A layman in the courtyard

Chapter 19 New Year's Eve
Children, children, don’t be greedy, after Laba is the new year;
Laba porridge, drink for a few days, mili la la 23;
23. Tanggua sticky;
24. House sweeping;
25. Frozen tofu;
26. To buy meat;
27. Slaughter a rooster;
28. Hair the face;
29. Steamed buns;
Thirty nights stay up all night;
Walking all over the street on the first and second day of junior high school.

Cao Zhihua was awakened early in the morning by the sound of folk songs in the streets, which made Cao Zhihua, who had not slept, woke up naturally, a little annoyed.

I got up with a look of displeasure, got dressed, washed up, and woke up the three little ones.

"Big Gouzi, Er Gouzi, Xiaoyu, get up quickly. It's New Year's Eve and we have to prepare the New Year's Eve dinner."

The cute childish voice of Big Gouzi and Er Gouzi came over
"Okay, brother, I'll get up right now."

Xiaoyu obviously didn't want to get up so early and said coquettishly

"Brother, brother, I still want to sleep for a while, I haven't even woken up yet."

"No, it's New Year's Eve today, so you can't sleep in. Get up quickly, or I'll come in and spank you."

Xiaoyu was obviously reluctant to pass it over
"Okay, okay, I'm up."

Cao Zhihua woke up the three little ones and went directly to the kitchen.

Today is New Year's Eve, and Cao Zhihua wants to make today's New Year's Eve dinner a little more sumptuous.

In his previous life, Cao Zhihua’s New Year customs in the south were different from those in Sijiucheng.

In my previous life, there was no custom of eating dumplings during the Chinese New Year in the South, but dumplings are a must during New Year's Eve in Sijiucheng.

In his previous life, Cao Zhihua had New Year's Eve dinner, a large table of dry pot hot pot, at least 6-7 pots, plus some stir-fried vegetables, filling the whole table.

There is basically no hot pot or dry pot for New Year's Eve dinner in Sijicheng. It is all pasta and stir-fry dishes.

There is no heating in the winter in the south. One advantage of dry pot hot pot is that it ensures that the food is always hot no matter how long you eat it. The family eats the food slowly and drinks slowly, which creates a New Year atmosphere.

There is no heating in Sijiucheng now. Cao Zhihua plans to make some dumplings, Sixi meatballs, steamed pork with rice flour for today’s New Year’s Eve dinner, and arrange six pots for the rest.

After searching in the kitchen, I found two hot pots in the house.

I checked the dishes prepared at home, including two chickens, one duck, five kilograms of meat, 30 eggs, and more than 20 kilograms of dog meat.

Cao Zhihua thought for a while, took out 6 pounds of mutton, 6 pounds of roe deer meat, and a pair of pig feet from the space, and placed them in the kitchen.

Then Cao Zhihua hurried to the supply and marketing cooperative.

"Comrade, please bring me four hot pots."

The salesperson from the supply and marketing cooperative asked curiously
"Comrade, why did you buy so many hot pots?"

"We are having hot pot together in the courtyard today. There are not enough hot pots in the courtyard, so why don't you send me here to buy some."

"Oh, four hot pots cost 32 yuan."

Cao Zhihua took out the money and handed it over, took the hot pot and went home.

When I got home, I saw three little ones who had just finished washing.

Cao Zhihua put the hot pot into the kitchen and faced the three little ones when he came out.

"Since it's early, let's go to the bathhouse to take a bath and get a haircut. You guys go in quickly and get your clothes."

The three little ones cheered happily

"Wow, let's go take a bath in the bathhouse."

For northerners, taking a bath in a bathhouse in winter is a favorite thing for both men and women, old and young, and it is also an indispensable thing.

After traveling through time for so long, Cao Zhihua was always busy taking baths by himself.

I have never experienced this kind of northern bathhouse culture. I thought of it today, so I took my family to experience it.

