Xia Ruofei and the other two were busy in the kitchen. Xia Ruofei had also brought a lot of ingredients over. They were all produced in the Taoyuan space, so the quality was naturally top-notch. It was perfect for the New Year's Eve dinner.
At noon, the three of them had a simple meal, then sat in the living room and chatted for a while.
Xia Ruofei asked about Lin Qiao's studies at Egret Island University. When he learned that Lin Qiao's grades were among the best in class and that he had even won the gold medal in the campus design competition, Xia Ruofei was very happy and did not hesitate to praise him.
When Lin Qiao received Xia Ruofei's praise, he was even happier than if he had won the award himself.
After chatting for a while, the three of them went to their respective rooms for lunch. In this house, Huzi's mother had always kept a guest room for Xia Ruofei. This time, when she knew that Xia Ruofei would come over to celebrate the New Year with them, she specially changed the bedsheets and bedding.
These bedding had not been used since they were bought, but Huzi's mother had washed them in advance. Therefore, Xia Ruofei could smell the comfortable smell of sunshine while lying on the bed.
After getting up in the afternoon, Huzi's mother continued to prepare the New Year's Eve dinner.
The people in the three mountains did not eat dumplings like the people in the north. However, the New Year's Eve dinner was also very sumptuous. There were meat bird's nest, rice cakes, betel taro, and so on. Although the supermarkets sold ready-made food, Huzi's mother still insisted on making it herself. Whether it was the quality of the ingredients or the taste, it was naturally better than the ones bought in the supermarkets.
In addition to the special delicacies, there was naturally no shortage of chicken, duck, and fish. The duck meat used for the New Year's Eve dinner was the local duck that Huzi's mother specially went back to her hometown in Changping County and asked the villagers to buy. These kinds of free-range local ducks were very difficult to buy nowadays.
Lin Qiao pulled Xia Ruofei to the living room to chat. He talked about the interesting things that happened on campus. He talked non-stop, and he could not wait to share all the trivial things that happened in his dormitory with Xia Ruofei.
Xia Ruofei wasn't impatient either. He maintained a smile and listened attentively.
He had known Lin Qiao for a long time. That was the first time he had returned to the Three Mountains for a family visit. Lin Hu had asked him to bring some local specialties to his mother and sister. After Lin Hu's death, he doted on Lin Qiao like she was his own sister.
As the two of them chatted, the sky outside gradually darkened. From time to time, the sound of firecrackers could be heard. Some people had already started their New Year's Eve dinner.
The New Year's Eve dinner in the three mountains wasn't as late as it was in the north. It was basically dinner time, and some people even had dinner earlier than usual.
Of course, since most areas were prohibited from setting off fireworks, the sound of the firecrackers was quite far away — Lin Qiao's home was a high-end residential area, so naturally, it was within the prohibited area.
At that moment, Huzi's mother walked out of the kitchen. She wiped her hands on her apron and said with a smile, "New Year's Eve dinner is ready! Come over and help serve the dishes! "
"Coming!" Xia Ruofei responded, and then said to Lin Qiao, "Qiao 'er, go and help!"
"Okay!"
Xia Ruofei and Lin Qiao walked into the kitchen together and helped Huzi's mother move the sumptuous dinner she had prepared all day onto the dining table.
The large dining table was filled to the brim with food. Huzi's mother's excellent cooking skills were displayed incisively and vividly here.
"Ruofei, it's New Year's Eve today. Let's all drink!" Huzi's mother said with a smile. "Qiao 'er and I will help you, so you can drink more!"
"No problem!" Xia Ruofei said. "Godmother, I have wine in my car. I'll go down and bring it up!"
Huzi's mother waved her hand and said, "No need! I've already prepared it! "
After that, Huzi's mother turned around and took out a bottle of wine from the cabinet.
Xia Ruofei took a closer look and didn't know whether to laugh or cry — the wine that Huzi's mother took out was Zui Ba Xian, but it was the kind that was sold in bulk in the supermarket.
Obviously, she had gone to purchase it in advance.
Although Zui Ba Xian was known for its low price and high quality, this "low price" was only relative to famous wines like Maotai and Wuliangye. After all, Zui Ba Xian's taste didn't lose to these famous wines, and its price was much cheaper than Maotai and Wuliangye.
Therefore, cheap was relative. In terms of price, Zui Ba Xian wasn't cheap either. For Huzi's mother, this kind of consumption was definitely expensive.
Huzi's mother said happily, "I heard that this kind of wine isn't easy to buy. Yesterday, I went to the supermarket early in the morning to line up. Fortunately, I managed to grab a bottle."
