Rebirth of Bloody Romance

February 1986, 2 was the Chinese New Year’s Eve, the most important traditional festival for the Chinese people.

However, there is one person who is different, that is Zhou Xiaobai. Although today is the day for family reunion, she still sticks to her job and silently contributes to the normal operation of the county.

At the same time, Xiao Shihua and Xiao Haichen, two lively and lovely children, had already played with other children in the family compound. Their laughter was as clear and melodious as silver bells, echoing throughout the compound.

At this moment, this group of little guys are happily engaging in a unique adventure game, sometimes crawling into this corner, sometimes popping out from that gap, and they are having a lot of fun.

Zhong Yuemin stood alone in the middle of the living room at home, looking at the empty room in front of him, and shook his head helplessly. However, he did not feel frustrated because of this. Instead, he quickly adjusted his mentality, rolled up his sleeves and prepared to work hard to become a real "house husband".

Zhong Yuemin walked into the kitchen with swift movements, took out the fresh pork and tender green onions that he had bought long ago from the cupboard, and placed them neatly on the large chopping board.

Then, Zhong Yuemin reached out and picked up an extremely sharp kitchen knife and began to chop skillfully. With the rhythmic "da da da" sound, the meat filling gradually became fine and even under his knife. As time passed, an enticing aroma gradually spread and filled the entire kitchen.

After cutting the fillings, Zhong Yuemin did not take a break and immediately turned around to prepare the dough. He knew that if he could not knead the dough as soon as possible in this cold winter, the dough would become extremely stiff when the temperature dropped, and it would be very difficult to knead it.

So, Zhong Yuemin carefully poured a proper amount of warm water into the flour, and then kneaded it vigorously with both hands. Gradually, the loose flour condensed into a smooth and soft dough under his skillful hands.

Zhong Yuemin first pours an appropriate amount of flour into a basin, then slowly adds clean water, stirring while adding water until the flour becomes floc-like, and then kneads it into a smooth dough with his hands.

The winter in Henan is really freezing cold! The wind is howling outside, and the sharp cold wind pierces people's clothes like sharp steel needles, attacking every inch of skin.

The situation inside the house was not much better. The cold air penetrated every corner, making people shiver as if they were in a huge ice cave.

Here, there is neither the enviable heating supply of the north nor the unique warm climate of the south to resist the severe cold. Only the endless, bone-deep coldness is left, tightly entangling everyone, leaving no escape.

Zhong Yuemin's hands were busy all the time, but his mouth never stopped complaining about the weather.

"Henan is really not a place to stay in the winter. It's freezing outside, but I didn't expect it to be so cold inside the house. It's just like a big ice cellar!" He frowned and muttered to himself.

"If you say Henan is in the south, the temperature can drop to minus ten degrees Celsius in winter. But if you say it is in the north, hey, there is no heating in this house, not even a kang, it can really freeze people to death!" Zhong Yuemin continued to mutter indignantly while rubbing his hands and breathing out.

After finishing his housework, Zhong Yuemin decided to go out to look for Xiao Shihua and Xiao Haichen. As soon as he stepped out of the house, the laughter and nursery rhymes of the children came towards him, adding a festive atmosphere to this cold winter day.

"Laba, Kitchen God worship, New Year is coming, little girls want flowers, little boys want firecrackers."

Soon after, several other children joined in, shouting loudly, "Children, don't be greedy, after Laba it's New Year. Drink Laba porridge for a few days, then it's the 23rd. On the 23rd, sticky sugar melons; on the 24th, sweep the house; on the 25th, grind tofu; on the 26th, steam buns; on the 27th, pour wine; on the 28th, steam jujube flowers; on the 29th, heat the oil pan; stay up all night on the 30th; and take a walk at the beginning of the New Year."

This nursery rhyme seems to be a prelude to the Spring Festival, bringing people into a New Year atmosphere full of hope and joy.

Zhong Yuemin looked in the direction of the sound and saw a group of children playing and fighting in the alley, including Xiao Shihua and Xiao Haichen. They were holding firecrackers and toys in their hands, with happy smiles on their faces.

"Girls, sons, come home!" Zhong Yuemin shouted to them. When Xiao Shihua and Xiao Haichen heard their father's voice, they immediately ran over excitedly.