According to memory, Cao Zhihua took three little ones, big and small, and walked to the Xinyuan Bathhouse on Yandai Xiejie.

Xinyuan Bathhouse is not simple. It is said that it was founded by Li Lianying's adopted son. It is now 50 years old and is very famous in the nearby streets and alleys.

The first floor of Jinyuan Bathhouse is the basin hall, which is a place where almost all working-class people and people from all walks of life go to bathe, which is an advantage.

On the third floor, there is a private room, which is called the official room in Lao Sijiucheng. Anyone who takes a bath here is either rich or noble. Not only can they take a bath here, but they can also take a nap.

Cao Zhihua entered the bathhouse and took the three little ones directly to the third floor.

There is no shortage of money and he can enjoy better things generously. Cao Zhihua will not wrong himself.There is a special feature of the bathhouses in Sijiucheng. You can go in as soon as the doors open in the morning and come out at night when the sky is full of stars. As long as you are not afraid of bathing, you can soak as long as you like without anyone urging you.

As soon as Cao Zhihua entered the private room, he took a dip in the hot water. He felt that taking a bath in this winter was really relaxing and activating blood circulation, and he was sweating from the bones.

"Big dog, you haven't taken off your clothes yet, go get a pot of jasmine tea."

"Okay, big brother"

Cao Zhihua huddled in the pool, drinking tea and taking a bath, feeling extremely comfortable.

After soaking for an hour, Cao Zhihua called a southern bath master to give him a bath.

The southern style is mainly based on masters from Yangzhou. The bathing technique is delicate and pays attention to light hands and even force. The most comfortable thing is that after the bath, they will also massage the head.

After one operation, Cao Zhihua felt that his bones were a few kilograms lighter and his whole body felt relaxed.

He put a snow-white bath towel on the bed, lay on the bed and stared for a while, sighing.

"This is life."

"Master, please take care of these two little guys."

"Okay, Master, take a look."

Look at the yarn, I feel so comfortable now that I don’t want to move or do anything.

I don’t know how much time passed, but Cao Zhihua was staring in confusion when the big dog came over and shook him.

"Brother, it's getting late, shall we go back?"

Cao Zhihua woke up from his drowsiness and stood up
"Come on, let's go down and get a haircut and then go back."

"Okay, big brother."

I got a classic 3/7 haircut in the bath hall.

Cao Zhihua took a look in front of the mirror now, um, not bad, handsome.

After paying, it’s 4 yuan.

Oh, it’s so expensive. Bathing and haircut on the first floor only cost 3 cents per person.

The private rooms on the third floor are really not something that ordinary working-class people can afford.

Cao Zhihua went home happily with his three little ones.

After returning home, Cao Zhihua lay down on the sofa and fire cage.

"Big Gouzi, Er Gouzi, watch and make some food for lunch. After lunch, start preparing for the New Year's Eve dinner."

"Okay, brother. Can we have cornmeal pancakes and twice-cooked pork for lunch?"

"Okay, you can eat whatever you want, and I can eat whatever you want."

Cao Zhihua looked at the peanuts and melon seeds on the table next to the sofa and pursed his lips.

"Xiaoyu, bring me an enamel vat and make a cup of jasmine tea."

"Okay, big brother, I'll get it for you right away."

Cao Zhihua was lying on the fire cage, shouting and ordering his younger brothers and sisters. He actually felt that his life was quite comfortable.

He has plenty of money and supplies, a house, a job, younger brothers and sisters to do housework, and a sweet little girlfriend.

This little life was also enjoyable.

If it weren't for the fact that the overall social environment was too restrictive for those from later generations, and I felt that I didn't have freedom all over, I would have been able to survive this day.

Rather than living by the rules all day long, I still prefer to make my own rules and live a life as I please.

It's just that it's a bit difficult now. You have to keep a low profile, wait for time, and plan slowly.

(End of this chapter)