"This steamed pork with rice flour is delicious! The pork belly is fragrant and tender, it just melts in your mouth, and it's not greasy at all! It's so good!"

"The braised pork knuckle is even better! You just lightly suck and the meat slips into your mouth, just like drinking soup. I've never had such tasty pork knuckle!"

"You guys just don't know how to eat. Isn't the chopped pepper fish head good? The fish is tender, juicy, fragrant, spicy, and flavorful. After one bite, you're sweating all over, not cold at all! So satisfying!"

"..."

This lunch was truly satisfying for the relatives and elders; they had never had such a sumptuous and delicious feast.

Moreover, with a group of people gathered in the kitchen, as soon as the dish was out of the pot, they didn't even bother plating it, just directly scooping it into their bowls. This way of eating was a first for them in their lifetime.

Therefore, with such a fresh way of eating and such delicious food, this group of elderly people, who usually felt full after half a bowl of rice, managed to eat for more than an hour.

When their bellies were finally full to the brim, they put down their bowls and chopsticks, slumped on the chairs, touching their bellies while chatting happily.

As they chatted, the conversation among the elders turned to Jiang Yu.

"Xiaoyu, you're already in your late twenties now. Although you're still going to grad school, you're not that young anymore. Have you found a girlfriend at school?"

"Yeah, back then, Xiaoyu's dad was about your age when Xiaoyu was born. Now, you're the only child in the family, it's time to find a girlfriend to date."

"Yes, I've heard Xiaoyu is making money now too. Since that's the case, it's time to find a partner. Your grandmother is getting old, she can't keep worrying all the time. Once you're married and have kids, she'll be at ease."

"..."

The group of elderly people got enthusiastic and started gearing up to introduce a match for Jiang Yu during the New Year.

Why not? Jiang Yu is a grad student, running his own canteen, making money, and can cook so well...

In this day and age, how can you find such an outstanding young person?

Even with a lantern, you couldn't find someone like that!

With such an opportunity, if they didn't quickly match him to their own family, wouldn't they be foolish?

So, the elders got excited and argued fiercely:

"My brother's side has a younger relative, 22 this year, just two years younger than Xiaoyu, and she's a college student too. I saw her last year; she's really pretty, with fair and tender skin, well-behaved and sensible. I think she's quite a match for Xiaoyu!"

"Your brother's family, huh? You're not even familiar, and you dare to talk. Do you know what kind of temperament that girl has? Don't bring trouble to Xiaoyu!

In my opinion, my grand-niece is quite good-looking, also has a great personality, and most importantly, she's accomplished, running her own factory..."

"Oh, please! Shut your mouth. She hasn't even been to college, and she wants to get with our Xiaoyu? You're dreaming, keep dreaming!"

"..."

Watching this group of elderly people chatting and bickering was actually quite amusing. They didn't care about offending anyone; they just kept undermining each other, causing mutual harm.

If you're not happy with my suggestion, I won't let you get your way either!

But when the topic of their conversation turned to himself, especially such things as matchmaking, Jiang Yu felt somewhat on edge. He stood there awkwardly smiling, unsure whether to stay or leave.

Fortunately, his grandmother noticed Jiang Yu's discomfort, took a few steps forward, waved her hand dismissively, and said with a look of disdain:

"Alright, alright, listen to what you're saying, nothing reliable at all. As for our Xiaoyu's marriage, of course, it's up to me, his grandmother, to have the final say. You all better mind your own young ones!"

"What, you've eaten your fill and don't want to leave? We still have so many bowls and chopsticks in the kitchen that haven't been cleaned yet. Are you planning to stay and help out?"

Seeing this, the others rose amid laughter, making jokes as they headed out:

"Oh, we've eaten so much, our sister-in-law feels the pinch!"

"Sister-in-law, don't worry, come to our house for a meal in the New Year. Although it's not as tasty as what Xiaoyu makes, the dishes are definitely not bad!"

"Pfft! Go to your house to eat, don't we have to give a red envelope?"

"..."

Just as they were speaking, the grandaunt suddenly turned back, somewhat embarrassed, and said:

"Sister-in-law, I just saw there's still a lot of the steamed pork with rice flour in the steamer. Can I take a bowl home?

My old man just loves this dish, but I can't make it taste as good..."

Before the grandmother could reply, another person chimed in:

"Sister-in-law, can I take some of the braised pork knuckle home for a drink tonight?"

"Hehe, I saw there's half of the chopped pepper fish head left. I'm too lazy to cook tonight; I'll use the peppers and fish soup to mix with rice, it must be delicious!"