"Dad, look what we got today!" Xiao Haichen held a handful of firecrackers in his hand and showed them proudly to Zhong Yuemin.

"Really? That's great!" Zhong Yuemin smiled and touched Xiao Haichen's head, then turned to Xiao Shihua. "What about you, girl? Did you have fun today?"

Xiao Shihua nodded, with a happy smile on her face. "Well! Today I sang and set off firecrackers with the other kids, and ate a lot of delicious food!"

"Really? What did you two eat?"

Xiao Haichen immediately replied, "Dad, why don't we have anything fried at home?"

Xiao Shihua also echoed, "Yes! Dad, Xiaona's family fried chicken, fish, pork, meatballs, lotus root boxes, sweet potato balls, and tofu balls today. They are delicious. Why don't we fry them at home?"

"Oh, really? Xiaona's family fried so many delicious foods today. However, our situation is different from hers. You see, their family is going to have guests, so they have to prepare more. But we don't have any relatives to entertain here. If we fry too much, we won't be able to finish it all. That would be such a waste."

Little Shihua blinked her big eyes and nodded, not quite understanding. "Oh, so that's how it is. I thought we were going to fry a lot of delicious food at home, too."

Xiao Haichen pouted, looking a little disappointed. "But, I want to eat fried food, too."

"Okay, okay. Although we don't fry so many things at home, Dad can make some other delicious food for you. For example, we can make some steamed fish, braised spareribs, sweet and sour pork tenderloin, and your favorite dumplings. How about it? Isn't this also good?"

Hearing their father say this, the two children immediately became happy. They clapped their hands excitedly and cheered. "Great! Great! We want to eat the food that Dad cooks!"

The three of them were walking on the way home. Xiao Shihua suddenly remembered the experience of being kicked out of Xiaona's house in the morning. She frowned and asked Zhong Yuemin, "Dad, why did you kick us out when Xiaona's family was bombing things this morning?"

Xiao Haichen also echoed, "Yes, and when Gangdan's family was making dumplings, we wanted to count how many they had made, but his mother also scolded us with a stick."

The two little guys looked very depressed. Seeing this, Zhong Yuemin smiled and explained gently, "This is actually related to a myth."

When the two little guys heard this, their eyes lit up immediately and they looked at their father expectantly. "Dad, tell us about it!"

Zhong Yuemin coughed, organized his words, and then slowly began to narrate. "It is said that during the days of frying New Year's goods and making dumplings to prepare for the New Year's Eve dinner, the gods in heaven will come down to earth to taste the food in each household. These gods not only like delicious food, but also like to hear auspicious words and blessings from the human world.

However, children are often lively and active, and sometimes they may accidentally say the wrong thing or do something impolite, which may anger the gods who are tasting the food. To avoid this from happening, adults will choose to let children leave the kitchen or the place where dumplings are made at these times, so that they don’t accidentally say the wrong thing and offend the gods.

"Dad, what will happen if we offend the gods?"

Zhong Yuemin deliberately dragged out his voice to whet the appetite of the two little ones before continuing, "If you offend the gods...then the gods will be angry and will bring bad luck to the family for the whole year. So, to be on the safe side, the adults will drive the children out when frying New Year's goods or making dumplings, so that they don't accidentally offend the gods."

Little Shihua was fascinated by what she heard, her eyes widened, and she asked curiously, "Dad, will the gods really come? What will they eat?"

Little Haichen also came over curiously. "Dad, what does a god look like?"

Zhong Yuemin smiled and shook his head. "Actually, this is just a story that adults made up to make children obedient. Gods don't exist, but we still have to respect the customs of our elders and not mess with them when they are busy."

After Xiao Shihua and Xiao Haichen heard this, they stared at each other. "Dad, why do I feel like Xiaona and Gangdan's mother thinks there really are gods?"

Zhong Yuemin smiled again. "Girl, son, you have to believe in science. However, although gods do not exist, we still have to thank the adults who prepare the New Year's Eve dinner for us. They work hard so that we can have a sumptuous New Year's Eve dinner and feel the warmth of home..."

Zhong Yuemin was chatting animatedly with his daughter and son when a familiar voice suddenly rang out, "Yuemin, you really have lived in vain!"

