Chapter 722: Chapter 722: This Is What You Call a Single Dog!

By the time everyone finished the New Year’s Eve dinner, it was already past 9 o’clock.

Aunt Lin wasn’t home, and the others were on holiday and went back to celebrate the new year.

At the old house, only their own family was present, but there were still many plates, bowls, and such remaining that couldn’t just be left on the dining table without being cleaned up.

Some dishes that could be left overnight were saved.

For some dishes that weren’t much and couldn’t be kept overnight, they had to be thrown away.

Fortunately, the old house had a dishwasher and a disinfection cabinet, so typically, even when Aunt Lin was at home, she didn’t have to wash them herself.

Therefore, Ye Fei tidied up a bit, put the empty plates and pots into the dishwasher, and there wasn’t much else to do.

Everyone was together in the living room.

The elderly couple were rather traditional, earnestly watching the Spring Festival Gala.

Zhao Gushen opened WeChat and found the group "8864" bustling with activity.

However, surprisingly, the group chat wasn’t filled with New Year’s blessings, but with complaints about the Spring Festival Gala.

Zhao Gushen: "Have you all entered middle age ahead of time now? Actually sitting down and watching the Spring Festival Gala properly."

Yan Beicheng: "Fireworks and firecrackers are banned now, so when a family gathers late at night, there’s really nothing much to do. As for playing games, the old folks can’t join in, so we might as well just honestly watch the Spring Festival Gala."

Wei Zhiqian: "You all can watch the Spring Festival Gala, but what about the kids? Aren’t they bored?"

Han Zhuoli: "Except for Lao Zhao, the rest of us have many kids, and they play by themselves without needing us to accompany them. But speaking of which, this year you went home for the new year, did the old folks let you in?"

Wei Zhiqian: "..."

Wei Zhiqian: "Look at what you’re saying, I’m not you. They don’t let you in because you can’t find a partner, but my old lady isn’t that heartless to me."

Han Zhuoli: "Haha!"

He didn’t buy it.

Wei Zhiqian wasn’t going to tell him that tonight’s New Year’s Eve dinner was indeed an eventful one.

He was curious about how the old lady came up with the names for those dishes.

That plate of caviar salad, the old lady called it "More Children, More Prosperity."

A plate of peony shrimp sashimi, she called it "Phoenix Tiara and Red Steps."

What nonsense about "Phoenix Attire," what was she thinking!

And then there’s "Buddha Jumps Over the Wall" sent by "Qiwei," which clearly has a proper name.

Yet, the old lady insisted on calling it "Full of Descendants."

What are all these about!

Wei Zhiqian was puzzled about where the old lady’s imagination came from to come up with these names!

But Wei Zhiqian didn’t intend to share this kind of misery with his brothers.

On a festive occasion, it’s not quite right to build the happiness of the brothers on his own suffering.

While Wei Zhiqian was chatting in the group, Mrs. Wei came over with a fruit platter and nuts.

Upon closer look, there was also a French bulldog-shaped cake on the coffee table.

The old lady chuckled and said to Wei Zhiqian, "Qian’er, do you know what this cake is called?"

Wei Zhiqian’s mouth twitched, tentatively guessing, "Wishing you wealth and prosperity, and an abundance of money?"

He had tried his best, look at how auspicious his words were.

And he was quite clever to hint at both ’Fa’ and ’Dou’ characters.

The old lady let out a cold laugh and pointed to the cake, saying, "This is called ’Single, Dog!’"

Wei Zhiqian: "..."

"Oh grandma, it’s the new year, can’t we not talk about depressing matters?" Wei Zhiqian hugged the old lady’s arm, "I promise I’ll work hard this year!"

The old lady snorted, doubting his words.

Worked hard for 30 years, yet never managed to break free from singlehood!

"Look at Xiao Shen, this year he’s doing so well, even has his wife and child with him for the Shousui tradition!" The old lady waved her spoon, "And then look at you! All alone, don’t you feel lonely?"

Wei Zhiqian: "..."

Now he’s become a contrast to Zhao Gushen, truly tough luck.

The old lady mercilessly said, "This year, if you still can’t find a partner, don’t blame me for being rude!"

Wei Zhiqian shuddered, "How... how not polite?"

"Just like this single dog!" With that, the old lady wielded her spoon and decapitated the dog’s cake head.

Wei Zhiqian: "..."

***

Because of the Shousui tradition, everyone couldn’t sleep.

However, the little one couldn’t hold out that long, so he took a nap first.

When it passed midnight and it was time to eat dumplings, he was called up. Finally, with the chimes of the Spring Festival Gala on TV, the clock struck twelve, and Ye Fei went to cook dumplings. Grandma Zhao gently shook the little one, holding him in her arms, "Sweetie, wake up, time to eat dumplings!"

The little one rubbed his eyes, still a little drowsy, not willing to wake up.

Chi Jingsi said, "Today’s dumplings have eight coins inside. Whoever eats the most coins will have lots of good luck next year."

Xiao Mo immediately perked up, even without believing in the saying that eating more brings more luck, the idea of finding a coin was fun.

Thus, the little one eagerly waited for Ye Fei to finish cooking the dumplings.

Squid filling, mackerel filling, and regular meat filling were cooked separately and placed in different patterned plates to distinguish. This way, one could freely choose whatever flavor they preferred.

Chestnut-filled dumplings were pan-fried, like Shengjian style.

Zhao Gushen was also helping, bringing out the dumplings.

Not knowing about the coins was one thing, but knowing now, the little one felt lost on where to start.

Didn’t know which ones had coins inside.

Zhao Gushen noticed his alert gaze and reminded, "Eat at random, you can’t just poke each one to check for a coin and eat it only if there is one." 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

A small coin wrapped in a dumpling was indiscernible by sight.

The little one nodded, "I know."

He scooped two of each type of dumpling into his empty bowl using a spoon.

Ye Fei reminded, "There are no coins in the chestnut-filled dumplings, they’re purely for dessert, while every other flavor of dumpling might have a coin."

The little one thought for a moment, deciding he should save his appetite for dumplings with coins and just try a chestnut one.

So, he ate only one chestnut-flavored dumpling.

The chestnut filling was creamy and slightly sweet, with a dumpling skin pan-fried to a golden, crispy crust, akin to a chestnut pastry, especially fragrant and sweet.

The little one wanted to eat another, but restrained himself, focusing on his coin quest.

After finishing the ones in his bowl, no coins were found.

At that moment, he heard an "ouch."

The little one immediately looked at the old man.

He saw the old man holding a half-bitten dumpling.