with Zhao Xiao Yue helping to stoke the fire.
Chen Lan went into the kitchen to check on the dishes for the New Year's Eve dinner. As soon as Mother-in-law saw Chen Lan enter, she enthusiastically introduced the dishes: "Xiao Lan, look at this first dish, Stewed Chicken with Mushrooms. It has a special meaning, signifying (great luck and prosperity)." Chen Lan nodded, thinking, "There's a saying, 'No banquet is complete without chicken, no celebration is complete without wine.' It symbolizes 'all things lead to good fortune,' bringing auspiciousness and great luck in the coming year."
Mother-in-law continued, "And look at this braised pig trotters. This also has significance, meaning (getting rich with your hands)." Chen Lan knew this meant everything would go smoothly, that fortune would come easily, and that they would make a lot of money.
Mother-in-law went on to introduce, "This braised pork knuckle signifies (success in the imperial examinations)." Chen Lan nodded, thinking, "Pork knuckle is also called 'ti pang' and symbolizes thoroughness in tasks and success in exams."
Then, Mother-in-law introduced: "Ribs stewed with beans means (a waist full of wealth); braised carp symbolizes (abundance year after year); braised chicken feet symbolize catching a large handful of money in the new year; braised pork symbolizes a prosperous new year"; and there must be a plate of raw vegetables on the New Year's Eve dinner table, symbolizing great fortune in the new year. Mother-in-law introduced a total of sixteen main dishes to Chen Lan, making her dizzy! She could only nod continuously.
Finally, Chen Lan heard Mother-in-law say, "Lastly, there are the essential New Year dumplings, the (gold ingots)! This has the best meaning! Dumplings symbolize reunion and fulfillment!"
Chen Lan knew this. In her past life, they also ate dumplings for the New Year. Usually, they would make dumplings with celery filling, symbolizing the wish for everyone to be diligent in the new year, seeking good luck. Some people would even put a coin inside the dumplings, symbolizing making more money and good fortune in the new year!
There were so many delicious dishes that Chen Lan didn't know if she was dizzy from looking or from the aroma of the meat. As she stumbled out of the kitchen, she saw Uncle Fu and Uncle De returning with Ming Zhe, Wen Kai, and Wen Qi from outside. Chen Lan thought they must have gone to pay respects to the ancestors. Regardless of whether the ancestral graves were there, it was a gesture of remembrance and filial piety.
Uncle De and Uncle Fu saw Chen Lan coming out of the kitchen. Uncle Fu asked, "Xiao Lan, is the New Year's Eve dinner ready inside?"
Chen Lan nodded dizzily. Uncle De also said, "Xiao Lan, since it's ready, call everyone from the kitchen out. Let's all go to the woodpile to carry firewood."
Chen Lan knew that carrying firewood from the woodpile symbolized carrying wealth home. So, she immediately agreed and, no longer feeling dizzy, quickly went back into the kitchen to ask Mother-in-law and the others to come out and carry wealth home together.
After everyone excitedly carried the wealth home, they dusted themselves off, washed their hands and faces, and before eating, they made offerings to the ancestors, praying for the blessings of their spirits for the family's peace and prosperity.
After the ancestor worship, the sumptuous New Year's Eve dinner officially began!