When Xiao Shihua and Xiao Haichen heard this, they immediately looked up and saw Zhou Xiaobai walking towards them with a smile. They shouted excitedly, "Mom, mom, are you off work?"

"Mom, why did you get off work so early today?" Xiao Haichen asked curiously.

Zhou Xiaobai replied with a smile, "Today is New Year's Eve! So I got off work early to accompany you."

When Xiao Shihua and Xiao Haichen heard this, they immediately cheered and threw themselves into their mother's arms, feeling the warmth and love.

Zhou Xiaobai answered the children's questions with a smile, her eyes full of maternal tenderness. She gently touched Xiao Shihua and Xiao Haichen's heads, then looked at Zhong Yuemin with a hint of teasing in her eyes. "Yuemin, what did you say to the children just now? You are laughing so happily."

Zhong Yuemin chuckled. "Nothing much, just talking to the children about myths and legends, so that they can understand our traditional customs."

Zhou Xiaobai nodded in agreement. "Well, that's good. Children need to understand these traditional cultures so that they can better inherit and carry them forward."

After returning home, the whole family took action, everyone did their part, and made careful preparations for the upcoming New Year's Eve dinner.

The spacious and bright kitchen became a sea of ​​joy at this moment. The pots, pans, and utensils collided with each other, making crisp and pleasant sounds, as if a passionate and cheerful symphony was being played.

The flame is burning on the stove, steaming dishes are rolling in the pot, various ingredients are jumping and dancing in the pot, emitting waves of mouth-watering and tempting aroma.

Zhong Yuemin took out the couplet he had written in advance, which was neatly written in elegant handwriting, and his face was filled with a smile of pride and satisfaction. "Wife, you go ahead and do your work. I'll go and put up the couplets to add some festive atmosphere to our home."

When Xiao Shihua, who was playing nearby, heard this, she immediately ran over like a lively and cute little rabbit. Her big watery eyes sparkled with excitement. "Dad, I want to help you put up the Spring Festival couplets too!"

"Oh my! My baby girl is such a sweet and caring girl. With your help, Daddy can work more vigorously!"

However, when Xiao Haichen, who was standing not far away, heard that his father only praised his sister but did not mention him, he pouted his pink lips and looked unhappy. He crossed his arms and glared at Zhong Yuemin and Xiao Shihua angrily, muttering, "Humph, Dad is partial. He only likes my sister and doesn't praise me."

Zhou Xiaobai noticed Xiao Haichen's mood change and quickly put down the dumpling wrappers in his hand. "Son, don't be angry, let's ignore them. Can you come and make dumplings with your mother? After we're done making the dumplings, let them come over to help, how about that?"

After hearing what his mother said, Xiao Haichen felt a little better. He nodded obediently, then followed Zhou Xiaobai back to the dining table, sat down quietly, and carefully learned how to make dumplings.

Zhong Yuemin carefully pasted the auspicious couplets on both sides of the door, then walked towards the kitchen with a smile on his face, ready to help Zhou Xiaobai who was busy making dumplings.

As soon as I walked into the kitchen, I saw Zhou Xiaobai skillfully rolling out the dough, putting in the stuffing, and pinching the folds, all in one go.

"Wife, I thought you had finished packing, but I didn't expect you were still busy here."

"How can that be possible? Without your participation, even if the dumplings are wrapped, they won't taste very good!" Her eyes were full of love, as if the whole world only had this man in front of her.

"Oh yeah, how about we put a coin in the dumpling? Let's see who is lucky enough to eat it today!"

As soon as the voice fell, Xiao Shihua and Xiao Haichen beside him immediately became excited, and immediately danced with excitement, clapping their hands impatiently and cheering. "Great, great, it's so fun!"

Seeing the children so happy, Zhong Yuemin's smile became even brighter. He quickly reached into his pocket and took out a brand new coin, then walked to the stove and carefully rinsed the coin with boiling water to disinfect it. After ensuring it was clean and hygienic, he carefully wrapped the coin in a plump dumpling.

At this moment, the kitchen was filled with the aroma of flour and the warm atmosphere of the family's laughter. Everyone's face was filled with a happy smile, as if time had stopped at this moment.

However, at the same time, in the capital city thousands of miles away, the scene was quite different.

A group of anxious people were running around like ants on a hot pan, eager to find out the whereabouts of Zhong Yuemin.