Qiao Mianmian helped watch the meat stall for a while. She had a sweet mouth and understood how to do business. When customers came to ask prices, she was very enthusiastic.
“It’s definitely fresh. If you don’t believe me, just smell it. In this hot weather, if it were leftovers from yesterday, it would already smell bad.”
“Madam, you can tell at a glance that you’re good at managing a household. Do you want fatty or lean meat? I can cut it for you.”
“Oh my, this little girl is really good with words. I’m already in my thirties, I could be your mother.” The woman smiled so much her mouth couldn’t close. “Then give me one and a half jin, half fat and half lean. I’ll make wontons today.”
“Alright! Is this piece okay?”
Qiao Mianmian moved the knife quickly. Her movements were very skilled. By the time her father returned, she had already sold one-third.
Qiao Mancang was extremely impressed. “Good daughter, you’re really capable. Where did you learn this way of talking to customers?”
“I listened when I came to the market often and remembered how others shouted.” Qiao Mianmian ran back. “Dad, you’ve worked hard. I’ll go home and help mother wash the pig offal.”
…
Lin Shi agreed to sell the braised pig offal mainly because the cost was low, and today she personally saw that it could make money.
She worked together with her mother-in-law.
When Zhang Shi heard they had really made money, she was confused. “We really earned that much?”
“Yes. I heard Mianmian shout fifteen wen per bowl, I thought no one would buy it, but today someone even placed an order.” Lin Shi was overjoyed, smiling nonstop. “If this really makes money, I’ll buy a bigger house. After Jiawang and Jiaxing get married, there will be space for them to live too.”
She was a stepmother, but when she married in, Qiao Jiawang was only six years old, and Jiaxing was even younger. She also brought two children of her own, and XiaHe was still not weaned. The elders did not mistreat the two girls and even helped take care of the children daily. Lin Shi was grateful for meeting kind people and treated Jiawang and Jiaxing sincerely.
Over the years, Zhang Shi had seen everything Lin Shi did for the family.
After the eldest son’s first wife passed away, she had been looking for a new match for him. Later, when passing Lin Village, she met Lin Shi who had been divorced and returned home. People said Lin Shi was capable and kind, and the divorce was only because she had given birth to two daughters in a row.
Zhang Shi did not lack grandsons, but she had no daughter, so after many inquiries—even Lin Shi’s former sister-in-law praised her—she decided to arrange the marriage.
And indeed, Zhang Shi’s decision was right.
“Yes, we really should change to a bigger house.” Zhang Shi just finished sighing when she saw her granddaughter return and quickly said, “There’s some cold tea from Spring’s mother in the kitchen. Go drink some.”
The cold tea was stored in a bamboo tube soaked in well water. It was cool and refreshing, making one feel energized.
The rest of the family had gone out. Qiao Mianmian sat down and helped wash the pig offal.
The water from the courtyard flowed into the alley drain. Not long after, Aunt Wu from next door came fanning herself. As soon as she reached the door, she wrinkled her nose.
“Lin Shi, you’re washing pig offal again. This won’t do. The dirty water is flowing into the drain and making the whole alley smell bad.”
Lin Shi only then realized that their house was at the end of the alley, and the drain flowed from the back to the front. She quickly apologized.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t think of that. Thank you for reminding me, auntie. We’ve almost finished washing today. Tomorrow we’ll go to the river to wash it.”
Aunt Wu didn’t sound harsh, since they were neighbors. Lin Shi admitted fault and apologized, and Aunt Wu said it was fine.
“I just don’t want people gossiping. You know, that Widow Wang next door loves to stir up trouble.”
Aunt Wu did not get along with Widow Wang.
Her husband died early, her daughter was married far away, and her only son was conscripted into the army. She lived alone. Widow Wang had many family members and wanted to rent a room from her, but Aunt Wu refused for fear of damage to her reputation, since Widow Wang only had sons. That caused bad relations between them.
Lin Shi did not like gossip and did not respond.
Zhang Shi then asked if the pig offal was tasty, changing the topic.
“It’s delicious, really delicious!” Aunt Wu said again, thinking of the braised pig offal, no longer feeling that the courtyard smelled bad. “Mianmian’s cooking is amazing. Mianmian, did you earn a lot today?”
Before Qiao Mianmian could answer,
Lin Shi quickly replied, “Not much at all. It’s just a small business, and Mianmian insisted on giving discounts. In total, we only earned a few dozen wen, just a little better than my embroidery work.”
Aunt Wu believed her. If it didn’t earn more than embroidery, Lin Shi wouldn’t have brought so much pig offal home to wash. But Lin Shi was very cautious and refused to be honest about earnings.
After Aunt Wu left, Lin Shi reminded her daughter quietly.
“Wealth should not be exposed. No matter how much money we make, we must not tell others. You must learn to act poor, understand?”
Seeing her daughter nod, Lin Shi continued.
“Otherwise, when people know you have money, they will come to borrow. If you lend, you may not get it back. If you don’t, you hurt relationships. You need to learn these survival rules.”
“I remember,” Qiao Mianmian replied helplessly.
Lin Shi then went to prepare dinner.
Qiao Mianmian stopped her shoulder. “No need, Mother. I cooked yesterday too. You’ve been up early selling pig offal and cleaning the house. Let me do it.”
“Then use less oil when cooking today!” Lin Shi reminded her.
Qiao Mianmian agreed verbally, but still cooked the same way.
…
The Qiao family ate two meals a day. Breakfast was simple; dinner was more substantial.
Qiao Mianmian was already hungry. She blanched the big pork bones, added ginger and cooking wine, and slowly stewed them.
While the soup was cooking, she kneaded dough. Their flour was mixed coarse and fine, leaving visible dark specks in the dough.
After the dough was ready, the bone soup became clear and fragrant. She poured it into a clay pot.
Earlier, she had asked her father to cut a small piece of pork belly, diced it into small cubes for use.
After the mushrooms were cooked, she also diced them. In the pan, she stir-fried minced garlic and ginger until fragrant, then added pork cubes to render fat. Next, she added the mushrooms. She poured soy sauce along the edge of the pan, stir-frying until aromatic, then added a ladle of bone soup and a little starch water. The minced pork sauce was done.
While Qiao Mianmian was cooking noodles, the family gradually returned.
Qiao Jiaxing was the first to rush into the kitchen.
“Fifth sister, it smells so good! What are we eating today?”
He had been working at the dock all day and was covered in sweat. The smell from the kitchen made his stomach growl nonstop.
“Pork bone soup and hand-pulled noodles. Second brother, go wash up first. The noodles aren’t ready yet.” Qiao Mianmian pushed him out.
Soon, the others returned too. Qiao Jiawang carried the big bone soup out, then helped clean the courtyard.
“Mother, I’ll sweep.”
Lin Shi handed him a broom. “Clean it well, then go wash your hands. Your sister has been busy all afternoon.”
Zhang Shi also told him to just do a light sweep.
Qiao Jiawang worked very seriously and never slacked off.
When dinner was ready, Qiao Mianmian served noodles with minced sauce for everyone.
The family ate happily.
…
After dinner, she quickly prepared the pig offal again for sale the next day, working until late night before finishing.
The next morning, they set out early again with goods.
And this time—someone was already waiting at the stall.
“Little girl, you’re finally here! I’ve been waiting for so long! Hurry, give me a bowl—I want to eat right now!”