The dumplings on the first day of the Lunar New Year were made with several types of fillings by the Fang family.
There were fillings of chives, eggs, and shrimp; chives, pork, and shrimp; pickled cabbage and pork; beef and scallions; and lamb and scallions.
In the kitchen, the women from the various branches of the Meng family looked at these fillings with mixed emotions.
If they weren't having dumplings at their second brother's (or second uncle's, or grand-uncle's) house, they would never have seen so many different kinds of fillings.
After all, Xian Shui Town had been devastated by the Tatars, and many people had not returned. Before the New Year, there wasn't even a decent market.
Furthermore, even if there were a market, they wouldn't have been able to go or afford anything.
Liu Shi was the most eloquent: "Fortunately, we have our second uncle. Otherwise, even during the New Year, we wouldn't be able to eat such good dumplings."
Little Li Shi thought the same: "If it weren't for our second uncle, we wouldn't have today."
They were content, and it was New Year's Day, so they were exchanging New Year's greetings.
Fu Xin Ci, however, was not interested in what they were saying. She thought that perhaps beef filling would be better with onions instead.
As the sun gradually rose, the women were still in the kitchen making dumplings when the main gate was knocked from the outside.
Meng Qi Cheng, without being told by his second uncle, ran to open the door with a smile.
He wasn't surprised to see the people outside, it was the group of old men from the Meng family, bringing their sons and grandsons to pay New Year's respects to their second brother.
It was good to have glass windows; one could see clearly who was at the door.
Qi Yuan Shan and Old Jin, seeing the Meng clan members coming to pay their respects to Uncle Meng Er, retreated to the west room and closed the door behind them.
They didn't like to linger with these people. It was much better to talk to their son about their inner thoughts.
Especially Qi Yuan Shan, who had stayed at the Meng's both times he returned, sharing a room with his son.
Old Jin watched Qi Yuan Shan stroke his son's hair as he spoke, feeling envious. If not for the bothersome crowd of Meng clan members outside, he would have gone to find Luo'er.
The Meng family's house was quite large, but with so many people suddenly arriving, the east room couldn't accommodate them all, so many of the younger generation stayed in the main hall.
Meng Wu Lao Ye knew that they had many people coming today, so he tactfully led a few brothers to pay their respects to their second brother first, and then had his sons, grandsons, and nephews kneel in the main hall to kowtow and wish their second brother a Happy New Year.
Seeing the younger generation kneeling on the floor, Grandpa Meng smiled and told them to rise, then had Fu Yu distribute red envelopes to them one by one.
Meng Wu Lao Ye watched as Fu Yu's basket was taken out full and returned almost empty. He smiled and said, "Our family truly has many people."
Meng Qi Lao Ye: "I never really noticed before, but today I can clearly see there are quite a few."
"That's good. With so many descendants, surely a few will succeed," Meng Ba Lao Ye still dreamed of his family's juniors succeeding in the imperial examinations.
It was New Year's Day, and no one wanted to upset themselves. Let him say what he wanted; no one was responding to him anyway.
Fortunately, most of them were sensible and prepared to leave after paying their respects.
Grandpa Meng offered to have them stay for dumplings, but Meng Wu Lao Ye took the lead in refusing, "Second Brother, perhaps another day. We'll skip it today."
"Yes, with so many of us, even all your preparations might not be enough. Second Brother, we'll be going now." Old Master Thirteen finished, cupped his hands, and led his two sons out the door.
In fact, Meng Ba Lao Ye really wanted to stay for a meal, but he couldn't resist his fifth brother and the others pushing them out.
Watching the crowd retreat in a rush, Grandpa Meng, along with his son and grandson, saw them off.
Meng Wu Lao Ye kept saying it was cold outside and urged them to return, but Grandpa Meng insisted on escorting them to the gate.
Looking at the stooped figures of the old men, Grandpa Meng walked back, chatting with his son, "Another year older, but I just noticed my legs and feet are much nimbler than theirs."
"Father's physique has been honed over the years, it's not something those uncles can compare to."
"Hmph, I said back then that people can't just be idle. Idleness will only lead to ruin."
"You're self-aware. Those uncles of mine have no self-awareness like yours. To put it bluntly, if the Duke's mansion were still here, these uncles might still be at home..."
On New Year's Day, as a junior, Fu Yu chose not to speak such decadent words.
The father and son had only taken a few steps when they heard someone in the kitchen say, "The first pot of dumplings is about to be ready."
Grandpa Meng quickly called out, "Yu'er, set off firecrackers before the meal. Hurry and set off those two strings of firecrackers now."
"Yes, son will go now."
Qi He and the others had been waiting. Seeing Grandpa Meng say they should set off firecrackers, they immediately ran over to help.
Outside the Meng family's large courtyard gate, a series of crackling firecrackers sounded. Meng Wu Lao Ye looked back and discussed with a few of the old men, "Next year, when we come to Second Brother's house for New Year's, let's still go one family at a time. Otherwise, like today, there are too many people and nowhere to stand."
"I think Fifth Brother is right. It's quite crowded when we all go together." Old Master Seven also agreed.
Regardless of their discussions, after the firecrackers were set off at the Meng family courtyard entrance, everyone went inside to eat dumplings.
...
Time passed quickly, and it seemed like the New Year was over in the blink of an eye.
On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, there was another heavy snowfall, like goose feathers. Fortunately, the day before, Fang Shi had taken Zhong Shi and Tian Shi to make tangyuan (sweet glutinous rice balls), which were stored in the kitchen cabinet.
The snowfall in Longcheng became even heavier, with three snowfalls in just one month. Many families or small guilds faced the danger of running out of food as they couldn't go out to hunt monsters.
In their desperation, some people turned to the captain of Long Teng.
Knowing that their intentions were similar, the captain only said one sentence: "I'll help you ask Xin Ci tonight. If Xin Ci has any surplus grain, I have nothing to say."
"Thank you, Long Teng."
"Thank you, Long Teng."
"You're welcome. We must all wait and see if Xin Ci has any surplus grain."
It was no wonder the captain said this. With the heavy snowfalls in Longcheng, no one in the Longcheng base dared to go out.
Who knew how many fatal dangers lay hidden beneath the white snow.
In the dormitory, Xiao Ai was happily eating potato chips. Pang Dun looked at her with longing and asked her pitifully, "Xiao Ai, how about sharing a bag of your potato chips with me?"
"Not a chance. Don't forget what the captain said, you're not allowed to eat potato chips."
"Xiao Ai, half a bag then, is that okay?"
"Half a bag is also not allowed." The captain was recently worried about Pang Dun's health, and unexpectedly, this guy was trying new tricks again, still wanting to eat potato chips.
"..." Pang Dun hadn't expected the captain to return at some point and seemed to have been standing there watching him for a long time. He immediately deflated.
"Captain, what did those people want from you?" The atmosphere in Longcheng had been too oppressive lately, and Xu Jia Can didn't want their dormitory to be the same, so he quickly tried to change the subject.