"..."

Grandma looked speechless, "With just this bit of leftover food, you're not letting it go?"

"I wanted to save it for Xiaoyu and me to eat tonight!"

"We're all neighbors and relatives, and the dinner is to thank everyone for their care. It wouldn't make sense to invite them to eat and then begrudge them some leftovers."

Just as Grandma was about to say something, Jiang Yu had already taken out clean big bowls and shared all the leftovers, giving everyone a portion, regardless of whether they had asked for it or not.

With that, the old folks were all happy, praising Jiang Yu while carrying a big bowl of leftovers home.

No need to think too deeply, Jiang Yu could already imagine that within half a day, his reputation for hospitality would spread among the people he knew.

...

After clearing the family's debts and treating the elders to a meal, Jiang Yu didn't have much left to worry about.

Before the New Year, he hired some masons to refurbish his house both inside and out, making it look more comfortable.

After that, he discussed with Grandma about buying some furniture and appliances, although he didn't live there often, Grandma still lived there.

With these appliances and furniture, life's convenience was certainly improved.

After finishing all these tasks, New Year's Eve arrived.

From the morning, the sound of firecrackers bursting into the air could be heard from time to time in the county town; neighbors started to busy themselves with putting up spring couplets and hanging New Year paintings.

Meanwhile, children were happily playing around the street corners, and if they happened to trip or fall, they would run crying to the adults for comfort...

Everything seemed so harmonious and festive, and the air was filled with the strong atmosphere of the New Year.

Jiang Yu had already pasted spring couplets on his front door and hung big red lanterns under the eaves on either side of the door.

After doing all that, he went into the kitchen and started getting busy.

According to the customs of Raozhou, on New Year's Eve, the lunch is just something simple to fill the stomach, and the real celebration starts around three or four in the afternoon.

Even though it was just him and Grandma at home, Jiang Yu didn't plan to skimp on the celebration. Having finally cleared the debts that had burdened them for so many years was a very significant thing for both him and Grandma.

Such a joyous occasion certainly called for a proper celebration.

From now on, they wouldn't have to live so hard, and Grandma especially deserved to rest and enjoy some peace.

While Jiang Yu was cooking in the kitchen, Grandma wasn't idle either; she took all the various waste materials they had collected in the yard to the recycling station to sell.

The big grandson spent quite a lot of money to refurbish the inside and outside of the house; they couldn't let the yard be cluttered with random junk anymore.

Moreover, as some relatives and elders had mentioned before, Xiaoyu was getting old enough to start looking for a partner. If one day he brought home a girl, and she saw the house with all that junk, who knows what she might think?

She might even think the family was so poor that they had to live by collecting scrap!

If that were to ruin Xiaoyu's chance at marriage, she wouldn't rest in peace.

By noon, the grandparents had a casual meal to fill their stomachs before getting back to the hustle and bustle.

When Grandma finally cleaned up the yard and tidied both inside and outside the house, Jiang Yu finished preparing the New Year's Eve dinner.

Outside, the more impatient families had already started setting off firecrackers, celebrating the New Year with loud and joyful bangs, and even fireworks began bursting into the sky, scattering dazzling blossoms.

"Grandma, it's New Year!"

Jiang Yu called out from the outside, constantly bringing out dishes from the kitchen.

The dinner tonight was different from the dishes they made a few days ago when they were entertaining; there were steamed pork ribs with black bean sauce, braised pork in fermented bean curd sauce, boiled fish slices, tomato and potato braised beef brisket, garlicky white meat, spicy chicken with green peppers, mushrooms and velvet chicken, lotus seed and red date duck soup, and more.

This time, Grandma didn't complain about Jiang Yu making too many dishes; instead, her eyes welled up as she looked at the bountiful New Year's Eve dinner.

Grandma brought out a few sets of bowls and chopsticks from the kitchen, placing them around the eight-immortal table, mumbling as she did:

"Junzi, Xiao He, look at this, your son Xiaoyu has grown up. He's been accepted directly for his graduate studies and even makes his own money now, so you can rest assured!"

Jiang Yu pursed his lips, not saying anything.

He quietly brought firecrackers and went outside to light them in the yard.

As for Grandma, just let her be by herself for a while. She should be happy now.

A while later, the firecrackers in the yard had long finished, and a gust of wind had blown the smoke away.

Grandma seemed to have collected herself and shouted out, "Xiaoyu, come celebrate the New Year!"

"Alright! I'm coming!"

Jiang Yu responded, turned around, went back inside, and sat down to celebrate the New Year with his grandma, each sitting on one side of the table.

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