Chapter 25: New Year

I sat in the car and talked about my grandmother's recent situation and asked about my grandmother's physical condition. Although I would call my grandmother from time to time, the old man would say that she was very good and had nothing to do with her health. The old man was like this, and he was afraid of trouble for his children and grandchildren if he had any problems.

As I chatted all the way, I quickly went to my uncle's house in the middle-sized villa in Yayueyi. I parked my car in the yard. I got off the car and saw Duofu circling in the glass door. Duofu was a nine-year-old golden retriever who was adopted by him when he was over one year old. It was adopted by Li Shenxing after he went to Korea to go to college. Duofu would follow him when his grandmother went out for a walk.

"Dofu is such a good boy. You miss your brother." He opened the door and hugged Duofu who rushed up, patted his head and said.

Hyori patted Dofu on the head, "Dofu still remember his sister?"

"Wang~Wang~" Duofu responded, happily shaking his tail as fast as a fan.

When my cousin heard Duofu's cry, she came out to see, "Ai Yigu, it's our Shenxing and Hyori who are back."

Li Shenxing and Hyoly hurriedly greeted their cousin's wife, "My cousin's wife is blessed in the new year, are everyone at home?"

"I'm lucky in the new year. Everyone is at home and watching TV in the room. Come in quickly." My cousin said hurriedly.

When I entered the door, my parents, uncles and aunts all gathered in the living room to watch TV and chat.

After Li Shenxing and Hyoly hurriedly greeted their elders, they went to pay their respects to their grandmother first.

He brought a gift to his grandmother and followed his mother, aunt and cousin's wife to his grandmother's room. Mom knocked on the door first and then entered the room after getting permission. "I'm, let's see who's coming."

"Grandma, Hyoly and I are back." Li Shenxing shouted to his grandmother with a smile.

When the grandmother was sitting watching TV, she saw her grandson coming back, and quickly spoke out her hands to call him over, "Ai Yigu, let grandmother see, my good grandson, I haven't seen him for a long time." She touched his face and looked at him.

"Grandma, Hyoly and I kowtow to you first." Li Shenxing pulled Hyoly to salute grandma.

Grandma said happily, "Good kids, both are good kids."

After performing the gift, Li Shenxing said: "Grandma, this is a gift that Hyoly chose for you. Please try it if it is suitable."

"Grandma, I'll try it for you to put it on." Hyori first took out the clothes to help her put them on, then put on a hat, gloves, and scarf.

"Grandma, you are wearing this outfit and going out with my mother. Others must think that you are sisters!" Li Shenxing praised him.

"Hey, my good grandson is just sweet-mouth. I just listened to my grandson. That day, I went out for a walk with your mother to see if they were two sisters." Grandma's words made us laugh.

After chatting with my grandma for a while, Li Shenxing and Hyo-ri went out, and there were still gifts for everyone!

After giving gifts to the elders with Hyori, the women talked about beauty and family matters, while the men talked about the price of meat this year, national affairs, and the children were the happiest to play with new toys.

After lunch, the elders and children went to lunch break. My cousin and my sister-in-law and us drove to the farmers' market. During lunch, we obtained the consent of my grandmother, so he could show off his hands at dinner and add two dishes.

There are many specialties in Korean New Year’s Eve dinner. Dinner is all traditional, and it is all done by a wife. The whole family needs to eat "grain rice", namely rice made of cloud beans, soybeans, small beans, black beans and rice. In addition to making cakes and Korean steamed buns, the main course has to be served with more than a dozen wild vegetables or kimchi.

When I went to the market, my cousin's wife led the way and first bought two medium-sized crucian carp, a hen, followed by shallots, green onions, garlic, dried mushrooms and cinnamon, star anise and other seasonings that are not available at home.

When he got home, his mother and aunt also got up and started preparing supper, and his cousin's wife and Hyo-ri also went to help him. Li Shenxing took his materials and occupied a corner of the kitchen and began to prepare.

