Abstinence Pei, don't be too sweet when chasing your wife

Chapter 513: Warmth Fills the Courtyard on New Year's Eve

As the morning light of New Year's Eve passed over the windowsill of the Pei family villa, a sweet fragrance wafted from the kitchen.

Mother Pei, wearing an apron embroidered with daisies, was watching the frying pan, adjusting the heat. The sugar cakes frying in the pan were golden, the oil sizzling, and coated with the sweetness of caramel. Mother Pei had gotten up early to make this, and she had confirmed with Gu Fanxing the night before: "Xingxing, you said last time that you liked them crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. I simmered them for two minutes longer this time, and I guarantee it will be to your liking."

As soon as Gu Fanxing walked out of the guest room, she was attracted to the kitchen door by the fragrance.

Mother Pei handed over a sugar cake wrapped in oil paper. Gu Fanxing took a bite. The crust was so crispy that it crumbled, and the brown sugar filling inside was runny but not hot. It was just the right amount of sweetness.

"It's delicious! Even better than the ones my grandma fried when I was a kid."

Gu Fanxing's eyes lit up, and Mother Pei immediately put the remaining cakes into a plastic container: "If you like, eat more. I fried a big pot, enough for you to eat until Yuanxiao."

At this time, grandma also came over with a red silk bag in her hand. Inside was the cut window paper-cuts - there were daisies, gold ingots, and little tigers, all of which she had cut with Grandma Pei the night before.

"Xingxing, look at this daisy window cutout. It's perfect for your window."

Grandma handed over a piece of paper. Gu Fanxing took it and felt the texture of the red paper touched by her fingertips, which made her feel warm inside.

Mother Pei wiped her hands and took out some tape from the cupboard. "Let's go put up window decorations. Luo Chuan and his father are already putting up Spring Festival couplets. They're waiting for you to join them."

In the living room, Pei's father was standing on a ladder pasting up the scroll. Pei Luochuan was holding up the Spring Festival couplets and leaning against the ladder. Seeing Gu Fanxing, he called out, "Sister Xingxing, come and help me pass the tape! My dad specially chose the font for these Spring Festival couplets. Last time, you said you liked official script, so he found a calligraphy teacher to write it."

Gu Fanxing walked over and saw that the characters on the Spring Festival couplets were written in round strokes and bright ink. The upper couplet read "Happy New Year to the Whole Family", the lower couplet read "Happy Festival with All the Best", and the horizontal scroll read "Peace Every Year".

"Uncle, you're so thoughtful." Gu Fanxing took the tape and helped Pei Luochuan fix the corners of the Spring Festival couplets. Pei's father smiled and said, "New Year's celebrations should be festive. As long as you like it, that's good."

After putting up the Spring Festival couplets, Pei Luonan came in with an insulated box in his hand, which contained freshly made candied haws - some with hawthorn, some with strawberry, and some with yam beans, which Gu Fanxing liked.

"I know you like this, so I asked the dessert shop to make it fresh. It's also wrapped in rice paper so it won't stick to your teeth."

Pei Luonan handed over a string of yam bean candied haws. Gu Fanxing took a bite of one. The sweet and sour sugar coating wrapped around the soft and glutinous yam beans instantly brought back childhood memories.

Grandma watched from the side and said with a smile: "Luonan is really careful. I remember Xingxing loved to eat this when she was a child."

After a simple bowl of dumplings at noon, Mother Pei started preparing the New Year’s Eve dinner.

The kitchen counter was filled with ingredients: cleaned sea bass, peeled shrimp, chopped bacon, and stuffed tofu that Pei Ma learned to make three days in advance - a specialty dish from Gu Fanxing's hometown. She tried to make it twice the first two nights, but the filling was too salty the first time and the skin broke the second time. She was finally satisfied today.

"Xingxing, come here and try the stuffing of this stuffed tofu," Pei Ma handed over a spoon. "Your grandma said to add a little five-spice powder. See if it suits your taste."

Gu Fanxing took a bite and found it to be just the right amount of salty and fresh, with the delicate fragrance of tofu. It was almost the same as what her grandmother made. "Auntie, it's so delicious! It's even more authentic than the ones made in the restaurants back home."

Mother Pei immediately breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good, I was worried that I wouldn't be able to do it well."

At three o'clock in the afternoon, the dishes for the New Year's Eve dinner began to be cooked one after another.

Dad Pei was in charge of steaming the sea bass. He stuffed ginger slices into the fish's belly to remove the fishy smell, but he remembered that Gu Fanxing didn't eat ginger, so he picked out the ginger slices before serving.

