Jiang Xiaobai and the others returned home, walked from the underground garage to the dam, and saw that there were many people in the dam today.

It's all old acquaintances.

Uncle Jiang Haitian, Third Uncle Jiang Haiyang and cousins Jiang Xiaoji and Jiang Xiaozhou, as well as Hu Changjun and Hu Changbing brothers, as well as Chen Yuanchang and Chen Yuansheng brothers.

They were working hard around a huge stone mortar.

"Baba, what are they doing, grandpa?"

Jiang Shan asked in surprise when she saw that so many people were there.

Jiang Xiaobai looked at it and understood.

But he didn't say it directly, and said, "You can go and see if you know!" ”

"Okay!"

Jiang Shan agreed, and immediately ran towards the crowd.

When she got closer, she saw a large stone mortar, carved out of a large stone, with a deep groove in the middle.

This thing is called Duiwo in Qingzhou.

Next to the stone mortar, there are some wooden tools such as long poles, wooden spoons, and wooden baskets. These tools have been used for decades and have a smooth surface with a faint woody scent.

In addition, there is a wooden basin with half a pot of glutinous rice flour.

Attached to the stone mortar is a long mallet used to scoop glutinous rice, like a seesaw, with the end of the hammer facing the groove in the stone mortar.

Jiang Xiaoji and the others stepped on one end of the "seesaw", and the long-pole mallet slammed back and forth in the stone mortar, making a "crackling" sound.

Inside the mortar, glutinous rice and water are mixed together, and puffs of white smoke emerge from the mortar, filling the surrounding air.

They are very skillful in their movements, some pounding it, some using a wooden spoon to push the spilled glutinous rice back to the center, and others using a bamboo basket to scoop the glutinous rice flour out of the stone mortar and put it in a nearby wooden basin.

They cooperate tacitly and do not drag their feet.

Chen Yuanchang and the others also saw Jiang Xiaobai and them coming back, and they all greeted each other with a smile.

"Xiaobai is back!"

"Came back so early today!"

"I'll eat it in a while!"

“……”

Jiang Xiaobai also responded to them.

"Brother Yuanchang, I'm bothering you again!"

"Brother Changjun, come, smoke a cigarette!"

"Brother Yuansheng, hard work!"

“……”

On the side, Jiang Haitian, Jiang Haiyang and Jiang Haibo sat around a huge wooden basin filled with glutinous rice flour and water.

Jiang Haitian held a wooden mallet and rhythmically beat the glutinous rice flour, and the sound of the mallet hitting the dough was crisp and powerful, which made people feel comfortable.

Jiang Haibo also patted and kneaded patiently, his movements were very regular, each beating was forceful, with his own breathing, the palm of his hand fell rhythmically on the dough, making the dough gradually softer, while the other hand kept stirring the dough to ensure the uniformity of the dough until they became moist and sticky.

Jiang Haiyang kept adding water and stirring until the dough became soft and slippery.

Zhao Derong and Wang Xiuju kneaded the beaten glutinous rice flour dough into small round balls one by one. Both of them knead the floor carefully to ensure that each small ball is the same size and shape.

Jiang Shan asked curiously, "Grandpa, what are you doing here?" ”

Jiang Haitian turned around, saw that it was Jiang Shan, and said with a smile: "I'm making glutinous rice cakes, and I want to eat them during the New Year." ”

"Oh, that's a dumpling!" Jiang Shan seemed to remember.

In previous years, there were also many families in the bay who made glutinous rice cakes.

But when she was three or four years old, she didn't have much memory, and as soon as Jiang Haiyang said it, she remembered that there was such a thing as playing glutinous rice cakes.

Lin Jiali has lived in the city since she was a child, and she has never seen a rice cake, so she can't help but watch it with relish.

"The smell of the New Year is getting stronger and stronger!"

Jiang Xiaobai sighed as he walked into the house with Lin Jiayin.

In the eighties and nineties, before the Chinese New Year in rural China, making glutinous rice cakes was a must-have New Year's festival activity for every household, and it was almost a tradition.

Jiang Xiaobai has not witnessed this scene with his own eyes for decades, and now that he looks at it again, he can't help but sigh.

He remembered that there were two kinds of glutinous rice cakes, one big and one small, the big one was as big as the mouth of a basin, and it was generally put in the water tank to soak after beating, and then scooped up and cut into a piece when eating, which could be roasted and eaten, or fried meat.

Stir-fried pork is also a famous dish in Qingzhou.

The small glutinous rice cake is only the size of a small bowl, and it is roasted on the fire and then wrapped in sugar, and it tastes fragrant.

In addition to making glutinous rice dumplings, they also make mash, push rice balls, beat tofu, and make raw bean sprouts.

These are all essential activities in the countryside before the Chinese New Year in this era.

Lin Jiayin also knew this, and couldn't help but say: "In the past few days, my parents are probably busy." ”

Jiang Xiaobai smiled: "Forget it, don't care about them, if you really ask them not to do this, it is estimated that they will not be happy in their hearts." ”

Lin Jiayin said: "Yes, every household does it, and if they don't do it, they must be shallow." ”

Jiang Xiaobai said: "Let's tell them, don't fry melon seeds and peanuts, just let Xiaofeng bring some more from the factory." ”

Lin Jiayin nodded: "Then give Zhao Di a call later, they should come back tomorrow." ”

Jiang Xiaobai said: "Then let's buy some New Year's goods tomorrow." ”

Lin Jiayin couldn't help but be happy: "Clothes or something, you have bought enough in Jiangcheng, and let Xiao Feng bring back all the snacks, what kind of New Year's goods do you want?" ”

Jiang Xiaobai couldn't help but smile, it seems that the New Year is eating and drinking, and the things prepared are also these, and his family usually lacks nothing, as if the New Year is no different from usual.

"That's still going to be prepared."

Jiang Xiaobai said: "We can also buy some fruit and then buy fireworks back." ”

Lin Jiayin said: "Well, that's right. ”

paused: "But you have to send Lili back to Jianyang tomorrow, how can you have time to buy fruits and fireworks, or I'll go!" ”

Jiang Xiaobai hurriedly said: "No, no, no, it's inconvenient for you to drive, I'll call Huang Hongyun and ask him to send a car of fireworks to his home." ”

Lin Jiayin thought for a while: "It's okay, why don't you send some fireworks to your parents and them." ”

"Okay!"

Jiang Xiaobai agreed with a smile.

The two entered the house while talking, Jiang Xiaobai put down his handbag and said, "Mom is still busy outside, so I'll go cook first." ”

Lin Jiayin nodded: "You go to do yours, I'll read the book." ”