Free Days in Siheyuan

After ladling a clay pot, there was still some mutton soup left in the pot. Although it was not much, the soup still looked very thick even after Zhang Guifang added two large ladles of water.

Seeing this, Zhang Guifang simply added another ladle of water, and then put in the mutton bones that were shaved off when cutting the mutton and continued to stew.

It was rare for the family to have time to rest together, so they gathered together to drink tea, chat, and play cards. However, no matter what they were doing, everyone's eyes never left the big iron pot that was spitting out white smoke. I was waiting for the mutton soup to come out.

Zhang Guifang smiled at their greedy looks, then cut some cabbage and prepared to put it in the mutton soup later.

It’s a rare occasion to drink mutton soup, and of course you can’t forget Mr. Sun.

Zhang Yu and Zhang Guifang talked and prepared to invite Mrs. Sun.

Seeing Zhang Yu preparing to go out like that, Zhang Guifang quickly warned: "It's cold outside, put on your coat before going."

"It's okay, it's just these two steps. I'll be back in a moment."

Zhang Yu ran out with a smile, causing Zhang Guifang to say: "You stupid boy doesn't know how to be cold."

Zhang Yu trotted to Mr. Sun's door. The door was unlocked and just ajar. Zhang Yu shouted inside and pushed the door open directly.

When I walked in, I happened to see Mr. Sun sitting on a recliner, lowering his head and caressing a photo, with tears in his eyes.

Seeing Zhang Yu come in, Mr. Sun quietly wiped the corners of his eyes while saying hello.

Zhang Yu was stunned for a moment, then pretended not to see it, smiled and said: "Mr. Sun, come to my house for dinner today. It just so happens that my sister-in-law cooked mutton soup today. By the way, I just agreed with Aunt Zhao , tell her not to prepare food for you later."

After finishing speaking, Zhang Yu didn't care about Mr. Sun's reaction. He directly took the coat on the side and put it on him, then helped him and walked to his sister-in-law's house.

This move made Mr. Sun not know what to say. He could only sigh: "You kid, you kid!"

Zhang Yu smiled and did not continue the topic. Instead, he turned around and started talking about how delicious the mutton soup was and how good his sister-in-law's cooking was, which made Mr. Sun greedy.

When they arrived at the door of their sister-in-law, Zhang Guifang and Zhao Wenzhuo were already waiting at the door. Seeing Mr. Sun coming, they hurriedly took over Zhang Yu's work and helped Mr. Sun into the house.

Without saying a word, Zhang Guifang scooped a bowl of mutton soup for Mr. Sun and said with a smile: "How about you try my cooking?"

"Okay, okay! Let me try it." Mr. Sun brought the bowl to his mouth and tasted it slowly.

Seeing how happy he was drinking, Zhang Guifang was also happy and stood up to greet the whole family for dinner.

In a place where no one was looking, Mr. Sun's eyes became slightly moist as he looked at the mutton soup in his hands and the family talking and laughing.

If his children and grandchildren were still here, would they be the same as before?
  Mr. Sun took advantage of turning his head to quietly wipe the tears from his eyes, then turned to praise Zhang Guifang for her good craftsmanship.

Zhang Guifang was even happier after being praised by Mr. Sun.

Seeing that half of the mutton soup in Mr. Sun's bowl had gone down, he smiled and refilled it for him, and then said, "If it tastes good, drink more. There's still more in the pot."

The family drank mutton soup around the stove. While drinking, they talked about where the best mutton was. Which mutton soup is the best? Which restaurant's mutton-shabu is more authentic and a series of topics about mutton.

Zhang Yu was stunned for a moment. It turns out that no matter what time, the Chinese people's pursuit of delicious food never stops. After Zhang Yu reacted, he also participated in the conversation and said that he would try it someday when he was free to see if the food everyone said was really so delicious.

The quality of the mutton bought by Zhang Yu is good, and Zhang Guifang's craftsmanship is good. When the two are combined, the mutton soup produced is not as good as those of the so-called century-old brands, but it is not bad, and everyone will be satisfied after drinking it.

Then I don’t know whether they really didn’t pay attention or they were deliberately covering it up. Anyway, no one mentioned the fact that the mutton bought from the meat stall could not make such a thick and thick mutton soup.

Everyone tacitly ignored this issue.

After finishing the bowl of mutton soup in his hand, Mr. Sun rejected Zhang Guifang's idea of ​​giving him another bowl. Instead, he spoke to a few people and stood up to go back to the house.

Although the snow on the road outside has been swept away, Zhang Yu is still worried about Mr. Sun going back alone.

Seeing that Mr. Sun was about to leave, Zhang Yu finished the mutton soup in the bowl in three gulps, wiped his mouth, and ran to hold Mr. Sun's arm and send him back.

After sending Mr. Sun back to the house, Zhang Yu replaced the stove in his house with new briquettes before preparing to leave.

At this moment, Mr. Sun asked Zhang Yu when he would be free and if he could accompany him to meet a few people.

Zhang Yu is on vacation now, so naturally he is free at any time, so he readily agreed.

But early the next morning, after he was dressed neatly, he hesitated again when he heard that Mr. Sun actually wanted to go to the Martyrs Cemetery.

Mr. Sun is quite old. Is it really okay to go to the Martyrs Cemetery today?

Regardless of Mr. Sun's objections, Zhang Yu directly called his sister-in-law and Uncle Zhao, hoping that everyone could persuade each other to wait until the weather warmed up before going.

When everyone heard that Mr. Sun was going to the Martyrs Cemetery on that day, they quickly stopped him.

In the face of everyone's obstruction, Mr. Sun just looked into the distance, as if he was looking at something, but he didn't seem to see anything. He said something sad: "I don't know if I can see next spring! I don't want to. Regrets."

As soon as these words came out, everyone present fell silent. Winter is a difficult time for all old people, not to mention that Mrs. Sun is indeed not young.

Although he doesn't want to admit it, every winter is a setback for him.

Everyone was silent, but Aunt Zhao was the first to react. She directly grabbed Mr. Sun and said, "Quickly pooh on the ground three times."

After saying that, he clasped his hands together and bowed around, praying at the same time: "The old man can't speak, God, don't take me seriously!"

Seeing Aunt Zhao's nervous look, Mr. Sun followed her helplessly and pouted to the ground three times, which finally gained Aunt Zhao's satisfaction.

However, Aunt Zhao was quickly educated by Uncle Zhao. He is the elder in the courtyard. As a family member, Aunt Zhao must set an example. She must believe in science and oppose superstition, but she cannot do this in front of outsiders.

Aunt Zhao glanced at him sideways and said angrily: "I'm not stupid! When did you stop seeing me saying this outside? I'm much more reliable than you in this regard!"

"Okay, okay, you're the most reliable, okay!" Seeing his mother-in-law getting angry, Uncle Zhao quickly admitted his mistake.