Chapter 178

On the evening of the New Year, after the whole family’s efforts throughout the morning, the house was filled with a festive atmosphere, vibrant with the color red both inside and out.

Su Xiaoxiao hung a few small red envelopes containing lucky coins on the newly bought flowers, especially on that golden kumquat tree. Paired with a few vibrant red packets, it was clear that it was time to celebrate the lunar new year.

It’s not easy to take a thorough bath in the northern region. Usually, they would heat up the kang bed in the room, then burn some charcoal in a basin, pour in a basin of boiling water, and use a towel to clean the body and wash the essential parts.

This is the part where Su Xiaoxiao, who was born in the South for two lifetimes and who was used to taking a shower every day, cannot adapt.

However, the dry climate in the capital meant that bathing every day would be harsh on the skin. But before the lunar new year, the tradition was to thoroughly cleanse away the misfortunes and dirt of the past year. Han Cheng suggested going to the public bathhouse.

Su Xiaoxiao reluctantly had to agree to go because her hair hadn’t been washed for several days. Although Grandpa Zhang had a warm room in his courtyard, it was still cold. Despite gritting her teeth and enduring it for a while, she could barely withstand it. However, if she wants to be thoroughly cleaned and chooses to take a bath in their house, it would likely result in her catching a cold.

So, Han Cheng took along his three sons, while Su Xiaoxiao took Xiao Tangyuan, and the whole family headed to the nearby bathhouse to take a bath.

According to local customs, everyone was usually busy on the 28th day of the lunar calendar. Plus, since it was customary to clean up on the 28th, many people would go to the bathhouse to have a thorough cleaning. 

“Today, the number of people who came was not too many, possibly because there were still some who couldn’t afford the bathhouse. In this era, when the average monthly salary was only 3 to 4 yuan and 8 cents, paying 22 cents per person to enter a bathhouse was almost equivalent to a pound of meat. So, this amount couldn’t be considered cheap for most families.

For Su Xiaoxiao’s family of six, it would cost more than 1 yuan and 30 cents for one bath. If they came every day, they would spend one person’s salary just on bathing.

The bathhouse was a gathering place for many locals to socialize. Many locals would go to the bathhouse as commonly as modern people would go out for meals or drinks. They would always like to chat for half a day over a cup of jasmine tea before reluctantly leaving. After all, at twenty-two cents per bath, they wanted to get their money’s worth.

But Su Xiaoxiao’s family doesn’t really like this place. Except for Xiao Roubao, who especially enjoyed having someone rub his back for him and would stay in the water unwilling to leave even after being rubbed, the rest of the family preferred to finish quickly and leave as soon as they finished bathing.

Fantuan breathed a sigh of relief as he came out of the bathhouse and said, “Dad, can we build our own bathhouse where we can bathe? I really don’t like this place.”

Xiao Doubao also nodded and said, “I don’t like this place too. Everyone can see naked. It’s so annoying. Can I not come next time?” Xiao Doubao didn’t particularly like interacting with strangers, and now he had to be seen naked by strangers, which was really frustrating for him.

The public bathhouse was really difficult to accept for these children, who grew up in the South. Not to mention the children; even Su Xiaoxiao didn’t like it. But in the dead of winter, they still need to come every now and then. Otherwise, what could they do?

Only Xiao Roubao was unabashed, happily washing with his little bottom and his chubby belly exposed and not caring how anyone looked at him.

Xiao Roubao: Feeling thoroughly clean, the little one felt comfortable all over his body. “I think it’s fun, Dad. Next time you come, you have to bring Xiao Roubao with you.”

Han Cheng ruffled the child’s head. This son was really easy to take care of. As long as he was fed, he wouldn’t be unhappy.

Feeling so clean today, Su Xiaoxiao had no intention of going into the kitchen. A few days ago, she had seen a small shop that had ordered a big pot of New Year’s dishes. The ingredients were varied, and there was something for everyone, so Su Xiaoxiao chose the most expensive and best combination.

The food in the 1970s was made with real ingredients. Even if the taste wasn’t to one’s liking, as long as the raw materials were good enough, a little processing at home would make it delicious. So she ordered a pot, planning to pick it up later and have a rich dinner with some cabbage and noodles.

Back at their alley, Su Xiaoxiao asked Han Cheng to take the children home while she went to pick up the pot of food. But the children refused and insisted on following them. Su Xiaoxiao had no choice but to let them come along.

“Hello, I’m here to pick up the New Year’s dishes,” Su Xiaoxiao said to the shopkeeper, who handed over the order slip.

The shopkeeper was already prepared; he brought out a full pot that was wrapped tightly: “The deposit for the pot will be returned when you return the pot after the fourth day of the lunar new year. I’ll be resting from the first to the third day, and my shop will open again on the fourth.”

Su Xiaoxiao opened it and looked inside. The ingredients were abundant, and there was no sign of being cheated on. After thanking the shopkeeper, she let Han Cheng carry it.

Xiao Roubao was particularly concerned about what he would eat. He tiptoed to see. “Dad, let me see what delicious food we’ll have tonight.”

Su Xiaoxiao picked up the cub and placed him on Fantuan’s back. “It’s too cold; you can see it when we get home.” 

Xiao Roubao leaned on his brother’s back, then turned to ask the shopkeeper, “Uncle, are you good at cooking? What delicious food have you prepared for us? If it’s not good, we won’t pay you.”

