After a simple rebirth

It was not yet dark, but the sound of firecrackers had already begun to pop in the village, and some families had breakfast early.

The Fu family was a little later, at half past six, and all the dishes were ready. Dad Fu also took out a long firecracker and threw it at the door, ready to light it.

Fu Ying stopped Fu's father who was about to go forward and asked Fu Zhe,

"Why don't you try to light it, just slowly, like you would light a firecracker yourself."

Dad Fu wanted to say that Fu Zhe was too young and he was afraid that his hands would be blown up, but seeing that Fu Ying insisted, he didn't say anything for the time being.

When Fu Zhe heard this and saw that his father didn't refuse, he excitedly took the lighter from his father and ran over to squat down to light it. He didn't light it the first time because he pulled his hand back too quickly. He slowed down the second time and succeeded. After lighting it, Fu Zhe immediately ran back to Fu Ying and his father.

Amid the crackling sound of firecrackers, Fu Ying witnessed Fu Zhe's growth.

What child doesn’t play with firecrackers? Especially male monks, there are many who secretly pick up these firecrackers and set them off!

When Fu Ying was a child, her hand exploded while playing with firecrackers. It was not her who played, but Fu Wei who took her to play. Fu Wei asked her to hold the firecrackers, light them and throw them away. As a result, she was afraid, so Fu Wei lit them but she did not throw them away, and the firecrackers exploded in her hand. Fu Ying was sent to the doctor for stitches. Five stitches were needed on her thumb. After the wound healed, a herringbone-shaped scar was left, which has remained with her even when she grew up.

However, this initiative of letting Fu Zhe light the fire is a recognition of him. He is no longer treated as a child who knows nothing, and is allowed to participate in the New Year and family matters. This is a very important step in his growth.

Like Fu Zhe, Fu Ying was considered too young by her parents to take on any responsibilities, so her parents did not trust her to do anything and made her do everything herself.

But work and society require children to be forced to learn and take on many things. Fu Ying grew up quickly, and her parents felt that Fu Ying had suddenly grown up, so they gave her more things to do.

But responsibility and ability are cultivated from childhood, and growing up suddenly is accompanied by painful lessons. What parents cannot teach, society will take care of.

If we don't cultivate him step by step now, should we wait until he reaches an age like Fu Wei but deliberately evades responsibility?

After setting off firecrackers, there is another very important step on New Year’s Eve, which is to worship the ancestors.

Father Fu put out the food for the ancestral sacrifice in a small bowl, and Fu Ying and Fu Zhe took it to the main hall. Three fried dishes, three stir-fried dishes, three bowls of rice, and three pairs of chopsticks were placed on the eight-immortal table in the main hall. Then incense was inserted into the diced potatoes, and the red candles next to the ancestral tablets were lit, and they were ready to kneel down and worship.

Dad Fu brought a pillow and placed it on the ground, then knelt on the pillow. He then tore the thick burning paper into thin sheets for easier burning. There was yellow paper and paper money with amounts on it, and while burning them he prayed to the ancestors to bless his family.

Fu's father asked Fu Zhe to call Fu Wei over and kowtow three times, then Fu Zhe kowtowed. After Fu Ying finished burning the paper money, she went back to the stove. Generally, girls are not allowed to kowtow to the ancestors.

When Fu Ying was a child, she saw her older brothers kowtow and insisted on doing so. Her father also asked her to do so. Later, when she became more sensible, she stopped joining in.

"Fu Ying, come here and kowtow three times to pay homage to your grandparents and the ancestors of your family." Fu's father called her in the main room.

Fu Ying was stunned and wanted to say that she would not go because girls were not allowed to kowtow. But Fu's father called her, so Fu Ying went over, knelt down, and kowtowed three times.

No big ask, just leave it like this.

After the paper money is burned, the candles and incense continue to burn slowly, and the dishes are poured back into the plates, and the family can eat the New Year's Eve dinner. However, the rice cannot be poured back, and more should be served to the men in the family.

