Gu Zhaoshuo failed to dispel Zhou Zhou’s nervousness, and his deep-seated respect for Master Zhao’s family and his fantasies about scholars should be gone now.

　　”You can’t say that.” Li Zhouzhou wanted to make amends for Master Zhao’s family, but his stomach growled as soon as he finished speaking, so he had to say, “Next time, my husband goes to ask questions, you have to eat first. If that doesn’t work, I’ll bring you some more food.”

　　Gu Zhao smiled and agreed. In fact, he couldn’t eat it. Master Zhao was old-fashioned and particular about etiquette. It depended on the situation. For example, when Gu Zhao went to ask about academic matters, they talked about the contents of books, so he definitely couldn’t eat.

　　You can’t eat it secretly.

　　But Zhou Zhou took it back so that he could eat it on the way, which was a thoughtful gesture from him.

　　As for the tuition fee of one tael of silver, Gu Zhao thought it was expensive. He compared it with the three taels of silver given by Zhou Zhou in his family and the three taels given in the town and felt that one tael was cheap. He was afraid that if he gave it cheaper, Master Zhao would be unwilling to teach him or would not teach him well.

　　Yes, in the past, I earned one tael of silver a year, but now it is half that and five strings of silver. Although it doesn’t come every day, people will always compare it with the past. Li Zhouzhou used the example of Aunt Wang buying a stove to convince his husband.

　　”If Aunt Wang hadn’t heard that our stove costs 20 cents, she would have thought the 30 cents was expensive at first, but after seeing how well it works, she probably wouldn’t have hesitated to buy it.”

　　”What Zhou Zhou said is true.”

　　It was already dark when they returned home. Li Da sat in the main room, warming himself by the fire and eating peanuts. After a year, he could finally relax.

　　Li Zhouzhou was preparing the New Year’s Eve dinner, so Gu Zhao put his “homework book” back and originally planned to change into his new robe, but after thinking about it, he decided not to, and then went to the kitchen to help.

　　The meatballs, fried chicken and fruits at home were all made yesterday. Li Zhouzhou made the dumplings with cabbage and meat filling before leaving in the morning. He put them directly in the steamer, covered with a bamboo lid and placed on the stone mill outside. It would be much easier when he came back.

　　Meatballs and fried chicken nuggets are steamed in a large coarse porcelain bowl.

　　”Zhou Zhou, there are three grass carps in the bucket. Cook one and eat it.”

　　”I know, Dad.”

　　The fish was exchanged by Li Da today for pork. A brave villager went to the river to break the ice and caught a bucket of fish. Each of the fish weighed four or five kilograms.

　　Li Zhouzhou picked a big one, scooped it up and put it on the chopping board, knocked it unconscious with a gourd ladle, put it in a basin and started to kill and remove the internal organs. His movements were skillful and he was done in a few seconds. His hands were covered with fish scales, so he said naturally, “Husband, scoop a ladle of water and help me rinse it.”

　　”Okay.” Gu Zhao rolled up his sleeves and scooped water.

　　After the first wash, the dirty water was poured into the pig food bucket outside the kitchen. Li Zhouzhou held the basin and said he would do it himself, but when he saw his husband holding a ladle with great interest, he asked him to wash.

　　Fish tastes better when cooked with soybean sauce.

　　Cut the grass carp’s body, heat the pot, add the fish and a few slices of ginger after the oil is hot. Li Zhouzhou takes out the jar of soybean paste, adds a large spoonful of soybean paste, adds cold water, puts in the tofu bought in the morning and frozen for a day, covers the pot and cooks.

　　After a while, the fish was boiled and bubbling.

　　”My husband, it is a little less hot now.”

　　”good.”

　　Gu Zhao pulled out a piece of firewood and put it out.

　　While the fish was stewing, Li Zhouzhou took the dumpling plate to the main room to put the dumplings in the pot. When the dumplings were cooked, the meatballs, chicken and fish were also ready. Li Zhouzhou also fried some cabbage and added a vegetarian dish.

　　The fish was served in a bowl and was particularly fragrant. The tofu was cut into large pieces and had a honeycomb-like surface when stewed, soaking up the juice.

　　Gu Zhao loves to eat this the most.

　　The door to the yard was closed, the stove in the main room was warm, and the family of three was celebrating New Year’s Eve. In winter, we ate cabbage and radishes every day, but now the table was full of meat. Although there were not many varieties, the quantity was enough.

　　The staple food is meat dumplings.

　　Haven’t eaten yet, let’s wish you a happy new year first.

　　Gu Zhao and Li Zhouzhou knelt in front of Li Da and kowtowed to him. Gu Zhao said auspicious words, “Happy New Year!” and “I wish my father good health, success in everything he wants, and a safe and smooth year ahead.”

　　”I wish Dad good health.” Li Zhouzhou said seriously.

　　Li Da’s wrinkled face smoothed out, he took out the money wrapped in red paper and gave one to each person.