The mother and daughter didn't usually drink, so naturally, they didn't have any wine at home. Huzi's mother had gone to the supermarket to buy some Zui Ba Xian, which was in high demand, so she definitely had to line up early to buy it.
Xia Ruofei couldn't help but smile bitterly. These Zui Ba Xian wines were all made by him using the Ring-Tu space, and the wine that he stored was much higher quality than the ones that were sold in bulk.
However, he couldn't reveal it now. After all, this was a way for Huzi's mother to express her love for Xia Ruofei.
Therefore, Xia Ruofei nodded and said, "Godmother! You're amazing! Zui Ba Xian wine has always been in short supply. As long as the product is on the shelves, it's basically sold out. It's really not easy for you to get the authentic Zui Ba Xian wine! "
Huzi's mother said with a smile, "That's because it's almost Chinese New Year, so the supermarket has increased the supply. Otherwise, it would be sold out before my turn!"
"Is this wine really that easy to sell?" Lin Qiao said. Then, he revealed a thoughtful expression and said, "I remember this is Taoyuan …"
Xia Ruofei quickly winked at Lin Qiao and said with a smile, "Of course this wine is easy to sell! Compared to Maotai Wuliangye, the price is less than half, but the quality of the wine is almost the same. In fact, the Zui Ba Xian wine is even better. Naturally, everyone is willing to choose it! "
Lin Qiao used to be an intern at the Taoyuan Company, and later received a lot of orders from the Taoyuan Company. Most of the orders were to design posters, so he naturally knew that the Zui Ba Xian wine was actually a product of the Taoyuan Company.
However, Xia Ruofei interrupted her and winked at her. She quickly came to her senses and hurriedly said, "Then I'll have to have a good taste today!"
Huzi's mother said, "You just need to drink one glass. Today is the Chinese New Year, so I'll let you drink one glass. Otherwise, you're a girl, so you're not allowed to drink outside, understand?"
"Understood!" Lin Qiao said with a slight pout.
Xia Ruofei laughed and said, "Come, come, come! I'll pour the wine for everyone. Let's have a drink as a reunion! "
The three of them poured the wine. Xia Ruofei raised his glass and said, "Godmother, today is the Chinese New Year. You're the most senior, so please say a few words!"
Huzi's mother smiled and waved her hand. "I don't know how to say anything!"
Xia Ruofei said with a smile, "Just say a few words!"
"Yeah! If you can't, just say something auspicious! "Lin Qiao said.
"Okay! Then I'll say a few words! " Huzi's mother raised her glass and said, "Today, Ruofei came back to celebrate the Chinese New Year. I'm very happy. It's not easy for our family to be able to eat together and celebrate the Chinese New Year together! Then let's drink this glass of wine together. Cheers to the reunion! "
"Godmother said it well!" Xia Ruofei smiled and stood up. "Cheers to the reunion!"
"Cheers!" Lin Qiao also stood up.
The three of them clinked their glasses. Xia Ruofei raised his head and finished the glass of white wine. Huzi's mother and Lin Qiao only took a small sip. They weren't used to drinking white wine with such high alcohol content. They drank mainly for the atmosphere, so naturally, they couldn't drink as easily as Xia Ruofei.
After drinking the first glass of wine, Huzi's mother said, "Eat something first! Ruofei, eat some meat bird's nest while it's hot! The stewed pork trotters are also very good. I bought them a long time ago. After I marinated them, I hung them in the ventilated and dry attic. It's just right to eat now! "
After Huzi's mother finished speaking, she took Xia Ruofei's bowl and filled it with meat bird's nest.
Xia Ruofei quickly said, "Godmother, I'll do it myself! I'll do it myself! "
Huzi's mother still insisted on filling Xia Ruofei's bowl with meat bird's nest. Then she smiled and said, "Eat more! Both of us don't have a big appetite. "
"Okay! Thank you, godmother! "Xia Ruofei said.
"Mom! I want to eat meat bird's nest too! "Lin Qiao shouted.
Huzi's mother glanced at Lin Qiao and said, "If you want to eat, scoop it yourself! You're already an adult. Do you still need me to serve you? "
Lin Qiao was so angry that she wanted to cry. She said, "Mom, you're biased! Why do I feel that Brother Ruofei is your biological son? "
"You brat, what nonsense are you talking about?" Huzi's mother said reproachfully.
Xia Ruofei smiled and said, "Come, come, come! I'll scoop it for Sister Qiao 'er! "
After that, Xia Ruofei took Lin Qiao's bowl and filled it with meat bird's nest for her.
Lin Qiao smiled sweetly and said, "Thank you, Brother Ruofei!"
