Lu Zhan went to the bathhouse with a dark expression.
Su Man stood in the courtyard and looked around this new home.
The yard wasn’t small, but weeds grew everywhere. It was obvious that two bachelors raising two children had no time to maintain it. Broken wood was piled in the corner, and even the kitchen chimney leaned crooked.
The two little wolf cubs inside were still peeking at her through the window crack. If she got closer, there would probably be another trap waiting.
Su Man ignored them and walked straight into the separate kitchen.
The moment she pushed the door open, a musty smell hit her face.
Dust covered the stove. The rice jar was empty. Even if the oil bottle was turned upside down, not a drop would fall out. Inside the cupboard were only a few chipped coarse porcelain bowls and half a bundle of shriveled dried noodles.
So this was the life of the “Living Yama King”?
Su Man shook her head. The man looked imposing outside, yet lived like an ascetic.
Fortunately, before leaving, Lu Zhan handed the household finances to her.
Inside the thick envelope was his monthly allowance and a large stack of ration coupons — grain coupons, oil coupons, cloth coupons, and even several extremely precious industrial vouchers of this era.
Cold personality aside, the man was generous.
Su Man counted the money, a satisfied curve forming on her lips. With these, life would be much easier.
She turned and walked out, calling toward the two pairs of eyes behind the window:
“I’m watching the house. Don’t run around.”
Then she grabbed a basket and left the courtyard without looking back.
Inside the house.
Er Bao sniffled and leaned on the windowsill.“Brother, that bad woman left? Did we scare her away?”
Da Bao frowned, gripping his slingshot tightly.“Hmph. Definitely scared away. The previous women were the same — none lasted a day.”
“But… I’m hungry…”Er Bao held his rumbling stomach pitifully.“If we hadn’t spilled the flour earlier, Uncle Lu could’ve made pancakes…”
Da Bao glared at him.“Useless! What’s one missed meal? We have to drive her away or we’ll get beaten and starve every day!”
Er Bao pursed his lips and fell silent.
Su Man came back.
Not only did she return — her basket was full.
On top lay a two-jin slab of pork belly.
Layered fat and lean shone dazzling white in this oil-starved era — almost brighter than gold. There were also fresh scallions, soy sauce, rock sugar, and even several large steamed buns.
Su Man hummed as she entered the kitchen.
Soon, smoke rose from the chimney.
She first boiled a large pot of hot water and scrubbed the kitchen thoroughly.
Then came the main event.
The pork belly was cut into mahjong-sized cubes, blanched in cold water, foam skimmed off.
The wok heated — no oil added — and the meat was tossed directly in.
Sizzle—
As the fat rendered, rich aroma exploded in the tiny kitchen.
She worked skillfully. After rendering the oil, she removed the meat, left the fat, added rock sugar, and caramelized it to a jujube-red syrup before quickly tossing the pork back in to coat.
Star anise, cinnamon, bay leaves, scallions, and ginger followed.
Finally she added hot water to cover the meat, drizzled soy sauce, covered the pot, and simmered on low heat.
She had mastered this braised pork in her previous life — when she ran a street stall selling lunchboxes, many repeat customers came for this dish alone.
As time passed, the domineering fragrance escaped uncontrollably.
It slipped through door cracks, crossed the yard, and hooked straight into the noses of the two children inside.
“Grrr…”
Er Bao’s stomach roared.
He pressed against the door crack, drooling.“Brother… it smells so good… really good…”
That was meat.
At the cafeteria they barely saw meat once a month. Though Lu Zhan earned well, he couldn’t cook — they either ate canteen meals or simple noodles.
This glossy braised pork was heavenly temptation.
Da Bao swallowed too but still grabbed him.“Don’t go! Sugar-coated poison! You’ll die if you eat it!”
“But… it doesn’t smell poisonous…” Er Bao nearly cried.
At that moment, the courtyard gate opened.
Lu Zhan, freshly bathed in clean training uniform, walked in.
He stopped immediately.
The smell…
So fragrant even a man used to compressed rations and raw meat in the wild felt his stomach cramp.
He looked toward the kitchen.
In the steam, Su Man’s side profile looked unexpectedly gentle — giving him a strange illusion of peaceful domestic life.
“You’re back?” Su Man poked her head out.“Perfect timing. The meat’s done. Wash hands and eat.”
Lu Zhan entered and looked at the glossy braised pork. His gaze deepened.
“You can cook?”
“Poor kids grow up early,” she smiled.
She filled a large bowl with meat, grabbed two buns, and went outside.
Instead of entering the house, she set a small table under the old locust tree.
The sunset bathed the courtyard.
The bowl sat in the center, the meat trembling slightly with oil sheen.
“Zhan-ge, sit.”
Lu Zhan glanced at the closed door.“Call those brats out.”
“No hurry.”Su Man picked up a piece and waved it in the sunlight.“They gave me a flour ‘welcome gift.’ I should return their kindness.”
She ate it.
Fat melted instantly, lean meat springy, sweet-savory juices bursting.
“Mmm~ delicious! Pork belly must be cooked like this. Perfect with buns.”
Inside, Er Bao collapsed.
Watching her eat, tears streamed from his mouth.
“Brother… I’m dying…”
Da Bao’s fists clenched, face pale.
Su Man called out:“Da Bao, Er Bao, hungry?”
Silence.
She calmly fed Lu Zhan a piece.He subconsciously opened his mouth.
It exploded with flavor.
Damn good.
He looked at her complicatedly — bold, ruthless, and skilled.
“Want to eat?” she called.“Come out. Our family believes in fair trade. No work, no food.”
The door opened a crack.
Er Bao stuck his head out.“I want to eat…”
“Er Bao!” Da Bao grabbed him.
He shook free and ran to the table.
Su Man waved meat under his nose, then withdrew it.
“Call me Mom — one piece.”
Lu Zhan nearly choked.
Er Bao hesitated less than three seconds.
“Mom!”
“Good boy.” She fed him.
He gobbled it, panting from heat.“More! Mom! Mom! Mom!”
Pressure shifted to Da Bao.
He stood furious — betrayal!
But… it smelled too good.
And she didn’t seem that bad…
Su Man sighed while feeding Er Bao:“Da Bao, be strong. Don’t eat. A real man doesn’t eat charity.”
His stomach growled loudly.
Lu Zhan tried to speak — she kicked him under the table.
She lifted a cartilage piece.“Best part… too chewy for Er Bao, and Zhan-ge doesn’t like it. Guess I’ll feed the dog—”
“I WON’T LET YOU!”
Da Bao charged and snatched it, stuffing it into his mouth and choking.
She handed him half a bun.“Slow down.”
He chewed, teary-eyed. Best food ever.
“That one doesn’t count. You stole it. Next piece — follow the rules.”
Da Bao stared at the bowl… then at his happily eating brother.
His dignity shattered before braised pork.
He muttered softly, almost like a mosquito’s buzz:
“…Mom.”
“Ah! That’s more like it!”Su Man smiled and gave him a big chopstick-full of meat.“From now on we’re one family. When there’s meat, we eat it together; when there’s work, we work together. As long as you behave, Mom promises to raise you into chubby, healthy boys.”
Under the sunset, two adults and two children surrounded a small table, fighting over a bowl of braised pork.
Watching the scene, the hard ice in Lu Zhan’s heart seemed to crack open slightly.
This woman… was interesting.