The old man took the pork offal and ate it in big bites. “Little girl, is this a family recipe passed down through generations?”
Qiao Mianmian didn’t answer. Instead, she asked why he was asking. She knew that in ancient times, secret recipes were very important. Even if Aunt Zhou was kind, she wouldn’t casually teach her such things.
“Just asking. When I was young, I ate plenty of fine food. But your pork offal is unique—even the best restaurant in Lin’an City can’t make it as well as you,” the old man said. He introduced himself as surnamed Sun. After finishing one bowl, he took another to go.
After Old Man Sun left, Qiao Mianmian thought about his way of speaking. He seemed educated, but his patched clothes suggested his family had once been wealthy and had since fallen on hard times.
Pushing the thought aside, she added more charcoal to the stove and reheated the pork offal while it was still early.
Soon, the aroma filled the street. Combined with word-of-mouth from yesterday’s returning customers, she quickly sold half of it.
Seeing his younger sister constantly busy serving customers, Qiao Jiawang could only help collect money and pass bowls. Compared to her, he felt quite useless.
“Fifth Sister, why don’t you rest for a bit? I’ll handle the selling,” Qiao Jiawang said, feeling that as the eldest brother, he should contribute more.
Qiao Mianmian sat down to drink some water. At that moment, a round-faced girl carrying a vegetable basket came over. She placed some bamboo shoots at the stall and shyly called out, “Brother Jiawang.”
From her memory, Qiao Mianmian recognized her as Hu Qianqian, her eldest brother’s fiancée. Since she would be her future sister-in-law, she should build a good relationship. Seeing her brother standing there foolishly smiling, Qiao Mianmian quickly filled a big bowl with pork offal.
“Sister Qianqian, thank you for the bamboo shoots. I should have asked my brother to deliver a bowl to you yesterday, but we sold out too quickly. This is the braised pork offal I made. Everyone says it’s delicious—take it back and let Uncle Hu and the others try it.”
The two families jointly raised pigs and were also related by marriage, so giving a bowl of pork offal was perfectly normal.
Hu Qianqian refused, saying she had only come because her mother asked her to deliver the bamboo shoots. Seeing Qiao Jiawang here, she just wanted to talk to him.
“Mianmian, you should keep it to sell. I really can’t take it, or my mother will scold me.”
She knew the Qiao family’s situation well. The whole family doted on Qiao Mianmian. If they let her come out to sell food, it must be to earn more money. Her mother had even mentioned that Mrs. Qiao had been saving up to buy a bigger house.
“It’s just a bowl of pork offal. If you don’t take it, how can I accept your bamboo shoots?” Qiao Mianmian said with a smile, placing the bowl into Hu Qianqian’s basket. “Big Brother, walk Sister Qianqian home.”
“Huh?”
Qiao Jiawang didn’t react. “But Mother told me to help you…”
“There aren’t many customers right now. Just go and come back quickly.” Qiao Mianmian pushed her brother out, thinking he was a bit slow-witted—no wonder their father worried about him selling meat on his own in the future.
After watching them leave, Qiao Mianmian started calling out again, “Fresh braised pork offal! Opening discount—free samples even if you don’t buy!”
About one-third of the pork offal remained. After noon, when the sun grew hotter, fewer people would be in the market, so she needed to sell it quickly.
While serving a customer, she noticed Xu Mingxuan approaching with a group of people.
“It smells so good! Do you smell that? Mingxuan, isn’t that your neighbor—the girl who brought you meat?” Zhang Jizhi tugged at Xu Mingxuan’s sleeve. “I’ll go see what she’s selling.”
Before Xu Mingxuan could respond, Zhang Jizhi had already run over. When he learned it was pork offal, he immediately showed a look of disgust. “Is this stuff really tasty?”
“Try it if you don’t believe me,” Qiao Mianmian said with a smile. She treated all customers equally—even if she didn’t like Xu Mingxuan, anyone who paid was a good customer.
Zhang Jizhi didn’t dare try it, and Xu Mingxuan didn’t want any involvement with Qiao Mianmian. He pulled Zhang Jizhi to leave. They had the afternoon off and planned to eat out. Food like pork offal was never eaten in their households—it seemed dirty just thinking about it.
Xu Mingxuan covered his nose and leaned away.
While the others hesitated, a man named Wang Chuang asked for two bowls. “I like this kind of food. Miss, give me two bowls.”
With a customer willing to buy, Qiao Mianmian sold it. Wang Chuang took the pork offal to a small restaurant with his friends.
Everyone was hungry, but the dishes hadn’t been served yet. Wang Chuang started eating the pork offal in big bites, one after another, clearly enjoying it. Watching him, the others couldn’t help but swallow.
“If you want some, just try it. I don’t taste anything unpleasant,” Wang Chuang said. The braised pork offal was flavorful and chewy, with a slight spiciness that made one’s mouth water.
