Siheyuan: Rebirth of Liu Ergou

Snowflakes danced in the air, covering the courtyard with a layer of pure white gauze. Xiaoyi, He Yuzhu, Xu Damao, Jia Dongxu and other residents in the courtyard were all idle at home because of the sudden snowstorm. They were extremely bored and began to think about finding some fun.

"Xiao Yi, let's see if we can get a lamb and roast it whole in our yard for fun." He Yuzhu suggested carelessly. His voice was loud and clear, instantly attracting the attention of other people in the yard.

"No, one sheep is not enough for everyone. Let's get some pork and beef." Jia Dongxu added. His eyes were shining with anticipation, as if he had seen the delicious barbecue swaying before his eyes.

Upon hearing this, Liu Yi smiled and said, "Okay, I'll find a way right away." He knew very well that such gatherings could not only enhance the relationship between neighbors, but also make everyone feel warmth and joy in the cold winter.

So Xiaoyi started to get busy. He first contacted nearby farmers, and after some bargaining, he finally succeeded in buying a fat sheep and some fresh pork and beef. Then, he returned home and began to prepare barbecue utensils and seasonings.

Meanwhile, other people in the compound were not idle. Some of them helped to build the grill, while others were busy preparing the charcoal fire. Since Jia Zhang had become better, she had also become particularly warm-hearted. She pulled Liu Yi aside and said, "Can you get me some lard?" Liu Yi nodded and readily agreed. He asked Jia Zhang to go to his house with Jia Dongxu to get it at night when no one was around.

Finally, everything was ready. In the open space in the middle of the compound, a huge grill had been built. On the grill, a whole sheep was skewered, with sliced ​​pork and beef placed next to it. The charcoal fire was burning under the grill, making a crackling sound.

As the charcoal fire roasted, the aroma of mutton began to fill the air. This aroma seemed to have a magical power, attracting everyone in the compound. They sat around the grill, chatting while waiting for the food to come out of the oven.

Xiaoyi was busy flipping the skewers on the grill to ensure that each side was evenly heated. His face was filled with a satisfied and happy smile, because he knew that his efforts would bring everyone an unforgettable feast.

Finally, the roasted whole lamb and roasted meat were cooked through. They showed an attractive golden color and exuded a rich aroma. Everyone in the compound couldn't wait to pick up the chopsticks and knives in their hands and start to taste this delicious meal.

"Wow, this roasted mutton smells so good!" He Yuzhu praised the mutton while eating it in big mouthfuls.

"Yes, the pork and beef are roasted to perfection." Jia Dongxu also agreed.

Everyone was eating barbecue and chatting, and their laughter and conversations echoed in the courtyard, as if they wanted to pass on this joy to everyone.

After dinner, the atmosphere in the courtyard became more lively. Everyone started to play and fight. Some children made snowmen and had snowball fights on the snow; some adults played poker and mahjong. The whole courtyard was filled with laughter and a warm atmosphere.

Xiaoyi looked at the scene in front of him and felt extremely satisfied and happy. He thought that such a gathering might become one of the most beautiful memories in their lives. So he picked up the camera and quietly took pictures of these precious moments.

As night fell, the party in the compound gradually came to an end. But everyone's hearts were filled with warmth and joy. They knew that although such a party was over, their friendship and feelings would become deeper because of this experience.

It was late at night, and the moonlight was like water, sprinkling on the bluestone road of the courtyard. Jia Zhang and Jia Dongxu came to Liu Yi's house quietly. They were moved when they saw two full baskets of lard.

Tears flashed in Jia Zhang's eyes. She held Liu Yi's hand tightly and said in a trembling voice: "Liu Yi, you are such a good person! Our family has always been in financial difficulty. These lard are so important to us." Jia Dongxu also nodded repeatedly, his gratitude beyond words.

Liu Yi looked at them with a smile, feeling a little relieved. He knew that the lard was not only a necessity for the Jia Zhang family, but also a warmth and care. He reminded Jia Zhang: "The lard must be used up as soon as possible, otherwise it will go bad." Jia Zhang nodded repeatedly, saying that she would cherish the lard and not waste a single drop.

When Jia Zhang came home, she started cutting meat and refining oil. The aroma of oil drifted far away. Auntie grumbled at home and asked Liu Yi for more. I was embarrassed to ask Liu Yi, so I went to Jia Zhang to ask for some pig fat. Is this okay, the head of the family?

After hearing this, the Third Master glared at her and said, "Do you think Jia Zhang is easy to talk to? The last time He Yuzhu's family went to ask for it, it was because Shazhu was working as a private chef and could help Jia Dongxu. What do we have?"

When the third aunt heard this, she thought to herself that it seemed to be true, so she pursed her lips and decided not to say anything.

On the other side, Jia Zhang happily refined a large pot of lard, and then carefully brought out the bowl of yellow, fragrant lard residue. She had a proud smile on her face and walked briskly towards the backyard.

As soon as she entered the backyard, Jia Zhang saw the third aunt bending over, scrubbing clothes diligently in the yard. She was secretly delighted and deliberately raised her voice and shouted, "Oh, look at this freshly refined lard, it smells so good!" As she spoke, she exaggeratedly waved her palms to fan the fragrance in the direction of the third aunt.

When the third aunt heard the voice, she raised her head and glanced at Jia Zhang, but did not say anything. She just continued to wash the clothes in her hands.

Seeing that Third Aunt had no reaction, Jia Zhang was not discouraged, but became even more proud. She twisted her body, walked quickly to Third Aunt's side, put the bowl of oil residue under Third Aunt's nose, and said with a smile: "Third Aunt, please smell it, not only the pig fat is fragrant, but also the oil residue is fragrant!"

The third aunt was so tempted by the alluring aroma that she could not help swallowing her saliva. Finally, she could not help but beg, "Jia Zhang, there are so many oil residues here, can you give me some to taste?"

Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, Jia Zhang's smiling face instantly fell, and like a magic trick, she put on a fierce expression and refused mercilessly: "How can that be! This is a treasure that I spent a lot of effort to beg from Liu Yi, how can I give it to you so easily! If you are greedy and want to eat it, just go to Liu Yi and ask for it yourself!"

Before she finished her words, Jia Zhang suddenly turned around, held the bowl of oil residue and walked away arrogantly, leaving the third aunt standing there alone, angry and annoyed, stomping her feet so hard that the ground shook slightly.