CHAPTER 63: CHAPTER 63: NEW YEAR’S EVE DINNER (PART 1)

The four father and children got back home, on the way Bai Ruxia and Bai Ruchuan complained continuously about why their dad wanted to give away the grain.

"Dad, I really don’t think Grandma is your biological mother! This whole situation today makes me feel even more so! Before, we could still bring Second Uncle’s family along, but today she only wants you to offer up grain and says Second Uncle’s family didn’t get enough to eat! She doesn’t even mention that our family has more people!" Bai Ruxue voiced her odd feelings.

Bai Daliang looked complicated but didn’t say a word, walking quietly.

Recalling all these years of unfair treatment from his mother.

"Big Sister, I feel the same way. If she’s not our biological mother, maybe we’re the children of her enemy, otherwise why would she treat us so harshly? Taking our grain is basically trying to starve us!" Bai Ruxia clung to Bai Ruxue’s arm.

"Anyway, I won’t consider her my grandma anymore!" Bai Ruchuan also ran over and hugged Bai Ruxue’s other arm, ignoring Bai Daliang.

"I stopped considering her my grandma long ago!" Bai Ruxia said.

The three siblings talked as they returned home, disregarding whether their dad would deliver the grain.

"You two go inside first! Big Sis will get you something good to eat!" Bai Ruxue said when they got home, pushing the two little ones inside.

Because she stashed away some of the treats she brought back in the heated cupboard, and some were in a sack under where the grain used to be stored in the cupboard, the little ones obediently didn’t take them out themselves.

Bai Ruxue took the opportunity to get a bunch of fancy nut gift packs from the supermarket space, removed the packaging, placed them on plates, and cut a few big apples along with a few tangerines to bring inside.

"Wow... Big Sister, apples, tangerines..." Bai Ruchuan, being just a ten-year-old, got extremely excited at the sight of the goodies.

The other three were also looking at them with bright eyes.

"Come over and eat!" Bai Ruxue placed the nuts and fruits in front of Wang Cuihua.

The little ones immediately gathered around, grabbed the snacks and started eating, squinting with joy, extremely happy.

"Mom, you should eat some too! It’s okay as long as you don’t eat too much! Look at how thin you are, you need more nutrition!" Bai Ruxue merrily picked a pistachio, popped it into her mouth, thoroughly enjoying it, as she had always loved nuts.

"Alright... I’ll have a tangerine, I haven’t had one since I was at my parents’ home!" Wang Cuihua picked up a tangerine and started peeling it, tears shimmering in her eyes.

As everyone was enjoying their food, Zhang Yuan arrived.

"Brother-in-law, come quickly, try these nuts, they’re so tasty!" Bai Rushan, who saw him first, immediately invited.

"Little girl, taking out the goodies again?" Zhang Yuan approached with a smile.

He had seen a lot of exquisitely packaged snacks in the supermarket space, but hadn’t had the chance to try them yet.

The little ones thought Zhang Yuan was referring to the goodies being taken out from the sack in the outer room cupboard, so they didn’t think much of it and continued eating happily.

"Yeah! Come and try!" Bai Ruxue smiled and handed over the pistachio in her hand.

Zhang Yuan didn’t hold back, took it and ate.

Bai Ruxue and the little ones snacked for a while, then went out to bring in the meat and ingredients that were freezing outside.

"Xiao Xue, how many dishes for the New Year’s Eve dinner?" Zhang Yuan followed behind Bai Ruxue, carrying things, nearly drooling over the little girl’s cooking skills.

"There’s chicken, duck, fish, rabbit, pork, as for vegetables, there’s cabbage, radish, dried beans, potato noodles, what do you want to eat? You’re allowed to pick one dish!" Bai Ruxue said generously.

"Braised pork, I really miss your braised pork, let’s all eat meat! Save the vegetables for later, it’s the New Year, we should be eating meat." Zhang Yuan said with a grin.

It’s not like we can’t afford it, why squeeze in some vegetables.

