Chapter 377 - Chapter 377: Chapter 377: Celebrating the New Year (2) (1/2)
Chapter 377: Chapter 377: Celebrating the New Year (2)
Translator: 549690339
“It’s alright! I’ve recovered too. Besides, it’s much warmer in this room than outside.”
Liu Sisi laughed sincerely, her heart filled with joy.
When the first batch of rice cakes was ready, Di Yelei filled a large bowl with them and let everyone help themselves.
The rice cakes had a subtle sourness and sweetness, which made them both delicious and filling. Made from rice, they were perfect for the children as they wouldn’t cause indigestion, even Da Mao had a few.
Everyone chatted and laughed, and once the slab oil was ready, they scooped out the oil residue and began to fry crispy strips. Crispy strips were made by wrapping fatty meat with sweet potato flour and then frying them in an oil pan until golden brown.
Following that were the crispy meats, made by frying lean meat coated with sweet potato flour. Then came the fried balls, made mostly from vegetables and small fish. The small fish were covered in a thin layer of cornstarch and then fried. Finally, they made sticky rice balls and deep-fried cakes…
After steaming the dishes three consecutive times in the steaming basket, Di Yelei handed the task of frying the balls to Liu Zhi’er and began to kill the chickens and rabbits with boiled water.
Being accustomed to these tasks, Di Yelei quickly slaughtered five chickens and three rabbits, stuffing their insides with various homemade seasonings, and placing them in the steaming basket to steam the dry chicken and rabbit dishes. He also prepared the front and hind legs of the pig, pig head, pig tail, pig tongue, pig heart, pig stomach, and pig liver, placing them in the steaming basket according to custom.
Once everything was cooking, things quieted down.
“Today we’ve prepared all the food, so anything we want to eat later can be heated up directly from the pot—it’s so convenient!”
Di Yelei said with a smile on his face.
“Absolutely, with so much food and all that meat, we wouldn’t be able to finish it all by the Lantern Festival,” Liu Sisi said, glancing at him slyly.
“Hehehe! It’s better to have more and set some aside. In the past few years, there hasn’t been enough food at home and every New Year’s Eve has been tight. Now everything is better, we have lots of food, so of course, we will have a lavish New Year’s Eve dinner!”
Di Yelei laughed heartily.
Since the dishes in the pot were large and required steaming for at least six hours to be fully cooked, they steamed them overnight. Di Yelei naturally took on the responsibility of tending the fire.
By the time Liu Zhi’er started frying the fish, the smell made Liu Sisi nauseous, and she ended up washing up and going to bed.
As the family laughed and chatted, the night passed by unknowingly.
When Liu Sisi woke up, Di Yelei was still asleep, hugging her tightly. She gently crawled out of bed and saw Liu Zhi’er combing her wet hair.
“Little Sister, you’re awake. I’ve heated water in the pot and already washed YingEr clean. Do you want to wash up too?”
Liu Zhi’er, freshly bathed, exuded a gentle aura, leaving Liu Sisi mesmerized.
She suddenly realized that her Second Sister was not even 20 years old yet. In her previous life, she would have been a young girl like a budding flower—yet now, she dressed and acted like an old woman.
Perhaps it was because she had been staring at her for so long without speaking that Liu Zhi’er looked at her curiously and, with a confused expression, fixed her hair behind her head.
“What’s wrong? Did I not clean myself properly?”
Liu Zhi’er quickly checked herself.
“No, it’s just that I just realized how beautiful, pure, and gentle my Second Sister is. It’s beyond my ability to describe…”
Liu Sisi’s words seemed like a dream, causing Liu Zhi’er’s face to turn bright red!
This blush added a touch of rouge to her face, making her look all the more delightful!