Wu Liang looked at his parents and listened to what they said, suddenly feeling that they made a lot of sense.
"Then after the New Year, I’ll go find Ye Qian."
Wu Liang also felt that he had been a bit too submissive with Ye Qian before he ca back.
He was determined to toughen up his attitude after the New Year.
It was New Year’s Eve the very next day.
The Ye Family got up early in the morning.
After breakfast, Ye’s mother took Gu Yi and Ye Qian to the kitchen to prepare the New Year’s Eve dinner.
Ye Hao and Ye Fu tidied up the courtyard first.
They also put up the Spring Festival couplets.
After finishing his tasks, Ye Hao squeezed into the kitchen too.
Since he’d joined the army, he rarely had the chance to spend New Year at ho, and this was the first ti he and Gu Yi were spending it together after getting married.
Initially, he felt no particular affection for Gu Yi and did not think it was a big deal.
But now he felt he owed Gu Yi a lot.
He resolved to make it up to her in the future, at least they must spend New Year together.
"Ye Hao, co over and taste this atball, see how it is."
As soon as Ye Hao reached the kitchen door, Gu Yi called him over.
Ye Hao walked over and saw Gu Yi frying atballs.
"Take one from the bowl and try a cold one."
She pointed to the bowl of atballs.
Ye Hao took one and tried it.
Gu Yi had added lotus root and ginger to the at mixture, making them crispy on the outside but with a sweet and fresh lotus root flavor and a hint of ginger fragrance inside—it was truly delicious.
"It’s really delicious, you try one too."
Ye Hao said, taking one from the bowl and popping it into Gu Yi’s mouth.
"Bro, I want one too, could you give one?"
Ye Qian added firewood to the stove, stood up, and said to her brother.
"Here you go, little foodie."
Ye Hao handed two over to Ye Qian across the stove.
"Who’s the little foodie? It’s all sister-in-law’s fault for making them so delicious, they’re really good."
Ye Qian took a bite and couldn’t stop eating.
"Mom, you try one too, Yiyi’s atballs are amazing."
Ye Hao handed another one to Ye’s mother.
"It’s not as amazing as you say."
Gu Yi shyly gave Ye Hao a look.
"Brother wasn’t exaggerating at all, it’s really good, isn’t it, Mom?"
Ye Qian imdiately countered Gu Yi and turned to Ye’s mother.
"Yiyi’s atballs are indeed excellent, aromatic and crispy, making you want more after one bite."
Ye’s mother thought Gu Yi really had a talent for cooking, as the sa dishes she made always seed tastier than others’.
"Sister-in-law, why didn’t you make them before? Is it because brother is back this year? Haha."
Last year and the year before, her brother wasn’t ho, and her sister-in-law didn’t make them either.
"It was always Mom who made them before."
Gu Yi hadn’t thought of making them the previous years since Ye’s mother always took care of it, and this year she simply added so lotus root.
R City is known for having New Year’s Eve dinner in the mid-afternoon.
The saying here is, "No lunch on New Year’s Eve, no breakfast on New Year’s Day."
This ans that on New Year’s Eve the lunch and dinner are combined into one al in the mid-afternoon.
After staying up all night on the thirtieth, people sleep till noon on New Year’s Day, so there’s no need for breakfast.
Once the dishes were cooked and served, Ye Fu and Ye Hao went outside to burn paper offerings for their ancestors.
After they burned them, they went ho, set off firecrackers, shut the door, and started the New Year’s Eve dinner.
Once the al was over and the table was tidied, they reopened the door.
There’s a story behind this.
Legend has it that in the past, people would have their New Year’s Eve dinner with the doors open.
The Jade Emperor wanted to inspect the lives of the people.
So he sent Iron Crutch Li on New Year’s Eve to check each household and bring good luck the next year to those who had a less sumptuous al.
Upon hearing this, a clever person had their family finish the al early and shut the door.
After the al, they cleaned up and reopened the door.
When Iron Crutch Li visited while people were having New Year’s Eve dinner, he noted down which households had good or poor als.
Arriving at this household, he found the door open but nothing on the table.
"This family is so pitiable, nothing to eat on New Year’s Eve."
As he sighed, he waved his sleeve.
He left two gold ingots on the table and departed.
Once the story spread, everyone began to emulate the family’s approach.
Thus, the custom of eating New Year’s Eve dinner with the door closed spread.
The Ye Family didn’t know many people in the city, so there weren’t any places to visit that evening.
They hadn’t bought a TV, so they couldn’t watch the New Year’s Gala.
However, Gu Yi had brought a deck of playing cards from B City.
"How about we play cards?"
Gu Yi suggested.
"Sure, but I don’t know how to play. Sister-in-law, teach ."
Ye Qian found sitting around dull and preferred doing sothing.
Only Ye Hao and Gu Yi knew how to play here.
"Great, it’s easy. Let’s play ’Fight the Landlord’. Whoever runs out of cards first wins, and the others count how many cards they have left, one penny per card."
Gu Yi explained the card values.
Ye’s father and mother found it interesting and watched from the side.
Ye Qian, being young, quickly grasped new things, understanding after Gu Yi’s explanation.
"Then, Dad, Ye Hao, and Qianqian, you three play first. I’ll watch Dad play for now."
Gu Yi saw that Ye’s father wasn’t quite sure how but seed eager, so she suggested it.
"You play with Dad. I’ll just watch."
Ye Hao had Gu Yi sit next to him.
He knew Gu Yi might be bored, so he wanted everyone to play together with her.
"Alright, I’ll play first, we’ll switch later."
They began playing, with Ye’s mother and Ye Hao sitting next to Ye’s father, Ye Hao next to Gu Yi, and Ye’s mother next to Ye Qian.
After a while, Ye’s mother brought so seeds and peanuts and filled everyone’s cups with water.
Though Ye’s father was a bit slow with the cards, with Ye Hao’s guidance, he won quite a few rounds.
After playing for a while, Ye’s father ignored Ye Hao’s advice, losing a few winning rounds.
"Go help your wife, I know how to play now."
Ye’s father was dismissive of Ye Hao.
Ye Hao helplessly smiled at Gu Yi.
"Co on, guide ."
Gu Yi pulled Ye Hao to sit beside her.
They continued to play until eleven o’clock.
Midway through, Ye’s mother reheated so food since they had eaten early.
Eventually, Ye’s father and mother couldn’t keep up.
They went to bed first, leaving their spots for Ye Hao.
Gu Yi, Ye Hao, and Ye Qian played until midnight.
"Qianqian, the street lights outside are still on. Today your brother is here, why don’t we go out for a walk to see if celebrating in the city is different from our countryside?"
Gu Yi suddenly wanted to see how New Year was celebrated in the city; previously, she and Ye Qian didn’t dare go out.
This year, with Ye Hao present, she couldn’t resist the urge to explore.
"Sure, sure, I’ve wanted to see it for a long ti."
Ye Qian was eager as soon as she heard about going out.
"Then put on so more clothes, and I’ll take you out for a stroll."
Ye Hao didn’t mind, and he was happy to accompany Gu Yi and Ye Qian out.
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