"Alright, let’s make it six dishes then, be prepared to eat till you burst!" Bai Ruxue quipped playfully, carrying the frozen solid meat inside to thaw.

"Got it!" Zhang Yuan laughed heartily, "By the way, Xiao Xue, can I bring someone over to celebrate the New Year?"

"Li Jianshe?" Bai Ruxue asked.

"Yes! He came with me from the Capital City, and neither of us were able to go back for the New Year, it’s pretty pitiful for him to spend it at the educated youth point." Zhang Yuan explained.

"Alright! Bring him over! To me, an extra person is just an extra pair of chopsticks! The more, the merrier!" Bai Ruxue, now owning a supermarket that automatically replenishes due to Zhang Yuan, didn’t see an issue with him bringing a friend over for the New Year.

Finally, on New Year’s Eve, Bai Ruxue prepared six large dishes: braised pork, ribs stewed with dried beans, sweet and sour carp, chicken stewed with potatoes, braised rabbit, and a platter of roasted duck sausages.

The full table of meat dishes left Li Jianshe unable to take his eyes off.

Swallowing saliva repeatedly.

Not only him, but the family who have been eating meat these days also looked cravingly at the dishes, including Bai Daliang and Wang Cuihua.

"Comrade Xiao Xue, I feel like the thirty kilograms of grain I brought aren’t enough for this meal! I’ve never had such a sumptuous New Year’s Eve dinner in my life!" Li Jianshe admitted awkwardly, but truthfully.

"No need to be polite, you’re a guest when you’re here, actually, you didn’t need to bring any grain at all, Zhang Yuan’s friend is my friend too!" Bai Ruxue said as she brought in a large bowl of rice, placing it on the heated bed.

Li Jianshe, seeing the heaping bowl of rice, felt even more that his thirty kilograms of grain was too humble.

"Everyone quickly have a seat! I’ll get the alcohol and we can eat!" Bai Ruxue turned and went out again.

She didn’t dare bring out sodas or drinks, only getting a bottle of Wuliangye, but poured it into a plain glass bottle without any writing.

"This wine smells so good! Right, Brother Yuan?" Li Jianshe was already a bit tempted just by smelling it.

Zhang Yuan, having just been overjoyed from Bai Ruxue saying "Zhang Yuan’s friend is my friend," nodded in agreement to Li Jianshe’s comment.

"It’s New Year’s, you two should drink a bit too! If you get drunk, I’ll have Xiao Shan and Little Chuan see you off!" Bai Ruxue smiled as she poured Bai Daliang, Zhang Yuan, and Li Jianshe each a glass of wine, about two and a half ounces.

"Comrade Xiao Xue, you’ve got it wrong, our Brother Yuan can’t get drunk no matter how much he drinks!" Li Jianshe was even happier seeing he was included in the drinking.

"Just drink!" Zhang Yuan said coolly. Seeing Zhang Yuan’s quick change of expression, Li Jianshe didn’t dare to act out again.

Bai Ruxue then noticed how cold Zhang Yuan was to everyone outside her family, even Li Jianshe, who came from the Capital City with him, was no exception.

"Quick, quick, quick, everyone sit down, eat while it’s hot! Meat doesn’t taste good when it’s cold!" Wang Cuihua, not knowing Zhang Yuan’s naturally cold temperament, worried they’d start arguing and quickly smoothed things over.

After everyone was seated, Bai Ruxue first gave her parents each a chicken drumstick, then gave the four little ones each a rib, "Eat up!"

Zhang Yuan, on the other hand, gave her a piece of fish, carefully removing the bones before placing it in her bowl.

To the Bai Family, this scene seemed normal, but it almost popped Li Jianshe’s eyes out of his head.

He widened his eyes but didn’t dare to speak recklessly, fearing he’d be scolded by Brother Yuan again.

"Comrade Li, eat up too! Come, have some braised pork!" Bai Daliang enthusiastically offered Li Jianshe more food.

"Big Sister, your cooking is just too good, I feel like my stomach isn’t big enough again..." Bai Ruchuan gulped down the food, still finding time to praise his big sister.