First wash and soak the dried mushrooms, rinse the crucian carp, chicken and the required ingredients first. When buying the fish and chicken, the vendor helps slaughter them.

Chop the chicken into small pieces and drain it, cut the shallots into shreds, slice the ginger, slice the garlic, and slice the green onions into pieces.

Stew mushrooms with chickens or are called "Good luck and luck". After putting oil in the pot, add slices of ginger, garlic, and dried chili to stir-fry to bring out the aroma. Pour the chicken pieces into the pot until the water of the chicken is dried, add star anise and cinnamon, add a spoonful of dark soy sauce and a spoonful of cooking wine. After the chicken is stir-fried and colored, pour in the dried mushrooms and continue stir-frying for a while, add a large bowl of water, add a little salt, then cover and simmer over low heat, wait until the soup is thick and add the scallion sections and stir-fry for a while. Li Shenxing stewed the chickens with mushrooms in two servings.

Fry the two crucian carp slowly over low heat, wait until golden brown, cut into pieces and place them in two dishes, sprinkle with shredded green onion. Add the remaining oil of the fried fish to the ginger slices and scallion slices to stir up the fragrance, add a bowl of water, add light soy sauce, cooking wine, a spoonful of pepper, a little salt, and a little sugar. After the soup starts, pour in a little vinegar, then pour in the raw powder mixed with water, pour the collected sauce on the fish, and the fish will be ready every year.

After setting all the dishes on the table, you can ask grandma and the others to come out for the New Year’s Eve dinner.

After everyone got into the table, Li Shenxing picked up a piece of fish for his grandmother, "Grandma is there a fish to taste every year."

Put the fish in your mouth and chew it, "Well~ sweet and sour, delicious, the fish meat is fragrant and tender, the fish is delicious and the name is festive."

"Grandma, eat a piece of chicken, take a look. This is called good luck." I picked up a piece of chicken for my grandma.

"The chicken is soft and tender, blended with the aroma of mushrooms, with a hint of spicy food, it is easy to serve and delicious. My dear skills are good. Everyone should use their chopsticks and try the dishes made by Shenxing." Grandma greeted.

Everyone was having a good time and chatting. The atmosphere was very harmonious. Unlike some families who were particularly ruling, they were not allowed to talk about life when they had eaten. A meal lasted for more than an hour. Women cleaned up the dishes and prepared the fruit after the meal, and men sat on the sofa to digest food and chat.

My grandmother is old and goes to bed early at less than ten o'clock. The two children are also rushed to bed by his mother, and the rest are going to bed after midnight.

In Korea, during the Spring Festival, the most important activity is to worship ancestors. Therefore, Lee Shenxing and Hyo-ri also got up early, changed into Korean clothes, and prepared to worship ancestors. Koreans believe that only this genius will come back and taste the sacrificial food. After the mother and aunt set up all the sacrifices, they can worship. The arrangement of the altar is very particular, including the rules of fish, meat, head, east, tail, red, white, dates, chestnut, pears and persimmons, raw, and cooked, left and right soup. The descendants poured wine and saluted their ancestors to express their gratitude, and prayed for the ancestors to bless the peace and health of the year.

After worshiping ancestors, the younger generations will kowtow to the elders to wish the New Year, and the elders will pay New Year’s money to the younger generations. The order of New Year’s greetings should be "Grandparents-parents-uncle-uncle-uncle-uncle-brothers". The greetings of peers will be "blessed in the new year". Li Shenxing and Hyoly also gave New Year’s money to the two nephews.

Only after the sacrifice is over can you eat the first meal - rice cake soup. Eating a bowl on the morning of the first day of the lunar month means the light of the sun and the purity of all things, which means bidding farewell to the old and welcome the new, and being reunited with beautiful reunion.

Rice cake slice soup is not difficult to make. Put a piece of beef in the pot, pour water into the beef, cook over high heat until it boils, turn to medium heat for about 30 minutes, add scallion slices and green onions, and continue to cook for about 30 minutes.
Chapter completed!