Siheyuan: Relieve stress and relieve worries

Chapter 894 Winter Solstice Dumplings
Since the beginning of winter in 2005 or 2006, snow has been falling continuously, and the snow on both sides of the road has only been cleared away in a few days.

Wang Zhan had thought that the winter solstice would be next week, so he would take advantage of the time now to visit Principal Ren and Teacher Yang. Unfortunately, it snowed heavily again. Now Wang Li was not very excited about the snow. The weather was cold, so the brother and sister stayed at home on their days off.

Wang Zhan is now numb to sweeping snow, although he is a little tired. He can't bear to leave his sister alone, so he has to clean it up himself. On the contrary, He Yushui feels relieved because Sha Zhu won't let her help at all.

The plan to visit his mentor was shelved, so Wang Zhan gave up and planned to visit him before the Spring Festival, which was a natural thing to do.

December 12nd Winter Solstice

Wang Zhan got up at daybreak. After school last night, Auntie Sun came to ask Wang Zhan if he wanted to bring some vegetables for tomorrow. That's the good thing about Auntie Sun: no matter what festival or custom it was, she would always come to let him know and ask if he wanted to bring some vegetables. Yesterday, Wang Zhan told Auntie Sun that he wanted to go shopping with her.

Seeing that his sister was still sleeping soundly, Wang Zhan did not disturb her. He went out to stir the fire in the fireplace, then added enough firewood to the stove in the kitchen outside, and filled the two large pots on the stove with water. Then he left home to find Aunt Sun. Jinbao followed him all the way to the gate. Wang Zhan pointed in the direction of the main room, and Jinbao ran back happily.

Wang Zhan arrived at Aunt Sun's house and just happened to see Aunt Sun coming out of the yard. She was followed by two other women. Wang Zhan actually knew them. After saying hello, they walked towards the supply and marketing cooperative together. Why did they get up so early? Because they were not going to the supply and marketing cooperative near their home, but to the No. 34 Supply Department in Donghuamen.

As they walked, Wang Zhan asked, "Auntie Sun, do you have enough meat coupons? If not, I have some."

Aunt Sun smiled and said, "I have it, don't worry. By the way, do you want to come to my place for dinner tonight?"

Wang Zhan said, "No, school is over early today, and some classmates may come over. I have a lot of meat coupons at home, so I plan to invite them to eat together, and we won't go to your place."

Aunt Sun understood that this was Wang Zhan's disguised way of asking his classmates to improve their lives, so she had no intention of participating. When several people arrived at the supply and marketing cooperative, Wang Zhan saw that there were already people queuing at the meat counter, so several people quickened their pace and joined the queue.

Wang Zhan looked at the situation inside the supply and marketing cooperative with boredom. At this moment, there were people queuing up at the meat counter, while the rest of the place was empty.

Just when Wang Zhan was bored, several butcher shop assistants carried half a carp of pork from the back door and began to hang them on the shelf behind the butcher chopping board. When the shelf was full, the assistants began to help the chefs to cut up the pork. When the pork was almost cut up, the supply and marketing cooperative here officially opened for business.

Wang Zhan was in the front of the line, so it was his turn soon. Wang Zhan ordered ten pounds of pork belly, five pounds of lean ribs and ten pounds of lard. Fortunately, they were in the front of the line today, but the ten pounds of meat ticket in Wang Zhan's hand also stunned the clerk, because it was a military meat ticket.

After buying the meat, Wang Zhan said hello to Aunt Sun and left, because some of his oil coupons, sugar coupons and non-staple food coupons were about to expire and he had to use them quickly. At this time, more and more people came to the supply and marketing cooperative, but fortunately, most people were eyeing the pork stall.

It didn't take Wang Zhan long to buy what he needed. He regretted not riding his tricycle. The things together were two heavy sacks. Wang Zhan had no choice but to carry one on his shoulder and one in his hand and headed straight home. It didn't take long for Wang Zhan to reach his door. There were more people in the alley at this time. Wang Zhan noticed that several people were staring at him, not knowing whether they were looking at him or the sack in his hand.

When Wang Li got home, she had already washed up. When she looked at her brother, her eyes lit up. Yesterday, her brother said he would go buy candy early this morning, but there was no stock at home. Mainly, there was no candy in her little treasure room.

Wang Li followed Wang Zhan to the kitchen. Wang Zhan looked at his anxious sister and helplessly handed her a large bag of pastries and two bags of sugar. He sent her back to the main room. Wang Zhan packed up the things, put them where they should be, and hung up the meat. Then he started to make breakfast.

After breakfast, He Yushui also arrived at his home. The three of them rode tricycles to school together. On the way, He Yushui told Wang Zhan that his brother would come over in the afternoon as he got off work early. He Yushui knew that school was over at three o'clock in the afternoon today.

Although school was supposed to end at three o'clock, the whole school actually started cleaning at two o'clock. It was less than two-thirty when Wang Zhan and his friends walked out of the campus. When they arrived at Hongxing Primary School, they found that Wang Li had arrived earlier than them. She had been sitting in the message room for more than an hour.

Looking at his pouting sister, Wang Zhan coaxed her for a long time, but finally, it was the pile of food and toys from the supply and marketing cooperative that made her smile.

After returning home, several people put down their schoolbags and started to get busy. Of course, the important work was still done by Wang Zhan, such as picking vegetables, washing vegetables and chopping meat. He Yushui was responsible for making the dough. Today, Wang Zhan was extravagant and used white flour directly.

In fact, there is not much stock at home. It has been about four or five months since the last time Wu Yong delivered goods, and Wu Yong has not come since then. The only vegetables left in the cellar are cabbage, radish, potatoes and onions. The other vegetables have long been consumed, so today they plan to make dumplings with two kinds of fillings: pork and cabbage and pork and onion.

Just when Wang Zhan was about to mix the stuffing, Sha Zhu came back with four lunch boxes in his hands. It seemed that a welcome dinner was prepared for lunch today, otherwise he should have come back at noon. When Sha Zhu came back, he took over the kitchen chores and drove Wang Zhan and He Yushui out.

At around four o'clock, everyone gathered together to make dumplings. Of course, Xiaowu was just pretending, Wang Li was there to make trouble, and the main forces were Wang Zhan, He Yushui, Xiaosi and Da Laotie. Shazhu was responsible for rolling the dough.

After working for more than an hour and wrapping nearly 300 dumplings, Wang Zhan was about to stop when Director Li and Qi Dasheng came back with a box of wine. Wang Zhan said with a sad face, "Okay, let's continue."

The dumplings for the winter solstice were not eaten until after six o'clock. Xiaowu and Xiaosi were so idle that they were peeling garlic. They peeled a large bowl of garlic. Wang Zhan looked at them and shook his head. Wang Zhan had stewed a large pot of bones when he started working. This was prepared for Jinbao. When the aroma of meat wafted out from the kitchen, Jinbao stayed by the stove and lay there.

The big round table in the main hall was really useful today. There were ten plates of dumplings on the table, plus the six dishes made by Sha Zhu and the seasoning bowls. The table was full and everyone was very satisfied. After they sat down, Director Li said directly, "What are you waiting for? Let's eat right away."

The only sounds left in the house were those of people eating dumplings. In the yard outside, Jinbao was eating in circles around his dog bowl, wagging his tail and barking from time to time.

(End of this chapter)