Chapter 286 Laba Festival

Han Li said this because he saw Yun Yingying's expectation of going out to play, so he readily agreed.

Yun Yingying ran out with a smile on her face to help her sister cook, and Han Li sat on the kang and picked up the book next to her and read it.

The sounds of cooking and cutting vegetables came from the outer room from time to time, and it didn't take long for the two sisters to finish the meal.

The three of them sat down in front of the kang table, eating while chatting about what they needed to bring for ice fishing.

Seeing the excitement in the sisters' eyes, Han Li was more certain that they just wanted to go out and have some fun.

After all, they are too idle now. They basically stay at home every day to make clothes, practice calligraphy, read books, chat, and play cards. It is still worth looking forward to going out for a round.

After dinner, the two sisters began to clean up the dishes and boil water to prepare to scald their feet later. Han Li still dressed tightly and took the dogs out.

However, not long after he went out today, he ran into Zhang Yaozu who had just returned from fishing. But he finally got something today, holding a frozen hare in his hand.

"Brother Han, are you going out to walk the dog?"

Han Li rolled his eyes at him. If you want to say hello, just say hello. Why do you use the hand holding the dead rabbit? This is a blatant show-off. Zhang Yaozu now looks like those fishermen in later generations who caught a big fish.

"Wow, this wild rabbit is quite big. Yaozu has a good harvest today."

"That's right. Goose has improved a lot in trapping skills and has learned to check for inconspicuous animal marks. It's just around the corner to realize the freedom of wild rabbits in the future. Brother Han, let's have a drink when you come back from walking the dog later?"

Drinking? It's okay to drink fruit wine, beer, wine, rice wine, etc., but drinking with them means strong liquor. Han Li will not go to such trouble, so he waved his hand and said.

"Haha, forget about drinking. I was originally planning to come back to find you and Xiangjun after walking the dog. Now that we meet, I'll tell you that in a few days, we plan to go to the lower reaches of the river to find a place for ice fishing to see if we can get some fish to enrich everyone's meals. If you and Xiangjun want to go, then prepare some things."

"Ice fishing? How could I miss such an interesting thing? Whether Xiangjun goes or not, I will go. I can't say anything about other things. I am definitely a good hand at fishing. I think I was very good at catching fish and shrimps back then..."

Han Li stood in the cold wind and listened to Zhang Yaozu chattering about his past glorious achievements. At this moment, he had the potential to become a chatterbox.

Han Li couldn't bear it anymore. He gave a command to the head dog, and then the head dog led his brothers to roar at Zhang Yaozu, interrupting his endless self-promotion of his achievements.

So Han Li came back a little later from walking the dog today. As soon as he entered the door, Yun Yingying helped him take off his heavy clothes, and Yun Jingjing also poured the water for washing feet.

Although the current conditions are limited, Han Li feels that this is the real life he should have.

As the light bulb was turned off, the room gradually sounded with a sound that made people think wildly.

.

The next day, Han Li was still the first one to get up in the family. After helping them to press the quilt, he went out and started to exercise day after day.

Han Li practiced the boxing stance of Xingyiquan, and then practiced the Spring Breeze and Rain Jue completely.

In the middle, Yun Jingjing still sneaked up on her when she was emptying the spittoon, but this time she was unlucky. Han Li just practiced the snake hand in the twelve-form boxing, and his right hand turned a corner as if it was boneless, and she swayed and left.

Han Li did not go back to the house as usual after practicing today, because yesterday he talked about ice fishing, which made Han Li feel that it was time for him to get out of the ice cellar.

After Han Li chose a place in the yard, he went back to the house to wash up.

However, as soon as he entered the house today, he smelled a strong aroma of porridge. Yun Jingjing was stirring the pot with a spoon in front of the stove.

Han Li walked over and gently hugged the soft waist from behind, and he understood it when he looked into the pot.

"Are you making Laba porridge? Is today Laba?"

Yun Jingjing heard Han Li's question, and said with three parts of complaint and seven parts of shyness.

"It's all your fault. You have been full of energy during this period, but we both feel sore all day and don't want to move. We didn't even remember that it was the 39th day yesterday. If it wasn't for Sister He saying that today was Laba Festival when we were playing cards, we still can't remember it now."

No wonder Yun Jingjing complained a little. Missing the 39th day is nothing, but the key is that they almost missed Laba Festival.

People in Sijiucheng attach great importance to Laba Festival, because it is the coldest time of the year. There is a saying that goes like this: Laba Festival, the coldest days of the year, the coldest days of the year, the coldest days of the year.

Laba Festival is also a sign of the end of the year. There is a saying that goes like this: children, don't be greedy, after Laba Festival, it will be the New Year.

It is precisely because of the importance of Laba Festival that Sijiucheng has many particularities in making Laba porridge.

Generally speaking, it is divided into fine porridge and coarse porridge, which is the difference between the rich and the poor in the ingredients and cooking procedures of porridge.

However, whether it is fine porridge or coarse porridge, they both contain two types of porridge and porridge fruit.

Porridge is the porridge base, which contains millet, corn grits, sorghum rice, red beans, etc.