After worshipping their ancestors, the Fu family sat around the stove.

The real dishes for the New Year’s Eve dinner are the same as the nine big bowls, with 12 dishes. Chicken, fish, and pork are a must, and other dishes such as beef and shrimp depend on the family’s conditions.

The Fu family is not that particular and will just cook whatever dishes they can, not necessarily 12.

This year, Dad Fu made sauerkraut fish, steamed pork with pork belly, crispy fried pea sprouts, fried chicken nuggets, fried dried tofu, stir-fried meat with garlic sprouts, crispy pork soup, vegetable tofu pudding, fried peanuts, fried potato chips, and cold pig ears.

There were already quite a lot of people, the stove plate was full, Fu's father and mother drank beer, Fu Ying and the other two drank drinks, and the five of them started to eat.

Fu Ying likes cold-boiled pig ears. This dish is not very delicious when you eat it outside. To be more precise, it is not the taste that Fu Ying likes.

Fu Ying bought the ones sold in the market several times, but they were always cut too thick and the dipping sauce wasn’t tasty.

The slices made by Fu's father were very thin, and the dipping sauce was fresh, spicy and fragrant. Fu Ying ate one piece at a time, and it was spicy and fragrant.

Another thing Fu Ying likes is fried chicken nuggets. There is no need for any tricks when making fried chicken nuggets. There is no marinating or coating. The cut meat is fried until golden brown, then taken out and sprinkled with seasoning and mixed evenly. After eating too much chicken nuggets with flour, eating chicken puree like this is also quite delicious.

The dish that Fu Ying took a bite of but refused to pick up her chopsticks was pickled fish.

In fact, Fu Ying likes to eat pickled fish very much, but Fu's father's cooking skills are not up to par when it comes to pickled fish.

Dad Fu used locally raised grass carp, which had many bones and a bit of fishy smell. Dad Fu did not pickle it. He just added water after stir-frying the sauerkraut and put the fish in when it boiled.

Every year, not many people take the pickled fish, but every year Fu's father insists on making it. In the end, it's like assigning tasks. Everyone takes a few pieces and is required to eat them as quickly as possible. Leaving another meal will only make it fishier and the fish meat will be broken.

Fu Ying took a look and found that most people were ordering chicken. The big and small crispy buns were as popular as ever.

Okay, looks like it's going to be arranged!

Fu Wei and Fu Zhe ate quickly, and Fu's father was also quick to pick up two pieces of fish each.

"This is the fish I bought and raised two days ago. I killed it fresh today. We must eat it all and not waste it."

"Dad, this fish is not tasty. It has too many bones." Fu Zhexian said this in a suicidal way, wanting to return the fish to his father.

"Don't waste it. You must finish it. It's not good to keep the fish overnight. Isn't it said that eating fish is healthy and good for the brain? You should eat more." Dad Fu found a lot of reasons just to get everyone to eat more fish.

Fu Zhe shut up, and Fu Ying silently took two pieces. They couldn't escape it. They could not finish it, but everyone had to eat a few pieces, otherwise Fu's father would scold them.

After dinner, Dad Fu cleaned up the dishes, which actually meant putting the same kind of meat together so they could heat them up together next time, and washing the empty bowls.

Fu Ying took the initiative to wash the dishes. She was too lazy to argue about who should wash the dishes. She washed them quickly and was done.

In the evening we play cards. In the past, people were required to stay up until midnight to welcome the beginning of the new year.

But there is no mandatory requirement now. The main thing is that people will play cards until after midnight, and some people with strong addictions will even play all night long.

Speaking of playing cards, Fu Wei is happy to participate. Now there are five people in the family, playing fast is just right.

Before playing cards, Fu's mother gave out the New Year's money first, without putting it in a red envelope. Her family didn't care about this, so they just gave 20 yuan directly.

Fu Ying has gotten used to it. It only increased to 10 yuan in the past two years, and it would be good to have 20 this year. After she started working, it was gone.