Seeing how delicious it looked, someone tried a piece and was instantly amazed. “It’s really good!”
Once one person tried it, others followed. Soon, everyone agreed it was delicious—but Wang Chuang had only bought two bowls, and they were quickly finished.
Only Xu Mingxuan didn’t eat any, though even Zhang Jizhi tried a couple of pieces.
“If I’d known you’d all eat it, I would’ve bought more. I didn’t even get enough myself,” Wang Chuang said, then turned to Xu Mingxuan. “Your neighbor is impressive. I’ve eaten all over Lin’an, but this is the first time I’ve had such good braised pork offal. Was her family made up of chefs?”
“I’m not sure. We just moved here two months ago,” Xu Mingxuan replied.
“Alright, I’ll go see if she’s sold out. Do you want more?” When he asked, everyone nodded.
But when Wang Chuang returned, Qiao Mianmian had already sold out.
“Sorry, I just sold the last of it. If you like it, you can come again tomorrow. Orders of five bowls or more can be delivered anywhere within Lin’an City,” Qiao Mianmian said as she and her brother cleaned up.
Wang Chuang licked his lips, clearly unsatisfied. “I probably can’t come tomorrow. How about you deliver it to our academy? Six bowls… no, make it ten, so they don’t fight me for it again.”
Qiao Mianmian noted the academy’s name, took a deposit, and happily returned home with her brother.
On the way, she calculated their earnings. As they entered the alley, she was about to walk faster when Xu family’s maid Yun Zhu ran out in a panic, saying her madam had fainted.
Aside from Xu Mingxuan and his mother, the Xu household only had Yun Zhu and a young servant. The servant was out with Xu Mingxuan, leaving Yun Zhu alone and crying.
Hearing that Madam Xu had fainted, Qiao Jiawang immediately dropped his load. “Fifth Sister, go check what’s going on. I run fast—I’ll fetch a doctor.”
Though neighbors might argue over small things, when it came to life-and-death matters, most people would help—especially someone as kind-hearted as Qiao Jiawang.
Before Qiao Mianmian could react, her brother had already run off. Seeing Yun Zhu crying, she followed her inside.
She wasn’t a doctor, only knowing how to press the philtrum. She tried it, and fortunately, Madam Xu frowned and woke up.
Soon, Qiao Jiawang returned with a doctor. After examining her, the doctor said, “Madam has a weak constitution. With the recent heat and staying indoors with doors and windows closed, she suffered heatstroke.”
Relieved that it was only heatstroke, Qiao Mianmian patted her brother’s arm, signaling they could go home.
When they got home, Lin Shi and Zhang Shi hadn’t returned yet. Qiao Mianmian placed the money on the table and counted it.
“Big Brother, we made six hundred coins today. After costs, the profit is about five hundred!”
“So much!” Qiao Jiawang said happily, grinning. “Put it away quickly. Mother will be very happy when she returns. I’ll go fetch water—you stay home.”
He was someone who couldn’t stay idle. If he saw work, he would do it.
Qiao Mianmian wanted him to rest, but he refused, so she let him be.
Feeling tired, she drank a bowl of cooled tea and began thinking about dinner. Soon, her mother and grandparents returned.
She told them everything was sold out, leaving them in disbelief.
“All sold?” Zhang Shi asked, eyes wide.
“Yes—and it wasn’t even enough. We even got an order for tomorrow,” Qiao Mianmian said with a smile.
Lin Shi, after counting the money herself, was overjoyed. “Our family is really going to prosper!”
“This is just the beginning,” Qiao Mianmian said. “Maybe one day we’ll earn five taels a day—even fifty!”
“You’re bragging. I’d already be grateful for what we have now,” Lin Shi replied, then asked with concern if anyone had bullied her.
“With Big Brother around, who would dare?” Qiao Mianmian joked.
That evening, with extra income, Qiao Mianmian decided to make a better meal.
She bought eggs and prepared grilled eggplant by roasting it in the stove, peeling it, then mashing it with garlic and roasted chili. The soft eggplant absorbed the seasoning, releasing a rich aroma.
The bamboo shoots were sliced and stir-fried in pork fat with soy sauce and chili powder, bringing out their natural freshness.
The eggs were steamed into a soft, jelly-like custard, topped with chopped scallions, soy sauce, and hot oil.
She also cooked extra rice so everyone could eat their fill.
When dinner was ready, the whole family gathered. Just as they were about to eat, someone knocked on the door.
It was Madam Xu and Xu Mingxuan.
To everyone’s surprise, they knelt down in gratitude for helping save her.
After thanking them, they left.
Later, the family finally sat down to eat.
Qiao Jiaxing eagerly stuffed his mouth full and praised, “Fifth Sister, today’s dishes are delicious too!”