Rebirth 1958: My Home is in Nanluoguxiang

On the morning of New Year's Eve, Zhu Min came to pick up Xiao Hu and Xiao Pangzi. The two stayed at Chang's house for nine days and learned a lot of interesting things from Chang Zhengyang. They were reluctant to leave and said they would come back in two days.

When they learned that the Chang family would be visiting relatives during the first month of the lunar year and might not have time to spare until the seventh or eighth day, the two were very disappointed.

Chang Zhengyang could do nothing to help. This was just the beginning. If their family still had relatives from the Zhang family, the visiting would have to wait until at least the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

Although the Hu and Wang families have no relatives in Yanjing, they have more comrades-in-arms and old leaders. During the first month of the year, the two families visit their comrades-in-arms and go to the homes of old leaders to pay New Year's greetings, and they are equally busy.

Especially when visiting an old leader’s home, if you don’t take advantage of the New Year period to openly visit and maintain a good relationship with him, how can you make progress in the future?

What if there are too many people going and your leader can’t remember you?

Anyway, it is better to be remembered by the leader than not going. If you go, the leader may not remember you, but if you don’t go, you will definitely be in the leader’s notebook.

On New Year's Eve, none of the children who usually gathered together to play in the alleys were there.

Do they not like playing anymore?

How is that possible? Playing is children's nature. It's not that they don't like playing anymore, but there are more important things attracting them today.

That's just like eating!

On New Year's Eve, every household starts to make lard early in the morning, and then fry meatballs, fried fruits, fried shrimp chips...

The adults, who used to be very careful about food, were particularly generous today. In addition to the crispy pork lard, the children could also have meat balls, fried fruits and so on.

Freshly-baked fried foods are an endless temptation to every child. They squat at the door of their kitchen, breathing in the aroma, drooling!

On this day, in the city of Yanjing and above the land of China, the aroma of food seemed to be floating in the air.

In the kitchen of the old Chang family, Chang Wanyue, Chang Zhengming, Chang Zhenghe, and Chang Wanzhu stood in a row, looking eagerly in the direction of the stove.

In their limited memories, New Year’s Eve has never been as grand as this year!

In previous years, there were just fried meatballs, fried fruits, and fried shrimp chips. This year, in addition to these, there are also fried lotus root cakes, fried hairtail, fried French fries, and fried chicken legs. The table is full of marinated ingredients, just waiting to be put into the frying pan.

At this time, Chang Zhengyang was constantly stirring the lard residue in the pot to prevent the lard residue from being overcooked.

A full ten kilograms of fat, all of which was top-quality lard, which Chang Zhengyang obtained by exchanging thirty old turtles for the deputy chief of the logistics department of the meat processing plant.

Judging from the price, he is at a disadvantage, but lard-fried food is delicious!

The Chang family does not refine lard like other families do, by refining all the fat from the fat meat. The fried lard residue that comes out that way is not tasty, has a hard texture, and is a bit bitter. That's because the lard residue is fried too old.

Their lard residue is different. It tastes crispy and sweet, and sprinkled with a little sugar. It sizzles and oozes oil when you take a bite. It's so delicious!

"Eat some lard first, but eat less. Otherwise, you won't be able to eat anything else in a while."

Chang Zhengyang scooped out the lard residue and placed it in a ceramic jar beside him. The little ones were very obedient and really ate a little.

It’s not that their control has become stronger, but that Chang Zhengyang has already started frying meatballs, which are much more delicious than lard residue.

Chang Zhengyang worked for the whole morning and finally finished frying everything. He felt like he had been fried too, and his whole body felt fried.

Anyone who has fried something knows that it smells delicious at first, but becomes a bit nauseating after a while.

Therefore, everything should be consumed in moderation. Even the best things will be unbearable if you drink too much.

Lunch was simple. The family just drank a few sips of cornmeal porridge. We had eaten too much in the morning and our stomachs were full of grease. We just wanted to drink something light and didn’t want to eat anything else.

In the afternoon, every household started to post Spring Festival couplets. Every year, the Chang family bought the couplets from Yan Fugui from the next door courtyard, and this year was no exception.

Although Yan Fugui does not have a high level of education, it does not mean that he is uneducated. Old Yan has studied in a private school and can write beautiful official script, which is no worse than those old scholars.

So sometimes Old Yan couldn't help but sigh that he was born twenty years later, otherwise he would have become a scholar.

After being called in for a talk by the school leaders, I never mentioned the matter again.

The middle courtyard of No. 95 Yard is now very lively. Yan Fugui is writing at his desk. There is a long line in front of him, which extends all the way to the alley. People from several nearby courtyards are also queuing up. Everyone is chatting about family matters while queuing.

How much lard did you refine today? How many meatballs did I fry today? What are the plans for the first month of the lunar year? Which relatives will I visit? How much New Year's money will I give?

"When are you going to Baoding to see Uncle He?"

"What are you going to do? You're just messing around!"

In the team, Chang Zhengyang looked at He Yuzhu with contempt and said, “You’re just being stubborn!”

Facing Chang Zhengyang's contemptuous gaze, He Yuzhu's eyes were vague and he didn't say anything else.

Chang Zhengyang took out a note from his arms and handed it to He Yuzhu, who subconsciously took it and took a look at it.

"Take it. When you get to Baoding, go find Director Zhao of the First Hospital. He will arrange a guest house for you. Stay there for a few more days in the first month of the year and then come back."

This is the note that Chang Zhengyang sent to Ma Xiangguo. As one of the top universities in China, Yenching Medical College naturally has excellent connections in the medical system.

The guesthouse was closed for the Chinese New Year, and He Yuzhu and his sister had no relatives or friends in Baoding, so if they went to Baoding, they would have to come back the same night. In the coldest days of winter, this kind of suffering would be very unbearable.

"Thanks!"

He Yuzhu carefully put the note into his pocket, which also contained four round-trip train tickets to Baoding.

There were fewer and fewer people in the line, and finally it was Chang Zhengyang's turn, who gave the dollar in his hand to Yan Fugui.

"Teacher Yan, I wish you a happy new year! I wish you abundance and everything goes well!"

"It's Zhengyang. I also wish you a happy new year. I wish you academic success and a bright future."

Yan Fugui happily lowered his head to write Spring Festival couplets. These seven college students were good at talking, and their words touched his heart.

Having surplus every year means having surplus money!

The Chang family is a single-family household with many rooms, including many doors. As a result, they need a lot of Spring Festival couplets and blessing characters. It took Yan Fugui a long time to complete this large order for the Chang family.

However, no matter how tired he was, he was willing to do it. This was a once-a-year opportunity to make money in a legitimate way.

Just over twenty dollars!