The three of them ate their New Year's Eve dinner and chatted about their family matters. The atmosphere was very harmonious.
Huzi's mother's cooking skills were very good, and the ingredients that Xia Ruofei brought were all top-notch. Therefore, the New Year's Eve dinner tasted very good.
After the New Year's Eve dinner, Xia Ruofei and Lin Qiao made Huzi's mother sit on the sofa and let her rest while watching TV. The two of them took the initiative to clean up the dishes and took on the task of cleaning up the mess.
Because the New Year's Eve dinner in the south started earlier, the New Year's Eve Gala had not started yet when they finished eating. However, the live broadcast had already started.
The elderly had a special feeling for the New Year's Eve Gala, so Huzi's mother sat on the sofa in the living room and watched it with great interest.
When Xia Ruofei and Lin Qiao cleaned up the kitchen and came out, it was close to eight in the evening. The countdown to the New Year's Eve Gala had started.
When Huzi's mother saw the two of them, she quickly waved and said, "Come over quickly! The New Year's Eve Gala is about to start! "
Xia Ruofei and Lin Qiao were not interested in the New Year's Eve Gala, but they definitely had to follow the elderly's wishes today, so they walked over obediently and accompanied Huzi's mother to watch the New Year's Eve Gala.
In the past few years, the stage of the New Year's Eve Gala was very cool. The acoustics and choreography were also getting better and better. However, Xia Ruofei did not feel as excited as he did when he was young.
Xia Ruofei accompanied Huzi's mother to watch the New Year's Eve Gala for more than three hours.
Although the New Year's Eve Gala was not over yet, Huzi's mother was already a little sleepy. Under Xia Ruofei and Lin Qiao's persuasion, she finally decided to go back to her room to rest.
Anyway, the elderly did not need to stay up late.
The New Year's Eve Gala would be replayed almost every day for the next few days. They just needed to find some time to watch it.
Before Huzi's mother went to rest, she also chased Lin Qiao back to her room upstairs and told her to rest early.
Xia Ruofei was not very interested in the New Year's Eve Gala, so he also turned off the television.
However, he did not immediately go back to his room. Instead, he pushed open the door to another room on the first floor.
This duplex had five bedrooms. Other than the mother and daughter's room and two guest rooms, there was another room.
This was the room that Xia Ruofei had entered.
As soon as he entered the room, he saw a black-and-white photo of Lin Hu in military uniform on the wall opposite the door. Below the photo was a long table with four plates of offerings on it. There were fish, meat, vegetables, and fruits.
The four plates of offerings were symmetrically placed on the left and right. In the middle of them, there was an incense burner with burning incense.
This room was originally a study room. However, Hu Zi's mother's education level was not high, and Lin Qiao had been studying abroad all year round. Moreover, her boudoir was a large suite, and there was a study room in it. Therefore, this room was simply changed into something similar to an ancestral hall.
Other ancestral halls worshipped the elders. However, this room only worshipped one person, and that was Lin Hu.
Xia Ruofei came to the table and poured all the alcohol into the trash can. Then, he took out a bottle of Zui Ba Xian from the Ring-Tu space and poured it into the empty wine glass on the table.
Xia Ruofei held the wine bottle and gestured at Lin Hu's portrait. He said, "Brother, it's New Year's Eve! Let me propose a toast to you! "
With that, Xia Ruofei gulped down three mouthfuls from the bottle. Then, he said, "Huzi, don't worry. Your mother's body is very strong. Qiao 'er is also very sensible and hardworking. She got into Heron Island University and has the best grades in school."
With that, Xia Ruofei drank another mouthful of wine and continued, "In these few years, I've also embarked on a path that I never dreamed of. A cultivator … Hehe, the cultivators we saw in the past actually exist. Moreover, I've also become a cultivator …"
Xia Ruofei sat on the ground and leaned against the table as he muttered to himself, "If I had my current cultivation back then, you wouldn't have died … Even if there were a dozen more of those snipers, they would still be dead! It's a pity that time can't be reversed. Even if my cultivation broke through a few realms, I still wouldn't be able to bring you back to life … "
As he spoke, Xia Ruofei's eyes turned red. He stood up and looked at the wine glass on the table. He said, "Don't just listen to me. Drink! Didn't you like to compete with me in drinking? Come, come, come! Drink another glass! "
After that, Xia Ruofei poured the wine in the glass into the trash can again and then filled the glass again.
Xia Ruofei chatted with Huzi while drinking. Unknowingly, the bottle of Zui Ba Xian was empty.
At this time, the sound of firecrackers came from outside. The night sky was lit up by colorful fireworks. Midnight had passed and a new year had arrived …
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