The shopkeeper, a middle-aged man of about forty, found the child incredibly cute and smiled. “Your mother is willing to spend money. I cooked a lot; chicken, duck, fish, and all kinds of delicious food. You will surely like it.”

With that, Xiao Roubao felt reassured. At noon, Su Xiaoxiao had only prepared noodles. After bathing, Xiao Roubao’s stomach was already growling. He asked the shopkeeper again, “Excuse me, Uncle, do you have any food left in your shop? I’m hungry. Can you sell me some?”

The shopkeeper asked, “Yes, we do. What would you like to eat, little friend?”

Xiao Roubao: “Do you have laughing sesame balls?”

The shopkeeper shook his head and said, “We don’t have those.”

Xiao Roubao asked again, “Do you have Xiao Roubao (soup dumplings)?”

The shopkeeper was taken aback, shaking his head. “We don’t have those either.”

Xiao Roubao exclaimed, “Ahh! Uncle, how can you open a restaurant if you don’t have anything here? “

Shop owner: “…”

Others: “…”

Su Xiaoxiao raised his hand and helped his forehead. “I’m sorry, our child is not sensible. We don’t live far away. I’ll make something for him when we get home.”

The shopkeeper chuckled when he came to his senses and said, “Wait a moment.” Then he turned and went into the kitchen.

Su Xiaoxiao sighed and pinched the cub’s face: “Xiao Roubao, be polite.”

Xiao Roubao was puzzled and said, “Mom, I’m very polite. I used Excuse Me,’ didn’t I?” 

Xiao Roubao kicked his legs on Fantuan’s back. “Am I right, big brother?”

In terms of social and expression skills, Fantuan felt inferior to Xiao Roubao. “That’s right, yeah, you’re right; whatever you say is right. Mom, it seems like my younger brother didn’t say anything wrong.”

Su Xiaoxiao shook her head and exchanged a glance with Han Cheng. Han Cheng couldn’t help but smile. He wasn’t wrong, but he was a bit troublesome.

After a while, the shopkeeper took out several scallion-sized oil pancakes, wrapped in paper, and handed one to each child. “Freshly baked scallion oil pancakes; be careful, they’re hot.”

The shopkeeper waited for Xiao Roubao to take a big bite before saying jokingly, “Child, didn’t you say Uncle shouldn’t have opened a restaurant?”

Xiao Roubao thought the scallion-oil pancakes were really delicious. He nodded repeatedly. “Sorry, it’s okay. It’s delicious. Uncle, open more shops next year.”

Su Xiaoxiao asked the shopkeeper how much it was, but the shopkeeper refused to take the money, saying he had just baked them for dinner and it was no problem to give the children some.

Doing business was not easy. Su Xiaoxiao disagreed and put down the money according to market prices before leaving with the children.

Xiao Roubao turned around and waved to the boss, “Goodbye boss, we live nearby. Come over and play if you have time.”

After saying that, he kicked his legs and happily let his brother carry him home.

The shopkeeper looked at this family with emotion. They were all good-looking and kind-hearted, and the children were intelligent and exceptionally good-looking. They were really something.

……………….

Having skipped the labor of making a New Year’s Eve dinner, Su Xiaoxiao had a much more relaxed afternoon.

In the winter in the capital, water would freeze, and it was really cold. Han Cheng tried his best not to let Su Xiaoxiao touch cold water and took care of all the washing and cleaning.

The sound of firecrackers echoed around, and Han Cheng brought a small charcoal stove into the house and placed the pot of New Year’s dishes on it. He lit a string of firecrackers in the courtyard. The first New Year’s Eve dinner in the capital officially began.

As soon as the New Year’s Eve dinner was served, everyone’s eyes widened. “Wow, wow, wow!” they exclaimed non-stop. “What a big pot, so many dishes!”

The shopkeeper’s description of the pot as “rich” was an understatement. Roast duck, boiled chicken, bright red large prawns, small abalones, roasted pork, meatballs, fish chunks, and beef tripe were the eight main ingredients laid out neatly on top, each categorized meticulously. Everyone liked to have good omens during the New Year, and they all favored numbers associated with luck, such as 6 or 8. Below that, there were probably various winter mushrooms, wood ears, daylilies, broccoli, and other vegetarian dishes as a base.

Su Xiaoxiao has cooked a lot of delicious dishes over the years, but the pot of New Year’s dishes, with such a rich variety and beautiful appearance, surprised even Han Cheng, and it was also his first time seeing such rich dishes.

Han Cheng said, “I didn’t expect there to be such a way to eat New Year’s Eve dinner. It’s quite fresh.”

Su Xiaoxiao just smiled. In her hometown in her previous life, there was a custom of eating New Year’s Eve dinner in a pot during big festivals or celebrations. Usually, she didn’t have enough ingredients to make it at home, so she never thought about making it herself. Su Xiaoxiao didn’t expect to see such a rich pot of New Year’s dishes in a small shop in this era of material scarcity. So, that day, she made up her mind without hesitation. No matter how hard she tried, she wouldn’t be able to make a better New Year’s Eve dinner than this pot of dishes.

Su Xiaoxiao said, “This is our family’s first New Year in the capital. I wish us a better year ahead, full of prosperity and abundance. Children, let’s start the dinner!”

The children were ecstatic, especially Xiao Roubao. There was everything in this pot; basically, for a foodie like him, it’s a paradise.

Representing the family, Fantuan said, “Let’s start the dinner. May we be as abundant as this pot of dishes next year, laughing heartily, and have more than enough every year!”