Siheyuan: Rebirth of Liu Ergou

As the New Year approaches, the cold wind blows through the alleys, bringing a bone-chilling chill. The third uncle, Yan Bugui, sits at home, frowning, talking to his wife in a low voice, his tone full of helplessness and worry. Their eyes occasionally glance at the corner, where only a few pounds of mixed flour are left, lying there alone, as if reflecting the poverty of the family.

"How can we celebrate the New Year?" The third uncle sighed, his eyes revealing a bit of confusion.

"Yes, although there is food on the black market, where do we get the money to buy it?" The daughter-in-law also looked worried.

Just as the two of them fell into silence and were at a loss, Yan Jiecheng's words broke the silence in the room: "My sister and brother-in-law will not ignore us."

Before he finished speaking, the voices of Liu Yi and Yan Jie Di were heard outside the door. The third uncle and his wife stood up and walked quickly to the door. Liu Yi was carrying two heavy bags with a smile on his face. Yan Jie Di was carrying a large backpack full of food.

"Dad, Mom, we're here to see you!" Yan Jiedi shouted with a smile.

The third uncle's eyes lit up instantly, he walked up quickly, took the bag from Liu Yi's hand, felt the heavy weight inside, and a warm current surged in his heart. He opened the bag and saw that it was full of white rice and flour, enough for the family to use during the New Year.

Yan Jiedi took out thirty kilograms of pork belly and sixty kilograms of fat from her backpack, and the rich aroma of meat instantly filled the whole room.

"Dad, this is for you to enjoy during the New Year." Yan Jiedi said with a smile.

The third uncle and his wife were moved when they saw the scene. They knew that no matter how difficult life was, the love and support between family members would never change.

"Good children, you are really our good children!" The third uncle's eyes were a little moist. He held Liu Yi and Yan Jiedi's hands tightly, and his gratitude was beyond words.

"Dad, Mom, if you need anything at home, just tell me and I'll find a way to get it." Liu Yi said sincerely. His words were full of care and filial piety for the two elders, which deeply moved Yan Bugui and his wife.

However, when the mother-in-law suggested that Liu Yi and his daughter eat lunch at home, the third uncle Yan Bugui frowned. He looked at his wife with a look of reluctance. He knew that the family did not have enough food, and adding two more mouths to feed would undoubtedly make the family's food even tighter.

"Jiecheng, go buy a bottle of wine." Yan Bugui hesitated for a moment, but decided to let his son buy the wine. He knew that this was the first time his son-in-law came to celebrate the New Year at home, and he couldn't lose his manners.

Yan Jiedi couldn't help but smile at her father's stingy look. She understood her father's worries and concerns, and also understood the family's predicament. So, she took Liu Yi's hand and politely rejected her mother's proposal: "Mom, we won't eat at home. We still have to go to work. You two old people have to take care of it. Let's make lard out of the sixty kilograms of fat meat first."

After that, Yan Jiedi and Liu Yi stood up and said goodbye. They knew that although the family conditions were limited, the love and support of their family was priceless. With this warmth and touch, they left the home of the third uncle Yan Bugui and continued to prepare for the New Year. The third uncle Yan Bugui and his wife looked at their backs, their hearts filled with gratitude and comfort.

After half an hour of hard work, 30 kilograms of pork belly and three layers of pork belly were already being braised. Auntie No. 3 looked at the 60 kilograms of fat meat in front of her and shook her head and sighed, wondering how long it would take to finish processing all the meat. Her face showed a trace of fatigue and helplessness, after all, this was a difficult task.

The third aunt turned around and went to prepare other ingredients. Her movements were skillful and quick, as if she was used to such busyness. The aroma of braised meat filled the kitchen, making people salivate.

Time passed by minute by minute, and Auntie never stopped. Fine beads of sweat oozed out of her forehead, but she was still busy and focused. Finally, all the meat was braised, and Auntie breathed a sigh of relief and smiled with satisfaction.

She carefully took the braised meat out of the pot and placed it piece by piece on a white porcelain plate. Each piece of braised meat exuded an attractive luster and fragrance, as if showing people their deliciousness. The three aunts watched all this with satisfaction, feeling full of a sense of accomplishment.

She knows that these braised meats are not only a delicacy, but also an expression of love for her family. She imagines the satisfied expressions of her family members when they taste them, and can't help but feel warm. This fruit of labor is not only a material enjoyment, but also a transmission of emotions.

At this moment, a voice came from outside the kitchen: "Mom, is the lard ready? Why are you so slow? I'm starving." It turned out to be the youngest son Yan Jiekuang waiting anxiously outside the door. While he was talking, he wiped the saliva from the corner of his mouth with his hand, obviously he couldn't wait to taste the delicious lard residue.

The third aunt looked at her youngest son's greedy look and her heart softened. She smiled and said, "Don't worry, it will be ready soon." She quickly opened the lid of the pot, and a strong aroma of lard hit her face. She gently stirred it with a spoon to ensure that the lard residue was evenly heated. Then, she carefully scooped the lard residue into a bowl and sprinkled some fine salt on it for seasoning.

The youngest son stood at the door and smelled the aroma of lard residue from a distance. When he walked into the kitchen, he saw that his mother had prepared a bowl of fragrant lard residue. His eyes lit up at once. He ran over excitedly, picked up the bowl, and sniffed the aroma greedily. "Wow, it smells so good! Thank you, Mom!" he said happily.

The third aunt smiled and touched the youngest son's head, and said gently: "Go and share it with your father and brothers. Remember to eat slowly and don't choke." The youngest son nodded and ran back to the living room happily with the bowl.

Seeing her youngest son leave, Auntie No. 3 smiled with satisfaction. She knew that her children loved eating lard residue, which was a rare delicacy at home. Although she had been busy all day, the happiness at this moment made all the fatigue disappear.

Back in the living room, the youngest son couldn't wait to put the lard residue on the table, and then ran to the room to call his father and brother out to taste the food. Soon, the family sat around the table and began to enjoy the delicacy.

The youngest son picked up a piece of lard residue, carefully put it into his mouth, and chewed it slowly, feeling the crispy texture and rich aroma. His father and brothers also ate with gusto, and exclaimed with satisfaction from time to time.

In this warm family atmosphere, everyone enjoyed the lard residue while chatting and laughing. The youngest son felt very happy because he had a mother who loved him and a warm home. All of this was earned by his mother's hard work.

After eating the lard residue, the youngest son took the initiative to help his mother clean up the dishes. He wanted to share some housework so that his mother could have a lighter day. The mother was moved by her sensible youngest son.

At night, the youngest son lay in bed, recalling what happened today, and his heart was filled with gratitude to his mother. He secretly made up his mind to respect his mother well in the future and let her live a happy life.