There are many things that can be put in the porridge, whether it is lilies, lotus seeds, walnuts, chestnuts, almonds, pine nuts, or red dates.

But now most people just make a pot of porridge casually, put some beans and red dates in it and it’s called Laba porridge.

Han Li's family has relatively complete material reserves, so Yun Jingjing's Laba porridge is more particular.

Rice, millet, corn crumbs, sorghum, red beans, walnut kernels, hazelnuts, hawthorn. These are all available.

Han Li really didn't know that today was the Laba Festival, but after listening to Yun Jingjing's complaints, he moved his hand twice and said.

"You can't blame me for this. Who makes you so charming? If I'm indifferent, am I still a man?"

"But I heard that doing this every day is very harmful to the body."

"Don't you know if there is something wrong with my body? However, your body is a little bit weak, especially since you are the first to surrender every time. It seems that I will increase the amount of training for you in the future. ”

Yun Jingjing rolled her eyes helplessly after hearing this, but it was a pity that Han Li couldn't see it from behind him, otherwise she would have bent down to hold the stove and stare at the porridge in the pot seriously for a while.

"You are the best. Go wash your face and brush your teeth quickly. This porridge will be ready in a short time."

Han Li kissed Yun Jingjing's earlobe gently, then let go of her waist and turned around to wash up.

Han Li's hug and kiss directly made Yun Jingjing become more energetic, and the spoon in her hand became much faster.

Because there are very few love words these days, let alone a romantic hug and loving kiss early in the morning.

After Han Li finished washing up, he came to the back room. Yun Yingying had just tidied up the bedding on the kang. At this time, she was holding a wet mat and two towels for cleaning up, planning to go out to wash them. Although they were already an old couple at this time, She was married, but this situation still made her face turn red, and she subconsciously hid the small mat and two towels behind her back.

"Brother Li."

"Baby, what is our relationship? There is no need to hide these things in front of me, and there is no need for you to be embarrassed in front of me."

She said this, but Yun Yingying couldn't change it for a while. She blushed and thought about going outside to clean up.

"We're going to have dinner soon, you'd better soak those things first."

"I see."

Not long after, food was already placed on Han Li's Kang table.

Since today is Laba Festival, even breakfast made by Yun Jingjing is relatively rich.

This thick bowl of Laba porridge is fragrant and very appetizing.

Large pieces of venison that had been braised in advance were sliced ​​and placed on a large plate, with a small bowl of minced garlic placed next to it.

Cut the shepherd's purse into shreds, clean it, and then simply mix it with cumin, sesame oil, and vinegar. It's very smooth.

Qi Zhaodi helped pickled spicy cabbage and radish strips and put them together on a plate, and also fried three eggs that she had bought a few days ago.

The three of them had a wonderful breakfast, but Yun Jingjing said something during the meal.

"Han Li, according to our custom, today we have to pickle Laba garlic. How much do you think we should pickle?"

"Laba garlic is a good thing. We will use it in dumplings, hot pot, and cold dishes in the future. Let's soak more."

"But there seems to be not enough vinegar at home. After dinner, you can go to the commune to buy some vinegar and come back. We and my little sister will wash the jars and peel garlic at home to make preparations."

"Okay, think about what else is missing at home and write it down. I'll see if the commune can buy it all."

Laba garlic is also called Laba vinegar in Sijiucheng. When soaked, the garlic turns green in color, looks like jade, and is especially crispy in the mouth.

The vinegar soaked in garlic will also become sour and spicy, which is perfect for eating dumplings.

However, Laba garlic has another use in Sijiucheng, because "garlic" and "suan" are homophonic.

This makes businessmen in the past start to check and settle accounts on this day. The jargon is called "After eating Laba rice, you will take care of the year."

Therefore, merchants at that time also called this day "Laba Calendar", and from that day on, merchants could justifiably send shop assistants and waiters to their homes to collect debts.

Some businessmen who are fastidious, or the person who owes a debt has too big a background, and it is inconvenient to ask for the debt directly.

When debt collectors come to your home, they often bring a small jar of laba garlic as a gift. The debtor will know at a glance that they are here to demand payment of debts.

In addition, there is an unwritten custom in Sijiu City on Laba day.

That is, Laba is the best day. Whether it is to hire a girl or marry a wife, you don’t need to find anyone to check the date on this day. Therefore, ordinary people in the four-nine cities at that time would choose to hold weddings on this day.

"Laba and Laba are good days, so many aunts change into sisters-in-law."

This is a nursery rhyme widely circulated in Sijiu City. This shows that the people of Sijiu City attach great importance to the Laba Festival.

After Han Li finished his meal, he was about to go out with the list of necessary items written by Yun Jingjing. Hou Yuhua came skipping over. She saw Han Li fully armed and asked.

"Brother Han, are you going out?"

"Well, I'll go to the commune and buy some vinegar."

Hou Yuhua's eyes immediately lit up when she heard that Han Li was going to the commune. After wandering around twice, she said.

"Going to the commune? Brother Han, can you take me with you?"

Thanks to: book friend 20170703205616242 Reward: 100 points.

Thanks: Book friend 20230708101804132 for the reward: 100 points.