Chapter 304: Roots (Part 2)
Chapter 304: Chapter 220: Roots (Part 2)
A buzz of discussion instantly filled the room of onlookers. Divorce was still a rare thing these days, but since Zhao Wendong was the one to bring it up, no one had any objections. Whatever Zhao Wendong said now, they all believed and accepted.
That evening at dinner, when the arrangements for Zhao Damei were brought up, Zhao Dashan and Chen Yanmei both nodded in approval. Zhao Wendong was successful and assertive enough now to protect his siblings. Both of them were kind-hearted people, and they had watched Zhao Damei grow up. How could they not feel for her?
“Third Brother, is rooster yummy?”
Little Tuanzi, while eating, suddenly asked a question that left Zhao Wendong baffled. He looked up at the child’s serious face, then glanced at the quiet, cunning little fox. ‘Could it be that Little Tuanzi can also hear what animals are thinking?’ he wondered. ‘But this fox got a scare recently. It hasn’t dared to think about eating chickens since it came back.’
“Haha, it’s quite tasty. But why the sudden urge to eat the rooster?”
“Because it crows in the morning, and Little Tuanzi can’t sleep well.”
Little Tuanzi complained indignantly, and the whole Zhao family burst out laughing. In the outer room, the big rooster felt a sudden clench in its rear and immediately lowered its proudly held head.
Zhao Wendong also laughed for a good while. So it was because the crowing was disturbing Little Tuanzi. He nodded. “Alright, we’ll butcher it tomorrow for the New Year.”
Hearing this, Little Tuanzi suddenly felt a pang of pity. After a moment’s thought, the child asked in a soft, milky voice.
“Third Brother, can we just make it not crow?”
Zhao Wenwu lifted his head from his food bowl, an expression on his face that said, ‘You’re all so dense.’ “Can’t we just sew its beak shut?”
“Hahaha!”
The family was once again sent into fits of laughter by Zhao Wenwu. Seeing everyone laugh, he laughed along, though he still thought he was right.
The next day was New Year’s Eve. The plan for the day was a lavish lunch, a visit to the ancestral graves in the afternoon, and dumplings for dinner. Zhao Wendong had already prepared the white flour, all ready for making dumplings that evening.
After breakfast, Chef Zhao Wendong got busy. A few of the women helped him in the kitchen. Zhao Wenjun’s dining table had been brought over as well. Squeezing two tables onto the floor was the absolute limit, so they planned to add another one on the kang bed-stove.
The meal was scheduled for noon, and by a little after eleven, the guests began to arrive one after another. Soon, Zhao Wendong’s small house was packed to the gills, with barely any room to stand.
Everyone was wearing new clothes, greeting each other with auspicious New Year’s wishes. Happy smiles adorned every face. Zhao Wendong had bought plenty of new cotton-padded coats before the New Year, and even Zhao Damei had gotten a new set.
At the small table on the kang sat Ye Qingmei, Zhao Chuanhe, Grandmaster Ai, Third Master Zhao, and Granny Liu. Zhao Dashan was also perched on the edge of the kang, keeping the guests company. Granny Liu had originally planned to spend the holiday at home by herself, but Zhao Wendong had to send three separate parties to her door, like a classic tale of recruitment, just to get the old woman to come. As she arrived, she even teased Zhao Wendong, who was cooking in the outer room.
“Dongzi, do you even know how to cook? Don’t you go wasting all these fine ingredients, you little rascal.”
Zhao Wendong chuckled and replied, “Happy New Year, Granny Liu. You’ll see soon enough whether I can cook or not.”
Main table on the floor: Zhao Wendong, Zhao Wenwu, Zhao Wenjun, Zhao Ergou, Lin Huaimin, Wang Lulu, Lin Zhiyin, and Jin Xiuying.
The other table: Zhao Damei, Chen Yanmei, Shitou, Sanwazi, Little Tuanzi, Pandi, Laidi, and Song Xiaoyu.
There were twenty-two people in total, not even counting the younger children like Yadan, Daya, and Er Ya. These were the people closest to Zhao Wendong. Of course, he hadn’t forgotten his animals either. Before the meal began, he gave them all extra food so they could celebrate the New Year with him.
Soon, the dishes Zhao Wendong had so carefully prepared were brought to the tables. Each dish was divided into three portions. First came two cold appetizers: saltwater boiled prawns and a cold salad of mountain wood ear fungus. The prawns were a gift from the villagers after foraging at the sea, and the fungus was freshly picked.
Next were two classic Northeast stews: Pickled Cabbage and Frozen Tofu Stew with Wild Boar and Vermicelli, and Chicken, Forest Frog, and Potato Stew with Hazel Mushrooms.
Then, four hot dishes: Braised Venison with Radish; Red-Braised Carp; Stir-fried Rabbit with Frozen Mushrooms; and Stir-fried Wood Ear Fungus with Cabbage, also called “Black and White.” Zhao Wendong hadn’t even considered using meats like wolf or tiger, as they were neither tasty nor tender.
He had prepared eight dishes in total—not counting the soup. Zhao Wendong had simply put some clams and seaweed together to make an additional Clam and Seaweed Soup.
Zhao Wendong had put his heart into every single dish. He had found creative substitutes for the many rare or unavailable seasonings of the era, doing his best to provide his loved ones with the most sumptuous feast imaginable for his first New year since his return.
His efforts were not in vain. Looking at the authentic-looking and fragrant dishes, it wasn’t just the children; even the adults’ mouths were watering uncontrollably as their appetites were stirred. Zhao Wendong actually had several jars of medicinal wine, but whether it was the ginseng or the tiger bone and penis wine, they had only just been put up to steep. It would be a waste to drink them now, so he didn’t bring them out.
“I’ve never eaten such a lavish meal in my entire life.”
Grandmaster Ai said, his face full of emotion. Hearing this, Third Master Zhao, who sat beside him, laughed. “Never mind you, I’ve traveled across half of China, from Beiping to Shanghai, and even I’ve never eaten a meal like this!”
Lin Huaimin and Wang Lulu exchanged a glance. They had once experienced this level of comfort, but they had never dreamed they would be able to live like this again.
As the staple foods—steamed white rice and sticky bean buns—were brought to the table, Zhao Wendong smiled and addressed everyone. “Alright, all the dishes are here! Please, do me the honor and give them a try. Let’s see how this kid’s skills really are, and whether I’ve wasted these fine ingredients like Granny Liu said.”