1986: Old Stories in Northeast China

"Dad, when are we going to set off firecrackers again?"

After setting off a bunch of firecrackers, Doudou returned to the house and asked with some regret.

"You can't set off firecrackers all the time, we're so poor. Just now, we set off more than ten yuan, which is enough to buy a lot of meat." Chen Tiezhu said seriously.

"Doudou, do you want to set off firecrackers or eat pork elbows in the future? This is your choice. Whatever you say, Dad will do it. Okay?"

Doudou was dumbfounded when he heard this.

How could I have thought that setting off firecrackers could also let the pork elbow go?

"You, why do you always bully Doudou?" Han Xiuying said helplessly.

"Doudou, let's set off firecrackers when it's time to set off firecrackers. Sister Yingzi will take you to set off firecrackers tomorrow. We won't play with him anymore. If you want to eat elbows, let's have them."

"Yeah, if you want to eat elbows, let's have them. Set off firecrackers with Sister Yingzi, and be good to Sister Yingzi." Doudou nodded his head firmly.

"Then Sister Yingzi held Doudou to light firecrackers and ran fast. Firecrackers are sometimes disobedient and explode randomly. Sister Yingzi, can you make elbows?"

At the beginning, Han Xiuying was still happy, but after listening to what Doudou muttered, she suddenly felt that the difficulty coefficient was a bit high.

Doudou blinked his big eyes. Why didn't Sister Yingzi speak?

"Doudou, actually if we want to eat elbows, we can still ask Dad to make them. Holding firecrackers can also be done." Han Xiuying said.

"Then can Sister Yingzi run faster? Whoosh, get to the lower house in one go?" Doudou asked hesitantly.

Han Xiuying felt overwhelmed for a moment. What on earth was Chen Tiezhu doing with his daughter?

"Hey, I can run fast. I can get to the lower house from the courtyard in a flash." Chen Tiezhu said happily.

"You can do it, right? Hurry up and prepare the dumpling filling. Boil or steam the dumplings?" Han Xiuying said helplessly.

"Let's boil the dumplings. Boiled dumplings are more tender. If there are too many, we can freeze them outside and eat them tomorrow morning." Chen Tiezhu said.

"Put less meat. It's okay to make a few meatballs for Doudou." Erye hurriedly added.

This is the second time Erye has said that he has been eating too little meat recently.

"Turn on the TV. At least we can watch the Spring Festival Gala." Chen Tiezhu said.

"Oh, I forgot about this. Hurry up and fix it. It seems that we are watching videotapes at home." Han Xiuying hurriedly said.

It was really an oversight. The TV had been at home for quite a while, but I hadn't watched any TV programs. I turned it on and watched videotapes.

Chen Tiezhu also relied on his strong "understanding ability" to barely tune in the TV station.

"Dad, why is this person sick? Why is he always shivering?" Doudou asked in some confusion.

Chen Tiezhu grinned, "The signal is not very good. Wait for Dad to adjust the antenna first, and then build a TV tower in a few days, so that the reception will be better."

After twisting left and right, the signal was finally better. Although there are still some snowflakes sometimes, at least the person's illness was cured and he stopped shivering.

"Dad, you are amazing."

Doudou said happily.

"Hahahahaha, of course." Chen Tiezhu almost laughed with his hands on his waist.

In fact, he was sweating all over his forehead because of his busy work, and he absolutely couldn't admit it.

It should be said that although the Spring Festival Gala of this era does not have gorgeous stage and lighting design, the program is very interesting.

Because I took Doudou to set off firecrackers, the program on TV is called "Family Banquet", which is performed by small animals.

When Doudou saw this, his eyes were fixed on it, but it was great.

Even Chen Tiezhu was sitting on the edge of the kang and watching with great interest.

"By the way, I called my classmates a few days ago and they said that singers from Hong Kong and Taiwan will come to perform this year." Han Xiuying said.

"Really? That's great." Chen Tiezhu was stunned for a moment and said happily.

If that's the case, it should be Fei Xiang. I don't remember who the Hong Kong singer is.

Han Xiuying frowned, "What do you mean?"

"Uh..., it doesn't mean anything, I just think it's really great." Chen Tiezhu said seriously.

"I'll write some songs tomorrow when I have time, and then we can sing at the gala. I sing so well, right?"

Han Xiuying rolled her eyes and didn't bother to pay attention to this guy. He just wanted to show off. Let's just watch the gala.

"It's wonderful, it's really wonderful."

After watching for a while, Chen Tiezhu sighed.

"Dad, dad, when we met the big tiger, did you think about it?"

Just after playing ""Fantasy in the Tiger's Mouth", Doudou asked curiously.

"How can I have time to think about those things? I just think that the big tiger must be full and will not take my dear daughter away." Chen Tiezhu said.

"Yeah, Doudou also thought about it. We can't let the big tiger take my dear dad away." Doudou imitated and said.

"Haha, my daughter is so nice. Dad will mix the stuffing now, and then we will make dumplings while watching TV." Chen Tiezhu tapped her little nose.

Doudou shook her little head, feeling so happy in her heart.

Seriously speaking, making dumplings on New Year's Eve is also a custom in Northeast China.

Of course, there is another custom in recent years to watch the Spring Festival Gala. What about in the future? This has basically been cancelled by many families.

After the stuffing is prepared and the dough is kneaded, it will be opened directly after a while.

"Dad, Doudou will also make dumplings."

Seeing that the dumpling skins were being rolled, Doudou hurriedly said.

"Doudou, making dumplings is not difficult. Pick up a dough, put some dumpling stuffing on it, and then pinch it like this, and it will be a boiled dumpling." Professor Xu demonstrated it again.

"Yeah."

Doudou nodded obediently.

Pick up a dumpling skin, scoop some dumpling stuffing on it, and pinch it like this...

"Dad, why do Doudou's dumplings all have big ears?"

Looking at the dumplings in his hand, Doudou's little brows frowned again.

"Hahaha, Dad loves to eat dumplings with big ears, keep making them." Chen Tiezhu said happily.

"Yeah, keep making them, watch TV, and make dumplings."

Doudou nodded his little head seriously, and his little mouth was very happy.

This year, the New Year was a little dull and a little solemn.

But whether it was the little guy Doudou or the oldest Erye, they all felt very happy.

Eating hot dumplings and watching wonderful programs on TV, what else can you pick on this day?

Especially after eating the dumplings, Doudou felt a little sleepy again and sat directly in Chen Tiezhu's arms.

Hugging this little guy and secretly touching Yingzi's little hand, this day is really good.