Chapter 79 Going to Lou's House to Cook New Year's Eve Dinner
In the next two days, He Daqing bought a pig's head and pork chops at a nearby market, and even built a temporary stove in the yard.
The New Year celebrations in the north are somewhat different from those in the south.
Because of the climate, people in the South generally like to eat fresh food.
In the North, it is just the opposite. People usually braise the meat they buy in advance, and then when the New Year comes, they just take it out and heat it up to make a dish.
Of course, if you don’t want to save trouble, it’s not too late to do it on New Year’s Eve.
But because He Daqing had already promised to go to Lou's house to cook on the 30th, he could only prepare the food in these two days.
Fortunately, there is a good son like He Yuzhu who is taking care of him. He Daqing can give some guidance, so he doesn't have to work too hard.
As the father and son did this in the yard, the aroma of steaming meat immediately filled the yard.
The two chefs, the He family and his son, have used just the right amount of seasoning. Even just smelling the flavor will make you salivate.
"Brother He, Brother He!"
Yi Zhonghai came running over happily, carrying a chicken.
"Brother He, my wife has been craving for the pig head you made. Can I trade it for a chicken?"
"Huilan wants to eat pig's head?"
He Daqing glanced at Yi Zhonghai's house, waved his hand, cut a large piece of the pork head meat that had just been pressed, and handed it to Yi Zhonghai.
"With the relationship between our families, there's no need to be polite. Just take it back and eat it!"
"Hey, how can this be so embarrassing!"
Yi Zhonghai shook his head repeatedly, put the chicken in his hand directly into the chicken coop of He Daqing's house, and returned to his house happily.
He had tasted He Daqing's cooking skills before. Not to mention Xu Huilan, even he wanted to have a taste of it.
Especially the pig's head, just two slices are enough to make you enjoy a meal with wine.
Of course, in Yi Zhonghai's heart, He Daqing is his benefactor who has helped him more than once or twice, so he naturally cannot always take advantage of him.
"It's delicious!"
In the west room opposite, Jia Dongxu couldn't help licking his lips as he watched He Daqing and his son stew chicken again.
He has loved eating chicken since he was a child, but unfortunately his family conditions did not allow it, so he could only eat chicken legs outside occasionally. At this moment, smelling the aroma of chicken in the air, Jia Dongxu was drooling with greed.
"You, wouldn't it be better to find a wife like this?"
Seeing this scene, Jia Zhang, who was standing aside, couldn't help but snort.
Of course she also smelled the aroma of the chicken, and she wanted to have a bite of it.
But all the money I had previously used to buy cloth and other necessities, so where would I get the extra money to buy chicken? At this moment, watching the He family father and son cook one delicious dish after another, I felt sad again.
Jia Dongxu, "..."
It’s really a matter of which pot should not be opened.
However, Jia Dongxu's mood has improved a lot these days.
He also figured it out. After the New Year, he must work hard to get a permanent job as soon as possible. Only in this way can he let the woman he loves live a happy life.
"Jealousy value from Jia Zhang +10!"
"Joy value from Tao Huilan +10!"
"Jealousy from Yan Bugui +20!"
"Jealousy value from Xu Damao +20!"
The aroma of meat was so strong that after a short while, He Daqing received a long string of prompts in his mind.
Looking at these people's emotional responses, He Daqing felt at a loss whether to laugh or cry.
However, he is not a pushover. Isn't it that men work hard to earn money in order to live a good life?
He only needs to try his best to improve his family's living standards. As for what other people think, that is none of his business.
"Zhu Zi, how much meat do we have this year? You must take good care of it and don't let anyone think of you anymore. I'm leaving first!"
He Daqing called He Yuzhu, posted a couplet on the door of his house, brought a stone and coal, pasted a red cross on it, and even put cypress leaves on it. This is an old tradition, which not only means good luck, but also can be used to ward off evil spirits.
Having almost finished his own chores, on the morning of New Year's Eve, after giving some instructions to his son, He Daqing rode his bicycle towards the Lou family.
On the handlebars of his bicycle, there was a fish basket hanging, which contained fresh fish that he had just caught.
Well, fish is such a valuable thing, it seems that it can only be sold to wealthy families like the Lou family.
"Hey, Master He is here!"
Soon, He Daqing arrived at the door of Lou's house on his bicycle.
As soon as I stopped, I saw Aunt Wu, the Lou family's nanny, coming towards me with a smile on her face.
Aunt Wu had no relatives, so even during the Chinese New Year, she stayed at the Lou family to take care of the whole family. The master and the mistress had already told her so she was particularly enthusiastic towards He Daqing.
"Have a great New Year!"
He Daqing greeted them with a smile, then walked to the Lou family's kitchen with a basket of fresh fish.
At this time, the Lou family's kitchen was already filled with a wide variety of food ingredients and medicinal materials, the richness of which was no less than that of Fengze Garden.
After all, Tan Lingrou is the successor of Tan family cuisine, and Tan family cuisine is particularly particular about the ingredients, and the ingredients are also relatively expensive.
However, Tan’s dishes are relatively complicated to prepare, and many soups even need to be prepared several days in advance.
It would have been fine if they had so many servants before, but this year Lou Zhenhua dismissed all the servants, and their family was too lazy to make Tan’s cuisine, which was one of the reasons why they asked He Daqing to come and help.
He Daqing shook his head, washed his hands, and started to prepare the ingredients.
"Uncle He, Uncle He, you are here!"
However, less than half an hour later, Lou Xiao'e's excited voice was heard outside the kitchen.
However, it was the nanny, Aunt Wu, who had already told Tan Lingrou and her daughter the news that He Daqing had grown old.
Although today is New Year's Eve, the Lou family has too many properties and many relatives and friends, so Lou Zhenhua is still busy outside. Only Tan Lingrou and her daughter are left in the huge house.
Lou Xiao'e was feeling bored. When she heard that He Daqing was coming, she pulled Tan Lingrou and walked towards the kitchen.
She was deeply impressed by the bag chicken that He Daqing had made before, and Lou Xiao'e was also a foodie, so she wanted to see how He Daqing made it.
If it were a few years ago, with the strict hierarchy, Lou Xiao'e would naturally not come to a place like the kitchen.
But now is a new era, and her mother’s family started out by making Tan’s cuisine, so she has a natural affinity for chefs.
"Hey, good morning, Miss. This dress is so beautiful!"
He Daqing stopped the knife in his hand and turned to look at the door.
But I saw Tan Lingrou holding Lou Xiao'e's hand, and both mother and daughter had changed into new clothes and were standing there pretty and graceful.
However, although He Daqing was praising Lou Xiao'e, his eyes were always on Tan Lingrou.
Well, he is in his thirties and prefers to appreciate Tan Lingrou, who is full of the charm of a young woman, rather than Lou Xiaoe, who is in her teens and has not yet fully developed.