Siheyuan: Rebirth of Liu Ergou

?

The wind was cold and the breath of winter filled every corner of the farmyard. Liu Rui, a tall man with deep eyes, led several beautiful women of different figures and faces through the narrow alleys. Their destination was the home of Liu Rui's wife Qin Huairu, a place full of warmth and bustle.

Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu, two close friends of Liu Rui, had been waiting at the door of Qin Huairu's house. They were tall and strong, with honest faces. As soon as they saw Liu Rui, they came up to him and patted his shoulders enthusiastically, as if to dispel all the coldness.

"Brother Rui, you are finally here! We have been waiting for you for a long time!" Liu Guangtian laughed, his voice was like the warm sun in winter, making people feel warm.

"Yes, Brother Rui, we have to be busy today!" Liu Guangfu also echoed, his eyes flashing with anticipation.

Liu Rui smiled and nodded. He looked at the women behind him. Some of them lowered their heads and smiled, while others looked around shyly. He said softly, "Are you all ready? Today we are going to smoke bacon together and let Qin Huairu's family taste our cooking skills!"

The women nodded one after another, their eyes full of curiosity and excitement. Led by Liu Rui, the group entered Qin Huairu's home.

Qin Huairu's grandmother, Qin Zhao, had been busy at home for a long time. She was a kind and tenacious old woman. The years had carved deep wrinkles on her face, but her eyes were still bright and full of wisdom. When she saw Liu Rui and his group, she greeted them with a smile.

"Oh, it's Brother Rui! He brought so many beautiful girls with him! That's great! We have to work hard today to smoke the best bacon!" Qin Zhao said, and led everyone to the backyard.

A simple meat smoking shed had been set up in the backyard, and the firewood was piled high, just waiting to be lit. Liu Rui, Liu Guangtian, and Liu Guangfu began to get busy. They had a clear division of labor, some were responsible for cutting the meat, some were responsible for pickling, and some were responsible for preparing the firewood for smoking.

The women were not idle either. Under the leadership of Qin Huairu, they helped clean the meat and apply marinade. Their hands were frozen red in the cold water, but their faces were filled with happy smiles. On this winter afternoon, they seemed to have found a different kind of fun.

As time went by, the bacon was gradually cured. Liu Rui, Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu worked together to hang the meat on the beams of the bacon shed, and then lit the firewood. The firelight illuminated their faces and warmed their hearts.

Qin Zhao stood aside, watching all this with satisfaction. She knew very well that smoking bacon was not only a kind of inheritance of skills, but also a kind of emotional transmission. She looked at Liu Rui and Qin Huairu smiling at each other, and her heart was filled with satisfaction.

The night gradually enveloped the earth, the sky was swallowed by darkness, and dots of light dotted it, like a mysterious painting.

Next to the blazing bonfire, strings of brightly colored and fragrant bacon are being baptized by the flames. Licking by the flames, they gradually become golden and crispy, exuding an alluring aroma that makes people salivate.

Liu Rui and his group sat around the campfire, laughing and talking. They held the freshly roasted bacon in their hands and took a bite. The tender and juicy taste immediately conquered their taste buds. Every bite was full of rich smoky flavor, which was intoxicating.

While enjoying the delicious food, everyone talked about their stories. Some talked about their adventures, some shared interesting things in life, and some talked about their vision for the future. These stories intertwined together to form a colorful picture of life.

Although the winter night was cold, it was particularly warm at this moment because of the bonfire and delicious food. Everyone listened to each other, encouraged each other, and spent a wonderful night together.

As time went by, the bonfire gradually died out, leaving only a faint afterglow. However, this happy time was deeply imprinted in everyone's heart.

Although the prelude of this winter has ended, it is also a new starting point. In the days to come, there will be more stories waiting for them to create and write. And in this quiet town, they will always remember this beautiful memory of smoked bacon.