In the late Ming Dynasty, the situation in the country was turbulent, and peasants everywhere launched uprisings one after another, and the people were struggling to make a living.
In a remote village in Henan, there is an orphan named Li Laohan, who lives alone at the age of fifty because no one wants to marry him. He had to make a living by tending to the landlord's fields.
The landowner was wealthy and owned vast fields, including a piece of land that was once barren and now uninhabited after generations of reclamation. The landlord built a simple house for him to live in.
Although the house is simple, Li Laohan is satisfied. In addition to taking care of the crops, he cooks his own meals every day and lives a peaceful and lonely life.
On the night of the Chinese New Year's Eve, the cold wind howled, the sky was overcast, and light snow fell sporadically.
Li Laohan was busy in front of the stove alone, his face covered with flour, and he was humming a little song in his mouth. Tonight is Chinese New Year's Eve, and he plans to make a hundred dumplings and make himself a hearty Chinese New Year's Eve dinner.
The landlord was rich and generous, and every year he would give him some grain, meat, and money to have a good year.
Although Li Laohan has no relatives and no reason, he still does not want to give up this tradition. He sees making dumplings as a prayer for a safe and safe year.
He was making dumplings with satisfaction.
Just when Li Laohan was making the fiftieth dumpling, there was a sudden knock on the door, which startled him.
Li Laohan thought to himself: "Who is this?" Chinese New Year's Eve is not at home for reunion, what do you do in this wilderness? ”
He put down the dumpling wrapper in his hand, cautiously came to the door, and opened the door. Outside the door was a middle-aged woman holding a child.
The woman wore a blue cotton jacket and a white scarf wrapped around her head, her face was pale and her eyes were terrified. The child in his arms was three or four years old, also wearing a blue cotton jacket and a small hat, his face was pale, his eyes were closed, and he did not know whether he was asleep or unconscious.
Li Laohan asked, "Is there something wrong?" ”
The woman replied, "Excuse me, I was passing by and saw the lights in your house and wanted to spend the night." ”
Li Laohan looked them up and down, his heart full of sympathy and doubts. He pondered for a moment, then finally decided to let them in.
The woman explained: "Today I had a quarrel with my husband and in a fit of rage, I was going to take the child back to my parents' house. I didn't expect my husband to keep me. ”
After hearing this, Li Laohan felt pity. He led the women and children into the house.
The room was simple and warm, with only a table, two stools, a kang and a stove. The woman placed the child on the kang and looked at Li Laohan gratefully.
Li Laohan said: "The old man has never married a wife, has no children and no daughters, and has always lived alone, if you don't mind, stay here for one night." ”
After the woman agreed, she helped Li Laohan make dumplings. She is skillful in making dumplings, and the dumplings are big and plump, which makes Li Laohan admire.
However, Li Laohan found that the dumplings were getting fewer and fewer, and he had doubts in his heart. He noticed that the woman was secretly eating dumplings, and he was a little angry.
Later, he noticed that there was something strange about the woman's shadow, so he went out under the pretext of going out and came back with a firewood knife.
The next morning, Li Laohan found that the women had left, leaving some golden beans in the room.
The experience of this night made Li Laohan feel the warmth of human affection again, and also understood the importance of living in harmony with nature.