Chapter 1197: 1070: Bidding Farewell to the Old and Welcoming the New

When they took their leave, Zhang Guoqing and Zhou Jiao exchanged a glance, looking at the antique courtyard—it truly would be hard for elders to maintain, the cost of repairs and upkeep alone is probably unbearable. Did they get any other compensation in return?

"How about it, do you like it?"

Miao Lishan smiled and shook her head, "It’s too expensive, our family of four saved up for years just to barely afford it. But the courtyard is truly wonderful!"

Old Mrs. Cheng laughed, patting her daughter-in-law and teasing, "Alright, stop kidding her, be careful or Shanshan will rush back and fight you for it."

"Hahaha... It’s fine, even if she buys it she won’t have time to live in it, I’ll just move in."

The car slowly went past, this street once filled with residences of former royal relatives had lost its halo, yet the historical depth always reminds the world.

Back at the Cheng Family for a brief rest, it was already late, Zhou Xiaozheng led the family to leave.

On the way, he found his wife’s face looking forlorn, "Weren’t you really happy just a moment ago?"

Miao Lishan cast a resentful glance at him, "Heartache."

Zhou Jiao burst into laughter.

"Is it better than our big courtyard?"

"It’s different! I have three grandsons."

"..." Zhou Xiaozheng was speechless. With so many courtyards of our own, can’t even satisfy her? Should the children take her to see the large home compounds?

Miao Lishan’s wish was known by the Ping’an Brothers in another car upon returning home.

What to do?

Then work hard to save money to buy a courtyard!

But can Grandma come to live here?

Zhou Jiao, who was on vacation, had no time to bother with her mom. According to her, it’s all the result of bored overthinking, she decided to use her utmost skills to have a joyful New Year.

In the morning, Zhou Jiao took her three sons for thorough festive cleaning.

First using new brooms to clean the rooftop thoroughly, including under boxes, cabinets, and sofas, then wiped tables, windows, and doors.

Eventually cleaning both inside and outside, front and back, and every corner spotless, she was exhausted to the point of collapse. Fortunately, there’s no need anymore to bathe the three sons or cut hair.

After resting, she and Aunt Chen began dismantling and washing bedding, clothes changed after showering, curtains, and such. Finally, even the pot lids and vegetable baskets couldn’t escape her grasp.

Exhausted early, she went to bed, unaware even of Zhang Guoqing’s massage for her.

The next morning, lively once more, she and Aunt Chen began busy again, steaming flower buns, bean buns, sugar buns, and vegetable buns. These were made with cornmeal mixed with wheat flour, also with pure white flour a big pot of creamy steamed buns, crab yolk dumplings, and soup-filled dumplings.

Two-day continuous wrapping, finally all sorts of dumpling fillings emerged with new flair, New Year’s Eve is approaching...

These days delighted the Ping’an Brothers thoroughly—it’s been years since they saw their mom engaging seriously, they are filled with anticipation for the upcoming New Year’s Eve dinner.

Especially the large liquor jar stewing in the kitchen, just smelling the aroma emanating from it makes them nostalgic, long wanting to ask what dish is inside.

Zhou Jiao smiled mysteriously, "Want to know?"

The three brothers nodded repeatedly.

"Won’t tell you!"

Just back from the troop, Zhang Guoqing hurriedly stepped forward to shoo off the three persistent sons surrounding his wife, "We’re all back, hurry and set the table for the reunion dinner."

The wait is over, finally unveiling, bringing joy to Ping’an Brothers hollering like children, "Oh~ great!"

This year’s reunion dinner is slightly different from previous years, to celebrate truly sweeping out the old and bringing in the new, Zhou Jiao almost spent two days preparing, thus everything was ready, just waiting for the family to gather.

The dishes gradually filled the table, a table full. These dishes were Zhou Jiao’s painstaking effort, including famous dishes from east, south, west, north, mostly from various regions.

This year every household bought firecrackers, sounding in succession since New Year’s Eve night, it was coinciding with the arrival of the first day of the new lunar month, even more fireworks dazzling.

Now the political climate is clearer, people are full of hope for the future. Hence this Spring Festival is particularly lively, filled with joyful laughter everywhere.

Zhou Jiao also reversed the frugality of previous years by making new clothes for everyone in the family, even Aunt Chen wasn’t an exception.

Made a Zhongshan suit plus a wool coat for Zhou Xiaozheng, clothes fitting perfectly. On putting them on, appeared more youthful, stirring envy and jealousy among those old comrades.

Zhang Guoqing also had a Zhongshan suit plus a wool coat. When the father-in-law and son-in-law went out strolling, people couldn’t help but exclaim ’like real father-and-son’.

Ping’an Brothers all wore black V-neck cashmere sweaters, black trousers, and gray wool coats matched with white shirts, very handsome.

Similarly, their mother and daughter didn’t pale in comparison, gifted with cashmere coats from the Miao Family, underneath wore high-necked white cashmere sweaters with leather boots, charming indeed.

Actually, it’s not just their family with invigorated spirits, sharp looks. College entrance exams were resumed, many peoples’ redress issues have been put on the agenda, seeing hope in life, faces wearing smiles, breaking free from the past year long spell of black, green, blue, new colors appear.

When Zhang Guoqing moved that big liquor jar from the kitchen onto the table, leaving a spot for the jar, Zhou Jiao didn’t let them wait long, stepping forward to open the jar lid.

"Wow, what a fragrance!"

Zhou Jiao smiled knowingly, lifting the lotus leaves, immediately the wine aroma assaults the senses, penetrating the heart. The aroma intertwined with various scents, wafting freely, with just one sniff, everyone was refreshed.

"Mom, what is this?"

"Guess!"

Miao Lishan laughing heartily, "Ask your grandfather, he’s had it before, he said this is Buddha Jumps Over the Wall."

"Oh my, so this is Buddha Jumps Over the Wall. Right, it’s mentioned in ancient books."

Zhou Jiao served everyone a bowl.

Everyone was very curious about this famous dish, even Zhou Xiaozheng and Zhang Guoqing, the father-and-son-in-law duo smelled the aroma and couldn’t resist.

"Mom, you’re amazing, it’s delicious."

Zhou Xiaozheng nodded after hearing, "I previously had it in a state banquet, but it wasn’t as good as your mom’s."

"Dad, it’s probably because I used abundant ingredients."

Zhou Xiaozheng shook his head, just about to speak, yet seeing besides the father-daughter duo, the whole family was head down focused, instantly funny and annoyed, "Hurry, eat, or soon even the soup will be gone."

Suddenly, everyone couldn’t be bothered talking, looking up smilingly, resuming focusing only on the supreme delicacy in front. This dish eventually left not even a bit of soup remaining.

After finishing, May 1st was still savoring and reminiscing, "It’d be great if we could eat this every day."

Zhang Guoqing chuckling and shaking his head, "Silly son! Want to eat often? This dish rarely appears even in state banquets, only served to very important guests. Not just are the raw materials precious, the cooking process is complex, haven’t you noticed your mom’s worn out?"

"Mom, teach us three brothers later, we’ll learn it and cook for you every day."

Zhang Guoqing immediately nodded, "Good idea."

Laughter, clinking of cups, chopsticks touching plates, rang melodiously, enjoying the bountiful New Year’s Eve dinner, saying auspicious words, the atmosphere warm and enticing.