Pei Luochuan helped to shell peas, which were the tender peas that Gu Fanxing liked, and were to be used to make emerald shrimps.

Grandma Pei and grandma were sitting in the living room picking vegetables and chatting about Gu Fanxing's childhood, with laughter coming from time to time.

Gu Fanxing wanted to go into the kitchen to help, but was pushed out by Pei Ma: "Sit down and rest for a while, chat with your grandma and grandma, we are here in the kitchen, don't tire yourself out."

At six o'clock in the evening, the New Year's Eve dinner is officially served.

The long dining table was covered with a red tablecloth, with a vase full of daisies in the middle and dishes surrounding it: the steamed sea bass was silvery and its eyes were clear.

The emerald shrimps are emerald green and chewy; the bacon in the steamed cured meat is fat and lean, and the lotus leaves on which it is placed absorb the aroma of oil.

There are also special dumplings that grandma taught Pei Ma to make, which are pinched into the shape of ingots and arranged neatly.

In the middle is a big pot of stewed pork ribs with radish. The ribs are stewed until the bones are removed and the radish is full of the aroma of meat. It is the taste that my grandmother likes.

"Xingxing, try this sea bass," Grandma Pei picked up a piece for Gu Fanxing, "Your uncle specially selected this Taihu sea bass. It has few bones and tender meat."

Gu Fanxing took a bite and found the fish meat fresh and smooth without any fishy smell. She was deeply moved.

Mother Pei also picked up a piece of pork ribs for grandma: "Auntie, try this pork rib. It has been stewed for two hours and should be tender. You have bad teeth, so it won't be hard to eat."

Grandma took a bite and nodded repeatedly: "It's delicious, even more fragrant than the one I stewed."

Father Pei opened a bottle of fruity red wine and poured half a glass for each person: "This is the brand Xingxing likes. It has a strong fruity aroma, but the alcohol content is not high, so it won't burn your throat."

Gu Fanxing picked up the wine glass, looked at the table full of dishes, and then looked at the Pei family and grandmother who were smiling beside her. Her eyes reddened slightly: "Thank you, uncle and aunt, thank you, grandma, thank you, Luonan, Luochuan, and grandma. This is the most lively New Year's Eve I have ever had, and it is also the warmest one."

"Silly child, from now on we will celebrate every New Year's Eve together."

Mother Pei said with a smile, picking up a piece of stuffed tofu for Gu Fanxing, "If you like it, next year we will learn to cook other dishes from your hometown and invite your grandmother over, so we can have a lively time."

After dinner, everyone sat in the living room to watch the Spring Festival Gala.

The snacks prepared by the Pei family filled the coffee table, all prepared according to everyone's taste.

When watching the skit, everyone was talking and laughing, and the scene was warm and lively.

When it was almost midnight, Pei Luonan took out the red envelopes he had prepared and distributed them to Gu Fanxing and her grandmother.

Gu Fanxing took the red envelope with a daisy pattern on it and opened it. Inside was 666 yuan in cash. Pei Luonan smiled and said, "I wish you a smooth new year and that your archaeological work will also go smoothly."

There was 888 yuan in the red envelope from grandma. Mother Pei smiled and said, "I wish Auntie good health and happiness every day."

When the clock struck midnight, brilliant fireworks suddenly burst out outside the window.

The Pei family, Gu Fanxing, and grandma walked into the yard to watch the fireworks. The flames of the fireworks illuminated everyone's smiling faces.

Pei Luonan stood next to Gu Fanxing and handed her a hand warmer: "It's cold outside, warm your hands."

Gu Fanxing took the hand warmer, feeling the warmth in her palms, looking at the fireworks and the people around her, and suddenly felt very at ease. She had thought that she would be lonely on New Year's Eve without her parents, but she didn't expect that the Pei family would give her the warmest New Year with their sincerity and love.

There is no alienation of the rich here, only the concern of family; there is no deliberate flattery, only sincere treatment.

When the fireworks fell, Grandma Pei held Gu Fanxing's hand and said, "Xingxing, in the new year, I wish you peace and happiness."

Gu Fanxing had tears in her eyes, but she smiled brightly: "Thank you, grandma, and I wish everyone all the best in the new year."

Back in the living room, Pei Ma brought everyone a bowl of glutinous rice balls, symbolizing reunion.

Gu Fanxing took a bite of the glutinous rice ball, and the sweet and sticky filling spread in his mouth, and his heart was full of satisfaction.

She knew that this New Year's Eve would become the most precious memory of her life - not because of the table full of delicious food, nor because of the gorgeous fireworks, but because there was a group of people around her who were willing to care about her and think about her, and gave her a real home with fireworks filling the yard.